Meet the Maker: Jen Pitta
This “Meet the Maker” interview was written by guest blogger Breanna Gustafson, a student at Bridgewater State University and a graduate of Cape Cod Community College and Plymouth South High School.
Do you ever hear the saying “Do what you love, love what you do?” Local paper crafter Jen Pitta of By the Shore Stamping is doing just that. Jen is no stranger to the art of paper crafting. Jen specializes in creating her own hand-stamped greeting cards and scrapbook pages. She has also created shadow boxes, home décor such as framed prints, banners, and stamped tile coasters.
“My creations are really only limited by imagination!” said Jen. With just a little bit of creativity, the opportunities are endless. Jen has a long history with paper art. Ffifteen years ago Jen began scrapbooking after attending a home party teaching the idea. “I’ve always had a love for paper, pens, and coloring. Once I was introduced to pairing my love of paper with my love of telling stories, it seemed like a no-brainer for me,” said Jen. It was shortly after Jen began scrapbooking that she discovered rubber stamping and began making her own greeting cards as well.
About nine years ago Jen decided that she wanted to make hand-stamped invitations to her wedding. Jen made 135 hand stamped, embossed and scored invitations along with Save the Date reminders, a rehearsal dinner invitation and created six different thank you card designs for after the wedding. “Once I completed that monumental task I was having so much fun that I started offering classes and now nine years later I’m still having so much fun!” said Jen.
Jen`s exhibit at the Maker Faire will have a large assortment of samples of her work including cards, scrapbooking, and some of her home décor pieces. She is planning on demonstrating a variety of different stamping techniques throughout the day.
“One of the biggest objections I hear from people that see my work is, “Oh, I am not creative at all. I must take a moment to dispel the myth of needing to be “crafty” to enjoy this. While I have always been a bit crafty myself, I have known so many people that didn’t think of themselves as being crafty who now love rubber stamping and scrapbooking,” said Jen.
Attendees of the 2015 Cape Cod Mini Maker Faire are encouraged to stop by Jen’s booth!