Paper Talk

Today, we are in conversation with the amazing and always thoughtful, Lynn Dolan. Lynn started her paper flower journey nearly 7 years ago and before long, she was teaching how to make paper flowers and botanicals at Castle in the Air. She currently teaches workshops at Etui (Fall workshop schedule forthcoming).

Be sure to listen to Lynn as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her art and inspiration.

Lynn has been around the block for a while now so it’s no surprise that she’s got tons of useful insight into the paper flower art form and why she does what she does:

Let’s first learn a bit about Lynn:

1. Who is Lynn Dolan?

I'm an ordinary person in love with the world and the different types of humans in it - and especially in love with the natural world. It blows my mind that there is so much going on, just on our little blue planet, that an entire lifetime is not enough for anyone to become acquainted with all of it.

Not being an expert at any particular thing myself, I'm grateful for and really admire experts - scientists, naturalists, writers, painters, craftsmen, musicians, cooks, etc. I would like to keep learning from others as I continue to "grow up". In my daily life, I'm also a mom to a young teen who doesn't quite "get" my plant fascination, but is pretty patient about my projects and corny "mom humor". I was also supposed to have been a nurse by now, but I took a little detour until my son is a little older.

2. How did you find your branding style? How has your brand and style evolved to what it is today?

This is a tricky question - I don't see myself as having a "brand". I'd like certain freedom to evolve and indulge in whatever project interests me at any given moment - even if it's not "popular". I'm not obsessed with realism, but I aim to be respectful of whatever it is that makes a type of flower/plant what it "IS". So, a certain level of detail is important to me, but you're going to see it through my eyes and hands.

I am influenced by old paintings and botanical illustrations - especially Persian and renaissance depictions of plant life. Not a lot of it is "realistic", but you definitely know what it is that you are looking at, and it is quite graceful and the works have a unique finger-print to them.

I keep all of my old work in my IG gallery -- you can scroll all the way down to the first post to some of my "dorkier" stuff and see the 'evolution' of my paper art. a lot of "halfway-done' projects are there too! If you need a short answer - you could say my brand is: Plant portraits!

3. What are some of the challenges you've faced during your paper florist career?

The number one challenge: Simply explaining to others WHAT it is that I do. I think people hear the words, "paper flowers", and immediately picture something 'cutesy' or 'crafty' in a quick, simple way. I'm still reluctant to call myself an artist -- it's okay to feel like I am something in between a "crafter" and an "artist'. However, I STILL get a lot of inquiries for projects, collabs, commissions and there's a pattern: "You are so talented, your work is beautiful - blah -blah" - "Can you make (some absurd number of thing) for (an absurdly low cost) in an (absurdly short time frame)" - I used to see the disappointment /balking at my reply coming and try to come up with a defense/explanation of my work because I understood that they equated crepe paper with "quick, easy and cheap".

I usually would not even get a reply back. Now, I just give my rate, turn-around time, and a simple, "thank you for your interest" and let it go. I'm not emotionally invested in those interactions anymore. A lot of people still misunderstand what it is that I am doing and approach our work with some weird notions about its value -- in a way they would not other art using paper as a medium. I also long ago decided not to work in the wedding industry (although I think there is a healthy market for our craft in it!) because it didn't allow me to do the type of work that is personally gratifying to me.

4. How have you made your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd?

I just do my own thing - I don't know that I stand out?? Some things strike a chord with others and some of my favorites are only my favorites! I know some makers feel anxiety if they feel their work isn't received in a way they'd like - I choose to see a kind of freedom in it - no one owes me a "like" and I don't owe anyone any content!

I confess to getting a little bored of seeing the same things over and over sometimes - but I totally understand that there are certain flowers with wide appeal and that there is definitely an arc that people follow when they first get into this particular craft with certain "gateway flowers" - I did too! I'm happy when I see more people putting their own twist to the work and I'm working at being better at showing my appreciation when coming across subjects or work that is original.

