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.

I like to incorporate sensory into my cards, so I worked in a small electric tea light. Scent seemed like natural addition, so I also included a small sprig of incense to evoke the feeling of light reflecting throughout with the scent of the forest ever present.

The subtle variance in color of the eco white, luxe white and stardream quartz cover weight papers worked well in creating dimension and texture. It was only enhanced by our white glitter wrapping paper, unryu fine paper and inkjet vellum paper.

The Silhouette Machine was used to cut the layers. (To remember that I used to make cards cut by hand seems crazy now!) The components were assembled using super tacky tape, Zots of every size, and foam squares.

The packaging consisted of a long white shipping box. I used our large circle labels for the addresses and a band of Silver Birds fine paper.

I have been making handmade holiday cards for 25 years, and the process evolves each year. It was sure a fun project — I hope it is as fun to view as it was to create.

–Rick
PS colors: chartreuse & moss
Latest fave: Custom Stamp Gift Box

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.

And the lighting! I have a mental inventory of every fixture — from sacred mosques to patio retreats — each one was fabulous in my book.

A stop at the Spice Bazaar, a stroll through the Grand Bazaar, a morning at the fish market, an afternoon on the Bosphorus and an evening at the hammam. Before we knew it three days had flown by.

We left Istanbul and headed down the Western coast to the town of Bodrum. The slower pace and warmer temperatures were immediately felt. But, hidden within this lovely town was a ton of rich history, including one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Mausoleum of Mausolus, and a 15th Century Crusader castle.

There was no shortage of ruins either. Sites like Myndos Gate and this amphitheater were nestled between modern structures.

A hike out to a line of windmills provided exceptional views of the the harbor and surrounding islands.

The castle was also home to incredible ships, many of which were docked due to the close of tourist season. All the better for us to admire!

Our adventure continued with a drive from Bodrum to the ancient ruins of Ephesus, a trip I passed up in my early 20′s due to a lack of funds (I’m sure the money I spent getting into an Italian discoteque was worth it at the time). I refused to miss out this time! Along the way we stopped to see Bafa Gölü (Lake Bafa), at the insistence of the Bodrum locals. Advice worth taking — look at this scene!

While enjoying a relaxing lunch at a restaurant that overlooked Lake Bafa, we watched farm animals romp around the grounds. This fella reminded me of my favorite Paper Source characters of 2011, the fowl featured on our Custom Note Pads.

With bellies full of ezme and aubergine, we continued on to Selçuk and arrived at a charming inn that was only a few feet from the Basilica of St. John. Before dinner we took in sunset from the well-known ruins and perused the tribal rugs and Kilims of our Turkish host.

We woke up early the next morning to beat the crowd at Ephesus. What an amazing site to pull up to, even at early morning hours (my less than alert time). The excavations that have taken place here are even more magnificent than Pompeii (and I think Pompeii is incredible).

Here you can see the Library of Celsus and see how incredible this once seaside town was in ancient times.

Yes, I said once seaside… the sea is nearly five miles away now. It all comes together when you stare down a boardwalk that extends over lush, dry land.

Another amazing dinner, a sample from the nargile and a couple rugs later, our visit to Selçuk ended. We headed back to Bodrum, stopping at this Ancient Wonder of the World, the Temple of Artemis, on our way out of town.

Once back in Bodrum our trip was officially coming to a close. We packed our things, enjoyed another dinner and appreciated to the last few chants that rang throughout the city.

–Liz
PS colors: aubergine & gravel
Latest fave: Personalized Note Pads

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!

Someone created mask templates on her computer, printed out basic designs, and I asked our machine room about scrap material. Jose, manager of the department, certainly delivered – a ton of scrap paper in all of our colors! After that, everything else seemed easy. We made wing templates out of chipboard and everyone got to work.

Some of our characters pay homage to the owls found in our Calendars and holiday cards, while others go their own route. The only parameter was: It had to use Paper Source paper!

We only had about 10 days left before Halloween, so everyone used their break times and lunches (and home time too!) to work on their own components. The only thing supplied was scrap paper and the templates! As you can see, some of us were really inspired, creating full body suits, full heads, tails… even feet!

About 17 of us participated and each Owl showed its full glory! I enjoyed seeing the colors and how everyone got into the project in their own way – from intricately cut wings to masks with FLARE and Art Deco elements to hand-knit eyes, our Custom Print Team got creative! Even our mommy-to-be got into it, making a separate “baby owl” to go around her little belly!

