12x12 layouts using 6x6 paper

2017 highlights: DT layout for Stuck?! Sketches

January 1, 2018 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 2 Comments

Today Stuck?! Sketches launches our first challenge of 2018! Grab the sketch and play along for prizes from Scrapmatts and Spiegel Mom Scraps.

The story

I’m not gonna lie: I found 2017 to be extremely stressful. I am so ready to start a new year, even though I don’t think there’s much chance of the stressors abating, given our country’s leadership and direction…

No matter the difficulties life hands us, though, there are always things to celebrate. The four photos on this page represent some highlights in our lives in the past year (from left to right):

In February Cecilia burst into our lives and instantly made them more delightful. Matt opened our front door to go out to his car for something and saw this kitten running pel mel past our house toward the heavily trafficked street that intersects ours. He called out to her, and she miraculously turned and ran to him. He picked her up and carried her into our hearts.
Matt and I run a yearly computer security conference, and this year’s event was the largest ever with more than 600 attendees. We’re quite proud of this effort.
I flew to North Carolina in November to spend 10 days (including Thanksgiving and my birthday) with my mom and brother. So much fun.
On December 7th we had a beautiful Christmas snowfall. While this may not be a big deal to some, when you live in central Texas you count it as a highlight! I was just sad for Matt that he was out of town for work and had to miss it.

Of course, there were many other wonderful moments in our lives this year. And I am thankful for every one. Here’s (raising a glass) to so many more in 2018.

Happy new year, my friends!

Product/technique notes

All the patterned papers I used for this layout came from the Pink Paislee Moonstruck collection.

The Melodeon: DT layout for Stuck?! Sketches

December 15, 2017 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 1 Comment

Today Stuck?! Sketches launches our second challenge of December! Grab the sketch and play along for prizes from Creative Embellishments and Scrapbook Nerd.

The story

One of our family holiday traditions that I cherish was having Daddy select and read a Christmas story to us. He sat in a comfy chair, and we all piled near him on the couch to listen. It usually took a few nights to complete one, and he always tried to time it so the last installment fell on Christmas Eve.

Over the years we heard some delightful tales. But our favorite by far was The Melodeon by Glendon Swarthout. The description of this book on Amazon is so simple:

A youngster relates how his grandparents donated a valuable family heirloom, their melodeon, to the church in an unselfish act of giving one Christmas during the Depression when they had nothing to give each other.

The story is so beautifully told, detailed, and emotional that it made our hearts swell. We felt we were with them in the deep cold of winter during the Depression. And the feelings it evoked have stayed with me all these years.

Product/technique notes

I die cut diamonds from the Pink Paislee Snow Village 6×6 paper pad, inked the edges with iced spruce distress ink, and placed them against a background paper from the Bo Bunny Christmas Collage collection. The die cuts are from both the Snow Village and Simple Stories Classic Christmas collections. To create a cut file for the title, I found an image of the book cover and traced it in the Silhouette software.

My favorite season of them all: DT layout for Stuck?! Sketches

November 1, 2017 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 3 Comments

Today Stuck?! Sketches launches our fist challenge of November! Grab the sketch and play along for prizes from Accent Scrapbooking and Creative Embellishments.

The story

I took this photo at Lost Maples State Natural Area in Vanderpool, Texas, in 2013. It was a gorgeous November day, and we drove up to hike the trails and soak up the changing colors of autumn.

Product/technique notes

I die cut most of the leaves from patterns in the Warm and Cozy 6×6 paper pad by Pebbles (but I also added some complementary patterns from my stash). I used my Silhouette to cut out the title and added gold paint to the kraft paper that I used for every other line. The plaid chipboard frame is from the Simple Stories Pumpkin Spice collection, and the flair is by Fancy Pants.

Too cute to spook

October 30, 2017 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

The story

In 1972 my brother and I were fortunate to have had Mom as our pre-school/kindergarten teacher! She held class in our basement and taught the two of us and several of her friends’ children who were all of the same age. We always had parties for the various holidays throughout the year, and this photo from our Halloween party shows Phil as Superman, Andrea as Little Bo Peep, and me as Tinkerbell. Squee, so cute!

Product/technique notes

I used several patterns from the Jillibean Soup Witches Brew 6×6 paper pad to create my “quilt” design, then I backed it all with the owl and moon patterned paper from My Mind’s Eye. I stamped the bats (from a Recollections Halloween stamp set) over the moon and added google eyes to the title.

Happy hands: DT layout for Stuck?! Sketches

September 1, 2017 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 2 Comments

Today Stuck?! Sketches launches our first challenge of September! Grab the sketch and play along for prizes from Accent Scrapbooking, Altenew, and a class from Scrap and Plan with Lea (we’re offering a bonus prize this month!).

The story

I still have this rocking chair. Mom and Dad tell me I loved it, and with that open-mouthed grin I’m sporting who can dispute it? Can you see how my toes are splayed with joy and excitement? And you might not be able to see it, but my tiny hands are folded into what has become a signature posture for me over the years. When I am tense or excited, I tuck my thumbs in and fold all my fingers around them. I still do it today, but I never know it until someone points it out. Some things never change.

Product/technique notes

I have had this photo in mind to use with these papers for quite a long time. I wanted to do a design that used a lot of the patterns in this older Pink Paislee collection. I was just waiting for the right inspiration to come along in the form of a sketch. Enter Laura’s October 1st sketch at Stuck?! The resin flowers are by Fancy Pants.

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