5. How would you define your customer base?

For the most part, they are plant and natural history lovers, and lovers of botanical art in particular. They love objects, display pieces - and things that have an element of a 'joke' to them (hence, the boxes). They are fantastic entertainers, love a beautiful table, and are also great gift-givers. Usually, my commissions have a personal reference to them - a certain plant or something done in an unusual color - in honor of a loved one or memory.

I make sure my clients understand that this material is not archival quality - so they are ready to embrace the fading of the paper or any of the changes this medium undergoes over a period of time. My clients are very cool in that they "get" that!

6. What advice would you give to a paper florist that is starting out today? And one that is about to give up?

Oh, this is heavy --- I am aware that I am doing this for different reasons than many paper flower crafters. I KNOW that I would continue to do this even if no one else cared. I claim ownership of my work as something I ultimately do for my own pleasure and am truly grateful that I am able to indulge in it as much as I am able to these days. I am grateful to have been able to connect with others who share the same spirit.

I think you really have to sit down with yourself and examine (actually write down) what are the material and emotional returns you are wanting to get out of doing this thing? What sacrifices are you willing to make for those goals? If any of it sounds cringe-y to you afterward, alter your course. I think there are actually many who get into this "scene" with the same attitude as some of my would-be clients - "OOH! pretty, fast, cheap, paper!" - and it shows in their work.

This has made me a kind of a snob when it comes to e-commerce sites like Etsy, because I see the pages flooded with work that I actually think is underpriced for the amount of time/effort that has gone into pieces - not to mention, customers who can't tell the difference between a detailed piece and the productions stuff because it's "all just paper". IF YOU PRICE YOUR WORK TOO LOW, OTHERS WILL NOT SEE VALUE IN WHAT YOU DO NOT VALUE - AND you bring down the value entire market really.

Incidentally, Instagram amplifies that need for instant gratification by implying that you need to quickly cultivate a market or audience and do those weird "engagement growth" tactics, etc. I've been doing this paper thing on IG long before a lot of bigger accounts came on the scene. I saw the switch from personal/social accounts to marketing a business on quite a few - they'd be better to ask for business advice. I made a deliberate choice to keep a low-tech social approach to my own account.

I'm on here to make real friends! I am an observer by nature - and I did notice people talk about negative feelings associated with work comparisons, the pressure to be innovative or "keep up", getting approval from others, and the struggle associated with hustling 'to make it' to a business goal. I saw others who turned to marketing aggressively with their accounts and then they just kind of "dropped out" altogether - which felt inauthentic and merely transactional, but to each his own!

Why are you giving up? Did you have clear goals realistic from the beginning? Did you place some unrealistic time frame on your goals? More importantly, are those goals rooted in business or in art? Did you imagine a potential for "easy" income? Is this something you are ultimately doing for personal development? Are you merely following a trend? Do you know that trends come and go?

Would you STILL do this thing if no one else cared?? If you really do LIKE what you are doing, you will be more fearless about it and the right language to describe your work will come naturally to you. In the end, I enjoy this art/craft. The process is therapeutic and I find joy in the act of making these things. It gets me out of doors and using my eyes in new ways. That there are people willing to pay me for the results is merely a bonus - I'm happy that they understand the basis of what I do and that they are sympathetic! I'm not making income hand over fist, just enough to feed my passions!

The only solid business advice I have is from personal experience. You are not obligated to please people. It is OKAY (and sometimes beneficial) to say NO to projects and other requests. Respect your work pace and make room for being a well-rounded human being - or it will show in your work. I firmly believe in not becoming a mere 'producer'. This is why I turn down most production work - but that's just me. I realised how unhappy and bored I was making too many of one thing at a time - and then the entire lot of that work was never really appreciated by the client anyway. I'm anti hustle!

