WE'VE MOVED! Ain't She Crafty is now Kingston Crafts

Ain't She Crafty

is now

Kingston Crafts!

please come on over and join us at kingstoncrafts.com

we can't wait to show you what we've got up our sleeve!

12th Day of Giveaways - these are a few of my favorite things!

What a fabulous twelve days it has been - thanks to everybody who has joined me on my Facebook Page and shared their excitement.  I'm closing out the giveaways (and the year) with two of my ALL TIME FAVORITE gifts...not to receive - but to give!  I've given both of these this year - many times over - because I just love everything about them.  They are unique, they mean something, they capture the recipient, they bring wonderful memories - and today I am sharing them with you.

STAR WARS CHRISTMAS LAWN ORNAMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Do I even need to say anything else?  My brother and his boys are HUGE Star Wars fans...and as we get older he has become harder and harder to buy for.  He also loves him some Christmas - so when I saw these (originally on Pee Wee Herman's blog - don't judge me) I was overjoyed!  This is the first "for the family" gift we've ever bought them, and because we live on opposite ends of the country we don't get to spend very many holidays together...so every year when they put them out in the yard I know they will think of us and smile.  A gift for them AND for us!

One lucky winner is going to receive THEIR CHOICE of the R2D2, Yoda, Darth Vader or Storm Trooper lawn ornament!  Wahoo!  It won't get there by Christmas...but you'll be ready for next Christmas and will be the envy of the neighborhood!

The second gift is one I have given throughout the year - both in times of celebration and times of heartbreak.

I have been a fan of Stella & Dot ever since my friend Alice became a Stylist.  Alice gave me one of these engraved necklaces last year (with our wedding date on it) and I have treasured it every moment - I wear it EVERY day.  When my sister-in-law had her first child this fall I knew she was going to be inundated with gifts for the baby, but I wanted to give her something for HER...and a necklace with our nephew's birthdate was the perfect answer.

When my amazing friend Teresa Collins lost her beloved husband Ty in November I struggled.  Struggled with what to say, struggled with what to do, struggled with how to let her know we loved her.  One day I was thinking about her and realized I was literally clutching at my necklace - the necklace with our wedding date. I immediately ordered one for her (in her signature gold) as a tangible way for her to hold her husband close to her heart - and the fact that it has brought her comfort just fills me.

So - one of you is going to win a Stella & Dot engraved bar necklace.  Your choice of gold or silver, whatever date or word you'd like - customized just for you.  What a treasure!  PS...for all of you doing the Ali Edwards One Little Word Workshop - this would be a fabulous gift for yourself!

So...how do you win?  Leave a comment here and tell me which prize YOU would like to see (belatedly) under your Christmas tree.  I will pick both lucky winners tomorrow at 5pm (PST) and post the names to my Facebook page!  What a fabulous way to say farewell to 2014!  Good luck!

30 Days of Xyron - Paper Plate Menorah Kids' Craft!

All month long the gang from Xyron has been creating some gorgeous holiday projects - and today its my turn!

You all know how I feel about paper plate kids' crafts - I especially love to share them (and be mocked by everyone) when I'm on HSN! This menorah became a little infamous on 24-Hour Craft Day when my fabulous friend Bill Green and I were demoing the Xyron 9" Creative Station (if you want a giggle go to HSN.com, click on the video link on this page, and go to the 11:00 mark) - and so many folks asked about it that I made a quick video tutorial!

If you've missed out on some of the other fun holidays projects the Xyron Design Team has shared this month just head on over to the photo section of the Xyron FB page and prepare to be inspired...and tune in all this week for even more great ideas!  Did I mention that EVERY project has a tutorial?  Wahoo!

Speaking of inspired - I hope you will tune in to my Facebook page starting December 11th - this time of year always inspires me so I am celebrating the season with a Twelve Days of Christmas giveaway!  I'll be giving away some crafty goodies EVERY DAY from the 11th - 22nd from my friends at Teresa Collins, Epiphany Crafts, Cricut, Xyron, Craftwell, Maya Road and more! EVERY DAY!  Can't wait to kick it off with you!

Xyron and Paper House - Day Five and a Giveaway!

