This month we created a class inspired entirely by color. After all, color is what we do so well here at Paper Source! We’ll share simple ideas and techniques to build your foundation, then let you take these ideas to another level through the creative use of color.

Color, Color, Color! Stationery & Favors Workshop
Thursday, May 5, 2011
6 – 8 pm
Click to register.

If you appreciate projects with plenty of room for your own creative voice the Color, Color, Color! Stationery & Favors Workshop is the perfect class for you! From rubber stamping to punching, eyelet setting to watercolor pencil techniques, we’ll make you think about color in a whole new way!

–Linda
PS colors: paper bag & persimmon
Latest fave: Academic Great Big Calendar

When planning your wedding, what inspired you? It’s interesting to reflect on this question after the fact. My friend Linda shared photos she had taken from my wedding in the fall of 2007, and through these photos it’s clear – the place John and I were married, on the shores on Lake Michigan, was the inspiration from which our wedding was built.

The beaches we had walked, so many visits prior, provided the foundation – rocks! Both of us love to comb the beach for smooth, layered rocks and through our visits had collected enough to use as natural wedding favors at the place of each of our guests.

The warm browns and varied greens of the landscape and porch of the inn where we were married inspired our color scheme, including green striped wedding favor bags for the kids and petit chocolate bars – an edible favor for the adults! Read the rest of this entry »

With wedding season just around the corner, we thought we’d share some cute ideas for using our cellophane bags to package up wedding favors and gifts for your bridal party and guests. Clear cellophane bags work great because they’re both affordable and flexible, making them ideal for a wide range of stuffers… and you’ll have money left over to spend on the important stuff – what’s inside!

Wedding Favor Bags
Beautifully packaged treats make wonderful wedding favors. Cupcakes fit very nicely into our food-safe cellophane bags, but you could also use a small stack of cookies, a few chocolate truffles, or even a piece of cake! To incorporate your wedding colors, insert tissue paper into the bag before you place your treats inside and choose a coordinating ribbon.

Supplies & Tools: small cellophane bags • 1/4″ satin ribbon • scissors

Directions:
1. Insert your hand into the cello bag to open it up and flatten out the bottom to create a base.
2. Arrange your treats inside the bag.
3. Gather the top of the bag about an inch or so above the treat, and tie closed with ribbon (a friend’s help at this point comes in handy… get your bridesmaids or family members involved!).
4. Tie the ribbon into a bow and neatly trim the ends.
5. Trim the top of the bag if there is a lot of excess (I left about 3 inches above the bow in this sample). And done!

Gift Bags & Welcome Packages
Fill our larger cellophane bags with gifts and present to your bridal party Read the rest of this entry »

This year celebrates the 5 year Anniversary of our signature Bridal Event—Paper Wedding! To give you some background on the events’ inception we have to reflect upon the notion that “Good things come in small packages.” Indeed, it was our wonderful little store in Kansas City that provided the testing grounds for our first ever wedding event, and ultimately the proof that brides would love a weekend full of wedding inspiration.

This year our Paper Wedding open house event has been expanded to two full days. Join us this weekend Saturday, February 20 & Sunday, February 21 from 12pm to 4pm, for demonstrations, to see our walls of wedding inspiration, and partake in a few hands-on rubber stamping opportunities. We feel certain we will inspire even the most traditional bride to “do something creative every day!”

Since 2005, our love affair with brides and grooms hasn’t lost its first blush of excitement! Year after year we continued to expand on Paper Wedding, and as of last year the event is hosted by all 32 stores!

Back in the day, our multi-talented National Manager of Invitations, Betsy Campbell Read the rest of this entry »

This year we decided our bride-to-be’s deserve a morning tea, done the Paper Source way! Join us for The Wedding Tea workshop where we’ll give you a personal introduction to our brand new 2010 Wedding Invitation line (hot off the press!), hands-on projects to build your DIY skills, great raffles, and the bonus – a 10% off coupon to use towards purchases made that day (get your wedding supply list ready)! All while you sip tea and nibble on sweet treats.

Mark your calendars for this one hour morning event on Saturday, February 20 from 10-11am. Then stay for our free event, Paper Wedding the same weekend – February 20 and 21!

