erin terrell clarkson [etc]

Publishing: Behind the Scenes

I have another fun little tidbit about layouts and how they sometimes have to be changed before publishing.

Do any of you happen to have the June 2010 issue of Scrapbooks etc. yet? If so, you may have noticed I have a layout in the wedding article. But something is odd about that layout...hmmm...what could it be?

Check out my original layout (below) compared to the one in the magazine, and let me know if you see any discrepancies. (Don't spoil the fun by commenting if your name is Laura Vegas and you already know the answer to the question.)

 

I'll be back with an explanation after I see if anyone guesses correctly. 

While I have Scrapbooks etc. on my mind, I should also share a link to a contest you may be interested in. Read all about it HERE. Get busy finding the perfect photo, and be sure to submit your entry before June 1st, 2010. Good luck! 

*Edited to add: Yes, you ladies got it right. In the magazine the title is "What I Was Thinking" instead of "What Was I Thinking?"...

"What Was I Thinkin'" is the title of a Djerks Bentley song (listen HERE). I thought it was a funny play on words about the thoughts running through my head the day I got married. I ended up changing it before I sent it in to be published, but I'll change it back when the layout is returned. 

I recently created another layout using song lyrics as my title (can't share it yet), and it's something I do fairly often. HERE is an old layout where I used a Britney Spears song, "Lucky" (listen HERE), and I once created an entire album based on lyrics from a Gary Allan song "Life Ain't Always Beautiful".

SBE Page Share: APRIL 2010

The spring issue of Scrapbooks etc. has been out for a while now, so I'm going to take this opportunity to share a few of my contributions to it. I've already mentioned the "Our Fuzzy Friend" layout in the pet pages article, so I'll skip right past that one. I do happen to have another pet-themed layout in the issue:

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. Mar/April 2010 issue (pg. 106). SOURCES  Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper (grey). Patterned Paper: Scenic Route Paper Co. (yellow polka dot), Die Cuts With A View (paw prints, dog bone, letters). Font: SP Chi Town (journaling), Arial Narrow ("reason", "why you love your uncle chris"), Playbill ("#203"). Die Cuts, Stickers: SEI. Ink: Tsukineko. Brad, Button: Making Memories. Adhesive: All Night Media. Digital Template: ScrapbooksEtc.com Quick Collage #206.

I also have a few cards (seen in THIS POST) demonstrating ways to utilize photos on cards and/or invitations.

Graduation (an all-digital sample):

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. Mar/April 2010 issue (pg. 81). SOURCES  Software: Adobe Photoshop CS4. Font: Impact ("09"), Renaissance (journaling), Round (dots), Seeing Stars (star shape).

Birthday (Behind-the-scenes tidbit...that adorable little girl is named Addy (or maybe Addie?), but I made up the rest of the information for publishing purposes.):

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. Mar/April 2010 issue (pg. 81). SOURCES  Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Fonts: SP Little Miss Happy ("let's", "cupcake"), Bebas ("celebrate", "4"), Arial (details). Chipboard Accents: KI Memories. Paper Trimmer: Fiskars (w/scalloped edge blade).

House-Warming (Behind-the-scenes tidbit...that is not my house, it's just a random shot I took of a pretty home at the lake.):

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. Mar/April 2010 issue (pg. 80). SOURCES  Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Patterned Paper: American Crafts. Fonts: Fabianestem ("come take a peek"), Arial (details). Chipboard Accents: Heidi Swapp (Arrow). Paper Trimmer: Fiskars (w/scalloped edge blade), Punches: EK Success (large, medium, and small circle punches).

Baby Shower:

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. Mar/April 2010 issue (pg. 80). SOURCES  Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Patterned Paper, Metal Rimmed Tag: Making Memories. Chipboard Accents: Heidi Swapp (Arrow). Punches: EK Success (small circle punch).

A shot of the interior:

 

I created another layout for this issue when I wrote the "Baby Love" article, but it was cut. (Bummer, but hey--it happens! I'm happy mine was cut and not any of the other beautiful layouts within the article.) I'll just show a peek at that one:

 

Finally, remember THIS POST? Click below to see the full-shot of that page.

Scrapbooks etc. February 2010 Cover

The February 2010 issue of Scrapbooks etc. is on the stands now, and it's a great issue! There are a lot of ideas in there I love, and I'm going to post tomorrow to point some of them out. For now, I wanted to turn your attention to the cute cover.

I have mentioned before that one of my duties as a contributing editor is to help locate photos for the cover shots. (I post calls here every now and then, so be sure to keep an eye out for them!) Once the cover shot is selected, I usually get to deliver the good news to the photographer--which is one of my favorite parts of the job.

