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 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

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.

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.

Bubbly

In honor on New Years Eve tomorrow, I am posting my manicure for the occasion.  It seems a bit subdued for me since the night always seems to need to be so epic, but I think it fits.  It's a representation of the toast I will be making to a great year and continue living a happy life once the ball drops at midnight!  Be safe!  Have a great night and spend some time with the ones you love.

I painted a base two coats of Zoya Richelle and added some glitter from Esther's Nail Center and La Splash Cosmetics in Pot O' Gold.  I painted a coat of China Glaze Swanky Silk on top and added a few more pieces of glitter.  I used two coats of Seche Vite to finish the look.

Holiday Lights

I feel better writing this post.  I always have the best intentions to keep you updated, but then fall woefully behind in posting.  But now I got you six new manicures for the holiday season, and if I'm a really good girl, I'll get my Christmas manicure up and out to you as well (course I have to create it yet, but I have some ideas!)  I love the look of this manicure and was worth using most all of my oblong, colored gems.  The hand painting was a bit tedious, but I'm happy with the results.  I really tried hard to capture the fact that even if these lights don't actually plug in and light up, in the right light, they almost look like they do.

I painted three coats of Zoya Harley and then added the gems.  Once dried, I mixed Zoya Edyta and Yara for the strand.  I used Seche Vite as my top coat.

Icing and Sprinkles

Every year I get together with my college friends to bake cookies for the holidays.  I try to use that fun day as inspiration, and once I saw this sparkle polish from China Glaze Cirque Du Soleil, Worlds Away polish line, I had a cookie inspiration.  Layering the polish on underlying color, looked like icing and sprinkles: a perfect cookie topping.

I painted three coats of China Glaze Def Defying, Hanging In The Balance, Creative Fantasy as base colors.  I also painted three coats on my pointer and thumb with three coats of It's A Trap-Eze! and used two coats of the sparkle polish to top the solid colors listed above.  Seche Vite was the top coat.

Deck The Halls With Double Balls

Ok.  Terrible title of the manicure, but "Double Dots" didn't seem very festive.  I was inspired by some nail appliques I saw at a store for this idea.  Figured it would be easy enough for me to do myself.  It was!

I painted a base two coats of China Glaze Cast A Spell.  Dots were made with the following: China Glaze Hey Sailor, Def Defying, Starboard, Zoya Reva, Trixie, Orly Au Champagne, Ulta Jaded.  Seche Vite was my top coat.

Snowy Trees

This manicure was inspire by a very heavy snow we had here in Minnesota.  The best part about snow is the way the trees look afterwards.  It's so magical.  My manicure doesn't live up to nature's beauty, but I tried.

I painted a base of three coats of China Glaze Winter Holly and then for the design I added branches, snow and contrast with Zoya Paris, Edyta and Orly Au Champagne.  I used two coats of Seche Vite for the top coat.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Yesterday was thanksgiving here in the States and I also participated in something I've never done before: Black Friday.  So in honor of those two events, here are the nails inspired by them:

Thanksgiving Feathers:

I painted a base two coats of Zoya Tiffany and sponged Zoya Sienna and China Glaze Riveting.  For the feathers I used Bundle Monster image disc BM214 with China Glaze Blue Bells Ring.  I finished with Seche Vite.

Black Friday: 

This manicure was fun with the layering effect.  I first painted two coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather and then added glitter with LA Splash Cosmetics in Silver Wave.  I then added a coat of Orly Androgynie for the final layer.  I used one coat of Seche Vite, but now after a day, I may add another for more shine.

Hint Of Lemon

Similar to my Hint Of Lime marble, I just couldn't resist another highlighter highlight.  I love the contrast of grey and yellow, it makes it really pop.

I painted a base 2 coats of Zoya Harley and marbled with the same and China Glaze OMG and China Glaze Sun Kissed.  One coat of Seche Vite was my top coat.

Five Shades Of Blue

Screw Fifty Shades of Grey (wink, wink).  This just seemed like the perfect name for the manicure (that turned out to be a very pretty on my nails).

I used the following colors in the manicure, all in three coats: China Glaze Electric Beat, Up All Night, Frostbite, Sea Spray, and Zoya Breezi.  On top with Konad Special Stamping Polish I used Bundle Monster plate BM201.  Seche Vite was used for the topcoat.

Neon Polka

Another highlight for my neon colors.  I tried my best to get the colors to work in the photos, but sometimes I think the reflection shot is a more accurate rendering of the neon color.

I painted two coats of Zoya Haorley and added glitter from LA Splash Cosmetics in Rock Star.  I used a dotting tool and first painted the dots in China Glaze White On White for a base for the neons.  I then added China Glaze Surfin' For Boys, Lolita, Sun-Kissed, Sun Worshiper, Towel Boy Toy, In The Lime Light and Shocking Pink.  To finish: one coat of Seche Vite.

Filigree Layers

Sometimes when things don't work out the way you think they will, the end results are almost better.  I was hoping that the pink I initially chose was going to be contrasting enough for this manicure, but it wasn't.  But once I applied the lavender over, the pink popped and it all came together.  Thank goodness for mistakes!

I painted three coats of Zoya Zuza and added image from Bundle Monster plate BM222 with Konad Special Stamping colors Violet and Psyche Pink.  One coat of Seche Vite was my top coat.

Fun With Tape

I have been doing a bit with tape in my manicures and these two used the same technique, so I'm putting them together in a post.

Fun With Tape Green:

After taping off my nails, I applied three coats of Zoya Ivanka  on my tips.  I added with a brush stripes and dots in China Glaze Sun-Kissed, Surfin' For Boys and Zoya Jolene.  I painted over the entire manicure whit a coat of Finger Paints Motley and two coats of Seche Vite to finish.

Fun With Tape Pink and Orange:

I first taped off the orange side and painted three coats of Zoya Arizona.  Once fully dried I taped off the pink side and added three coats of Zoya Kimber.  I painted one coat of Orly Shining Star and two coats of Seche Vite to finish.

Subtle Is My Middle Name

I went through a phase a few weeks back that was all about subtle designs.  In interest of time, I'm grouping these manicures together.

Lavender Lowdown:

Three coats of China Glaze Sweet Hook and a side swipe of Orly Shining Star.  Seche Vite was the top coat.

Hot Flakes:

This manicure is a straight layer job.  I added Finger Paints Asylum over three coats of China Glaze Pink Voltage.  I then added one coat of Seche Vite.

Red Dot:

I painted a base of three coats China Glaze Hey Sailor and dotted the design with China Glaze Riveting, Zoya Sarah and Zoya Allegra.  Seche Vite was the top coat.