Thursday, October 4, 2012

ABC's Week 4 - 'D'

Ok, so let me start of by saying Grrr... I had this post set up Tuesday morning, ready to be posted on Wednesday, and then I get a really nasty 24 hour stomach bug... I could barley do anything but lay down, and... never mind you don't need to know the rest. Anyways I tried really hard to have this out on the due date, but oh well...

For this week, we have the letter D. I knew last week what I wanted to do. I was looking through my image plates, and saw this one image, that just clicked on a light in my head... and I though...

DANDELION!!!`

So now that you know what I choose to do, I don't know what else to say, so here are the pictures. Hope you like them as much as I do. (I really liked how this one came out as well... I guess I am getting a little better then I used to be since I seem to be liking more of my manis...) Also sorry for the funky light, it is heavily raining here, and I used the light from my turtle tank, hoping it would be the closest to the sun light, and not give that orange tinge.

Any way enough of my rambling. Pictures!!!




Colors used:
Base Color: "Cinderella" by Sinful Colors
Stamp Color: "Black Creme" by Wet n Wild (wild shine)
Image Plate: "Mash-30" by Mash Nails

Monday, October 1, 2012

Trick or Treats (Nail Tarts Halloween 2012)

Woo Hoo, time for Orange!

Ok, so I have always kind of loved orange, so since this is my first Halloween challenge, I decided I would just have to use orange.

So for this challenge it said Trick or Treats... so I wasn't sure how to do any form of Trick, so I decided to do Treats. There are a number of stamps that depict different types of candy. So having a bunch to choose from, I decided to do stamped images of Treats!

I had first started out doing a free style candy corn nail, as this was the example used for the challenge, but didn't really like the way it turned out (actually at first I did the colors upside down, and it looked awesome, but then when I did it correctly, I didn't like it). So I decided to change and do all the nails kind of the same.

I really like how these came out. Especially the double effect of the silver under the black, I think it gave them another dimension. I hope you enjoy! (and yes I am going to say something like this each time, but if you don't like it then that means I need to get better, so let me know and help me grow!)




Colors used:
Base Color: "Orange" by Wet n Wild (Fantasy Makers)
Silver: "No Place Like Chrome" by Essie
Black: "Black Creme" by Wet n Wild (wild shine)
Image Plate: "BM02" by Bundle Monster
Image Plate: "BM-322" by Bundle Monster

Halloween Here We Come!

So today starts the season... well A Season, and that would be the season of HALLOWEEN! Now I can't wait till THE season, Woo Hoo, but that will be later...

So during the month of October, I will be endeavoring to complete a number of different challenges. I will be continuing with the ABC's that I am doing, but now will be adding three others (one of which starts Saturday, so I will tell about that one later when it starts).

So the two new ones (I think it is only two, will update if I find others) that I will be doing are both Halloween themed... Luckily both are only a few days, not everyday like the 31 Day Challenge (which would just be too much) so I should be able to pull off all of my challenges (so excited).

The first one that I will tell you about, actually has set days and the first of which will be today (that post to come). This challenge is being presented by the group Crumpet's Nail Tarts, and will be their 2012 Halloween Challenge, below you will find the challenge.


The second one is an event created by SassyNails, a fellow nail polisher. This one is the Nail-Aween Nail Art Challenge. The difference with this challenge, is you are given 10 different challenge days, but you can do them when ever you can, as long as you get them all done by the end of the month. Meaning no set day... Find this challenge below.


So one thing that is nice, is that since the Nail-Aween challenge does not have set days, if by chance I do a mani that is the same on my other challenge, it will work for this one too, so it may be easier then I thought.

Well, that concludes my announcement of my Halloween challenges (I like to tell you about a challenge before I start it, as you may have noticed before). So I hope you are ready for a lot of Halloween inspired manis (but there will be others to break up the over load), so join me for the season of Halloween through my manis!!!

Welcome Fall!

