It’s time again to ask yourself, “What’s my Colorscope?”

We’ve added readings for our new Paper Source colors — Aubergine and Slate — providing more ways for you to express yourself through color.

Go ahead, think of your two favorite Paper Source colors. Check out our Colorscope readings, then tell us what you discover!

Our handmade holiday card inspiration continues with this magnificent creation by Rick V., Midwest Regional Manager for Paper Source. The corporate office was buzzing when this wonderful creation arrived.

Of course we had to find out more, so here is his story…

Having spent the past few years in the Pacific Northwest, the mountains, snow and beauty of the moonlight shining on the snowy trees was the initial inspiration. The snow and surroundings are amazing after a nice snowfall.

The card went through several rounds. At first it was going to be a pop up card, but I could not perfect it in time (will probably be included in my card next year). Then, the idea of cross sections of wood spurred this iteration, as did our Faux Bois stationery and rubber stamp. The layers of trees and forest animals completed the idea with additions added throughout the process. Read the rest of this entry »

My husband and I recently traveled to Turkey. It was an action-packed trip filled with incredible history and endless inspiration. Even in the holiday bustle, I find myself reflecting fondly on the amazing things we found there.

We enjoyed it so much that I figured, why not share a few images (admittedly not professional) and travel highlights with our readers. Many of you might be holiday weary or in need of a little afternoon escape.

So, go ahead, pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy this small helping of Turkish delight. The to-do list can wait.

Our adventure started in Istanbul, where we hit the ground running with a day-long excursion through the streets of the Old City. Incredible architecture surrounded us and the there was no shortage of of color.

The grandeur of the Hagia Sophia blew me away! The blue and gold tones left me spinning in circles, studying every tiny detail of each wall.

The magic continued through the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet), Basilica Cistern, and Topkapı Palace. Read the rest of this entry »

On Monday, Paper Source Facebook fans got a peak inside the Halloween festivities that took place at our Corporate Office. We were not surprised when comments poured in over the wiley owl costumes created by our Custom Print & Invitations team – everything from the colorful paper to the unique details of each winged character left everyone in awe.

To let you savor the magic we experienced in person we snapped photographs of the parliament and asked Betsy Campbell, manager of Custom Print & Invitations, to tell us how they came up with this idea.

Here is the story…

When the Paper Source Halloween Costume Contest was announced in mid-October, our Custom Print Team decided – This year, we will NOT be beat! Each person was asked to come up with a group idea (If we dress as a group, then we had a better shot at winning!) and a prize was determined (free pizza, of course!). After a week of thinking, we all got together and tossed ideas around:

Zombie Wedding: Too cliché and had nothing to do with what we do, except for wedding invitations of course!

Paper Source Colorscope: Each of us dress as a Paper Source color from head to toe; unfortunately, we did not have enough people to create our whole color palette!

Paper Gnomes: Turns out the Machine Room staff was already dressing as our Holiday Gnomes (BUMMER!)

Paper Elves: But, come on, elves are so Christmas. This is Halloween!

And then it hit us when I flipped to the calendar spread in our fall catalog – OWLS! We could totally dress as owls! How fun would that be?! Everyone seemed in agreement – though we had a few people who were a little wishy-washy at first, within an hour it was coming together! Read the rest of this entry »

Whenever I read crafting blogs, the first thing I think after seeing a project is, “Wow, that’s adorable!” Then I usually follow with, “Now how can I do that?” Often I am too intimidated to give it a try, opting to simply admire the crafter’s talent without attempting to re-create it myself.

I’ve come to realize that blogs are just suggestions. They have an inadvertent tendency to deceive, making the process look simple and rarely showing the potential flaws.

You’re a crafter. You know there are always little nuances that should be taken into account. Whether it’s factoring in humidity when letting pigment ink dry or picking the appropriate adhesive through trial and error, crafting takes practice – and it takes a whole lot of mistakes.

I even came across a blog that features all these little slip-ups. If you’re ever feeling in the dumps about your crafting project, craftfail.com will help you realize you’re not alone in your frustration.

You’re probably already thinking of a moment when your project took a turn for the worse. Were you able to recover? Did you find a way to laugh about it? What tips came from your experience?

–Lauren, Paper Source Intern
PS colors: chartruese & sage
Latest fave: Vintage Marquis Monogram A6 Flat Stationery

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As Paper Source expands in Chicagoland I thought my weekend adventure to a destination near two of our newest suburban stores might interest artists and crafters who seek local inspiration.

A good friend told The Mister and I about Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL. Read the rest of this entry »

Before returning to spend another summer interning at Paper Source, I spent 5 months reading maps, roaming markets, picnicking at parks, hiking trails, eating feasts, absorbing culture and speaking French. Studying abroad is an experience unlike any other. You are afforded the opportunity to delve deep into a new culture and learn through unconventional means outside of a classroom setting. My wonderful French host parents continuously spoke the words profitez-bien, directly translated as profit well but more commonly understood as make the most of it, or embrace life. This simple phrase soon developed as a reoccurring theme of my travels that I’ve come to embrace.

This joie de vivre, or joy of living, was particularly apparent in my painting and drawing course. My professors constantly alluded to living in the moment, whether we were figure drawing in the studio or painting landscapes in the countryside. Without saying much, they challenged our perceptions of color. I challenge you to do the same thing: take a look around, what colors do you see? If you are like me, you may think that water is blue and trees are green, but so much more is out there.

After 3 weeks, I started seeing colors I’d never seen before – stunning flower markets in Aix-en-Provence, rich red roofs in Portugal, elaborate mosaics in Barcelona, Monet’s “Water Lilies” in Paris, and the radiance of the Mediterranean Sea. My world brightened and my eyes smiled.

Coming back home, I am bombarded with a future-oriented mindset, but I truly have learned to value smaller nuances in life. So next time you’re going for a walk, take a look around and get inspired. There are new colors to see in the world and a million ways to profitez-bien!

–Lauren, Paper Source Intern
PS colors: chartruese & sage
Latest fave: Vintage Marquis Monogram A6 Flat Stationery

The latest Paper Source catalog hits mailboxes this week! Inside you will find a special feature on The Art of Craft, an inspirational resource page with recipes for rubber stamping, embossing and stenciling. We also explored DIY letterpress and digital die cutting projects.

Paper Source associates, even many from your local store, offered their vision for an assortment of Silhouette Machine executions. Here are the stories behind their innovative designs, along with tips for helping you master this versatile cutting tool.

Butterfly Box by Wendy Parks
Paper Source Evanston

Q: What inspired your design?
A: SPRING! I like to think of creative ways to spruce up something simple (like a kraft box) in minimal time.

Q: What tips do you have for successfully executing this Silhouette project?
A: I loved the idea of layering butterflies to give them a 3-D effect.

Did you know: You can get 1 free download each week to add to your library! It’s like iTunes for images.
Read the rest of this entry »

Drawing inspiration from paper artists like Helen Musselwhite, we have created a workshop that focuses on the wonderful art of paper cutting.

Join us for:

Artful Paper Inspired Cards Workshop
Saturday, May 28, 2011
11:00 am – 12:30 pm (local time)
Click to register!

Cull inspiration from master technicians and create colorful 3D cards using simplified paper arts techniques like cutting, stamping and layering. You’re sure to leave with something wonderful.

Can’t attend? Read our recent artist inspiration feature and tell us about the artist who inspires your craft or enhances your technique.