Don’t just decorate your home for the holidays… Adorn your party guests too with this festive 4th of July lei! It’s a great way to add a patriotic touch to anyone’s outfit!

Have a happy AND safe Independence Day!

–Annie
PS colors: peacock & paper bag
Latest fave: Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner and Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad

Materials Needed:

• Patriotic Lei How-To PDF Read the rest of this entry »

Keep those pesky bugs away from your favorite summer beverage. These stylish cup covers are festive AND serve as a drink marker too… write your guest’s name on top! Use this super easy how-to at all your summer fêtes!

–Annie
PS colors: peacock & paper bag
Latest fave: Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner and Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad

Materials Needed:

• Summer Cup Cover How-To PDF
• Not a Plastic Cup (set of 4 re-usable red cups)
• Red & White Paper Straws
• Circle Cards in Sunshine, Clover & Poppy (or whatever colors you like!)
• Flower Shapes Pack
• 1/4” Round Hole Punch
• Small Zots Glue Dots
• Pen

Instructions:

1. Begin by folding petals for added dimension.
2. Re-punch holes in centers of flowers using a 1/4” round hole punch. Stack flowers as desired in two or three layers. Position flowers on top of circle card, close to the edge (making sure to leave room for writing a name), and punch a hole as far as your hole punch will reach.
3. Write name on circle card opposite from where the hole is punched. Place on top of cup, position flowers on top of circle card and feed straw in place. Place two glue dots on lip of cup.
4. Place cover on top of cup with the straw placed closest to glue dots. This will keep your cover in place AND acts as a hinge allowing for refreshing refills!

What luck! Our new Clover Pack is here in time to celebrate on March 17th! There are even enough shapes to spell out “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!” These are also good for more than St. Patty’s Day. It’s no blarney, use these clever clovers to wish someone luck on any occasion or milestone.

–Annie
PS colors: peacock & paper bag
Latest fave: Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner and Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad

Materials Needed:

• Clover Garland How-to PDF
• Clover die cut pack
• 2.5″ label sheets in ecowhite
• ¼” hole punch
• 1″ satin ribbon in moss

Read the rest of this entry »

If you missed PS craft expert Linda Barrett on HouseSmartsTV this weekend you can catch the segment online. Watch Linda help “Mr. Fix-it” Lou Manfredini get crafty at our new Southport Chicago store:

When “Mr. Fix-it” himself, Lou Manfredini, and his crew came to film a crafting segment at our new Chicago store on Southport, I found myself with quite the crafting challenge.

To begin a project, I find it is best to consider the audience, including the person for whom the party, gathering or project is built around. In this case, Lou Manfredini is a contractor with a love of all things DIY. His audience is a mix of men and women who love to learn lots of interesting tips and time savers. And, since several of his segments also include food, what better way to inspire a project for both he and his audience then to find a way to marry all of those elements together? Read the rest of this entry »

I love the ease of our printable place cards, especially during this busy, bustling, holiday season…it allows just enough time for me to get my craft on! An edging of ink color from a rubber stamp ink pad and a simple raffia bow adds that perfect dash of warmth to my Thanksgiving table. Bon appetit!

–Annie
PS colors: peacock & paper bag
Latest fave: Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner and Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad

Materials Needed:

• PDF How-To
• Printable Place Cards (Computer & Printer)
• Kraft Paper Ribbon
• Happy Thanksgiving Rubber Stamp
• Color Box Chalk Inkpads (Butterscotch & Tangerine colors)
• Small Glue Dots
• Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad (Optional…but highly recommended)
• Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner (Optional…but highly recommended)

Instructions:

1. Print names onto place cards just below midway point.
2. Stamp “Happy Thanksgiving” in butterscotch and tangerine at tops of place cards.
3. Add a hint of color to edges by lightly smudging place card edges with ink pads.
4. Tie single knots at centers of paper ribbons measuring approximately 6”.
5. Adhere to place cards with glue dots between “Happy Thanksgiving” and name.
6. Place one at each setting for your guests.

Our Santana Row store manager, Linda Kaiser, did a wonderful job hosting the Live Well Network’s “Home with Lisa Quinn,” demonstrating three great party invitation ideas! Have a look at the simple projects she shared using our cards, rubber stamps, favor boxes, and table tents:

Makes you want to host a fun party, doesn’t it?! Cheers to Linda and team!

P.S. To catch the show with lots of other great decorating and party hosting ideas, watch it air on the Live Well Network next week, Tuesday, November 9 at 9:30 PM, Wednesday at 10AM, and Sunday at 4:30PM (be sure to check your local listings to confirm these dates and times).

Yes, I am an adult. And, yes, I love Halloween.

Admittedly, I am not much of a seasonal decorator, however, I do play hostess to an annual Halloween party where I try out crafty tricks and treats, one of my favorites being the graveyard of sandwiches.

The original idea called for an assortment of salad (chicken salad, tuna salad, etc) fillings, but we prefer roast beef and soft cheese (for veggie lovers I use marinated Portobello in lieu of meat). I also commissioned my neighbor to weld a brander, so I could toast cross markings into the sandwiches instead of decorating with condiments.

In pre-Paper Source days I used greens as the ground covering for these bites. This year, I decided to freshen up the party offerings. So, for this Halloween inspiration, I am giving you three additional ways to present spirited sandwiches.
Read the rest of this entry »

We love these easy Halloween decorations for doorways and hallways. Our tissue paper pomettes (mini pom-poms) can be done in any color for any occasion – here the combination of black and poppy adds a touch of Halloween flair. Spooky fun!

–Annie
PS colors: peacock & paper bag
Latest fave: Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner and Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad

Materials needed:
How to PDF
Tissue Paper (black & poppy)
Black Linen Thread
Scissors

Instructions:
1. Cut tissue papers to approximately 3″ X 5″. Create a mix of black and poppy, all black and all poppy pomettes.
2. Stack 6 sheets per pomette (diagram A). Make 1/2” accordion folds with each stack (diagram B). Cut points at both ends of tissue (diagram C).
3. Tie centers with 6” pieces of thread (diagram D). Carefully pull ends of each layer towards knot to fluff up the pomettes.
4. String up one long length of thread where you want your decor to hang and attach tissue pomettes.