Dark and Light - Gradients and Feathers

I was inspired by Kaitlin Ferland at The Daily Polish for this mix of light and dark. I used black polish for the index and pinky finger and have determined that I think black looks more sinister on oval/almond shaped nails. Then I did a blue-purple-pink gradient over a white base and layered a sheer pink over that to tone down the colors a bit. Then I tried my hand at drawing feathers.

Note: Why do my nails look so short in photos? They are actually pretty long...longer than how long I would let them get when I had square shaped nails.

I used Essie Licorice, Julep Kate, Ulta Blue Streak, Barielle Grape Escape, Orly Butterflies, OPI Passion, and Orly Instant Artist Jet Black.

Crazy Cute Mix and Match

For this Mix and Match mani, I was inspired by Adventure Time, Domo, cupcakes, and color. Typically Mix and Match style is not one I would wear but it's perfect for those times when you want an overload of cuteness and when you are going to California Adventure, like I am today! If you have any questions about the design please feel free to ask me in the comment section below.

Here is a list of all the polishes used:
Elle Riviera Blue
Essie Licorice
Julep Kate and Sophie
OPI Pink-ing of You, Passion, I'm Not Really a Waitress, and Purple With a Purpose
Orly Instant Artist Jet Black and Crisp White
SinfulColors Hazard, Pink Forever, and Nirvana
Ulta Sun-Sational, Limelight, Blue Streak, Duty Free Shopping Spree

For the glitter gradient on my right middle finger, I used Essie A Cut Above and Milani Teal and Hot Pink

Left Hand

Left Hand

Right Hand

Right Hand

Minnie Mouse Inspired

For a recent trip to Disneyland and California Adventure I borrowed my sister's shirt and that, along with the work of @ohtammm on Instagram, inspired my Minnie Mouse nail design.

The design is the same on both hands but just showed my non-dominant hand.
Thumb: SinfulColors Pink Forever with Orly Instant Artist Crisp White
Index: Julep Kate and I dipped a straw into Essie Licorice, SinfulColors Pink Forever, and Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors for the abstract design.
Middle: SinfulColors Pink Forever with OPI Pink-ing of You polka dots, Essie Licorice for Minnie Mouse silhouette, Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors for the bow, and a single pink glitter from Milani Hot Pink.
Ring: Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors.
Pinky: SinfulColors Pink Forever with Julep Kate and Essie Licorice polka dots.

Natural Lighting

Here is the shirt that inspired the design and my sister's Minnie Mouse Ears. (Indoor Lighting.)

Paris Inspired Bridal Shower

I recently went to a Paris themed bridal shower so I decided to paint my nails to fit the occasion.

On both my thumbs I painted a pink base (Essie Delicacy) and three lines of black polka dots (Essie Licorice).

Left Hand: Essie Delicacy as the base. Index Finger: OPI Pirouette My Whistle; Middle: Julep Kate; Ring: Orly Instant Artist Jet Black; Pinky: Julep Kate.

Right Hand: Essie Delicacy as the base except for my ring finger. Index Finger: OPI Pirouette My Whistle; Middle: Julep Kate; Ring: Base is Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors and Cina sqaure rhinestones; Pinkie: Julep Kate.

Left Hand

Right Hand and Thumb

Vintage Abstract Roses

This is my first time trying to paint vintage roses, they turned into abstract vintage roses instead.

For the base color I used Essie Turquoise & Caicos, for the stripes I used Orly Instant Artist Crisp White, for the leaves I used Ulta Limelight, and for the roses I used Ulta Sun-Sational, Cream of the Crop, and OPI Pink-ing of You.

As you can see, my right hand has a more simple design as it is my dominant hand and I can't draw straight stripes with my left hand.

Left Hand

Left Hand

Right Hand

Sweet Summer Gradient

This has become one of my most beloved manicures. Sadly, I smudged almost every finger the same day I did it but at least I got this photo before that happened.

For the base I used Ulta Sun-Sational (You remember that gorgeous cheery yellow I'm sure.), SinfulColors Hazard, and Orly Butterflies for the gradient and then Cina orange rhinestones.

I did take me a while to blend all of the colors together and my best tip is to be patient. Also, someone on Instagram asked me how I was able to use Orly Butterflies because it is so sheer. Well the answer is that I just went over it two-three times to really make the colors pop.

I have a little gradient tutorial and there are lots of YouTube videos for gradients as well.

Rainbow Streaks

To create these Rainbow Streaks, I used Julep Kate as the white base. (I'll post my swatch of that later.)

