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Something Sweet for Ann: A Custom Baby Shower Game

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Since Ann is our go-to person for brilliant baby shower game ideas, it was challenging to think of something new she would not have seen before. Sticking with our sweet theme, we came up with a Sugar & Spice Timeline where everyone had to guess the year in which famous candies were born. A…
All you need is LOVE!

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As far as lyrics go, this one is about the most perfect line you could apply to life…“All you need is Love!” And, while we often think this famous Beatles tune is merely a phrase pulled from the song, I hope the following story will inspire you to reconsider the power of a few well... The post All…
The Big Easy Masks

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As a Midwesterner, I have trouble celebrating Mardi Gras. It’s usually cold. It’s usually gray. And the voodoo around here just isn’t the same. Sure, I honor the holiday with a batch of étouffée. I even go as far as accepting my father-in-law’s usual Sazerac offer, despite…
Graduation gift ideas

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Graduation is one of the most exciting summer celebrations. Who doesn’t love a good summer party and the excitement of new adventures?! But Graduation can also be the one of the most challenging gifting occasions. Either you’re not privy to the Grad’s preferences or you risk…
A baby shower game honoring Dad

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I have come to appreciate a good baby shower game. If done well, it’s a great way to get all your guests involved. Not to mention, a nice transition from the eating portion to the gift opening portion of the shower. I knew for this baby shower that I wanted to get my friend’s husband...…
Georgetown inspiration: Wedding day photography

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Paper Source Fan Abby G. and her husband were married in January, and they recently let us in on a special wedding day moment: While taking our wedding portraits in Georgetown, DC, I saw a gorgeous window display at the Paper Source store. Seeing as I used Paper Source for all of my DIY needs...…
Paper crowns for a royal affair

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A few of my Paper Source colleagues are getting up at 3 a.m. to watch the royal wedding, so I thought it would be fun to transform our paper crowns into something our friends across the pond would appreciate. So, in celebration of tomorrow’s momentous occasion, here is a paper crown that pays…
Something Sweet for Ann: A Sugar & Spice Baby Shower

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When our resident Hostess with the Mostess announced that she was pregnant with her first child, nearly everyone at Paper Source squealed in delight. Not only was Ann the perfect candidate for motherhood, but she was also deserving of one spectacular celebration. After all, she had planned so many…
How-to: Clover garland

Meg Kowieski

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.…
Creative gift wrapping: reusing a gift box

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Last month I needed a graduation gift for a friend. Deciding what was going inside the box was easy. Deciding how to jazz up my packaging took a little more time. I was traveling on a flight with this, so sturdy packaging was a must. I found a gift box I had saved (thanks, Anthropologie)... The…
Think outside (actually inside) the box

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Not long ago I didn’t know what a box mailer was, let alone all you could do with them…and now, I’m smitten. Here are a few ways to put them to work. Wedding Invitations Wouldn’t you love to receive a perfect little box addressed to you with a wedding invitation inside? Simply…
Something Sweet for Ann: A Touching Baby Shower Tradition

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This well known baby game was extra sweet at Ann’s shower because it was something played at her mom’s baby shower when she was pregnant with Ann. We created a calendar with dates surrounding Ann’s due date – each guest wrote their name on the date on which they thought…
Baby Shower Ideas: Something Sweet for Ann

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Our dear coworker Ann recently gave birth to her first child – a very sweet baby girl! Little Maggie arrived earlier this month, which gave us a chance to revisit Ann’s very special Sugar & Spice Baby Shower thrown in late summer. We enjoyed planning this event so much that we…
Something Sweet for Ann: Candy-Coated Shower Accents

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As part of Ann’s Sugar & Spice Baby Shower we found a few easy ways to take the candy theme beyond the refreshment table, creating wonderful paper accents for a touch of sweetness on every table. Pink candy pieces were included in floral centerpieces and extras were sprinkled on table…
Creative gift giving: Flip flop bracelets (with printable tag)

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Among the small treats that make me happy (in no particular order): chocolate, coffee, sheets of Lokta paper, new felt tip pens and, now, flip flop bracelets! I love mixing different color palettes on my wrist with stacks of these recycled bangles, and I absolutely love the story behind them. These…
Crafter’s Night Out: Join us Thursday for Bastille Day

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This month it seems we have a love affair with all things French! From Lauren’s experiences in the color-filled countryside to our recent Parisian-inspired bridal shower, we’re smitten with the sights and sounds of France. And, to top it off, tomorrow is Bastille Day! Get inspired at…
Fresh from the field, our lucky new color!

