It's Me, KP

Office Inspiration

My apartment is slowly coming together with the help of some good friends.  I've been quite lost at how to decorate on my own and seek out advice from everyone who passes through my front door.  They've got great taste and have helped me pick out some nice new furniture.  

In this apartment I am very lucky to have a 2nd bedroom that has become a designated office space and bedroom for all those sweet friends who've already come to stay.  This room has no direction, unless cardboard boxes are the new trend.  I want it to be organized but inspirational.  Clean but full of fun. Here's some examples I've pinned from Pinterest:

I clearly love lots of artwork and shelves, but don't we all? Any solutions for stuffing an office full of creative inspiration but keeping it clean?

I <3 NYC

I spent last Friday - Monday back in NYC for a long weekend.  Hello, the weather? It was sunny and started to get really warm and just plain wonderful.  And my friends?  I miss them like crazy and they showed up to hang out with me.  Saturday morning we met up on a street in Brooklyn to go to Smorgasburg and there were six of us doing a group hug.  My heart was so happy that I just kept bouncing up and down.  I miss that life and was glad to have a slice of it again for a few days.

I haven't blogged much lately because I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.  Things are good.  Things are happy. There have been big changes in a lot of areas lately and I guess I'm slowly adjusting and taking everything in.  But life is grand and just as it should be.

Lunch at Gjelina

A few years ago Amy + JC took me to Gjelina, a beautiful small restaurant in their neighborhood in Venice.  It's quite possible that I've heard Amy talk about Gjelina (and the pot de creme, but we'll get to that later...) since the first day I met her.  This theory is supported by the fact that I now talk about Gjelina since that first day they took me there.  It's a such great place.

When I was in Southern California back in February, the trip was not complete without a meal at Gjelina so I talked my friends Kellie + Linda into meeting me for lunch.  The weather was perfect to sit out on the amazing patio and share a great feast of food. 

I've been lucky to share quite a few meals there now with Amy + JC and I know that as long as they're on the menu (which does change now and then) some standards will always be ordered.  White wine and oysters, for starters, along with the two things pictured below: the butterscotch pot de creme and mushroom pizza.  

One other thing I believe I learned from Amy on the first day that I met her is that she is not a dessert person.  We do not share this characteristic... until the butterscotch pot de creme is on the menu.  One of the best things that you'll eat.  Ever.  Creamy and salty and caramely.  And why not wash it down nicely with a glass of moscato, just for extra sweetness.  I'd love to have one right now in fact, so hopping a flight to California for lunch on the Gjelina patio sounds tempting.  Join me, won't you?

A List of Thirty Comes to an End: Things I Will Do in Year 30

I think you can tell from my pre-birthday The Year of Thirty list that I am quite sentimental about the past year. Hindsight, that bitch she is, has made me really embrace my 30th year even though it was full of a lot of challenges. I set a lot of goals for myself and those goals got readjusted or cast aside for things of higher priority. Self-care being one of my highest priorities. And some good old fashioned fun as well.

Here are the results of the list I made of things that I wanted to do in my Year 30 - with the original post here and an update back in December here. 

1. Eat Chinese food in Flushing
2. Visit four countries I've never been to
3. Make something that I'm scared of actually happen
4. Buy a coffee maker
5. Throw a party
6. Stay out all night dancing
7. Revamp my blog
8. Be open to love
9. Buy baby gifts for all the important new babies in my life
10. Speak up 
11. Go to Carnegie Hall
12. Visit three new NYC museums
13. Take a cooking class
14. Go to Austin
15. Unpack every single box in my apartment
16. Run a 5K
17. Be more grateful
18. Create five mini albums
19. Print more photos
20. Make three photo books
21. Try four new recipes
22. Go to Govenor's Island
23. Ride the Roosevelt Island tram
24. Read five non-fiction books
25. See four plays
26. Attend a food festival
27. Become more familiar with InDesign
28. Buy a film camera
29. Spend more time doing nothing (and be ok with it)
30. Do things that make me happy - just do them and not think

I'm thinking I might need a new list for Year 31. I hesitate because it seems that my life is so atypically the one that happens while I'm busy making other plans. So what do you think... let me know one (or two or three!) things that I should put on my list to do this year.

Is This Thing On?

I apologize for the crickets around here... the past week was full of out of town visitors and good times.  Friends from New York, one in from San Francisco, a couple of my dearest from Wisconsin, two incredible birthday dinners, a Zagat bash, big deadlines, and not a lot of sleep happening over here.  I have to say it feels really nice to be taking a big generous,  healthy bite out of life.  

It also means lots to document and put into my Project Life. I know that many of you have received your Simon Says Stamp Project Kit and have started using it - EXCITING!  Please continue to tag me on Twitter or Instagram @kellypurkey when sharing what you're making with it.  I am getting ready to share some things of my own here on the blog-o with the kit since tomorrow is April first.  April was my absolute favorite month last year and so I'm particularly excited to see what it brings.

