Jennifer Schaerer
I’d be fooling myself if I thought you’d actually read through all this explanation before scrolling down to see the photos, so go ahead. I’ll wait right here until you scroll back up.
Back so soon? Want to hear the back story on our search? Grab a drink or a snack and settle in. It’s quite a tale.
It was two years ago that we reconfigured our group of Paper Crafts Pros and launched the era of Paper Crafts Go-to Gals. We expanded this group of ambassadors from four women to six, and established a two-year term for the group as a whole.
And oh, what a group it became! They came together like peanut butter and jelly, salt and pepper, eggs and bacon…and really helped to tighten the weave of our paper crafting community in all the best ways.
The 2010-2011 Paper Crafts Go-to Gals
But for two years we ran them ragged, from fun CHA booth activities to editorial board meetings. We also assigned them projects for our magazine columns and special issues, plus a whole lot of blogging. It’s a significant commitment in time and energy.
So we weren’t surprised when three of them notified us toward the end of last year that they would be retiring at the end of the two-year term. Kim Hughes launched her own company, and Jessica Witty and Maren Benedict are going to enjoy some breathing room with their young and growing families.
So we took the same approach as we did two years ago, and reached out to a group of individuals who we thought embodied the traits of a Paper Crafts Go-to Gal – a group that included current Go-to Gals Teri Anderson, Kim Kesti, and Betsy Veldman. We put that group through a set of challenges, quietly and behind-the-scenes, and evaluated the participants on a variety of criteria.
And, since you’ve already scrolled down to take a sneak peek, no more drama.
Introducing the Paper Crafts Go-to Gals for 2012-2013:
Teri Anderson, Julie Campbell, Kim Kesti, Jennifer McGuire, Windy Robinson and Betsy Veldman will be your Paper Crafts Go-to Gals for the next two year term starting in May!
If you’re online, then you already know these talented women because they are all over the place. We’re looking forward to having the group here for our editorial board meetings in a few short weeks to plan for the coming production year, and you’ll be seeing more and more of them as we start working on our 2012 issues (which starts, believe it or not, in MAY).
Saying hello and goodbye to some pretty awesome women,
Jennifer
P.S. Wanna congratulate our new six-pack of Go-to Gals? Just click below!
Wishing Maren and Jessica all the best and looking forward to continuing to see their beautiful creations.
And a big congrats to the new ladies on the team…what an absolutely fabulous group!
Congrats girls! So excited to see what this amazing team has to bring! Extra SHOUT OUT to Windy!!! Way to go girl!!
Congrats to all the new and returning Go-To-Gals. I’m looking forward to more inspiration to come!
how wonderful!
Congratulations ladies! Looks like an absolutely amazing new team!
Congrats to the new girls! I want to be a Go-To-Gal when I grow up
Awesome— great picks !!! Congrats ladies!!
Congratulations ladies!! What a stellar Go to team!!
Congrats, ladies!!! Wow!!! What an amazing team of talent!! Looking forward to all the inspiration!!
And thanks to Maren and Jessica for all their inspiration over the past two years!!!
Cannot wait!
Life is all about change. Best wishes for the departing team members, Yea for the team staying put and Welcome to the newbies! Can’t wait to see what new ideas and inspiration you come up with next!
Thanks for sharing!
Congratulations to all of the new Go-to Gals and the familiar favorites!
Sad to see Maren and Jessica leaving but also excited about the new Go To Gals!
Congratulations to the new team! We are sure they will go together like bread and butter (with a dollop of yummy jam on top!) Can’t wait to see what they come up with and bon voyage to the lovely ladies who will be leaving the team!
Congratulations to the the Go To Gals! What an awesome team this is going to be. I can’t wait to see their work!
Love seeing these gals here–welcome newbies and I can’t get enuf of Jennifer McGuire’s talent/inspiration!!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!! What awesome choices! These are three women who’s work I admire but more important, that I LIKE. They are kind, sweet, lovely and supportive. Perfect choices for Go-To Girls!
Congrats ladies!!
Woohoo ladies!! HUGE congrats!
BRILLIANT Six Pack!!!!!!!!
Wow. What an amazing group of talented ladies.
Congrats! Beautiful, creative women!!!
The most adorable six pack I have ever seen! THANK YOU for all the inspiration!
What a great group ladies! So excited to see the new talent. Best wishes to Jessica and Maren.
Congrats.. how wondeful. I just love all these amazing ladies!! woohoo!!
Congratulations to all! I look forward to many postings, crafts and fun times ahead. Thank you so much for sharing!
Congratulations Ladies!!! What a wonderful team!!!
Congrats to everyone…. wonderful team.
ALL of these ladies rock! Congrats to all the new and continuing G2Gs!
so excited for everyone! HUGE congrats!
I’m super excited to be working with these ladies AND to see even more fab projects from them in the magazine. Congrats to all!
Congrats to the new ladies, good luck and good wishes and happy times to those leaving and thanks to everyone for being so inspiring for all of us!
A fantastic group for sure!
You girls did a wonderful job! Thanks for sharing with us. Congrats to the new team!
Huge Congrats to these super talented ladies!!
OH WOW! I am super excited that these ladies are joining the team! WELCOME!!!!
Oh my goodness … what mixed feelings. I’ve been away and am busy catching up .. no more Maren??? no more Jessica????? (sob!)
But Jennifer McGuire ??? Julie and Windy … gracious I feel all up and down!
Congratulations to the new Go-To-Girls! I know that your work will be too beautiful for words .. and I will be reading along seeing all of your crafty goodness! Hope the next 2 years are all you dreamed they would be :0)!
Congratulations to all of the ladies joining the team and those continuing! Sorry to see some of the ladies stepping down (but I totally understand where you’re coming from). You are all amazing!
I love all the ladies, leaving and staying. You are all an inspiration in the crafting community! Big congrats to the three newbies!
Love these Gals ideas. Congrats and Good Luck to all of you!!!! I look forward to seeing all the creativity that is to come.
One can never have too many go-to gals, fresh, new blogs to visit, or inspiration. Congrats to everyone.
Wow, congrats, ladies, I am so happy for all of you! This is so awesome! Thanks you so much for the inspiration and the inspiration to come!
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Congratulations! What a wonderful new team of creative minds.
Best wishes on your new ventures Kim, Jessica, and Maren!
wooohooo! congrats to the new girls, how exciting. can’t wait to see what you bring to us and the magazine!
Congrats to the new members! Your creations are always inspiring and I can’t wait to see more of it.
Congrats to the new girls, welcome back to the returning girls, and farewell (with sniffles) to the departing girls. Looking forward to everything that’s to come!