Janice Daquila-Pardo

Summer ritual

July 11, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

Going to Ski Shores for lunch has become a summer ritual for us.

There’s a place in Austin that Matt and I like to be sure to visit each summer (at least once). It’s a little restaurant called “Ski Shores” that’s right on a part of the river that the boats frequent. We love to hang out and watch the boaters come in for a break and a meal, look out over the water at the gorgeous homes on the other side and watch the turtles come to the surface for hand-outs. It’s casual (most people are wearing bathing suits), quirky and relaxing. So I’m recording it as one of our summer rituals because it really does feel like summer to us to have lunch there.

These photos were taken on Labor Day weekend 2012.

Product/technique notes

I created this layout using patterned papers from My Mind’s Eye’s 6×6 pad, “Summer Splash” and am entering it in their July “red, white and blue” challenge (even though I had to use that sunny yellow cardstock in the background). I also did some hand stitching to create the sun and the banner elements.

Little Miss Firecracker

July 4, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

From my July 4th, 1969, self I wish you a happy July 4th, 2013!

Obviously I already knew how to celebrate Independence Day as far back as 1969 because here I am dancing to the beat of my own drum at our church picnic. And I don’t seem to care a bit that I have no dance partner!

I hope all of my American friends enjoy a lovely July 4th, rich with patriotic feelings, good food and fun with friends and family.

Product/technique notes

I created this layout with patterned papers from the Pebbles “Family Ties” collection. I also designed the cut files for the title and the two-layer star/circle border and cut them on my Silhouette Cameo.

The song that summer sings

June 30, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 5 Comments

This 1991 photo of my friend and me dancing to the polka music at the Oktoberfest reminds me so well what a good time we had together. Please don't judge me for wearing a fanny pack!

The fifth sketch challenge has been posted at the new SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch and play along. This fifth sketch came with the song “She” by Elvis Costello.

My layout

I, like many of you probably, have loved this song since first seeing the Julia Roberts/Hugh Grant movie, “Notting Hill.” It has that beautiful melody and conveys so much feeling about destiny and devotion. Once I really combed through the lyrics to find some line that “spoke to me” for a scrapbook page, I was hit by “She may be the song that summer sings.” What a pretty thought!

So I dusted off this 1991 photo of me (the shortie on the right) and my friend, Lisa, dancing together at Oktoberfest. The Willoughby, Ohio, church I grew up in started holding an annual Oktoberfest in July back when I was still in grade school there. That first year they held the festival in October, as is the custom, but it was cold and rainy, and the whole thing fell a little flat. From that point the Oktoberfest committee decided to start planning the events for July, when the weather is more conducive to outdoor partying. It has since become a big success for the church, with tons of food and drink, live music, games and even car raffles! My dad was on the Oktoberfest committee for several years, and my mom, brother and I always signed up to work at the booths throughout the weekend. It was such a good time.

By 1991 I had been out of college for a few years and had a job where I worked with Lisa (in the photo with me). We had become friends, so I invited her to join me for Oktoberfest. We had a good time, if you believe the laughter captured in this photo. So for me, “the songs that summer sings” include the live music at Oktoberfest that I remember most—like polkas and Irish music.

Product/technique notes:

I used patterns from the Echo Park “Here & Now” collection for this layout because their bright, happy colors went just perfectly with my photo.

The challenge

The challenges on this blog involve following the sketch and using a title on your layout with a line from the provided music. Below I’ve included the video as well as the lyrics for this song:

“She” by Elvis Costello
She
May be the face I can’t forget.
A trace of pleasure or regret
May be my treasure or the price I have to pay.
She may be the song that summer sings.
May be the chill that autumn brings.
May be a hundred different things
Within the measure of a day.

She
May be the beauty or the beast.
May be the famine or the feast.
May turn each day into a heaven or a hell.
She may be the mirror of my dreams.
A smile reflected in a stream
She may not be what she may seem
Inside her shell

She who always seems so happy in a crowd.
Whose eyes can be so private and so proud
No one’s allowed to see them when they cry.
She may be the love that cannot hope to last
May come to me from shadows of the past.
That I’ll remember till the day I die

She
May be the reason I survive
The why and wherefore I’m alive
The one I’ll care for through the rough and ready years
Me I’ll take her laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I’ve got to be
The meaning of my life is

She, she, she

Do something amazing everyday

June 29, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 6 Comments

The subtitle of this layout should be Rescuing Shiner. We had just identified Shiner's address and were about to take him home to his family.

