We’re crazy about daisies and we know mom will be too. Make a Mother’s Day card that is sure to bring her smile to full bloom with this easy pop-up card design. It’s perfect for celebrating mom or other springtime occasions.

Materials Needed:

• Pop-up Card How to PDF
• Chocolate A2 Folded Card Read the rest of this entry »

And you thought only teddy bears were lovable? This adorable little Panda makes a huggably sweet folded note- perfect for your Valentine sentiments! Created by the Paper Source Craft Design team, you can construct your Panda Love Card with colors of the season, or mix and match with your favorite PS colors. He’s just too cute to pass up!

Materials Needed:

• Paper Source Panda Love How To
• A7 Persimmon Folded Cards
• Fuchsia 4 Bar Heart Cards
• Black 1 ¼” Round Label Sheets
• Ecowhite 2 ½” Round Label Sheets
• Ecowhite 4″ Round Label Sheets
• Googly Eyes
• Black Brads
• ¾” Circle Punch
• Silver Metallic Sharpie Marker
• Gluedots
• Scissors

Read the rest of this entry »

In grad school I fell in love with “George”! He was older – a bit outdated for his time; he weighed 1200 lbs and smelled of inks and solvent. None of that mattered – George and I had a love-hate relationship from the start. To everyone else he was known as the Vandercook Universal. My romance with George included tediously hand setting tiny 10pt. lead type, adding even smaller brass and copper spacers, along with leading lines for sentences and breaks, etc.; chases locked (often “pied” when dropped on accident – heavy sigh!) with wood furniture. We had many long nights together, til the wee hours of the morning, with loud music and the smell of damp paper in the air. Yes, with this level of commitment and attention to George, everything letterpress, from that point on, was a thing to behold!

Here is a young “George” in a rare shot, all cleaned up for a photo! Next to him is the new lightweight at home letterpress machine, and what I might refer to as Mr. Epic!

But, alas not all love affairs can last… Read the rest of this entry »

My oldest daughter just went to sleep-away camp for the first time. It’s a big deal for both of us – she’s a bit reserved and home-based, and I like having her around! Of course I wanted to send her off with materials to write our family lots of letters (we’re five days in and nothing has arrived yet). She left with a cool set of Sukie stationery with 4 different types of writing paper and patterned envelopes (available in stores only at this point).

More importantly, I wanted to send her special notes each day to let her know how proud we are of her new independence (and how much I miss her, though this cannot be written too much!). I am so proud of the awesome camp stationery that I made using Martha Stewart camp-themed 12×12 scrapbook paper and stickers, tied to some of my favorite colors in envelopes and cardstock (peacock, persimmon, paper bag, curry, and pool). I lined envelopes using the envelope liner template kit with bandana, wood grain, ladybug and gnome-in-the-woods paper patterns. I cut the 12x12s into smaller cards or just trimmed them to fold into my A2 cards. Stickers went on scalloped cards to created 3D campfire scenes or corresponded to an icon in the liner pattern (e.g. an owl, bunny, trail sign, gnome). Most of these “ingredients” are still available in stores, but not all are online (though various interpretations are possible!).

My hope is that every note she gets makes her feel good because it is a connection from home, but also because each one is so cool that she will feel proud and show them off. When we dropped her at the bus for the ride there, I gave her a note written on a piece of 12×12 paper. I used a white uniball pen to write on the side that looked like a tree trunk (wood grain pattern), and then gate-folded it so that the opposite side pattern (woodland gnomes and creatures) came together and was sealed with a cool 3D gnome sticker. One of her friends looked over and said, “That’s cool. You’re so lucky your mom works at Paper Source”. So true!!

Cheers!

– Sally, Paper Source CEO
PS colors: papaya & pool
Latest fave: 2011 Paper Source Academic Grid Wall Calendar

After weeks of anticipation we are thrilled to announce the winners of our first ever Facebook contest. Collectively the twenty-six Mother’s Day card entries perfectly celebrated motherhood, both the many different kinds of mothers and the many different styles of mom. From retro to whimsy the design inspiration will be permanently available as a Mother’s Day photo album on our Facebook page.

