What steps have other designers taken as they’ve explored design team opportunities with ezines, kit clubs and manufacturers? What tips do they have to share? How does one opportunity really lead to another? Could your work one day be featured in a magazine advertisement?
Welcome to our second installment of Designer Details. We are asking designers across the industry to tell us more about the steps they took to reach their current place in the industry…. We are interviewing the BIG names, the newer names, and everywhere in between. We want to learn from the successes and the mistakes of our fellow paper crafting industry designers.
Today, we are talking with Jennifer Matott. Jen is an art teacher by day and an “up & coming” paper crafting industry designer by night. She has two art degrees, including one in Fine Art and one in Art Education. Jen has been an art teacher at the Elementary, Middle & High school levels since 1998. Jen was first spotted in the paper crafting scene in 2007 in the ezine Ready Set Create, which then became what is now Scrap N Art Magazine. Jen is currently on the Design Teams for industry manufacturers Nikki Sivils and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft. She is also on the design teams for Pencil Lines Sketch Blog and for her local scrapbook store in Bridgeport NY, Scrappin & Stampin Time.
Q: Hi Jen! It looks like you’ve been “into” art for a long time. Have you always been artistic & creative?
Jennifer Matott
Q: When & how did you first get introduced to the world of scrapbooking & paper crafting?
A: {Jen} I think it all started when I got married in 2000. I wanted to create my own wedding album. The ones that photographers offered were so expensive and boring, so I decided that I wanted to put one together. I picked some papers from a local store and went to town!
Now that I think about it, I also did create some “scrapbooks” in high school with those sticky paged albums. I used magazine cut outs, stickers, and photos. Everything has just evolved since then. The basics just naturally led to the integration of the Fine Arts into my crafting.
Q: What inspired you to first begin trying out for design team and publication opportunities?
A: {Jen} I think I was looking for ways to become more involved in the industry. I loved creating and being on message boards. I would join in on challenges and was first approached by a kit club to start designing for them. It was fun and they sent me product! I was challenged by them and had fun so I tried out for another. I was then asked to join the Scrap N’ Art DT. That was such a great experience when the scrapping world was just starting to introduce alternative techniques into the basic “cut and paste.” I loved working with other scrappers and made some great friendships along the way!
Q: Looking at your resume, I can see a steady stream of guest designer work, contests & challenges entered & won, smaller online community design teams work, etc. You have worked hard haven’t you?
A: {Jen} Yes, I guess I have. I have been lucky to “find” these opportunities at the right time and place. Many of the opportunities have
inspired me in so many ways to push beyond my comfort zone to a place that has changed my style and made me a better artist. I love to be challenged. Sometimes it’s a way to break out of a rut. I have also had my share of rejections. I just keep looking. It’s a big industry and
there are plenty of opportunities to create! I just keep trying. If something sounds like a fit, I go for it. For me it’s about the challenge. I like the thrill of the chase!
Q: Tell us about what you would consider to be your first “break”?
A: {Jen} I would say my first “break” was when I was one of the initial editors for Scrap N’ Art ezine. I think I got a good taste of the industry and a lot of opportunity to show my variety. Once I left them I started with Bad Girls kit club and joined their message board. I was pretty active there and when they had a big contest, I joined in and won. I was asked to be a guest DT and then ultimately a DT member, which lasted more than a year. It was when I felt I had made a mark in the scrap world. People started to recognize me on other message boards and I felt more confident in my abilities.
Q: I understand from our previous conversations that things have really been picking up for you in the last year or so. Hello, your work has been published on the back cover of a major industry publication! Tell us about that.
A: {Jen} Well, you should KNOW, Susan 
You found me via my blog and then “stalked” me through Facebook to contact me to join Faber-Castell’s Design Memory Craft team. I was beyond excited! {Editor’s Note: Yep, I used to work for Faber. Since Jen’s work totally rocked and was ideal for the opportunity, I just had to take the time to track her down, LOL! As mentioned previously here, I still recommend including your email address somewhere on your blog.}
Then, next thing I knew, my work ended up published in the Faber-Castell ads for several major crafting magazines! The first time I saw one in Barnes & Nobles, I nearly screamed and poked the person next to me to show them… but I waited until I was in my car to celebrate! I couldn’t have been more excited to see my work like that. It’s a dream to work with a company that I’ve loved since I was a kid!
