One of my favorite craft projects is stamp carving! Once I learned how to carve my own stamps out of these easy to use soft rubber stamp blocks, I’ve become a bit enamored with all that you can create.

If you’re not sure how to get started, then I suggest taking the upcoming Carve Your Own Stamp Workshop on Thursday, April 7, from 6-8pm. You’ll learn to make your own stamp in the class, along with learning great stamping tips. You’ll also leave with all the tools to keep making more. Perfect for use at your own kitchen table one sunny morning.

No Paper Source store location near you? Not to fret, pour yourself a cup of coffee and watch this rubber stamp video, featuring Sue Lindstrom, founder of Paper Source, working her carving magic. Then let us know the fun things you’ve carved from these Speedball stamp blocks.

–Linda
PS colors: paper bag & persimmon
Latest fave: 2011 Paper Source Booklet Calendar

1. Ink Your Stamp: Select a rubber stamp with some open space for fill in opportunities and room for things to flow outside the lines! This little Dandelion Rubber Stamp is one of my favorites. Ink up your stamp with Black Color Box Inkpad.

2. Create Your Stamp Impression: Stamp your design in a repeat pattern along the bottom of a card. I’m using our new paper bag note card. Remember you can stamp off the edge onto scrap paper for more layering. Heat set your image with a heat embosser to prevent the ink from bleeding too much.

3. Add Color with Pencils: Choose your pencil colors and fill in selected areas of the stamped design. Consider blending the pencil colors dry for a really lovely effect once it is wet.

4. Prepare Your Water Brush Pen: Fill the water brush pen with plain tap water and give it a slight squeeze to wet the brush tip – you’re now ready to begin blending.

5. Blend Your Colors: Using the wet bush tip, blend areas where you want to see a watercolor effect. If you used two different color pencils the water brush will blend the colors together. If you want a clean crisp color you may want to wipe the brush tip before blending. You don’t need much water (I added a bit more than needed for the purpose of the photo.) You can also blot very lightly to remove pooling water, but keep in mind it might remove some of your color.

Viola! Pretty stationery sure to be a keeper for years to come by your recipient!

Cheers,

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: Silhouette SD Digital Cutting Tool and Peacock Cards & Envelopes

Here are a few card samples using some of our new bold colors along with card making techniques we’re sure you’ll love! Most of these designs sprang from the creative minds of our amazing sample making “dynamic duo,” Annie and Claudia, who never cease to wow me with their clean and playful style.

Sign up fast as seats are selling out quickly! Many stores are planning to feature this workshop again – if your store is already sold out for this week, call to find out when they might be hosting this class in the future!

Share photos of what you create on our Facebook page. I promise to let Annie and Claudia know how they have inspired you with their imaginations. Hmmm…I think I feel a card making throwdown comin’ on!

Cheers,

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: Silhouette SD Digital Cutting Tool and Peacock Cards & Envelopes

To keep with the bride’s theme, Lauren (hostess and maid of honor) used the Folk Ornament Printable Party Invitations, and tried something different with the Peacock Feather Rubber Stamp—by using food coloring and powdered sugar she created an elegant and edible glass plate design.

With a little experimentation, she found the perfect ratio of food coloring, powdered sugar and water. Lauren applied her edible paste to the rubber stamp with a paper towel to control coverage, then gently and evenly pressed the stamp onto the plate. The plates were placed on a large table to dry, and did so rather quickly.

Lauren was able to stack the plates for easy buffet service at the shower…but easy certainly did not look cheap, as this beautiful accent was a hit among shower guests. Bride-to-be, Jaime, was tickled by Lauren’s attentive detail and classy integration of her wedding theme.

– Liz
PS colors: night & curry
Latest fave: Cavallini Wrapping Paper

The rubber in these stamp carving kits is so soft that it cuts like butter – not like the hard linoleum, which typically requires some serious cutting skills and a super steady hand. If you are interested in learning to carve rubber stamps for your own projects or to give as gifts (give them with stationery notes for a great gift set), then register for our Carve Your Own Stamp Workshop on Thursday, May 20, from 6:30pm to 8pm. For $25, you receive a full stamp carving kit, tools, transfer paper, assorted cards, envelopes and a favor box to get your projects started!

I promise you’ll be hooked, and will want to make custom stamps for all kinds of occasions!

Cheers,

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: Circle Stickers and Presentation Envelopes

Indeed, we think we’ve created the perfect blend of what you’ve been looking for – a creative escape! Our first Crafting Studio will be on Wednesday, March 31 from 6-7pm at all store locations. We’re excited to feature the wonders of Color Box Chalk Inkpads and teach you the rubber stamping technique of masking. With these tools you’ll create perfect quick stationery sets.

Space is limited to only 12 people per store, so register now! As an added bonus we’ll have a few raffles, along with a 10% off coupon* to use towards product purchases made that evening. *Discounts cannot be used towards custom orders.

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: Royal Crowns Kit

A simple way to clean rubber stamps is by using a spray bottle with luke warm water. You don’t need to add soap to the water as long as you are using a water-soluble ink such as Color Box, Versa Mark, Versa Magic or Brilliance stamp pads. Spritz water onto the rubber portion of the stamp and dab with a paper towel. It’s important to dab at the rubber stamp, and not to scrub it – repeated scrubbing, even if not done aggressively may loosen the rubber from the stamp block. Although you can use water, do not clean your stamps by running water over them (e.g. in the sink) – too much water in contact with your entire stamp can degrade the adhesive that binds the stamp to the block eventually causing it to fall apart.

