Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Locurto.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up from humble beginnings in the small town of Pawhuska, Oklahoma with dreams of moving to New York City to work for Martha Stewart. I got my B.F.A in Graphic Design from Oklahoma State University, but didn’t have enough money to buy a plane ticket to New York. Instead, I moved to Dallas which was the closest big city that I could drive to. I took any job I could find at the time, but could barely afford food and rent. I was determined to succeed and not have to move back home to my tiny town.
After over a year of struggling to make ends meet, I landed a job as an Art Director for Fossil. This was the early 1990’s and little did I know, the internet was about to change our world. When I discovered the internet, I knew I had to be apart of it! I left Fossil to pursue a career in technology working for one of the only companies designing websites in Dallas at the time. This career shift opened many doors. I eventually started my own graphic design firm, creating award-winning branding for various brands and Fortune 500 companies.
By the early 2000’s, I was married with two small children and heard about something called blogging. Just like the time I heard about the internet, I jumped in headfirst, starting a blog in my very little spare time sharing DIY party ideas, and creative recipes with the world. I used my graphic design experience to open an online shop and membership club, becoming one of the pioneers of the printable download.
Over the years, I have partnered with hundreds of brands. I’ve created content for Coca-Cola, Disney, Sam’s Club, Warners Bros Pictures, Borden Cheese, Tidy Cats, Hallmark, Michaels, Pinterest, Oriental Trading Company, General Mills and many more.
After 12 years of juggling several websites, hosting events, working with brands and running a design firm, I finally gave up my graphic design clients to become a full-time creator and brand consultant. Along with LivingLocurto.com, I now offer graphic design & branding services, digital marketing templates, and private consultations at AmysCircle.com.
Even though it’s been 18 years, I still have many new creative ideas to share on Living Locurto. My mission is to help craft fun into your everyday with ideas that impress without the stress!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road was definitely full of bumps! Nobody, not even my own husband, understood what blogging was when I first started Living Locurto. With no family living nearby to help, it was also a big struggle to work from home, running several businesses while raising small children. “Working from home “ wasn’t a thing in the early 2000’s. Support was hard to come-by. Most people assumed I was a stay-at-home mom – even when I would tell them I owned a graphic design firm. As my business grew and changed, I rarely slept and worked most nights after the kids were in bed. Finding a community of women in the blogging world who could relate, was my lifeline. Most brands didn’t even understand the influence bloggers and social media had on the world until TikTok became popular in 2020.
Social media moves so fast! Every week, there is always something new to learn.
Now, real content creators and influencers are struggling to stand out against the masses of AI slop. Many influencers these days are not even real people, but AI generated! Right now, if you look at Pinterest, most of what you see is fake content made with AI. Most AI recipes have not been tested, while many are not edible and impossible to make. It’s been a struggle for real content creators to get shown in the algorithm when there’s tons of new AI content created everyday. What takes me 2 days to come up with a concept, shop for supplies, create the content, film and photograph the content, write about the content and then update my website and social media with the content, can take a person using AI literally 2 minutes to copy.
I’m not sure what will happen to “real life” content creators and influencers, but I have hope that things will shift and people will choose to support real-life creators, want to watch videos with real people and crave in-person connections more in the future.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a graphic designer, lifestyle blogger, and founder of Living Locurto. (LivingLocurto.com) – Cute Party Food, DIYs & Fun Ideas For Every Day or Any Holiday.
Living Locurto is the go-to resource for fun, creative ideas designed to impress without the stress. I specialize in stress-free entertaining, creating easy recipes, party ideas, and printable designs that help busy people create magical moments without the overwhelm. I love partnering with brands and offer a wide range of services, from design, commercial photography, video production and sponsored posts, to coaching and brand consulting work.
A pioneer in the digital lifestyle space, I’ve led the Living Locurto brand for 18 years. My simple and fun approach to creative entertaining inspires millions worldwide and has earned recognition in premier publications like Better Homes & Gardens, Country Living, and Parents Magazine.
What are you known for?
I’m best known for my cute party food and high-quality printable designs. Whether it’s a simple charcuterie board or an elaborate holiday party, I’ve built a reputation for creating fun and easy entertaining ideas that anyone can do.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of building a multi-faceted brand while raising two kids as a working mom. Transitioning my passion into a long-term business has been an incredible journey! I’m also proud of the brand work that I’ve done over the years and the community I’ve built. Knowing that my creative ideas, recipes and designs have been a part of thousands of family birthdays and holiday traditions is incredibly rewarding.
What sets you apart from others?
I think what sets me apart is my professional graphic design experience. Many creators have great ideas, but because of my design background, I can provide fun extras like my printable designs to help people execute ideas fast and easy!
As a Gen X creator, I also bring a unique perspective as the “fun mom”. I share my party ideas, love of solo travel and new chapters of life with a sense of humor and a been-there-done-that carefree way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.livinglocurto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinglocurto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livinglocurto
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/amylocurto
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/LivingLocurto
- Other: https://printablesbyamy.com/
