Jennifer Schaerer
We try not to, but sometimes we get so focused on publishing our magazines that we lose sight of the final product once it’s “out there.” We’re so used to Christmas in July and Mother’s Day in December that we’re always well on our way to the next inspiring issue.
That wasn’t the case with Go-to Sketches. From the very first moment we sat down to discuss the concept, we were giddy with anticipation. It all came together so perfectly, including the photo shoot that coincided with our annual editorial board meeting. As Paper Crafts Go-to Gal Teri Anderson said, it was an instant connection for our newly-minted Go-to Gals even though they had never been all together as a group before.
Oh, the laughter! The teasing!
And, of course, the primping. Since these six lovely ladies had to pose not only for their official headshots (the black and whites we use here and in the magazine), but also the colorful opener shots AND group shot for Go-to Sketches, you can only imagine the quick changes and hair brushing going on.
Brian takes a test shot and looks back at the monitor to check the lighting.
One of many attempts at a group shot. Can't you just hear the laughter?
Then it was on to the individual shots for the section opening pages. Not only were there six boisterous Go-to Gals in the studio, there was also an audience of editors to help keep things lively.
Is it any wonder there are dozens of outtakes for each one of these shots?
And here’s your insider secret for the day: although the final shots in the issue are just beautiful and appear effortless, each one was meticulously arranged and checked on the monitor.
Matt, Brian and stylist Claudia Daniels check the all-white set on the monitor.
It was only after their shots were complete that the Go-to Gals remembered to have a quick bite to eat. After all, we literally whisked them straight from the airport right to the studio and then ordered them to smile pretty.
Maren, is that a little lettuce between your teeth? Just kidding!
This has truly been a fun and fulfilling journey bringing this very special issue from early concept last August to the newsstand a few weeks ago. Your other insider secret for the day: we’ve got something else up our collective sleeves for later this summer, so you might want to hang around and find out more. Shhhhhhhh. Don’t tell anyone, though.
If you haven’t already gotten your copy of Go-to Sketches, you can check out our sneak peek HERE. (Psst…today’s the last day for the 20% off plus free shipping offer! Just enter the promotion code “SKETCH20″ HERE.)
I’m sending heartfelt thanks to our fantastic group of Go-to Gals for making this week so much fun with all the blog hopping and exclusive new projects using some of the sketches from this issue, because we sure couldn’t have done this without the group effort. You ladies are the very best!
And since our readers are the very best, too, I’ve got three more copies of Go-to Sketches to give away! Leave a comment telling me your favorite aspect of this promotional week (so far!). All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Friday, April 9.
Jennifer
P.S. The fun is just beginning! Hop over to Moxie Fab World as Cath talks about stretching a sketch to suit different styles, purposes, occasions, holidays, gender, age, etc. And the Go-to Gals each take a single sketch and turn it six different ways to create six unique new projects!
I love seeing all of the behind the scenes stuff! So cool to see what we usually don’t!
I am always looking for ideas and have loved all the sketches you’ve shared and the blog hops to see how they are used. I discovered some blogs I’d never visited before – liked that! I do think the best part was having you personalize many of the posts giving us another glimpse into the lives of the Go-To Gals and the Paper Crafts operation.
I like seeing the behind-the-scenes stuff. It makes the personalities of the designers and editors come through–makes us feel like you are all our friends!
I love seeing the behind the scenes process of how the mag was created.
I loved the blog hop and the variety of projects seen through it! I also really like today’s peek at rotated and flipped sketches.
Loved the blog hop and seeing all the behind the scenes photos!
Thanks for the blog hop – its good to see what others are up to and all their different styles!
I love being able to go to all the different blogs and see each designer’s take on the different sketches.
All lthe sketches and beautiful cards have been awesome–I love seeing how a sketch can go from elegant style to whimsical, depending who the designer is. Gerat job!
Seeing what happens behind the scenes is very revealing. I love knowing that you are all regular people, just like me, with a passion for creating. Thanks for what you do!
I like seeing all the behind the scene stuff.
My favorite part is discovering all these new blogs through the blog hop. Thanks!
Oh what a totally fab peek into the production of these great photos! Many thanks for giving us this view!
Making me smile for sure!
~Bev
I liked the all while background with the pops of color from what everyone was wearing….
It’s the ENERGY that I’m enjoying the most! My monitor is nearly sparking from it all!
I love the behind the scenes look. I love seeing how things come together.
Very cool to see the behind the scences stuff. I see you guys like Apple products too…ha ha.
