Happy Halloween 2012

I've been a terrible blogger to you, so in honor of Halloween, my treat is posting pics of all my October Halloween-themed manicures.

Bat-ter Up:

Skull And Crossbones:

Slimed:

Witchy:

Halloween Night:

Bat-ter up: China Glaze In The Limelight, Bizarre Blurple, Bundle Monster image disks: BM13, BM213 with Konad Special Polish in Black and Apple Green.

Skull and Crossbones: China Glaze Smoke and Ashes, Bundle Monster image disk BM211 with Konad Special Polish in Psyche Pink and White.

Slimed: I finally tried the splatter with a straw (didn't like the results as much as my frankenstein contraption).  I used the black light to try to show you the glow and the dark polish, but really it just showed the neon more.  Still cool.  Used Orly Au Champagne, China Glaze Piña Colada.

Witchy: Love this red/orange from China Glaze's Wicket Collection.  Painted three coats of Rougish Red and used Bundle Monster image disk BM13 with Konad Special Stamping Polish in Violet Pearl

Halloween Night: My actual Halloween manicure for the day.  Created a spooky nightscape.  Painted 3 coats of China Glaze Immortal; moon made of a mix of China Glaze Kalahari Kiss and White On White;  clouds of China Glaze White On White, Liquid Leather Orly Au Champagne.  Used image Bundle Monster Image Disks: BM213, BM224

Extreme Claw!!!

You've already seen my first edition of claw nails this season. I loved them for their creativeness and practicality, but I knew I wanted to do something a bit outrageous for my second rendition. When I thought "claw," nothing said it like nail extensions.  I spent the last week researching how to apply acrylic nails at home and decided to give it a go. A trend in the nail world is stiletto nails, that is what these are!  Working with acrylic was tricky, and the whole process got harder the more nails I had finished on my fingers.  I persevered.  I'll say, for my first attempt, I did a pretty good job!  (Though, I probably will never do it again. My house stunk something fierce!).   Unlike my original claw nails, these nails are completely impractical!  In fact, I had to use Dragon Dictation in order to help me write this blog post.  Either way, as I loved my first claws, I love these as well.  They went great with my costume.  Good thing they will be coming off after they rock today for Halloween.  Have a great day!

 Claw with the paw:

I used to No Lift Nails Pro Kit for the acrylic system with Terrific Tips Classic Oval Nail Tips for nail extension tips.  I filed the tips into points before applying them. Once the manicure was cured and filed to exactness, they were ready to be painted.  I used three coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather and on top use LA Splash Cosmetic Glitter Splash in Rockstar from their Halloween 2011 collection.  Seche Vite sealed the entire look.

Halloween Double Water Marble

I knew I wanted to do a water marble with Halloween colors. I also had bought glow-in-the-dark polish. I thought it would be cool to do a double marble with glow-in-the-dark polish for the top layer, but when I went to try and marble with the glow-in-the-dark polish, it did not work at all to marble with.  However, I didn't want to give up, but it's evident by the pictures from the pictures, I should have given up with the polish.  So, this is barely a glow-in-the-dark miniature, however I like double marble look anyway and the end result turned out pretty nice.

Right Hand:

 Left Hand:

No Glow....

For the base color, I painted two coats China Glaze White On White. The base marble used China Glaze White On White and China Glaze Liquid Leather. The top marble used China Glaze Papaya Punch, China Glaze Liquid Leather and Piggy Polish Nocture-nail. The entire manicure was coated with one coat Seche Vite.

Jack O Lantern

I had this idea for a while. It's probably a spin off of my ghosts from last year. I think they turned out pretty well. Plus, at least these ones won't get eaten by squirrels or smashed on the sidewalk.

Left Hand:

Left Thumb:

Right Hand

Right Thumb:

I painted three coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather.  For the faces I painted a base of China Glaze Passion and then added China Glaze Free Love and Sun Worshiper. I coated the entire manicure with two coats of Seche Vite.

The Claw!!!

This year for Halloween, I am dressing up as a raccoon.  I had my first Halloween party tonight and this is my first showing of companion nails for the costume (I'll have one more party next Saturday and have different nail plans for that party as well). This turned out great! So fun to hold out my hands and show off my claws.

I painted three coats of Zoya Skye and then hand painted the claws with China Glaze Liquid Leather. I finished the manicure with one coat of Seche Vite.

Pumpkinesque

I wasn't going for a literal pumpkin, but these colors and this design concept is "pumpkinesque" to me. Orange and green speak Halloween manicure to me, so here you go!

I painted three coats of China Glaze Breakin' leaving space by the cuticle. I added Dots Nail Glitter Flakes in orange from Esther's Nail Center and filled in the gaps with LA Splash Cosmetics in Immature. At the cuticle, I painted two coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather. Over the entire manicure I painted one coat of Seche Vite.

Glowing Cat Eyes

really wanted to do cat eyes this year and was so happy I had purchased my Layla Magneffects, because they made the perfect, real-life looking eyes! Enjoy, just beware of the black cat that crosses your path!

