Extreme Claw!!!

You've already seen my first edition of claw nails this season. I loved them for their creativeness and practicality, but I knew I wanted to do something a bit outrageous for my second rendition. When I thought "claw," nothing said it like nail extensions.  I spent the last week researching how to apply acrylic nails at home and decided to give it a go. A trend in the nail world is stiletto nails, that is what these are!  Working with acrylic was tricky, and the whole process got harder the more nails I had finished on my fingers.  I persevered.  I'll say, for my first attempt, I did a pretty good job!  (Though, I probably will never do it again. My house stunk something fierce!).   Unlike my original claw nails, these nails are completely impractical!  In fact, I had to use Dragon Dictation in order to help me write this blog post.  Either way, as I loved my first claws, I love these as well.  They went great with my costume.  Good thing they will be coming off after they rock today for Halloween.  Have a great day!

 Claw with the paw:

I used to No Lift Nails Pro Kit for the acrylic system with Terrific Tips Classic Oval Nail Tips for nail extension tips.  I filed the tips into points before applying them. Once the manicure was cured and filed to exactness, they were ready to be painted.  I used three coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather and on top use LA Splash Cosmetic Glitter Splash in Rockstar from their Halloween 2011 collection.  Seche Vite sealed the entire look.

Halloween Double Water Marble

I knew I wanted to do a water marble with Halloween colors. I also had bought glow-in-the-dark polish. I thought it would be cool to do a double marble with glow-in-the-dark polish for the top layer, but when I went to try and marble with the glow-in-the-dark polish, it did not work at all to marble with.  However, I didn't want to give up, but it's evident by the pictures from the pictures, I should have given up with the polish.  So, this is barely a glow-in-the-dark miniature, however I like double marble look anyway and the end result turned out pretty nice.

Right Hand:

 Left Hand:

No Glow....

For the base color, I painted two coats China Glaze White On White. The base marble used China Glaze White On White and China Glaze Liquid Leather. The top marble used China Glaze Papaya Punch, China Glaze Liquid Leather and Piggy Polish Nocture-nail. The entire manicure was coated with one coat Seche Vite.

Jack O Lantern

I had this idea for a while. It's probably a spin off of my ghosts from last year. I think they turned out pretty well. Plus, at least these ones won't get eaten by squirrels or smashed on the sidewalk.

Left Hand:

Left Thumb:

Right Hand

Right Thumb:

I painted three coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather.  For the faces I painted a base of China Glaze Passion and then added China Glaze Free Love and Sun Worshiper. I coated the entire manicure with two coats of Seche Vite.

The Claw!!!

This year for Halloween, I am dressing up as a raccoon.  I had my first Halloween party tonight and this is my first showing of companion nails for the costume (I'll have one more party next Saturday and have different nail plans for that party as well). This turned out great! So fun to hold out my hands and show off my claws.

I painted three coats of Zoya Skye and then hand painted the claws with China Glaze Liquid Leather. I finished the manicure with one coat of Seche Vite.

Pumpkinesque

I wasn't going for a literal pumpkin, but these colors and this design concept is "pumpkinesque" to me. Orange and green speak Halloween manicure to me, so here you go!

I painted three coats of China Glaze Breakin' leaving space by the cuticle. I added Dots Nail Glitter Flakes in orange from Esther's Nail Center and filled in the gaps with LA Splash Cosmetics in Immature. At the cuticle, I painted two coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather. Over the entire manicure I painted one coat of Seche Vite.

Glowing Cat Eyes

really wanted to do cat eyes this year and was so happy I had purchased my Layla Magneffects, because they made the perfect, real-life looking eyes! Enjoy, just beware of the black cat that crosses your path!

Sun:


Flash:



Sun:

I painted three coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather I used a coat of Essie Matte About You to matte the look. Once completely dry, I taped off the top lid of the eye and painted one coat (and then magnetized) both Layla Magneffects in Blue Grey Flow 03 and Golden Bronze 09. Around the outside of the blue eye I painted a rim of Zoya Jo and around the rim of the golden eye I painted a rim that was a mix of equal parts OPI Golden Rules and China Glaze Cyperspace. I added the iris with China Glaze Liquid Leather and atop the eyes I glossed them with Seche Vite

Hanging Spider

Thank goodness for Bundle Monster and Konad for making quick, fun Halloween manicures possible! I knew I wanted to do a spider this year and thought a dangling spider would be a fun concept. The photos aren't exactly true to color, but just know that it was a great neon orange: my flash pictures are more on the yellow side and my side photo isn't neon enough. Think somewhere in between!

I had to so some layering to make this color scheme possible and so I first painted two coats of China Glaze Peachy Keen for a good opaque base and then painted two coats of China Glaze Sun Worshiper on top, but still had a few spots I wasn't happy with, so an addition of one coat China Glaze White Cap brought everything together. I used Special Konad Polish in Black with Bundle Monster plate BM13 and Konad image disk m28. For the line dangling the spider, I free handed the line with Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Midnight in NY. Finally I used one coat of Seche Vite to seal the look and finish the manicure.

Halloween Sparkle

Since Halloween is just under three weeks away, I thought I had better start doing some holiday themed designs. This one is pretty tame for Halloween, but I thought it was good to start off slow.

I painted three coats of China Glaze Free Love and then added Light Purple Dots Nail Glitter Flakes from Esther's Nail Center and painted atop a coat of Sally Hansen Rockstar Pink and finished the look with one coat of Seche Vite

Magneffects

This upcoming trend of Magnetic nail polish is SOOOO COOL! I have been over crackle for a long time and hopefully this will replace it soon enough. It's so easy and the effects really are fantastic. I decided I was going to make a video because it's a process that still pictures don't do justice. Although I was originally going to do a cheap, quick tutorial, I live with a filmmaker and he wouldn't let me get away with my iPhone video. So check out this great product and finishing result (Here is a link if video imbed isn't working):

Magneffects is made in Italy, but there are online retailers that sell the products. I purchased mine from Brigette's Boutique and had a great experience. They are located in Wisconsin, which is close to me. I ordered on a Wednesday night and received my polishes via first class mail by Friday. So fast! Be warned, that the polish is $15.50, which is a on the high end for polish price points. But I'd keep in mind for nail art, it's comparable. Think about it--you need two bottles of nail polish for crackle, so $15.50 might be worth it!

Left Hand:



Right Hand:

These photos show two coats of Blue Gray Flow 03 and Golden Bronze 09 with one coat of Seche Vite for the top coat.

Thanks to Munqs for the background music for the video.

Riverbed

I had a planned this manicure thinking I would add my own created "river rocks", but they didn't turn out, so this was the resulting manicure. I liked in anyway, but the design wasn't fully realized. It happens.

I painted three coats of Zoya Cynthia and then added China Glaze Digital Dawn with Bundle Monster BM209. Seche Vite was the top coat.

Purple/Pink Sparkle

I've needed to find a way to showcase my new Ulta Nail polish, and this was the result. It was pretty and simple. The pictures don't show the multi-sized glitter flecks as well, but click on the link below for better swatches.

Flash:

Lamp:

i painted two coats of China Glaze Below Deck and then added to the tips Ulta Tink-Her-Bell with the finishing touch of one coat of Seche Vite.

Autumn Marble

Even though it marks the end of summer, Fall is really a great season. This marble was to reflect some of the great colors of fall. While I liked it on my nail--even if it was on the dark side, I hate the photos. Too much definition that you don't see with the naked eye.

I painted a base two coats of China Glaze Trendsetter. I marbled with the same and China Glaze Loft-Y Ambitions and China Glaze Midtown Magic. I used one coat of Seche Vite to finish the manicure.