Storm Clouds

Hi everyone!  We had a lot of rain several weeks ago, so I decided on some storm cloud nails to match.

I started with two coats of OPI Non-Stop White, followed by one coat of SV.

I used my navy blue, medium blue, cobalt blue, and light purple sharpies with rubbing alcohol for the cloud effect.  I topped it with one coat of Northern Lights Holographic Top Coat, followed by one coat of SV.

I really liked the end result!!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

Dreamy Pastel

Hi everyone!  I know I've been on blogger vacation mode for a while.  So much has been going on in my little corner of the world.  But, I have of course still been doing some nail art, so now it's time to catch up on everything!

I started off with two coats of OPI Eternally Turquoise, followed by one coat of SV.  Using my lilac, medium blue, and mint sharpies with rubbing alcohol, I added a soft pastel blend.

For a little something extra, I paired A England Excalibur Renaissance with a couple of my stamping plates - I honestly cannot remember which ones I used for this!!  I'll update as soon as I find them!  I finished with one coat of SV.

I really loved the way that this turned out!  It's such a sweet look and was so much fun to wear!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

Tie Dye Marble

Hi everyone!  I have been dying to try the OPI Color Paints in a water marble, and they did not disappoint!  These really made water marbling a total breeze!

I started off with two coats of OPI Silver Canvas, followed by one coat of SV.

For my marbling shades, I used OPI Magenta Muse, Chromatic Orange, Primarily Yellow, Landscape Artist, Turquoise Aesthetic, and Purple Perspective.  I finished with one coat of SV.

I just love the end result!  It reminds me of a tie dye rainbow!  I'll definitely be using these in a water marble again soon - they're just too much fun!!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

Trifecta

Hi everyone!  I was so excited to do this mani, because it kind of made me feel like an idiot.  I have been searching for the Salon Perfect dupe of the original China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy, because, like  moron, I didn't get a back up bottle.  So weeks and weeks go by, and they're sold out everywhere I go.  Aaaaaaand then I re-organize the Mecca, and realize I already have it.  Way to go, Nicole.

I started off with two coats of Salon Perfect Flamingo Flair on my index and pinky fingers, two coats of KBShimmer Alloy Matey! on my middle finger, and two coats of KBShimmer Eyes White Open on my ring finger, followed by one coat of SV.

I applied some chevron vinyls to the ring finger, and filled in the space with Flamingo Flair and KBShimmer Eclipse.  I added one coat of Northern Lights Holographic Top Coat, and followed with one coat of SV.  For a little boost, I added tiny polka dots over Flamingo Flair with Color Club Harp On It.  I finished with one coat of SV.

I am just crazy about this shade, but man alive is it hard to photograph!!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

What's Your Sign?

Hi everyone!  While I'll have collection swatches up soon, I just could not wait to get this beauty on my nails.  I started to use it in a galaxy mani, but then I realized it didn't need anything else.  It's a galaxy all on its own.

I started off with two coats of KBShimmer Carpe Denim, followed by one coat of SV.  Can you believe how gorgeous this shade is?!?  OMG!!!!

Using my calligraphy pen with white art ink, I penned the outline of the zodiac constellations.  For detail, I paired KBShimmer Eyes White Open with my dotting tool and added the stars.  I finished with one coat of SV.

I just love the end result!  I cannot stop staring at this gorgeous shade!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

Sandy Beaches

Hi everyone!  I went with this mani just before heading off to the beach.  This one actually took a little bit of time.

I started off with two coats of Color Club Macaroon Swoon, followed by one coat of SV.  Using a damp wedge sponge, I applied a gradient using Color Club Macaroon Swoon, Color Club In De-Nile, and KBShimmer Sky Jinks, followed by one coat of SV.

To add some depth and detail, I added some splotches with a light and medium blue Sharpie, and blotted it with a flat detail brush dipped in alcohol.  For some water ripples and sea foam, I used my calligraphy pen with a soft white art ink.  To finish off the sand, I lightly dabbed on some colorless micro glitter.  I finished with one coat of SV.

I love the end result!  It was nice to be able to spend a good bit of time on a mani for a change!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

Petals in the Water

Hi everyone!  I have another Sharpie look up today - this technique is so much fun to do!

I started off with two coats of OPI Glints of Glinda, followed by one coat of SV.

I created some floral shaped patches on my nails with light purple and magenta Sharpies, and filled in the open space with light blue and mint Sharpies.  I used a flat detail brush dipped in alcohol and blotted the nail.  I finished with one coat of SV.

I really love the end result!!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

Constellation Gradient

Hi everyone!  Today I had some fun with the OPI Color Paints Collection!

I started off with two coats of OPI Silver Canvas, followed by one coat of SV.

Using a damp wedge sponge, I added a full spectrum gradient using all of the Color Paints shades in order: Magenta Muse, Chromatic Orange, Primarily Yellow, Landscape Artist, Turquoise Aesthetic, Indigo Motif, Purple Perspective, and Pen & Pink.  For something extra, I paired my Messy Mansion Plate MM33 with A England Excalibur Renaissance to add the constellation pattern.  I finished with one coat of SV. 

I love how well the colors paints work for gradients!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

Tortoise Shells

Hi everyone! I have my take on a tortoise shell look today!

I started with two coats of OPI Bubble Bath, followed by one coat of SV.

Next, I used Sharpies to colors splotches all over my nail.  The colors I picked were yellow, black, brown, and grey.  After coloring the entire nail, I used a detail brush dipped in alcohol and lightly blotted it across the nail to bleed the colors.  I finished with one coat of SV.

I love the end result!  I may be a little addicted to the Sharpie technique now!!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

Smoke in the Air

Hi everyone!  I have no idea why I put off doing smoke nails for so long!  I just love them!

I started off with two coats of KBShimmer Eclipse, followed by one coat of SV.

Using a small detail brush, I added a few small random stripes of OPI Damone Roberts 1968.  While the stripes were still fresh, I used a flat detail brush dipped in acetone and lightly dabbed the stripes.  I finished with one coat of SV.

Thanks so much to the awesome Sarah at Chalkboard Nails for her tutorial on this!!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

Moon Jellyfish

Hi everyone! Today I have my own take on the nimbus technique!

I started with two coats of Color Club In De-Nile, followed by one coat of SV.

Next, I lightly watered down a few drops of white acrylic paint and then added a drop of red alcohol ink and mixed it together.  Using a small detail brush, I picked up a bit of the paint and ink mixture and placed thick dots of it onto the nail.  Once I had all the dots on one nail, I used a separate detail brush to pick up the excess moisture.  I repeated this step with my other inks to add different colors.  I finished with one coat of SV.

I just loved creating this mani!  It was so much fun finding a new way to utilize the alcohol inks!

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

I'm Back!!!

Hi everyone!!!  Wow - what a crazy summer it has been!  I'm so sorry to have taken such a long break, but it had to be done.  I was so busy finishing school, and had a few vacations thrown into the mix as well.  I graduated in the end of July - YAY! - and took my state board exams in the beginning of August, and passed with flying colors - double YAY!  So now I'm officially a licensed nail tech, which is just awesome!

Moving forward, Nail Polish Wars will continue, but things will be a little bit different.  I can't guarantee that I'll still be able to post Monday through Saturday which was the norm for quiiiiiiite some time.  Swatch requests will only be reserved for select brands, but the nail art will of course continue!  The reasoning behind that is this: I'm currently looking for a full time position in a salon!  Crazy awesome, right?!  Additionally, I'll be able to go back to school part time in six months to obtain my instructor's license.  So, with that filling a good bit of my time, my full devotion to Nail Polish Wars will take a bit of a backseat - but you know I'm not walking out of my house without full nail art, so I'll always have plenty of that for you!  

I have oodles of manis just begging to be posted from the past few months, so I'll start getting those up lickity split for you!  I'm so excited to be back and for you to see some of the mani fun I've had this summer.  I've missed blogging so much!  And thank you so much to the tons of emails and messages I've received from so many of you checking on me and begging to know when I'd be back with new manis!  Y'all are amazing!!!

Happy Painting!!

Spotted Frog

Hi everyone!!  I went for a spotted frog inspired look today!

I started with two coats of China Glaze Grass is Lime Greener, followed by one coat of SV.  Using a wedge sponge, I applied a gradient with Grass is Lime Greener and China Glaze Wait n' Sea.

I wanted to add a blobbicure, but I really wanted the blobs to stay small and a little more spaced out.  I added one coat of SV and immediately added my blobs with a dotting tool and China Glaze Giver's Theme.  I finished with one last coat of SV.

I really loved wearing the final look!  I hope you enjoyed!

Happy Painting!

Cirque Colors - Metropolis Collection Additions Swatch & Review

Hi everyone!  I have two of the newer additions to the Metropolis Collection from Cirque Colors for you today!

Hudson

Hudson is a periwinkle creme.  The formula was smooth and easy to apply.  I am such a sucker for periwinkles, and this is such a perfect one!

Shown is two coats of Hudson.

Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty is a medium aqua creme.  The formula was smooth and easy to apply.  I am just mad for this shade!!!  It's just beautiful!

Shown is two coats of Lady Liberty.

You can find these and other great Cirque Colors shades at their storefront here, and be sure to check them out on Facebook for all of their latest updates and collections.

I hope you enjoyed!  Happy Painting!

*Products provided for the purpose of an honest review*