Happy first full week in May, SCT friends!

Things are heating up for our summer 2019 issue, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you next month! Today, I’d like to give you an inside look into what goes into each issue about this time of year from the editor-in-chief’s point of view.

When you think of the production of a magazine, you might think something along the lines of The Devil Wears Prada or The September Issue, but that couldn’t be further from the reality of Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine (though we certainly are that cute!).

While SCT is headquartered in the Toronto area where Publisher Catherine Tachdjian lives, Creative Editor Jennifer S. Gallacher and I live in Utah, and Art Director Cathy Zielske lives in Minnesota. Through the power of technology, we are able to pull it off beautifully!

I work from home, which is pretty awesome (and I actually get dressed in go-to-work clothes every day). Last fall, I set up a pretty great place in a corner of my living room to keep everything together, and of course, I wanted it to look chic, too. Here’s a look at where the magic happens:

I have a pretty view off my balcony, and everything that I need is close at hand, including my copies of the magazine. You wouldn’t believe the amount of emails that fly from my fingers sitting in that black and white striped chair. And the funny thing? I never took a typing or keyboarding class. I’m totally self-taught, and I do OK!

I’m a list maker and to-do list checker-offer to the extreme as well. You can see my Carpe Diem planner is at the ready to the right of my computer. I find it so satisfying to check things off my list! And highlighters are always at hand to keep things orderly.

For each issue, I print up a checklist of everything that I need to write. I like the tactile feel of checking the boxes. The highlighted columns and articles indicate that I have everything I need to complete the article from start to finish! I always feel a little triumphant, and I’m not going to lie, I write DONE in all caps on the sheet once everything has been written.

Another part of each issue is creating a project to accompany my Editor’s Note. I always want my card to fit the theme and scope of the issue, and I take a lot of time to decide what I want to use and how to make it great! I just finished my card for the summer issue, and here’s a look at the craftermath that ensued:

In addition, there’s image naming, document saving, editing, spreadsheets, and all manner of preparation to bring you another amazing issue of SCT magazine!

I hope you enjoyed this little behind the scenes peek at what I do!

Here’s to a fun and fabulous May!

Susan R. Opel, Editor-in-Chief