Sit Down, Look Pretty, and Sparkle

So tonight I was kinda on the fence about what to do with my nails.  So, I actually asked the hubby what I should do!  For those of you who haven't seen him ... Here's my husband, Sean!!  

I know, awww ... right?!  He asked me to do something light with sparkly tips.  (We have a secret meaning for the word "sparkle", so that certain sarcastic banter between us will be kid friendly!)

I grabbed three of my MANY untrieds tonight, starting with Zoya Marley, a very pretty pale lilac with a very subtle silvery shimmer.  This is just one coat of Marley with no topcoat.

For some added sparkle, I used two coats of Nicole by OPI Count on Me.  It's a really pretty lilac shimmer, with shines of blue.  I used one coat of SV over the two coats.

For my accent nail, I went with Butter London The Black Knight - an awesome black jelly loaded with multicolored micro glitter.  I used two coats, followed by one coat of Wicked Fast. 

I taped off and used The Black Knight for the sparkly tips, as requested!!  I finished off my mani with a coat of Wicked Fast.

Sean was really happy with the end result!  I like the way the colors contrast and compliment all at the same time!  This was a quick and easy mani for a very tired girl!  I hope you enjoy this one, and all of the untried colors!  Happy Painting!

Colors: Zoya Marley, Nicole by OPI Count on Me, Butter London The Black Knight

Rainbow Rows

Sometimes, a picture can affect me so strongly, that it will actually inspire a new mani! -- Come on, I didn't say it had to be classy or profound!!!

You know you laughed.

I started by using my striping brush to create the rainbow stripes - yes, even indigo! - down my nails.  I followed with a quick coat of SV.

Next, I cut small strips of scotch tape, and taped off the two sections on each nail.  (I decided to make two on each nail because my husband and I seem to have a habit of always seeing double rainbows!  I know ... awww!)

After I finished the taping, I applied one generous coat of black.

I finished with one coat of Cult Nails Wicked Fast top coat.  This was my first experience using Wicked Fast.  And, I think it is safe to say that I am now addicted to it!  It has such a beautiful glass finish!  And it's definitely not just a clever name!  It dried ridiculously fast!!!  I was completely loyal to my SV top coat, but Wicked Fast just blew it out of the water!!!

I wanted to try a little something different on my right hand, so I taped off the tip only, then used black to create a fun rainbow french tip!

Colors: Essie - Ups, Nicole by OPI - Nicole's Fave, Sally Hansen - Mellow Yellow 360, Misa - The Grass is Greener on my Side, China Glaze - First Mate, Color Club - Blue-Topia, Wet n Wild - On a Trip, Wet n Wild - Ebony Hates Chris

This was a lot of fun to create, and honestly didn't really take very long at all!  I hope you enjoy it!!!!  Happy Painting ladies!

Technicolor Leopard

I felt like being a little experimental with stamping today.  I started with two coats of Zoya Zara ...

Zara is, in a word, amaztastic.  It is such a naturally shiny shimmer ... this is two coats with NO top coat!!!!

After the two coats of Zara, I used one of my Red Angel plates, RA-107 for the leopard design.  I dropped a small bit of each of the Ulta colors on the design, then scraped and stamped.  When the light hits the leopard, the different colors will subtly come through.  Next time I might use a contrasting color palette, but I didn't want anything to clash with beautiful Zoya!  

To add some sparkle, I taped off the tips diagonally and added two coats of Purple Gleam, a gorgeous purple glitter in a grey jelly base.  I finished it with a coat of SV. 

This was a fun mani to create, so I hope you like it!  

Happy Painting!!!

Colors: Zoya Zara, Milani Purple Gleam, Ulta Love my Blackberry, Ulta Moody Blues, Ulta Wild Night, Ulta Dance Teal Dawn

I've never heard of a beautiful witch before!

Happy Pink Wednesday!!!  Today's Wizard of Oz mani features Glinda the Witch of the North!

