My sketches

Open mind for a different view

December 30, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 2 Comments

If you haven't tried ziplining, you're missing out on a lot of fun!

The 18th sketch challenge has been posted at the SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch, which I’m proud to have designed, and play along. This sketch came with the song “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica.

My layout

When Matt and I were approaching our 15th wedding anniversary last year, we discussed how we should spend the day to celebrate it. We really liked the idea of trying something new together and finally settled on ziplining. Exciting, right? It was a terribly cold day for early October, so we layered up our clothing and headed out to Wimberley, Texas for our adventure.

What a completely fun time we had! Our little group of fellow zipliners were cool people, the young men who were our guides through the whole experience were very patient and helpful and the 10 zipline runs we each got to make were awesome. Exhilarating. A touch challenging. And absolutely a do-again activity. If you haven’t yet, do yourself a favor and try it.

Product/technique notes

I used several patterns from the Crate Paper “Acorn Avenue” 6×6 paper pad to create the layers on this design. The stickers in my title are from Jillibean Soup, October Afternoon and Thickers.

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:

“Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica

So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know

So close no matter how far
It couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know

I never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know

So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else matters

With a cloud at your feet

December 1, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 5 Comments

Phil is holding Pierre on the left and his brother, Enzo, on the right.

The 16th sketch challenge has been posted at the SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch, which I’m proud to have designed, and play along. This 16th sketch came with the song “That’s amore” by Dean Martin.

My layout

In October my brother lost his sweet cat, Willie, to cancer. The whole time during Willie’s diagnosis and decline were so difficult for Phil, and he was a wonderful daddy/caregiver to him throughout. After Willie’s passing Phil told me that he was going to wait until the new year to start looking for a new companion to adopt; he felt he needed a little time to be ready for it. I encouraged him to try to find two boys—ideally brothers—to adopt. The companionship they provide to each other, and the entertainment Phil would get out of their antics, would be worth the extra work involved.

Then one day about a week after he had told me these plans I got a call from Phil. He was at a pet supply store (remember that he didn’t need any pet supplies at this point) looking at kittens that a rescue organization had placed there. And he had found two brothers! I could hear the barking in the background and the excitement in Phil’s voice.

That night Phil completed the adoption application for the brothers, who were temporarily named Comet and Pluto. After another visit to the pet store to interact with them, a phone interview with the foster mother and then a home visit, Phil was granted the boys. It was a whirlwind process, but nothing compared to the whirlwind romance that happened among Phil and the brothers!

Now Phil has renamed Comet to Pierre (left photo) and Pluto to Enzo. He chose these names with a lot of thought based on his current study of and love for the French language. The brothers are beautiful and smart and growing fast under Phil’s care. He gushes about them on the phone to me and sends frequent photos and videos of their antics and sweet quiet moments. I love it all.

When I told Phil that I wanted to use this sketch and challenge song to do a page about his adoption of Pierre and Enzo, he asked me to use the line “with a cloud at your feet” for the title. That’s amore!

Product/technique notes

Most of the products on this page are from Authentique’s “Strong” collection, and the heart/people paper is from Carta Bella’s “Hello again” line (both from Artful Delight’s September scrapbook kit). I designed and cut the title using my Silhouette Cameo.

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:

“That’s amore” by Dean Martin

In Napoli where love is king
When boy meets girl here’s what they say

When the moon hits you eye like a big pizza pie
That’s amore
When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine
That’s amore
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you’ll sing “Vita bella”
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella

When the stars make you drool just like a pasta fazool
That’s amore
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You’re in love
When you walk down in a dream but you know you’re not
Dreaming signore
Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Napoli
That’s amore

(When the moon hits you eye like a big pizza pie
That’s amore
When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine
That’s amore
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you’ll sing “Vita bella”
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella

When the stars make you drool just like a pasta fazool)
That’s amore
(When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You’re in love
When you walk down in a dream but you know you’re not
Dreaming signore
Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Napoli)
That’s amore
Lucky fella

You don’t know you’re beautiful

October 22, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

We just love when Jake's lip gets caught on his gums and it gives him this crooked smile look.

The 13th sketch challenge has been posted at the SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch, which I’m proud to have designed, and play along. This 13th sketch came with the song “What makes you beautiful” by One Direction.

My layout

When we rescued Jake several years back he was injured and living as part of a feral cat colony a few miles from our house. His left arm had been injured badly, and the vet said it appeared he had been living with it that way for several months. So to save his life his arm had to be amputated. I know it’s sad to see anyone living without a limb, but the truth is that Jake has done really well adjusting to balancing on three legs instead of four. In fact he’s a speed demon on his way to the kitchen at feeding time, he’s a really good “hockey” player (he just rears up on his legs and uses his good arm) and he has the most delightful, loving personality. He just seems thrilled to be alive.

Jake has also had to have his front teeth removed, so he sports this adorable little crooked “smile” when his lip gets hung up on his gums. Despite all that (or perhaps because of it), our Jake is so beautiful, inside and out. This is why I used the “You don’t know you’re beautiful” line from the assigned song for this challenge.

Product/technique notes

The majority of the patterned papers on this page are from American Crafts’ “Ready, set, go” collection. The flag and flair are from BasicGrey. I designed the title in Silhouette Studio and cut it on my Cameo.

