gradient

I saw this on another blog and love the deep red to silver gradient.  I cannot remember the blog and didn't bookmark the page because it was rather simple.

Just a normal gradient with silver as the base color.  What's funny is with the darker tips, my nails look short.  This is a great winter look.  Now I want to try it with a gold to red.  I just don't have a gold that is the same as this silver.  I can't find a gold that is like liquid gold.  They are either too yellow or all glitter.

China Glaze - Sugar Plum
Sally Hansen - Celeb City

retro

Why do hot pink and black go together so well?  I know that this pink polish is not a stamping polish so I stamped with the black polish.  I also knew that I wanted the stamped nails to really pop so I painted the rest of the nails black.  I love this paint job.

Sometimes the simple paint jobs are the best.  I get distracted by a theme, rhinestones, glitter, etc.  But it is nice to go back to a straightforward paint job every now and again.  The hot pink could easily be swapped out for a white or even bright blue.

China Glaze - You Drive Me Coconuts
Sinful Colors - Black on Black
plate - Cheeky CH33

bubbles

This paint job was supposed to have a totally different look.  But my halo polish is very thin.  I wanted to use it for the stamping paint but it did not work at all.  Maybe I didn't use a good base polish.  I even quickly switched to a silver polish.  Nope, still did not show up.

Out came the white polish.  It's a fun stamp.  I really like the white bubbles over the halo base.  There was nothing fancy about this paint job.  Just a simple base color and a quick stamp.  Presto.

Nails INC - Electric Lane
Morgan Taylor - Give Me Gold
Sally Hansen - White On
plate - Cheeky CH9

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

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

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

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

nude

Yes, I have done this look before.  I love it.  It is so elegant.  A nude nail with a very subtle metallic/glitter stamp over.  The stamp is a very fine swirl design.  It really shows up in the sunlight but is very mellow in normal light.

For a little change, I stamped a leaf/filigree design on my index finger.  I used a different polish for this stamping.  I like the design but the polish didn't really work.  It is too jelly-ish.  The delicate stamping is a nice upgrade to a nude nail without being too extreme.  Heck, even my grandmother liked this look.

OPI - Coney Island Cotton Candy, The World Is Not Enough
Sinful Colors - Super Nova
plate - cheeky CH26

nautical blue

I will admit to totally being inspired by the lake for this paint job.  Yes, each nail is different but it is all the same theme.  The ring finger has some blue anchors stamped on it.  The index finger has a silver base but a silver and blue jelly on top.

I really like this paint job.  I however feel like I need to be wearing white j.crew shorts with a cloth belt and a polo shirt with the color popped to compliment it.  And maybe some deck shoes.  I am not judging j.crew style, I love it.  I'm just saying this paint job looks a little funny with workout gear and baggy sweat pants.

Sinful Colors - Rain Storm, Precious Metal, Ice Dream, Why Not
Sally Hansen - Celeb City
plate - cheeky CH36

nautical grab bag

I did a paint job on my friend when she was visiting earlier this week.  It was a combo of dots and anchor stamps.  It inspired me to do this grab bag nautical themed paint job,

*more after the jump*

wedding dress

One of my good friends is getting married this fall and she asked if I wanted to go along when she went dress shopping.  Of course I said yes.  But since I am such a dork, I did a wedding dress inspired paint job.

I started with a semi-nude base color.  It has a bit more cream in it than a standard nude polish.  I then stamped with a glitter/pearl cream.  But after looking closely, the stamping did not pop.  So I re-stamped with a straight white pearl polish.  It looks great.  The first stamp added a bit of glitter but the second stamp really pops.

I then did a string of pearls on my ring fingers, much like the back button closures of lots of bridal dresses.  Overall, another simple paint job but perfect for the occasion.

Essie - Hi Maintenance
OPI - Princesses Rule
Sinful Colors - Tokyo Pearl
plate - Cheeky CH44

march polish days - vintage

March's Polish Day challenge theme is 'Vintage'.  This is a great theme but super open to interpretation.  Vintage can be an old classic polish, from a past era (think 70's inspired nails), maybe a lace polish, etc etc.  I came up with a bunch of ideas which I am guessing I will use this month.

*more after the jump*

elegant swirls

This look is totally copied from one of my Oscar nails.  I really liked the look of a nude nail with a almost nude metallic stamping.  When I started with this paint job I was going to do the brown/grey criss-cross stamping as well, but I like the simple look so stopped.

For some reason this looks reminds me of a classic ballet.  No, it is not light pink, but it is elegant and classy.  I have had some very vibrant stamping paint jobs in the past, but this combo I could see people that are anti-stamping (scary, I know) maybe like.

OPI - Coney Island Cotton Candy
Sinful Colors - Super Nova
plate - Cheeky CH52

birthday party

So, after posting my Academy Award nails, my Aunt asked me if I was free tonight to come and paint nails at her daughter's 9th birthday party.  The theme for the party was an Awards Show so she thought the tux nails would be perfect.  So I packed up a few polishes, tools, rhinestones, stamps, etc and headed over to their house.

It turned out to be a lot of fun.  The hardest part was painting on a small scale.  9 year old's nails are a lot smaller than mine (duh) and they are super bouncy.  I ended up painting most of the girl's nails and doing tux nails on the thumbs of the one boy guest.

*photos after the jump*

Academy Awards (the oscars)

My last paint job (champagne cocktail) inspired me to do a full on Oscars paint job.  I am a little bit of a movie nut (Netflix looses money with my account) and I love the Oscars.  The Golden Globes definitely rocked this year and set the bar extremely high for the Oscars.  I also either have or go to an Oscar party every year.

*more after the jump*

blue & pink *updated

Another wondering mind paint job.  I have been wanting to use the two blue base polishes for a while.  I like this paint job, just not so sure about the glitter over on the pointer finger.  Maybe it would look a little better with another glitter coat.

*updated paint job above* After looking at the pink glitter, it just didn't look right.  Then I remembered another glitter paint that was light blue and fuschia, a mix of all sizes of glitter, and jam packed with glitter.  I applied a thick coat over the pink glitter (it is going to take forever to dry) and it looks so much better.  It is like the stamping nail paints got put in a shredder and became a jelly glitter polish.  

february polish days - back to nature

This month's Polish Day is "Back to Nature".  At first I thought I would do a sunset paint job, but I just did a paint job that was very sunset-esk.  I decided on something I have been wanting to try but have always been too chicken - animal prints.  Well, animal print on one hand, dandelion on the other.

*more photos after the jump*