Bracelet Inspiration

Lately I've been trying to get new ideas for manicures. I was passing my jewelry tree and noticed one of my favorite bracelets. I remember seeing it in the store, it jumped out at me and made me think of Tron a bit. And I do love Tron.

I'll post a better close up to understand the detail of each bead. The blue jewels really shine in them and there are smaller bumps around the jewels. Its an interesting piece and although I don't wear it much, I do really love it.

I wanted to re-create the design so I took some blue jewels I had and some black micro beads. Used Ulta Smoke Screen as the base. Then placed the jewels and beads. Unfortunately the beads bled....a really odd red actually. I did expect them to bleed, just not such a vivid red. But anyway, here is the result!

I was really pleased how it turned out, other than bleeding. But after doing one hand it got tiring and the bleeding looks bad. So I'm going to be re-doing my nails. What next? You'll have to stick around and see!

Enjoy!

Traded A Manicure For Coffee

So today I visited my mom and finally got to do her nails! After which she got me some delicious coffee. Mmmm. I've been wanting to forever...even though she didn't have the greatest patience last time I did them. 

This is the first time she's had more than one color on her nails, let alone a pattern. But she's been wanting polka dots ever since I showed her mine.

I think they look great on her! It really brings life and fun to her nails. We used China Glaze's For Audrey and Wet 'n Wild's French White Creme. Once the China Glaze dried, I fell in love with it. Its such a gorgeous blue. (Although it does look more green in the picture, damn those coffee shop lights!)

Can't wait to do her nails again. Enjoy!

Glitter, Sweets And Jewels! Oh My!

I've been stuck on ideas for my nails for awhile now, which explains the lack of posts. But last night, it hit me! I kept thinking of my favorite glitter, Sugarplum Fairy by Color Club, and how whenever I have it on its like a party on my nails. And I've been wanting to do something with sweets for a long time. So this is what came out!

For all the sweets (except the candies) I used the Ziploc bag decal method. A small dotting tool for the little neon dots. And for the candies a small jewel, just added some lines on each end to make them look like wrapped candy! I'd be lying if I didn't say I love these nails. They just make me so happy!

Thumb close-up.

Index finger close-up.

 Middle finger close-up.

Ring finger close-up.

Pinky close-up.

Sorry for the blur, I was a bit shaky. These did take all night, but it was totally worth it! Although I did eventually pass out, only after waiting for them to dry thoroughly to avoid the curse of sheet marks. I know you ladies feel my pain! And I would do it all over again, I wish I could keep these on permanently.

Just had to share!    Enjoy!

Candy Dots, Collection And Indecisive...

Hello! I know I haven't posted in awhile, been super busy. And after taking some time to actually sit and do my nails, I came up with the idea to do candy dots.

But I didn't quite like the repeating rows of same color dots, so I did mine a little different. They came out alright, I didn't like them much because for some reason they made me think Wonder Bread instead. Quite a disappointment to me. But here they are...

I decided to take that mani off and think of something else, something I would like. But after staring at my huge collection for what seemed like an hour, I was out of ideas. Or maybe I had too many and couldn't decide. My husband tried to get me to put a small sticker on all the bottles of polish I haven't used yet and work my way to using them all, but I couldn't handle the pressure. I decided to share my collection so far instead!

Yes, clearly I have a problem...I mean hobby. There's no problem here. Although since those pictures were taken I brought home three more bottles. And I am always on the look out for more. But that's okay, right?....right?                   Gals?


Enjoy!

Quick Cupcake Tutorial

Today's post is just a little quick post, so they might not look that great. I tried this design a few days ago, and being as obsessed with cupcakes as I am, fell in love with it immediately! But today I'm going to do a side by side, as they can be done with small beads/jewels or with polish (if you don't have any beads/jewels). First of all you're going to need three colors: A frosting color, the wrapper colors and a darker shade of the wrapper color for the wrapper lines. If you don't have beads/jewels you'll want to get out a color(s) for sprinkles and a red for a cherry on top! A dotting tool or toothpick will come in handy too. I choose Sally Hansen's Mint Sorbet for the base, which will be the wrapper.

Once that's dry, you take your frosting color, I used Sally Hansen's Lacey Lilac. You want to take a little on the brush, not a big glob, but hopefully not too little. And make lines going upwards, big lines at different lengths. So as to get a sort of drip, frosting effect.

And you should get a look like this...

Now its okay to get a little messy because...well come on, its frosting! And once that dries you want to take the darker wrapper shade, I used O.P.I's Mermaid's Tears. And take your dotting tool/toothpick to make lines down from the frosting, they can be spaced or close together.

The end result will look something like this.

Mine are pretty messy, I did them in a hurry. Sorry, was busy today. Once that's done if you're using beads/jewels you'll want to place some topcoat on your frosting, so they have something to stick too and not end up falling off. If you're using polish, just make little dots with your tool! And for the cherry on top, just make a big dot of red polish, I used Sally Hansen's Red Carpet because I like a little sparkle! And ta-da, you've got some delicious looking nails!