Q: You are still teaching, raising your children, being a wife, etc. How do you have the energy to do it all? Tell us about the balance between the work of pursuing design opportunities versus the reality of keeping up with your daily responsibilities.
A: {Jen} Some days I wonder how I do it too. It’s crazy in my house and job! I try to balance home life with creating whenever I can fit it in. I create at night when the kids (and hubby) are in bed. I also make time to get away once a month at crops and to local scrapbook events. I have a wonderful group of friends that share my love of this industry and we are all busy moms, but we make time! Support from my family and friends is key!
Q: What would you like to see happen next within your design career? What would be an ideal next step for you?
A: {Jen} That is hard to say… I plan to continue submitting things for publication. I also would love to be able to design for a huge scrapbook company or teach more across the country (or the world.) I love teaching art techniques and that seems to be my passion so I’d say teaching would be a logical next step. When I went to my first CHA this summer, I have to say I was totally intimidated! All the names… the constant drama and changing atmosphere. I just love to try to come up with new ways to use product and teach others. If I can do that, I’d be super happy!
Q: What advice would you give a designer who has never had the guts to try out for a design team yet?
A: {Jen} Just do it! You really have nothing to lose. Find manufacturers & publications that ”speak” to you and try out. Post work on social networks and galleries. You never know when someone is looking for fresh faces. Don’t get discouraged if you are rejected. I still get rejected. I just try to put it in perspective. If you don’t get this one, another opportunity is out there waiting. Don’t give up.
Also, be sure to keep up with trends. Follow blogs, check out manufacturer blogs/ sites, read mags, and be willing to try new things. Try new things and evolve, but don’t change your style to fit a call or brand. If you do, it won’t feel right and you will struggle once on the team. I guess I’m saying to stay true to your style, but always look for inspiration and ways to learn new techniques. That’s what makes us artists. Learning and trying. Taking risks with our work. You just never know. Don’t give up!
Q: What advice would you give a designer who has reached a few small goals, but hasn’t yet found a nice, juicy opportunity?
A: {Jen} Keep looking! I spend a lot of time browsing blogs and manufacturer sites. And of course, now the new DesignTeamCalls website is IDEAL for finding out about opportunities If you see something that seems like a perfect fit, go for it! If it doesn’t work out, well it’s either not the right time or not the right fit. Things might change and what was not right once becomes right later. Just keep trying. You can join in on blog or message board challenges and keep your name out there. Someone will notice. Post & share your work at every opportunity. Good things will come to those that keep trying and keep putting themselves out there. If you believe you are worth it, others will believe it too!
Q: Tell us one “behind the scenes” fact or story that we’d never believe or that we’d enjoy sharing with you:
A: {Jen} I still feel “new” to the industry — like I said, I just went to my first CHA in July — so it’s hard to tell you much about “Behind the Scenes” LOL! But I can tell you a few lessons I’ve learned from being on design teams over the years. It’s a very competitive industry and moves quickly. There are many ideas out there that are not new ideas but rather remade ideas. I have found that the more I look at other people’s work, the more I get stuck in mine. Sure, I love to check out Pinterest but I have to keep it in perspective . I’ll get so many ideas sometimes that I end up getting stuck and my mojo won’t come out. I have to remember to just turn off the computer and create & experiment just for me, with no expectations. If I do that, then I get unstuck. I can’t put pressure on myself to be ”like everyone else” or else I’ll get caught up in indecision.
Q: Thank you Jen for taking the time to share with us a little bit about how your design career has evolved over the last 5 (or so) years and some of the perspective that you’ve gained during that time! I wish you the best of luck as you continue working and you take your design career to that next level!
A: {Jen} Thanks so much, Susan. This was a lot of fun and a really great opportunity for me to continue to get my name out there. You see? You just never know what new opportunities will come from seemingly small things!
This interview was awesome to see! I have to say, being a close, personal friend of Jen’s… it has been awesome seeing her work and career evolve. She is humble, talented, and genuine. Any company will be fortunate to have her on their team! So proud of you Jen!
Jen, you are so humble, you are an amazing artisit, mom, and wife. You have found a niche and your talent will shine through. Your goals will come to fruition, you have the ability, talent, and drive to “be” whatever you wish. I’m so glad you are “YOU”!
Thanks! I love reading these posts!