Pink: Orly Butterflies
Orange: SinfulColors Hazard
Yellow: Ulta Sun-Sational
Green: Ulta Limelght
Blue: Ulta Blue Streak
Purple: Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree

The bottom two pictures show the finished product with Nicole by OPI Here Kim's the Sun on the tips and Cina rhinestones.

Here are my nails right after I painted all of the Rainbow Streaks. (No top coat.)

From left to right, top to bottom: 1. Paint your base color. 2. Using a small nail art brush, paint your pink streak(s). 3. Paint your orange streak(s). 4. Paint your yellow streak(s). Mine are hard to see in this picture because the yellow is on the side. 5-7. Continue on with streaks of green, blue, and purple. The last picture shows the manicure after I added a glitter coat to the tips and rhinestones on my ring finger.

I love the way the very edge looks.

Poll Winner - Cherries

The Cherry design was the recent poll winner, and when the time came for me to do the design, I realized I didn't have a true green for the leaves. The color I used is more of a dark sea green.

To start off, I used Essie Blanc and OPI Pink-ing of You for the base.

Then I used OPI I'm Not Really a Waitress and a large dotting tool (really it was the end of a eyeliner makeup brush) to make the cherries, Orly Instant Artist Jet Back for the stems, SinfulColors Rise and Shine for the leaves, and Essie Blanc with a small dotting tool for the polka dots on the thumb and with a small paint brush for the little shine on the cherries.

A Study in Pink

Has anyone seen Sherlock? It's a modern version of Sherlock Holmes. In the first season, there is an episode named "A Study in Pink."

This is my study in pink because I was trying out some different looks over Orly Butterflies. I used Essie Matte About You and Shine of the Times and then Matte About You again.

Note: It is impossible to capture the matte flakie goodness that is this manicure. I recommend that everyone try it out for themselves in order to enjoy the full effect.

Shine of the Times

With Matte About You

With Matte About You

Orly Butterflies

This is a semi-sheer neon pink. Application was great. I added Essie Matte About You.

Two coats, no top coat

With Matte About You

Concert Nails!

My fiancé bought Foster the People concert tickets. It was great! Kimbra opened and Foster the People started with my favorite song of theirs.

I did this manicure to match my concert outfit. I immediately regretted adding the Cina Rhinestones but was too tired to redo the nail. I loved the gradient though. I used Orly Sweet Peacock and OPI Clubbing Til Sunrise.

Little Bow Ties for My Sister

I used Essie Turquoise & Caicos, Sephora by OPI A-ha! Moment, and Orly Instant Artist Jet Black.

From top to bottom: 1. Using a small paint or nail brush, draw a triangle shape on the nail with the base starting at the tip of the nail. 2. Use the paint brush again to make a thin line above the triangle. 3. Using a dotting tool, dot the outline of the bow tie. Meaning, put a dot in the center and one dot at each tip of the bow. Then fill in the rest with the black color. 4. With another color, create a little dot in the center of the bow. 

Novice Multi-Stripe Manicure

I think my taste leans more toward pastels with this style. Created with OPI Purple With a Purpose, Orly Sweet Peacock and Instant Artist Jet Black, Ulta Silver Lining, SinfulColors Hazard.

In Sunlight

Lighting in my room

From top to bottom, left to right: 1. Paint your base color (Purple With a Purpose). 2. Paint a strip of your first accent color (Hazard). 3. Add a stripe on each side of the first accent color, preferably with a striper (Jet Black). 4. Paint a strip of your second accent color on the other side of the nail (Sweet Peacock). 5. Add a stripe on each side of your second accent color with the striper (Jet Black). - This a picture of just one design, but, as seen in my other pictures, I varied the stripe pattern on all of my nails -

Suzi Design - Part 2

I added black polka dots with Orly Instant Artist in Jet Black by just dabbing a little puddle of polish onto my work surface and dipping my dotting tool into that to create the dots. I was inspired by a talented girl named Chelsea King. Miss Chelsea used glitter instead of polka dots though. She has an Instagram account, Facebook page, and YouTube channel. Her amazing work really got me into doing my nails!

Suzi Design - Part 1

Apparently I have a little bit of a double stripe look going on here. I created the stripes with Orly Instant Artist in Jet Black. Orly Instant Artist is a water based paint and the paintbrush is thin and long to make designs like this.

Dots on Dots!

Base: Orly Sweet Peacock. Dots: Ulta 14 Carat. Featuring a necklace my mother recently gave me as a gift!