Love is in the air and we are ecstatic! Not only have we launched the 2012 Paper Source Wedding Invitation Collection, but we are hearing inspiring stories of love from brides-to-be and newlyweds. Even our associates have bells on – recently engaged Kristen shared her wonderful Will You Be My Bridesmaid card concept and newlywed Susan gave us a peek inside her perfectly Night and White destination wedding. And there is plenty more ahead!

For those of you who just started wedding planning (raise your hand by commenting to this post), be sure to check out the Paper Source YouTube Channel where our associates take you through DIY projects and planning exercises that help you create an event to remember.

In this video, Ann sheds light on a term you hear quite often at Paper Source — the wedding invitation suite. And suite it is! Together, with your wedding invitation, these components help inform and inspire your guests.

But that is just the beginning… there is more inspiration come, so stay tuned!

Wedding Invitations
Wouldn’t you love to receive a perfect little box addressed to you with a wedding invitation inside? Simply stunning. It’s true, you can mail them! Our A7 box mailers are sized to fit our A7 envelopes and anything else you can fit inside. Check out these amazing Las Vegas wedding invitations and these classic wedding invitations, all mailed in our box mailers.

Gift Boxes
Box mailers are like greeting cards – I keep a bunch on hand because I never know when I’ll need one (in the perfect color). I used them this past Christmas to package our letterpress calendar (everyone on my list got one). The boxes are so lovely they don’t even need wrapping paper – just tie with ribbon. They’re also great for packaging gift cards (just add some festive filler), which can be otherwise unimpressive to present.

Special Deliveries
Whether it’s an invitation, letter, or tiny treasure, packaging it in a box mailer makes it extra special. To mail it, seal the box closed with stickers and address and stamp right on the box, or wrap the box mailer in kraft paper or cellophane then address and stamp (this way the recipient can reuse the box). Snail mail never looked so good.

Handy Dandy Storage
Take a look in your desk drawer – aren’t you just dying to organize those paper clips, loose change, rubber bands, etc? Use one half of the box mailer as a catch-all inside drawers and on desk tops. And choose your favorite box mailer color, because even though no one will see it, it still makes you happy (like your favorite underwear).

Arts & Crafts
Claudia posted a while back on how she used a box mailer to create a lovely wall art piece – the box mailer becomes the back drop and frame. You can take this idea in a million directions…frame photographs, letters for a child’s room, or charming silhouettes as Claudia shows.

So, the next time you want to think outside the box, think inside a box mailer! And please, tell me how you’ve used box mailers in creative ways.

–Kristen
PS colors: peacock & chocolate
Latest fave: Satin Ribbon

Our Scallops Laser Cut Invitation is a prefect DIY option because we have print-at-home invitations, as well as 4 bar stationery – which work great as RSVP or escort cards. The crafts team used the double loops punch to create a paper band around a pillow favor box – so simple. And don’t forget to line your invitation or RSVP envelopes using our envelope liner kit – easy to do and so impactful. How those cute floral ball decorations were made (in the picture) I don’t know, but if you do, please share!

The Roses Embossed Invitation is also a great DIY choice, again because we have print-at-home invitations and lovely embossed thank you notes to match. We were so excited about this design, we also made two rose rubber stamps – the crafts team used on both the pillow favor box and on the place card. The little paper ribbon bow they added to the top of the place card is easy to make, using strips of coordinating paper to create the two loops and a short single strip with some double stick tape to wrap it all together. And don’t forget, you can print your place cards at home with our printable place card sheets.

Our best selling Colonial Stencil Invitation is a nice option if you love to rubber stamp. Here the team shows a printed invitation that could easily be recreated using the matching rubber stamps (there are three options, which can then also be used on your favor bags, place cards, and programs). The invite envelopes feature our new custom return address stamp in Colonial Stencil, of course (yes, we have a Roses custom stamp too!). Super handy for all those return addresses your invites, RSVPs and thank you notes will need (a good project for in front of the tube with a glass of wine).

Cheers to you both as you embark on planning your big (DIY) day!

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

Here at Paper Source we love weddings! And, with experience being our teacher, we planned ahead for all those newly engaged couples, creating the perfect Wedding Invitations workshop for this weekend. The class covers the Who, What, When and How of invitation making, getting you started in your planning process and leaving the fear of the unknown behind you.

Many couples have already signed up for this highly sought after event. For those who are still interested, it’s not too late to sign up! Join us on Saturday, January 15th from 2-4 pm and get your wedding plans underway with PS style!

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

Save the Dates: We stopped at our neighborhood farmer’s market to pick up some fresh flowers, set up a tripod on our roof, and used the camera timer to take our photo with a view of the Chicago skyline in the background. After developing the photos, I attached each one to the front of an A6 folded card in moss, printed the inside message using my home computer, and added a touch of whimsy with the Dandelion Rubber Stamp using a White Chalk Inkpad.

Shower Invites: After seeing how excited I was making our save the dates, my mom asked if she could “order” some handmade shower invites for the sunflower-themed wedding shower that she and my aunt had been planning. Of course I agreed, especially since I had been eying up the Martha Stewart sunflower stickers at PS earlier that week. I bought all that they had left in the store that day! I also picked up a few packs of the 4 bar note cards in khaki, the corresponding envelopes in curry, and a spool of satin ribbon in moss. Printed, assembled, and tied them up with a bow!

Wedding Invites: By this time, I had logged in my PS visiting hours and was ready to take on the biggest of my projects – the wedding invites. Wanting to keep the design simple, I decided to create my own graphic, and printed it along with our wedding day details on A7 note cards in eco-white, with corresponding envelopes in khaki, response cards in moss, rehearsal invitations in sage, and open house cards in chartreuse. My biggest challenge (aside from collecting current addresses for all of the invited guests!) was attempting to print our open house details on the business-sized cards. They were cute, but kept getting jammed in my printer! After a bit of creative thinking (and several attempts to salvage my printer!), I decided to print out stickers on a full 8.5 x 11 sheet, cut them out, and adhere them to the business cards. Problem solved.

