Silhouette

‘Tis near Halloween

October 26, 2011 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

Blogtoberfest Day 26

Don’t miss out on my GIVEAWAY!

Twisted Sketches has revealed its latest sketch, #125, and the twist is “black.” Be sure to head over to the site to grab the sketch, then create something and link it up! 🙂

Here’s my Design Team layout inspired by the sketch.

When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween.

The simple story behind this photo of me from 1971 is that I had a school Halloween party to attend, so Mom found this witch’s cape for me to wear, and Dad made the hat to match! Don’t I look frightening? 😉

It’s so fun when everything comes together this way on a layout. I thought the Fancy Pants “October 31” collection was perfect for my photo and the sketch. From the witches’ hats background paper, to that apropos quote I cut from another pattern, to the way the striped paper—when folded into rosettes—looks a bit like candy. It all just worked. Then I had a little fun with my Silhouette to complete the scene with the witch, bats and black cat.

I hope you’ll take the sketch out for a spin (on your broom)!

“You look fangtastic” freebie

October 20, 2011 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

Blogtoberfest Day 20

To celebrate Blogtoberfest today I have created a freebie for you! I know a lot of us have Silhouette digital cutters, so if you do this freebie is for you. It can be used as a layout title or a card front. If you would like to have this cut file, which includes all the pieces to create the image you see below, please just leave me a comment to let me know and I will email it to you. 🙂

You look fangtastic cut file freebie

So grateful for rain

October 19, 2011 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 5 Comments

Blogtoberfest Day 19

The layout I’m sharing today is based on a sketch provided at sketch challenge site, Sketchy Thursdays. This challenge is open until Saturday, October 22nd, so you can still play along! In addition to following the provided sketch, we had to journal about what we’re thankful for and include at least five leaves on the page (as a photo, patterned paper, stamps, die cuts, etc.).

After 13 months of drought, the rain we had last week was a blessing.

The sketch and the journaling prompt worked together so well for me this time. I immediately thought of how thankful I was for our recent rainstorms. And with that thought in mind, the sketch stopped looking like strips of patterned paper to me and more like raindrops falling down the page. The journaling reads, “I am thankful daily for my family, my love, my health, my God and my home. But after 13 months of drought in Austin, I am particularly grateful for RAIN.”

The background paper I chose represents the parched earth that surrounds us. The patterned paper “raindrops” reflect the colors in the photo of the leaves in the puddle. And a little Glossy Accents on the word RAIN in the title reflects the blessed moisture. We certainly didn’t get enough rain to pull us out of our drought, but we’ll take every drop with gratitude.

Blogtoberfest Day 16

October 16, 2011 By Janice Daquila-Pardo Leave a Comment

National Feral Cat Day

Today is National Feral Cat Day! This annual event is coordinated by Alley Cat Allies as a way to raise awareness about feral cats, promote Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and recognize the millions of compassionate Americans who care for feral cats. Each year cat welfare groups and cat lovers across the country plan events to help educate people in their communities about feral cats and TNR. This year there are over 300 events planned in all 50 states.

Matt and I are involved in feral cat rescue efforts in our local area. We take great pride and pleasure in helping improve/save the lives of cats without homes. In fact, layouts of cats that you may have seen or will see on my blog are of those we have trapped and fostered.

Our favorite local cat rescue organization is Shadow Cats, a group “dedicated to improving the lives of community cats through humane advocacy.” The reason we like them so much is that they are dedicated to the care of the current resident population of ill, immune compromised, injured and senior cats. In other words, they take the cats who would not otherwise have any hope.

So, when Shadow Cats recently held an art market fundraiser, I decided to use my craft supplies and creativity to make a scrapbook album for them to auction. I made the album in all one color palette, using a subtle cat theme (mostly through my titles and a few images) and with spaces for only 4×6 photos (so there would be no cropping needed by the person who ends up with it).

I had a great time creating this project and hope that someone who has a beloved cat or cats will enjoy it forever. Have you ever used your crafting habit to help an organization in whose work you believe? I can highly recommend it. It made me feel warm and fuzzy—like a cat! 🙂

Royalty in residence

Purrsonality

"One cat just leads to another." Ernest Hemingway

"The ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat." Jules Renard

Meow, purr, yawn

"What greater gift than the love of a cat?" Charles Dickens

"Cats are the connoisseurs of comfort." James Herriot

I love you, purr & simple

Showing cattitude

"Time spent with cats is never wasted." Sigmund Freud

Naptime

Blogtoberfest Day 15

October 15, 2011 By Janice Daquila-Pardo 11 Comments

Sketchabilities sketch #57

Sketchabilities has revealed its latest sketch, #57. Be sure to head over to the site to grab the sketch, then create something and link it up! 🙂

Here’s my Design Team layout inspired by the sketch.

Celebrating 14 wonderful years together

These photos were taken on the evening of our 14th wedding anniversary earlier in October. Matt and I really like to try to take a little trip for our anniversary, but when it occurs on a weekday that’s hard to do. There’s a fondue restaurant close to our house that I have been eyeing since it opened, but it’s the type of place one only goes to for special occasions. So we headed there to celebrate our 14 years of wedded bliss!

Matt had never had fondue before this, if you can believe it! I have had it a few times, and I loved it each one. We had a beautiful four-course meal, a great waiter and lovely conversation. So, even though these photos aren’t the best because they’re taken in a darkened restaurant with a flash, I wanted to remember this celebration with a layout.

I went a little wild with the patterned paper on this one. I decided to limit the color palette to black/grays and yellows/golds with a tiny hint of pink/red to highlight the strawberries in the main photo. This made me feel free to use a greater variety of patterns than my usual. I combined papers taken mostly from My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found Two collection and Authentique’s Blissful collection. They worked quite well together, in my opinion. The doilies and flower/swirl embellishments were cut with my Silhouette and highlighted with a bit of bling.

I am so pleased to be starting my Sketchabilities design team responsibilities! I hope you’ll check out the site and play along with us on the sketch challenges. 🙂

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