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. 

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!

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.

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.

Vote!

It's the eve of the Presidential Election here in the US.  So in honor, I'm encouraging all and showing my intentions to vote on November 6th.

Three coats of China Glaze High Roller was the base.  I used China Glaze White On White for the check box and with Konad Special Polish in White and Coral Blue with Bundle Monster image disk BM14.  Seche Vite was the top coat.

Barbed

I had a clear picture pop into my mind to paint barbed wire on my nails and this was the result.  To me, not very accurate.  However, once I added the silver accent, I started to appreciate this manicure.  Maybe not what I envisioned, but something I liked in the end.

I painted three coats of China Glaze High Roller.  I then painted black with China Glaze Liquid Leather and added silver highlight with China Glaze Platinum Silver.  I finished the look with a coat of Seche Vite.

Tye Dye

I'm not sure I knew this was going to look like tye-dye, but that's what everyone called it and it certainly fits the finished product.  I only knew I wanted to use my neons and make something bright.  It truly turned out to be one of my favorite manicures of the year so far.  So bright!  So pretty!

I panted a a base two coats of China Glaze Surfin' For Boys.  I then added China Glaze Sun-Kissed, In The Lime Light, and Lolita.  Manicure was finished with a coat of Seche Vite.

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.

I Pledge Allegiance

It's Memorial Day here again in the states and I am continuing on with my tradition of doing a patriotic manicure in honor of those who fought to serve our country.

On the bottom nail bed I painted a base coat of two coats if China Glaze First Mate and then added Yofi glitter in  Caribbean Crush.  I added two coats to the top of my nail in Orly Au Champagne and striped, with a brush, Zoya Sarah for the flag's stripe design.  I used Konad Special Stamping Polish in White and Bundle Monster plate   BM14 for the stars.  I finished with two coats of Seche Vite for the top coat.

String Of Pearls

This manicure was inspired by an upcoming trip to the bead store.  It's one of those manicures that I am surprised that I hadn't done before and really like now that it's on my fingers.  The vision in my mind coming to life on the nail.  That's always gratifying.

I painted three coats of Zoya Jolene for the base pink color.  The pearl beads are made from a mix of China Glaze White On White and Orly Au Champagne and use of a dotting tool.  I added silver detail with China Glaze Icicle.  I painted Seche Vite for the top coat.

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.

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.  

Spotlight

I have mixed feelings about this manicure.  It was a bit of a let down when I finished (I think I removed the tape to soon) because I wanted the lines to be more crisp.  However, this manicure totally got noticed by everyone.  It really was a spotlight to my nails.  For some reason, probably because I am recently re-obsessed, this manicure reminded me of The Hunger Games.  Its a spotlight to the Girl on Fire!

I first painted a base one coat of Zoya Pippa and sponged Zoya Ali on top.  I taped off once dry with small strips of masking tape and sponged until opaque China Glaze Liquid Leather.  Seche Vite was my topcoat.

Swipe

I needed a manicure that was quick and I would be ok if it chipped in a day since I knew it would after swimming.  This was it.

I swiped on my naked nail with Zoya Neeka and painted one coat of China Glaze Snowglobe atop with two coats Seche Vite to finish.

Polka Dot Road

Highlighting another new polish from China Glaze's Haunting Collection.  It was on sale, so it went in my cart.

I painted three coats China Glaze Crimson.  I added, freehand, two coats China Glaze Cheers To You with dotting tool adding back the base color as well as China Glaze Flyin' High.  Finished with one coat Seche Vite.

Jack O Lantern

I had this idea for a while. It's probably a spin off of my ghosts from last year. I think they turned out pretty well. Plus, at least these ones won't get eaten by squirrels or smashed on the sidewalk.

Left Hand:

Left Thumb:

Right Hand

Right Thumb:

I painted three coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather.  For the faces I painted a base of China Glaze Passion and then added China Glaze Free Love and Sun Worshiper. I coated the entire manicure with two coats of Seche Vite.