Flatterday Saturday with Kelly

Happy Saturday and welcome to our Flatterday Feature.  This is Eva today, and I have the pleasure of bringing you a very special person, our own Kelly to you on this special day.  Starting today, the next few Saturdays we are going to bring back our design team, so you can learn a little more about us.  Isn't that fun??


I personally got to know Kelly at CHA.  We already built a great little friendship over the months prior to the event, but once we met, I felt like she was my long lost sister...someone I can so relate to, she is one incredibly loving person!!!!  We chat almost every day via Skype and we are literally just two peas in a pod.  I can also tell you, that she is the back bone of our team, she is always there to jump in if something needs to be done, such a trooper!  Thanks Kelly for that!  Besides for being a crazy talented, creative card maker and scrapbooker, she  is one enthusiastic girlie about making Ippity amazing and trying to keep everyone happy and I know this blog wouldn't be the same without her, that is for sure!   But instead of me talking about her, let me bring you this fun interview of Kelly for you and let her speak!  I know you will enjoy reading more about her!  

·        Tell us a little about yourself. 

I am a recently remarried mother of four!  Two of my kids have already moved out of the house and two remain at home.  There are three girls and one boy ranging in age from  16 - 25 years old.  I like to say that my husband Tom and I are a Match [Dot Com] Made in Heaven because we met on an online dating service.  We dated for three years and finally tied the knot in November of 2008.  We live on the west coast of Florida in the Tampa Bay area and love camping, boating, water activities and cook outs with family and friends.  Through marriage I have two step children and four wonderful grand kids too!

L-R:  My son Ricky, Daughters Tiffany, Michelle and Leah, Me, 

Tom, his daughter Ashley and her boyfriend Chris and Tom's son Thomas

My career path in nursing led me to take care of newborns and I have gone on to practice advanced nursing as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.  I am on call out of my house for two local hospitals where I get called when they need my services.  Otherwise I have the luxury of being able to remain at my house (hopefully crafting) until they call me!  I feel very fortunate to have my "day" job even if it does mean I could go in anytime of the day or night!  

·        How did you first get involved in stamping?
I started scrapbooking and cardmaking about seven years ago, but initially did more scrapbooking.  Through some scrapbooking friends I was exposed to stamping and coloring images for cards, and I haven't stopped making cards since!  I fell in love with the style of stamps that Unity produces and couldn't get enough of them!  I enjoyed entering in the challenges on Splitcoaststampers and tried to learn as much as I could about this passion of mine!

·        What is your stamping style?
I am not sure that I have a defined style, but I have heard people say that they can pick out cards that I have made even if they didn't know I had made them.  So I must have some nuances that I gravitate to.  I enjoy making cards with many layers and a lot of details.  I love stitching on my cards and trying to incorporate something that is a little out of the box when I can!  I love to use my stamps in ways other than what they were made for!  I have a lot of fun matching papers and embellishments together.

  

·        Tell us about your creative process
That varies!  Sometimes a stamp "speaks to me" and I figure out what I want to make with it, and other times papers will "speak to me" and I know exactly what stamp I want to use with it.  I am very selective and spend A LOT of time prepping before I actually dig in to the stamping.  I need to be sure that my finished product will end up as I pictured it in my head.  I don't mind being a slow stamper because I LOVE the process and enjoy the journey of creating!!

·        What is your favorite {ippity} stamp set and why?

I don't like this question because they are all amazing for so many reasons.  But if I had to choose one set that speaks to me the most, it would have to the Where You Should Be set.  The sentiment from that title stamp is incredible and has been the right message for so many people in my life this year!

Here is a card that Kelly created using her favorite {ippity} set...

·        How often do you stamp?
Pretty much everyday!  A day doesn't feel complete if I don't stamp!! 

·        How long does it take you to make a project you are happy with?
It is not uncommon for my cards to take 2-3 hours to make!!  And I love every minute of it!!  I am a perfectionist!!  It's all about the process!!

·        What does your craft room look like? {messy, clean, etc.}
Messy!!  I create havoc when I stamp because I pull so much stuff out to play with.  I am always losing things right under my nose because it is so cluttered while I craft!!  I have gotten pretty good about cleaning up between projects though!

·        What is your biggest paper crafting challenge?

To find the time to just sit down and play without completing something for a DT assignment or upcoming project.  I love just getting to play with my stamps and have fun creating!!

{ippity} Chicks

·        What is the name of your Ippity Sales Blog?
There's Ippity in My Bucket

·        What made you decide to start selling Ippity?
It just seemed like a natural thing to do because I love the stamps so much and believe in this company!   I wanted to let other ladies know about them too and give them the opportunity to have them.

·        Tell us about your experience selling Ippity

My favorite way to sell the stamps is by showcasing my cards on my blogs and running a special with the stamp set that I used.  I don't have extra time because of my regular job to hold stamp parties or classes, so most of my sales have come from online purchases or from local friends!

Tell us about your experiences being on the Ippity DT

Getting the email from Angela that she was interested in having me be on her new DT was one of the most joyous days of my life (after wedding and kids of course! LOL!)  I have been a long time lover of Unity stamps and had grown to admire Angela and the Unity team so much.  I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful company and am so thankful for the many friendships I have made along the way.  The ladies that I have the pleasure of working with on the DT are the sweetest, most talented and  hard working ladies I know.  I have the pleasure of being the co-coordinator of the DT with Eva and have built a wonderful friendship with her that is more like a sisterhood! 

Heather, Eva, Angela, Chris, Michelle, Kelly and Bro!

One of my favorite experiences so far was to attend CHA with the Unity/Ippity peeps this past January in California.  I learned so much about the stamping industry and got to see first hand what a class act group of people there are running Unity.  Amazing people they all are!! And I think it shows in their product too!! 

Just for FUN Questions

·        What song best describes you?

The Broken Road by Rascal Flatts is my husband's and my song.  It represents to me that I have had to endure some less than desirable things in the past to get to where I am now, and I thank God for that!

·        If you were stranded on a desert island what are the three things you would bring?

I think my husband and I deserve some alone time, so I would say Tom, our dog Tasha and my kayak.

·        What is your favorite quote?

"Do unto others as you would have them do to you!" 

·        What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

Always have to have my Fat Free French Vanilla creamer for my coffee in the morning.  The rest doesn't matter!! LOL!

·        If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

Someone who could clean house and make a card at the same time!!  He he!!

·        If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Her Bucket Overfloweth.  God has blessed me with wonderful family  and friends!!  

·        What would your dream vacation be?

One of the top things on my bucket list is to go to the Netherlands and see the tulips in bloom!


Kelly, thank you so much for this sweet interview, I sure enjoyed it!!! Love ya, girlie!!!

Joyfulness keeps the heart and face young. A good laugh makes
    us better friends with ourselves and everybody around us.                                                                    - Orison Swett Marden 

Have a FABULOUS day!