Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Jensen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stephanie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The majority of my work is pretty meaningful to me because most of my signs are made from notes that were written by someone who has passed away. The customers are usually very moved by the final product which makes my heart happy knowing that I could create something special for someone, especially during a time of grief. For me personally, the most meaningful project I did was gifting a handful of signs for a friends family for Christmas. Sadly my friend suddenly passed away leaving behind many people that loved him dearly, including his one year old daughter. Creating those items was very dear to my heart and not only was it very meaningful for myself and the family, it also helped me during the grieving process. I hope his family looks at those signs and remembers the beautiful person that he was.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Stephanie Jensen and I am the owner and maker of Do It For You Creations ( DI4U Creations) which makes thoughtful and funny decor for any occasion. I specialize in Handwritten note items and funny tea towels ( hints the idea behind “ thoughtful & funny decor”). My tea towels make a great gift for anyone with a sense of humor and the handwritten note items are my favorite to create, and what my shop is mostly know for. With this type of item I take a handwritten note or drawing ( it can be old, new or even multiple images) and turn it into a product that the customer can cherish forever. I recently bought a laser engraver so I am able to expand  the handwritten items to things like jewelry, wallets, keychains etc. which I am very excited about. I am also a mom to two wonderful and busy kiddos Layla (6) and Logan (5) and although balancing work and momlife is hard at times, I am glad that I get to show them that they too can have a small business one day if they choose.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In my opinion the best way we can support artists and creatives is by sharing their work with others, collaborating with them, and purchasing their products direct. With the world easily at our finger tips, it’s so easy to share a website, social media post or simply a product with the people in our lives and beyond. It’s amazing how much traction a person can get simply by a handful of people sharing something they made, so I think sharing their work is a big factor in supporting people in that industry. Another thing we can do is collaborate with them if possible. For instance if you have a brick and mortar shop, maybe you could hang artwork from a local artist on your wall or sell other handmade items, you never know whose eye their item will catch in your space, and that could make all the difference to an artist, especially if they are just starting out. The last thing is buying direct. Many times artists sell their products online via a platform like Etsy or Shopify, and with that comes fees. If possible, reach out to the artist and see if they would prefer you to purchase direct using a different payment platform with less or no fees, this will help them get all the profit from their work opposed to having to pay transaction fees etc.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is making items that are meaningful and bring joy to others. I often get messages of how much my product meant to someone and it really makes me happy. It’s incredibly rewarding being able to make something that fills a persons broken heart, creates laughter or sparks wonderful memories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DI4UCreations
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doitforyoucreations
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doitforyoucreations
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@di4ucreations

Image Credits
Lisa Obermyer