Bubbly

In honor on New Years Eve tomorrow, I am posting my manicure for the occasion.  It seems a bit subdued for me since the night always seems to need to be so epic, but I think it fits.  It's a representation of the toast I will be making to a great year and continue living a happy life once the ball drops at midnight!  Be safe!  Have a great night and spend some time with the ones you love.

I painted a base two coats of Zoya Richelle and added some glitter from Esther's Nail Center and La Splash Cosmetics in Pot O' Gold.  I painted a coat of China Glaze Swanky Silk on top and added a few more pieces of glitter.  I used two coats of Seche Vite to finish the look.

Nude Snowflakes

Minnesota hadn't gotten a big snowfall before this manicure.  It was my way of calling it to us, because soon after we had a crazy snowfall!  It was amazing and aggravating at the same time.  For whatever reason, nude is tricky to capture on camera.  Plus, my sparkles were so subtle, I also had difficulty capturing it.  Oh well, on with the snowflakes!

I painted three coats of China Glaze Knotty and added LA Splash Cosmetics Nail Glitter in Golden Egg.  Using Bundle Monster plates BM03, BM14, BM202, BM204 with Konad Special Stamping Polish in White.  One coat Seche Vite to finish.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Yesterday was thanksgiving here in the States and I also participated in something I've never done before: Black Friday.  So in honor of those two events, here are the nails inspired by them:

Thanksgiving Feathers:

I painted a base two coats of Zoya Tiffany and sponged Zoya Sienna and China Glaze Riveting.  For the feathers I used Bundle Monster image disc BM214 with China Glaze Blue Bells Ring.  I finished with Seche Vite.

Black Friday: 

This manicure was fun with the layering effect.  I first painted two coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather and then added glitter with LA Splash Cosmetics in Silver Wave.  I then added a coat of Orly Androgynie for the final layer.  I used one coat of Seche Vite, but now after a day, I may add another for more shine.

Red Hot--Take It Off

In preparation for watching Magic Mike tonight (yes, I'm going)  These are also my birthday party manicure nails.  Since I was swimming all day yesterday, I didn't do an official birthday manicure.  But since I knew I was going to a crazy movie tonight to celebrate my birthday, but didn't think wearing stripper-themed nails to work was a very good idea, this was the best I could come up with to pay homage.  So excited!

I taped off the bottom of my nails and added three coats of China Glaze Hey Sailor and glitter from LA Splash Cosmetics in  Hazardous.  I finished the manicure with two coats of Seche Vite.

Neon Polka

Another highlight for my neon colors.  I tried my best to get the colors to work in the photos, but sometimes I think the reflection shot is a more accurate rendering of the neon color.

I painted two coats of Zoya Haorley and added glitter from LA Splash Cosmetics in Rock Star.  I used a dotting tool and first painted the dots in China Glaze White On White for a base for the neons.  I then added China Glaze Surfin' For Boys, Lolita, Sun-Kissed, Sun Worshiper, Towel Boy Toy, In The Lime Light and Shocking Pink.  To finish: one coat of Seche Vite.

Spring Brings Out The Sparkle In Me

Glitter has been a theme in my manicure the past few weeks; sparkles make me happy.  Here's a look at all the various sparkles that have been blinging out my nails.

Brighten My Day:

I'm in love with this orange (really one of the best colors from the Capitol Colors Collection) and this manicure really did make my days brighter.  So pretty, so multidimensional and all around wonderful.  I was painted with a base of three coats of China Glaze Riveting adding orange, gold and copper glitter from Esther's Nail Center.  Over the entire manicure and glitter, I painted one coat of China Glaze Celtic Sun.  Seche Vite was used for the top coat.

Pink On Peach; Peach On Pink:

It might be hard to tell, but on the peach, the glitter is actually pink, but the end result was not a clear as the design was intended.  But pretty all the same.  I painted three coats of China Glaze Peachy Keen on all fingers but ring.  On my ring finger I painted three coats of Zoya Areej.  Glitter flakes (orange and pink) were from Esther's Nail Center.  Top coat was Seche Vite.

Dragon Scales:

Named for a fiction book I'm reading about dragons.  This manicure got a lot of compliments from onlookers.  I painted three coats of Zoya Apple and I added green and aqua glitter flakes from Esther's Nail Center.  I used Seche Vite for the top coat.

Blue/Green Sparkle:

I painted three coats of China Glaze Up All Night adding Yofi Glitter in Caribbean Crush and green glitter flakes from Esther's Nail Center.  Seche Vite was the top coat.

R-G-B Bling:

I wanted monster sparkle and shine and this was my fix (hence all the pics).  I painted a base of China Glaze Dress Me Up and added red, green and blue glitter flakes from Esther's Nail Center and then filled in with LA Splash Cosmetics glitter in Silver Torpedo.  I topped the manicure with Seche Vite.

The Finger

Get it?  Besides this manicure highlighting a particular finger on my hand, I really enjoyed the look.  The contrast between super sparkly and matte was really fun.

I painted three coats of OPI I Have A Herring Problem.  I added LA Splash Cosmetics Nail Glitter in Golden Egg to all fingers, save one, with one coat of Seche Vite to top.  And to that delightful middle finger, I added on coat of Essie Matte About You.

