Behind the Scenes: The Making of Gifted Magazine
Hello lovelies! Before I do anything else I have to let you all know just how very much I appreciate the incredibly warm welcome you gave Gifted Magazine Monday (and Tuesday, Wednesday, and today too)! I am practically speechless with gratitude for your outpouring of support and kindness. Thank you all so SO much! Every single one of your comments means the world to me.
So I thought it would be fun today to do a little behind the scenes post on the making of Gifted Magazine. The idea for Gifted came to me in a flash as I was driving to my parent's home one afternoon a few months ago. Little did I know what I was getting myself into (the good, great and sticky of it).
{the binder that each page went into as it was designed - numbered and organized with sticky notes}
Here's the super simplified breakdown of what went into getting this magazine from just a spark of an idea to the finished publication that you've hopefully had a chance to enjoy now:
- Have a little dream. Let it grow and flutter around inside your mind for a little while until it's ready to be set free.
- Invite a group of your amazingly talented and generous online friends to believe in your little dream and contribute to it's realization. Hope that they say yes, and then do a happy dance as each one does (thank you guys so much).
- Compile a gargantuan list of awesome finds from shops and indie artists that you can dig through for your gift guide.
- Open up your first blank Photoshop page and wonder how in the world you are going to make it look like a real magazine (have a mini panic attack and call a friend - thanks Biz).
- Start putting together a bunch of your own projects and then set them aside once you see the awesome contributor projects start to come in (there is a lot of work to do and you are only one person after all)
- Make about 10,000 versions (small exaggeration) of each page before finalizing anything.
- Remake a few more pages and hope you haven't royally messed anything up.
- Ignore the housework piling up around you (like the massive heap of unfolded clothes on the couch). Fondly remember the days when you used to sleep and eat semi-regular meals.
- Have an awesome family that is willing to give up their weekends to watch your daughter so that you can live in front of your computer for days on end (I love you Mom and Dad).
- Upload each individual page into a PDF file and start adding the links.
- Save a final copy and test it out then re-upload everything again once you realize you'd forgotten pages and missed links.
- Upload the magazine to Issuu, take a deep breath and send your little dream out into the world.
There you have it. The simplified version of how this magazine came to be. Again I just have to thank everyone who was a part of making Gifted Magazine a reality, and all of you who have welcomed this project so very warmly. I love you all. xo Ez
P.S. All the projects that I was working on for Gifted that didn't make it in the publication will be making an appearance here on Creature Comforts this month and next. Stay tuned for those. xo
64 Lovely Comments | Email Article | found in About Me / My Shops Print Article | Share This | 
| by Ez Thursday, November 4, 2010 
Reader Comments (64)
Ez. This is truly an amazing accomplishment and I am so inspired by your talent and motivation.
Ez! What a wonderful project, I'm so excited for you (and to try some projects out!) Congratulations.
If you don't mind me asking, what typeface did you use in your little storyboard up there^ ? It's beautiful.
xo
I mentioned your mag on my little blog here
http://dropandanchor.blogspot.com/2010/11/swoon.html
Would be thrilled if you check it out! :)
Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes of this wonderful Gift Guide. Now we understand better why it became so beautiful!
you forgot: buy yourself a treat now that you are done! (i always go for new shoes!... or pizza)
this is such a sweet post. very heartening. i love that you shared this.
Loved Gifted! So, you did everything in Photoshop instead of InDesign? That's a lot of work!
It is absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations! This was great to see how you put it together. Yay! :)
so wonderful :))
xo.
http://dropsofjupiterBLOG.com
I don't want to come off as Debbie Downer here...so apologies in advance. In reference to the logo though, when I first read it I thought it was trying to say "le Gifted" or "reGifted". I had to double check what the name is in the entry text...I get it now, but the extra flourishes in the beginning of the type are a bit confusing.
the magazine is seriously stunning! amazing job!
icedgrandesoylatte.blogspot.com
This is absolutley amazing. Well done! And thank you for sharing such a wonderful gift. I am also going to make mention on my little blog- hope that is okay. :)
http://ifiwerentsolazy.blogspot.com/
I AM SO VERY PROUD OF YOU, EZ!!!!
I loved your idea from the very beginning and goodness gracious....YOU NAILED IT!
Once again....you have inspired me.....to keep doing EVERYTHING I do.....in EXCELLENCE!
XOXO
Youi've done a marvellous job. It's fabulous. Hands down one of the best online mags I've read for a long time.
Good Job! Keep on dreaming!!!!!!
You did such an AMAZING job on Gifted :) it was such a joy to look through (i've already been through it twice to make sure I didn't miss anything, but I'm sure I still did!) your work is gorgeous!
Love the magazine and this behind the scenes on how you put it together! It's 100% inspiring!
AWESOME! inspiring! a total "page" turner!
just posted a lili blurb on http://shannersinthecity.blogspot.com/
Thank you for sharing and for such an incredible gift you gave us! Looking forward to the projects that didn't make the magazine and hoping and wishing for future editions!
And what a beautiful job you did! It was lovely and I know I'll be going through it several more times.
Hej Ez,
thanks so much for this wonderful little outlet of ideas...a dream for the holiday season...the best start to begin the cozy and peaceful time...;)...and so exciting to follow the story behind the scences...really authentic and so full of emotions...thanks you talented woman for being here with us...have a lovley cozy weekend with your love ones...all the best...cheers and hugs...i...
It looks amazing! I've already bookmarked a bunch of things for Christmas purchases! :) If you need any help with it in the future let me know. I'd love to contribute on a photo shoot!
Thanks for the play-by-play! I can only imagine all the hard work and long hours that went into it, but it is so. darn. BEAUTIFUL!
Love it! (love the magazine, ez, you are an inspiration) xo
i love behind the scenes. and this was such an inpiring + awesome sneak peak back stage VIP pass. thanks for sharing !!! so cool!
It's over it's over!! Thanks for the shout out - that made me laugh :)
Now go and watch the rest of Dexter and double dip slices of apple in warm caramel!