GARDEN PARTY

Yet another manicure for my boyfriends mom! She loves flowers and hummingbirds so she got a full blown garden mani! this is one of the craziest and most intense manicures i have ever attempted and  it took about 6 hours... she is the most patient person i have ever met! lol

The base color is O.P.I.- bubble bath

The design was made using a mixture of acrylic paint, gouache paint and nail polish and loose glitter

Sinful colors - pearl harbor was used over the design to add even more sparkle

seche vite as always to top off and seal the many many layers

Folk'n' Fall

Folk art inspired halloween + fall nails!
Ombre V, Stripes, small hexagonal glitter, and jewel cabochons

what i used:
O.P.I. - palm springs delight + Love & Beauty - orange for the ombre base
Kiss (striper) - neon orange +  Kiss (striper) - bronze for the "V"
Sinful Color (striper) - bad chick + Kiss (striper) - black
Orange metallic hexagonal glitter + red and black jewel cabochons.

purple panel ikat

purple nails ready for spring!

What I used:
O.P.I. - natural nail strengthener
O.P.I. - natural nail base coat
Love & Beauty - lavender
Love & Beauty - sheer purple glitter
Nail Star - white striper (108)
Nail Star  - wine striper
Nail Star  - black striper (109)
Kiss - soft purple striper
Kiss - bikini pink striper
10 PNL - perfectly clear (401)






and of course my nail design wouldn't feel complete without embellishments!
so i added small soft purple rhinestones at the top and base of my nail design and soft purple nail art beads in a random pattern on my thumb and ring finger for statement nails!

anti-vday

nails for a (hypothetical) broken heart

Love & Beauty - lime, O.P.I. - who the shrek are you?, Layla Magneffect - velvet groove, Ruby Kisses - french white, Revlon - gold coin (#925),  pink and magenta nail art beads and purple rhinestone cabochons. Topped off with Seche Vite -  fast dry top coat.

eye ♥ U

Valentines day nail medley featuring  bleeding hearts, eye <3 U and pink roses.

I used Sally Hansen - shell we dance?, NYX - NP 21 flash, Sally Hansen - pink promise (#06), Anise - a bud for you, Butter London - rosie lee, American Apparel - coney island, O.P.I. - ogre-the-top blue, Revlon - revlon red (#680), Nail Star - white, Nail Star - yellow, Nail Star - red and black gouache.
For decoration I used iridescent pink bar glitter and rhinestone cabochons. Finally I sealed the design with Seche VITE - fast dry top coat.

Robert Cavalli inspired nails

 Got more baggage... inspired by Roberto Cavalli bag from the spring 2012 collection

base color 3 coats O.P.I. - kyoto pearl, Nail Star - black for the stripes and flower outline.

Nail Star - white for the base color of the flowers, and Love & Beauty - royal, L.A. girl F.L.A.R.E. and Love & Beauty - lavender. I finished the design off with Seche Vite - dry fast top coat.

Jimmy Choo inspired nails

inspired by Jimmy Choo spring 2012 cuff+clutch, on my newly trimmed nails (semi- sad :(...) now if i only owned the bag to match...

The base color is Ruby Kisses - french white 3 coats, and the black spots and lines were done using Nail Star - black. Next the line was done using Kiss - red wine striper, and gold nail art beads. 

The top of the design was done using Sinful Colors - cloud 9, 2 coats, and O.P.I. - hong kong sunrise, with 1 coat of Revlon - pink chiffon (#911) on top to create a peachy pink. I finally topped off the design with a silver rhinestone at the top of the "V" to add some bling, and topped off the design O.P.I. - top coat. 

pink + purple ombre layered!

As i said i'm really into the layered look lately...

First the ombre: I applied two coats of American Apparel - coney island which is an awesome opaque baby pink. I then applied one layer of Sally Hansen Diamond Strength - pink promise (#06) which is a tinted baby pink sheer micro glitter, and looks awesome over pinks and other warm colors.  Next i used Love & Beauty - lavendar, Kiss - soft purple striper and O.P.I. - funky dunky to finish the pink to purple ombre.