7. Do you have any paper flower making tips to share with our listeners?

I think this applies mostly to beginners --- there is a tendency to be too precious with the paper. Ironically, "It's just paper!" does apply in this case, when you are looking at the paper in its raw state, NOT post-transformation as your finished work. Experiment! Try coloring techniques on scraps. Look at colors as "base colors" not as the final color you are aiming for, and see potential new color palettes open up to you.

Don't be heavy-handed with the glue or the coloring tools, it's always better to have to add more of those than try to mitigate a soggy over-saturated mess. Then, there's the more philosophical advice: Invest in the process - SLOW DOWN. Ask yourself questions as you look at your work in progress. "Is it the right silhouette? Are the petal margins really this perfect?

Do I notice certain patterns or 'behaviors' in the real thing? Avoid making clones of things (that's actually just my pet peeve - WHY would you want 5 roses that are EXACTLY alike in a bouquet?) Use Google images as a great resource tool - lookup botanical prints and macro images of your subject matter. I think 75% of my work is observation and choosing colors.

8. Do you have a favorite tool you use on a daily basis?

I LOVE using wooden skewers to curl leaves, petals, thin wire. I also use them to score surfaces, poke holes, make textures in paper clay, etc. So simple, yet so useful! I also try to make my class projects accessible so that you don't feel like you MUST buy a ton of sprays, coloring tools, etc. You can really use a bunch of things that are on hand at home if you don't get yourself hung up on another person's techniques.

I'm constantly having to improvise - mostly because I have chaotic (translate: BAD) habits! The quality of your scissors is non-negotiable though! You will work more efficiently and save wear and tear on your joints, if you decide that you want to make a lot of things, by investing in the right pair of high-quality scissors! 

Want to learn more about Lynn?

Follow her on her Instagram @lmdolan75 to keep admiring her beautiful paper flowers.

Today we are chatting with three talented Paper Florists, Kelly Grace Gibbons, Susan Bonn, and Jessa Parker, about their businesses and honing their craft! All three lovely ladies were at the Masterclass in the spring so it was incredibly nice to come together again and hear their stories.

Get to know Susan Bonn’s paper flower journey:

Tell us a bit about your paper flower business
I started making paper flowers about 4 years ago. It was a hobby for me while still working my corporate job. After my retirement last year, I moved to a full-time career as a paper florist, and I’m so glad I did! My flowers are all made to order. I make flowers for all occasions and gift-giving. I love to personally deliver my flowers to their new owner—the look on the face of the recipient is priceless!!!

How would you describe your paper flowers and/or your aesthetic?
I’m pretty structured in my personal style, so my flowers reflect that aesthetic. I like to make my flowers look as realistic as possible. I use the dissection of fresh-cut florals as my inspiration. 
I’m working on making some less structured blooms, with more movement and fluidity in the structure—It’s a learning process.

What do you find the most challenging and rewarding about having a paper flower business?
Running your own business is hard! Making flowers is the fun part, for sure, but there are many daunting tasks associated with running your own business. It’s been challenging learning website design and maintenance, not to mention keeping up-to-date bookkeeping and business software.

What advice would you give to new paper flower artists?
Have fun! Pick up a pair of scissors and just start cutting. You’ll be surprised at what you can do. Learn from nature-Mother Nature is so willing to share her creations. Pick a flower from your garden and take it apart—you’ll see how Mother Nature put it together!

Reach out to your fellow paper florists! There’s lots of helpful information to access. Many of us have classes that can be viewed on platforms such as Teachable. Don’t get too caught up in making it a business. Learn the basics. Make lots of mistakes. The business part will come later and you’ll be better prepared.

What’s one tool you unexpectedly fell in love with and now use regularly?
Omg—Life-Changing Blending brushes from Picket Fence! These are a game-changer for me I have several sets that I use to lay down Pan Pastels on paper.

Get to know Jessa Parker’s paper flower journey:

Tell us a bit about your paper flower business.

