Hello!  My name is Kathy Clement, and I’m addicted to paper. Seriously, sometimes I feel like I need a 12 step program for paper addiction! For some gals, it’s jewelry, for others it’s fashion, and for some it’s fancy cars.  But just give me some beautiful paper, a pair of scissors, some stamps and glue, and I am in heaven! Let me tell you a little bit about Kathy by Design: Imagination, Creativity and Whimsy.

I live in Apex, North Carolina with my darling husband Dale.  We’ve been married for more than 37 years and together we raised 5 brilliant and beautiful children that I homeschooled for more than 25 years. I started making cards before I entered first grade, using my doodle pad and Crayolas to create cards for family and friends.  Childhood illnesses kept me confined to home and to bed for long periods of time, and making cards was a way to fill the long hours.  My love for paper and ink have been a constant in my life.  Even when I was homeschooling our kids, we had the best supplied art closet you’ve ever seen.  We spent hours making hand bound books, puppets, scenery for little plays we wrote and put on for friends and family…and I hosted a weekly art class for other homeschool families in our church and community.

Once my “baby” graduated high school, I renewed my personal passion for paper. I began making cards and gift items for friends and family, who then asked me to make cards and gift items for their friends and family who then….well, you get the idea. In 2008, Kathy by Design was born.

Since then, I’ve  designed and created custom menus and place cards for BMW (yes, the automaker) and my work has traveled to Prague, Czech Republic; Honolulu, Hawaii; Florence, Italy; Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Nevis,  Northern California and other fabulous locations. I am currently working on a project for an event to be held in Portugal in 2013. You can see photos of these in the Gallery on this blog.  I’ve also created countless mini albums, shadow boxes, memory books, wedding albums, and hundreds and hundreds of cards.

When I had to come up with a  motto for the company logo, the only one that made sense to me was “Imagination, Creativity and Whimsy.” I seek to incorporate these elements into everything I create. From cards, to invitations, to wall art or 3-D projects,I love to play with paper.

I specialize in custom orders. I love to work with my clients and really listen to what they want to build into a special project. For each special order I create, I  find a specific element that defines an event or a relationship and build that into a personal and memorable work of art. I’m happiest when I am creating a one-of-a-kind custom order, and would be happy to help you with any of your gifting needs. Just shoot me an e-mail at kathybydesign@hotmail.com or message me on my Kathy by Design Facebook page.  I know I can create just the right card, journal, or gift for your special occasion.

I’m currently a proud member of the design team for Heartfelt Creations and I’ve recently had several cards published in Scrap n’ Art e-zine.  I just started blogging in January 2013, and can’t wait to see what happens next!

Most days, you can find me in my studio with a hot mug of tea, surrounded by photos of my beloved family and my 2 darling granddaughters. This is my happy place, and I am so thankful to God for giving me this joyous occupation at this stage in my life.  I feel like he “saved the best wine for last” in giving me Kathy by Design as an outlet for my creative urges.