Can you believe that Easter is right around the corner? It is so early this year! So, if any of our readers are scrambling to complete plans for their gathering, I thought I’d take the pain out of filling those Easter baskets by recommending a few of my favorite gifts for Easter.

Celebrate with a fun and festive Easter basket. This year we introduced a few into our assortment. The Paper Birdhouse Box is an adorable basket option — perfect for holding candy and other small treats. Hang inside or outside for something fun to find! Our egg-shaped baskets are a lovely spin on the more traditional basket. We offer paper grass for filling!

Now, for the good stuff! We have added more than 100 gifts since the holiday season, including gifts for kids that are the perfect size for baskets. We have pulled together a few recommendations to make things easy — ask your store associate for assistance or shop our favorite Easter gifts online. Personally, Easter isn’t compete without the all-favorite Easter Bunny making an appearance. Surprise someone you love with this Bashful Bunny (or his miniature bunny friend) for a wonderful addition to your Easter festivities.

-Lindsay, PS Gift Buyer
PS colors: beet & fuchsia
Latest fave: Octopi

Celebrate the Easter season with our adorable Bunny and Chick Egg Friends. These fun characters are great as Easter cards, springtime decorations or cute paper companions for your little ones.

Materials Needed:

• Easter Bunny and Chick Egg Friends How-To PDF
• Egg Shapes Assortment Pack
• Googly Eyes
• Cover Paper in Poppy and Eco-White
• Bubblegum and Tangerine Sugar Coated 12 x 12 Paper
• Begonia, Powder and White Glitter Tape
• 1/4″ Hole Punch
• Scissors
• Zots Glue Dots
• Black Marker or Pen

Instructions:

1. Use templates provided to cut out shapes from indicated papers.
2. Adhere shapes onto corresponding egg shapes using glue dots, then glue googly eyes in place.
3. Embellish bottoms of eggs with strips of glitter tape as shown and trim off excess.
4. For bunny’s nose, punch out a circle from the pink glitter paper using 1/4″ hole punch and glue in place.
5. Draw in bunny’s mouth and whiskers using black marker or pen.
6. Great as place cards or for sending Easter wishes!

Happy Easter!

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

Make St. Patrick’s Day a cinch (not a pinch) by donning a bit o’green you’ve created yourself! Our four leaf clover die cut shapes make it easy to wear some flair. Simply layer shapes, print and stick the labels and finish off with a glittery accent. Simple enough to make for all your friends. Lucky you!

Materials Needed:

• Lucky St. Patrick’s Day Badge How-To PDF
• Clover Shapes Pack
• Eco-White 2.5″ Round Labels
• Grass Glitter Ribbon (coming soon!)
• Scissors
• Double Stick Tape
• Large Zots Dots
• Safety Pin

Instructions:

1. Using this PDF label template, print “KISS ME I’M IRISH!” onto labels.
2. Stick label onto clover shape of your choice.
3. Use double stick tape to layer the clover with the label onto another clover, slightly staggering the shapes.
4. Tie a piece of glitter ribbon into a square knot and trim ends into a “V” shape.
5. Adhere ribbon in place using a Zot Dot.
6. For the most secure hold, we recommend using a pin to wear your badge.

Erin go Bragh!

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

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, which means this weekend might be the perfect time to create something sweet for your Valentine. In addition to the fun and easy craft kits offered at Paper Source, we surfed the web for other inspiring Valentine’s Day cards and crafts.

Photo courtesy of Paper. Scissors. Superheroes.

Paper. Scissors. Superheroes. shows us how to turn magazine pages into adorable Valentine’s Day heart ornaments. Try your hand with your latest Paper Source catalog, thread or Baker’s Twine and a few handy adornments.

Photo courtesy of One Sheepish Girl

Recycled never looked sweeter than this upcycled version of our Letterpress Calendar. Our Bridgeport store fell in love with the crochet edge of these cards.

Photo courtesy of One Sheepish Girl

One Sheepish Girl walks (or should we say stitches) through the steps of creating this boarder on a flat card or around a heart card. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s always fun to make a themed party extra special, and our pre-cut heart shapes and striped paper straws are a perfect match for your Valentine’s Day get-together. They’re a cinch to make and will make a bold, colorful statement on your table. Show your guests extra love and customize them with names!

