nautical

I went a bit crazy on Etsy a couple of weeks ago.  Not only did I get those water decals (the owls) but I got a bunch of vinyl nail decals from another seller (www.makeitstickdesign.com).  THEY ARE AWESOME!  Yes, all caps because I am so happy with them.

I got a bunch of different designs and there are so many decals in all different sizes per sheet.  They are true stickers.  And since they are vinyl they hold up after you remove them from the paper (ie the anchor goes on straight, you don't have to adjust it because it is starting to look like it melted).  And each design comes in different sizes (it looks like 5).  This is great because it makes them able to fit all size nails.

I also got the variety pack.  It is totally worth it because there are so many different ones in there.  They aren't complete sheets, but plenty to play around with.  And get to see more of the create colors.  The chevron stripes (paint job coming soon) are single stripes which I find much easier to apply than a full nail sticker.

Back to this paint job.  I used the anchor decal on one finger.  I went with a full stud polka dot nail, stripes and checkered for the others.  The pinky is a solid polish that has some glitter in it.  

Sinful Colors - Rain Storm
MAC - Ming Blue
Sally Hansen - White On, Celeb City

polish addiction

These are two totally different colors!  The one on the left is more muddy and reminiscent of an oil sheen.  The right one is warmer and has a pink/purple undertone.  See, totally different colors.  That or I know I have a little bit of a nail polish obsession.  That and both polishes together cost $3.

Wet & Wild - Gray's Anatomy
Sinful Colors - Let Me Go

poppies

Another great decal from RLR Creations (www.etsy.com/shop/RLRCreationsNailArt)It is a little big for my short nails but it is still fun.  Again I still need practice with water decals.  It sat in the water a little too long and the red from the poppies started to bleed.

It looks like water color though, so I am okay with it.  I added a polka dot nail and an abstract one.  To finish off the whole look I went with a matte finish.  I like it.  Something very feminine and 1950s about it.  Like I need to be wearing a white dress with a bright red wide belt and some great red wedges. And going to a garden party.

Sally Hansen - White On
Essie - A List
Sinful Colors - Exotic Green

pink dots

I am going to a wedding tomorrow so I had to do a fun paint job.  My dress is dark blue with some white accents.  I wanted a paint job that will pop without being too crazy.

Bring on the pink dots.  I did a paint job very similar to this but in purples for another wedding I went to.  I might need to come up with some new paint jobs for weddings.  I also added some rhinestones to the ring finger.  They don't show up that much but they do pop in sun light.

OPI - Koala Berry, Shorts Story
China Glaze - You Drive Me Coconuts
Sally Hansen - Fuchsia Power

dusk

I knew I wanted to do a blue paint job but was sort of directionless.  I was in the Nicole section of my polishes and saw this silver/black jelly polish.  I thought it would be pretty to do a glitter gradient with it.  Sort of like a dusk effect.

Well, the jelly polish holds a lot of color in the jelly.  Overall, it does look a bit like dusk but more like a city skyline at dusk.  It would be funny to do this paint job again but with more defined lines.  Or doing a proper light blue - black gradient, then a little silver glitter on top.

I love this light blue base color.  I however do not like coverage of the polish.  It takes a proper three coats to get a solid color.  Yet the black/silver jelly polish is so thick.  Has anyone else found this inconsistency with Nicole polishes?  I knew it was a problem with Essie, but since I am rather new to Nicole, I did not know.
Nicole - What's the Mitch-uation?, Luke of the Draw, Stand by Your Manny

Seattle Sounders FC

After spending two weeks with my Sounders loving nephews, I was inspired to do a Sounders FC paint job.  I really wish they made a soccer ball print plate.  Sort of like a giraffe print but with straighter edges would have worked.

Instead I went with the classic ref shirt (except I think that might be more American football).  Then the Space Needle on the ring finger (done with Sharpie).  The Sounders' scarf inspired the pinky.  The jersey the pointer finger.  And then the checkered thumb.  I don't know where that came from but it helps balance so there isn't too much of the green color.

This was a fun paint job.  It is a fun theme to work with, especially since there is an almost unlimited supply of teams and sports to play with.

Sinful Colors - Why Not, Innocent, Black on Black
Sally Hansen - White On
plate - Cheeky CH10

crackle

Another great polish my nephew's got for me is this electric blue crackle.  I am pretty sure they did not know it was a crackle but just a pretty blue.  It is an awesome crackle, works perfectly and it is a great color.

