It Takes All Kinds

What Does Home Mean to You?

As I sat contemplating this months theme of home, I began to think of just what home means to me.  After some time I came to the realization that when it comes right down to it home is really not a place or physical structure but home really is a feeling. I decided to list some of things that home means to me and create something that I could display.

Home is:

Familiar smells

A lived in look

Cozy feeling on a cold wet day

Not a place, it is a feeling

Books on a bedside table

The warmth of a loved ones arms

Snuggling under a warm comforter with hubby

The smell of freshly brewed coffee on a weekend

Photos, plants, knick-knacks

Memories

So what about you.  What is home to you?  Leave a comment and tell us or link us to your layout or project and you can win this month's prize.

There's no Place Like Home

It's a cliche, but it's true. Wherever you call home, no matter the origins, it's the place we feel we belong. I wanted to capture this idea on my layout.

This house isn't ours, but I used the image to symbolise the idea of a humble home. In my journaling (in the envelope) I talk about the fact that even though we don't live in a large house, we are happy in our home, because the things that mean home have less to do with the physical structure, and more to do with the love and security we feel there. 

I encourage you to celebrate your home, however large or small it may be. Make it the best it can be for now, even though it may not meet your needs exactly. That way the time spent there while looking for a "better" place will still provide you with cherished memories.

Heading Home for November

Home. The word elicits varying emotions from all of us. What does home mean to you? What are the sights, sounds, tastes and scents, that make you know you are home? That's the theme we're exploring this month, just in time for Thanksgiving in the US, and heading towards Christmas and Hanukkah.

With no winner of last month's prize from Core'Dinations, we will roll it over to this month. And just maybe add some more incentive!

Link up your home related projects using the widget below by November 31st to enter our random draw.

And check back all month as the team explores the idea of home.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from all of us here at It Takes All Kinds!  Don't eat too much candy lol!!

Wishing you all...

A very happy and safe halloween!

September Layout Winner

Sorry it took so long for me to post this but the winner of the September giveaway is Tara Van Moorsel.  You can see Tara's layout here. 

Tara please send me your address (vernellc at gmail dot com)and I will get your prize in the mail to you.

Also don't forget to enter the October giveaway.  Click here to go the giveaway post.  You still have 11 days!

Simple Pleasures

Take time to relish in the simple. I love to do this in the fall! It's my favorite time of the year! Please take a moment or better yet, make a layout about what you enjoy about this season...we would love to see and hear all about it!

Tutorial: Handmade Art Journal

As a new stay at home mom, I've realized that several adjustments had to be made.  One of the hardest adjustment is not being able to buy scrap and craft supplies as my heart desires.  Its sad, but instead of wallowing in self pity, I decided to start taking things into my own hands.  A perspective based on recycle, reusing and re-purposing.  In the following tutorial nothing was purchased new.  You read it right: NOTHING!!  I went into all my old stash of scrap goodies  and other crafty items that I never got around to using.  I decided to make a art journal.  Now you don't have to make an art journal, but this is just a start to point you in the right direction.
 I hope this inspires you to move beyond the pre packaged and start looking at that cardboard boxes and discarded material in a new light.  Below is my finished art journal.

Autumn Colors

I have to say that as much as I complain about the end of summer and the fact that fall means that the cold, dark days of winter are just around the color, if truth be told I really do love fall.  I think what I love about it the most is the wonderful colors that come with fall.  The oranges, browns, yellows, and reds are just so vibrant and rich.  So when I saw these photos that Sheldon (my hubby) took after getting up early on Saturday morning to capture the sunrise and fall colors I just had to scrap them.  What is your favorite thing about fall?

Decay and Renewal
Empty the self completely;
Embrace perfect peace.
The world will rise and move;
Watch it return to rest.
All the flourishing things
Will return to their source.

This return is peaceful;
It is the flow of nature,
An eternal decay and renewal.
Accepting this brings enlightenment,
Ignoring this brings misery.

Who accepts nature's flow becomes all-cherishing;
Being all-cherishing he becomes impartial;
Being impartial he becomes magnanimous;
Being magnanimous he becomes natural;
Being natural he becomes one with the Way;
Being one with the Way he becomes immortal:
Though his body will decay, the Way will not.

-LaoTze-

The colors of Fall

One of my favorite things about fall is the beautiful array of colors that are all around. The rich reds, oranges and yellows are so warm. I always feel like decorating when fall rolls around and have my front steps decked out with pumpkins and pretty mums. I've been eying some wreaths in the stores and decided to try to make one myself using cardstock. This could also be done using different patterned papers for a similar effect.

I used six different colors of Core'dinations cardstock and cut various shapes of leaves out using my Slice die cutting machine -- you could also do this by hand. I had a wreath form in the crafting stash and used that for the base and glued the leaves on alternating the colors as I went.

I crumpled up the leaves and sanded them to give them a more realistic effect. The whole project took me about 2 hours and cost very little to make -- much cheaper than buying those wreaths at the store!

Why don't you try bringing some fall colors into your home with a simple project like this!