Meet Rosemary

For our March cover contest, we asked scrapbookers to turn their attention to themselves. We loved Rosemary's fresh digital page, with it's seasonal green palette (Happy St. Paddy's Day!) and linear design. Take it away, Rosemary!

My name is: Rosemary Morrison. And I assure you that even with a "granny" name like Rosemary I really am only 43 years old.
~We decided to do a bit of research, and according to the Social Security Administration, “Rosemary” had its most popular year in 1946, when it hit 75th in the list of common baby names. It dropped to 754th by 2008. (Just for fun, we have to share that “Ella” was in the top 100 every year from 1909 to 1927, then it dropped as low as 933rd before it broke the top 100 again in 2002, eventually reaching 19th place by 2008.)

My family is made up of: me, my husband Eric, our son Drew who just turned the big 18, our diva daughter Jenna who is 6 going on 16, and our daredevil toddler Camden who is 19 months old.

I spend my days: at home. I'm a stay-at-HOME, work-at-HOME, HOMEschooling mom, with a toddler that still takes two naps a day. I'm HOME A LOT! Now if you had asked about my nights, that's a whole 'nother story. I go to the theater, the symphony, the ballet, clubs, parties, concerts. After dark I'm a cultured party animal! ;-)
~Can we come?

	The Cover Layout Supplies: Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 • patterned paper, alpha, brads, and eyelet (Urban Kiwi kit, shabbyprincess.com) • recolored ribbon (Happy Go Lucky kit, shabbyprincess.com) • painted edge overlay (M. Shefveland, cottagearts.net) • Garamond and Scriptina fonts, • 12 x 12 digital layout by Rosemary Morrison
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My cover layout was inspired by: an unexpected event in my life, becoming a mother again at the age of 42. None of my children were exactly planned, but Camden was more than a surprise; he was a shock! My children are spaced unusually far apart, and now I'm immersed in the full spectrum of parenting all at the same time.
~Be honest, which one causes you to lose more sleep—the toddler or the teen?

I've been scrapbooking since: 2004. I started making digital layouts with some software that came with my computer so I could showcase my daughter's Gymboree outfits on a Gymboree-related forum. I confess, my daughter's wardrobe is another hobby/obsession of mine.

I'd describe my scrapbooking style as: eclectic. I'm a full-bore digital scrapbooker. I don't even own a paper trimmer! I do a lot of layouts that mimic the look of traditional paper scrapbooking. I take pride in my realistic shadows. But I'm becoming enamored of a more graphic style, with lots of white space and gasp no shadowing.
~Hey, a girl’s shadows are her own business, we always say.

A Favorite Layout The notebook paper, girly flower doodles, and handwriting style font seemed the perfect backdrop for a picture of my kindergarten-age daughter and her best pal hanging out together. By the way, my daughter is the one with the glasses and the drive-thru window where her front teeth should be! Supplies: Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 • flower doodles (Angie Briggs, scrapgirls.com) • round sticker and file label by me • notebook paper from New Growth Kit by Tia Bennett (twopeasinabucket.com) • SBC Courtney's Journal and Trajan Pro fonts • 8½ x 11 layout by Rosemary Morrison

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If I could go back in time, I would: take some college courses in graphic design. Who knows, maybe I still will?

In 10 years, I hope to be: safely and happily on the other side of menopause.
~We wish you the best of luck with that, and may you have a bare minimum of hot flashes!

People are always surprised to find out that I: am going to be married 25 years this year.

My favorite guilty pleasure is: getting regular massages from a masseuse that comes to my home with her table, relaxing music, and magic fingers.

I never thought I'd: have to go through potty training one more time.

Another Favorite Layout I love mixing patterned papers together, and Gina Cabrera's papers are amazing. Blue and orange are one of my favorite boy color combinations, and it seemed to accentuate Camden's bright blue eyes. I created this layout to forever remind myself of one of the joys of new motherhood: giving a baby a bath! Supplies: Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 • template (Anna Bowkis, scrappingtonight. blogspot.com) • patterned papers, stitching, and button (Gina Cabrera, digitaldesignessentials.com) • solid cardstock by me • CK Alis Hand Official font • 12 x 12 layout by Rosemary Morrison

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If I were to author an eBook, I'd title it: A Scrapbooker's Guide to Wine. I mean does Petite Syrah go with 12x12, or is it best suited for 8.5 x11?
~We were hoping you could tell us! Guess we’ll wait for the eBook...

I've loved elephants ever since: the first time I went to the Barnum & Bailey Circus when I was a little girl. The day before the opening show they would arrive in town by train and unload all the animals and parade them down Central Avenue to the arena. The parade was almost as fun as the circus. I wanted to be one of those ladies in the fancy costumes that got to ride the elephants. To my 7-year-old self, that was the epitome of glamour: heavy makeup, sequins and feathers, and sitting atop six tons of bristly gray beast.
~If there’s another definition of glamour, then we don’t want to hear it!

If I were a scrapbook supply, I'd be: a digital button. I'm quite fond of buttons, especially in groups of three.

My favorite Ella eBook is: Special Effects for Digital Photos by Renee Pearson. I've watched and read lots of digital tutorials but I still learned new things in Renee's book.