Simon Says Stamp Early Spring Release Blog Hop

I'm happy to start the morning off with the Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop!  We're celebrating the awesome early Spring release.  You can stop by the Simon Blog to get a full list of the lovely ladies participating.  I'm thrilled to have three stamp sets included in this line-up of great Simon products: Scotty, Come Sail Away, and Happiness Is. Here's a peek at Come Sail Away on a little card that I've put together...


I have a special fondness for whales that began back when we studied them in elementary school, so I love that all things nautical are trendy right now.  This little guy is a happy one.  And he's telling you a very important message!  I cut out the word bubble with a speech bubble wafer thin die and heat embossed the sentiment with white American Crafts Zing powder.

The card base is a die cut card from Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm - one of my new favorite products.  They're so cute and easy to use. The sequins that I added are from my Kelly Purkey line.  I'm addicted.

And now to the giveaway part! Leave a comment on this blog post and one lucky winner from my blog will receive a Simon Says Stamp Goody bag. We will randomly draw a winner at 9:00 AM EST on Wednesday, 4/3/13 so be sure to leave your comment by then. (And be sure to comment on each designer’s blog for 14 chances to win!)

The next stop on the hop is Cristina Kowalczyk - I can't wait to see what she's created.  Thanks for stopping by!

InLinkz.com

A List of Thirty: The Year of Thirty

I think it is safe to say that I am handling turning thirty-one much, much better than the ridiculous episode that was the month leading up to my thirtieth birthday.  Shit.  Last year I was basically huddled in a ball in the corner breathing hard into a paper bag.  It wasn't easy for me but I made it out alive and have survived the past 364 days.  With one day left of year thirty, I am getting a bit sentimental (as I always tend to do) and came up with another A List of Thirty (as I always tend to do) to document my Year of Thirty.

1. Made the decision to leave my job at Studio Calico.
2. Went to the South of France.
3. Had a book published.
4. Had a book party where all the guys I dated the past year showed up. At the same time.
5. Walked from 12th Street all the way up to 74th Street.
6. Made the decision to start my own company.
7. Experienced immense joy in my heart when one of my best friends told me she is pregnant.
8. Experienced immense sadness in my heart when I moved away from one of my best friends.
9. Received the screeners of GIRLS then made every single girlfriend in the city watch them.
10. #vegasbuffetchallenge2012 with my bestie Sarah.
11. Actually packed up my life and moved from New York to Chicago.
12. Took my beloved annual trip to Portland.
13. Worked out with a trainer to be in the best shape of my life.
14. Tried to live life to its fullest.
15. Experienced a loss and grieved in my own way.
16. Ate at Per Se, Eleven Madison Park, Jean Georges, and Blanca.
17. Danced at my brother's wedding.
18. Had adventures for the first time in Central America and Asia.
19. Enjoyed fantastic beach days with my girls and Rockaway Tacos.
20. Visited London with my brothers as the Olympics began.
21. Figured out that some day when the time is right, I will be a mom. 
22. Went to Sleep No More which turned out to be one of my favorite experiences ever.
23. Visited Kyoto dressed in autumn colors, which took my breath away.
24. Made the decision to start partnering with Simon Says Stamp.
25. Sat around the kitchen table talking for hours with my four best friends from high school.
26. Started fresh.  And it felt really good.
27. Revisited the past.  And it felt really fun.
28. Said farewell to my amazing NYC friends with a Photobooth party.
29. Laid in a hammock on the beach in Costa Rica with great girlfriends.
30. Had a year that unequivocally changed my life.

There are many things I could say about the past year and the people I spent the days with.  It challenged me and took me further and taught me more than I ever thought was possible.  It was a gift.  Now here is to another wonderful one ahead.

More Lists of Thirty found here.

Meet My New Marketing Director!

This girl has changed my life and I'm not joking one bit!  Meet Britta Swiderski, my first employee.  She'll be the Marketing Director for the Kelly Purkey brand and I'm more than thrilled to have her on board.  Britta is sweet, kind, talented, creative, and full of energy.  She sure has floored me with her skills and knowledge even before I hired her... I know we are going to do great things together. 

Here's a little bit about her in her own words...

Hi! I'm Britta Swiderski. I'm a designer, maker of things and blogger. I've been scrapbooking, cardmaking and crafting for as long as I can remember. I love to explore new techniques and teach others about them, which is why she loves making video tutorials and teaching classes using technology like the internet and YouTube. I'm currently in my last semester of college at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities seeking my BFA in Graphic Design. After graduating, my goals are to continue teaching, creating and doing design and marketing work in the crafting industry. I'm so grateful and excited for this opportunity to work with Kelly. I've always admired her design style and work, and it's an absolute honor to work with her!

1. What is your favorite thing about scrapbooking and card making? I love the process of creating and sharing. It's the way I deal with stress and also how I celebrate things I love. Some people make music to express their creative spirit. I make cards and scrapbook. 

2. What are your top 5 favorite products that you always find yourself using? 
- White cardstock. I love doing all sorts of techniques to make pretty backgrounds, and I also love using white cardstock as my favorite neutral base. My favorite is Neenah Solar White Cardstock.

