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kaitlin curran
hi, i'm kaitlin...
About Me...
For someone who is not a fan of hats,
I seem to wear a lot of them.
graphic designer
event planner
fanatic of all things coffee
dog lover
local volunteer
socially anxious adventurer
dreamer with big aspirations
I’ve always had an interest in art, whether it was drawing, painting, or ‘do it yourself’ arts & crafts projects. I like to dabble in photography, but most of the time you’ll see me hunched over my computer, either typing at the speed of light or, on the flip side, staring blankly at my screen. Don’t be alarmed: these are just the signs that there are ideas boiling up in my creative headspace.
Joining the art club in elementary school is my first "artsy" memory. I would spend my lunch breaks on certain days of the week in the art room working on projects. From there, I continued to take art classes all through out my school-career, from "Studio Art" in the 8th grade, right up to the Senior Portfolio class my senior year of high school. I sat in classes ranging from Drawing & Painting, to Digital Marketing and enjoyed every second of the 40-minute periods.
Story Time:
One time, during my time in my elementary school art club, we were working on landscape pointillism projects. We were using Q-tips to paint the dots into our landscapes when I looked down and realized I had put the wrong color into the river of my landscape. Can you say INSTANT TEARS? My teacher came over to console me. He proceeded to show me how I could either cover up the dots like it never happened, OR layer more of the "wrong-colored" dots to show depth and motion within my painting. In that moment, he taught me the most important art lesson I have ever learned: there is no such thing as mistakes in art, only opportunities to make more.
It all started with my own Sweet Sixteen, and grew from there.
I have three sisters, all of which I have had an experience with that furthered my talents.
My Sweet Sixteen
My mother put her trust in me, and gave me full creative freedom for planning my own Sweet Sixteen. From designing invitations in my old-fashioned Microsoft Publisher, to figuring out the layour of the room, right down to ordering fun blow-up palm trees as decorations - her and my father stood by every planning decision I made. This was the first true "event planning" experience I ever had, all thanks to my parents!
My Sister's Wedding
One of my older sisters got married in June 2010 on her now husband’s family farm. While in Pennsylvania, the night before her wedding there was a hiccup: no place cards were sent to her for the table arrangements. The night before the wedding I was able to scan in pieces of decorations and invitations, and was able to create custom-designed place cards for the wedding! Taking at least a little bit of stress off of my sister’s shoulders on her big day was an amazing feeling!
My Sister's Sweet Sixteen
In January of 2014, my parents put their trust in me again and let me plan my sister's Sweet 16. She wanted a Winter Wonderland theme, and I delivered. I designed and hand-assembled her invitations, created her centerpieces, designed and created her guestbook, and much more! I worked with the DJ to plan what hand-outs he'd give out during the dancing. We coordinated my sister's entrance along with her dais of friends. I even went has far as creating hand-made, glass ornaments as favors for her guests to take home. She and her friends had a blast!
My Sister's Baby Shower
I helped plan and decorate for my other older sister's baby shower. I designed and printed all of the typical "baby shower" games, and even created a rain drop and rainbow decoration that was displayed on the wall of the restaurant. I came up with the idea of using simple babies breath with flower pot centerpieces. We turned the restaurant's back room into a beautifully decorated space, and received nothing but nice words from all in attendance and the restaurant's staff!
An fun fact about me? I'm a daddy's girl. Growing up my favorite thing to do was go with my dad to the firehouse on Sunday mornings. It was only natural that at the age of twelve, I joined the local Junior Fire Department and followed in my dad's footsteps in joining the fire department at the age of eighteen. In 2011, I became a New York State EMT, and started working my way up the ranks of office in my company. In 2019 I was elected to the position of Captain, and continued serving until April 2021.
The Fire Department gave me more experience than just "saving lives"...
There is so much more to being part of the fire department than just being there for medical and fire emergencies for my fellow citizens and neighboring towns. My love to plan and create put me on the perfect path for being part of the department and company committees for events and fundraisers. In the Junior FD I was able to take the skills I was learning in my school art classes, and project them into fundraising advertisements and planning to successfully raise money for our non-profit organization. Since then, I have been able to hone my talents and create more for our events, and assist in the planning of the Annual Installation Dinner which includes but is not limited to designing invitations, creating party favors, and general event planning.
In 2015, I started my first freelance business,
KC Graphics
I started KC Graphics because of my support system. The kind words and positive feedback of family and friends through out the years made me feel like I could offer a service that people actually needed and would want.
KC Graphics was a social media based business, relying mostly on Facebook, Instagram and word of mouth.
Since starting small business in 2015, I have done countless designs from invitation sets, to Christmas cards,
logo designs, event planning and even some event photography. I have successfully used my experience and talents to turn my client's visions into reality - whether that meant designing them a full line of company stationary, helping them plan their large-scale corporate event, or simply creating thank you gifts for their friends.
KC Graphics
On March 6, 2020...
