In Honor

It is Memorial Day in the USA on Monday.  So in honor of those who serve and their memorial, I painted something appropriate.

I painted a base coat of China Glaze Salsa.  I striped So Easy Stripe Rite in White and Red Glitter.  I used Orly Mirror Mirror for the crosses outlined in Black.  The Star nails are painted first with China Glaze Frostbite and then starred with White.  I used two coats of Seche Vite for the finish.

Holiday!

These aren't necessarily my Memorial Day nails, but once they were painted they reminded me of a vacation.  Bright colors and Confetti!

I used a base two coats of China Glaze White On White and then painted China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy from their new Poolside collection.  I added the glitter on top (from Cina).  And then I coated Seche Vite, two coats.

Shaky Hands McGee

I was chatting with my friend, Erin.  She is great AND has the shakiest hands (and no, she doesn't have Parkinson's--or anxiety).  Her hands just shake.  She wanted to be my muse and I wanted to oblige.  I am always looking for inspiration (and Heather, I am considering what to do for memorial day--don't know yet).  In keeping with the theme, there has been no clean up on my nail bed (in picture only) in honor of channeling Shaky Hands McGee.  

I first used China Glaze Light As Air and then layered Grape Juice and finally Let's Groove on top.  I striped each color on top.  Finished with one coat Seche Vite.

Semi Formal

Neon didn't last.  So next time I will paint it over white so it has better staying power.  So that means a new manicure!  This one reminded me so much of a formal dress for prom or the like and since it is also the season for girls in prom dresses, it is totally fitting.

I painted the base coat color from Ulta in Envy.  I then added Cina nail art that resemble crushed shells and a matching purple glitter, both from this nail art pack.  I added two coats of Seche Vite on top to smooth out the texture.

Sunburst

I bought some new neon nail polish today at Ulta from China Glaze's new summer line Poolside.  After painting some friends nails, it was time for my own.

I used Sun Worshiper as a base and painted Flip Flop Fantasy for the sunburst.  I added glitter on the base of the nail and used two coats of Seche Vite for shiny goodness!

The Eyes Have It

This came to my whilst about to fall asleep last night.  My "Unzipped" didn't make it through the day.  Boo.  I wish pretty polish would last longer.  I'm pretty sure this manicure is creepy, but that is why I like it.  So watch out, cuz I'm watching you!

Base color:  Essie Chinchilly.  

Blue Eye: Mix of China Glaze Bahamian Escape, Sky High-Top, OPI Blue My Mind.

Brown Eye: Mix of China Glaze Evening Seduction, In Awe Of Amber.

Green Eye: Mix of China Glaze Four Leaf Clover, Paper Chasing

Golden Eye: China Glaze Solar Power

Newborn Eye (vampire reference/red eye): Mix of China Glaze Salsa, Sexy Silhouette.

Eye shape, lashes and pupil are So Easy Stripe Rite in Black.  And Highlight is China Glaze Millennium.  

All finished with Seche Vite to top.

Unzipped

I needed something simple, since it is so late.  I actually really like the look.  Of course, you can't tell in the picture, but it makes my manicure look almost 3D .  Plus, I think I have taken one of my best nail photos yet.

pretty pretty.

Base color is Essie's Perky Purple with So Easy Stripe Rite in Aqua or Sea Green Metallic (I can't tell based on their color chart).  I used two coats of Seche Vite.

Clutch Powers!

I went to a birthday party for my favorite 5-year-old and nephew.  His longtime obsession is Legos, and I had to do a polish for him.  It was very hard to photograph these, but I absolutely LOVE them.  I like that they actually represent Legos in the fact that you have to attach the heads to the body by putting my nails together.  Finn recognized them and it was great to show him!  Here is the photo these were inspired by--Clutch Powers and the Gang.

Clutch Powers:

Brick Masterson and Bernie von Beam:

Peg Mooring:

The base polish color is Orly Pixie Dust and over the finished manicure, I used Essie's Matte About You.  (I was kind of bummed it made the art blur a bit)

All Faces were painted with Essie Hello Yellow (as well as any other yellow that shows up in the manicure--hands etc.), Eyes were either So Easy Stripe Rite Black or Metallic Blue. And all white detail was also So Easy Stripe Rite in White

Polishes for Clutch: his coat is a mix of China Glaze Evening Seducion and In Awe of Amber.  With So Easy Stripe Rite in White and Black for his undershirt.  Pants were So Easy Stripe Rite in Metallic Blue.  

Brick: Face detail was China Glaze Millennium for his hat, Evening Seduction for the mustache, China Glaze Breakin' for his shirt with So Easy Stripe Rite Metallic Blue, Black.  China Glaze Awaken for his pants.

Bernie: Face Detail was China Glaze Breakin' for his hair and Orly Red Flare for his glasses.  His shirt was China Glaze Outta Bounds, Breakin' for his pants.

Peg: Face Detail was China Glaze Lemon Fizz for her hair, Orly Red Flare for her mouth.  Her outfit is OPI Ulta-Mate Ruby.

En Fuego

I have had my nails painted but no time to post about them!  So I'll catch you up with my sparkly rendition for the night on the town.

I painted a base coat of China Glaze Lubu Heels.   I then used clear polish and glitter (a red and then silver holographic).  I coated with two coats of Seche Vite.  

