Easy DIY Paper Pumpkins

A few weeks ago we did these quick and easy, little, paper pumpkins as a free craft in our store. We got a great response, but I know that a lot of our Instagram followers wished they could have been there. I figured- why not do a little tutorial so you all can make them at home? I know, Halloween is this weekend- but this is such an awesome craft for any fall decor (would be so cute in a cluster for a Thanksgiving centerpiece!) Plus they only take a few minutes- so why not?

This is an easy craft for kids or adults! I would love to see it done with patterned paper or as a garland (WOULD BE SOOO CUTE) but whatever you do- tag us @paperieandpen #radpaperhowto so we can see! 

The supplies are pretty simple and straight forward. The best paper would be a text weight (thin) paper like from an office copy machine. I think it would also work well to use wrapping paper or a non-cardstock scrapbook paper. If you would like to make a larger pumpkin, you can make the strips longer and use more of them.

A normal hold punch works fine, just make sure you are punching the holes in the same place. But if you do a lot of hole-punching, a Crop-a-dile will be the best thing that has ever happened to you...since you can punch through a whole stack at once!

Punch 2 equal holes in your paper strips- one on each end, and one in the center. You will then assemble a brad in the center hole and fan out your strips into an equal circle.

Take another brad (point side up) and start gathering the ends of the strips one by one until you for a nice spherical shape. It works best if you alternate strips that are across from each other. When you have collected all of the ends, loosely open the brad to keep it all together while you cut your leaves. 

Take your leaf paper and fold in half. Cut a leaf shape out of one side. If you would like to draw it first, you may- but you can just freehand with the scissors if you are daring.

Open up your leaf shape and make sure you like the size with your pumpkin, feel free to trim down if you would like. Once you are ready, punch a hole in the center of the leaves and the center of your brown rectangle. Then you can open the brad at the top of your pumpkin and add the leaves and brown, then re-open the brad and tightly fasten.

You can then start to scrunch and twist the brown paper into a stem. Be careful not to pull it off of the brad while you are doing this. But the more that you twist and manipulate the end upward- the more it looks like a stem.

You are finished! Feel free to add finishing touches to your pumpkin- we crinkled our leaves a little bit. We would love to see how yours turned out- make sure to tag us: @paperieandpen #radpaperhowto

Hope you had fun!

PAPER PARTY, OMG!

We LOVE our amazing customers, fans and social media stalkers so much that we are throwing you a party! Come and enjoy a local brew from Payette Brewing Co. and show off your costume skills from 4-8

We hope that you are interested in participating in our MAIN EVENT-- the Proof Eyewear Pinewood Derby Tournament! Here's how it works:

- Purchase your kit from 1 of 2 locations. Paperie + Pen in the Village at Meridian, or from Proof Eyewear's Boise Flagship location in BoDo. Kits are $5 and include everything you need to make the raddest of derby cars.

CAR SPECS

A. Width: Not to exceed 2 3/4 Inches

B. Length: No to exceed 7 inches

C. Weight: Not to exceed 5.0 ounces on scale accurate to 1/10 ounce

D. Height: Not to exceed 3 inches

- Show up early to register. Registration will be open between 4:00PM - 5:30PM on Saturday, October 24th and the racing will begin at 6PM.

-If we don't sell out of the kits before the event, they will be available to purchase during registration if you're feeling super ambitious and have overly speedy boy scout widdling skills.

-Format of the race might change depending on the number of entries. We are planning for a single elimination tournament style competition.

-Prizes will be awarded for most creative and fastest cars. Prizes include prize packs from Proof Eyewear, Paperie + Pen, Payette Brewing and the Village at Meridian.

COSTUME CONTEST:

Register for free for the costume contest between 4-5:30 at Paperie + Pen. There, we will take your photo and post it for voting. Voting will begin at 5:30 and go until the end of the Derby race. Winners will be announced after the Derby race. Must be present to win!

** Categories are not pre-determined. But feel free to come as individual, couples or groups. Kids are welcome to participate!!

BEER GARDEN PROVIDED BY PAYETTE BREWING CO.

MUSIC AND SOUND SUPPLIED BY SOUNDWAVE

CLICK HERE TO RSVP & INVITE FRIENDS

Meet the staff: Amy!