The Xyron Design Team has had such a fantastic time with our friends at Paper House this week - we hope you have been as inspired as we have!  We've seen everything from home decor to traditional scrapbook pages, and today is all about mixed media.  What a great way to kick off your creativity this weekend!

This stunning mini album from Pam Bray would be the perfect way to record a weekend getaway or as a thank you after staying with a friend.  Pam shares a tutorial with us on her blog today - so many fun techniques!

Want to create a home decor piece but don't have a canvas?  A piece of chipboard will work just as well! Yvonne Yam shows us how on her blog - we love the whimsical feel of this project!

Head on over to the Paper House blog for their last day of projects and for their final giveaway of Xyron goodies!  We've got one more prize pack of Paper House products to share as well - so just leave a comment and one lucky winner is going to receive this batch of stickers.  We'll announce the winner on the Xyron Facebook Page tomorrow - have a great weekend!

Xyron and Paper House - Day Four and a Giveaway!

The Xyron Design Team only has one day left to celebrate our "Great Outdoors" blog hop with our friends at Paper House and today we are getting back to where it all started - cards and scrapbook layouts!

We love how this layout from Karen Jiles captures the rugged outdoors with just a hint of girly girl!  :)  The textures and colors and techniques come together beautifully - and Karen shares a tutorial with us on her blog today.

Since some parts of the country are *gasp* already getting some...we're tickled that Angela Holt created a snow themed card with her Paper House goodies! On her blog Angela shares a tutorial for adding that special touch to any embellishments - what a treat this would be to receive!

If you are loving these projects as much as we are then head on over to the Paper House blog for even MORE great ideas - and they are giving away some of your favorite Xyron goodies as well!  We want to share some of the Paper House products we are loving with you - so all week long we'll be having giveaways here on our blog as well.  Just leave a comment and one lucky winner is going to receive this Paper House prize pack - we'll announce the winner on the Xyron Facebook Page tomorrow.  Good luck!

Xyron and Paper House - Day Three and a Giveaway!

We are halfway through the Xyron Design Team "Great Outdoors" blog hop with our friends at Paper House - and today it is all about Fall!  Here is where we admit that it never even OCCURRED to us to use "outdoor themed" papers for Fall projects...clearly we need to get out more.  ;)  Thank goodness for our Design Team!

Looking for a way to brighten up your Thanksgiving table?  How about DIY napkin rings from Stephanie Chan!  The festive colors and patterns in these papers will add the perfect touch to your holiday - Stephanie shares a quick tutorial on her blog today (this would be a fun project to do with the kiddos)!

One of the things we love about Fall home decor is that unlike many other "seasonal" projects it can hang in your home from the beginning of September all the way through the end of November.  This gorgeous plaque from Sharon Callis is the perfect example - imagine this in your entryway or living room!  Sharon shares a tutorial with us on her blog today...just in time to make it for Thanksgiving as a hostess gift!

If you are loving these projects as much as we are then head on over to the Paper House blog every day this week for even MORE great ideas - and they are giving away some of your favorite Xyron goodies as well!  We want to share some of the Paper House products we are loving with you - so all week long we'll be having giveaways here on our blog as well.  Just leave a comment and one lucky winner is going to receive this Paper House prize pack - we'll announce the winner on the Xyron Facebook Page tomorrow.  Good luck!

Xyron and Paper House - Day Two and a Giveaway!

Day two of the Xyron Design Team "Great Outdoors" blog hop with our friends at Paper House is here...and today we are taking "themed" paper projects to a whole new level!  Let your imagination run wild!

This card from Joy Dickson will make you look at themed paper in a whole new light - you would never guess that this is outdoor themed paper!  On her blog today Joy shares a tutorial to create this beauty yourself...this makes us want to go through our stash of "paper I don't know what to do with" and start crafting!

Have a kid (big or little) who loves the outdoors?  Then this party ensemble from Rachel McAffee is for you!  It can be so hard to find masculine themed projects and products - what a great way to put the special touch on a party while still having a manly feel!  ;)  Rachel shares a quick tutorial on her blog today.

