Nancy Kay Creations

I wasn't sure when to post this. I'm hoping that I don't jinx myself by posting this now. You all know how often I come in here apologizing for not posting for soooooo long. How will I ever keep up? I just decided, "what the heck!" I've created a new blog that showcases my creative endeavors. I make jewelry, knit, take pictures, paint, and many other things, but I'm not an expert in anything and sometimes feel that what I create just isn't good enough. I need to get over that big time!. But regardless of my expertise, or non expertise, I love to create. So here it is Nancy Kay Creations. I hope that this will be a way for me to put myself out there, to take a leap outside my comfort zone a little and share a part of myself that I get really self-conscience about. Maybe it will lead to my sharing more here. Who knows? I hope that you will enjoy it.

Friday Project: Easter Eggs

Again, I am very sorry I'm so late with this. It's been a hellish week, I had no sleep and that pesky family time kept getting in the way (jk). Anyway, it's finally complete, though not as spectacular as I was hoping since I rushed it. It took me awhile to figure out what to do for a craft project this week and I didn't really have anything until yesterday. I was at JoAnn's getting some fabric to make a baby sling with (my Rebozo is just too small now) and saw the eggs, and some felt and went from there.



These are really fun to make, and kids can work on them too, though I wouldn't let them use a glue gun; rubber cement, or even some Elmer's glue might work.

What you'll need:



1. Egg shapes. I couldn't find Styrofoam, which is what I really wanted to use, so I got the plastic eggs instead, and they worked great.
2. Felt.
3. Ribbon.
4. Findings such as buttons, or whatever embellishments you'd like to add.
5. Scissors and glue gun, or just glue.

The first thing you'll want to do its cut a rectangle length of felt that will fit around your egg. The size you cut will depend on the size of the egg you are using.



Next, you'll want to glue the bottom of the egg to the middle of the felt.



Then bring both sides of the felt together at the top and glue to the egg. the felt should be tight and smooth on both sides, cut off any excess felt at the top.



Next, glue the felt to the sides of the egg so that when both sides are glued you have a square.



Then cut the corners off and glue down.



When you are done, your egg should look like this:



If anyone knows of a way to make that smoother, please share. It took me awhile to figure out how to get the felt around the egg.

Now we will add the ribbon. Glue the ribbon around the sides of the egg to cover the seams. You can make a bow at the top.



Now add your decorations, such as buttons or whatever you choose.



That's it. The possibilities for colors, and decoration are endless, use your imagination and have fun.

Friday Project

Haven't come up with a cool name for my Friday Project post yet, and I also couldn't, or didn't have time to, come up with a project for this week. So instead I have five projects that I have found around the web that I think are interesting and would like to try.

1. The first project I found at LifeHacker. It's a pen hack; a magnetized pen. Check it out here: MacGyver Tip: Magnetize a Bic pen

2. The next project is a beginner beading project that I would like to try sometime soon. I found it at Tammy Powley's website Jewelry and Beading.Here is the link to the project at her About.com page: Fringe Earrings

3. Project number 3 is a cool Ikea hack from Ikea hacker.It's time to get out the markers.

4. The next project comes from Curbly. Curbly is a very cool DIY site. This project shows you how to make your own roach clip memo/photo holders. How To Make Roach Clip Memo/Picture Clips

5. And finally, this last project can be found at Instructables, another really cool DIY site.
Magnetic Rubik's Dice Cube

Have at it, and have fun!

Beaded Photo Frame

Here is a fun project I completed yesterday. I have a box of imperfect beads; beads that are broken or misshaped, and some photo frames from IKEA. I needed to do a quick craft project and wanted to use the box of these beads.

What you will need:
* Photo frames. These frames from IKEA are perfect to work with. They come in packs of 3 and the 4X6 size is only $1.99.
* Beads. Any beads will work, though you may want to use a large bag of assorted, inexpensive beads.
* A glue gun and glue sticks
* Newspaper, or other table protection
* Bent nose pliers






Once you have all your items, you are set. You can use your imagination. I kept the wood natural for my project, and filled the whole frame with beads. Another option, would be to paint the frame first, then add beads as an accent.

Here is the process of my frame:

Be sure to remove the backing and plastic insert.




Then, using your glue gun, add beads.












And the finished project:




Here it is with a photo:




Click on the photo to see detail.

Also, here are some frames my daughter made for me:







You are only limited by your imagination. Have fun!

Beads Beads Beads

More jewelry

First, I fixed the earrings I had posted a few days ago:



Then I made another set of earrings and a matching bracelet:



Last night before I could go to sleep I had (if you're and artisit you know that feeling) to make another bracelet:

>

For that one I just sorted through my box of imperfect beads and tossed on the beads that weren't broken onto some memory wire.
Now I just need better lighting for pictures. Aaron is going to make me a light box soon.

More Beads

So, I've picked up the beading again. It had been so long since I last did anything with it that I forgot how to make loops. I need some more serious practice, but here is a pair of earrings I made yesterday morning:



After looking at the close-up of this I realize I also need better lighting.

Beading

A few days ago I did a couple of very quick bead projects. When I just need to get my head somewhere else for a bit, I like to do some kind of art or craft. I'm still very new to beading and still learning how to assemble jewelry. I put together a very quick elastic bracelet and threaded some beads onto a basket I have on the bar above my kitchen sink.

Here's the bracelet:


And here's the basket:


The shot glass in that picture I bought on my trip to Disneyland last year, the week before I found out I was pregnant; I have yet to use it.

Fun Day Off

I finally finished the scarf I started last winter. I had so many things going on and had lost my tapestry needle, so I just never got around to getting it completed. All I needed to do was get the fringe on. This is my very first scarf with fringe. I have one more niece to knit a scarf for (it's halfway complete) and they will be nice and warm next winter ;)

Scarf for niece


My first real day off yesterday was nice. Got to talk with my daughter for a good long time. I also got to talk with my best friend for a good long time; she had a blast in Disneyland recently, I was very happy for her because she had never gone before. I can't wait to go again. Her and I are going to take our daughters together. :) That should be a blast. I also got some Sims time in yesterday; I haven't played the Sims (2) in awhile. I really should do some cleaning today.

My boring life

So, I knit an MP3 cozy last night. I needed something fast and easy to do that I could actually finish. I am not great at sewing pieces together yet, but this will work (see pics below). Class ended on Monday (Thank God!). My next class starts on Tuesday; Human Resources, should be more interesting than economics. I have tons of things to say about work, but must figure out how to say it cleverly without giving out personal information. Maybe I'll start an anonymous blog so I can do that, hmmm.....I'm up for a promotion, but that means leaving the safety of my cave ( I work in a big warehouse type room with no windows.) I'm really excited about the fact that I have a 3 day weekend this weekend; no work and no school! That hasn't happened for me in about a year. I never get time off from both, it's always one or the other. I must actually go get ready to leave for work so I should stop typing now.

mp3 cozy


mp3 cozy