Colors: OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, Wet n Wild Hannah Pinktana, Orly Girly, Wet n Wild Celeb City

I applied one coat of Lincoln Park After Dark, then two coats of Hannah Pinktana, since Hannah Pinktana is very sheer.  The I taped off my tips for the Girly frosty pink tips.  I used Salon Experts stamping plate #053 for the north star design with Celeb City.

And just for fun ... Here's my mini-dachshund, Dixie, dressed up as Glinda!!!

Have a pink-tasitc day and happy painting!!!!!

If I only had a heart...

Welcome to the second installment of my Wizard of Oz Inspirations Series!!  Have a little heart and give some love to the Tinman!!!!

Colors: Ulta Scene Steel-er, Finger Paints Tiffany Imposter, Ulta Plum Street, Sally Hansen Black Out

I really like the Scene Steel-er polish, it dries so quickly and looks amazing with only one coat!  I used my zig zag edge scissors with scotch tape for the tips.  The black detailing and heart were hand painted with my tiny brush/dotting tool.

More Wizard of Oz Inspirations coming soon!!

Well, my little pretty, I can cause accidents, too!

Welcome to my very first series - The Wizard of Oz Inspirations!!!  If you'e going to start somewhere, you may as well start at the beginning of The Yellow Brick Road!!

Most people tend to overlook the Wicked Witch of the East - but not this east coast girl!

Be sure to check back for the rest of this amazingly fun series!!!

Colors: Sally Hansen Black Out, Sally Hansen White On, Sally Hansen Red Carpet

I never really thought the Wicked Witch of the East's black and white stocking were a great fashion choice to pair with the Ruby Slippers ... until now!!  Anyone wanna try clicking their heels together??

Dandelions en Francais

Colors: Orly Nite Owl w/ OPI Black Onyx

I wanted to give neutral a little bit of a boost tonight!!!  (And black tips are my favorite, if you hadn't noticed!)  I used my scotch tape for the tips, as well as the little dandelion design on my ring fingers.  I have no idea why it makes me think of dandelions, but it always makes me smile to think about it this way.

Glitter can be so per-suede-sive!!

Colors: OPI Here Today ... Aragon Tomorrow w/ Sinful Colors Call You Later

I wanted to do a contrast tonight!  So I grabbed some greens!!  The OPI is a suede finish, which actually looks really cute with glitters.  (And suedes and glitters dry super fast!!!)  The only drag about a suede finish is that you can't use a top coat!!!  I don't know about you, but I feel naked and panic stricken without a full top coat!  Eek!!  But, I guess it's okay since I change polish before I have a chance to chip any nails!!  And you can't get any kinds of lotions on your nails either.  And it doesn't last nearly as long as regular enamel polish.  Okay, maybe there's more than just one drag about it.  But it's cute damnit!!!

Just a little matte at you!

Colors: OPI Black Onyx w/ Essie Matte About You

I did this one a little differently than you might think.  After two coats of the main color, I put on a top coat of Essie Matte About You to achieve the matte finish.  Once that had dried completely, I scotch taped for the tips, and used a top coat only for the shiny tips.  This way, all of my nail color is protected by a top coat!

All ya need is scotch!!

Colors: OPI Espresso Your Style! w/ OPI Black Onyx

No, not advice, literal tips!  Scotch tape is quite possibly the easiest thing in the world you can use to tip your own nails!  Yes, I realize that there are those little "guide" stick-ons out there.  But, there is one very simple problem with those: They're too thick!!!  The thickness causes a thick edge of your polish when you're painting your tips, so as soon as you remove the strip, you're left with a messy, tacky line instead of something seamless.  If you really wanna go above and beyond for a perfectly curved line, then get the strips!!!  But don't put them on your nails!!!! Place a guide on a strip of your scotch tape, and use some small shears to trim around the edge, then take the guide sticker off of the tape!!!!!  I know, it sounds like a pain, and it kind of is.  So I'd stick to the scotch tape.  As always when scotching your nails, be sure to let your base color dry completely before applying your tape!!