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

This blog post has provided me with an opportunity to talk about two things I love: Our wonderful bindery department (yep, heard me right!) and the joy of learning to make handmade books. When I first came to Paper Source 7 1/2 years ago, our founder, Sue Lindstrom wanted to create our very own in-house bindery. She was interested then, as we are now, in creating hand-crafted products that speak to the core values of our company: use quality materials; pay close attention to the details; and above all, do it better than anyone else! All these years later, I am proud to say we are still making exquisite handmade products in our bindery at our headquarters here in Chicago.

Here are a few shots from our Paper Source bindery showing the items that eventually become the lovely photo albums, journals and guest books that you see in the stores and on our website. Some are covered in our Paper Source prints, some in our imported fine papers. And I couldn’t resist a photo of our imported German paste brushes that are so well-used, well-loved and last forever!

Now, if you’ve always wanted to learn to make books from scratch, then this blog post will satisfy that requirement too! Coming from someone who truly loves to make things with her hands (top of list are books), this next piece of information will make you very happy… this year we made sure to include on our New Year’s list of classes, a “how to craft an album or book by hand.” So, for all of you bookbinder wanna-be’s, this Saturday, January 30 ALL stores will be hosting a Fabulous Handmade Album workshop. We’ll teach you the in’s and out’s of making a 6″ x 8″ album by hand. You’ll not only leave with a finished album (plus get to be the envy of your friends), you’ll get to start the year off with a checkmark next to this one! Sign up while seats are still available.

Cheers & happy gluing!

–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

While planning our Girls Night Out: The Grateful Table we listened closely to the many customer requests we have received this year. Your wish list for a pre-holiday social crafting night included:

• A fun evening of inspiring ideas and some “not too serious” crafting
• Table accents appropriate for Thanksgiving, as well as for the holidays
• Secrets for packaging “fast and easy” hostess gifts
• An event early enough in the season to allow time to make all of the great ideas, at home
• Ideas for building new family traditions at the Thanksgiving table…my favorite request of all

While this is a lot to accomplish in one evening, I loved the challenge of fitting it all into a wonderfully fun and festive Girls Night Out…this is our way of saying “we’re grateful for you!” Many of the ideas featured at this event come from my fellow Paper Source colleagues, and what a joy it was to learn about the ways they celebrate the season with their own families. I hope you’ll join us and be inspired to bring some of our ideas to your family.

Mark your calendar for our Girls Night Out: The Grateful Table, on October 22 from 7-9pm. Visit our workshops page to register at your local store.

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

If you’ve ever had trouble finding just the right rubber stamp or if you’ve wanted to create a custom rubber stamp for a wedding or special event, consider making your own rubber stamps! This month we’re running a Carve Your Own Stamps workshop at all of our stores. We’ll take you through the start to finish process from creating an original drawing to carving your rubber stamp design. You’ll leave the workshop with a kit and the know-how to make plenty more custom rubber stamps at home. Design a few custom rubber stamps for your holiday cards and gift wrapping this year, and create one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for friends and family!

WHAT: Carve Your Own Stamps
WHERE: All Paper Source stores
WHEN: October. Dates and times vary, see store for details.
HOW: Visit our workshop page to find your store & purchase your $45 ticket.

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

Who doesn’t love Halloween?… the perfect time of year to throw a spook-tacular party! This year we decided to dedicate an entire workshop to fabulous and festive Halloween Deadcorations. Mark your calendar for our workshop on Saturday, October 10th.

We will teach you to make frighteningly fun party decorations including coffin invitations, spider-webbed favors, bootiful candy corn placecards, and more. These Halloween goodies are sure to inspire a festive night of Trick-or-Treat fun for all ages! All you’ll need to come up with is the perfect Halloween costume!

Even if you aren’t planning a Halloween party, you’ll be able to use the tips and tricks you learn in this class for craft projects and party planning any time of year. Sign up now, seats are limited.

WHAT: Halloween Deadcorations
WHERE: All Paper Source stores
WHEN: Saturday, October 10. Times vary, see store for details.
HOW: Visit our workshop page to find your store & purchase your $45 ticket.

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

Want to learn impressive bookbinding skills AND get organized at the same time? In this workshop we’ll teach you easy bookbinding techniques using our adhesive tapes and precut boards. At the end of the class you will have created your very own handmade 2010 datebook and we promise you’ll feel SO very accomplished! Our lovely Italian datebook inserts have traversed hurricane seas to get to us, so sign up early as this class is sure to sell out quickly once the books hit the stores.

Just think, once you gain these skills you can (and will want to!) make many more datebooks as keen holiday gifts!

WHAT: You never forget your first “Datebook”!
WHERE: All Paper Source stores
WHEN: Thursday, September 24. Times vary, see store for details.
HOW: Visit our workshop page to find your store & purchase your $35 ticket.

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

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

We’ve all been there– standing at the rubber stamping wall, eyes glazed over, pondering what the difference is between all those ink pads and what embossing powders actually even are.

Which is why we’ve created Rookie Rubber Stamping, an all-store workshop designed to explain all the incredible (and easy) things you can do with rubber stamps– enhancing invitations, stationery, favor boxes– really anything! In this technique class, you’ll learn to differentiate between stamp pads, when to use various inks and what papers work best. Plus, you’ll create your own “primer” filled with stamped swatches using our extensive collection of rubber stamps.

After you leave, you’ll be ready to face the rubber stamping wall with the confidence and inspiration to create dozens of new projects. If you’re ready to perform rubber stamping magic, mark your calendar and join us!

WHAT: Rookie Rubber Stamping Workshop
WHERE: All Paper Source stores
WHEN: Thursday, August 20. Times vary, see store for details.
HOW: Visit our workshop page to find your store & purchase your $35 ticket.

Seats are limited so sign up now!

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