Day 20: Floral

These are my Johnny Jump Up/Pansy nails with OPI Passion, Essie Splash of Grenadine, Ciaté Big Yellow Taxi, Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree, Essence Break Through, and Seche Collected Moments.

February Day 9: Hearts

Apparently some of my favorite manicure ideas only pop into my head when I only have 30 minutes to create the look and no time for it to dry.

For these contrasting hearts I used Essie Splash of Grenadine and Marshmallow, Ulta Blue Streak and Sun-Sational, L'Oréal New Money and Crazy fro Chic, SinfulColors Hazard, and Orly Instant Artist Jet Black.

Pop Stars

I was in love with this girly, bright and cartoony manicure for the weekend.

So here's how it happened. I started with my favorite base coat, Butter London Nail Foundation (Thanks again mom. I can't believe it has lasted me a year.) and then painted two coats of Essie Bond With Whomever for the base.

Then I sponged on Bond With Whomever and L'Oréal Members Only using a super cheap makeup sponge triangle. Note: I put both colors on the sponge, side-by-side so that the colors will blend better. Look up Gradients on my tutorial page for pictures on that. 

After the colors on each nail was blended just the way I wanted, I immediately applied Nicole by OPI Here Kim's the Sun. Applying it while the gradient colors are still slightly wet helps the colors blend even more. After Seche Vite top coat, the gradient was done!

So this is what happened next: I wasn't really happy with my nails...they were just too plain for my mood. So I got out Ulta Sun-Sational and painted a few squares on a new Ziploc bag, making sure that the squares were opaque. I let them dry overnight, and, in the morning, I got my star hold punch (originally purchased for scrapbooking...that never happened), gently peeled off the dried yellow polish squares from of the plastic baggie, and put them through the hole punch as if they were paper. Out came these brightly colored, perfectly cut stars.

To attach the stars, I just did a dot of top coat on my nail, applied the star, and cut off any excess with small cuticle scissors. Another coat of Seche Vite and this little beauty was the result.

Bows + Everybody = BoBody

I was lacking inspiration/motivation for a manicure but remembered doing a swatch of this yellow a while back and loving it.

But how, you may ask, will I jazz this up a bit? Cage match style...sorry, more of The Office references.

Well of course I'm going to be inspired by the bow on my Ciaté Big Yellow Taxi polish bottle. ;) I added Essie Splash of Grenadine for a splash of contrast and Essence bow rhinestones.

Sponge and Microbead It Up!

I was inspired by Tamara on ohtammm's Instagram page for the gradient/sponging technique and color combo, Sammy from The Nailasaurus Blog for the microbead use, and "Higasaurus" here on Instagram for combing both elements. Check those gorgeous gals out! 

I used Essie Marshmallow as the base for the middle and ring fingers with SinfulColors Pink Forever, Hazard, Why Not, Ulta Sun-Sational and Duty Free Shopping Spree sponged over that white base. Then my index and pinky finger is SinfulColors Why Not with silver Recollections Microbeads. It's all topped off with Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.

Stripe Bright

I used eight different colors to achieve this multi-stripe mani. I used SinfulColors Pink Forever and Hazard, Ulta Sun-Sational, Ciaté Mojito, Headliner, Cookies and Cream and Twilight, and Barielle Grape Escape.

I just applied each line with a thin nail art brush.

Ciaté Big Yellow Taxi

Big Yellow Taxi is a creamy and vibrant yellow. Apparently I have a thing for yellows because I've fallen for each one I have tried recently.

Saran/Cling Wrap

Here is my first try at Saran or Cling Wrap nails. It is super easy, and I didn't have to worry about being neat. I used Chelsea King's YouTube video here. I used Ciaté Big Yellow Taxi and SinfulColors Pink Forever, then I added Essie Pure Pearlfection.

The basic idea of saran or cling wrap nails: 1. Paint your base color and let it dry (or let it dry a little bit...I wasn't that patient); 2. Paint your second color over that; and then 3. Lightly dab wadded up cling wrap over the nail to remove the top layer of polish in some places.

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.

Ulta Sun-Sational

I am loving Ulta polishes. Sun-Sational is a bright yellow polish with a smooth consistency. This is two coats and is completely opaque.

Vintage Polka Dots

Here I used Ulta Cream of the Crop as the base and OPI Pedal Faster Suzi! as the polka dots. Then I added Essie A Cut Above for a gradient glitter tip.

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.

Glitter Gradient

For this look, I used Ulta Sun-Sational and Nicole by OPI Rainbow in the S-Kylie. My sister picked out the neon yellow and wanted glitter so we decided to go with a gradient.