It was great fun and, once again, I was proud of my team for creating something spectacular. I have a feeling these costumes will be used again. Then again, the bar has been raised, so we need to work even harder to beat ourselves next year!

Thanks to everyone who participated, our colleagues for their enthusiasm, our fans for your interest and our Design Team for providing owl inspiration that helped us do something creative this Halloween.

Hoot! Hoot! Hooray!

–Betsy
PS colors: ALL OF THEM!
Latest fave: Paper Source Wall Art Calendar and Owl products

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

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. History buffs and journalism folk might know this as the estate of the late Colonel Robert R. McCormick, famed editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Our friend simply described the gardens, the historical home and the tanks, which line the grounds outside the First Division Museum, as a must-see for any Chicagoan. Truth be told, we’re transplants – Hoosiers through and through – but highly invested in living like local anywhere we go, so we strayed from our usual West Town Sunday happenings and headed West… further West.

It was definitely worth the 40 minute drive and $5 per car admission (so cheap!). Obviously, the botanicals provide inspiration with the fabulous colors and wonderful variety spread throughout the estate, but you might be surprised to find the industrial works round out the experience and inspiration nicely.

As a lover of antiques and textiles, I really enjoyed the home tour (Photos were not allowed, but you can take a virtual tour online.) From to the Art Deco theater on the lower level to the wooden spindles lining the first and second floor walkways, the home had little treats for every kind of designer. Industrial artists would enjoy the mission style woodwork and unique lighting featured in Freedom Hall. Fine artists would appreciate the hand-painted works and collections of Amy Adams McCormick. And paper artists, like most of us, would spend hours studying the 70-foot-long hand-painted mural that lined the formal dining room. Painted on rice paper and hung with linen, this Chinese treasure inspired me to write this blog.

It’s refreshing to be reminded of our roots – the color, the pattern and the tradition of fine paper – and take away a piece of local history. But, even if you prefer the clank of metal or the sound of songbirds, a day trip to Cantigny Park will leave you with plenty of color, sound, and relaxation to get those creative juices flowing.

– Liz
PS colors: peacock & fig
Latest fave: Cavallini Wrapping Paper

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

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.

ABC Poster by Linda Barrett
Paper Source Workshops

Q: What inspired your design?
A: I recently saw a printed wall alphabet poster that inspired me to try working with our 6″ x 6″ mini deck and solid papers to create a really fun, colorful and creative alphabet wall piece.

Q: What tips do you have for successfully executing this Silhouette project?
A: Set up your files so the letters you want for a pattern get cut together. This will minimize paper and speed up your already easy cutting.

Special trick: Test cut on a plain piece of paper for placement of the smaller 6×6 sheets, so all the letters are cut within your mat placement. This will help you figure out point size for the letters.

Project idea: This technique can be done with our Silhouette vinyl for large scale peel and stick wall decals. They make great room accents!

Pirate Ship Card by Maribel Guzman
Paper Source Carlsbad

Q: What inspired your design?
A: Our customers! People are always asking for pirate-themed party invitations.

Q: What tips do you have for successfully executing this Silhouette project?
A: Be sure to have a adhesive eraser on hand to remove excess adhesive from the Xyron.

Words from an expert: Don’t be afraid! The more you work with the machine the more you will learn.

Baby Announcement by Claudia Aguilar
Paper Source Craft Design

Q: What inspired your design?
A: Our new Animals Wrapping Paper seemed like perfect inspiration for a baby announcement.

Q: What tips do you have for successfully executing this Silhouette project?
A: Trace and cut the animals from black paper, then scan. The Silhouette Machine works best with high-contrast shapes.

Execution trick: Within the the Silhouette program, there are tools that allow you to manipulate the way the machine cuts out images. I used them to create the pop-up technique.

Find recipes for these projects and other DIY craft projects at The Art of Craft. Or, comment to this post with your Silhouette Machine questions, and our experts will weigh in on your challenges.

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.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 4 from 1:00 – 3:00pm and join us for A Midsummer’s Eve Affair, happening at all Paper Source store locations. Sign up and enjoy making a wonderful collection of make and take projects, while enjoying refreshments and participating in raffles throughout the day.

While we continue to prepare for what will be our biggest event of the year, we wanted to kick start the DIY enthusiasm with a special giveaway. Comment to this post with your best hostess advice or favorite hostess gift and one lucky Paper Source fan will receive a free copy of Handmade Weddings.

The winner will be selected at random on Monday, April 25th.