Well I figured that I should probably get out a fall mani before starting the huge endeavor of Halloween challenges (read more later). I do plan on doing some more before Thanksgiving, but figured that as we are now officially in fall, that this would be appropriate.

I had meant to get this done on Saturday, but unfortunately was unable to because of time, but I did do it yesterday!

If you haven't been able to tell from my previous posts, I really like french tips... be it a true french with just white, or be it a colored tip, stamped or not... this is a new version as the tip is done on the naked nail (for the most part) so the tip is the stamp itself. This is simple, but I think a really pretty mani, hope you enjoy!





Colors used:
Base Coat: "Mademoiselle" by Essie
Stamp Color: "Hot for Chocolate" by Revlon
Image Plate: "Mash-27" by Mash Nails

Thursday, September 27, 2012

ABC's Week 3 - 'C'

So once again I need to apologize for not getting this out on the correct day. I had to work yesterday (which I don't normally have to) and didn't get home till 6. After feeding the wee ones, and getting them to bed, I had to crash myself.

Today is going to be the letter C, I decided to try something that I had seen before (also tried to use the color that I already had on my nails). I also wanted to utilize my new dotting tools (you would have known about them, but I never got my nail mail post done... would it be to late to post it?).

So I decided to do CIRCLES for my C mani. Unfortunately it didn't come out as good as I wanted because the lighter color was the one that was already on my nails, when it should have been the darker color (I will re-try it at some point, the correct way)... so you could decide for my C mani to be CIRCLE, CIRCLE, DOT, DOT... as it looks more like polka dots...

Anyways with out further ado, here is my C mani!




Colors used:
Base & Light Dot Color: "Dulce De Leche" by OPI
Dark Dot Color: "Nirvana" by Sinful Colors

Saturday, September 22, 2012

ABC's Week 2 - 'B'

First of all I know this was supposed to be done on Wednesday, but I was unexpectedly held out of town all week, and was unable to post this. So I would like to apologize for the lateness of this post, but I was supposed to be home on Tuesday and I didn't get home till the end of the week.

So this is one of those challenges that I feel like I cheated a little. For my B mani I chose to do a BROKEN mani. The reason that I say I cheated, is that I used a crackle glaze to achieve this look. Since I had been out of town, and not able to do my mani, I figured this would be quick and easy. I do love this mani, and have actually done it before just to ware (I don't think I have posted it on here before).

So I hope you forgive me for being SOOOO late on this post, and I also hope that you like it!




Colors used:
Base Color: "Mod Squad" by Essie
Top Color: "Haute Metal" by China Glaze (crackle glaze)

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

ABC's Week 1 - 'A'

Before this challenge started, the creator of the challenge was fabulous and put out a list of what letter was on which day, and also had some ideas listed for each letter. For me this is super helpful as sometimes (and I blame this on lack of IQ from kids) I just can not think of creative things without help.

Often what I do is think of an idea, and then do a search on the Internet for examples. Sometimes I feel like this is cheating, but I don't copy what I see, it just helps me come up with what I will do. And that is just what I did this time. I started out by seeing the idea of Abstract on the master list, and did a search of that.

So for my first mani of this challenge, I decided to do an ABSTRACT design using a polish that also started with A: ATHENS.  Well this is what I came up with, hope you like it, I sure do. I think this one came out Great! Simple but nice.






Colors used:
Base Color: "Mademoiselle" by Essie
Tip Color: "Athens" by Sinful Colors
Stamp Color: "French White Creme" by Wet n Wild (wild shine)
Image Plate: "RA-116" by Red Angel

The ABC's of Nail Polish

As I mentioned in my last post, I would soon be starting two new nail art challenges. The first of which starts today and is called (if you can't tell by the title) The ABC's of Nail Polish, this challenge is being hosted by Llama Nails.