Enjoy!

Interlocking Dot Tutorial

So today I've decided to try my first step by step tutorial. I've seen this design done a lot, but have yet to see a tutorial for it, I saw a drawn picture and got the gist of it. So first of all you'll need two colors of polish, some scotch tape and a dotting tool/toothpick. This design really isn't as hard as it looks, but the main thing to remember is to let each layer (especially the bottom) dry really well, otherwise it might come up with the tape. Also, to prevent the polish being pulled up with the tape, try putting the tape on the back of your hand to take the extra sticky glue off. So, let's start! First of all, you need a base color. Here I used Color Club's Pink Lust. Once that sets and is completely dry, you want to place the tape diagonal across your nail.

Then take your second color, I used Sally Hansen X-Treme Wear Blue Me Away. Just put that color over the non-taped part of your nail.

Don't let the tape sit there too long or it might pull the blue up with it! It'll look like a huge mess, but once you take the tape off...

So now you want to take your dotting tool/toothpick and get a dot of polish ready. If you've never done dots before, I suggest practicing on paper first so that you can get the hang of it and not be pissed if you ruin your nails. Place the dot half on each side of the two colors.

You want to do these dots all across the line, with a little space in-between them. It'll end up looking like this...

The next step is taking the opposite color and doing the same thing, but in-between the other dots. So just place them half on each side between each of the other dots.

Once that's done, it'll look like this....

Then you just take your tool and place more dots like above and you're done! I think these nails are really unique looking and will get tons of compliments. I hope you decide to try this design because...well just look at them and tell me they don't make you smile.

Enjoy!

First Attempt At Dots

I've had a dotting tool for awhile now and decided I was finally going to use it! I did have a whole set of brushes and tools coming, but sadly they've gotten lost in the mail. Such a shame. Anyway, to cheer myself up I used what I had to create these lovely nails.

I used China Glaze's Recycle and Wet 'N Wild's French White Creme. I think they came out lovely, other than air bubbles from the top coat. Anyway, my next post will be a tutorial, step by step. Just have to get some ideas!



Enjoy!

Marvelous Nails Inspired By Maleficent

Recently I purchased some nail wheels to practice designs and test colors. I also recently got my hands on the Finger Paints flakie line! When I saw Flecked, which is a bright green flakie, all I could think was Maleficent and her green fire. So I tested out a design with Finger Paints Amethyst Atelier as a base, Flecked for green ashes and a no-name brand green for flames. Here is the result:

The flames aren't the best, but I love the concept and have always been a huge fan of any and all Disney. Seeing it turn out well made me confident to try it on my nails, so last night I did! The only problem was that it was late, I went to lay down for two minutes and wouldn't you know it....sheet marks. I'll probably still keep them for a few days anyway.

I learned that I love Disney themed nails and will definitely be doing more, of all characters!

Enjoy!

Stripe It Up!

So, awhile back I tried using tape to create striped nails. And my first attempt was a disaster! Turns out I didn't let the bottom layers of polish dry long enough, which took the polish underneath off and I had to start all over. After what seemed like twenty four hours, I finally got it right! Although it looks a little chunky...

I can't begin to tell you how deeply in love I was with those neon colors. I felt like Toucan Sam and full of happiness, which was enough for me! Once the colors started to chip, I decided to try stripes in monochrome. And they turned out fantastic!

Still need to work on getting them to look not so chunky. But I think they turned out pretty good looking.


Enjoy!

Tut-tut It Looks Like Rain!

These are nails I did awhile back that I just had to share. I had just watched the new Winnie The Pooh movie because who doesn't love Winnie The Pooh. And it reminded me of "I'm just a little black rain cloud", which inspired me to do these.

                                                                  (Excuse the blur.)

I had just found out about using paper cutting craft scissors with tape for designs. The scissors with different design ridged edges. So I took Sally Hansen's Blue Me Away as a base, then used tape for the clouds which was Nubar's Stronghold. For the rain I decided to take some loose tinsel glitter, just used a skewer to place them around my nails.


I loved this design so much, I tried to wear it for two weeks! But it didn't last long. Although I had a thought that China Glaze's Secret Peri-wink-le would make for a better gloomy sky. Or even making the cloud white and putting a rainbow instead of rain! Would be so cute!


Enjoy!

Starting The Year Off With Glitter!

I know this post is a little late, but I had a great New Years and decided to come back and share my New Years manicure. I recently was lucky enough to get taken on a polish spree with my mom and came home with around twenty new bottles. (Lucky me!)

 As soon as I got back, I tried out my new stash with Ulta's Smoke Screen and Essie's Luxeffects Set In Stones.

This was my first ever chunky glitter and I've fallen in love. I love the Essie Luxeffects because it took just one coat to get all this shine and glitter, which is really great coverage! 

I also was lucky enough to get some color wheels to practice on, I might share some of my wheel in the next post!

Enjoy!