I’ve been making paper flowers since 2015. I started with my wedding where I made all of the boutonnières, bouquets, and decor using cardstock paper. From there, I took a year to build up a library of flower designs and to figure out where I wanted to fit in the paper flower community. I chose the wedding industry because I love making something that’s custom to each couple and something that they can display in their home as a token of their favorite day.

How would you describe your paper flowers and/or your aesthetic?

My aesthetic tends to lean toward clean and tight like the way fresh flowers look right before they open.

What do you find the most challenging and rewarding about having a paper flower business?

The most challenging aspect is how to correctly price my items. It took a while to gain the confidence to call what I do more than just crafting in my spare time. This is my art, my style, my designs, and my time away from family that I’m sharing with clients, and the price of my work should reflect that. The most rewarding part about being a paper florist is, hands-down, the moment you present the items to the bride/groom. The excitement, appreciation, and awe on their face are unbeatable.

What advice would you give to new paper flower artists?

Start conversations within the paper florist community!! Ask questions, tell us about your work, share what inspires you and what your goals are for your flowers. Communication leads to friendships which leads to recommendations and opportunities.

What’s one tool you unexpectedly fell in love with and now use regularly?

My favorite tools are the Create It lollipop sticks for rolling along with Sculpey style & detail tools and a thick yoga mat for a cardstock version of cupping.

Get to know Kelly Grace’s paper flower journey:

Tell us a bit about your paper flower business.

My studio is located in Frenchtown, NJ.  I have a storefront with good visibility and I can sit a decent number of adults Comfortably.  I live with my family 15 minutes from my studio in Union Township.  It’s a beautiful area. I recently rebranded my business name to Paper Floral Co. My store sign still says Crafting Space with Kelly Grace. I have been making paper flowers for two years now!

I began making paper flowers during the summer of 2017 after I got married.  I was a little depressed and was not feeling my best.  I wasn’t working at the time and I had just finished some pretty intense college classes right before my wedding.  I started with wood flowers and moved on to book page flowers and I found some success with those.  I discovered a video of someone making a crepe paper echinacea, I think it may have been Tina from ABC TV.  

One video led to another and I discovered Lia Griffith and then Amity from Florabeane, and then the Paper Florist Facebook group.  I purchased supplies from Lia Griffith to make some crepe paper flowers and a couple of paper flower books off Amazon.  Livia Cetti’s camellia was my first tutorial.  I just began to continuously make and create.  

I began to feel so much better, and I now truly believe there is merit to Creative Therapy in healing depression.  Recreating nature using paper was great alternative medicine for me.  It’s not to say that medicine isn’t the better choice for others but for me, creating flowers was impactful.  Then grew the thought that this could be my job, and that was very much appealing to me.  So I took the basic steps to start a biz and continued to create.  Fast forward two years and here I am!  

How would you describe your paper flowers and/or your aesthetic?  

I’m still growing into my aesthetic and I love the color of all shades and tones but I seem to consistently have a bold beauty thing going on.  

What advice would you give to new paper flower artists?  

Practice and practice and just create.  Unplug from social media if you can and just do you.  Your style will emerge and will be perfect. 

What’s your favorite tool and/or material to use?

Pretty basic, but Tacky glue and doublette are my highest volume materials.  But I sure do love my extra fine-tipped glue gun too!  I like my bone folder and my Pan Pastels.  As paper florists, aren’t we all craft tool junkies?  

What’s one thing you want people to know about paper flowers or the paper florist industry? 

It’s a beautiful art and it’s a growing trend that is here to stay for a while!  Like the floral design, it’s a multi-faceted industry.  Value your time!  

You can learn more about each of these creative ladies on their social media platforms:

Susan Bonn, Susan Bonn Designs (website/Instagram)

Jessa Parker, 14keys_design (Instagram)

Kelly Grace Gibbons, Paper Floral Co. (Website/Instagram)

In this week’s episode of Paper Talk, we discuss the proper etiquette for sharing photos on social media and what to do when you are not properly credited.

