Christmas Bling

This is my actual Christmas manicure. Super full of bling and sparkles, which is what I wish for you and yours this Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

My manicure notes:
I bought these CinaPro Dial-A-Gem wheels for the holidays. I bought one last year, but I was drawn to these 3D nail art pieces that were featured in this year's wheels. I knew I was going to have a bit of a trouble fastening these to my nails. I looked up a few tips and tricks and landed on using my leftover acrylic from my Halloween Claw manicure to adhere them to my nails (I'm dreading taking them off, but I'll have to manage). It seemed to work pretty well, but boy do I hate working with Acrylic. It is so smelly. But thanks CinaPro for giving me some inspiration for Christmas!

Christmas Trees and Snow

I didn't do very many Christmas themed manicures this year.  Here's a collage for the few I did. I guess trees and snow were the theme this year. We sure are getting a decent amount of snow here in Minnesota this winter.

Just a few manicure notes: Blue snow and trees are featuring Essie Lots of Lux a textured polish. I started to experiment with foil.  It's a fun idea, but I wish the application would yield more perfect results. My decals on both the "tree" manicures were from CinaPro Holiday "Dial-a-gem" wheels

All Hallows Eve

Happy Halloween everyone. Before the night ends, I thought I'd leave you with some treats!  Here are my holiday manicures. I'm in love with the ghosts (water marble) and glowing eyes.  They were so fun to do!

Proof Of Life

Ok. So I am alive. I am continuing to paint my nails, but I don't really make a lot of time to post on this blog. I have gotten overwhelmed by the expectations I put on myself for what my posts need to consist of, that I have avoided posting altogether. That means, I am officially behind and this is the only way I have foreseen myself catching up: Collages of my recent works. (Click on them for an enlarged view.) Basically, here are a whole bunch of manicures from the year.  It's my proof of life, if there are still those asking out there if I exist ;)

ALL ABOUT ANGLES:


SPARKLES, GLITTER & EMBELLISHED TOP COATS:


WATER MARBLES AND MISC. NAIL ART:


GRADIENT, SPONGING & CELLOPHANE:


BUNDLE MONSTER, KONAD & STAMPING:

The Great Gatsby, Old Sport

I read the Great Gatsby in high school, but I have a terrible memory and couldn't tell you anything about it.....until a month ago when I became a tad obsessed.  My friends and I re-read the book to prepare for the movie coming out last Friday.  I love Baz Luhrmann's movies, and had such a fun time watching old Robert Redford movies and the current remake.  So, in honor, I tried to recreate the poster designs.  It was a tedious journey with a fabulous finish.  Well worth the obsession!

Here is a look at the 2013 Gatsby Design:

And in honor, my nails:

Left Hand:

Right Hand:

First I painted one coat of Zoya Richelle and one coat of Orly Luxe.  Once fully dried (and while I was waiting) I cut out small strips of striping tape.  I then placed every line and angle with individual tape to make the geometric designs.  I then painted two coats of China Glaze Smoke and Ashes.  Once that was dried, I carefully peeled the tape away.  Any mistakes were cleaned up free handed.  I used two coats of Seche Vite for a smooth and shiny look.

Shine on Me!

I created this manicure in hopes of calling on the sun after our long winter.  And the day it debuted, it was glorious.  I am very much looking forward to the warmer weather (today it was a toasty 90+ degrees!).

I painted three coat of Zoya Arizona.  To the top, I added fuschia and copper-colored large hex glitter and smaller orange glitter from LA Splash Cosmetic in Lava Dust.  Seche Vite was my top coat.

ButterFLY

This is one of those image discs that I never thought I'd use.  I'm really not a huge butterfly fan and i thought it was a bit to childish for me (or maybe, too Mariah Carey).  But for whatever reason, I was in the mood for butterflies.  And, actually, I like the look much more than I thought I would--aways a good thing!

I painted three coats of China Glaze Aguadelic.  I added Bundle Monster plate BM205.  I used Konad Special stamping polish in White, Apple Green, Yellow, Coral Blue, Violet Pearl and Lavender.  One coat of Seche Vite was my top coat.