Place Cards & Paper Sunflower: I love flowers, ESPECIALLY sunflowers, so there was no way I was going to pass up adhering the Martha Stewart sunflower stickers to a mix of moss and chartreuse folded place cards for our reception. Our guests loved them! I rounded out the sunflower theme by attaching a gigantic paper sunflower to our card/gift box, which was created by wrapping a cardboard box with chartreuse wrapping paper and then gluing on the sunflower from the Sunflower Kit. The kit comes with enough materials to make three big sunflowers, but I think I’ll save the remaining two for another day.

I need a nap.

–Carol Schultz – Chicago, PS customer
PS colors: chartreuse, khaki & fuchsia
Latest fave: Rubber Stamps and Envelope Liner Template Kit

We know many of you are wondering if there is another opportunity to attend one of our wedding events…the answer is YES! Our Wedding Suites Workshop, which sold out last year and even had a waitlist, is running again this year on Thursday, March 4, from 6-8pm. We have designed this event to reflect the desire of both brides and their entourage to “learn by doing”. You will create your first invitation suite in order to learn technique and gain ideas, then for your second suite, add in your personal style and wedding color palette – making it uniquely your own.

WHAT: Wedding Suites Workshop
WHERE: All Paper Source stores
WHEN: Thursday, March 4 from 6-8pm
HOW: Visit our workshop page to find your store & purchase your $30 ticket. Sign up with a friend (your fiancé, bridesmaids, mom, etc.) at the same time and receive $5 off both reservations!

If you’d like an evening of learning simple DIY wedding tips, while enjoying wine, cheese and crackers, then sign up now, as seats are limited to only 8-15 per store. And as an added bonus you’ll receive a 10% off coupon to shop that night (sorry, discount is not good in combination with bulk discounts or custom orders).

We hope to see you next week!!

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

When Brayden (a Las Vegas native) asked me to marry him, a destination wedding in his hometown was our plan. I love all things related to paper, invitations, and stationery. So I knew I wanted something fun and exciting to invite our loved ones to our wedding! No one in my family (myself included) had ever been to Las Vegas, so I wanted an invitation that contained all the glitter and excitement that was in store.

Wanting to include poker chips, the Paper Source box mailer was the clear winner. Our poker chips, dice and playing cards were all chocolate candy… creating another layer of experience for the recipient. I was really inspired by the bright colors of the casinos. Each part of the invitation has its own vivid color – the box mailer is red, the invitation card is curry, the response card is spruce, and the return envelope is fuchsia! To tie them all together, I printed everything in black and red ink (my interpretation of a deck of cards!) and layered it all on top of shredded gold foil paper.

I was really pleased with the way everything turned out. And based on the reaction of our family and friends, they were too! Everything about our trip to Vegas made our ceremony “the wedding of my dreams I never knew I always wanted.” Our invitations were definitely a big part of that! –Laurel

–Carol, Paper Source Atlanta Store
PS colors: gravel & curry
Latest fave: 4″ Round Label Sheets

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 (seen above in the black), oversaw the whole “shebang”! And let me tell you, these were some impressive shoes to fill when it came to taking on the task of expanding this fete to all of our stores. I love now that what began as a small slice of opportunity has grown into the signature debut of our new Wedding Invitation Collection!

Granted I am biased, but the 2010 Paper Source Wedding Invitation Collection is more amazing than ever! Our design and invitation teams have created extraordinary invitation suites that any couple would feel proud to send. If you’re looking for wedding invitations with luscious layering, dramatic details, and a full array of papers, rubber stamps, and ink colors to create a wedding ensemble every bride dreams of for her big day, then we are the destination.

P.S. If you can’t join us this weekend or want more wedding inspiration, sign up for our Wedding Suites Workshop taking place Thursday, March 4.

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

Here at Paper Source, the beginning of each new year means it’s wedding time! We start to see lots of brides in our stores over the holidays and come January the ruffles and cupcakes of wedding season are full on!

This year, we thought it would be fun to share with you some Paper Source real life weddings. We will show you how Paper Source newlyweds used cards and envelopes, favor boxes, ribbons and all the other trimmings to make their big days unique and reflective of their own sense of style. Lauren is our first PS bride – we hope you enjoy her story and feel inspired by her photos!

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

The first thing I did when I got engaged, was flip my sketchbook to a fresh page and begin jotting ideas for my wedding invitation! While most brides would first make appointments to shop for dresses, I was instead pestering my fiancé about which typeface to use and how exactly to integrate cream grosgrain ribbon into our invitation. I had dreamed of being able to design a project where I had this type of creative freedom, and I quickly became a familiar face in my local Paper Source store as I made weekly (ok, daily) trips for inspiration.

Our wedding took place in Scottsdale, Arizona so I imagined a style that was rustic yet romantic. Paper Source chocolate paper was the perfect canvas, and with all the various products that come in this rich color, I had enough choices to piece together a beautiful invitation for our western themed affair. Using Paper Source products also gave me the opportunity to hand make several parts, which I found very gratifying. I believe my fiancé may disagree though!

I eventually went dress shopping, but not before spending hours at the computer in a creative trance only bridezilla fever could induce. I worked hard to create an impressive collection of delicately designed pieces for my big day, even if I was the only one who noticed! In the end, I had a fantasy wedding fit for anyone, designer or not. I had the perfect dress, beautiful weather and a very patient husband.

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

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