Dudes Craft, Too: Jeff Lindberg

Hello, hello! Today I’m bringing you an interview with Jeff Lindberg. I’ll have his Instagram account linked down at the end of this post.

What is your name and in which country do you currently reside?

My name is Jeff Lindberg, and I live on the east coast of the USA in Orlando, Florida.

How did you first become involved in card making?

My amazing partner Dan knew that I enjoyed home decor, particularly for the holidays and wanted me to have fun with vinyl appliques. He bought me a Silhouette machine which caused me to search tutorials. I found Jennifer McGuire videos online and the rest is history.

I abandoned the machine and went strictly to card making.

What do you enjoy most about card making?

Card making has allowed me to release some of the creative tension that my everyday job doesn’t necessarily allow and frankly it’s been a great mental therapy. My job is extremely stressful and emotional so this outlet has served to alleviate some of that.

Stereotypically card making is considered by many to be a hobby in which only females participate. Have you experienced any judgement or discrimination based on this stereotype?

Actually it’s worked in my favor. I felt like I was a bit of an odd duck for a brief moment until I noticed that instead of a duck I was more like a unicorn.

I am a natural host or performer by trade so blending my personality with crafting has connected me with a lot of the top people in the industry. In turn those connections have made my transition from feeling like an outsider evaporate into becoming a full fledged member of the community that much easier.

How do you deal/ how have you dealt with the judgement or discrimination?

As a proud gay male judgement and discrimination are part of “Life 101”. It doesn’t even phase me.

Do you feel that, as a male card maker, you bring any experiences or attributes to the craft that you might not otherwise if you were female?

I think at the end of the day this is design and many people participate in design efforts. From the early, heavily dominated male profession of sign painting layout and typography have been a part of the male creative history.

This is just an unprovoked part of the creative world of paper crafting and it’s been great to see so many men come out about their crafting.

What is the best thing about being a male card maker?

I think the advantage of being a male makes way for more acceptance. I know that I am easily welcomed into conversations, make and takes and even online conversations because I am different and because I offer a different point of view.

What is the most challenging?

Having to navigate cute critters and flowers in the craft world; they’re not my thing. I’m also not necessarily into the typically masculine feeling stamp or die sets like steam punk or grunge either.

I am a clean and simple, heavy on the white space kind of guy. Finding the array of products that match my style along with colors that can compliment that aesthetic have been a little more challenging to navigate.

What changes, if any, would you like to see happen in the card making industry as far as male card makers are concerned?

I would like for more male names to find their way into the design world. So many talented men are behind the industry’s best; perhaps pay more attention to them. I’ve had the honor of meeting the top males in the business and they are savvy, smart, freaks of creative nature that inspire me to join their fold! They’re a great group. I want to meet more of them. Perhaps I’ll be them one day when I ‘grow up!’

Do you do any other crafts?

I have a great sense of home decor and staging and my Instagram account follows that journey as well.

Have you always been creative?

Yes, for as long as I can remember. Image displays and presentation of items and self were important.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

All the arts; music, theater, conversation, culture, and design aesthetics that are trending online.

Is there anything you struggle with in terms of card making?

All of it. Like I said, I am not a pro whatsoever and I am okay with that. Color combos and coloring are two challenges that make me want to walk away from my desk. It’s actually resulted in me stopping a project more than once.

What has been your proudest card making moment or achievement?

Getting my first design deal as an influencer. I think that’s a great compliment. Simon Says Stamp and Concord and Ninth were two supporters from the beginning and I am grateful for their generosity and support.

Kristina Werner, Tim Holtz, Cathy Zielske, Gina Krupsky, and Jennifer McGuire are the reason people know my name. I’d be nowhere without their support.

What, if anything, would you change about the card making community?

I feel like I got the Dudes Craft, Too hashtag trending. Perhaps not solely, but I certainly brought it as a call to action to my male crafting community. I’m proud of that and I see it’s caught on. I am taking credit for that work.

What, if anything, would you change about the card making industry?

I would love for the companies to come together to take down Alibaba.

How would you describe your card making style?

Clean and simple with chunky, fat sentiments that remain the star of the show.

Lastly do you have any advice, tips, suggestions, or words of encouragement for other card makers?

Absolutely. I would say, be YOU! Carve out the style that makes you the most happy.

I lucked out with the industry names finding me a little easier because I engaged with them on social media. I was supportive, connective, and different (and perhaps charming) in ways that caused my work to get the attention that has helped me today. That doesn’t make me a better crafter. Doing the work and figuring out the techniques is the real art of the charm.

I’ve decided to reveal my journey (the mess ups and all!) online. I make mistakes live. The community is raising me in my skills and I love it.

Again; just be yourself. Focus on yourself and let the crafting come as an extension of you and your participation in the crafting community; not the other way around.

Jeff, thanks for being a part of my blog series. It’s been eye opening having you here. I think you are already one of the top crafty guys in the industry. I just hope you’ll be able to see that for yourself.

If you’d like to see more of Jeff’s work you can find him

On Instagram

Be sure to check out his Instagram live “Craft Cocktails” show, weekends at 8:30pm PST

Until next time,

Paper, glue, you do you,

Samantha