This can be a bit of a hot topic for some people who aren’t familiar with the ins and outs of social media and don’t understand why it’s not ok to share a photo that isn’t theirs without permission. Many of us have been in a situation where someone takes one of our photos, something we worked very hard to create and uses it for their own purposes without properly crediting.

This can be so frustrating! Our hope is that our talk will help clear up any confusion and provide clear steps to take when this does happen or if you’re someone who is unsure if you can use a photo that doesn’t belong to you.

In this Episode, we are chatting with the beautiful and lovely Margie Keates of The Lovely Ave! We met Margie at the Masterclass and we immediately became smitten with her down-to-earth character and bubbly personality (yes - she really is as friendly and fun as she appears online!)

Listen to Margie as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her business, her “house”, and her new studio space.

Margie is such a well-spring of information for paper florists and had some great insights to share with us!

Check out what she has to say about branding, style, and persevering.

Per Margie:
1. How did you find your branding style? And when you started A Lovely Ave four years ago, how has it evolved to what it is today?

I found my branding style with the help of a brand specialist. I reached out to her about a month after a started Instagram because I knew that I needed help with my logo and how I wanted to present this new company. She helped me get all of my ideas out and then she sifted through what she felt would look best over time. I call these the "walls of my business".

My foundation is my why and my branding was the structural beams that needed to be built so that I could continue to grow. The branding helped me stay focused and allowed me to grow inside my "house" without straying too far outside my brand. This created consistency and helped my brand become more recognizable.

My brand has of course evolved as I have evolved as an artist. This evolution comes from pushing yourself to try new techniques and try new ideas. This only happens when you truly figure out the direction you want to take, however, that is not as easy as it sounds. It took me two years to realize that I didn’t want to be in the wedding industry and that I wanted to focus on home decor.

I still struggle with that choice since we do still offer wedding options through our site. In the end, you have to focus on what makes you happiest, and learning how to say no is super important. As you can see, I am still trying to take my own advice but I believe in baby steps and not making decisions too quickly. 

2. As you start your fourth year of business, what challenges are you facing?

The struggle I am currently facing is being forced into a new studio space since our old Pickle building was sold. We found a new studio, however, it is almost double the cost of what we are used to paying. This obviously makes it harder to just create for fun (which is how I believe new ideas and new styles come about) and makes your days all about how to make more money. This is going to be something I will truly have to work on and make sure that I don’t lose sight of what is truly important, my why.

3. How have you made your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd?

One word: CONSISTENCY. I knew from the very start that it was important that I created something every day and then I would share my work on a regular basis. This helped make me a better artist but also helped with my brand recognition. I also made a point to stop comparing my work to other amazing artists. I know, I know...that is so much easier said than done, but truly, you have to stop.

Your work is already unique because YOU made it. Keep creating and your own quirks and style will become more apparent and that is how you will be recognized. Consistency with your way of doing things and not comparing yourself to others who may be on a different level than you are. The perfect example is my anemones.

They don’t like realistic... far from it, and I have tried to change them multiple times. But every time I do, I realize that my new and more realistic anemone looks like everyone else's and it just gets lost. So stay true to yourself and put those blinders on! I do want to make it clear that you can grow as an artist and gain better skills and still keep your style so don’t be afraid to grow as an artist because your style will always follow.

4. How would you define your customer base?

My customer base is the person who wants something lovely in their home that will start a conversation or spread joy to others. They want to gift our flowers because they know the joy they felt when they saw our blooms for the first time and they want to share that joy. Our customers are everyday consumers who are excited to find something new and share it with their friends and family.