The photographer who shot the cover photo for February is Michelle Evans, and the photo is of her adorable daughter, Miranda. Check out THIS LINK, where Miranda shows her excitement over being selected. I love that third shot!

You may notice the layout she's holding is not the same layout that made the cover of the magazine. That's because the talented Lisa Storms created the cute cover page. I created the one that didn't make the cover! Here's a shot of mine:

Detail shot:

 

If you get a chance, stop by Michelle's blog to congratulate her!

Publishing: Tips For Getting Published

Because I've worked for scrapbooking magazines for many years, I am often asked for tips on getting published. I have a few general tips I always suggest and wanted to share them here. I may add to them as I think of more.

• Create clean pages. This is so important if your page is going to appear in print. That means no scratched out journaling, no adhesive smeared on the photo, no smudged fingerprints on the page.
• Do something creative. Whether showing off a new technique or using product in a creative way, your chance of being published increases if you are able to provide a unique tip for readers.
• Remember: magazines work about 6 months in advance. Just because it's summertime doesn't mean the magazines are searching for pool pages. For example, I'm posting this in November, but the magazine to which I contribute is currently working on the May/June issue. Magazines often post their current "page calls" on their websites.
• Try to develop your own style. Do not copy someone else's work and pass it off as your own. Use product because you like it and not just because it is the trendy new thing.
• Include journaling on your page. Pages without journaling aren't printed nearly as often as pages with a compelling story. After all, a big part of scrapbooking is sharing the story behind the photo. Try to spell words correctly and use proper grammar.
• Focus on the photos. The pictures on your layout don't have to be perfect, but they should be clear, uncluttered, and the focus of the page.
• Include your contact information. When submitting a page for publication, be sure to include current contact information in case your layout is requested. Sometimes a layout isn't selected until a few months after it is submitted, and people will often change their email without notification.

In case you missed it, HERE is another post regarding the steps I take when sending off published layouts.

Scrapbooks etc. Magazine: A Revised Photo Search

You may have read this recent post requesting cover shots for the May/June 2010 issue of Scrapbooks etc. magazine.

As frequently happens, we've tweaked our request a bit. Or perhaps I should say we've "narrowed our focus". I'm reposting the call below, but please note the new topic and due date:

Topic: Scrapbooks etc. May/June 2010 cover photo search.
 
Scrapbooks etc. is searching for late spring/early summer photos of your children for our May/June 2010 cover. Please send us your favorite photos of kids in parks, on playgrounds, and on swings.
 
Please note:
Subject should be age 3-10
Subject should be looking at the camera
Subject should be smiling and appear relaxed (not posed)
Subject should be featured prominently in the shot.
 
To submit your photo, e-mail a low-res jpeg to submissions@meredith.com by Monday, October 26th, 2009.
 
Please write “May/June Cover Photo” in the subject line.
 
Please keep attached files to less than 500k (a file size around 250k is even better). 

And on that note, here's one of my favorite photos I've ever taken of two cute little girls on a swing (it wouldn't work for the cover, bc neither of them is looking at the camera...darn it!):

 

Publishing: From Start To Finish

When I create a layout for Scrapbooks etc., I can't just say "Here's a layout, would you please print it in the magazine?". (I wish it could be that easy!) There are a few more steps involved in the process.

Step 1: I create a layout because...

    A. I want to (then submit because I like the way it turned out)

    B. I need a sample for an article I'm working on

    C. Another contributing editor requested one from me

Step 2: If I submit a layout because I liked it, I will occasionally receive an email from someone at Scrapbooks etc. requesting the page. Some pages I submit are never requested (oh well!). If a page was assigned by another editor or created for an article I'm managing, then I'll submit a photo of the completed page to make sure it demonstrates the article topic properly. Sometimes I have to make changes before I turn it in, so I do that and submit another photo of the revised page.

Step 3: Once the layout has been approved, I complete a supply list and detailed instructions explaining how to create the page. Sometimes I'll create a sketch, too. I print those and add them to the page protector with the layout.

Step 4: Next, I print a contract to ship with the page. I have to state that it is my original work and a lot of other legal jargon, then sign on the dotted line. I add that to the page protector, too.

Step 5: Once I have the completed layout, source lists + instructions, and the contract...then I can send the page in. I try to find all of the Fed Ex drop boxes closest to my house so I can ship pages when I'm out and about.

Here are some projects gathered on my desk and ready to go. It's a bit of a time-consuming process, so I am always happy when I get to this stage: