Rock-a-Billy

Hey everyone!  Welcome to the end of the week!  Hooray!!!

As most of you know, I love to match my nails to my outfits, and I have a new black dress to rock tomorrow night!  It has small white polka dots, and has a bit of a vintage rock-a-billy flair to it!

I started with two coats of Hard Candy The End, a black creme.  I know ... "Ooooh!  Aaaaah!", right?!

I would have stopped there, but it didn't have that extra pop that I was after.  I decided to add one coat of Finger Paints Motley, a great top coat loaded with blue & green flakes.

I originally planned on using one of my stamping plates for the polka dot design.  But, after pouring through my book of plates, I realized that I didn't have the perfect polka dot design!!  

Are you kidding me??  How did I let that happen?!

So, I used my small dotting tool with Konad Special White to create my polka dot design.  I then used it with my Konad Q1 stamp for the swallows on my accent nails.  I finished with one coat of SV.

So, to sum up, what was supposed to be a quick mani turned into a slightly not so quick mani - but these things happen, and I'm happy with it!  I'm so psyched to rock these with my dress!  I hope everyone has a fun weekend!

Happy Painting!

P.S. - On a side note, my husband HATES polka dots.  So, if you're on my side, leave a comment telling him why polka dots are awesome and let's see if we can change his mind!!!!

Colors: Hard Candy The End, Finger Paints Motley

Jewel Tone Jubilee

Hi everyone!  Today I wanted to go with something really jewel toned and fun that pops!

I started off with two coats of Deborah Lippmann Dream a Little Dream of Me, a really pretty sheer pink with s shimmer that shifts from blue-green to purple.

Next, I taped off the half moon sections at the top and applied one coat of Sensique Jewel of the Orient, a beautiful "blurple" with a nice pink to purple shimmer.  I adore this color, but it still didn't have that pop effect I was going for.

With my striping brush, I applied some vertical stripes of Hard Candy Frenzy, a really fun bright teal creme.

For a final bit of color, I went for one of my ultimate jewel tones, and, with my small dotting tool, I lined dots of Zoya Carly along the half moon.

I finished it all off with one coat of SV.

I really enjoyed creating this one!  All of my favorite elements were there!  I hope you all enjoy it too!!!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Deborah Lippmann Dream a Little Dream of Me, Sensique Jewel of the Orient, Hard Candy Frenzy, Zoya Carly

Bad Kitty is BACK!!!

That's right - I said it!!!!  

A set of 25 bottles of Elixir Lacquers' Bad Kitty LE will be available tomorrow, 

Tuesday, April 24th, at 8:00pm EST! 

Fog Machines and Laser Rays

Hey!!  I hope everyone had an amazing weekend!  

If you have any idea where the title of this mani comes from - then you're stupid awesome!!!

I started with two coats of HITS Trendy, a really fun multi chrome that shifts from chartreuse to gold to green.  I really like this polish.  In some light, it gives you an almost metallic feel, and then it vanishes and you're left looking at another color all together.

I wasn't completely wild about the brush with this one, but it wasn't a huge issue.

Since I would be using scotch tape for the next step, I applied one coat of SV to protect my base color.

Using my small shears, I cut several thin strips of scotch tape and applied them in random places on my nails to create the laser effect.

Then, I applied one coat of Color Club Worth the Revvvolution, a great charcoal holographic.  I removed the strips of tape from each nail immediately after the coat of Revvvolution.  I finished it off with one more coat of SV.

I'm really pleased with the final look of this mani.  It's fun, it's random, and there's no right or wrong to it's creation!  I hope you enjoy it too!

Happy Painting!!

Colors: HITS Trendy, Color Club Revvvolution

Inspired by: http://nailside.blogspot.com/2011/03/tutorial-tape-mani-single-layering.html

Gradient Linear Holographic Fun!

Hey everyone!!  Yesterday was an awesome nail mail day, thanks to Llarowe!  One of these bits of awesomeness was HITS Hefesto - a linear holographic top coat that turns any polish into a linear!  Anyone who knows me knows I'm a linear lunatic!  So, after a few minutes of thought, my eyebrows looked a little something like this: ~_^

I started with two coats of HITS Demeter, a fun orange holo.

I needed a polish that would be a good go-between for orange and red, so I sponged on China Glaze Riveting for a gradient effect.

I then sponged on HITS Ares on the lower portion of my nail.

For an all over gradient linear look, I then applied one coat of HITS Hefesto!

While it is said that top coats cut down on the linear holo strength, I did finish with one coat of SV, since I had so many coats of polish on.  (The dry time would have been more than considerable without it!)  I honestly did not notice a change after applying my top coat.

