Star Wars Galazy nails...a bit late

So it's been about 2 weeks since May 4th (Star Wars Days)...ugh.

The past couple of weeks have been crazy...it happens...I'm sorry for being absent.

Even though it is late I thought I would show you the galaxy nails I did in honor of Star Wars Day.



Not the best galaxy ever, but seeing as though I did it in under an hour (on both hands) I'm pretty impressed.  I also stamped the Jedi (Imperial Era) seal on my ring finger from my MJ XIV plate.  You can't really tell from the pictures but the purple (Sinful Colors) is much darker and metallic, so it had a really interesting depth.  The yellow I used (Pure Ice) was also metallic, enough to show through the neon green jelly (Spoiled) I sponged over it.  I used a dotting tool for the large stars and for the finer "stars/space dust" I used an old toothbrush dipped in slightly watered down white acrylic paint and splattered my nails (you run your finger across the bristles), but it was a little too watered down....they dried a little transparent. 

Overall I think they turned out great! I really need to practice my galaxy skillz.  For a good tutorial head over to Coewless' YouTube channel for her awesome videos!

I hope to get back to regular posting asap.  Happy Monday y'all.

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge Day 5 - Snowman

Today's challenge is Snowman....and I'll be honest I didnt try very hard.

It has been a long and stressful week so I didn't go all out on this one.

I did, however, get a chance to use my I Love Nail Polish "Up to Snow Good" which made be happy.  Snow...Snowman...same thing right?

I used 2 coats of Color Clubs "Metamorphosis", 1 sheer coat of China Glaze "White Cap," and 2 coats of I Love Nail Polish "Up to Snow Good."  Wow, that is a lot of layering even for me, but look at the close up....there is so much wonderful going on here

Here are all the colors I used in this mani

I fully intend on doing an entire post of my I Love Nail Polishes...because they are awesome and deserve their own thunder.  Until then please stop by Nicole's blog to check out her Snowman nail art for today along with all the others participating in the Christmas Nail Art Challange.

 

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge Day 4: Christmas Lights

Today is Day 4 of Nicole's Christmas Nail Art Challenge - Christmas lights.

I decided to go with actual old skool Christmas Light bulbs.

For these nails I painted each a base color and then did a vertical sponge gradient with a matching shimmer color to add some depth.  Next I gave it the bulb shape with a couple swipes of black and gave it a little white highlight to make it look 3Dish. 

To make it look more bulb-y I added a cap/socket.

Overall I am pretty please how they came out!

Below are the colors I used for today's challenge.

Don't forget to stop by Nicole's blog and check out the others participating in this challenge.

Thanks for stopin' by!!

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challange - Day 3 Christmas Movie

As I said last week I am following along with Nicole's 12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge. 

Today is "Christmas Movie"

As soon as I saw the challenge for today I knew I would do

"A Charlie Brown Christmas."

This is the first time in a long time that I have done detail work on my nails and you can tell.  It's a bit sloppy, but it will do....I need better brushes that's for sure.

Snoopy could look a little better....hey at least he is somewhat recognizable! 

A little fact you probably don't know....I'm a lefty.  That means that my left hand got nothing more than some snowflakes falling on the  snow.  Looking back I probably shouldn't have defined the ground/skyline with black....it would have looked better just snowflakes on a gradient background.  O well.  It still looks neat.

Gradient Base:  OPI-Swimsuit...Nailed It, Savina-Sparkling Waters, Sally Hansen-White On and Snow Globe

Snow: China Glaze-White Cap

Snoopy: Sally Hansen-White On, Expres-so Yellow and Rapid Red, Pure Ice-Black Out, Revlon-Posh

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree: China Glaze-Mahogany Magic and Cha Cha Cha, Sally Hansen-Rapid Red, Revlon-Posh, Pure Ice-Black Out

Snoopy House:  Sally Hansen-Rapid Red and White On

Extra Trees:  Revlon-Posh, China Glaze-Cha Cha Cha and Mahogany Magic,

Sally Hansen-White On

This one was pretty fun. I definitely need more practice doing this kind of detail work. 

Until next time head over to Nicole's blog to check out her design as well as the other participants.



Happy Halloween Y'all!!

I did this mani on Monday and forgot to share.

Since I didnt have a chance to do another one for Halloween day I figured I show you this one.  The orange is from Pure Ice.  Its a nice bright orange pearl (missing the sticker so I dont know what color is it....sorry) that applied very nicely with 2 coats.  If I haven't said it yet.....Pure Ice really surprises me.  Every one I have tried has been awesome!  They apply nicely (my black is a one coater!!) and they wear well too.  I have no problem with a $2 nail polish that is awesome. 

I stamped using a mix of Bundle Monster and Cheeky plates with Konad black polish.  The full nail skull pattern is from the Cheeky 2012 summer set...its actually the main reason I bought that set.  My only complaint is that everything but the skulls is the stamp/paint part.  So until I started using the 'special' polish it was almost impossible to use....very smeary/blobby. The big skull and pumpkin is from the Bundle Monster 2011 plates 224-225. 

Have a spooktackular night!!

Special effects top coats - just for funzies

so after doing the swatches of L'Oreal "The Muse's Attitude" I decided 

to slap on some special effect top coats just for fun.

left to right:  Pretty Me Polish SpectraFlair Topcoat, Pure Ice "Oh Baby!", Pure Ice "Mint Dream", and Sally Hansen "Disco Ball"

Disco Ball - is a clear base with scattered silver and holo glitter - I've had it a while 

Mint Dream - is a pearl iridescent that is very sheer and just lightened things up a bit 

Oh Baby! - is a sheer pearl base with blue and green glass flecks that add a subtle sparkle

SpectraFlair - this is a gorgeous clear holo top coat (looks silver...but not) looks good over any polish - bought on here on etsy

sorry for the not so great photos.  my camera was misplaced after a roadtrip last weekend. 

more swatches coming up tomorrow.