My Mind's Eye

Caught you cavorting

September 9, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

Mom is having her own little beach dance party at Jordan Lake in NC.

In August I went home to North Carolina to visit my mom and bro for nine days. In looking for things to do to get out of the house a bit, we spent one afternoon at nearby Jordan Lake, where we had plans to walk one of the short trails that leads out to the water. Well, we didn’t plan all that well because not one of us thought to take insect repellent with us. What a disaster! I’m not exaggerating when I say that no more than 15 feet along the trail, all three of us shrieked and ran out of the woods, abandoning all hope of entering there.

At the park but banned from the woods by that angry gang of mosquitoes, we headed instead to the other side where the beach area is. We used the swingset for a while and then walked down to the water, where it seems Mom was possessed by the desire to twist and shout a bit! Fortunately, Phil had the camera at the ready, and he captured these shots. They are my new favorites.

Product/technique notes

Most of the products on this layout came from the My Mind’s Eye “Miss Caroline” collection. The arrows are from an ancient Daisy Dee’s sticker sheet. I designed and cut the title on my Silhouette Cameo. And I decided to stitch the circular elements. The whole page was inspired by this sketch by Simple Scrapper for Paper Issues.

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]

I believe in the kingdom come

August 25, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 1 Comment

These photos are from the Diocesan mass of ordination in June, when five men were ordained as Catholic priests. It was so moving.

The ninth sketch challenge has been posted at the SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch and play along. This ninth sketch came with the song “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” by U2.

My layout

I found this piece of music a challenge to create with at first. I mean, it feels when I listen to it like it’s about dissatisfaction, doubt and searching without yet finding. So I had a difficult time figuring out how to pull together the tone of the lyrics with any personal photos I have to form the basis of a scrapbook layout.

But with repeated reading of the lyrics, I was finally struck by the line, “I believe in the Kingdom Come.” Why yes, I do! And because I often take photos of events at my church in order to do their website and social media, I have photos from an ordination mass that took place there earlier this summer. It was difficult to choose just two photos once I started reviewing all the beautiful moments from that mass.

And so my layout came together rather easily after that. It was so moving to witness five men dedicate their lives to the service of God and human kind, so I am quite happy to have chronicled this event with a layout.

*Note: The priest in the left photo who is praying over one of the candidates for ordination is our pastor, Fr. Danny Garcia. The main celebrant of the ordination mass, who is incensing the altar in the right photo, is the Bishop of the Diocese of Austin, Joe S. Vásquez.

Product/technique notes

The patterned papers I used on this layout are all from My Mind’s Eye; the background is from the “Lost & Found collection,” and the other patterns are from the “Lost & Found 2: Sunshine” collection. I designed and cut my title using the Silhouette Cameo and spritzed it with Heidi Swapp Color Shine in the gold lame color so it would pop a bit as well as lead your eye back to the photos (the priests’ robes have gold accents).

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:

“I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” by U2
I’ve climbed the highest mountains
I’ve run through the fields
Only to be with you (2x)

I’ve run I have crawled
I’ve scaled
These city walls(2x)
Only to be with you

(2x)
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for

I’ve kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire

I’ve spoken with the tongue of angels
I’ve held the hand of the devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
(2x)
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for

I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colors will
Bleed into one
But yes I’m still running

You broke the bonds and you loosed the chains
You carried the cross
And my shame
You know I believe it
(4x)
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for

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.

Feel so close

June 2, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 2 Comments

Memorial Day 2013 was a pretty day that we spent in the perfect way...for us. We did some creative writing while sitting outside at a coffee shop overlooking Lake Austin.

The third sketch challenge has been posted at the new SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch and play along.

The challenges on this blog involve following the sketch and using a title on your layout with a line from the provided music. This third sketch came with the song “Feel so close” by Calvin Harris. Below I’ve included the lyrics:

I feel so close to you right now
It’s a force field
I wear my heart upon my sleeve, like a big deal
Your love pours down on me, surrounds me like
A waterfall
And there’s no stopping us right now
I feel so close to you right now

And there’s no stopping us right now
And there’s no stopping us right now
And there’s no stopping us right now
I feel so close to you right now…

Matt and I spent a nice leisurely day together this Memorial Day, sitting outside on the deck of a coffee shop that overlooks Lake Austin and writing. It was really beautiful weather and great for people watching! We took this shot of ourselves at some point during the day, and I thought of it right away to go with this song.

Product/technique notes:

I used patterned papers from the My Minds’ Eye “Kate & Co. Oxford Lane” collection and designed and cut the title on my Silhouette Cameo.

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