Ep 192: From Paper Flowers to Paper Lips: Laura Richey on Reinventing Your Creative Business

In this episode, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara sit down with Laura Richey, the Ontario-based artist behind Pucker Up Paper Lips and 2 CLVR Designs. Laura has been in the paper flower world for over 12 years, creating everything from thousands of card stock roses for Lancome to sculptural paper lips that have caught the attention of celebrities including Britney Spears. Laura opens up about how COVID upended her thriving wedding flower business, which had grown to 60 to 100 weddings a year, and how a pair of paper lips sitting in her living room sparked an entirely new creative direction. After a famous lip artist spotted her work on Instagram and invited her to collaborate, Laura’s paper lip art took off in ways she never expected.   "Anything 3D grabs attention. Anything that comes off the wall, people seem to gravitate towards." — Laura    The conversation covers the realities of running two brands, managing massive production orders as a solo artist, and the physical toll that large-scale paper crafting takes on your hands, back, and mental energy. Laura, Sara, Jessie, and Quynh get into the details that only paper artists understand: how many flowers you can realistically assemble in a day, why Cricut mats wear out faster than you think, and how chopsticks became Laura’s most essential tool.   "At this time in my career, it is okay to say no and it is okay to give them your feedback." — Laura   They also discuss the challenges of working with marketing companies and event coordinators who often reach out with unrealistic timelines and tight budgets, and why paper artists deserve to be brought into projects early rather than treated as a last-minute addition.   What You’ll Hear in this Episode: From wedding florals to paper lip sculptures and how Laura's 12+ year journey in paper flowers took a turn she never saw coming The Instagram DM from a celebrity lip artist that changed everything What it actually looks like to work with major brands and the difference between going through a marketing agency versus landing a direct brand partnership The reality of large-scale production: 600 lips for Too Faced, 4,000 roses for Lancôme, and what it takes to pull that off The physical and mental toll of making the same thing hundreds of times  Running two brands when one is your passion and the other pays the bills and what happens when they start pulling in opposite directions Card stock versus crepe paper: why the medium you work in matters more than you'd think The tools Laura can't live without: chopsticks, Cricut machines, vinyl picker tools, and kebab sticks (yes, really) Cricut mat maintenance, buying in bulk, and building a machine workflow that actually holds up under pressure Laser cutters versus Cricut machines  Where Laura is headed: teaching, fine art lip sculptures, and a creative practice that's evolving on her own terms Making it work as a maker and a mother — and why your workspace has to go wherever your family needs you Why setting realistic expectations with clients around timelines and budgets isn't just good business but necessary   👉 The Best Thing We Bought that Sparks Joy Quynh: Garden roses from Flower World: Earth Angel, Martha Stewart, Koko Loko Jessie: Deserres Acrylic Gouache Low Viscosity Sara: Daniel Smith Palette  Paper Talk is supported by our community of readers and listeners. When you click on our affiliate links, we may earn a commission for qualifying purchases made through Amazon.com, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast. Learn more about Laura Laura Richey is the artist behind Pucker Up Paper Lips and 2 CLVR Designs, based in Ontario, Canada. With over 12 years in the paper craft industry, Laura specializes in card stock paper art, from wedding flowers to her signature 3D paper lip sculptures. Her work has been featured in collaborations with major beauty and luxury brands, and her pieces have been reposted by Britney Spears.   Instagram: @puckerup_paperlips / @2clvr_designs   Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community.   Keywords: creative business website, paper artist marketing, small business SEO, building trust online, email marketing for creatives, website platforms for artists, creative entrepreneur tips, online business credibility