5. How did you narrow down your ideal customer when you were starting out?

Honestly, I didn’t. I tried every avenue and did almost every project. I didn’t know what made me truly happy so I just took every job. I recommend doing this for at least your first year. It's almost like trying on a wedding dress. You may think you know what silhouette you want, but you try on every type because it turns out a mermaid shape is actually very constricting and how are you supposed to drop it low on the dance floor if you cant move?!

It's the same when you're trying to find what your ideal customer is. You really can only find out when you take an order of every type and see how it makes YOU feel. You're going to be doing this job for a very long time, might as well make sure you absolutely love every aspect of it!

6. What advice would you give to a paper florist that is starting out today?

And one that is about to give up? My advice is actually for both scenarios. I want to remind them how important they are to this community, to this art form, and to the world. They are creating something magical with their hands, how amazing is that?! Stay in that powerful thought and let it empower you.

If you're just starting out, remember that your flowers will not be perfect, but they will be yours and that is huge. Also, nature isn’t perfect so you're already doing something right, GET IT BOO!! Remember to create something every day, even if you don’t have orders. This will allow you to practice your craft while also allowing potential clients to see what you are capable of. OH and one last thing: COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY, hunny, don’t let others' work sway you from being you.   

If you're about to give up, please reach out for help. Its okay to admit that this job is crazy hard and that sometimes, maybe all of the time, it feels like you're not going to make it. Please know that we have all felt this way in one form or the other. Talk to your fellow paper florist, get some feedback on your work, and maybe just take a break...but please don’t give up. Your work is needed in this world and you started this journey for a reason. Reflect on that reason/your why and keep pushing. We are all here for you!

7. Do you have any paper flower-making tips to share with our listeners?

PUT DOWN THOSE TUTORIALS. I know, I get it, I like following the rules too. But trust me, when you make your first flower from scratch you will realize how powerful your hands and mind truly are. This is so important as an artist and as a human being. Learn what techniques you can from other florists but in the end, your hands are your own, and I for one what to see what you can do with them! Create just for yourself and show the world!

8. What would you say is your signature flower?

It’s a three-way tie between my wild garden rose, my classic peony, and now my peony bombs.

9. Tell us about your subscription service!

When I first started this business I knew I wanted to have a subscription service. After doing this job for 3 years, I realized that my original thought of having bundles of blooms shipped out would be too hard. It wasn’t until my close friend suggested I think smaller and only start off with one flower a month. Its been a wonderful 6 months where I have learned SO much about myself but also about my clients. I cannot wait to see where this will take me as an artist and also where it will take my tiny little company.

10. How adding a subscription service has changed your business?

It has provided me with consistent income and work. This is HUGE in an online world, especially in a market where we are creating everlasting blooms that make it hard to retain customers. This service brings in a cash flow that we haven’t seen before and that is helpful in multiple ways. However, it also brings a little bit of headache.

No matter what, we are shipping anywhere from 50-150 orders a month. That is A LOT. Its been a struggle to keep up with inventory, packing materials, and what is truly important: creating for just me. So even though it helped my company be more financially stable, it's also tricky to keep everything else balanced. Talk to me in 6 months and we will see if we have survived! 

In this podcast, we are in conversation with Jodi Duncan of Design Master. Design Master is a company that provides colour solutions to the fresh floral industry. Internationally, they are associated with Oasis-Smithers.

Jodi herself has years of experience as a fresh floral designer and she is very well known in the fresh floral industry. Her knowledge about the colour products is astounding. At the 2019 Masterclass, she demonstrated how to use Design Master products on both fresh and paper flowers.

We love using Design Master spray paints because they come in a wide spectrum of colours, are light weight enough to sit on top of the crepe papers, and dry in a few seconds, so we are excited to hear from Jodi that our paper flower community is now on Design Master’s radar.

Listen to Jodi as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her involvement in Design Master and how she believes her products can help our community.

Let’s get to know Jodi and Design Master first:

1. We know that Design Master has been around a long time. Can you tell us the history and how you got involved with Design Master?

