Daily Inspiration: Meet Nancy Westfall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Westfall.

Nancy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Nancy Westfall. I am the creative mind and designer behind The Colorful Cookie, The Colorful Cookie Club, and Cookie-A-Thon. After teaching elementary school for 20 years, I learned how to decorate sugar cookies. I had always wanted to learn but didn’t know anything about it. I made my mind up that I was going to learn how to decorate adorable cookies! I began reading blogs about decorating cookies and I began to practice.
My friends and family saw the cookies and wanted to order them for parties. Then the word spread. I began to get lots of orders for cookies. This is how The Colorful Cookie began 7 years ago. I wanted to make stencils for my cookies so that I could speed up and customize my cookie orders. I knew this would help me grow my business too. I was inspired to use my creativity and knowledge of technology to teach myself how to design cookie stencils using a Cricut machine and the Design Space software.

I began to offer helpful tips and record video tutorials to show how I deisnged cookie stencils in a Facebook group especially for “cookiers.” I became known as the person who knew how to use the software and explain it in a way that people could understand. Questions started rolling in about the Silhouette Cameo cutting machine. I didn’t have a Silhouette Cameo, so I decided to buy one and learn how to use the Cameo and the Silhouette Studio software to design stencils.

I started my own Facebook group, so I could set the guidelines for posting. I began teaching how to design cookie stencils using many different types of software. It became a full-time job because I was teaching around the world at all hours of the day and night. My private messages and email were blowing up. A friend encouraged me to teach online and get paid for teaching my skills to others. I was reluctant at first because I knew nothing about building a website, but I decided to give it a try. We now have our own website with a huge library of video tutorials to teach cookiers how to design cookie cutters and cookie stencils. That is how The Colorful Cookie Club began 5 years ago and it continues to grow. The club is open for enrollment 2 times per year.

Not long after starting The Colorful Cookie Club, I began to learn how to design 3D cookie cutters. I use 3D printers to print the cutters from food safe PLA adding even more customization. I have taught thousands of cookiers from all over the world how to design cookie stencils, cookie cutters, print and cut edible images for cookies, make bag toppers, use Procreate on the iPad for cookie design, and many other design skills in online classes and in-person classes at CookieCon and All Things Silhouette Conference. I am a Terri Johnson Lisenced Silhouette Instructor and have been a guest blogger for Silhouette School.

Three years ago, I began a fun online cookie decorating event to promote Colorful Cookie Club members. They are so talented and I wanted to encourage them to go live on Facebook and do cookie decorating tutorials. It is called Cookie-A-Thon. Club members volunteer to do cookie decorating tutorials. It is an amazing and fun event! We have 2 online events each year in the Cookie-A-Thon Facebook group . It has grown into such a large event. We have a Spring Cookie-A-Thon and a Holiday Cookie-A-Thon. It is free each day of the event. If cookiers want extended access after the event is over, they purchase an All-Access Pass to be able to view all of the video tutorials and download all of the files on demand.

A teacher at heart, there’s nothing more enjoyable to me than sharing my knowledge, bringing joy, and helping the cookie community learn new things. I am passionate about bringing cookiers together from around the world to learn new things and make new friendships.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been lots of learnings along the way. Some are harder than others. Many tears and many smiles!

Website Building

I knew nothing about websites. I went through 3 different platforms. It was hard to find someone who knew my niche and could build a site that met my needs for the club. Finding the right team to get that done was very challenging. It is very costly too. I finally found a platform that I can manage all by myself and it is so user-friendly!

Time management

Having an online business is hard. Finding time to do it all is hard. After struggling to “do it all”, I finally realized I needed to hire a team to help me. I also realized that no one can “do it all”. We do what we can and do it well. It is easy to check into Facebook and email and get lost in it for hours while trying to answer club member’s questions. I had to learn when to turn social media off. This is a big challenge for me because I like to help people when they need it. I have to set hours and stick to them. I also record and edit video tutorials, host a LIVE every Thursday for “TNL” (a live interactive video tutorial in our member’s an only Facebook group), maintain my site, coordinate and host 2 Cookie-A-Thon events. I collaborate with others in classes and teach in-person classes too.

Learning to say “no” to some things is hard. Staying in my lane is hard. I love to learn and teach new things.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in teaching in a way that people can understand. I am known for supporting others and helping them achieve their learning goals. I am most proud of being able to support the cookie community to encourage them to learn new things and have fun.

I am set apart because I go the extra mile to help others. I am not afraid to share my faith in God and let His light shine through me. I love what I get to do every day!

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I enjoy Overland Park very much. There is always something fun to do or somewhere fun to go. I like everything about it!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.thecolorfulcookie.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecolorfulcookie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecolorfulcookie and https://www.facebook.com/groups/cookieathon
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheColorfulCookie
• Other: https://www.cookieathon.com/

Image Credits:
Rebecca Clair Photography