Pink Is The New Gradient

I bought two new Zoya pink-colored glitters recently and thought they would be perfect for a gradient manicure.

I painted a base of Zoya Gilda, then layered Zoya Alegra and Valerie.  I then added flowers with Konad Image Disk m64 with Konad Special Stamping Polish in Violet.  Seche Vite was used for my topcoat.

Flower Power

Immediately after my Easter Manicure, I continued with the theme of Easter bringing new things and spring bringing flowers.  I garden and have kind of been shocked with how early things started to come up here this year due to our unseasonably warm winter.  Of course, flowers aren't safe with frosts coming still and we always seem to be guaranteed a snow in April (we did have freezing rain yesterday).  But manicure flowers are always in bloom!

I painted three coats of China Glaze Dance Baby.  Using Bundle Monster Plate BM205, BM217 and Konad Image Disk m60 with Konad Special stamping polishes in Yellow, Apple Green, Coral Blue and Violet.  Other colors used for the Hand Painting were China Glaze In The Limelight, Mistletoe Me!, and Full Spectrum.

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.

Valentine's Day, Part 1

Officially I have started my Valentine's Day manicures.  Here are a few.  I will have a few more for you before or on the day (promise).

Sparkle Hearts:
I painted three coats of both Zoya Ali and China Glaze Salsa.  Once fully dried, I hand painted the hearts on each nail and added glitters from LA Splash Cosmetics in Fashionista and Hazardous.  Seche Vite was my top coat.

Love, Love, Love:
Was three coats of Orly Au Champagne and images from Bundle Monster plates BM202, BM09, Konad plate m59 with Konad Special Polishes Violet, Black and Psyche Pink.  A few words were handpainted with China Glaze Liquid Leather.  I completed the look with one coat of Seche Vite.

Leather And Lace

Today was my nine year wedding anniversary and it coincided with me needing to paint my nails. So I looked up traditional wedding gifts for year and nine and the options were either Traditional: pottery, UK: copper or US Modern: leather goods.  I thought pottery was not a concept I wanted to get into in terms of a manicure, so I thought I could go modern US and go leather.  That got me thinking and it immediately triggered the song Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley.  Especially since my husband oddly requested we sing this duet karaoke (something he rarely does these days) but mostly odd because he wants to sing the Stevie Nicks part. ;)  So I first I tried to find lace in my home and came across some lingerie from my bridal shower (how fitting) that I no longer wear and cut 10 to fit my fingers.  However, it didn't work well as a concept because I used a black polish base (China Glaze Liquid Leather, of course.  To keep with the theme) and when a clear polish was painted over the red lace, it lost all its contrast.  So plan B was to use Konad design and a nude nail for the lace background.

And there you have the long back story to this manicure.  I was happy with my stamping, I've been really trying to improve my accuracy since I had to use two different images.  I like the lace mostly for it's tie to the manicure's nostalgia, but it's scratchy and hard once a top coat is applied, and I'm not sure if I actually like real lace manicures.  Either way, happy anniversary to me!

Left Hand:

 Right Hand:

On all fingers but ring, I painted three coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather and used Konad Image Disk m57 with China Glaze Passion.  My ring fingers were painted with three coats Zoya Skye and then lace was added.  Each finger was finished with one coat of 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.

Apples And Oranges

....and a bunch of other fruits. I'm trying to hold on to summer as long as possible, but when September hit us and it being labor day weekend now, it's hard. Things are in transition, kids are going back to school, days are getting shorter again. But the other day I picked up these scented polishes and I though this fruit salad manicure was a great way to keep up my summer spirits.

Right Hand:

Left Hand

I painted a base coat on all fingers but my ring of China Glaze's Lemon Fizz; two coats. Then I added two more coats of Revlon Scented Nail Enamel in Pineapple Fizz. On my ring fingers, I painted two coats of China Glaze Breakin' and then added one coat of Revlon Scented Nail Enamel in Watermelon Fizz. I used Konad Plate m55 and the following colors for the fruit:

Strawberry: Zoya Tamsen
Kiwi: Konad Special Stamping polish in Apple Green
Watermelon: Special Stamping polish in Apple Green, Psyche Pink and Black
Grapes: Special Stamping polish in Apple Green and Zoya Yasmeen
Blueberry: Special Stamping polish in Apple Green and Coral Blue, Zoya Yasmeen
Oranges: China Glaze Breakin', China Glaze Japanese Koi, China Glaze Papaya Punch
Apples: Special Stamping Polish in Apple Green, Zoya Paris, Zoya Tamsen

Retro Blue

Finally getting around to posting this. I very much like this blue and have been having fun with my new Bundle Monster plates.

I painted three coats of China Glaze First Mate and then added Konad plate design m65 on my pinky fingers and on the rest used Bundle Monster Plate bm203 all with Konad special polish in White. I used one coat of Seche Vite for the top coat.

Spirit Animals: Stepping It Up A Notch

Alright, I do know that I have a healthy self-esteem but I don't really like to brag. However, I was so excited with my new venture in nail art, that I was very proud of myself and hope you guys get a charge out of these manicures as much as I do!

As you know from my posts, I have recently entered a nail painting contest (vote for me here). As I was reading through some posts, I came across a manicurist who mentioned water decals that she made herself. Here is her blog, BTW, she has great landscape nails! I had to look into it myself to see if it was easy or hard. After getting some help from the Internet and having some inspiration due to an upcoming girls weekend, I decided to go for it. Water decal paper was a bit difficult to track down, but I found it and am excited to show you the results.

