About us

I didn't set out to be an artist.

If you had asked me years ago what I wanted to be, "artist" probably wouldn't have made the list.

The Early Years AKA the Early 2000's

I went to school for marketing while working full-time to put myself through college. During my junior year, I was asked to design the company newsletter. What started as just another assignment quickly became my favorite part of the job. I had accidentally discovered graphic design, and I was hooked.

By the time I realized how much I loved design, I was already deep into my degree. I graduated in 2012 with a B.S. in Marketing Management and a minor in Communications, then spent the next several years building a career in marketing while grabbing every graphic design project I could.

A Crafter is Born

At the same time, my creative hobbies were evolving too. I discovered scrapbooking in 2009, which led to card making, and in 2012 my husband gave me my first Cricut. Before long, I was creating custom decorations for friends and family. Looking back, that little machine quietly changed the course of my life.

In 2015, I left my corporate marketing job in search of something more creative and flexible. I began teaching craft classes at Joann Fabrics. Shortly after, my father was diagnosed with cancer, and while helping care for him, I was also expecting my second child. My daughter was born in October 2016. Just thirty days later, my dad passed away.

Six months later, I launched Party Your World.

Party Your World

The name comes from Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid, my favorite movie to watch with my dad when I was growing up. What began as a way to heal also became a business that allowed me to stay home with my young children while doing work I loved.

I opened my Etsy shop in April 2017, and it quickly grew into a thriving creative business. Like many small businesses, everything changed in 2020, and then changed again as the world continued to evolve.

A New Business (JK)

As my business and interests evolved, I thought my next chapter would be graphic design. In 2025, I launched Great Oak Creative, believing branding and marketing would become my new focus. It didn't take long to realize I couldn't build two businesses at once. Eventually, I had to make a choice.

When it came time to let one go, I couldn't let go of Party Your World.

That decision told me everything I needed to know.

I realized whatever I created next had to stay true to the reason I started in the first place: to make joyful designs that spark creativity and celebration. While I still love graphic design and branding, I knew I didn't want to build a business centered around corporate brands. I wanted to create original artwork, collaborate with creative businesses, and build a business that felt personal, playful, and true to me.

I'm a teacher?  And I'm good at it? Whodathunk.

Around that same time, I began teaching Cricut classes and quickly discovered that I loved teaching just as much as creating. Soon after, I created my first original illustration, Bloom, and for the first time, I allowed myself to explore art simply because I wanted to.

By the end of 2025, I knew I had found my direction. In 2026, I relaunched Party Your World as an art-focused creative business.

The New Glory Days

Today, Party Your World brings together nearly two decades of experience in marketing, graphic design, entrepreneurship, teaching, and making. My work spans illustration, surface pattern design, branding, packaging, creative education, and joyful design for creative businesses. I love helping ideas come to life, whether that's through original artwork, thoughtful design, or teaching someone a new creative skill.

I may not have set out to become an artist, but looking back, every chapter led me here. And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.