The layered design was created using Kiss - red wine (striper)  for the outline. I then filled in random sections of the design using Nail Star -  metallic opaque silver, and Kiss - gold glitter striper.
Seche VITE - fast drying top coat .... end.

pink ombre polka dots

Hey guys,

I apologize for being so absent lately, however something so sweet just happened....So i just received a sort of care package jammed in my mailbox from a friend, she gave me 14 nail polishes that she didn't want! So amazing! they've all only been used once or twice too! (thanx Amara! :) )
One of the colors I received was the awesome barbie pink, although i don't wear pink a lot, it is my FAVORITE kind of pink, and i am constantly looking for the perfect barbie pink. Anyways So i decided that I would make an ombre using a second barbie pink! (amazing) and a darker O.P.I. magenta for the tip! This is only my second or third time doing an ombre, an i almost wish it was a more drastic color fade, NEXT TIME.

For the base color I used NYX - flash, 3-4 coats, its a dusty pink creme, that looks super plastic-like on, (i mean that in a good way, of course.) Next using a makeup sponge I added Anise - a bud for you, pink creme, also super fake looking, and really bright. I love this color! Last for the darkest part of the color fade, on the tip, i used O.P.I. - jewel of india, magenta jelly, with a really nice luster.

With the dotting tools my sister got me for christmas, I made my polka dots using Nail Star - white! 

I guess i was feeling girly today?!

thanx for stopping by.

funky foil

super simple manicure, i just wanted something that was sparkly, but i didn't want to just overlap another polish, so i used purple foil.
I recently picked a 12 pack of Martha Stewart Glitter 12 color "vintage Leaf" pack, and like all Stewart products, it looked like candy!
The obvious problem with using a material not intended for nails is that there are complications. For This manicure the problem was that the foil, which has the consistency of irregular confetti did not want to stay flat on my nails, so in order to make this manicure not have a sharp surface i had to apply a ridiculous amount of top coat! Overall i think this manicure is better appreciated at a distance because it really picks up the light, and the purples are so pretty together. However up close you can see the individual pieces of foil and it looks sort of messy.

For the bases i used O.P.I. - funky dunky and the color foil, as i said was from the Martha Stewart "vintage foil" set, is named chariote. I then use 4-6 coats of Seche Vite - quick dry top coat.


I think next time i'll use the foil more sparingly, because removing this was extremely difficult.

Swatch! O.P.I. - bling dynasty!

sorry i haven't posted in a while, i've been trying to give my nails and nose a little break!

Here is my 2nd (EVER) swatch... O.P.I. - bling dynasty. Yes this is the color i used for one of my New Years manicures and sadly.. bling just ain't bling without all those diamonds! 

At first i was actually really put off by the color, i thought it was kind of ugly with my skin tone. However since blinging it out i've come to appreciate it more.

It's a sort of orange-brown/gold more than anything, especially in indirect or dim lighting as you can see in the 2nd picture.

To get this gilded nail i applied about 3-4 coats maybe 5? and then applied 1 coat of Seche Vite - quick dry top coat.

i'm curious to know which gold other people like most? i personally think i would rather a gold that is more on the metallic side and brighter, but as i said this has also grown on me.

thanx for stopping by.

BLING BLAO!

I LOVE BEDAZZLING!

These are my NEW YEARS EVE NAIL$$$! I wanted to bling out my nails, one, because of it being a night of celebration and two, because i'll either be wearing a LBD or something sequined... decisions, decisions. :) Just like I find it difficult to NOT have crazy embellished and busy nails, I also prefer to have two different (or similar in theme, but not in image or design) designs on either hand. The left hand is more simple, it uses more stones, and was inspired by new age, ICY bling. While my right hand has a more antiquated feel, both in color and the mass amount of nail art beads creating a filigree effect.
Even though i have my BFA in jewelry and metalsmithing I really don't wear a lot of jewelry... So i typically leave it to my nails to bring in that flash... and this manicure delivers!