So, as I’ve blogged about before, Matt and I rescue animals who are in danger. Unfortunately, finding animals that need help is not difficult. There are a lot of reasons that pets wander from home and find themselves in dangerous situations. In the case of this dog, his owners told us that they had just adopted him about two weeks ago, and they didn’t realize what a great jumper he is! In fact, he jumped their fence and crossed a major intersection to get to our neighborhood. It’s a little miracle that he made it.

Matt was out on a run that afternoon, and he had been gone longer than I was expecting, so I was just starting to consider calling to check on him. Just then, he called me and asked me to come running with some dog-catching supplies—kibble, water and a bowl. I should have known that’s why he was out longer than usual! I quickly gathered these items and raced down the street with them, only to find Matt and a small group of neighbors standing around talking, with this dog standing calmly on a pink leash. They had caught him just before I arrived.

We took him home for the night with a plan to begin looking for his owners the next day. We and Shiner were fortunate that his owners had microchipped him! We had him scanned, called the number provided and set up a plan to take him back home to his family.

I’ll be honest, not all our rescues go this smoothly. So in honor of this one that did, I had to celebrate it with a scrapbook page. Plus, those are two cute boys in that photo!

Product/technique notes:

I used patterned papers from the Simple Stories “24/Seven” collection (but the background paper is from Fancy Pants’ new “Memories Captured” line) and the following sketch from Paper Bakery.

Look into your heart and you’ll find love, love, love

June 16, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

Especially on this father's day I wish I could still feel my dad's arms around me.

The fourth sketch challenge has been posted at the new SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch (which I’m very proud to have designed) and play along. This fourth sketch came with the song “I’m yours” by Jason Mraz.

My layout

I love the song we used this time: it’s airy and bouncy and sounds like love should feel. When I was looking through photos to find the “right” one for this song/sketch combination, I came upon this lovely shot of my family in September 1968. My parents were holding us, standing in front of the family car in our driveway. Perhaps we were dressed the way we were because we had just returned from church. I suspect they recruited our neighbor whose house was in the background to take the photo for them. When I look at this photo I feel that same light, airy, loved feeling that I do when I listen to “I’m yours.” Seeing my parents looking young, happy and healthy and Phil and me looking chubby and cherished makes my heart full. Photos like this remind me of how fortunate I was to grow up right when, where and with whom I did.

Happy father’s day to dads of every kind everywhere. I know my own excellent father is watching over me daily and feels my love for him always but most especially today.

Product/technique notes:

The main background patterned paper I used is “Haven Blue Damask” by Anna Griffin. I also designed and cut the majority of the title on my Silhouette Cameo (October Afternoon letter stickers worked for the balance of the title).

The challenge

The challenges on this blog involve following the sketch and using a title on your layout with a line from the provided music. Below I’ve included the video as well as the lyrics for the song:

“I’m yours” by Jason Mraz
Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to beat you but you’re so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks, now I’m trying to get back
Before the cool done run out, I’ll be giving it my bestest
And Nothings going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it’s again my turn to win some or learn some
But I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I’m yours
Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
Look into your heart and you’ll find love, love, love
Listen to the music of the moment people dance and sing
We’re just one big family, and
It’s our god-forsaken right to be loved, love, loved, love, loved
So I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I’m sure
There’s no need to complicate, our time is short
This is our fate, I’m yours
D-d-do you, but you, d-d-do
But do you want to come on
Scooch on over closer dear
And I will nibble your ear
I’ve been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and laughed
I guess what I’m saying is there ain’t no better reason
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
It’s what we aim to do, our name is our virtue
But I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I’m yours
Come on and open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
Look into your heart and you’ll find that the sky is yours
So please don’t, please don’t, please don’t
There’s no need to complicate
Cause our time is short
This is, this is, this is our fate, I’m yours!

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