Stamping practice

So...my special plate order arrived...and I wanted to try it out.

Check out KD4 on Revlon 092 Blue Lagoon

As you can tell...the Blue Lagoon is a hot mess...and the birds...well they got black spots everywhere...but the image designs are cute.

A little dotting for Leap year

So here it goes...my attempt at doing nail art using only dotting tools and regular nail polish.  We were allowed to put on nail polish with the aid of a brush...but needed to do something original with a dotting tool.

So...since tomorrow is Leap Year and a shout out for my big brother Mike's birthday....

I did a special little design:

Just so you can see the frog better

Now, just a little art history lesson.  Creating images from dots was started a long time ago...they call it pointilism.  Famous artists who have done pointilism include masters such as Vincent Van Gogh and his self portrait.

Well, I am no Van Gogh...but I like my little frog and my LEAP letters.  Have a good leap day everybody!

Check out my contest entry at Chalkboard Nails: http://www.chalkboardnails.com/2012/02/im-hosting-nail-art-contest.html

White french tip with Black flowers stamped -Fail

I was so not happy with my stamping attempt last night that I almost didn't post a report for today.  But...I might as well show you the EPIC fail.

I did beautiful french tips with Finger Paints Natural talent, Rimmels French white tip pro liner.

Then I attempted to use BM12 with Konad special polish to do these flowers.  As you can see...the stamp pickup with atrocious...then I had smudging from my top coat application.  To beat all...my dominant hand was the hand that ended up looking the best and is the one I've pictured here.

So...new goal...practice stamping!!!  Practice...practice practice!

I just don't get it...the french manicure by itself was gorgeous...I'm going to try something similar tonight but probably with just different colors and a different stamp image and see how we do...just need to practice and test out my technique.

Thanks for checking out my page!!!

A girl on fire! Yellow and orange sponging with a little goldilocks then red striping

Well...after doing some pink sponging on Kelly's nails...I wanted to try it for myself.  I went with Luvables original yellow and orange colors, but I didn't do the flowers.

I started with OPI bubble bath of course...then sponged on OPI's The "It" color which is a gorgeous yellow.  Then I sponged on my newest cheap buy $4.99 clearance at Ulta, OPI's In My Back Pocket.  Then I did the final sponging with the deepest orange, OPI's Brights Power.  I let that dry a little bit...then put OPI's Goldilock's Rocks over the whole nail for some good yellow sparkle.  Then I took my Red striper...and did two lines.  For the thumbs I added 3 red rhinestones between the red lines.

Here are the polishes, Goldilocks is out of order in the picture...it was actually used 2nd to last.  The striper in the front of course was used as very last:

 

It's my Hunger Games girl on fire impression...let me know what you all think.  I need to get to work on my dotting design for Chalkboard nail's contest...and playing with my new stamping plates. 

I did have a major catastrophe this weekend, at least for a nail blogger.  I broke my left hand pointer finger nail.  I broke it in the corner pretty good and had to file it more even...so as you can see in this picture it is pretty short in comparison.  But...I wanted to show you the left hand because it is my DOMINANT hand...and I think I actually did pretty good on it...considering I had to do the polishing, sponging and striping with my Non-dominant hand.

May the games be ever in your favor!

Pink sponging and glitter with white flowers

Well friends, tonight I had a friend join me for our nail blog.  My friend Kelly joined me and we decided to try a design we got off a Youtube nail tutorial by Luvable nails.  

 The first coat was an OPI bubble bath.  Then we sponged on OPI Pink Friday, then the dark pink is Revlon Sweet Tart.  The glitter coat is Forever 21's Love & Beauty clear sparkle.   The white flower was done using the dotting tool with OPI Alpine snow.  Then Kelly decided on the green flower centers.  Of course we used OPI natural nail base coat and Beauty Secrets fast dry top coat.  We think it turned out great, hope you all like it.

Special thanks to Kelly for letting me play with her nails.

Orly Fowl Play

Well...today I wanted to see that new Orly Fowl Play that I got in...so look at this beautiful purple jelly with the gorgeous flecks in it.  Definitely worth the Ebay hunt!

Friday night post

Well...it is actually 12:40am Saturday morning. I wanted to make a post for tonight...but I Rock Banded with my friends until too late in the evening.  So...I took off my polish from last night...and cleaned up my nails and wanted to show my natural nails for tonight.

I did a basic manicure...and then added Nail Envy Strengthener.

This is without cuticle oil...do you see the creases in my skin.  Please ignore any little cotton fuzzies I might not have seen until I fixed the photo up.

So...I then wanted to show...how much healthier the skin looks after I added cuticle oil.

The skin doesn't look as puckered and healthier.   Now...every night before I go to bed...I add cuticle oil and then I rub Avojuice from OPI (Coconut Melon scent) into my hands, arms, and elbows.  This helps to keep my skin healthy.  I also rub lotion into my skin as soon as I step out of the shower. By using lotions you are protecting your body's largest organ, the Skin.

I didn't have time tonight to do a new nail art...but I will make up for it this weekend with a wide variety of styles.

But...there is always a but isn't there.

I did finally get my Butter London order tonight, and a little something special also.

Below...is West End Wonderland, Wallis, and HRH from Butter London.

A separate package came from an Ebay seller....Orly Fowl Play!


So expect me to be trying out these colors this weekend...and likely some kind of dotting nail art for Chalkboard Nail's contest.

Have a good one...chat tomorrow!   C

Didn't think I was gonna skip a day...did you?