On my left hand (gold) I used O.P.I. - bling dynasty, 3 coats, and on the right hand I used Love & Beauty - coral, 2-3 coats,with a ring around the nails edge using Kiss - gold glitter striper. I then embellished with gold nail art beads which created filigree and "settings" for my white rhinestone cabochons. I then used 2-3 really thick layers of Seche VITE - fast dry top coat because I'll be busy all day tomorrow with my NYE so I had to do my nails the night before and its important that my nails last the night!

I hope you all have a fantastic NEW YEARS EVE and DAY!!!

Swatch! O.P.I. - funky dunky!

This is my very first swatch! I always have a really hard time being satisfied with solid colored nails, especially with my embellishment addiction :) However I am working to properly catalogue all my polishes since it seems to me amassing quite rapidly!

Starting NOW you will be able to view swatches of my nail polish by clicking on the polish title on my swatch page! i.e. scroll to the PURPLE section and then click O.P.I. - funky dunky which will redirect you to this post! Now as i said this is my very first swatch so it stands alone in the list, but SOON i will have more!

O.P.I. - funky dunky is from the Shrek Forever After collection! It is a beautiful purple that is very appropriate for the "toon" theme, because it looks so playful and... well, cartoon-like. After the first coat it appears sort of sheer, but as it dries and spreads it become more opaque. This manicure was done with 2-3 applications topped with Seche Vite - fast dry top coat to seal that beautiful O.P.I. shine in! (I used the usual O.P.I. bases, as always.)

This is my first time using this polish because my sister just got it for me as christmas polish haul, and i have to say, thank you! and I love it!

Heart

I love the V-GAP  whether it cuts down the center or it creates the sweet heart shape, I think it is so sexy!
the negative space created by the cleavage shape is appealing on the nails , i think mainly do to its suggestive directionality. It really elongates your nails, and well like most things that have that same shape... like... toes... in sexy pumps, it draws you in and creates a contrasting soft but fierce shape.
I added embellishments around the crown of the "V" to accentuate that shape.

After O.P.I. - natural nail strengthener, and O.P.I. -natural base coat (1 coat each) I then applied three coats of Sally Hansen - shell we dance (#160). After those completely dried I used O.P.I. - deer valley spice, for the first time, 2-3 coats, which is a really pretty pinkish red that is really luminous. 

Depending on the light the polish appears more pink or red.

I then added small hexagonal glitters about 6 -10 depending on the finger and at the tip of the gold glitter "V" I added a small gold rhinestone cabochon. I then sealed the design with Seche Vite - dry fast top coat.

I'm really happy with the design and I think its really elegant but still playful so i'll probably be using this heart shaped cleavage design for NYE!

mommicure II

My mom was so excited about the last manicure I gave her, that she had asked me to do another!
Her outfit was black with silver and gray accents, so i wanted them to match! Again, she was so proud, and it was so cute! Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday!

I realized i never include this part, but I ALWAYS use O.P.I.- natural nail strengthener, and O.P.I. - natural base coat before doing any manicure.

For this manicure I used 2 coats of O.P.I. - lucern - tainly look marvelous.
Then I created a pattern that went around the base of each nail and moved towards the top, on her pinky, middle and thumb, with small hexagonal glitter in black and silver. Once I did the first nail it went so quick, but it was incredibly time consuming, placing the glitters one by one.
I then secured it with Seche VITE - quick dry top coat.