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We’re feeling lucky because our new shade of Clover arrived just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Now you can create fun stationery or festive decor with our newest green in solid papers and envelopes. This happy green answers a frequent customer request for something vibrant and true.…
Mother’s Day gift ideas

Meg Kowieski

Mother’s Day is coming up fast and we have a few favorite gift ideas to make her smile come May 8th! The Mom’s One Line A Day Journal is a wonderful way for mom to record everyday moments. It is designed for quick entries, since she is always busy! Once complete she’ll have five years... The post…
Welcome baby! Paper Source birth announcements are here!

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You spend hours creating the perfect nursery and you spend a lifetime nurturing that little being – now celebrate your new arrival with our exclusive line of stylish birth announcements. Parents may choose from 150 distinctive designs, including styles fit for a boy, a girl or twins. Each…
A must-see: Winter wonderland holiday card

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Our handmade holiday card inspiration continues with this magnificent creation by Rick V., Midwest Regional Manager for Paper Source. The corporate office was buzzing when this wonderful creation arrived. Of course we had to find out more, so here is his story… Having spent the past few years…
Baby shower ideas to share…

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My dearest friend, Kelly, is having her first baby next month and I had the pleasure of co-hosting a baby shower in her honor. We wanted this to be a wonderfully festive and fun baby shower filled with special touches and unexpected moments. Since the invitations were the first thing that guests…
How-to: Summer cup covers

Meg Kowieski

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…
Get wise with stylish new supplies

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If you’ve had time to flip through our latest catalog you probably found yourself having a hoot with our new line of office organization products. We always have a hard time picking a favorite calendar, but now the new office storage is causing greater debate. Some prefer the traditional…
Behind the design: 10 questions with PS Designer Leslie

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As part of an ongoing series dedicated to showing you the minds behind our designs, we hit up PS Designer Leslie for a quick 10 questions about the many things that inspire her designs and her whit. Leslie has contributed to several notable Paper Source products, including our 2012 Letterpress…
Carving your own stamp

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There are few things better than a lazy Saturday morning, sitting in a sunny spot at my kitchen table, with my favorite mug (enough brew for two refills), plus plenty of room to craft! One of my favorite craft projects is stamp carving! Once I learned how to carve my own stamps out of these... The…
DIY wedding programs

Meg Kowieski

With spring and summer weddings approaching, there are sure to be lots of last-minute crafting projects and to-do’s, as you prepare (or help someone else prepare!) for the big day. Keep it simple while getting stunning results with these program ideas– the perfect way to usher in a grand…
Studio City inspiration: Wedding place cards & menus

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We love how Paper Source Fan Lisa Y. used a monochromatic color palette and rubber stamps to accent her Eagle Castle Winery wedding in Paso Robles, California. Photograph courtesy of Inktree Photography I worked with TwoYellowShoes to design a custom template since I wanted the grapevines to go…
Chicagoland inspiration: Crafts for Halloween

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Stop by your local Paper Source this month to find some great Halloween ideas haunting our demo table (located in the front of all our stores), like the spooktacular crafts created by two of our Chicagoland locations. Our Naperville store created and easy-to-make Frankenstein Favor Box. What did…
Quick-step guide: Binding with the Zutter

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You’re probably thinking, “Zutter, what?” Or maybe you’re already a fan of this new DIY tool. To help you discover the magic of the Zutter Bind-It-All and its accessories, I created a simple keepsake book in five easy steps. Items needed: • Zutter Bind-It-All • Wire cutters…
How-to: Silvery Tree Holiday Card

Meg Kowieski

Make the holiday season merry and bright with this Silvery Tree Holiday Card. Use the Fuchsia base recommended in our How-To or modify with your favorite colors of the season. Materials Needed: • Silvery Tree Holiday Card How-To PDF • Fuchsia A2 Folded Card • Cover Weight Paper in Fushsia, Pure…
Buyer’s favorite: Unique Father’s Day gifts

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Father’s Day is approaching and, whether your dad is sweetheart or a geek at heart, we have unique gifts for dad. Geek is the new cool, so for the geek dad we have tons of options. The Geek Pen is my personal fave – It comes complete with a stylus, flexible LED light, UV light,... The post…
Behind the Design: Silhouette samples from PS experts

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The latest Paper Source catalog hits mailboxes this week! Inside you will find a special feature on The Art of Craft, an inspirational resource page with recipes for rubber stamping, embossing and stenciling. We also explored DIY letterpress and digital die cutting projects. Paper Source…
Festive pennant garland gift wrap