If you are loving these projects as much as we are then head on over to the Paper House blog every day this week for even MORE great ideas - and they are giving away some of your favorite Xyron goodies as well!  We want to share some of the Paper House products we are loving with you - so all week long we'll be having giveaways here on our blog as well.  Just leave a comment and one lucky winner is going to receive this Paper House prize pack - we'll announce the winner on the Xyron Facebook Page tomorrow.  Happy crafting!

Xyron and Paper House - Day One and a Giveaway!

Hold on to your hats gang!  This week the Xyron Design Team is celebrating the Great Outdoors with our friends at Paper House - tune in every day for projects, tutorials and giveaways that will make you think about "outdoorsy" paper and embellishments in a whole new light!

Love Instagram?  Love mini albums?  Then you MUST head over to Shannon Morgan's blog today!  Shannon created the cutest Instagram mini album that would be the perfect "thank you" gift after a vacation or as a treasure for your kiddos.  Shannon shares some great tips and tricks for creating this on her blog as well!

2015 will be here before we know it...why not make your own calendar - for yourself or as a gift?  On her blog today Alexia Misso not only shares a tutorial on creating this fantastic project, she also shares the SVG files so you can cut out the calendar! What a fabulous time saver!  Thanks Alexia!

The beauty of embellishments is that a little goes a long way...Linda Neff created an entire mini album and still had enough to create a 12x12 layout as well!  Linda shares a tutorial for the layout on her blog today.

If you are loving these projects as much as we are then head on over to the Paper House blog every day this week for even MORE great ideas - and they are giving away some of your favorite Xyron goodies as well!  We want to share some of the Paper House products we are loving with you - so all week long we'll be having giveaways here on our blog as well.  Just leave a comment and one lucky winner is going to receive this Paper House prize pack - we'll announce the winner on the Xyron Facebook Page tomorrow.  Happy Monday everybody!

Xyron, Petaloo and Core'dinations - Day Five and a Giveaway!

We hope you have had an inspiration filled week as the Xyron Design Team celebrated our friends at Core'dinations Cardstock and Petaloo.  Our designers have let their creativity run wild and today we share two home decor projects that will make you look at every day items in a whole new light!

You can turn an old clock in to a work of art in just a few steps...and Yvonne Yam shows us how!  On her blog today she shows us how to turn a clock from blah to BAM! - now we are looking all over the office for things to "improve"!  ;)

Loving those pallet projects you see on Pinterest but don't want to deal with the bulk of wood?  On her blog today Linda Neff shares this "faux pallet" tutorial using plain old chipboard!  Genius!

Looking for more inspiration?  Head on over to the Core'dinations and Petaloo blogs to see the magic their designers have created - and BOTH blogs are giving away prizes!  We want to help you create your own fabulous projects too so we are giving away a prize pack with a Core'dinations paper pad, a pack of Petaloo flowers, and a Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker!  Just leave a comment here and we will announce the winner on our Facebook Page tomorrow.  Have a great weekend everybody!

Xyron, Petaloo and Core'dinations - Day Four and a Giveaway!

The Xyron Design Team has been having a BLAST during our week long blog hop with our friends at Core'dinations Cardstock and Petaloo - we hope they have inspired you as much as they were inspired!  Today we've got THREE tutorials - these little beauties are yours for the making!

Love to make cards but feel a little overwhelmed during the holidays?  Shannon Morgan to the rescue!  Today on her blog she shares a tutorial for creating this cute set of four cards - and she shares TONS of time saving tips that will help you get a jump start on your card making.  Yay!

HELLO gorgeous!!!  This bird house from Sharon Callis took our breath away - can you believe she did this with just a few sheets of paper?  You will find a tutorial for this amazing project on her blog as well as a lovely card with a Breast Cancer awareness theme.  A few sheets of paper!!

We are loving this mixed media notebook from Karen Jiles - the colors and textures and special little details make this a great gift idea that would be treasured (and is a great way to use leftover embellishments)!  Head on over to Karen's blog for a tutorial that is sure to get your creative juices flowing.

Loving these projects?  Looking for more inspiration?  Head on over to the Core'dinations and Petaloo blogs to see the magic their designers have created - and BOTH blogs are giving away prizes!  We want to help you create your own fabulous projects too so every day this week we are giving away a prize pack with a Core'dinations paper pad, a pack of Petaloo flowers, and a Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker!  Just leave a comment here and we will announce the winner on our Facebook Page tomorrow.  Enjoy!

