Getting to Know: Kelly Wayment

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Today I have a special treat here on the blog because I’m interviewing someone whose work I greatly admire, Kelly Wayment! Kelly is a very busy lady who wears many hats – wife, mom, accountant, volunteer, blogger, and teacher just to name a few. Currently serving her fifth term as part of Silhouette America’s Creative Design Team, Kelly lives in Utah with her husband and four children where she shares her knowledge of the Cameo, Portrait, Curio, and Mint through tutorials published on the Silhouette America blog as well as on her own website, FindingTimeToCreate.com.

When I think of Kelly, I can’t help but think of a lot of “firsts” in my life. I first met her when I attended my very first All Things Silhouette Conference in April 2016, where she taught the very first class I attended. As it turns out, it was also a first for her – her first time to teach at ATS! And when I was ready to try out my new Curio for the first time, I looked to one of Kelly’s tutorials for my very first project. I’m awed and inspired by her creativity, so it was an honor for me to meet her again at the June 2017 conference and have a chance to get to know her better.

Metal Etched Butterflies (a Curio tutorial)
You’ve been blogging for several years and have published a wide variety of tutorials and projects. Have you always been a crafter/maker?

I’ve been around crafting all my life. I can remember my mom using Mod Podge and creating decorative items when I was young. When we got married, my husband said I needed a hobby. I tried a few other things first (including karate!) but then I started scrapbooking and came to love paper projects.

Which model of Silhouette machine was your first and when did you acquire it?

Around 2008, my mother-in-law bought one of the first digital craft cutters – the QuicKutz Silhouette. It had a crank that you had to turn by hand to load the paper. She kept it at her house but I would use it from time to time.

What was your first project?

I don’t remember specifically, but I know it was paper-related, probably for scrapbooking.

When did your Silhouette hobby become a profession?

I started blogging about the Silhouette in 2010 and joined the creative team for my local scrapbook store in 2011. When Silhouette put out a call for their design team in 2013, it seemed like a perfect fit and I was ecstatic to be selected!

What Silhouette machines do you currently own?

I think I own them all! I have the Portrait, the original Cameo, Cameo 2, Cameo 3, Curio, and Mint.

Do you have a favorite?

It depends on what I’m doing. The Cameo 2 and 3 are definitely the most versatile. I love the Curio but its cutting space is so much smaller than the Cameo and not well suited for large vinyl projects.

What inspires you?

Most of my projects are need-based, either from activities our family is involved in or from assignments I get as part of the Silhouette Design Team. My assignments can be quite general or very specific and I usually turn to Pinterest or do a Google search to help formulate my ideas.

What are the requirements for being on the Silhouette Design Team?

My responsibilities are a bit more than most because I also moderate the Silhouette Design blog, but basically you are required to write two or three instructional blog posts per month.

Do you have any advice for someone who in interested in applying for the Design Team?

I actually get asked this question quite a lot, so much so that I wrote a blog post about it! But the short answer is “work on taking great photos.” Just as dressing nicely helps you make a good first impression for a job interview, your photos will help you make a good first impression as a candidate for the design team.

How do you get such great photos for your blog?

I bought a really nice camera and took a photography class!

What is your favorite media/technique to work with?

Definitely 3-D paper crafts – flowers, houses, boxes, etc. I make them for gifts and use them as decorations around my house. Almost anything that Lori Whitlock has in the Silhouette Design Store is a project I like.

Is there anything you like to do while you craft (listen to music, watch TV, snack)?

My kids range in age from 7 to 16 and a lot of my crafting is done late at night so what I enjoy the most is silence!

What do you like best about the All Things Silhouette Conference?

Getting to be around other Silhouette users and having the chance to associate with others who are on the same wavelength.

Are you working on anything new at the moment?

I’m developing a class on the Cameo 3 for the Craftsy channel that’s due out in August. Filming will be a new experience for me and I’m really looking forward to it!

 

So now you can see what I meant when I said that Kelly is a busy lady! Filming a Craftsy class sounds like a fun adventure and I’m looking forward to seeing the finished product. I’ll be sure to post more information as soon as it becomes available. If you’d like to take one of her classes in person, Kelly will also be teaching at the next All Things Silhouette Conference, November 4-5, 2017.

In the meantime, be sure to follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram and check out her blog for a some great tutorials. Here are just a few of my favorites (click on the image for a link to the tutorial):

Print & Cut Watercolor Décor With Foil
Multi-Color Stipple with Curio
Multi-Color Mint Stamp
Craft Stick Puzzles
Silly-Face Soda with Vinyl
 

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Kelly! It’s always a pleasure talking with you and I love seeing what you’re “krafting” with your Silhouette :).

 

 

 

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6 Comments

  1. Kelly is one of my favorite designers! It is hard to tell how many of her projects that I have “copied”. Thank, Kelly, for sharing all your creativity. Thanks, Lycia, for sharing your interview.

    1. Thanks for the comment Barbara! I agree with you about Kelly. She is incredibly talented and so generous in sharing her knowledge. Her blog is full of great info and inspiration!

  2. Thank you for the interview, Lycia, and for making me sound so good! 🙂 I loved talking with you and hope we can spend more time together at the next ATS conference!

    1. It was truly my pleasure, Kelly! I’m looking forward to seeing you again and can’t wait to see how the Craftsy class comes together :).

  3. I loved getting to “meet” Kelly and seeing her tutorials that were your favorites! Thank you!! ❤️

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