Mark Addison created DM. The idea was born around a kitchen table in 1961. Mark was an art-loving accountant who saw a need and an opportunity and Design Master was born. He is very much retired but he is still active and can be found around our headquarters in Boulder, Colorado from time to time. Design Master was born to serve florists who needed colors that were unavailable. In 1961 distribution looked much different than it does today.

Design Master was born as a color solution and remains so today across multiple diverse surfaces. We create color for the floral artistic community. Attributes of our products include: Multi-surface. Fast-drying. We work with chemists to develop our formulas and our Color Tool formula was the original. Our founder Mark was passionate about education and we are still to this day very much interested in supporting color education for artists in multiple mediums.

I started doing stage demonstrations and hands-on classes for Design Master in 2008. I was a fierce floral competition designer and won many regional, state, and national titles. That put me on their radar so they began to ask me to travel and teach and do programs for them nationwide.

I began to develop relationships with the great team at Design Master and they found out I was more than just a designer & speaker, but also could help with marketing, social media, and product development. So it was & is an evolution. Now I have a retainer contract with them and I’m on board for all kinds of creative color endeavors with the fantastic team at Design Master.

2. Can you tell us the proper way to use your spray paints?

We have basic common sense info on the can as well as our website, dmcolor.com.

Ventilation. Don’t spray around the flame. Common sense. Check the label. Non toxic when dry. The application part needs attention. There are certain ways we use ALL tools. For instance, don’t run with scissors!

3. Any precautions we need to be aware of and how to store the spray paints?

Just avoid temperature extremes. Nothing above 120degrees. It lasts 20-30 years in the can so it does not get old...just shake vigorously.

4. You have so many beautiful colors of spray paints and tints and we want to know if you have a plan to expand your color line?

Yes, they will be released in July! We are so excited to show you the new trends in colour that we have been working on bringing to the market. Gretchen and I are very aware of the color trends and hyper aware of what is happening with color and how it develops as well as consumer responses to color.

5. Are there any colors that you are retiring? 


We have several colors that are still available but retiring. Coral Bell and Platinum are about to go away. Modern Metals is also about to disappear, as is Cherry Wood Tone. Aspen Yellow is going, to be replaced with a new yellow. Almond and Terra Cotta are also being retired and replaced with fresher versions. Fashion does not stay the same and neither does the color world!

6. Also, is there a spray that will help us preserve the colors over a long period of time?

We are looking into that with our team of chemists.

7. We love that you support the Paper Flower Community so much by highlighting so many amazing paper florists’ works via Instagram and Facebook. If a paper artist wanted to get a feature on your IG and Facebook feed - what’s the best way to tag you to get noticed?

Just tag us and give us permission to share the posts and projects. We love user-generated content! Bring it ON! Send us a DM or just tag us.

8. What other ways does Design Master support the community?

Our ways of supporting the paper community are as fresh as the community itself. We underwrite many educational endeavors and workshops for paper florists and look forward to being a part of the growth of paper florists. We are always excited to develop relationships with distributors to get our cans in your talented hands. We are always at Creativation and showed paper floral in our booth and had a tremendous response in January.

9. What are some questions that you might have for the paper florist community?

What are the avenues of growth you see for your products? Home decor? Nursery? Commercial displays? Weddings? Other directions on the horizon?

Do most paper florists operate with tax license? Or as an enthusiast?

10. What are some things that you would like people to know about Design Master that we haven’t already covered?

Our emphasis is about color on surfaces. We are not just an aerosol. We are not just hardware store paint. We are of diverse color. And we are color education.

11. Finally, where can we find your products?

We have a diverse distribution channel that serves the consumer market with Michaels, AC Moore, Ben Franklin, and regional craft chains. We have on our website different options for places to purchase online. If you have a TAX id license you can buy professionally at floral wholesalers across the country.

Here is Jodi’s Ted Talk on Flower Powered:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD15Jst02xo