Materials Needed:

• Valentine Party Drinking Straws How-To PDF
• Red & White Paper Straws
• Heart Shapes Pack
• Fuchsia Glitter Ribbon
• Rouge Glitter Ribbon
• Hot Pink Adhesive Crystals
• Red Adhesive Crystals
• Uniball White Gel Pen
• Small Zots Dots
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Layer heart shapes using small zots dots.
2. Embellish by writing a loving message or adding adhesive crystals.
3. Attach to straws using more small zot dots.
4. Create ribbon flags by wrapping a small length of glitter ribbon around straw and using a zot dot to keep in place.
5. Trim ends with scissors for added flair.

Sip & Enjoy!

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

As letter writers, we were tickled when Stephanie told us about her New Year’s resolution. We thought her story would inspire your creativity and, for those of you with sisters or loved ones who live afar, touch your heart.

We hope you enjoy this story and the inspiring year ahead!

I am so lucky to have an incredibly amazing sister who just so happens to live on the other side of the world– Sydney, Australia to be exact. Several years ago (when she lived oh-so-much closer) we went through a brief phase where we would send each other wacky postcards that we found on our journeys. It was always such an unexpected surprise to go the mailbox and find a postcard mixed in with the bills, magazines and junk mail that awaited me. It’s so rare to receive a piece of handwritten mail these days and these little cards brightened my spirit. They made me laugh, they warmed my heart and they made me think of my beautiful sister and remember how dear she is to me.

Postcards from Allie

Late in 2010, an idea came to me that I hoped my sister would embrace. I thought it would be fun for us to do a sort of New Year’s Resolution together, but instead of giving something up, we would take on a challenge. The challenge? Send each other a postcard each week of 2011. Thankfully, my sister jumped right on board and, by the first week of January, a beautiful postcard of the Sydney Opera House arrived in my mailbox.

Searching for postcards fitting to send is part of the adventure. Wherever I go, I now scout for postcards that either make me giggle or evoke a memory from years past. The messages written on the cards vary from week to week. We share details of recent trips (hers are admittedly more exciting than mine– I sent her a postcard about my day-trip to Minneapolis to conduct a Store Audit the same week that I received a card from her with details of her adventure in Malaysia), other times we share memories from our childhood, and stories of the crazy things that our cats– and husbands– do. Read the rest of this entry »

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 in the Pacific Northwest, the mountains, snow and beauty of the moonlight shining on the snowy trees was the initial inspiration. The snow and surroundings are amazing after a nice snowfall.

The card went through several rounds. At first it was going to be a pop up card, but I could not perfect it in time (will probably be included in my card next year). Then, the idea of cross sections of wood spurred this iteration, as did our Faux Bois stationery and rubber stamp. The layers of trees and forest animals completed the idea with additions added throughout the process. Read the rest of this entry »

Our Annual Holiday Card Contest drew to a close yesterday. Thanks to those of you who submitted fantastic and original holiday card concepts, voting is going to be difficult.

While we wait for votes to trickle in from our teams, we wanted to put the spotlight on a few of last year’s submissions. We hope the recap will serve as inspiration and connect you with others who share your love for the handmade greeting.

Enjoy!

Created by Elisa B.

Created by Haley S. Read the rest of this entry »

Anytime I share a project on the PS Blog, I feel like the title should be prefaced with, “From the less than crafty files.” But, with the constant encouragement of colleagues — Linda, my go to for execution tips; Rebecca, who shares similar taste and IS crafty; and Kristen, who I frequently poll regarding the cool/helpful/unique/funny nature of content — I feel better about throwing my amateur projects up as inspiration for our readers.

Which brings me to today’s post — a ridiculously simple holiday card.

I’m sure a true designer could really make this magical. But, if you lack the time, resources and patience (like me), then know that this ornament card transforms into a wonderfully cute invitation or greeting card with the help of Microsoft Word, a home printer, fine paper, adhesive and colorful envelopes.

Here’s how:

Simply format the text in Word based on 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ paper dimensions, remembering that the longest text line should be approximately 3″ down from the top (taper up and down from there).

Run a 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet through the printer, then line up the ornament card to the printed sheet and adhere with tape, lightly so you can remove after it is printed. Read the rest of this entry »