I’ve just loved the loads of inspiration you’ve provided and especially seeing sketches used in such different ways.
outtakes!!!
What fun shoot, Jennifer!
I think the photo shoot was the most interesting part, I’m sure the making of the book was a priority, so I’m really looking forward to thumbing through the pages of this great book!
Thanks for the chance to win this!
Hugs and laughter,
Carmen Lucero
As a child, I took things apart to see how they worked – and as I got older the need to now how things gto from Point A to Point B always fascinated me. So to be able to see what all went into the making of this special issue was really interesting and fun to learn!
love the behind the scenes!!
This behind the scenes stuff is really fun! Like to see more!
One of my favorite things has been seeing the behind the scenes of getting photos ready-I never think about what all goes into getting something like that ready! Thanks for a chance to win!
It was fun to see the new ideas on the blog hop!
Today’s blog with all the behind the scenes shots has been my fave so far. I like seeing you girls interact when not being posed by someone.
I love seeing all of the behind the scenes stuff!!!
I loved seeing all of the props spray painted white for the photos. It is such a clean look, and a perfect backdrop to let the projects pop!
Honestly, my FAV part is a chance to win this awesome SKETCH issue, that I now NEED!!! BUT, I have really enjoyed reading all the behind-the-scene’s goings-on too!!!
Those behind the photo shots are fun! Thanks for sharing with us.
Love the sketches, but also the giveaways!
Seeing and reading about behind the scenes at the photo shoot has been a not of fun. My favorite aspect of this week, though, is being inspired by different takes on the sketches. Truly, the inspiration has been over the top.
I just love all the background and behind the scenes photos! So much fun!
Knowing what goes on behind the scenes makes me look at the magazine in a whole different perspective. Lots of work to publish a fantastic issue! I loved all the sketches.
I really love seeing all the different ways to interpret a sketch!
I’ve loved it all . . . Ienjoy the blog and the way everyone seems to enjoy what they do.
Can I say the giveaways?
Well, the behind the scenes stuff has been great fun, too.
Love seeing how much fun (yes, I know it’s work too) you all have putting these GREAT publications together. It is so inspirational viewing how each sketch is interpreted by the Go To Geniuses! Would absolutely be doing the “Happy Dance” if I ever won this super fantastic magazine! Thanks so very much for the chances to win
I loved the blog hop to see how everyone did different type cards with the different sketches. I hope I win to see more of the sketches and inspiration. Thanks.
I love the prizes. What’s more fun than free stuff? I hope that I win!!
I liked seeing all of the different ideas the various women had.
I have really enjoyed seeing all the different takes on the sketches. I would have never thought of a lot of these ideas, like making a house out of the purse sketch, or even as simple as rotating the sketch. Love seeing the pictures of the go-to girls!
My favorite part of the festivities is the blog hop. I do not generally follow very many blogs (excepting this one, of course!) and it’s great to get so much inspiration in one shot!
I love all the sketches and how they come together as an amazing card. It really has made me stretch my own creative thinking. I have also enjoyed seeing what goes on behind the scenes of y’alls photo shoot. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of the fun.
I love the peek behind the scenes! I know it is a lot of work, but it looks like fun too! I just picked up the issue and I love it! Thanks for all the inspiration.
Carol B
http://www.scraphappystudio.blogspot.com
Taking a peek behind the scene has given me a new appreciation for your magazine. Thanks for sharing the fun.
Lori B!
It has been fun! It’s great to see more of what goes on behind the scenes and really what fun it looks to be. All of the folks that put together each regular issue as well as the special issues, work so hard to put it together so that we, the faithful readers, can enjoy it. For this I say a hearty THANKS!
I love looking behind the scenes to see people in a very authentic way. Of course the blog hop gives me soooo many new ideas. Thanks!!
WOW! I received my copy of the May/June Paper Crafts in the mail today and sat down with it right away. I tend to flip through time after time. This time, I read the fine print and found the PaperCraftsConnection. What wonderful fun this last hour has been. My favorite part of the behind the scenes is seeing that putting together a magazine is REALLY a lot of fun, laughter, not all business. Even after being pushed around, told what to do and when to smile, the smiles that are showing through in the pictures are true smiles. It looks like everyone really enjoyed themselves. Time to go, I found this website on page 15, I have many more pages to scope out and many other fine prints to scope out. Love the magazine and will definitely bookmark this site. I love it, thanks!!!!
My favorite part was sipping coffee and browsing a bunch of awesome blogs. The cards were so inspiring. Nice to have some “me” time!