24 days of XMAS Challenge : Day 24

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Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Holidays! For my final day of the 24 day nail challenge, the theme was to recreate your favorite nail design. Now, I decided that Jack Skellington was very appropriate for the theme, it being the night before christmas and all, and I wasn't ready to part with dear old Jack, so instead of doing a new set of nails I added on and did ZERO his dog! His colors work with both Jack and the holiday color palette, only more white is involved... he's a ghost. For those of you who aren't familiar with this movie... go watch it NOW!...but basically this is how it goes:


Jack is tired of being the Pumpkin King and stumbles across Christmas Town. He decides that he will relieve SANDY CLAWS and remake Christmas, only the monsters of halloween town don't understand what Christmas is all about, and so he gives them what they want... a terrifying holiday. His friend Sally thinks he is making a mistake, and in her attempt to stop him she creates fog so that he can not see, and will hopefully give up. (sound familiar... Rudolph?) However Jack's ghost dog Zero has a glowing red nose and stands in as the lead reindeer lighting the way to what becomes a twisted christmas and Jack's, almost, ruin. Jack's "presents" create a frenzy causing him to be shot out of the sky, leading him to his realization of what he has done. Trying to redeem himself and save the holiday, Jack rescues Santa from the Boogeyman just in time to save christmas. THE END
This is one of my all time FAVORITE movies... obviously :)
Now that you have the background, here are my nails! enjoy!

To see more of the Jack Skellington nails click HERE

Just like the JACK SKELLINGTON nails i did for day 23 of the challenge, I used Sally Hansen - shell we dance? (#160) 3 coats, Sinful colors - out of this world (#842), 1 coat, for the base.
I then used Nail Star - red for the collar, O.P.I. - designer de better for shading and black and white acrylic paint. I then added a red rhinestone cabochon for Zero's nose and topped it off with seche VITE - quick dry top coat.




be sure to check out these ladies to see their holiday best!

❅ nails and stuff ❃ obsessed with glitter ❇ paint that nail ❄ red hair and black nail polish ✺ Ruby's Nails ❅ finger painted ❃ My Polish Stash ❉ Me, Myself and Nail Polish ❇  KK Nails ✺ Life with Salpi ❅

Thanx for tuning in, and i hope everyone had a great holiday!

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24 days of XMAS Challenge : Day 22

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Better late than never... Here are my day 22 of the 24 days of xmas challenge nails, with the theme ELVES or ELF. I wanted create a nail design that could work with this theme without having to do a portrait or a specific object of or relating to elves, although no looking back on it, if i were to redo this design I'd probably do something relating to a toy shop. However I've been making presents all day and therefore I have little energy left for intense nails right now. The part of the elf i drew inspiration from was ELF TIGHTS (or socks, stockings w.e) What is always used in depicting christmas elves, other than pointy ears , being small in height (with the exception of Will Ferrel) and hats are their brightly colored stockings! Some are solid in color, but most are striped and range in mixes of yellow, green, white and red. 

To make it a little more fun I used a nail polish base and striped with rhinestone cabochons, creating a OMBRE-STONE effect from one nail to the next to try and make the colors work together!

 They go as such, from thumb nail to pinky nail.

yellow + red - red +white - red + green - green + white - green + yellow.

Again, starting with the thumb I used Urban Outfitters - orange 3 (its more of a golden yellow than orange) about 3-4 coats, then used red rhinestone cabochons. Next nail I used Ruby Kisses - french White, also 3-4 coats, and then used both red and white rhinestone cabochons to break up the design a little. The middle finger has a Chanel - nirvana, 2 coats (gorgeous color with a light gold luster) and used red and green rhinestone cabochons to ease transition into the next nail. The ring finger uses the same Ruby Kisses - french white, 3-4 coats as a base, and like the index, has white cabochons alternating in, but with green. Finally On the pinky I used the same orange 3, 3-4 coats, and only incorporated green rhinestones for the stripes. 

This time I used O.P.I. - top coat instead of my usual Seche VITE.

Unfortunately I broke my pinky nail yesterday so the nail looks disproportional to the others. 

WE ARE ALMOST DONE!!! Tomorrow (today) is the last themed nail before a manicure of choice!