While no special supplies are required for cleaning rubber stamps, we do recommend two stamp cleaning products that make the process easier, especially if you use your rubber stamps often.

1. The Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner is a pump-action spray cleaner that works perfectly with paper towels. Spritz some cleaner onto a rubber stamp (rubber side up in the direction of the spray) – be sure to spritz generously onto the areas that have been heavily inked. Once the stamp is moistened, gently dab (don’t scrub) at the ink with a paper towel. Repeat the dabbing process as needed until all the crevices are clean and clear of any residual ink.

2. Another great rubber stamp cleaning product is the Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad by Rub-N-Scrub. This is especially good for lightly inked stamps. The surface of the cleaning pad is covered in soft bristles – dab your inked stamp against these (do not scrub or rub your stamp). We love this pad because it’s a green way of cleaning: the pad is removable and reusable, so you don’t waste paper towels as with other cleaning methods.

So, go forth and clean. Happy Stamping to all!

– Betsy
PS colors: gravel & red (and curry)
Latest fave: Desk embossers, Yuzen Red Pool Plum Blossoms Japanese paper and Yuzen Seagreen Orange Fish Japanese paper. Love them!

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
Happy Valentine’s Day Rubber Stamp
Heart Large Rubber Stamp
Embossing Powder Heat Tool
Versamark Inkpad
Embossing Powder Red
Lipstick Red Color Box Chalk Inkpad
Rouge Color Box Chalk Inkpad
Googly Eyes
Black Pen

Instructions:
1. Stamp heart shape in two different colors next to each other onto 4bar folded card allowing room for label.
2. Stamp “Happy Valentine’s Day” directly onto blossom strawberry cloud labels using versa mark inkpad. Sprinkle with red embossing powder. Shake off excess powder and heat with embossing tool. Be extra careful not to hold embossing tool too close to the label.
3. Stick cloud label onto card just below the two hearts previously stamped.
4. Adhere googly eyes in place on hearts and use a black pen to draw mouths and holding hands.

Using our solid roll wraps and upper or lower case Old Claude Letter Rubber Stamps you can create a personalized gift package that highlights the recipient’s name, as well as their personality by using their favorite colors. Homemade wrapping paper is not limited to one’s initials – rubber stamp with icons that remind you of the recipient, their hobbies, or passions. For the Francophile, consider the Eiffel Tower Rubber Stamp or Fleur de Lis Rubber Stamps; for the gardener, a lovely leaf or flower rubber stamp; for the chef, the whimsical Silverware Rubber Stamp; and for kids, well, the sky’s the limit!

We hope you too will be inspired to create simple, cost effective wrapping paper that really speaks to your friends and family, just as much as the thoughtful gift inside!

P.S. Be sure to give the rubber stamp as part of the gift!

P.P.S. While on the subject, also check us out on the CBS Early Show (click to view) where Real Simple features our 2010 Paper Source Mini Calendar as a great gift under $10!

– Cindy
PS colors: pool & red
Latest fave: Dutch Woodcut Floral Wrapping Paper

Better Homes and Gardens really showed us off with their story on holiday trimmings. Our Solid Wrapping Papers in pool, moss and red are coupled with our Moss, Pool Diagonal Stripes Wrapping Paper, along with gift wrap from our good friends at Snow & Graham – an inspiring mix of pattern and color. They used the 2010 Paper Source Mini Calendar to top a gift box in place of a bow (a great idea if you’re shipping a gift wrapped package since a bow might get smashed in the mail). The pool January page of the calendar looks so fresh with the red and white wrapping paper featured.

Another clever idea is using our Moss, Pool Diagonal Stripes Wrapping Paper as a bellyband around a pool package, then topped with a band of red wrapping paper that’s trimmed at the end to look like ribbon! It’s all held in place with a Pool Border 2.75″ Circle Label and a 1 1/4” Chartreuse Circle Sticker in the center – we love the layered look!

InStyle got crafty creating homemade wrapping paper with many of our rubber stamps. I love how they used the Alphabet Rubber Stamp Kit to stamp a recipient’s initials onto solid gift wrap – a great way to call out whose gifts are whose under the tree. I also love the Fleur de Lis Rubber Stamp done in gold on pool wrapping paper – very French. And finally, they used a technique that we too like to use – making dots of ink with a pencil eraser… so easy!

In their Christmas Ideas magazine, the folks at Better Homes and Gardens came up with another clever use for our product. Featuring our Red #1 Baby Envelopes tacked onto a background of our Moss Flourish Wrapping Paper, they created a 12 Days of Christmas activity calendar. They rubber stamped numbers onto metal-rimmed key tags you find at the hardware store to count down the days. Beginning with Christmas Day and ending with Twelfth Night, each envelope holds a holiday activity – making cookies, sledding, ice skating, and others. What a wonderful way to remind us all to celebrate the joy of the holidays!

p.s. Real Simple and Redbook each featured our 2010 Paper Source Wall Art Calendar – thank you, thank you, we’re so glad you love it too!

– Cindy
PS colors: pool & red
Latest fave: Dutch Woodcut Floral Wrapping Paper