Seren
It took me awhile to post this because I bought so much at the sale that I had to leave it in Chicago with my family and wait for them to take pity on me and ship my box. I should have photographed the stuff before I left Chicago, but I wasn't thinking that far in advance. I now have all my wonderful studff and am excited to share it with all of you. If you are interested in going to the sale next year, let me know...maybe we can meet up for coffee the night before and then after the sale I'll see if I can talk someone (hint, hint Pop) into driving us around to the various stamp, paper and art supply stores I love. We can do a caravan if we can gather enough people!!! Paper Artists Unite!
FLAT CARD SETS $2/PACK (25/PACK)Each year I go to the Paper Source Warehouse Sale in Chicago. It’s usually held the last Saturday of April and is a ton of fun. I have gotten some outstanding deals at the sale as well as met some incredible people…but over the past few years I have also learned some tricks of the trade that I want to share with you while they are still fresh in my mind.First, let me start by saying that the Paper Source is one of my favorite paper stores. I am a huge fan of their colors and shaped cards and rarely am I able to go into one of their stores merely to browse. I have no control over myself when I’m in the midst of so damn much incredible paper. However, I am no longer a corporate raider so I have to look out for sales whenever possible…and the annual PS Sale is important enough for me to drive to Chicago to attend.
Since I don’t like to drive in the city much, I beg my Dad to give me a ride downtown. This alleviates the need for me to worry about parking. I leave the to Pop and he seems to handle it just fine…though he has NO interest in coming in so for all I know he could be driving around the block for two hours! I also take my sister, Catherine, along with me. She too is into paper art and enjoys it, but she is also helpful when trying to navigate the crowd and when its time to stand in line. Another set of hands is imperative when trying to snap up things off the ridiculously wide tables that cram every nook and cranny of the room.
Since I mentioned the check out line already I will just say it…you very well may spend more time in line to check out than you spend shopping. The line was especially crazy this year…not because it was disorganized…merely because it was way long! I had sis hop into line just before I knew we were done. 
We took turns pushing our bags of loot forward while the other person made a few more rounds of tables. We also communed with our line neighbors that had no back-up so they could make rounds as well…but don’t count on that. My first year the women before and after me were unwilling to save my spot when I remembered at the last minute that I hadn’t picked something up I needed. I ended up having to ask a random man waiting for his girlfriend to stand in my spot. Thank god he was happy to stand in one place for a while!
Every good shopper knows you need to wear comfy shoes and such…but you should know this is no mall you’re going to…one year it was cold and rainy outside, but super hot on the upper floors of this building. I wore shorts, gym shoes and a sweatshirt and was fine…other women in jeans and sweaters looked at my like I was crazy as we went in, but within a few moments they knew what I was up to…just note…the joint isn’t air conditioned and there’s a lot of people in a relatively small space.
Lastly…take a bag…a BIG cloth/canvas bag with long handles that you can drag or push along the floor if possible. Paper Source has lots of boxes to offer shoppers, but they quickly become heavy and hard to move with…which means its hard to get to products you want to consider close up. 
Your box also begins to look like every other box of paper products and every time you set it down you’ll have to keep shooing people away from your loot! Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose -- you may not notice the note cards you love (and need) are gone until you get to the check out area…and by then, its just too late.
Cash. Cash. Cash. Cash. Cash. Oh…did I say CASH!!!!!! They don’t take credit cards or checks or any other form of payment other than CASH…so bring lots. Keep it tucked away until you need it of course, but bring cash…and don’t expect a cash station anywhere easy. I didn’t see one, though that certainly doesn’t mean there isn’t one around…there could be, but who wants to have to go searching for one when there’s a sale going on!!! Prices. Most things are marked…Bbut some things are not. Take whatever you want to the check out area and ask for the price…if you think you want it, take it because it will mostly likely not be there when you come back. If you’re not happy with the price or saw the price marked lower on a different color or style…remember to mention it, they may lower the price for you. I spent $122.75 including tax. You can see what I bought scattered through this post…but I’ve also provided a list at the end of this post.
Quality. The quality of items varies so look carefully! Some things are still in packages and aren’t damaged at all…something’s have minor blemishes…or paper has faded or something is oddly sized…a 4Bar envelope set that doesn’t fit a 4Bar card for example. Not a huge deal if you don’t mind cutting down the cards…but a huge deal if you’re doing invitations or something and would have to cut down 500 cards…that may change everything.
And lastly…if you see someone with something you want…ask them where they found it. If its not there anymore, ask a sales associate if they have anymore. The Paper Source employees and customers are incredibly nice people overall and this sale is not about being obnoxious and overly aggressive (at least not for most people)…this sale is about people who love paper – artists of all shapes and sizes…so be kind, say excuse me and watch where you’re going.
What did I buy for $122.75?
6 journals
10 string and button #10 envelopes
60 A9 envelope liner templates
29 4Bar envelope liner templates
125 booklet backings
200 cream and watercolor ric rac cards
3 packs of 10-sheet flower embedded paper
200 white circle cards
12 mini journals
(2) 10 packs of pretty flower printed cards
100 4Bar bluebell scallop cards
Misc. Flower Paper Sample Strips
50 lavender circle cards
50 flat 6.25x6.25 luxe cream cards
25 flat 6.25x6.25 luxe frost cards
10 chocolate slide in invitation folios
The are Paper Sources in several major cities…but I believe there is only one big warehouse sale and that’s in Chicago. You can call the Warehouse after April 1st for sale details. My favorite store is the Evanston, Illinois store...probably not for any other reason than it's Evanston...but I do like it there and find I buy the most there! But I will be teaching a rubber stamping class at the Minneapolis store...so you should all go to that one as well!
Paper Source Warehouse – Chicago
328 South Jefferson
Chicago, IL 60661
555 727 3711
The building is at the corner of Jefferson and Jackson…and this year’s sale was from 9am – 2pm Saturday, April 29th.
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