This challenge will be posted every Wednesday, each week will be a different letter as we make our way through the alphabet, and will run for 26 weeks, as there are only 26 letters in the alphabet (makes sense right?).

This is going to be a fun challenge as the only rule and guide is that the mani you do some how needs to deal with the letter of the week. For example the technique, the name of the nail polish, the design, or picture, need to start with that letter. I know this probably seems confusing, but hopefully, as the challenge goes on you will understand.

I am super excited about this challenge, since it really brings out every one's creativity, and their own interpretations. You could end up with anything for each day, so looking forward to seeing everyone elses mani's


Anyways, my next post will be the first of many to come for this challenge. See you soon!

Monday, September 10, 2012

It's Been Over A Week... Time For A Mani!

Ok, so sad to say that it has been just over a week since my last mani.

I have to admit that when I reached my last day of the 31 day challenge I just finished, it was kind of nice to not have to do my nails for a few days. I had a nice mani for the last day, so I chose to enjoy it. Well that lead to me just not bothering as I was spending all last week heavily cleaning my house. So this past weekend I went to my in-laws house, and decided it was time to do a new mani.

Later this week I will be starting a new challenge, and come October another. Both of these are once a week so that is only two mani's a week I have to do (sounds a lot more reasonable than doing one every day). I am excited to start these new challenges, and very happy that they will not be as intense as this last one. I will go into more details to each challenge on the first day of each one.

Anyways, here is the result of this ever so long awaited next mani, now time to think of a new one. There is a thin light blue sparkly base, that you can't really tell is there in the pictures, but it is pretty. Enjoy!




Colors used:
Background: "Cinderella" by Sinful Colors
Stamp Color: "White On" by Sally Hansen (xtreme wear)
Image Plate: "BM-312" by Bundle Monster

Friday, August 31, 2012

Day 31 - Inspired By A Challenge

We made it!!!

For this final challenge, a number of us in the group who were doing the 31 day challenge, decided that instead of redoing one of our own past challenges, we would pick one from someone else in the group and redo that mani.

For my redo of a fellow challenger, I chose the Delicate Print challenge, done by Cristina from The Clockwise Nail Polish. You can view her original mani HERE.

I liked this mani, because it was very delicate, and pretty. I hate to admit it, but I have kind of been waiting for the challenge to end so that I could finally have a mani for more than a day. Also since I have a party to go to tonight (well its really more of a group of us who get together once a month for food, drinks, and games), I figured this would be a nice mani to have.

So without further ado, here is my final mani of this challenge. I will worn that there are like 6 pictures because luckily they all came out non fuzzy, and I really like how this came out, so you get to see both hands, enjoy!








Colors used:
Background: "Rose Petals" by OPI
Pink Sparkle Color: "Princesses Rule" by OPI
Stamp Color: "French White Creme" by Wet n Wild (wild shine)
Image Plate: "BM 11" by Bundle Monster
Hex Glitter Taken From A Purple "Bon Bons" These Don't Seem To Have Names

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Day 30 - Inspired By A Tutorial

For today's challenge, I knew from the start which tutorial I was going to try and do. There is this wonderful nail artist named Robin Moses at http://robinmosesnailart.blogspot.com/, who did an awsome mani using the technique of marbaling without water. Here is a picture of her mani.


Now, she does a lot of these types of mani's, and has 100s of mani's on you tube, but here is the link for this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlK0yrIOq4c

So, I don't think mine are any where close to her's, plus I don't have any gold glitter stripers or polish (will have to fix that), so I could not add that, but here are the pictures of how my nails came out.





Colors used:
Background: "Mademoiselle" by Eddir
White: "French White Creme" by Wet n Wild (wild shine)
Toup: "Nirvana" by Sinful Colors
Black: "Liquid Leather" by China Glaze

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Day 29 - Inspired By The Supernatural

For the supernatural challenge, I pulled some inspiration from my 4 year old daughter. She used to love (and still kind of does) Tinker Bell, so I think Fairies!