Meet Amy! She is one of our 'new girls'...in that Nichole still hasn't made her a name tag. Although she may be quiet and have no on-hand jokes, this girl is pretty dang funny. She is always wearing the most adorable footwear and has this gorgeously-effortless simplistic thing going about her that I couldn't even try to replicate. Don't even ask her to be friends on facebook, because she's anti-social-network, so she will probably never even read these nice things we have to say about her. We love us some Amy, and you will too--

Tell us a little bit about you and your background: Born and raised in Boise. Lived in Seattle for a hot minute after high school but glad to be back home

What is your favorite part about working at Paperie + Pen? My favorite part about working at P+P is being just as passionate about the product as the customers are. Every time new merchandise comes in, it's like Christmas!

When your are not working, what do you enjoy doing in your free time? I don't really have free time anymore because I just went back to college full-time after a 10 year hiatus (yikes) so when I'm not working I'm either doing homework or I've fallen asleep reading my textbooks. My favorite part of every day is seeing my pup after a long day.

What are 4 superficial things you can’t live without? My shoes, Garance Dore blog, Pinterest, Starbucks

Favorite P+P vendor and why: Favorite P+P vendor would have to be a tie between Garance Dore (I love her style so much!) and Rifle Paper. I love the French, nostalgic and classic vibe from both.

Favorite Restaurant in the Boise Area: My favorite restaurant around town is Red Feather. Their brunch is the best and I love their patio scene.

Favorite Movie: Favorite movie is a tie between When Harry Met Sally and the Bones Brigade documentary

Favorite Song/Singer/Band:  Favorite all-time singer is Tom Petty (I actually had a dream about hanging out with him last night haha - not in a creepy way though)

Favorite Thing(s) to order from Starbucks:  My go-to Starbucks drink is a Tall Coconut milk Latte

Favorite TV Shows: I love all types of TV shows but my favorites are the ones I can nerd out watching (PBS, John Oliver, Dateline) oh and CBS Sunday Morning (I'm basically an 80 yr old woman)

Favorite Celebrity Crush: Tom Hardy

What is your best on-hand joke? I have no jokes, eep!

Sum yourself up in a hashtag: #PizzaForLife

Product Highlight: Emily Ley Baby Book

This year, I was pregnant with my first child. For anyone who has been pregnant before, you know that basically- it is 9 months of torture, which makes you obsessive. For some, they are obsessed with the nursery. Some are obsessed with naming the child. Some are obsessed with obtaining every possible gadget and doo-dad for the little one.

I, was obsessed with ALL of it! 

With my obsession came documentation. I wanted to document every piece of this experience, the pregnancy, the birth, the baby. Being a wedding photographer, documentation is so important to me- really, it is everything I stand for. So choosing the perfect baby book was imperative.

On my search for this "perfect" baby book- I found cute options that weren't practical, or worse- practical options that weren't cute. Most baby books are stitch-bound, so it is impossible to add to them or customize them much.

WELL- weeks after finding a baby book that would 'work for us', Emily Ley did it again...(if you have ever owned a Simplied Planner, you know what I am talking about) she released a baby book that really had everything I was looking for! 

- Visually appealing: beautiful, clean design, gold foil on the front and back cover as well as the color coded page tabs, modern but timeless, unisex- so can be bought as a baby gift, or before the gender is determined-- and of course it matches the chair in my nursery PERFECTLY.

-Practical: the format is a standard size 3-ring binder, so the pages can be rearranged. I love this, because most baby books' order isn't always the way that things happen for your baby. Such as- first haircut page is usually around a year, my baby's first haircut happened at 9 weeks... with this format, you can put everything in the exact order it happened for your little one. You can also add more pages and it is SIMPLE since you can use a 3-hole punch to add whatever you'd like. So practical. I love keeping everything for my son, but I am a busy mama...so the 3- ring simplifies everything so you can add it to your book right away. 

- High Quality: I guess this can also double dip into the visual appeal- but the pages are thick but not cumbersome and the printing and gold foil is perfection. It is lightweight- yet durable. And the cover has a lamination that can be easily wiped... just in case tiny, sticky fingers might find their way on their heirloom.