Don’t worry, we’re covering all the categories of wedding tradition:

Something Old
We’re old pros at showing you the tips and tricks for creating your perfect wedding suite.

Something New
Our fabulous new collection of exclusive Paper Source wedding invitations and accoutrements!

Something Borrowed
Use any of the kool crafting supplies we have at our workshop tables to build your make and takes.

Something Blue
Ah yes, we built the whole Wedding Tea theme around our lovely blue shade of pool.

Space is limited, so sign up early and perhaps bring a friend to help you take notes. We can’t wait to spend the morning with you!

Cheers,

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: 2010 Paper Source Letterpress Calendar

With so many Paper Source favor boxes to choose from it’s easy to see why we love sharing our countless wedding favor ideas. Though our favor box assortment means endless possibilities to us, we know that our customers can feel overwhelmed by all of the choices. That’s why we’re always developing new wedding favor workshops that provide you with a framework for your favor project.

At this month’s Wedding Favor Workshop we’ll share ideas and decorating techniques to get you headed in the right direction. By the end of the class you’ll have the know-how and completed samples to make creative decisions for your own wedding celebration! Our workshops are also a great way to spend quality time with your mother, future mother-in-law and bridesmaids. A real treat for all of you!

WHAT: Wedding Favors Workshop
WHERE: All Paper Source stores
WHEN: Saturday, January 16 from 11am-1pm.
HOW: Visit our workshop page to find your store & purchase your $35 ticket. (Save 10% when you sign up with a friend!)

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: 2010 Paper Source Letterpress Calendar

Requested by SO many of our customers, this spring we introduced the classic square favor box. This perfect little square is quickly becoming one of our favorites to embellish. With just a few folds and double stick tape they are ready to fill with little cookies, tiny treasures, or four exquisite truffles.

Here’s a great way to dress up favor boxes with ribbon, rubber stamps and glitter glue. Layering violet and silver ink creates an elegant muted tone and can be done with any color combination (use any base color with silver on top).

Pick a ribbon, ink color and rubber stamp design to coordinate with your wedding or party theme!

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

Materials Needed:
Classic Square Favor Box
Leaves Rubber Stamp
Violet Color Box Inkpad
Quicksilver Color Box Inkpad
1/4″ Satin Ribbon
Stickles Glitter Glue
Scissors
Embossing Heat Tool (optional)

Instructions:
1. Rubber stamp an all-over pattern Read the rest of this entry »

So much attention is paid to spring and summer weddings, but we know that fall and winter brides are also looking for unique ideas to make their wedding truly special! Our hands-on Wedding Day Details event will feature fabulous seasonal wedding ideas for wedding programs, placecards, table tents, and favors. With the help of our Paper Source team you will create three wedding suites of varying themes featuring table décor and other wedding day essentials.

Wedding Day Details is also a great opportunity to involve your mother, bridesmaids and friends – you’ll learn so much while enjoying light snacks and sipping wine* – what a great way to celebrate a girls night out while preparing for your big day! Individual tickets are $35, or sign up with friends and receive $5 off your seats.

Whether you’re a fall bride or are planning nuptials next year, this event will provide creative inspiration to help you WOW your wedding guests!

WHAT: Wedding Day Details
WHERE: All Paper Source stores
WHEN: Thursday, September 10, 7- 9pm
HOW: Visit our workshop page to find your store & purchase your $35 ticket.

*Please note not all locations will be serving alcoholic beverages; call your local store for details.

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: Saddle Stitch Notebooks

After Linda (head of workshops) described this technique to me I just had to try it! Embossing on ribbon? Sweet! I think it works best with rubber stamps that have a clean bold image like this cherry blossom. Imagine how lovely this would be wrapped around a package or used to embellish an invitation.

Be on the look out for cool (and free) in-store demos – this embossing on satin ribbon technique was featured in stores this month!

–Annie
PS colors: eco-white & pool
Latest fave: 12″ Guillotine Trimmer — great for cutting large sheets of paper!

Materials Needed:
Pillow Favor Box – Luxe Fino White
Read the rest of this entry »