Silhouette

It feels like home

December 15, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 5 Comments

We bought our first home as a married couple in 1998 and lived there for 3 years.

The 17th sketch challenge has been posted at the SCRAP & MUSIC challenge blog! Head over to the site to grab the sketch and play along. This 17th sketch came with the song “Like a Prayer” by Madonna.

My layout

The line “And it feels like home” from Madonna’s song made me think of some photos I took of the home Matt and I bought when we were first married. We lived in North Carolina then, and when I was visiting there last summer my mom, brother and I went over to our old house to get some photos. We lived on a corner with a little hill for a front yard. And very close to our house was a pond where we’d go for walks almost every day. It was a sweet first home.

* I think my brother took most of these photos.

Product/technique notes

Everything on this page came from the American Crafts Dear Lizzy “5th & Frolic” collection except the little nest/eggs flair badge, which is from an older AC collection. I designed the title in the Silhouette software, and the bows are from the Silhouette store.

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:

“Like a Prayer” by Madonna

Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home

When you call my name
It’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees
I want to take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I’ll take you there

I hear your voice
It’s like an angel sighing
I have no choice
I hear your voice
Feels like flying
I close my eyes
Oh God, I think I’m falling
Out of the sky
I close my eyes
Heaven, help me

When you call my name
It’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees
I want to take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I’ll take you there

Like a child
You whisper softly to me
You’re in control
Just like a child
Now I’m dancing
It’s like a dream
No end and no beginning
You’re here with me
It’s like a dream
Let the choir sing

When you call my name
It’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees
I want to take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I’ll take you there

Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home

Just like a prayer
Your voice can take me there
Just like a muse to me
You are a mystery
Just like a dream
You are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice
Your voice can take me there

Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there
It’s like a dream to me

Just like a prayer
Your voice can take me there
Just like a muse to me
You are a mystery
Just like a dream
You are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice
Your voice can take me there

Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there
It’s like a dream to me

Believe 1972

December 14, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 2 Comments

Merry Christmas from me in 1972!

This is a formal portrait that was taken of me at Christmas time in 1972. On the back of it my mom had written a note, in my voice, to my Papa wishing him a merry Christmas from me. At the age I was in this picture, I was very excited about Christmas, which I think shows on my face.

Product/technique notes

I used papers from BasicGrey’s “Jovial” 6×6 pad to create this simple design. The poinsettia and title are files from the Silhouette store.

Clever boy

December 13, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

Our clever boy, Spenser, on Christmas morning in 1992

In the house I grew up in, we had our Christmas tree set up in the family room right next to the fireplace. It was a picture-perfect little scene. After Santa Claus visited, he always closed the door to the family room, in case one of us kids got up in the night to take a peek (little did Santa know this is the last thing I would have ever done). Then on Christmas morning none of us were allowed into that room until Daddy had opened the door, checked to make sure that Santa had actually stopped by and turned on the tree lights.

And who do you think was the first family member to enter the room? Spenser, our schnauzer! That guy shot through the door as soon as Dad opened it and trotted straight to his stocking. You can see in this photo that he’s laser focused on the stocking with his name on it. What a clever boy.

Product/technique notes

I used an ancient kit by Flair that I’ve had in my stash for five or six years. My design inspiration came from a sketch in the Creative Scrappers sketch book, volume 2.

MAS*H 1984

December 11, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 5 Comments

In the scene in the bottom photo I am interviewing Hawkeye Pierce to determine if he's of sound mind.

In our sophomore and junior years in high school, Phil and I were in the drama club—and loved it! 1984 was our junior year, and we put on a production of M*A*S*H. Phil was cast as Major Frank Burns. Among other ensemble roles I was the psychologist who assesses Captain Hawkeye Pierce. And our friend Chris Lisi played Hawkeye.

What great memories I have from this time. I loved going to practices, bonding with the other students in the cast and having a legitimate reason to be a ham.

In the bottom photo, though it’s a bit hard to see, Hawkeye and I are center stage going through my interview so I can determine whether he is “mentally unbalanced,” as he claims to be. The funny story behind this scene is that one night while practicing it, Chris—who was a real cut-up—started messing around with me because I was in a bad mood (don’t remember the reason, and really, what teenage girl needs one?). There was a point in the scene where he is supposed to try to convince me that he’s a bit crazy by chasing me around the trunk that we’re sitting on. Well, halfway through my run I turned around and saw Chris pretending to grab at me. 😉 I was in no mood, so I slapped his face! Wow, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever slapped anyone’s face before or since. It got weird.

I immediately felt bad about it, but our director, Mr. Geiss, loved it! He directed me to add it to the scene. Umm, slap Chris Lisi a few times each night in practice and then on stage in front of an audience on show nights? Yes sir! Of course, Chris loved it too. Anything to make the scene get a bigger laugh was A-OK by him.

So he chased, and I ran and slapped . . . for another month or so of practices. Yes, it was therapeutic. I remember telling him that I was going to wear brass knuckles during the real performance, and he dared me to do it. What a funny git.

But the best part of this story is the ending. On the night of our performance, when it was time to do this scene, everything went as it should. I shrieked and jumped up to start running circles around the trunk. Chris/Hawkeye gave chase. Then I turned to administer “the slap” and it sounded like a clap of THUNDER. It was awesome. I must have cupped my hand more than usual because I had never gotten sound out of Chris’ face like that before. The audience gasped, then laughed. Even the look of surprise on Chris’ face was genuine. Now that’s good theater.

Product/technique notes

I used the Paper Bakery sketch below as inspiration for my page, and most of the products are from Simple Stories’ “24/SEVEN” collection.

Christmas blizzard

December 6, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

Phil and Mom were stranded in NYC for Christmas because of the blizzard.

Do you remember the blizzard that hit the northeast in 2010 just one day after Christmas? My mom and brother sure do because they were stranded in NYC for seven days. The Blizzard of 2010 dumped between 18 and 24 inches of snow with wind gusts up to 60 mph.

Flights were cancelled as the storm came to town, and Mom and Phil’s annual holiday trip was extended from three nights to seven. The snow was more than just gorgeous, it also allowed them to make up for the time they had lost while Mom was ill during the first part of their trip. They made the most of the situation and had a wonderful snowy time!

Product/technique notes

All my photos are 3×4, which made it easy to create this grid design. I used my Cameo to cut the trees, snowflakes and “Christmas” for the title. The beautiful white glittered letters that spell out “blizzard” are Thickers, of course. I used a 2007 Christmas collection by My Mind’s Eye called “Festive.” I love using older products when the colors/designs go so well with my photos; it’s like they were MFEO. 😉 I’d call this a shop-your-stash page, wouldn’t you?

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