Let The Games Begin

Well, It's finally here.  The Hunger Games movie premier and the final installment of my Hunger Games manicure series.  The thought process and preparation for this manicure was actually thought of weeks ago and inspired my recent series in the first place.  I thought the perfect way to encapsulate the Hunger Games was with the perils and action of the actual games themselves (cuts, burns, scrapes, trackerjacker stings), along with a few key signatures themes of the books themselves.  Of course, I had to try to attempt to paint a Mockingjay.  I'm definitely no real artist and have sort of self-taught myself painting designs, but I think it turned out as good as I hoped (although I might get some better pictures up, I'm not sure about these...).  Enjoy the movie and Happy Hunger Games!

Manicure details:
My Wounded Flesh nails were done with a base of Zoya Skye, three coats.
My Mockingjay & Flaming Arrow nails had a base of China Glaze Smoke And Ashes, three coats.
My Smoke Diversion nails were a base of OPI I Have A Herring Problem, three coats.
Seche Vite was my top coat.

Wounded Flesh Extras:
Blood, Cuts and Burns: China Glaze Crimson, China Glaze Brownstone, China Glaze Foxy, Zoya Skye, Zoya Tamsen, Orly Au Champagne, China Glaze Smoke And Ashes
Tracker Jacker Stings: A base coat of Zoya Skye with a gemstone covered in another two layers of Skye.   I also used the colors Zoya Tamsen, Orly Au Champagne for shading.  

Puss: China Glaze Peace On Earth, China Glaze In The Limelight

Mockingjay & Flaming Arrow Extras:
Mockingjay: Using China Glaze Passion with the Bundle Monster plate BM07's peace symbol circle as a base.  Passion was also the base for the hand painted Mockingjay with China Glaze Riveting on top.
Flames for  China Glaze Sun Worshipper, China Glaze Foxy, China Glaze Liquid Leather, OPI A Roll In The Hague, China Glaze Riveting, China Glaze Go Crazy Red, Zoya Tamsen, China Glaze Passion is the arrow color.

Smoke Diversion Extras:
Smoke: OPI I Have A Herring Problem, China Glaze Electric Beat, Zoya Tao, Zoya Dove, China Glaze White On White, China Glaze Platinum Silver. 
Fire: Zoya Tamsen, OPI A Roll In The Hague, China Glaze Sun Worshiper.  

Smoke and Ashes

This Hunger Games manicure inspiration is based solely on the name from the China Glaze Capitol Collection line.  It's Katniss' district, coal: the smoke and ashes from district 12.

I painted three coats of China Glaze Smoke and Ashes.  I used China Glaze OMG, Orly Twilight, and clear polish for the marble.  Seche Vite was my top coat.

And May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor

For the second installment in my Hunger Game manicure series, I planned this idea for my HG twist on St. Patrick's Day, but unfortunately things weren't going in my favor.  I originally was going to do a newspaper manicure with names in print, but my newspapers weren't cooperating in transferring dark enough.  Then I tried to use computer printed out names and that wasn't successful either.  Then, it hit me: Water decals!  The result was better than I originally planned even if a day late.  I guess the odds were in my favor after all!

I painted three coats of China Glaze Fast Track.  I printed, using a Hunger Games font--some names from the book, some made up and obviously some repeated to keep with the reaping theme.  I used two coats of Seche Vite just to make sure my decals adhered.

A Capitol Color

I purchased half of the districts from China Glaze's Capitol Colors Collection and have decided that the next week leading up to the premiere of the Hunger Games, I will showcase those colors for your viewing pleasure in my manicures.  I'm starting with one of my absolute favorite colors from the collection.  Probably one of my favorite colors in my entire polish collection--surely for an orange.  Just awesome.

I painted three coats of China Glaze Riveting and added Konad Special Stamping polishes in Violet and Yellow with Bundle Monster plate BM201.  I used Seche Vite for a top coat.

China Glaze Magnetix

I'm combining my two magnetized manicures for sake of time.  And because I have pretty much the same thing to say.  Here is my review of magnetic nail polish in general and my limited review of China Glaze Magnetix Collection.
1) I definitely like the magnetic craze.  I think it's a fun, interesting idea for polish and nail art.
2) Magnetic nail polish is persnickety.  It's definitely not something that I found to be quick and easy.  Depending on your magnet size, nail curve, nail length, strength of magnet etc., it can totally affect your look.  Some nails I retried over four times to get the look I wanted.  I still wasn't always satisfied.
3) I normally am a HUGE fan of China Glaze.  It is my number one polish.  Love.  But as far as wearability and usability, I was not very happy with my results.  The magnet was weak and I had lots of trouble with magnet application.  My polish chipped really fast--some less than 24 hours (unlike my Layla Magneffects, which is some of the longest wearing polish I have ever owned).  What I did like better than Layla was the closeness of the diagonal stripes of China Glaze's magnet.

Both colors were at least two coats (sometimes three depending on if the magnet worked to my liking) and had a top coat of Seche Vite. 

Instant Chemistry with the star burst magnet:

 Attraction with the diagonal stripes:

Orange You Glad?

It's spring!  Fell in love with this color and was so happy with it on the nail, I didn't want to have it share the spotlight with an over-involved nail design.  So one nail with a bit of sparkle, and it was done.  So pretty.  So bright.  So happy.

I painted three coats of OPI A Roll In The Hague.  On my pointer I added a coat of Essie's Shine Of The Times and added a few larger orange, glitter flakes I bought from Esther's Nail Center.  I used Seche Vite as my top coat.

Pink! Purple!

....were the words my pretty, lovely, three-year-old niece gave as color suggestions for this manicure.  I love that it looks like girly, birds eggs.  She approved.

I painted three coats of China Glaze Dance Baby and used Bundle Monster plate BM211 with China Glaze Gothic Lolita.  Seche Vite was my top coat.

Strongbows

The name for this manicure was cleverly thought of by a friend while out at a bar.  Strongbow is my cider of choice and I love it.  As I did this manicure.  So the name was perfect.

I painted three coats of Zoya Skye and added with Konad Special Stamping Polish in White with Bundle Monster plate BM209 and Konad image disk m59.  Seche Vite was my top coat.