101 Amazing Paper Flowers [How to start]
Hi there, I have an amazing post for you today! I collaborated with “THE BEST” paper flower smiths to bring you a series of blog posts, called: 101 Paper Flowers & Where to Start – Part I. This series will introduce you to some of the most incredible and talented paper flower pro’s out there.
As you may know, I recently started making paper flowers myself. Find my first Wild Paper Flower video here, and the blog post here, we also have several other interviews from this Amazing Paper Flower Series, which you can find here.
101 Amazing Paper Flowers & How to Start – Part I
So first up is the talented Jennifer Tran from Papetal, you can find all her video tutorials here and her Etsy shop here.
… about me
I am a paper flower smith, currently living and working in Sydney. Within the domain of craft, I find inspiration in the works of Rebecca Thuss and Lynn Dolan. I like the elegant composition and impeccable attention to detail in Lynn Dolan’s botanical replications, and I admire Rebecca Thuss for her whimsical ideas and innovative techniques. I acknowledge their critical influences in my practice, however, I endeavor to define my own stylistic differences.
How I Started Creating Paper Flowers
… about paper flowers
I came to love flower making as I crafted a surprise bouquet for my friend’s birthday. I was so obsessed that just within the last two months of 2013, I tirelessly crafted hundreds of experiments. The results were not always as successful as I hoped, however, I enjoyed every bit of the process.
It was an exhilarating experience to see my ideas blossoming and unfolding in front of me. I was able to transform ordinary materials into something so charmingly beautiful. I created new forms and discovered new techniques along the way. There was so much to learn about paper flowers and to explore, I could not stop making them ever since.
… about Papetal
In January 2014, I started a blog to share my work with friends and family. As the blog began to develop, I started receiving custom order requests. I decided to open a shop on Etsy not only to sell but also to learn how to manage a business. There is a lot of administration involved in managing Papetal, however, I find this process as fun and rewarding as flower making.
I see Papetal as constantly evolving. Whilst I do have a few staples, I like to explore and come up with new designs every time. For updates on my work, please connect with me on Instagram.
BONUS – Quick interview with Jennifer:
What crepe paper do you work with, and why?
I work with a range of paper but prefer 60GSM fine Italian paper as it has the closest texture & thickness to real flowers.
I see you work with adhesive glue instead of hot glue, can you share why you prefer the adhesive glue over the hot glue?
Several reasons:
- Adhesive glue is more affordable and easy to use, no electricity required
- Hot glue thickens the base of flowers resulting in a bulky, unclean finish.
- I’m accident prone, I just like to avoid working with a hot glue gun
What resources do you use to find new flower inspirations?
Instagram, I appreciate the work of real florists and learn a lot from them. There are many wonderful florists out there, whom I’m constantly inspired by ( my top faves are @mivioleta and @yasminemei)
How long does it take you to make an entire bouquet?
Oh, this really depends on the complexity of the project but I would say 2 weeks at the minimum. I don’t usually take in new projects but when I do, I’d like to give it my best. Often enough, this means spending a lot of time fixing little details.
You can find all her social media here: Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Etsy | Blog
// PIN ME //
Up next is the talented Quynh from Pinkandposey, stay tuned she will teach us how to make hops next week!