Herstory:

Hi, I'm Kat Reynolds, owner and creative heart behind The Edible Paper Store & Co.

I was born in August 1970, and yes—I'm proud of my age. Every season of my life has taught me something valuable, and every experience has led me to where I am today.

I grew up between Mobile and Spanish Fort, Alabama, before my family moved to Clinton, Mississippi, while I was in high school. In the early 1990s, I attended Mississippi University for Women, where I majored in Art Education. Although life eventually led me down a very different career path, my love of art, design, and creativity never left me. Looking back, it's easy to see how those early years laid the foundation for the work I do today—creating edible art that helps people celebrate life's most meaningful moments.

I'm the proud mom of three amazing grown children, all of whom have families of their own and still call Mississippi home. Watching my family grow has been one of my greatest blessings.

Life hasn't always followed the path I imagined—and that's okay. After a divorce, I eventually found love again. In fact... the fourth time was the charm! (Sometimes it just takes a few tries.) Today, I've been happily married for 16 years, and that chapter of my life has been filled with gratitude, laughter, and the reminder that it's never too late for a new beginning.

Making and decorating cakes has been part of my life since my first child was born. Every birthday celebration meant a homemade cake created with love. I taught myself through countless hours of practice, research, trial and error, and a determination to keep getting better with every cake I made. What began as a way to celebrate my own family slowly became a true passion.

Before I ever owned a business, I wore more hats than I can count. My very first job was selling shoes at The Shoe Gallery in Metrocenter Mall in Jackson during the 1980s. After that, I became a sandwich artist, where I can honestly say I've sliced more onions than I care to remember! I also served plenty of personal pan pizzas, spent a brief time teaching at a Mennonite school (we quickly realized it wasn't my calling), and worked as a collections officer handling both corporate and personal accounts.

Following my divorce, my life took an unexpected turn into the construction industry—and I absolutely loved it. I thrived in that environment, enjoyed traveling, and discovered a confidence and independence I never knew I had. It was challenging, rewarding work, and it helped shape the strong, determined woman I am today.

When my father passed away, I made the difficult decision to return home to Mississippi to help care for my mother. I found a job with a local heavy equipment company, and while it was a good opportunity, something else had quietly been happening in my life.

I'd begun pulling out my Granny's old cookbooks, rediscovering the recipes and baking traditions that had been tucked away for years. Then life gave me one final nudge. An injury—and a request to make a Minion cake about sixteen years ago—changed everything.

That cake didn't just become another order. It became the moment I realized I had found what I was truly meant to do.

I haven't looked back since.

Over the next several years, I immersed myself in learning everything I could about baking, decorating, edible printing, and cake design. Because I had been a cake decorator myself, I understood the frustrations of waiting on edible images and specialty supplies. I dreamed of creating a place where decorators could find what they needed quickly, locally, and from someone who truly understood their craft.

That dream became a reality when I opened The Edible Paper Store & Co.—a place built by a cake decorator, for cake decorators.

Today, I'm honored to serve home bakers, cottage bakers, professional decorators, and treat makers throughout Mississippi and across the United States. Whether I'm printing edible images, designing custom toppers, creating cookie cutters, or helping someone bring a Pinterest idea to life, I know every order represents someone's special moment—and that's something I never take for granted.

Looking back, every job I ever had taught me something. Selling shoes taught me customer service. Restaurants taught me speed and teamwork. Collections taught me communication. Construction taught me grit, confidence, and problem-solving. Art taught me to see possibilities. Baking taught me patience and creativity. Every chapter of my life prepared me for this one.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that it's never too late to start over, chase a dream, or discover the path you were always meant to be on. My journey hasn't been perfect, but I wouldn't change it. Every twist, every challenge, every new beginning has shaped the woman I am today.

I hope my story reminds someone else that life doesn't have to go according to your plans to become something beautiful. Sometimes the doors that close are simply leading you toward the one that was meant to open. Keep learning. Keep creating. Keep believing in yourself. It's never too late to reinvent your life or follow the dream that's been waiting patiently inside your heart.

Thank you for supporting my small business and allowing me to be a small part of your family's celebrations. It truly means more than you'll ever know.

With love and gratitude,

— Kat Reynolds
Owner, The Edible Paper Store & Co.
Print the Magic, Taste the Joy™