Hello again, everyone! It’s time for another Designer Digital member interview. I had the privilege of interviewing our DD friend, Marnie. After reading her answers to my questions, I now know for sure that I would get along great with this interesting scrapper if she lived next door. She made a super cool new AKA card for us, too.
First, I asked Marnie to tell us a little bit about herself.
Many at DD remember me as ‘Jane Jetson’—mom in my favorite cartoon show that debuted when I was 10 years old. I wanted to grow up and have a house and wardrobe just like Jane’s. My first name ‘Marnie’ replaced my space-age alter ego for the sake of simplicity—since some people referred to me as Jane and some referred to me as Marnie, I retired Jane as my aka. Miss my 2 sons, Adam (31) who lives in Texas and Zach (29) who lives in Missouri. I’m a ‘Tween”—my own children are grown and no grandchildren yet! My undergrad degree is in Journalism with a minor in Fashion and my masters in counseling and psychology. I live in beautiful Colorado Springs and do Marriage and Family and Trauma therapy at an Army post with military members and their families.
I started paper scrapping 50 years ago when I was 7! My early, humble scrapbooks were filled with ephemera, memorabilia, and photos. My beginning supplies—paste (in a jar with brush attached to inside of lid), construction paper, old greeting cards, cut outs from magazines, and ribbon to secure the punched-hole binding! About 8 years ago, I started incorporating digital elements into my paper pages—hybrid style. And I’ve been loving digital scrapbooking for about 4 years.
Marnie, from my perusal of your beautiful gallery at Designer Digitals, I can see you are very comfortable with technology when it comes to creating your scrapbook pages. Tell us what software you use and what some of your favorite techniques are to use.
Merr, thanks so much for the techno compliment, though I feel like a late bloomer when it comes to digital technique and lingo. Must admit much of what you see in my art is pure serendipity, trial and error, happy accident! I’m currently using Photoshop Elements 5. Someday when I get a new computer, I may give the big girl version of Photoshop a try! Blending and brushes rank right up there as fave techniques.
You have recently shared pages you are creating with photos taken in Africa. Tell us a little about that experience and the album you created about that time.
I left part of my heart in Africa—not trying to be all melodramatic like I’m Meryl Streep in Out of Africa, but I fell in love with the land. I traveled to Kenya and Ethiopia with a medical missionary team to lecture, teach, and do trauma therapy. The album you’ve referenced is devoted to the people of Africa—their faces, their courage, their daily lives. And I’m tickled it was featured at Shutterfly!
I an not at all surprised that album was featured at Shutterfly, Marnie. Which of the many challenges do you usually participate in here at Designer Digitals?
I’ve tried many of the marvelous challenges at Designer Digitals. I regularly enjoy the Heritage, Art Journal, and PageKraft challenges.
What advice do you have for all of us who are memory keepers?
There’s not a right or wrong way to keep memories. It’s a personal expression of love, life and connection. Enjoy the process and scrap because it’s fun, not out of obligation.
Before we close, I love to ask which elements or papers you find yourself using over and over again to create your pages?
Oh, this could be a long list! Here are some of my faves that I use repeatedly:
Katie’s postage stamps, heart charms, and photo wraps
Anna’s Portals papers
Lynn’s Madras kit and worn strips
Any of Jesse’s plaid paper
Pattie’s Fasten Its—all versions
I asked Marnie to choose one of her favorite layouts to feature with her interview. The one she chose is perfect for showcasing her talent for creating heritage pages that are unique, beautiful and take advantage of techniques especially suitable for digital art. Isn’t it amazing? I just love it!
You must visit Marnie’s gallery soon and check out all of her beautiful pages. I especially enjoy when she scraps pages with scans of her paper dolls. Recently, she’s posted a dynamite page trying out the painting technique that Adryane shared with us.
Marnie’s Gallery at Designer Digitals
Marnie, thank you for taking time to help us know you better. We all appreciate your talent and your friendly involvement at Designer Digitals, both in the gallery and the forums.