Sun:


Flash:



Sun:

I painted three coats of China Glaze Liquid Leather I used a coat of Essie Matte About You to matte the look. Once completely dry, I taped off the top lid of the eye and painted one coat (and then magnetized) both Layla Magneffects in Blue Grey Flow 03 and Golden Bronze 09. Around the outside of the blue eye I painted a rim of Zoya Jo and around the rim of the golden eye I painted a rim that was a mix of equal parts OPI Golden Rules and China Glaze Cyperspace. I added the iris with China Glaze Liquid Leather and atop the eyes I glossed them with Seche Vite

Hanging Spider

Thank goodness for Bundle Monster and Konad for making quick, fun Halloween manicures possible! I knew I wanted to do a spider this year and thought a dangling spider would be a fun concept. The photos aren't exactly true to color, but just know that it was a great neon orange: my flash pictures are more on the yellow side and my side photo isn't neon enough. Think somewhere in between!

I had to so some layering to make this color scheme possible and so I first painted two coats of China Glaze Peachy Keen for a good opaque base and then painted two coats of China Glaze Sun Worshiper on top, but still had a few spots I wasn't happy with, so an addition of one coat China Glaze White Cap brought everything together. I used Special Konad Polish in Black with Bundle Monster plate BM13 and Konad image disk m28. For the line dangling the spider, I free handed the line with Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Midnight in NY. Finally I used one coat of Seche Vite to seal the look and finish the manicure.

Halloween Sparkle

Since Halloween is just under three weeks away, I thought I had better start doing some holiday themed designs. This one is pretty tame for Halloween, but I thought it was good to start off slow.

I painted three coats of China Glaze Free Love and then added Light Purple Dots Nail Glitter Flakes from Esther's Nail Center and painted atop a coat of Sally Hansen Rockstar Pink and finished the look with one coat of Seche Vite

Water Marbled Lollipops

You probably saw my Halloween lollipops for my Katy Perry costume (if not, click here). I wore it again last night for a Halloween party and wanted to remix that manicure. Since I love water marbling, I tried my own technique to get a lollipop look, and I think it turned out great!

To highlight the sparkle:

I first coated with Ulta Angel Baby. I used that polish as well as China Glaze Breakin' and Grape Juice for the marble. I then used Fairy Dust for a sparkle finish and Seche Vite for my top coat.

Evil Eye

I wanted something simple and fun since I always want something fun, but I have a manicure planned for Saturday when the Katy Kostume is coming out again and didn't want to spend a lot of time on something I was just going to take off in 36 hours!  I still have these sparkle polishes from China Glaze Halloween (Awakening) collection and wanted to showcase them a bit.  Plus I picked up a clearance Sally Hansen sparkle polish and decided to throw them all together.  The design is a cultural talisman that wards off the evil eye.  Don't know what the evil eye is?  Here's a link to Wikipedia for some background info.  And here is a look at some images of the talisman (as seen on my nail) to protect me or anyone from harm!  So I asked you last time if you believed in ghosts or the paranormal, now I want to know: Are you superstitious?  Do you have any rituals or beliefs that you feel protect you from harm (or those who want to do you harm)?

The Pink/Purple side of manicure:

The orange side of manicure:

For the manicure I first coated twice with China Glaze Mummy May I, then on one half of my nail I painted a coat of Ick-A-Bod-Y.  Over the whole nail I added Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Extreme Wear in Rockstar Pink.  The evil eye is made of the following colors Essie Midnight Cami, China Glaze Bahamian Escape, Ulta Angel Baby, and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Midnight in NY and China Glaze Golden Enchantment as a sparkle over the eye.  I used one coat of Seche Vite to bring out the sparkle!

Trick

This is the ultimate Halloween manicure because it scared me and I hated it!  A total trick, not a treat.  It lasted a day and I am glad for my pure acetone remover because I really needed it to rid myself of this.  I do still love the colors and the sparkles of this manicure, so it has that going for it.  But it deserves proof of its existence because, who know, someone else might love it.

Extreme Sparkle Close Up:

I painted first two coats of Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Midnight in NY.  Then used China Glaze Ick-A-Bod-Y and Orly It's Not Rocket Science with one coat of Seche Vite to finish.

Whooo Believes in Ghosts?

I don't think I do, but I've never had the opportunity of a haunting.  I guess maybe time will tell on this one.  But I'd love to hear what you think about ghosts (or the paranormal).  I want to believe in vampires (and ghost vamp is my favorite nail), but unfortunately I am boringly grounded in reality.  I love me some fantasy, but I realize that is just what it is--a fantasy!  Tell me about your "Boo" radar.

Right Hand:

Left Hand:

The Friendly Ghost (Casper):

The white ghosts are comprised of two coats China Glaze White on White and one coat Ulta Angel Baby (only because my China Glaze was getting goopy--I need a new bottle).  I used Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Midnight In NY for the black detail.  One coat of Seche Vite was used to keep those ghosts shining.

Gone Batty

I've had a thing for bats since I did a report on them in the third grade; I think they are fantastic.  Plus, living in Minnesota, you have to love all things that can eat their weight in mosquitoes!  And  thanks to bats being the quintessential icon of Halloween, I get to make them the star of a manicure.

For the black base coat color, I used Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Midnight in NY.  For the orange I first coated with China Glaze Peachy Keen and coated Sun Worshiper on top.  (Sun Worshiper is a very hard neon to work with--very streaky).  For the bats in black, I used Ulta Black Diamond and the bats in orange were first painted in Ulta Angel Baby and then coated in Sun Worshiper and Breakin' for wing shading (and streak cover up).  Seche Vite, one coat, was used to seal the manicure.