nude & glitter

I have never used this nude polish before.  It always seemed a bit odd to me.  It came in a holiday collection so I just had it.

It's okay but doesn't really work with my skin tone.  I added a quick and easy glitter gradient to the tips.  A simple touch that really only pops in direct light.  It reminds me of that Britney Spears costume from the VMAs.  The one where she danced with the white snake.

MAC - Cream Style Tip
Wet & Wild - Hallucinate

pink gradient

We had a week of glorious weather and then BAM it decides to rain for three days.  Not really a cold rain, but gloom and wet non the less.  So I decided to do a spring-ish paint job.

Just a simple pink gradient.  Nothing super fancy.  I did add a bunch of pink glitter to my thumb.  To help with a gradient, I use white glue.  Sounds odd but it makes clean up take about 10 seconds.  Simply use white glue all around the edge of the nail.  Let it dry completely.  Then go about your paint job.  After you are done, just peel off the glue.  Clean and ready to go.

Sinful Colors - Feeling Great, Easy Going
Nicole - She's Lily Something, Haley Good Looking...

rock of ages

I have no clue why this reminds me of 'Rock of Ages'.  There is something about the black with the bright pink and bright blue glitter that screams hairband to me.  Like a leather coat bedazzled with pink and blue rhinestones.

I added a pink accent nail because I needed something to break up the black glitter polish.  The pinkness of the accent nails makes this even more 80s.  My nails were growing out, nice and long.  Then bamm, I broke one.  So they are all back to short.  It was nice to have long nails but it is nice to have them back short.  So much easier with a smart phone, working in the kitchen, and typing on my computer.

MAC - Everything That Glitters
OPI - Kinky in Helsinki

space

I bought this polish a while back but it has just been sitting in drawer ever since.  I wasn't sure how it would go on.  It is semi-pretty in the bottle.  I got it because it looked unusual and was only 99 cents.

I actually really like it once it is on the nail.  It carries it multiple colors/sheen pretty well.  I only used two coats and it it works.  I have no clue what it is called when a color is different from all different view points.  Sort of like oil.  I then did a simple white stamping over some of the nails for a bit of fun.  Nothing fancy but it really works on the short nails.

Wet & Wild - Gray's Anatomy
Sally Hansen - White On
plate - Cheeky CH46

aliens

I have had this plate for a long time, have always wanted to use it but never figured out a good color combo for it.  I think I finally have.

I love the single creature on the pinky.  For such a relatively large single item stamp, it came out pretty clear.  Sometimes they get wonky in the center.

On the creature plate, there is a large multi-creature item.  I used that for three fingers.  There are also five separate individual creatures.  At first I was going to do a single creature on each nail, but I went went with the multi-creature since my nails are on the long side.  For such a detailed stamping plate, I am very happy with how they turned out.  The lines are really crisp and the creatures little legs/teeth/arms all show up perfectly.

Sally Hansen - Fuchsia Power, Mellow Yellow
Sinful Colors - Black on Black, Why Not, Rise and Shine, Dream On
plate - Cheeky CH32

fishnets

This paint job has been in my idea file for a long time.  I needed longer nails to make it really work.  And since I have long nails right now, it was time to try it.  I added a red pinky to break it up a bit.  It could either be a red shoe, a red sole of a shoe or even red lips.  It makes the fishnet nails a bit sexier.

I need a bit of practice with doing the tips, the lines are a bit wonky.  I am happy with the stamping.  The lines came out perfectly and I somehow got them all in the same direction.

This is a very easy look to accomplish.  I went with two nude coats and two red on the pinky.  After the polish is dry, time to stamp.  Simply stamp on the criss-cross with black polish.  Concentrate on the lower part of the nail.  If you miss some of the nail tip, that is fine since it will be covered with the black polish.  Since this stamping is so fine, it dries really quickly.  Use the brush that comes with the black polish and do the tips.  Let it dry before doing the top coat.  That is it.  Super easy.  This would also look great with a deep bronze or even a gold-ish polish.  It would have a different feel but still work.

OPI - Coney Island Cotton Candy, Malaga Wine
Sinful Colors - Black on Black
plate - no name, Claires

gold digger

I used one of my favorite polishes for this paint job.  OPI Up Front & Personal is such an amazing color.  It is a very subtle warm gold but more of a nude gold.  Not much yellow in it.  It looks great with just one coat.  I wanted more of a statement so I used three coats.  That might be a bit much but it helps hide the nail line.

Then a simple black polish with two coats of 24k gold leaf polish on top for the accent finger.  Nothing fancy but still makes a statement.

OPI - Up Front & Personal, The Man With the Golden Gun
Sinful Color - Black on Black

ruby red

I went to a bridal shower yesterday.  I also made the dessert and chocolate truffles.  I didn't have time to repaint my nails before the mid-day shower (I took my polish off before making anything).  I just had time for a quick nail-protein-hardener-etc clear coat before leaving.  When I got to the party, I kept on getting asked what special paint job I did for the shower.  A few really didn't understand why I didn't have time to do some elaborate paint job and make everything for dessert.  I guess that is what happens when you always have crazy/special/painted nails.  I draw the line at losing sleep so I can paint my nails.  Plus, I hate waking up in the morning with fabric indents on my nails.

This was a quick paint job.  Just a sparkly red (almost magenta) on four nails.  Then a simple basic red on the middle with a matte top coat.  Looking at it now, I wish I had switched the paints around.  The bright glitter polish would really pop if it was just the accent finger.

OPI - Got the Blues for Red, You Only Live Twice