A Vampy Vee!

Hey everyone!!  The week's almost over!  Hooray!

Since I went with something soft and simple yesterday, I decided to go with something a little saucier today!!

I started off with two coats of Revlon Stiletto, a super shiny black creme.

Next, I taped off the side sections of my nails, leaving a v-shape down the center, and applied one coat of OPI Simmer & Shimmer.

To add a little something extra, I used three of my dotting tools to create the center dot design, going from largest to smallest.

To complete the mani, I finished with one coat of Cult Nails Wicked Fast.

I really like this one!  It's dark and kinda vampy, but fun and sparkly at the same time!!  I hope you enjoy!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Revlon Stiletto, OPI Simmer & Shimmer

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

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

Sea Urchin Fun

Hey everyone!  Here's a look at the mani I'm rockin at the moment!  My little Evan loves a new show on Disney called The Octonauts - and I happened to see a little sea urchin on one of the episodes!  

So here we go!!

I started with two coats of Barielle's A Bouquet for Ava for the ocean water, and Sinful Colors' Zeus for the urchins.

Zeus has an awesome formula and shine to it.  As far as A Bouquet for Ava?  I'm not crazy about it.  The formula is seriously thick, refuses to go on evenly, and dries with a borderline neon finish.  What's that about?!?  OH!  And if you happen to sneeze and get the tiniest bit on your skin ... congratulations!  You're skin is now stained with a less than delightful teal hue.  Grrrrrrreat.  But I do adore the color!

I applied a quick coat of SV over Zeus, and cut small pointed strips of scotch tape for the urchin design.  Once the tape was in place, I added a coat of A Bouquet for Ava, and removed the tape immediately.  Then I finished it off with a coat of Cult Nails Wicked Fast.

I used my dotting tool with Kiss Black & Kiss White to create the bubble design by first placing black dots on my nails, and then placing smaller white dots over the black.  I finished this off with a coat of Cult Nails Wicked Fast.

I hope you enjoy today's mani!  Sorry my Barielle rant was a bit lengthy.  I don't know if it's me, but I'm just not having a lot of luck with many of their polishes.  Has anyone else had this problem??  I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Sinful Colors Zeus, Barielle A Bouquet for Ava, Kiss White, Kiss Black

Rather Puzzling

I hung out with one of my sisters yesterday, and it gave me an idea for a new mani!  My sister absolutely loves puzzles, so here ya go!!

I started with two coats of Finger Paints Pop Rock Pink.  I really don't think it's very pink though.  It's really much more of a coral!  It's a great jelly with a nice subtle shimmer!  Since it is a jelly, I decided on this one for the base color on all of my nails, as the other polishes are all cremes.  I didn't want any of the other colors showing through underneath Pop Rock Pink.

After a quick coat of SV, I taped off a section on my nails, and used Dare to Wear Pillow Talk, China Glaze Sweet Hoot, and China Glaze Kinetic Candy to create the first puzzle pieces.  Then I added another quick coat of SV to the newly polished section to protect the polish for the next tape application.

I taped off the same section, leaving the opposite site of my nail exposed, and added another color for the next piece.  Then another coat of SV!

I taped off one last section for the last painted piece, leaving a Pop Rock Pink section exposed for the final piece!

Then I used my dotting tool to create the puzzle lock design.

I finished the mani with a coat of Cult Nails Wicked Fast!

This was a really fun mani to create!  I love the way the colors work together!!  I hope you all enjoy it!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Finger Paints Pop Rock Pink, Dare to Wear Pillow Talk, China Glaze Sweet Hook, China Glaze Kinetic Candy

Interlocking

Hi ladies!  I guess I'm on a bit of a dotting kick lately - but just for fun, let's throw some tape in there too!

I started off with two coats of Nubar Reclaim, a supremely eye catching green holo.

My husband said it really reminded him of A England's Dragon.  Hmm.  I might have to do a dupe comparison post!

I taped off my nails diagonally and used one coat of Color Club Worth the Risque, a gorgeous silver holo.  I reversed the color block on my ring finger because, well, it's me!

I used my large dotting tool with Worth the Risque and dotted along the tape line, making sure to leave space in between the dots.

Next, I used the same dotting tool with Reclaim and placed the dots in the empty spaces along the tape line.

Once the interlock look was in place, I used my small dotting tool with Reclaim and placed rows of dots over Worth the Risque.

I repeated this step with Worth the Risque over Reclaim.

I finished off the mani with one coat of Cult Nails Wicked Fast.

This was a fun and easy mani to work with.  I hope you enjoy it!  Happy Painting!

Colors: Nubar Reclaim, Color Club Worth the Risque

Guest Post for Chit Chat Nails!

Be sure to head over to Chit Chat Nails for my first ever guest post!!! ...

Hi everyone!  I am so excited to be doing my very first guest blog post for the incomparable Chit Chat Nails!!!  I'm Nicole from Nail Polish Wars, which features nail art & trends!  I'm also the creator of the upcoming Elixir polish line!  I hope you like what I've created for you!!

I started with two coats of Zoya Delilah, a beautiful red glitter in a red jelly base.

I used my dotting tool with OPI Alpine Snow to create the traditional Hello Kitty polka dots.

I taped off my ring finger and used two coats of Alpine Snow to create the Hello Kitty face.  Next, I used the dotting tool with Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow 360 for the nose, and Kiss Black for the eyes.  For the whiskers, I used a straight pin with Kiss Black.  I finished with a coat of SV.

And in the true spirit of Chit Chat Nails, something relevant & cute!!!!

I hope you all enjoy this, while the fearless leader is having a wonderful vacation!  As always, Happy Painting Ladies!!!

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