My boyfriend of seven years proposed.
The following week, New York shut down because of COVID-19.
With that, the time I spent with the fire department rose,
two of my best friends' weddings were postponed,
and my 9-5 office was closed to the public for months.
My freelance business basically took a dive: With all of the uncertainty no one was looking to design new logos, print invitations or even think about planning an event.
On top of all of this, I still wanted to plan my own wedding.
"The only way I know how to combat this feeling of uncertainty is to do what I do best: plan."
The feeling of uncertainty crashed over us like a tidal wave, knocking us right on our butts into wet sand.
The only way I know how to combat this feeling of uncertainty is to do what I do best: plan. So, I planned a "rebrand".
I realized that I had so much more I wanted to share than just my design and planning talents. I still wanted to offer these services, but I had this urge to do more, to share more. I wanted to share my stories, share the things I love, share what drives me crazy. I wanted to make connections. I wanted to be a source for others: whether they needed a laugh after a hard day, advice on a situation, wanted to check in on the life of a COVID bride, or simply just check in on life in general.
​
I have spent a countless amount of time listening to podcasts, reading blogs, and following social media accounts of people I always aspired to be, and finally one day it dawned on me: There was absolutely nothing stopping me from being just like those influential people I follow except me. All I needed to do was make a plan, and take a chance on myself.
In 2021, I decided to offer more than just my services, and I began to share more.
Why Butterflies?
At the young age of five years old, I lost my best friend: my grandmother. Being so young, I found comfort when my parents would tell me that she's always watching over me. Growing up I had, and still continue to, see butterflies as a symbol that my Grandma is "with me".
There have been infinite amount of times that I would be out and about and a white butterfly would fly past and around me and without needing anymore of a sign I knew it was her.
​
In 2014, right before I made the decision to launch KC Graphics, I attended a fundrasier where a psychic medium would be doing readings. My friend and I were sitting silently at our table when suddenly the medium stopped what she was doing across the room, turned in my direction and said, "Is there a Kaitlin in the room?" Long story short, the medium confirmed that I was a creative person, specifically a graphic designer who enjoyed event planning. She then proceeded to give me messages from my grandmother that were honestly exactly what I needed to hear at that point in my life. My grandmother came through to tell me not to worry, I was on the right track, I would eventually figure everything out, and to keep working towards achieving my dreams.
​
Because of that night I decided to launch KC Graphics. In honor of my grandmother, I used butterflies as my basis. My logo was a butterfly, my social media and website decor was butterflies, and I even had a "butterfly guarantee" on my services. Butterflies continue to be a major part of me and my brand. My Never Settle brand was founded on the idea that you shouldn't settle for anything less than the feeling of excitement in your gut, better known as "butterflies in your stomach".
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Now, every creative project I take on includes my "butterfly guarantee". It is my goal to make sure you have that feeling of excitement no matter what the service I am offering is!
Butterflu Guarante
Ten Questions With Kaitlin
What's your "not-so-guilty" pleasure?
2.
I shamelessly follow social media influencers like I know them in real life. Youtubers, Tik-Tokers... I can't even deny it, nor am I sorry for it.
What is your "go-to" ice cream?
3.
Ben & Jerry's Phish Food... and if the store doesn't have that, then any coffee flavor.
Either, as long as it's coffee. Recently my "go-to" drink has been Starbuck's Iced Americano topped with Salted Caramel Cold Foam!
What's one of your resolutions this year?
4.
To read more! I am 100% guilty of tsun-do-ku: buying books but never reading them. This year, for the first time ever, I joined a reading challenge in hopes it would push me make a dent in the piles of books on my shelves!
Mazie Grace, but her pedigree lists her as Amazing Grace. She's a pure bred German Shepard who lived the first week in our house unnamed because none of us could agree on anything.
What is one of the most
memorable trips
you've ever been on?
6.
In 2018 my parents took our entire family to Disney for a week. I had the absolute best time planning the itinerary, and the memories I made with my family are priceless.
Since we're on the topic of Disney... Who's Your Favorite Disney Character?
7.
Easiest question I've ever answered... Pooh Bear. I cried when I met him in Disney.
5.
8.
What's your sign?
My birthday is July 22nd, so I am technically on the Cancer-Leo Cusp. Interestingly enough I exhibit traits from both signs!
10.
Your best piece of advice?
Stop looking for the approval of others to chase your dreams. Make a goal, tell no one about it, and work until you crush it.
What's your
favorite season?
9.
Fall! I love everything about Autumn from the chunky sweaters, tall boots and crisp feel in the air, right to the spookyness of Halloween. Every year I plan an actual itinerary for the month of October so we never miss out on fall activities and the best haunted houses!
Fun Facts
1.
Starbucks or Dunkin?
What's Your Dog's Name?
How did I plan a vacation for 14 people to the Happiest Place On Earth?
Services
kc blog
Get In Touch!
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