The back story on the following manicures is this: a group of my girlfriends have adopted Spirit Animals that either capture our heart, speak to us in some way and in general create an all over cheesy feeling. So I decided I would treat my friends to a manicure on our weekend getaway and make decals with their Spirit Animal. Here are the results!

Man Of War:

Painted with a base coat of Zoya Sienna and Konad Special Polish in Coral Blue with Konad plate m65.


The Loon:

Painted with three coats of China Glaze Sea Spray and using Konad Special Stamping Polish in Coral Blue and Bundle Monster Plate MB-209.


Bear:

(or as we like to call them dancing bears) Painted with three coats China Glaze Knotty and stamped with Bundle Monster Plate BM-213 with Zoya Areej.

Eagle:

Painted with three coats of Zoya Areej and stamped with Konad Special Stamping Polish in Black and Bundle Monster Plate BM-212.

Racoon:


Painted with three coats of China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise followed by a coat of China Glaze White Cap and stamped with Konad Special Stamping Polish in Black and White with Bundle Monster Plate BM-205 .

Patrick Swayze:

I know he might not speak to you as a Spirit Animal, but he did apparently call to my friend, Erin. Sometimes odd things happen, but he is glorious! Painted with three coats of Zoya Mira and on the ring finger glitter added from LA Splash Cosmetics in Dry Ice and stamped with Konad Special Polish in White and Black using Bundle Monster Plate BM-208

Each manicure was topped of with the special water decal seen and a coat of Seche Vite as the top coat and sealer.

Grayflower

I needed something simple and easy. This fit the bill perfectly and ended up being so pretty in its understatement. Plus I love that gray has become a popular manicure color!

I painted three coats of Zoya Harley and added design from Konad plate m75 with Special Konad Stamping Polish in White. I used one coat of Seche Vite for the top coat.

I've Got The Blues

I actually don't emotionally have the blues, but it's a fitting title for this manicure. I always get a bit upset with how my Konad manicures run a bit (I'm sure it's more that the flaws are heightened with a macro picture) but I'm getting over that. I do like the color combo on this manicure.

I painted three coats of China Glaze Sea Spray and used Konad plate m64 with Special Stamping Polish in Coral Blue Princess and one coat of Seche Vite.

Silver and Bronze

Are still winners! After finishing this manicure, I liked it. But I wasn't crazy about it. However, it got a lot of compliments from others which always kind of surprises me. Anyway, I owe you a manicure. Here are the pics:

I painted three coats of China Glaze Poetic, added Konad image from disc m 60 with China Glaze Millennium and glitter on my ring and thumb fingers with LA Splash Cosmetics in Pot O' Gold. I finished the manicure with one coat of CND Super Shiney.

Puppet Master

My friend Ryah was at my house while I was getting ready to paint my nails. I love to ask for inspiration on what I should do for designs. She says "I think you should paint them, add glitter and then a stamp." Alright. That is basically adding all of things I might do individually in one manicure. For all it's individual simplicity, it was an epic fail the first TWO times I did it that I couldn't keep them on my nails. But I was determined and I KNEW I could make it work. Eventually I did. Although sparkle makes the Konad a bit difficult and textured, I think it looked good in the end. Thanks Ryah, the challenge was challenging! I wish I had pictures of how this manicure "glowed". The glitter I used really has a glowing, blue hue that was pretty amazing.

I painted two coats of China Glaze Four Leaf Clover and added LA Splash Cosmetic nail glitter in Dry Ice. I then used Konad Special Stamping Polish in black and Konad plate m69 and a top coat of CND Super Shiney.

Klassy

Holy Blogging, Batman! So sorry to load a bunch of mani's on you all at once, but I was sick last week and having trouble finding my motivation. But it's a lazy Sunday and I need to catch you all up so you know what I know!

Speaking of needs, I needed an obnoxious, "Classy with a K" manicure for a party I attended this weekend. This was the result. I actually love it for its obnoxiousness, not to mention it was perfect for the party.

Low light, glitter detail:

Ultra exposed:

I painted two coats of Zoya Jolene, then used Konad plate m57 with Special Stamping Polish in Black to apply the zebra stamp. Over the entire nail, I added LA Splash Cosmetics nail glitter in Fashionista. I applied two coats of CND Super Shiney as my top coat.

Subtle Is My Middle Name

This manicure was very subtle and unfortunately due to chipping polish, only really lasted a day on my nails. I suppose that is alright, but I was a bit disappointed because the base color was one of my new Zoya polishes, but it didn't have the lasting power I expected. That's always a bummer. I'm including a close up picture due to not being satisfied with my camera pics. This color has a great, subtle shimmer to it I was hoping to better capture.

I painted three coats of Zoya Jacy, then stamped from the image plate m69 with Konad Special Polish in Coral Blue. I used Seche Vite as a top coat.

Fanning Flowers

I had another new Zoya polish to try and showcase, plus some Konad plates I have not yet used for a manicure. So I killed two birds with one stone! I love that. I was hoping to capture the multicolor shimmer of this polish, not sure that happened, but know that the color is quite pretty.

I painted three coats of Zoya Valerie and then used Konad plate m75 and their Special Polish in White. I topped the manicure with a coat of Seche Vite.