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:

“What makes you beautiful” by One Direction
You’re insecure, don’t know what for
You’re turning heads when you walk through the door
Don’t need make-up, to cover up
Being the way that you are is enough

Everyone else in the room can see it
Everyone else but you

Baby you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground it ain’t hard to tell
You don’t know oh oh
You don’t know you’re beautiful

If only you saw what I can see
You’ll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I’m looking at you and I can’t believe
You don’t know oh oh
You don’t know you’re beautiful oh oh
But that’s what makes you beautiful

So come on, you got it wrong
To prove I’m right I put it in the song
I don’t know why, you’re being shy
And turn away when I look into your eyes

Everyone else in the room can see it
Everyone else but you

Na-na-na-na-na-naaa-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-naaa-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na

If only you saw what I can see
You’ll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I’m looking at you and I can’t believe
You don’t know oh oh
You don’t know you’re beautiful oh oh
You don’t know oh oh
That’s what makes you beautiful

Another turning point

September 8, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 2 Comments

My family kidnapped me on my 21st birthday and took me out for a wonderful celebration at the Firestone Inn.

The tenth sketch challenge, which I’m proud to have designed, has been posted at the SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch and play along. This tenth sketch came with the song “Time of your life” by Green Day.

My layout

When considering this song as inspiration for a layout, I found my title in the very first line, “Another turning point.” To go along with the idea of turning points I pulled out a photo of my family helping me celebrate my 21st birthday on November 24, 1987.

That was a good day! Fortunately, although Phil and I were attending college at Ohio University four hours away, we were able to be home for my birthday because of the Thanksgiving holiday (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love having a Thanksgiving birth date.). Knowing how much I love surprises, my parents had the evening all planned out and wouldn’t tell me a thing about it. Mom had even put together a special outfit for me to wear for our celebration—from the blouse, to the skirt that she had sewn without my knowing (and fit perfectly), to the shoes!

Everyone dressed up and got in the car, and Dad drove us to the neatest place for a special dinner. It was called the Firestone Inn. I don’t know whether it’s still in business because I haven’t found any mention of it online, but it was so lovely. We had a great dinner, and Dad allowed me to order wine with mine for the first time. 🙂

Product/technique notes

I had a great time combining a variety of new and old products from a number of manufacturers on this layout. The background paper is from the current BasicGrey “Carte Postale” collection, and it sets the color palette for the whole thing. The other patterns are from older American Crafts, Crate Paper, Fancy Pants, K&Company, My Mind’s Eye and Simple Stories collections. I designed and cut the title using the Silhouette Cameo.

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:

“Time of your life” by Green Day
Another turning point
a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist
directs you where to go
So make the best of this test
and don’t ask why
It’s not a question
but a lesson learned in time

It’s something unpredictable
but in the end it’s right
I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs
and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf
of good health and good time
Tattoos of memories
and dead skin on trial
For what it’s worth
it was worth all the while

It’s something unpredictable
but in the end it’s right
I hope you had the time of your life [X3]

You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow

July 28, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

This song made me think of how traveling at a certain age can really help you find yourself.

The seventh sketch challenge, which I’m proud to have designed, has been posted at the SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch and play along. This seventh sketch came with the song “Put your records on” by Corinne Bailey Rae.

My layout

In case you can’t read it easily, the journaling on my layout reads:
Traveling as a young adult has well-documented benefits, and the summer I spent in NYC is my evidence. My 1988 American Society of Magazine Editors internship gave me the chance not only to travel unescorted, but also to work in my chosen profession. The friends I made and lessons I learned really did help me “find” myself.

I had to figure out how to get around in, work in and overall survive in the big city. I had to face any fears I had about being alone in huge crowds. I had to figure out how to turn the small stipend we received through the internship into enough for food, subway/cab fare and weekend entertainment (the way I did it was to walk almost everywhere rather than spend it on subways and cabs and to eat very sparingly because weekend entertainment was so important!). The other 50 or so students who were in that internship program with me were also a big part of why it was such a wonderful experience.

That summer truly was instrumental in my development as a young adult. It would be quite difficult to put words to what it meant to me, actually. I am so thankful to my parents for encouraging me in doing it because I know it had to be hard for them not to worry constantly about the dangers that traditionally worry parents about their traveling children. But they knew how good it would be for me, and I’m eternally grateful to them for supporting it.

Product/technique notes

The bulk of the patterned papers I used on this layout are from the Little Yellow Bicycle “The escape” collection, with a little Dear Lizzy “Lucky charm” and an even older Jillibean Soup thrown in,too. I designed and cut my title using the Silhouette Cameo.

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:

“Put your records on” by Corinne Bailey Rae
Three little birds, sat on my window
And they told me I don’t need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon ,so sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

Maybe sometimes,
We’ve got it wrong, but it’s all right.
The more things seem to change,
the more they stay the same.
Oh, don’t you hesitate.

Girl, put your records on,
tell me your favorite song.
You go ahead, let your hair down.
Sapphire and faded jeans,
I hope you get your dreams.
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
You’re gonna find yourself some where,some how.

Blue as the sky,
sunburnt and lonely.
Sipping tea in the bar by the road side.
(just relax, just relax)
Don’t you let those other boys fool you.
Gotta love that afro hairdo.

Maybe sometimes,
we feel afraid, but it’s alright.
The more you stay the same,
the more they seem to change.
Don’t you think it’s strange?

Just more than I could take,
pity for pity’s sake.
Some nights kept me awake,
I thought that I was stronger.
When you gonna realize,
that you don’t even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to.

Girl, put your records on,
tell me your favorite song.
You go ahead, let your hair down.(go let your hair down)
Sapphire and faded jeans,
I hope you get your dreams.(hope get your dreams)
Just go ahead, let your hair down. (Baby, let your hair down)

Oh, You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

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