When it comes down to it, no child is alike and I think mama EL knows that as much as the rest of us! Her design has so much personality, but so much room to add your own personality and the personality of your little one! The pages included go up to YEAR 5! But with the 3-ring format, you can pack that puppy full of all sorts of "firsts" and photos. 

Bravo again Emily Ley. Bravo.

written by Nichole Schoener

Emily Ley Baby Book and other EL Products available at Paperie + Pen in-store and in our online shop while supplies last. SHOP NOW

Meet the Staff: Dani

Who would be a better employee to start off our new 'meet the staff' blog feature than our very own store manager: Dani? That's right, no one...that's why she is our first feature.

Miss Danielle Jackson is our go-to-gal for all things 'muy importante'. She has the best smile on the block, some serious product knowledge, and probably some of the funniest facebook updates I have ever seen. And if you want to know the fastest way to Nichole & Frannie's hearts- be a hard worker, and make us laugh. 

Photo by: Ampersand Studios

Tell us a little bit about you and your background: I’m a Boise State senior majoring in Communications, and long-lost best friend of Mindy Kaling and Lena Dunham (I’m sure). There are few things I love more than a campfire s’more and a good pair of wedges. While I love my big city birthplace of San Francisco and catching the occasional Giants game or musical, I have deep roots here and a love for all things Idaho. Who wouldn't love a city where you can wake up to a skyline filled with hot air balloons?

What is your favorite part about working at Paperie + Pen? I love working for a small local business and the freedom we have to bring in whatever vendors and artists we want!! I think it’s so cool that we get to bring the prettiest little things from near and far to customers who are just as excited about them as we are!

When your are not working, what do you enjoy doing in your free time? I love hiking in the foothills with friends and then hydrating with a Prefunk brew (that’s healthy, right?). I love the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings, and Sunday brunches on patios (I’m president of the No Mimosa Left Behind campaign). And Hawks games are too much fun, even though my baseball knowledge is gleaned from my brief kindergarten T-ball stint.

What are 4 superficial things you can’t live without? Chapstick. I have 3 half-used tubes in my purse currently. It costs to be luscious. Cafe Rio salads. Pure perfection in a little tin bowl takeout dish… thingy. My Spotify account! Gotta have dem sick jamz at my fingertips at all times. Coffee. Caffeine is just good. Good for the body, mind, and soul. And that’s undebatable.

Favorite P+P vendor and why: It’s hard to choose, I love so many of the things we carry. But I’ll have to say ban.do. How can you not love a company whose tagline is “Have fun, OK?” Sure ban.do, if you insist!! Everything is just so colorful and fun, while also maintaining a trendy sophistication. And go ahead and add their artistic director Jen Gotch to aforementioned list of my long-lost soul sisters.

Favorite Restaurant in the Boise Area: Fork and Bittercreek Alehouse are tied for two of my most frequented restaurants. I could go on about how cool it is that they use mostly locally sourced ingredients and all, but mostly they’re just really freaking delicious. If you haven’t tried the grilled cheese and tomato basil fondue from Fork, well then honestly I don’t know what you’ve been doing with your life.

Favorite Movie: I’d have to say a strong go-to is Clueless. Still saving up my P+P paychecks to install my computerized rotating closet. Favorite Song/Singer/Band: I love Indie Rock, and have a soft spot for late 90’s early 2000’s hits. (Say My Name by Destiny’s child will forever be my power jam). Lately I can’t get enough of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. And I listen to the Weeknd’s “I Can’t Feel My Face” like, 5 times a day.

Favorite Thing(s) to order from Starbucks: Dirty Chai. It’s a real thing. FOR REAL!

Favorite TV Shows: The Office, The Mindy Project, Seinfeld, and Flight of the Conchords are the ones I’m proud to admit, but I definitely tune in weekly for The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. #Sorrynotsorry I believe is what the kids say.

Favorite Celebrity Crush: John Kransinski. Don’t make fun! I would be the PB to his J. (Pam Beesley to his Jim for people not in the Office Fan Club).

What is your best on-hand joke? Well, I would tell you a good chemistry joke, but all the good ones ARGON. (See what I did there?? Zing!)

Sum yourself up in a hashtag: #itsthefreakinweekendbabyimabouttohavemesomefun I know it’s long, but R.Kelly doesn’t care. R.Kelly does what he wants.