I am thrilled with the end result of this!

I cannot wait to see this out in the sunlight, although the sunshine has not paid Atlanta a proper visit all week! But, hey, did that stop me?  No!  Should it have?  Probably!  Hahaha

I hope you enjoy!!!!!

Happy Painting!!!

Colors: HITS Demeter, Ares, and Hefesto, China Glaze Riveting

Duo Dots

Hi everyone!!!  Today was an epic nail mail day!  I recently won a giveaway hosted by NailXchange!  The polishes she sent me are amazing, but this one caught my eye immediately because it is so different from other duochromes I have seen.

I started with two coats of Sensique Moss Temple.

This is a really beautiful duochrome that shifts from a burnt chocolate to shimmering emerald.

I wanted to give it a little something extra, without overpowering the polish.

So I used Konad Special Black Pearl with Shany plate SH23 for the dot design.

I finished with one coat of SV.

I am absolutely gaga over this polish!  It has an amazing formula, and a really smooth application.  I am so excited to try the other two Sensique polishes that came with this one!!  I hope you enjoy!!!

Happy Painting!!!

Colors: Sensique Moss Temple, Konad Special Black Pearl

Birthday Cake Fun-fetti

Hi everyone!  Yesterday was my youngest son's third birthday -- Yay Evan!  So I thought I'd try a mani inspired by fun-fetti style birthday cake!!

I started with one coat of OPI Don't Touch my Tutu, a fantastic white jelly.

Next, I added one coat of OPI Rainbow Connection, a clear coat loaded with multi-color hex glitter in a variety of sizes.

I applied another coat of Don't Touch my Tutu for a jelly sandwich effect ...

But this just didn't quite give me the depth I was look for.

So I added one more coat of Rainbow Connection, and then two more coats of Don't Touch my Tutu.

I finished with one coat of SV.  I am really happy with the final look of this mani!  The double jelly sandwich really gave it a lot of depth!  Evan had a great birthday weekend, and I hope you all did as well!

Happy Painting!!!

Colors: OPI Don't Touch my Tutu, OPI Rainbow Connection

Putting on the Glitz!

Hey everyone!  I guess I'm on a bit of a glitter kick lately!  So tonight I wanted something that would really make my tips stand out!!

I started with one coat of China Glaze First Mate, my absolute favorite navy blue creme!

Next, I applied two coats of Deborah Lippmann's Across the Universe!

I love everything about this polish!  A navy blue jelly, loaded with micro blue glitter & light blue and green hex glitters!  Yes please!!!!

Next, I sponged on Funky Fingers Flashing Lights on the tips for a gradient glitter look!

Flashing Lights is a really fun polish, packed with silver and green micro glitter.

I finished with one coat of Cult Nails Wicked Fast.

This is a really flashy & fun look for a night out!  Plus, it takes minimal time and effort!  I love the way it turned out, and I hope you do as well!  

Happy Painting!!!

Colors: China Glaze First Mate, Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe, Funky Fingers Flashing Lights

Elixir Lacquers ~ Calypso Event!

Hi everyone!  This coming weekend, we will be celebrating my little Evan's third birthday!!

So, in honor of Evan, I'll be having a very special offer on Elixir Lacquers for the whole weekend --- and my definition of "whole weekend" is from Friday to Sunday!!!!  

All orders of two polishes or more will automatically receive one free bottle of Calypso, the current secret shade.

This polish is only regularly available when purchasing at least seven polishes from Elixir Lacquers.

(This is also the first time I have revealed a swatch of Calypso!)

Calypso is a light and glowy violet shine polish, loaded with blue and pink micro hex glitter, as well as blue and pink prismatic micro hex glitter!  Shown above is two coats of Calypso with one coat of SV.

No coupon code will be required for this offer.  All orders of at least two polishes will have one bottle of Calypso added to the shipment.

This offer will begin starting at 12:01am EST on Friday, April 13th and will end at 11:59pm EST on Sunday, March 15th.

Don't miss out on this one!!!

http://www.elixirlacquers.com/

Spring into Plaid

Hi ladies!  I had a little quiet time this morning, so I thought I'd have a little fun with my striping brush!

I started with two coats of Butter London Muggins, a great soft purple creme.

Then I used my striping brush with Milani Dress Maker, Sinful Colors Unicorn, Sinful Colors Morning Star, and Sinful Colors Flutter. I finished with one coat of SV.

This was a fun and easy look to create!  I love all of the pastels I've been seeing so far this spring!

I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Painting!!!!

Colors: Butter London Muggins, Milani Dress Maker, Sinful Colors Unicorn, Sinful Colors Morning Star, Sinful Colors Flutter