Valentine's Day, Part 1

Officially I have started my Valentine's Day manicures.  Here are a few.  I will have a few more for you before or on the day (promise).

Sparkle Hearts:
I painted three coats of both Zoya Ali and China Glaze Salsa.  Once fully dried, I hand painted the hearts on each nail and added glitters from LA Splash Cosmetics in Fashionista and Hazardous.  Seche Vite was my top coat.

Love, Love, Love:
Was three coats of Orly Au Champagne and images from Bundle Monster plates BM202, BM09, Konad plate m59 with Konad Special Polishes Violet, Black and Psyche Pink.  A few words were handpainted with China Glaze Liquid Leather.  I completed the look with one coat of Seche Vite.

Girlie Girl

A few cute toddler girls that have birthdays in January inspired this manicure.  It was so pink and girlie, I fit right in at one of their princess parties.  It was hard to capture the iridescence, but you can pick it up in some of the reflections.

I painted three coats of OPI Mod About You and added holo purple and iridescent blue large hex glitter and LA Splash Cosmetic nail glitter in Red Heart Spangle (minus the hearts).  Seche Vite was used as the top coat.

Red Feather

This manicure started with the glitter and the sponged black layer.  However, I didn't like it enough.  It needed more.  Then I added the Bundle Monster stamp and it was complete.

Before:

 After:

I painted three coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather and added LA Splash Glitter in Midnight Star and sponged Liquid Leather on the bottom half of the manicure.  I then added Bundle Monster image BM216 with China Glaze Platinum Silver.  One coat of Seche Vite was used to finish the look.

Happy 2012!

This is the manicure I rang the new year in with.  I wanted a glittery, confetti-type manicure, and was pleased with the result.  However I was hoping my glitter would be more dense, but since I had made it myself and added a finer glitter to the mix, it wanted to adhere to my polish more than the larger glitter flecks did.  Either way, I'm happy with the result.  However, I am realizing with more and more manicures, my love for Seche Vite waning.  I am pretty sure because of it's fast drying qualities, it makes my polish shrink.  I have tip wear in these photos even though I just painted them.  I'm torn because I love how shiny and fast it dries, but it bothers me it affects the tips of my manicures.

I painted three coats of Zoya Tao and to my pointer fingers I added LA Splash Cosmetics glitter in Silver Torpedo and mixed a glitter concotion of dots nail glitter flakes from Esther's Nail Center with LA Splash Cosmetics glitter in Silver Wave.  I finished the manicure with two coats of Seche Vite.

Winter Wonderland

I feel like Santa bringing a present on Christmas Eve.  Just in time!  to show off my holiday manicure.  I wanted to do a mixed medium manicure and think I got to incorporate several of my manicure techniques to pull off this look.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Left Hand:

 Right Hand:

I painted a base polish on all nails but ring, three coats, of OrlyAu Champagne.  On those fingers I marbled with the same and China Glaze White On White and Zoya Dove.  Evergreen trees were hand painted with a blend of Zoya Edyta and China Glaze Holly-Day and trunks with China Glaze Midtown Magic.  Deciduous tree was a base of China Glaze Liquid Leather and an overlay of China Glaze Midtown Magic; I added snow using a mix of Orly Au Champagne and China Glaze White On White.  Sleigh on my thumbs were first stamped with Bundle Monster plate BM213, using Konad Special Polish in Black (skate), Apple Green and Coral Blue (presents), China Glaze Crimson (sled) with China Glaze City Siren overlay painted afterward; I also added China Glaze Midtown Magic to the skate and China Glaze Icicle as silver ribbon and China Glaze Holly-Day for green ribbon.  All of these nails were completed with a sponging of Orly Winter Wonderland to mimic a snow-globe quality.  My glitter ring fingers were done by using tape.  First painting three coats of China Glaze Holly-Day on bottom, waiting for it to completely dry and then painting three coats of China Glaze City Siren and adding a glitter concoction of MAC pigment glitter in Red, LA Splash Cosmetic glitter in Silver Torpedo and Red and Silver hexagonal glitter for Esther's Nail Center.  Seche Vite was used to complete the entire manicure.

Golden Gild

I made a few sparkle concoctions to mimic current nail polish trends in glitter polishes.  This is a second example (Red + Green = Awesome, being the first).  I like the result, but I'm not sure how festive it is.  I don't know why silver and blue is considered festive, but when I did gold and blue, not really so much.  Either way, the fingers shine and I like the touch of a holo water marble.

Flash:

I painted three coats on all nails of China Glaze Peace On Earth (forgot how much I love this color, very ugly/pretty) and added a mix of LA Splash Cosmetic Glitter in Golden Seahorse, Silver Torpedo and Yofi Cosmetics Skinny Dippin' to all fingers but ring.  My ring fingers were marbled with China Glaze L8R G8R and DV8.  One coat Seche Vite to shine 'em up!

Deck The Halls

Ok.  So I have gotten some new polishes for the holiday season (loving) and more importantly, after being sick (and tired), I decorated my house for Christmas and am finally feeling in the holiday spirit.  So I'm ready for the holiday themed nails to begin!

I painted three coats of China Glaze Holly-Day and added glitter from LA Splash Cosmetics in Midnight Flash.  I then added with China Glaze Passion and Bundle Monster Plate BM225 the Christmas Ball.  I finished the manicure with one coat Seche Vite.