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I’m loving the pennant garlands I see online. Whether made from paper or fabric, strung inside or outside, and used for kids or adults, they are perfectly festive. And I especially love them when they are scaled down to a miniature version (take a look at the tiny birthday garland Annie…
Upcoming workshop: Creative Spiral Travel Book

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Our newest crafting tool has me dreaming up great gifts, like the perfect graduation gift for my nephews. The Zutter Bind-It-All let me turn old photos, loose objects and paper into a spiral bound keepsake book. Since many of you seek unique graduation gifts and creative ways to package your summer…
Guest blogger: A birch & bluebirds wedding

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My sister Carla and her husband Kevin met in high school and got married in the White Mountains of New Hampshire last August. Carla knew from the start that she wanted birds to play a major role in her theme, and for her colors to be “blue, shades of blue, maybe blue and some bluish... The post…
Upcoming event: Kids Holiday Crafting

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No one is more excited about the holiday season than your kids, and we have the perfect outlet for their joy and laughter. This weekend our stores are hosting a Kids Holiday Crafting Play Day where your kids and their friends can celebrate the season with festive paper crafts. Using a few of our…
Win a PS Gift Card – tell us your inspiration!

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Some would say 2011 was the Year of the Rabbit, but from the eyes of a Paper Source fan it seemed to be the Year of the Creature. How often have you looked at an octopus and thought, “He’s so cute!” Or swooned over quirky owls in the wilderness. Or infused holiday cheer with the... The post…
Special Event: A Midsummer’s Eve Affair

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We’re counting down the days to our big DIY celebration (20 to be exact), and we hope to see you at one of our 43 store locations on June 4th. In fact, as a special treat to those who register, we’re giving away one FREE copy of Handmade Weddings – Register by Sunday, May 22nd... The…
How-to: Patriotic lei

Meg Kowieski

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:…
Pasadena inspiration: Bridal shower style

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Paper Source Fan Jennifer W. shared her DIY projects from a shower she recently co-hosted. As a regular of our Pasadena store, Jennifer worked with our team to create a bridal shower theme that perfectly celebrated the couple’s wedding plans. Since the wedding colors were black and white with…
B is for baby

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Gender neutral baby showers can be challenging because the obvious themes and color schemes aren’t good options. For my dear friend Laura, I went with a theme that would honor her love of reading and her mother, who is a librarian in our home town. With a little planning it was easy as ABC.…
Inside PS: Careers at Paper Source

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Customers often ask us what it’s like to work at a place that inspires people to Do Something Creative Every Day. The short answer: inspiring, challenging and rewarding. As you can imagine, most of us were customers first, just hitting up our favorite store for DIY projects, handmade gifts or…
Quick-step guide: snaps, eyelets & brads

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A PS Fan fan recently wrote in about a 4″ x 6″ booklet idea she was working on and, like many of us, the final execution of her project was unanswered – How was she going to secure the pages of her booklet? Would it be snaps? Could it be eyelets? Or should it be... The post…
Wedding inspiration for the DIY bride

Meg Kowieski

Each year when we launch our new Wedding Invitation Collection in stores, our crafts team builds wonderful wedding inspiration boards to share with our store customers. They create DIY options to enhance the wedding invitations and we thought our online customers would also love to see, so here you…
How-to: Panda love card

Meg Kowieski

And you thought only teddy bears were lovable? This adorable little Panda makes a huggably sweet folded note- perfect for your Valentine sentiments! Created by the Paper Source Craft Design team, you can construct your Panda Love Card with colors of the season, or mix and match with your favorite…
It’s here! New Colorscope readings for Paper Source fans

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Astrology may have let you down with the addition of Ophiuchus, but identifying your Paper Source Colorscope sign is easy, especially with the addition of fig, peacock, persimmon and sunshine. So, we ask,“What’s your Colorscope?” Pick your favorite Paper Source color, review your…
How-to: Mother’s Day pop-up card

Meg Kowieski

We’re crazy about daisies and we know mom will be too. Make a Mother’s Day card that is sure to bring her smile to full bloom with this easy pop-up card design. It’s perfect for celebrating mom or other springtime occasions. Materials Needed: • Pop-up Card How to PDF •…
Wedding bells are ringing at Paper Source

Meg Kowieski

We Love Weddings, We Do, We Do! All the creativity surrounding weddings is so inspiring! Flowers, pretty dresses, great food, cake, heartfelt moments…what’s not to love?! But we must say, our most favorite part is the invitation and stationery. We are pleased as champagne punch to…

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