I went with the white gold base color under the crackle.  I also remembered to let the base color dry 100% before trying the crackle.  The accent finger is just sold gold.  It does look a little funky but I do like it.  I now really want to try it with a neon color as the base.

OPI - Turquoise Shatter, GoldenEye
Morgan Taylor - Give Me Gold
*I have never heard of Morgan Taylor polish before.  I found it at the beauty supply store.  It was a very reasonable price and this color was great.  I am very impressed with it, the color is beautiful and the coverage is great.  It also dries rather quickly for a salon level polish.  Have you ever heard of Morgan Taylor polish?

ombre stripes

I saw this type of paint job done on another blog.  Honestly - they did a much better job than I did.  Check out the inspiration - http://www.thenailasaurus.com/2013/07/nonoo-resort-2014-inspired-nail-art.html.  They had striping tape and used different polished for the lines.  I did a gradient in purple, let it dry and then stamped the white lines.  I think the white lines are a bit thick and the gradient isn't that obvious.

Maybe a gradient between two different colors, not just light to dark purple would be better with this stamping.  It still looks okay enough that I won't remove it right away.  I did an accent nail of a silver halo.  Then, while removing the white glue (which I use around my nail for quick and easy clean up) I nicked my thumb.  I was not about to start over (base coat, dry, gradient, dry, stamping, top coat).

So I improvised and put a quick coat of the halo on top.  It looks really cool.  And by some source of magic it actually makes the purple gradient stand out more.  I will try this look again, but maybe wait until I get striping tape.  I also have enough purples to do each line a different polish.

OPI - Vant to Bite My Neck?, Do You Lilac It?
Sinful Colors - Amethyst
Sally Hansen - White On
Nails Inc - Electric Lane
plate - Cheeky CH10

pink & purple

 My awesome nephews went to the beauty store and picked out nail polish for me for my birthday present.  They really do have great taste.  They picked out some awesome colors (shockingly, none of which I already own).

Before they leave to go back home, I am going to try and do as many fun paint jobs with the new polishes as possible.  For this paint job, I used three new colors.  The pink is actually a gradient (light tips).  The purple accent nail is the same color I used for the stamping.

It is a great purple but one of those OPI formulas that is a tad too thin for stamping.  It does work for this paint job because subtle is okay.

OPI - Koala Beary, Suzi & The 7 Dusseldorfs, Shorts Story
plate - Cheeky CH52

hooo hooo (owls)

I ordered these decals last week and the came rather quickly.  I am so happy.  I got them from RLR Creations (www.etsy.com/shop/RLRCreationsNailArt).  They are great and have so many fresh and fun decals.  They are water decals not just stickers.

My first time using a water decal.  Not quite as easy as a straight sticker but still super easy.  I soaked it a little too long so some of the ink wondered away.  Still love them.  Coming paint jobs will be using these the other decals.

daisy

 Another great polish from my nephews - this burnt umber orange polish.  I wasn't quite sure how I was going to use this polish.  It is an odd but pretty color.  Once fall comes, I know I will be using it a lot more.  For the time being, I new I either had to go with a flame or a flower paint job.

Just a basic yellow base color and a fun flower stamp with the orange.  Presto - a summer daisy paint job.  Nothing fancy but I like the over all look.

OPI - Deutsch You Want Me Baby?
Sally Hansen - Mellow Yellow
plate - Cheeky CH44

bachelorette weekend

 This weekend I am heading up to Napa for a bachelorette weekend.  Not a crazy Las Vegas type weekend, but more along the line of quality time at the spa and reading intelligent literature (cough*gossip rags*cough) while lounging around the pool.

For such a civilized weekend I really should have gone with a sophisticated subtle paint job.  But that is not me at all.  So I went with the opposite - bright purple nails & two neon accent nails.  Then top the accent nails with some glitter gradient.  Nothing subtle about these at all.

I recently went to the nail supply store and picked up two new polishes.  One of which is this neon pink.  It is a great color, but it takes a minimum of three coats to have complete coverage.  Two days after the shopping I went to get a pedicure (my biggest vice and indulgence) and there was this neon pink Essie color that just screamed out to me. (I normally bring my own polish to the salon but it was a spur of the moment pedi this time).  I will 100% be buying that Essie polish next time I go shopping.

China Glaze - You Drive Me Coconuts, Turned Up Turquoise
OPI - A Grape Fit!
Sinful Colors - Watch it Shine