Brightening My World

I has been gray, cold, cloudy and rainy for the past few days and I'm sick of it.  So I'm taking things into my own hands and bringing brightness to me.  I really need a pick me up and what better to do that than neon.  And this time, thanks to my light box, I have a pretty accurate depiction.

I painted China Glaze White on White as a base so that Celtic Sun would look more bright.  I then used Konad plate m65 with In The Lime Light.  One coat of Seche Vite to finish.

Star Power

I wanted to try some new nail decorations I had picked up.  I love the idea, but it (as you can see) they make your nails textured due to them not laying flat.  If you can handle that, it looks pretty cool.

I painted the base color in China Glaze Light As Air.  I then added nail decorations from Cina.  Topped with two coats of Seche Vite in order to attempt to cut down on the texture.  And that's what I got.

Happy Mother's Day

In honor of my favorite mother I added to my prom nails just for her.

(The addition is China Glaze Millennium)

Prom 2010

I am way over high school (in age, that is) but tomorrow I am going to prom.  I will be attending an all ages, special needs prom as an escort to some fun girls who are attending.  So, of course, I had to do my nails accordingly.  I'm rocking an updated 80's theme with a vintage dress and shoes and I matched my nails to suit.  I am so excited about how they turned out (hence the crazy amount of pictures), but more excited about PROM!!!

The inspiration:

Left Hand:

Right Hand:

Camouflage:

Extreme Close Up:

I first painted my nails with China Glaze Frostbite.  Then I sponged the following colors on top: China Glaze Liquid Leather, Heli-Yum, L8R G8R, Turned Up Turquoise and Essie Perky Purple.  I added dimension by adding glitter.  I used two coats of Seche Vite to finish it off!

Steam Crunk

I was commissioned (again, by Kari--well mostly cuz I asked) to do steam punk.  But it was kind of a hard concept for me on the nails--hence the "crunk".  I wasn't sure if it was quite "punk", so in case it's crunked up, then I was right not to give it an official steam-punk label.  But purple nail polish rules!  Too bad it seems to be the color that chips on me the fastest.  But then again, chipped polish is definitely punk...

I used a base coat purple of China Glaze Grape Pop, I then added a layer on top of Flying Dragon (Which has an awesome, subtle sparkle I hope you can see in the close up).  I used Konad plate s6 with the color Awaken and applied gemstones to each nail.  I coated twice with Seche Vite.

Featherd and Fabulous

Kari requested feathers and, although she maybe told me to go more edgy than pretty, I LOVE this look.  Thanks for the idea (I always welcome input from anyone....I'm always looking for new ideas for manicures)!


Extreme Close Up (Thumb):

Close Up (Pinky):

I first painted about half of my nail with China Glaze In Awe Of Amber.  I then added So Easy Stripe Rite in Black for the feathers.  I painted over the black with China Glaze Sexy In The City and Coconut Kiss for the purple and blue iridescent look of feathers.  I also added OPI Goldilocks Rocks towards the edge to make a more gradient gold look.  I painted over everything with China Glaze Golden Enchantment for the light sparkle.  I added sparse glitter to the end and then topped it all with a coat of Seche Vite.

May Day (A Day Late)

I did these nails for May Day and I was sporting them yesterday for the occasion, but haven't had the time to get them posted.  So happy May!  Flowers, start to bloom!

I used as a base color, China Glaze Heli-Yum.  I then striped and topped the flower stems with So Easy Stripe Rite in Aqua Metallic, Ivory Metallic, Purple Metallic, Hot Blue, Blue Glitter, Orange Glitter, Red Glitter.  I topped some flowers with gems and coated with Seche Vite on top.

Finicky Flowers

Here is my mood polishes with an addition of a Konad design.

A more clear shot of the varying color change:

I added Essie Hello Yello with Konad Plate m60 with one coat of Seche Vite.

Moody

This post is for a current fad of mood changing nail polishes.  I had seen these polishes on other sites and wanted to try them for myself and was fortuitously at the mall and stopped in at Claire's to pick a few bottles up to try them out.  They actually work pretty awesomely (even with base and top coat).  These are the two colors I picked out side-by-side on my nails.

This is a depiction of how the colors come out from the bottle:

This is the start of the "mood changing" effect changing from purple to pink and grey/green to yellow:

The colors are found at Claire's and I bought Calm/Wild and Daring/Innocent.  Unfortunately there isn't a page on their website, but you can find more out about their other products and trends here.

Balloons!!!!

I have a computer again (YAY!!!!) and have to catch you up on the nails I've been sporting for the last week.  With this manicure, I knew that I wanted to use brights/neons and was thinking more along the lines of bubbles, but when the manicure started coming together, it was pretty clear that they ended up as balloons.  I actually didn't really like this look until I added the black and it still wasn't one of my favorites, but it ended up getting so many compliments and people talking about them.  It always amuses me when people notice them--like at the drive thru, when I'm shopping, coworkers etc.  




The colors I used: Essie Hello Yellow, Perky Purple.  China Glaze In The Lime Light, Sexy In The City.  Orly Passion Fruit.  So Easy Stripe Rite Black and White.  Coated twice with Seche Vite top coat.