The winners, as determined by hundreds of fans who voted online, were asked to share a little bit about the woman who inspired their creation. Here are their stories:

Grand Prize Winner
Everything Grows In Mom’s Garden

My inspiration for this Mother’s Day card is my mom. She had the most beautiful garden in town while I was growing up. Everything grew in Mom’s garden including her children. Her garden is still as just as lovely, serving as a place for friends and family to gather and celebrate the bounties of hard work and dedication. Growing up in my mom’s garden has shaped me into the devout naturalist I am today, and for that I have my mom to thank!

–Tiffany Heater, PS customer
PS colors: strawberry & pool
Latest fave: Summer Magnolia Paper Flower Kit

2nd Place Winner
Grandma’s Roses Read the rest of this entry »

We’re excited to announce our first ever Facebook contest in celebration of Mother’s Day! Our Facebook fans have the opportunity to win a Paper Source gift card by submitting a photo of an original Mother’s Day card creation using 100% Paper Source materials. Fans will vote for their favorite designs, and we will announce the top three winners on May 10th. In addition to a gift card, the winning entries will be featured on our blog!

Even if you don’t enter the contest, please join us on Facebook and vote for your three favorite designs from May 3rd – May 9th.

WHAT: Mother’s Day Card Contest
WHERE: Our Facebook page
WHEN: Submit your entries via Facebook by May 2nd (11:59pm CDT). Voting by Facebook fans is open from May 3rd – May 9th, and winners are announced May 10th.
HOW: If you aren’t already, become our Facebook friend, then submit your entry by uploading a photo of your card creation through our contest page.

Prizes
1st Place: $100 Paper Source gift card
2nd Place: $50 Paper Source gift card
3rd Place: $25 Paper Source gift card

Please note, although you must be 18 to enter we welcome card designs created by kids – you may submit an entry on behalf of a child. For more information and official contest rules, please visit our Facebook page.

We can’t wait to see how you plan to honor a mother, grandmother, or other special women in your life with a one-of-a-kind Mother’s Day card creation!

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate moms young and old. Our adorable chick mother’s day card is perfect for a new mom, or change the message and give it to any special mother. Made from mostly labels, this card is easy to make and is even a card kids can make for mom with a little help.

Whatever you create, take the time to make mom a handmade mother’s day card she’ll cherish.

– Claudia
PS colors: curry & fuchsia
Latest fave: Mini Magnolia Paper Flower Kit

Materials Needed:
How to PDF Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to weddings, popping the question is no longer just the groom’s responsibility. The tradition has taken new form, as brides begin to more formally ask their dearest friends, “Will you be my bridesmaid?” A simple and sweet question that’s been asked for years, has developed into a creative opportunity, and the result is often a delightful invitation style approach. When I got married, I decorated small Moleskine Journals and wrote a note on the inside, “love you so much, been through so much, will you be my bridesmaid?” As brides begin to explore how they would like to, “pop the question”, the bar it getting quite high, with some very innovative bridesmaid invitation card ideas.

The cutest one I have seen so far, comes from a close friend of mine Katie Sprenkle, a graphic designer from San Diego. The card read, “The wedding is not until 2011, but I just had to ask: Will you be my bridesmaid?” It came complete with her witty top five reasons to be her bridesmaid, and a paper chain of bridesmaid dolls adorned in magazine page dresses.

Each cut out girl is a different friend within the wedding party, even our facial expressions and hair styles display our unique qualities. She tucked everything inside lovely pointed flap envelopes, and sealed them with printed labels that read “Official Bridesmaid Post”. Her combination of Paper Source solid papers, decorative papers, and recycled materials makes for a request that’s hard to resist.

Of course I’ll be your bridesmaid!

– Lauren
PS colors: night & chartreuse
Latest fave: Patterned File Folders and #10 String & Button Envelopes

With rubber stamps, labels and super cute googly eyes, making homemade valentine cards is easy as can be. Take this idea and substitute with your favorite Valentine rubber stamps and stamp pad colors. Be careful, googly eyes are totally addicting…you’ll be sticking them to everything before you know it!

– Claudia
PS colors: curry & fuchsia
Latest fave: Mini Magnolia Paper Flower Kit

Materials Needed:
4bar Folded Cards Pure White & 4bar Envelopes
Blossom Strawberry Cloud Labels Read the rest of this entry »