Red, White and Blue

Happy Fourth of July, fellow Americans! Here is my holiday manicure. Have a safe and fun day!

I used the following colors:
China Glaze White on White, Frostbite and Seas the Day.

Cracking Up

It's time for my Easter manicure. I swear golden eggs were al the rage this year in Easter Egg dying. Since I don't dye eggs, I thought I'd make my own golden egg manicure. It was a bit of a hard concept to execute, but I think I like the results.  Anyway, hope those of you who are celebrating with family and friends are having a wonderful day!

I used Zoya Kerry for my base, two coats. I then sponged with several colors from China Glaze's Flourish Collection: Spring In My Step, Lotus Begin, Grass Is Lime Greener, Metro Pollen-Tin, Strike  A Rose. And then Factory Girl from Color Club. I sealed it with one coat of Seche Vite. Once fully dried I used tape that I had jagged cut on opposing sides, traced the edges with China Glaze Liquid Leather and then sponged the open "cracked egg" with China Glaze White on White.  I peeled the tape while still wet and it was done. I tried to mattify the golden part of the egg, but for whatever reason, my gold was impervious to matting. Probably used too many clear coats during the finishing process. Oh well.  Done.

Sprinkles of Spring

Minnesota has officially had the coldest winter in our USofA. We had 135 days of below freezing weather (and too many of those were below zero days). Not to mention we were pelted with a whole bunch of snow this year. Now, I don't mind winter. I don't mind snow. But I am so glad that today is marking the first day of Spring. The sun came out today and it gave me hope that some day this year I will be warm again in Minnesota. So this manicure is in honor of that. I love spring. I love when the brown grass quickly turns back to green. I love unearthing the stems of my flowers that are peeking out of the ground after being covered by leaves and snow for an entire winter. I love hearing the sounds of the birds returning and singing outside. So, snow be warned: your time is limited. Spring is here and the sprinkles of the season are creeping in.

I don't have the specs of all of the colors I used for this manicure (I am still on hibernation mode after all). However, my "spring sprinkles" are from China Glaze's most recent collection City Flourish. Colors in particular, that inspired this manicure in the first place, are as follows: Metro Pollen-Tin, Grass is Lime Greener, Lotus Begin, and Strike A Rose. 

To Fresh Starts and New Beginnings in 2014

I had a nice 2013, but I did a terrible job blogging via nails about it.  I'm OK with that, but I do still wish there were more hours in a day and more motivation, on my part, to edit photos in order to continue higher volume content on this blog. Alas, that was not the case for 2013. I don't even feel I have enough photos of 2013 to do my top ten!  But no more excuses or time for regret.....it's 2014! I don't really believe in resolutions, but I do think that new year beginnings are a great time to reflect and plan and dream about what things can be accomplished or come to pass in the upcoming year. My friends have been coining 2014 as the year of fresh starts and new beginnings. This manicure reflects that thought. I have now been painting my nails with art, embellishments, glitter, decals, gemstones, decals and the like for around five years now. I've not had a traditional, one color on ten nails manicure in all that time. It's fun (yet at times creatively exhausting) trying to come up with new ideas, new combinations, perfecting form, learning new techniques, use of new mediums, watching nail polish trends and buying polish to add to my rather large collection. Painting nails continues to be one of my funnest hobbies and I continue to be very passionate about it. I think it is so great that there are so many fantastic artists out there for more inspiration. With all that said, I am a sucker for bright, bold, wild, glittery, shiny manicures. I can forget sometimes that simple is great. Bare is beautiful. Thus, I'm letting it all show. My hang nails, my cuticles, my dents, divots, peeling, discolored, natural nails are on display in my first manicure of 2014. This manicure is my allegory for my hope for us and new beginnings, fresh starts and a bit of hope that you see good things are possible in the new year. Cheers to you!  Thanks for sticking with me.

The silver accents are from Zoya Trixie. I also used Zoya Armor as my top coat (two coats)

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.

2012 Top Ten Favorite Manicures

It's time again for my year in review of my favorite manicures of this year.  I have to say, I have done a few I really like, but for myself, I think I've kind of slacked this year.  I haven't posted as much as I should have.  I feel like I have had to do more "quick fix" manicures and, honestly, it's hard to continue to be creative.  I am probably speaking out of the tiredness that comes with the end of the holiday season.  My new job has changed my time table and energy to devote to posting.  Don't get me wrong, nails are still a love of mine and I am dedicated to continue to use these ten fingers as my mini canvases to have fun on and share with others.  I am going to continue to do my best and that is all I can expect for myself.  So here is a look back on my favorite of the year.  They may not all be the most creative, difficult or inspirational, but they are the ones that make me smile.  As always, click on the link for more pictures and for the original post.

10. Mermaid: You know glitter is my go-to.  This one was the right combination of duochrome, shine and girly perfection.

9. Spangled Stars: It was fun to find the stripe design under the solid color.  

8. String Of Pearls: I liked that this manicure was just a quick inspiration that turned out to be a pretty design.

7. Satin Flowers: This was one of my best use of stamps.  I love the multi-colors in the stamp.  

6. And May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor: First, love Hunger Games.  This was so fun to find names, make some up and have my own reaping.

5. Hint of Lemon: I really slacked on the water marbling this year.  Love the highlighter pop!

4. Holiday Lights vs Winterscape: It's a tie.  I don't want to put two holiday manicures as separate numbers, so I'm putting them together.  Of my holiday manicures these were my fave.  

3. Halloween Night: I was obviously into scenes on my nails this year.  This was so fun and creepy for Halloween.

2. Dots The Best: Super simple, very pretty.  Loved the contrast in colors.

1. Tye Dye: Just a perfect summer manicure.  Bright, fun and totally me!