Silhouette

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.

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!

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.

And baby makes three

May 31, 2013 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 4 Comments

My about-to-become parents look so cute together on their day at the zoo!

This sweet little photo is of my parents in September 1966. Daddy is about to turn 33, Mom is 26, and they are about to become parents for the first time. Mom is seven months pregnant with me, and they are spending a sunny day together at the Philadelphia Zoo.

I thought that a little pair of love birds in the upper right corner would be a cute way to incorporate animals into my zoo layout as well as to symbolize my parents. As an extra detail I furnished the left bird with brown eyes, like my father and the right bird with green eyes, like my mother.

Product/technique notes:

I used patterned papers from the American Crafts “Dear Lizzy Neapolitan” collection and the following sketch from Paper Bakery. The birds-on-a-branch die cut is from the Silhouette store, and I created the title treatment in the Silhouette software and cut it on my Cameo as well.

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