Black Hole

More like "Dark Gray Hole" but that name makes less sense.  I was kind of in the gradient mood, but didn't want to do the traditional straight gradient, so I made it circular.  I like the finished look because it has a lot of depth.

Mega Flash:

I first coated with Ulta Total Eclipse (which is interesting to know that without knowing the polish name before coming up with the idea, it inspired me...).  I then started towards the middle of the nail and sponged a circle with China Glaze Tinsel, then I sponged the outer of the circle, concentrating on the top and bottom edge with Orly It's Not Rocket Science.  I did touch up the center to make a more defined black center with the same base color and I finished the look with one coat of Seche Vite.

To Scales

I'm going the the cabin this weekend for a little girls weekend and a little R&R.  So excited.  I did a water theme with fish scales.  I'm moderately happy with the results.  I really wanted them to look more textured and luminescent as I see fish scales in my mind, but what I tried only yielded semi-decent results....

with flash:

I layered the following colors for the fish skin: China Glaze Solar Power, Emerald Sparkle, In Awe of Amber, Zoya Charla, Yasmeen.  I then used Konad Plate m57 with Liquid Leather first and then Millennium.  To finish the look, I matted the entire nail with Essie Matte About You followed by a center stripe of Golden Enchantment with Seche Vite to shine that center stripe (my attempt at dimension for the look scales give).  Oh, and be proud of me, I recalled all these polished from memory since mine are packed for the cabin!!!

Shaky Hands McGee

I was chatting with my friend, Erin.  She is great AND has the shakiest hands (and no, she doesn't have Parkinson's--or anxiety).  Her hands just shake.  She wanted to be my muse and I wanted to oblige.  I am always looking for inspiration (and Heather, I am considering what to do for memorial day--don't know yet).  In keeping with the theme, there has been no clean up on my nail bed (in picture only) in honor of channeling Shaky Hands McGee.  

I first used China Glaze Light As Air and then layered Grape Juice and finally Let's Groove on top.  I striped each color on top.  Finished with one coat Seche Vite.

En Fuego

I have had my nails painted but no time to post about them!  So I'll catch you up with my sparkly rendition for the night on the town.

I painted a base coat of China Glaze Lubu Heels.   I then used clear polish and glitter (a red and then silver holographic).  I coated with two coats of Seche Vite.  

Improving my Gradient

So I wasn't satisfied with calling my last manicure gradient and decided to try to fix it, since it was my intention to do a gradient manicure.  Here is the fix:

Also, because I threw it out there and "Purple Pride" is still on my nails today and the Vikings are playing tonight (and mostly because I am redoing my nails tonight), I have added some Vikings flare to my manicure.  I know it might not be as awesome as Prince's song, but it's the best I can do.  And in case you want to know who I'm supporting 4=Brett Favre, 28=Adrian Peterson, 8(which you can't see very well on my pinky) = Ryan Longwell, 18=Sidney Rice and 69=Jared Allen.  All who will play an important role is us winning tonight.  Is it an oxymoron to be so girly about nail polish but then also care about things like sports?

Purple Pride

I've been wanting to do a gradient polish for a while, but just haven't yet. I got my China Glaze "Up in the Air" polishes this week and decided to use two of the colors to complete the look. But, I'm not sure how much I like it. I also am not really sure it's gradient, it's more sponge painted. For better examples of gradient check out Nihrida's Blog. But no matter the style, I thought it was relatively on point since it's purple and the MN Vikings are all that people are talking about here. I guess if I wanted to make this uglier I should put the number 4 on my pointer fingers--haha!

I used CG Grape Pop and Light As Air. Topped off with two coats of Seche Vite.

In a related story, I found it amusing when I got my polishes from transdesign, this is how they arrived:

(China Glaze polish in an OPI box)