Glitter Chevrons!

I started out with the intent of doing a pond manicure for today. It reeeeally didn't work out. My layering polish was a little too sheer. I'll give that look a try another time. So after one failed mani, I completely switched directions and started over about 10:30 last night. I absolutely love how this turned out!

I started with 2 coats of OPI- My Boyfriend Scales Walls, then used the large chevron Vynails nail decals. I used them as guides for this look. They were super easy to use, and it went really quickly. I painted one coat of Nina- Twinkle, Twinkle over the guides, then peeled them off with tweezers while the polish was still wet.

This is something I would definitely do again! But I'll need more of those chevron stickers! And that blue glitter! Isn't is amazing?? I was surprised how opaque it was in just one coat as well! I picked this gem up on clearance at Sally's a few weeks ago.

Blue Reciprocal Gradient

I've seen the reciprocal gradient around a few times. On challenges, and a lot on Pinterest, and I've always wanted to try it myself. It was a little intimidating and looked time consuming, so I kept putting it off. The other night, the kids went to bed early, and we didn't have any shows on, so I had plenty of time to spend on my nails, so I decided to go for it! And I'm so glad I did! I love them!!

I started with a base of one coat of Milani- White on the Spot, then did my gradient with a makeup sponge and White on the Spot, Sally Hansen- Blue Away, and NYC- Water Street Blue. I topped that with HK Girl and gave it awhile to make sure it was dry. Then I cut 30 little strips of striping tape and used tweezers to place them all on my nails. I used the same colors in reverse order over the tape. I made sure to pull the strips of tape off white the polish was still wet to get clean lines. 

This was my halfway point :)

After removing all the tape, I topped it with one final coat of HK Girl and I'm absolutely loving the results!! Let me tell you though, clean up was a nightmare!! I think next time I do it, I'll tape off my nails before starting.

What do you all think? Are you going to give this look a try?!

4th of July!

A few days late, but better late than never, right?! This is what I wore on my nails for the 4th of July this year. It was also my 4th wedding anniversary! And I'm still quite fond of my sweet hubby :)

I started with 2 coats of Milani- White on the Spot. Then I used hole re-enforcers to tape off the half moons, and sponged Calvin Klein- Bombshell and Wet 'n' Wild- Denim Chrome on the rest of the nail. Then I stamped with White on the Spot and W-107 from the Winstonia set.

I really loved these! They turned out just how I imagined in my mind, and they were so festive!

New 31DC Day 31: Recreate someone else's mani

Finally, the last day of the challenge is here. I missed a couple days, but I made it to the end! I'm a little sad to not have a specific look to do each week, but I'm also relieved that I can go back to doing whatever I want. Challenges are a lot of pressure!

Anyway, for this day, I decided to recreate this look from Lisa at Polished Elegance. She did it for her favorite color day, along with a very helpful picture tutorial. I absolutely love argyle, and knew that I had to do it as soon as I saw hers.

I did 2 coats of SquareHue- Happy creme on all but my ring finger, where I did 2 coats of Sinful Colors- Snow Me White. Then I taped off the squares and painted Happy creme on the ring finger. Then I took a striping brush and Orly- Dazzle to do my lines. Topped it all with one coat of HK Girl.

I really love this look and want to do it again sometime, my right hand didn't look nearly as good as my left, I'm not too good with the striper yet. I hope I did this justice!

New 31DC Day 22: Inspired by a fabric

I used my daughter's blanket as inspiration for this mani! It's pink on one side, and zebra print on the other side, It's in the background of the second picture here.

I started with 2 coats of Milani- White on the Spot. Then stamped the zebra print with BM-223 and Konad- Special Black. I added one coat of HK Girl to make sure that was very dry before the next step. I taped off a section and painted 2 coats of NYC- Love Me Red Creme. Once that was dry, I used LA Colors- Silver Glitter striper along the lines. It could have done without the glitter I think...

Overall, I really liked this, and it matches her blanket really well! And her bedroom...and half of her wardrobe...let's just say I'm a big fan of pink and zebra :)

Easter chicks

Originally, I had planned on doing a stamped mani for Easter. I have some plates with cute bunnies, eggs, and all that. Then I saw this look over at Did My Nails. It was so cute I decided I had to try it!

I started with 2 coats of Sally Hansen- Melly Yellow, then added one coat of Out the Door to speed up dry time. In the tutorial, she just uses a striping brush to do her egg shells. I wasn't confidant in my ability to freehand it so nicely, so I chose to tape off the triangle sections and filled it in with Milani- White on the Spot. I added the eyes with LA Colors- Circuits and White on the Spot. Then the beaks and feet with Petites- Passion Orange. One coat of Out the Door to smear everything :( and I was done!

I ordered a bottle of HK Girl and can't wait for it to arrive so I can try it out! I'm hating how Out the Door is smearing everything on me lately.

New 31 DC Day 12: Tape Mani

Today's theme is tape mani. I have lots of craft scissors, and had all kinds of ideas for this one...but then I put off doing it until about 11:30 last night. So let's be honest, I kinda half-assed it. But, it was my first time using striping tape! So that was fun. I have lots of other things I want to try with the striping tape, I've just been nervous to try it. I think it turned out pretty good for my first time! I didn't stick it down quite good enough on my pinky, oh well.

I started with 2 coats of Orly-Dazzle. I really like this silver, it doesn't stamp well though. Still searching for a good silver stamper. I taped off my lines and added one kind of thickish coat of Salon Perfect- Pure Azure. Topped with one coat of Out the Door.

I'm going to try something hopefully more exciting with the striping tape in the near future.

Adventures in Stamping

I want to post more, but this last week both of my girls were sick, then generously shared their cold with me. So it's been a rough week. 

Anyway...the challenge for this week in the Adventures in Stamping group was tape and stamping.

I had a really hard time coming up with an idea for this one. I have some striping tape that I haven't used yet, but couldn't think of a way to use it. I went through so many different ideas before ending up with this design. I LOVE it! It took me forever to land with this, I kept messing up nails, changing my design, it was frustrating, but the end result is beautiful.

I started with 2 coats of Sinful Colors- Easy Going, then did one coat of Sinful Colors- Glass Pink for a little shimmer. It was at this point that I decided to actually use tape. So I put a piece of scotch tape down the center and painted Orly-Miss Conduct on half of the nail. Then stamped with Konad Special White and BM-321. Topped with one coat of Out the Door.

I think it's amazing. But I may be biased :)

I think this would be really pretty in the sun, but it's currently snowing here in Idaho, so I probably won't get a chance to see it in the sun this time :(

Glitter triangles

I wanted to do something quick and simple. I started with 3 coats of LA Colors- Energy Source. Then one coat of NYC. After that dried, I used Scotch tape to tape off my triangles. Then did 2 coats of LA Colors- Treasure Island. I made sure to peel the tape off carefully before the polish dried. then did 2 coats of NYC. I love how they turned out, except I realize now with a couple dots, they could be Christmas trees! I'll have to remember that for next month!

Day 4: Green nails

I got this green at the Dollar Tree! The color was alright, but it was really sheer. So for this look, I layered it over white, then taped off my line and added some silver chrome polish. Not my favorite look, but it satisfied the challenge.