- Distress Ink. This is the first medium that I started really experimenting with, and it will always be near and dear to my heart. 

- Sharpie Fine Point Pen. I use this pen about 20 times a day - for making to do lists, scratching out notes during class and for, of course, making cards. It's amazing for going over stamped images for extra crisp lines. (these are them here.

- Honey Bee Non-Stick scissors. These fine-tipped scissors are perfectly sharp and easy to handle, and they even cut through the stickiest adhesives. 

- Wood veneers in every shape and size. I can't finish anything without throwing at least three of these on there. Stars and hearts are my go-to embellishments.

3. Describe your style Colorful, graphic and OCD - this pretty much describes my life, actually. 

4. Who are 3 people who inspire you? There are so many crafters I know and love that inspire me on a daily basis, but these are the three that are really making my creativity soar this week: Chari Moss, Jill Foster and Julie Ebersole.

5. What makes an inspiration piece (on Pinterest, in a magazine, in everyday life) catch your eye? For me, it's always color. Color is what I notice about everything first, and it can immediately draw me to something. A book, some graffiti, even a piece of clothing - all things that I might not have noticed if they weren't in my favorite color of that day. I have about 500 favorite colors. Lol!

6. Right now what is your favorite tv show, song, book, and food to eat? Favorite tv show right now: Game of Thrones. Even if fantasy dramas aren't your thing (they're usually not mine), the opening credits and the music are killer. Favorite song: "Red Hands" by Walk Off the Earth. I love that they just got their start off YouTube! Book: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. It's a perfect combination of happiness, romance, reality and fiction. Food: my parents' meatloaf. I love to cook, but it's the only thing of theirs I don't make; they always make it better. Also, beer. Beer counts as a favorite food, right? I love trying new ones and sharing my opinions with my other beer-loving friends. We're nerdy like that.

Want to see something crazy? Back when I was a sophomore in college, I went to the Mall of America to take a class from one of my favorite scrapbooking celebs at ScrapFest. I even got a picture with her. Oh yeah, it's Britta + KP circa 2009:

When I was talking to Britta about doing a blog post to introduce her she asked if it was ok if she made a card with my products to share.  Boom.  That is exactly why I love this girl.  She thinks one step ahead and goes above and beyond.  Plus she is crazy creative... take a look:

Britta says: I did some fun neon color mixing (I did a video tutorial about this technique here with the Scotty Alphabet in Neon Pink and Neon Blue ink from Hero Arts. (Tip! For stamping the outlines, stamp them individually over the solid ones. This way, they end up perfectly lined up with no extra fuss.) I made the background using the chevron strip from Instalove in four different Hero Arts ink colors: Neon Blue, Soft Pool, Stone Wash and Tide Pool. I've also been obsessed with vellum lately; here, it made a good background for the sentiment strip and tones down the bold background around the text.

Welcome to Team KP, Britta!  I am so excited to be working with you!  There's so many more good things to come from my brand and I can't wait to share more soon.

More Than a Little Obsessed with This

Jimmy Fallon + Justin Timberlake's History of Rap 4.  It's kind of amazing.

Introducing Kelly Purkey Project Kits

We've finally let the cat out of the bag (thank goodness, that poor kitty!) with news today on the Simon Says Stamp blog about the Simon + Kelly Purkey Project Kits.  I'm beyond excited to be working on this fantastic venture to deliver right to you.  It's a bi-monthly kit, as not to overwhelm you with product, full of my favorite products and items designed by me just for the kit.  Here's a little more info and some sneak peeks:

Life as you know it is already a project and we're here to help make documenting it even easier! Introducing Project Kits from Simon Says Stamp and Kelly Purkey. We've put together a fantastic bi-monthly kit full of coordinating supplies to help you get those everyday moments documented.  Our Project Kits work perfectly with the Becky Higgins Project Life and Simple Stories Sn@p! systems.  We hope our products help the "paper lover in you" build and customize your pages.

Included in every Project Kit is an exclusive new item called a "Stacked Deck". This is a set of thirty unique 3"x4" cards in a variety of paper. You'll receive cardstock, vellum, wood grain embossed cardstock, wood, and even beautifully hand letterpress pieces hand selected and designed by Kelly.  The wood and woodgrain pages are especially inviting for die cutting!  It's a Stacked Deck to give you a winning hand each time! 

The stamps, stickers, badges, tokens, and Stacked Deck have all been proudly made in the Good Old USA. You can reserve your kit now for $49.99. April/May kits will begin shipping with the full reveal on March 25.  Due to the limited nature of the products, there are limited quantities available. 

You have been asking us for these products and we heard!  We are thrilled to be able to bring such quality, well designed products to the market for YOU!

Thank you so very much for all your support on Instagram, Facebook, email, texts, Twitter - all of it! I appreciate it so much, I can't tell you.  And I am giddy with anticipation to see you use the kits and incorporate them into your Project Life albums.

Today we also released an expanded line of Kelly Purkey products... dies, washi, sequins, stickers, and tons of stamps!  You can check them out here and I will be back soon with a fun post to share a close up look at all of the new goodies.