A little something different today. Used my dotting tools and my stripers.

Started with Fuchsia fever from Revlon.  Then painted some flower petals in LA Colors Magenta and Sinful Colors Dream On.  A few more flower petals in Wet n Wild's I Need A Refresh-Mint.

Then did the leaves for the flowers with Orly Instant Artist Leafy Green striper.  Then finished up the flower dots with So Easy Stripe Rite White and then a copper curly-ques with the So Easy Stripe Rite Copper.

A little something different...the hot pink and magenta colors go with my shirt today.

Below are the supplies I used...see the advice I took of another blogger...and used a cheap contact case for my acetone and water. Even marked them with the letters to remember which is which!

SPOILER ALERT:  Go see 21 Jump Street

Saw it last night...it was hilarious...and awesome!  Channing Tatum is a total hottie...but some oldie favorites were in it (Pick a cast member...of the first few seasons and you'll love it).  If you watched this show at all when you were a kid like I did...you will be tickled by the cameo appearances (I caught onto the cameos at least a minute before everyone else did).  The movie hits theaters 16March2012...the same night as the new Snow White with Julia Roberts.

Hope you all like my nail designs...as I'm attempting to do some designs of some of the other professionals.  If you like my blog...please sign up to be a follower!!!  I need to know that I am not alone out in cyberspace...obsessing over nail designs!

Thanks,

C

Turquiose with white sponging and glitter

Well..it is Thursday...and tonight a friend and I are going to see the sneak preview of 21 Jump Street.  If any of my readers are old enough to have seen the original...Johnny Depp was the star.   Whew...cute!

So...tonight...going to see Channing Tatum...yes...he is more HOT!

Wearing a pretty teal shirt with white and silver design on it...with some rhinestones of course.

So...I needed a little something to match:

 

and here it is...please ignore my middle finger cuticle...I snipped it as soon as I saw it in the pic.  But...didn't want to set back up to do the photos again...since it was getting late and hubby was heading home from the tax office.

Below are the polishes I used:

The base color is the OPI Austin-tatious turquoise. I did not have a teal that was dark enough...so resorted to this fall back color...but I still love the color and it looks close enough to the teal in my shirt.  I then sponged with the Sephora by OPI color "Who Let the Dorks Out" which was from their Glee line.  I absolutely love Glee..and religiously dvr it and watch it every week!!!  I then sponged with my latest OPI purchase...Alpine Snow.  I know...I'm supposed to be trying to not buy OPI...but it is just a basic white (Excuse the addict).  Then I put some stripes in with the SoEasy Stripe Rite in White.  Well...now here is where I went a little overboard.  

I started with my 99cent purchase of NYC Starry Silver Glitter from my Target Clearance haul.   But...it just didn't seem glittery enough...so I finished up with some China Glaze Techno which added just the right touch.  A little top coat (2 coats for the glitter)...by the way I always start with OPI Nail Envy as my base coat.  I included a little pic of my absolute favorite cuticle oil...which I am running out of...I got it on QVC years ago..with an awesome metal nail file....that is for shaping...and it is called TIPS.  I love it...but my stash is diminishing...so I've been also using AvoPlex cuticle oil.

I'll let you all know...what I think of 21 Jump Street...and hopefully I have enough time to do my nails tonight after the movie.  The theatre it is sneak previewing at is on the other side of the City and I will have to drive a friend back to our work and then track back to my east side of the city after the movie.  Yikes...going to be a lot of driving.  But...it will be fun...I just know it!

Great Advice: Contact lens case

Wacky Laki Clean Up Tutorial

Found some great advice from another Nail blogger...using a contact lens case for nail cleanup.  Dollar store...here I come!!!

Check out Anutka's nail cleanup tutorial...excellent advice in the link above!

A little bit of stamping

I used the nail envy as a base...then Wet n Wild Megalast On a Trip for the purple.  Then Konad special polish with my latest acquisition Red Angel RA-101 plate.  Then a little OPI top coat...with some Tips cuticle oil.  Stamping was pretty good...except my pinky got smudged.  A little cleanup and it should look better.  The thumb has a little curved tear shape rhinestone...my first playing with the rhinestones too.

I also...did a little dollar store shopping tonight.

Then inspiration hit...CVS.  I went a little wild on their Spoiled collection:

But first stop...Wet n Wild Wild Shine

Then organized my new Red Angel plates into...tiny photo albums.

Well...I hope you like a sneak peek at tomorrow's polish.  Fat Tuesday has been great...but I'm actually going to try to get to bed before 11 tonight and catch up on some much needed sleep.

If you have any ideas...something I should try....just comment and I'll see what I can come up with!

Fat Tuesday - Mardi Gras design

Well...it is President's day...but tomorrow is Fat Tuesday.

So...that means a mardi gras nail design.

Materials Used:

OPI Purple with a Purpose
OPI The "It" Color
OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise
OPI Gold Shatter

So I started with the yellow "It" Colour...and painted the whole nail after applying my OPI Nail Envy as my base coat.  Then a painted a diagonal part of the nail the purple color.  Next I very carefully added another triangular area with the turquoise.  I put on a top coat...then I tried to add BM08 crown with gold Konad special nail color using my stamping kit.  Did not go well...so I used my backup plan of the gold shatter.  So below...is the outcome

In my ottlite so you can see it better.  It does look pretty good...even if it was an epic fail on the gold crowns.

A pic of my nails...with the gorgeous beaded jewelry that my Dad made for me!