Suitably it is SANTA themed nails!

To see more of ELF themed nails check out these ladies blogs:

❅ nails and stuff ❃ obsessed with glitter ❇ paint that nail ❄ red hair and black nail polish ✺ Ruby's Nails ❅ finger painted ❃ My Polish Stash ❉ Me, Myself and Nail Polish ❇  KK Nails ✺ Life with Salpi ❅

Thanx for stopping by :)

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24 days of XMAS Challenge : Day 19

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Another "nouveau" french design mixed with the 1/2 moon, for day 19 of the 24 day challenge! The theme for today was SANTA HATS, and there were 3 elements i wanted to include fur trim, ball tassel and bells (but in this case, gold nail art beads)

The base coat was done using O.P.I. - i'm not really a waitress, 2 coats
The 1/2 moon and french tip were done with 2 coats of O.P.I. - kyoto pearl, next i put the glitter down over the white parts, but because the red is so powerful and the kyoto is so sheer the snow has a pink tint. The glitter I used is a iridescent white micro glitter which catches the light adding specks of greens and pinks. Next I created a window pattern on the red with gold beads for the "bells," finally a heavy coat of Seche VITE - quick dry top coat


Tomorrow is SLEIGH/SLED themed!

To see more SANTA HATS check out these ladies blogs:

❅ nails and stuff ❃ obsessed with glitter ❉ Polish, Oh My! ❇ paint that nail ❄ red hair and black nail polish ✺ Ruby's Nails ❅ finger painted ❃ My Polish Stash ❉ Me, Myself and Nail Polish ❇  KK Nails ❄ My Wet Nails ✺ Life with Salpi ❅ The only way is Nails! ❃

Thanx for stopping by :)

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mommicure

Did my moms nails for an xmas party! she never EVER gets designs... and she generally only wears reds and pinks so this was exciting for the both of us.

I used O.P.I. - designer...de better, 2 coats for the base, and then adhered the red and green rhinestone cabochons using 10 Professional Nail Lacquer - perfectly clear (#401), finally a coat of seche VITE - quick dry top coat!
She was so excited, it was awesome! :)

24 days of XMAS Challenge : Day 18

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Here are my STOCKING themed nails, day 18 or the 24 day XMAS CHALLENGE! (WOAH!)
The thing i love most about christmas stockings ( other than their contents!!) is the different fabrics and patterns they are made of. I focused on the funky mix of different flannel fabrics that are commonly seen on homemade stockings. 

Starting with the thumb i used O.P.I. - jade is the new black as the base color, then created a plaid pattern using Nail Star - medium metallic green  and Nail Star - white (#108).   I then wanted to include a 3D element without having to use something 3D, so I painted on a button using Love & Beauty - gold,  Nail Star - white (#108) for the highlight and Nail Star - black (#109) for the shadow and center.


The red nail was done using Chanel - laque rouge base 2 coats with Kiss - gold striper swirls.
The middle finger has a base coat of Ruby Kisses - french white, 3 coats, Nail Star - red  stripes, Nail Star - medium metallic green dots. The Ring finger was also done with 3 coats of Ruby Kisses - french white, the dots were done using Nail Star - black dots with Kiss - gold striper on top. Finally an outline of a heart was added using the same black.


The last nail was done using O.P.I. - jade is the new black  2 coats, with a white dot pattern done with Nail Star - white (#108)

i hope you like them :) 
Tomorrow is Santa Hats!

To see more STOCKING themed nails check out these ladies blogs:

❅ nails and stuff ❃ obsessed with glitter ❉ Polish, Oh My! ❇ paint that nail ❄ red hair and black nail polish ✺ Ruby's Nails ❅ finger painted ❃ My Polish Stash ❉ Me, Myself and Nail Polish ❇  KK Nails ❄ My Wet Nails ✺ Life with Salpi ❅ The only way is Nails! ❃

Thanx for stopping by :)

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