purple

Quick confession - I totally smudged the thumb and a bit of the middle finger.  I still took photos and am posting them.  Why? Because the purple glitter jelly polish is rather forgiving.  I also tried forgoing a base color and had to use three coats of the jelly polish.  I just didn't feel like waiting for that much polish to dry again.

Without a base color, the purple glitter polish has a very princess quality to it.  I don't know how to describe it.  It is very light but packs a glitter punch.  For the accent nail I went with a solid purple polish with a matte top coat.  Simple and easy.  The matte finish makes the glitter nails pop all that more.

Sinful Colors - I Love You, Amthyst

modern art

I finally decided to try one of the nail art pens a friend gave me a while ago.  I love it.  It is so easy.  It stays truer to color than a Sharpie.  And the lines are clean and crisp.  For this paint job, the blue lines are with the paint pen.  The yellow and pink are done free hand with a thin brush.

You can really see the difference on the micro photos.  I also love the layering/color change at the cross overs.  It makes the paint job have more depth.
*more after the jump*

turquoise

My friend bought me this great China Glaze color because she thought it was pretty.  She's sort of awesome like that.  I love it.  It is so fresh and has more depth than the SC color that looks sort of like it.  The new polish has a great blue undertone that helps keep it away from becoming too green.

What better way to add a splash of decor to the accent nail than with a simple halo paint.  I love a good halo, it is just such a top coat hog.

China Glaze - Turned up Turquoise
Nails INC - Electric Lane

blue

Another quicky.  I have been doing a lot of quick paint jobs recently.  They are just so easy.  Just picked out a great dark blue from MAC that has a micro electric glitter undertone to it.  Then a light blue on the accent finger with some dots, and presto - done.  I almost went with a normal paint job (all one color on all the nails) but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

MAC - Ming Blue
Sally Hansen - Air
OPI - Malaga Wine

purple & teal quicky

Another quick paint job.  Not even with loose glitter but a glitter polish.  I do like the placement of the non-glitter nails.  Especially with the super short nails, it works to have two accent nails.

This is also the first time I did a gradient that starts at the cuticle.  I think I like it.  It makes the short nails look a little bit longer.  It did require some cleaning which was a pain because micro glitter likes to stick to random places.

I finally am in the process of building a photo light box.  It is half done but I tried to use it.  And it is already paying off.  The above paint is this fabulous teal with a tiny tiny micro glitter.  It is super subtle and impossible to capture.  I think I finally might have captured it.

Sinful Colors - Rise and Shine, Lush Life, Amethyst

april polish days - 7 deadly sins

7 deadly sins!!  Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride.  I don't know why this theme is so great, but it is.  I knew I wanted to go with greed (a sin of excess, hoarding of objects) and use a bunch of studs, rhinestones and pearls.

My pinky is so greedy for treasures it is spilling over to my ring finger.
*more after the jump*

newsprint

This is a super old trend but one I have been wanting to try.  Once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy.  Simply dip your nail (super dry base color done) in alcohol.  Then place the newspaper on top, squish down with a cotton ball that also has alcohol on it.  Hold for about 15 seconds.  Lift both off.  Presto.  Top with normal top coat.

My biggest issue is I went with my local weekly paper that apparently is printed at a higher quality than the normal daily.  I will try again with the cheaper daily paper.  Cheaper here means the type that rubs off on your fingers when you read it.  I am also thinking about the different sections of the paper that might be fun to try this with.  Think the micro sudoku in the answers section.  Maybe the comics?

Sinful Colors - Cool Grey