Xyron, Petaloo and Core'dinations - Day Three and a Giveaway!

We are halfway through the Xyron Design Team week long blog hop with our friends at Core'dinations Cardstock and Petaloo - and today our designers have hopped right off the page and in to some fabulous mixed media and home decor projects!

You know how much we love mini albums - so when we saw this winter project from Marcia Dehn-Nix we were head over heels!  Check out her blog for a coordinating card - is it wrong that these make us wish for snow?  :)

This dainty birdcage project from Joy Dickson reminds us that one of the joys of papercrafting is creating works of art.  Joy shares a tutorial on her blog today - what a wonderful party favor this would be for a bridal or baby shower!

Banners are THE perfect holiday home decor project - and Heather Conklin created this beauty to celebrate Halloween (we love the non-traditional colors). Imagine the possibilities with just a few sheets of paper!  She gives some tips and tricks for creating your own on her blog today.

Loving these projects?  Looking for more inspiration?  Head on over to the Core'dinations and Petaloo blogs to see the magic their designers have created - and BOTH blogs are giving away prizes!  We want to help you create your own fabulous projects too so every day this week we are giving away a prize pack with a Core'dinations paper pad, a pack of Petaloo flowers, and a Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker!  Just leave a comment here and we will announce the winner on our Facebook Page tomorrow.  Enjoy!

Xyron, Petaloo and Core'dinations - Day Two and a Giveaway!

The Xyron Design team is loving this week long blog hop with our friends at Core'dinations Cardstock and Petaloo - and today our designers have hopped right off the page and in to some fall themed projects!

What a bright and festive holiday table you'll create with this centerpiece from Pam Bray!  No one will believe you created this with just a few sheets of paper and some flower embellishments - and Pam shows you how to make it on her blog today .  This would make a lovely hostess gift as well!

You know we love upcycling - so we are tickled by this plastic cake tub turned in to a trick or treat bucket!  Alexia Misso shares a full tutorial on her blog today, as well as a bonus card that would be sure to raise anyone's spirits.  Did we mention she is having a giveaway as well?  Head on over!!

Looking for a fun Halloween project to do with the kids?  Stephanie Chan created these darling masks that the kids would LOVE to put together - and she shares a full tutorial on her blog.  We'll take these over store bought any day!

Loving these projects?  Looking for more inspiration?  Head on over to the Core'dinations and Petaloo blogs to see the magic their designers have created - and BOTH blogs are giving away prizes!  We want to help you create your own fabulous projects too so every day this week we are giving away a prize pack with a Core'dinations paper pad, a pack of Petaloo flowers, and a Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker!  Just leave a comment here and we will announce the winner on our Facebook Page tomorrow.  Enjoy!

Xyron, Petaloo and Core'dinations - Day One and a Giveaway!

What a way to kick off our Fall blog hops - with not one but TWO partners! This week the Xyron Design team is making some fabulous projects using Core'dinations Cardstock and Petaloo flowers and embellishments - and we can't wait to share what they've created.

Want to make a fun and festive Halloween banner but not crazy about the traditional colors/themes?  Rachel McAffee shows us how to create something gorgeous using unexpected embellishments. She came up with the clever idea to use vintage Halloween photos of kids in costume and shares a tutorial on her blog today.  We love everything about this!

Tags are a must as we move in to the holiday season - and Stacy Rodriguez shares this fall themed tag that would be perfect tied to a bottle of wine or a homemade treat.  It is a gift in itself!

Angela Holt turned a few sheets of cardstock and some flowers in to an incredible mini album that would be treasured by anyone who received it.  Imagine the possibilities with this little treasure!  Angela shares a full video tutorial on her blog today - this would be perfect gift for a wedding or baby shower!

Loving these projects?  Looking for more inspiration?  Head on over to the Core'dinations and Petaloo blogs to see the magic their designers have created - and BOTH blogs are giving away prizes!  We want to help you create your own fabulous projects too so every day this week we are giving away a prize pack with a Core'dinations paper pad, a pack of Petaloo flowers, and a Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker!  Just leave a comment here and we will announce the winner on our Facebook Page tomorrow.  Happy Monday!