Luckily I just got some new stamping image plates, and they had some grass, and fairies, so I think, Woo Hoo! So here is what I came up with... unfortunately when I put on the top coat, it made the fairies (the whole point of this challenge) basically disappear... I have never had this happen before and am very confused and upset by this... oh well, other than that, and the fact I need some better stamping greens, I am happy with this mani. Enjoy!




Colors used:
Background: "French White Creme" by Wet n Wild (wild shine)
Grass Stamp Color: "Exotic Green" by Sinful Colors
Red Flowers Stamp Color: "Crawford's Wine" by Orly
Blue Flowers Stamp Color: "Midnight Blue" by Sinful Colors
Purple Fairies Stamp Color: "Let's Talk" by Sinful Colors
Image Plate (grass): "RA-105" by Red Angel
Image Plate (small flowers): "BM-311" by Bundle Monster
Image Plate (large flowers): "BM 06" by Bundle Monster
Image Plate (fairies): "RA-112" by Red Angel

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Day 28 - Inspired By A Flag

We have all seen mani's out there that are of the American and British flags. These are probably the most common ones to do, so me being me, I didn't want to do something every one else has done. Even though I was born and raised in the United States (actually never been out of it... Sad I know, but it is actually worse than that, but we don't need to get into that now) I wanted to do something different.

So for this mani I am drawing out my heritage and doing mine for the country my grandmother came from. Slovakia! When we were growing up, we always had (and still today) eat the traditional foods at holidays, say the traditional things, and many other things. I would love to go there one day, and am very sad that I don't really know the language. Even with that, I am proud of my heritage and where I come from, and want to show that with my flag. Hope you like it!

Here is a picture of the flag that they use today.


Unfortunately I didn't think I could pull that one off with the crest, because with the kids, trying to get anything done is bad enough. So I went for more the flag that they used when my grandma's family was there. This is an unofficial flag (guess they didn't have an official one then).


And here are the pictures of my mani, I wish I had done it cleaner, but oh well it works.




Colors used:
White: "French White Creme" by Wet n Wild
Blue: "Midnight Blue" by Sinful Colors
Red: "Crawford's Wine" by Orly

Monday, August 27, 2012

Day 27 - Inspired By Art

When I look at the calendar, I realize that Labor Day is only a week away. Where I live that means soon will be the start of school (since here we start the day after) and Labor Day picnics.

One picnic in particular is a tradition where I live, as this year will be the 137th anniversary of the annual Labor Day Picnic. At this Picnic there is the famous barbecue chicken, carnival games, raffles, icy drinks, music, shops and so much more. Thinking back to when I was a child (and actually may be like 8 years ago) I always remember the spin art that I loved to do. I know this is probably not really considered art, but it is fun, and brings back so many memories. I even hope to get my 4 year old and 21 month old to do one this year.

So for today's challenge I wanted to try and recreate the end result of spin art. I don't really think it looks like spin art, but I am happy with it anyways. I think this may be my recreation one for the last challenge, and I will do the whole circle instead of just part, or maybe mix it up, we will see. Hope you like it.





Colors used:
Base: "French White Creme" by Wet n Wild
Purple: by It's So Easy Stripe Rite
Blue: by It's So Easy Stripe Rite
Pink: by It's So Easy Stripe Rite

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Day 26 - Inspired By A Pattern

So I don't know if this would really be considered inspired by a pattern. But I have this stamp, and have seen a number of people use it, and just loved it, but hadn't had a chance to use it. So when I came across this challenge, I new this would be a great time to put it to use. I will apologize for the uncleaned cuticles, and how the stamp in kind of crooked, but I was trying to do this quickly before I left the house. But even with the issues, I am so happy with this mani. Hope you like it.





Colors used:
Base: "450?" by Wet n Wild
Stamp Color: "Liquid Leather" by China Glaze
Image Plate: "BM-203" by Bundle Monster