Seedlings

Spring has finally sprung here in MN.  This manicure was inspired by my obsession with watching my flowers peek through the dirt.

I painted a base three coats of China Glaze Fade Into Hue.  I added the grass designs with China Glaze In the Lime Light and Entourage.  Seedlings were China Glaze Surfin For Boys, Creative Fantasy, Solar Power.  Seche Vite was my top coat.

Minneapolis, Your Weekly Forecast:

As of Monday night, I should say and subject to change!!!!!  I mostly made this manicure as a reminder to me that there is the potential for 70 degrees on Saturday!!!!  That would be crazy!  If you can't tell by my latest posts, weather has been my obsession as I exhaustedly wait for spring.  I need flowers!  I need to ride on my scooter!  I need sun and surf (more like lakeshore)!  ASAP!

I painted a base of three coats of China Glaze Sunday Funday.  For the other parts in the scene I used China Glaze Dandy Lying Around, White on White, Solar Power, Lighthouse, Orange You Hot? and Zoya Kelly.  My Right thumb added snowflakes with Bundle Monster image disc BM323 using Konad Special Polish in White with China Glaze Snow Globe atop.  My Right thumb added the sun image with Bundle Monster image disc BM01 using Konad Special Polish in Yellow and adding Essie Shine of the Times on top.  One coat of Seche Vite was used to finish the look.

Melt Me!

This manicure was an incite into the snow outside and the awaiting grass that needs to come out and play.  We've had such a long winter and too many snow showers in the last week alone!  This picture was taken over the weekend and there was too much snow for me to grab three weeks into April!

I painted a base of three coats of China Glaze Budding Romance.  To top the green color, I made a green and brown glitter concoction with LA Splash Cosmetics Pineapple Coral, Coconut Shell and Immature.  I sponged in layers the white "snow" with China Glaze Dandy Lyin' Around.  I used one coat of Seche Vite to seal.

April Fools

I painted this manicure when I was hopeful of April showers this month to call on spring.  Unfortunately, the majority of showers we've had this month have been snow showers.  So, April Fools, spring is far away!

I painted a base three coats of China Glaze Dandy Lyin' Around.  I used Bundle Monster Plate BM312 and China Glaze colors: Sci-Fly By, Galactic Gray, Take a Trek, Strap On Your Moon Boots, DV8.  Seche Vite was my top coat.

China Glaze Hologlam

Check out my post on China Glaze's most recent holographic collection on my iPolished Swatches page!  Follow there and get updated on any swatches iPost!

Egg-stra Easter

Easter makes nails the perfect canvases for mimicking Easter eggs.  I'm not sure I was totally inventive on this manicure, but I was able to highlight a few new things I have on hand today: my new manicure polish collection from China Glaze: Hologlam.  And a new image disc from the third generation of Bundle Monster.  Hoppy Easter to those who are enjoying it here in the states!

I painted three coats on all but ring of China Glaze Not In This Galaxy and three coats on my ring fingers on China Glaze Sci-Fly By.  I added Bundle Monster images from plate BM302 and BM316 with Konad Special Stamping Polishes in Apple Green, Pastel Violet and Violet Pearl.  To finish I used one coat of Seche Vite.

Lucky Green

Updating my blog for St. Patty's Day.  Hope you are all finding the luck and the wonder that comes from this day!

Left Hand:

Right Hand:

Left hand was painted all but ring in three coats of China Glaze Keep Calm, Paint On and right hand was painted all but ring finger in three coats Smoke and Ashes.   I added sparkles from LA Splash Cosmetics in Pineapple Coral and Onyx.  I added in larger Green and Iridescent hex glitter for dimension.  I water marbled on my ring fingers using China Glaze Unpredictable, Rare and Radient and L8R G8R.  Left ring marble was over three coats of Smoke and Ashes and right ring was over three coats of Keep Calm, Paint On.