Who We Are & How We Got Started
We are incredibly fortunate to have known each other our entire lives. Our parents were lifelong friends and as a result, we grew up together. Today, we have the honor of being “aunties” to each other’s children and couldn’t be happier that they share the same close bond.
We have always had a passion for event planning and we rarely host an event without the other – whether it’s a birthday party, baby shower, or even a Jack & Jill. We love every little detail that goes into making each event special, from designing the invitation/website, to adding those finishing touches – it’s our thing!
Krafting is in our blood as we come from a long line of Krafters. From our grandparents, to our moms (and we can’t forget our KraftyDads), we are the third generation, with our children following in our footsteps as the upcoming fourth! We have spent our lives krafting with our families and attending scrapbook retreats together, so with our love of krafting and event planning, we decided to launch our own Kraft retreat in 2018 and have been doing so ever since.
We often get asked “do you need to be a mom to come to one of our retreats?” and the answer is no. Our Retreats are open to anyone who loves to kraft! We chose the name “KraftyMoms” because we wanted a way to play off the first initial of our names, Kristyn and Michaelyn, and since we’re both moms, it felt like the perfect fit.
We typically host two retreats per year, one in the spring and one in the fall and our seating is limited to somewhere between 40-60 guests depending on the venue. One of the most rewarding aspects of our retreats are the friendships we have built throughout the years. We love watching our guests connect with one another, sharing techniques and seeing all the amazing creativity that our Krafters bring. Our retreats are a space for relaxation, creativity, fun and of course – KraftyFriends!
Kristyn
Hi there! I’m Kristyn, one of the co-founders of KraftyMoms! After spending over two decades behind a desk in administrative roles, I felt the pull for something more meaningful. That leap led me to become a Lead Teacher at a daycare in my hometown. I never expected to fall in love with it, but working with young children and being part of their early growth has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life.
I became a mother in 2007, life has been a mix of beautiful moments and a fair share of chaos. My love for crafting has always been a constant, and now I get to share that joy with my daughter – my very own next-gen KraftyMom in the making!
I started my creative journey with traditional paper scrapbooking and later transitioned into the digital world. But the creativity didn’t stop there! Alongside my amazing KraftyBestie, we’ve brought countless ideas to life. Everything from event planning, custom gift baskets and party décor to digital designs, photography, and even hand-crafted Halloween costumes.
Michaelyn
My name is Michaelyn aka Mikie and I am the other half to KraftyMoms. For as long as I can remember, my family and I have always krafted together – from painting, to woodworking, stained glass, welding and more. My mom got me started on scrapbooking when I was very young and it is now one of my greatest passions. I love fussy cutting, glitter and nit picking at all the tiny details. I take more pictures than I know what to do with and as a busy working mom, I am very behind in keeping up with my scrapbooks.
I have been married to my adrenaline-junkie husband since 2011 (although we’ve been together since 2005) and we have two amazing kids who are growing up way too fast. When we’re not busy with family stuff, we run a side business out of our home selling PoolTree Systems for closing aboveground pools. I have 15+ year background as a Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse and in 2020, transitioned from the hospital to work at home for an insurance company for a better work/life balance.