Holo Dandelions

Hiya! I had on this double accent look with China Glaze - Are You Jelly and Glistening Snow and I decided it needed some spicing up!

Mani Swap!

Happy Saturday! Oh I have been waiting for the weekend... had a lovely week of midterms. A Saturday has never felt so good. 

Anyway, I have these amazing mermaid nails that were part of a mani swap with my lovely friend Lauren.

She posted this design on Instagram and I knew I had to copy it. I don't know why I haven't done a gradient with these colors before, it's gorgeous! This post includes my solo shots so be sure to check out Lauren's blog and Instagram and what design of mine she chose to copy.

I used China Glaze - Highlight Of My Summer & Too Yacht To Handle, and the tips are Essie - In The Cabana. Stamping is done with Square Hue - Time Square

A little blurred out so you can enjoy all that holo glitter and stamping! The plate for the fish scales is Mash plate 39 and I definitely had a problem fitting it on my entire nail.

Hope you guys enjoyed this other stamping mani.

Orchid Grid Stamping Decals

Hey all! Today I have a guest post over at Squeaky Nails! 

I drew inspiration from this photo on the shop NCLA Instagram. They are nail wraps you can get here and I was immediately in love with the color combo and pattern! I threw some pink in my design even though NCLA used purple tones. 

Squeaky Nails is a Dutch blog run by the sweet Q. Make sure to head on over to her website for more details of how I got this look and be sure to check her out! She's got an indie collection worth oggling over, and she's always posting new fresh swatches!

Gradient Stamping pt. 2 + Video

  Happy Sunday! This manicure was fun for me to do because it's using my favorite colors. I am in a stamping group on Facebook that has weekly challenges on Sunday. Today was create a look with three purples. It's the color I have most of in my collection so it was easy as pie! And I was wanting to give gradient stamping another go since I've only done it once before.

On my middle and ring I started with a base of O.P.I - My Boyfriend Scales Walls (the Holy Grail of all whites I believe. So wearable.)  And when that was dry I created a gradient on my stamping plate with China Glaze - Tart-y for the Party, China Glaze - Spontaneous and Barry M - Plum. Those colors are also my thumb, pointer, and pinky finger, respectively.

The image is from MoYou Artist Plate (04) and it's the corner image. It reminds me of an old stylewallpaper. I love it!

And here is a short video I did on the look. I'm loving making videos, even if the ones I've done so far aren't the first of its kind out there! I hope you enjoyed the look. I definitely want to try these in more color schemes.

Neon Cornflowers

 Mmmmm TGIF! And payday for a lot of people (including me!) Hope everyone is kicking the weekend off right. This flower design isn't a cornflower, my titles are usually just mashing whatever manicure colors I have on together.

 I'm excited to share this look with you because I am pretty darn proud of how it came out. 1. I love the colors. 2. Uh, floral stamps. Hello! 3. I used to be terrible at pairing colors together (no I'm not color blind) but my color matches were never real winners in the past. I am definitely getting better with this.

Base: China Glaze - Electric Beat (stunning cornflower blue, perfect in two coats)

Stamping: China Glaze - Highlight of My Summer (gorgeous NEON mint color I picked up just for the name, but ended up loving. And it's marvelously opaque for stamping. Win.)

Flowers: MoYou XL stamping plate (Pro 06).

Also this is what I think of when I think about Friday being pay day. 

Lilac Roses

Happy Sunday! I've got another stamping manicure today. I'm getting deeper into my stamping addiction... it's just too fun! And I've been uninspired for freehand or tape, coming up with stamping combos is easier.

Zoya - Stevie (lilac texture)

OPI - My Boyfriend Scales walls (base color for stamping, best white EVER)

China Glaze - Tart-y for the Party (stamping color)

Roses: BM 323 right hurrr

Cuticles (eponychium?) lookin' right and tight so of course a macro is necessary. 

 Purple is my favorite color, especially for nail wear. And Stevie does not disappoint! One of my favorite textures ever. And I was glad Tart-y for the Part-y stamped so well! Win win. This got a lot of compliments at work. What do you think?

Quick Post: Bold Water marble!

So another nail art August challenge was bold. So I decided to (very nervously) try another water marble! I wish you were able to tell that it was more of a pattern instead of wavy stripes but regardless, I am proud of how clean it came out! 

Colors used:

China Glaze - Flip Flop Fantasy (newer more orange formula ): )

Wet n Wild - Teal Slowly and See, Stand the Test of Lime, Who Is Ultra Violet

UGH. Darn you neons for being so hard to capture. This is seriously so bright and in your face. I actually got a couple compliments on em!

Hope you enjoyed this! Btw, the WnW Pop Art Craze polishes are AMAZING to marble with. Look at me sounding professional!

Pink Ombré

Hey! Today's challenge is ombre nails, and since I've done a purple one before I decided to look for another color in my collection that I have a lot of. Which is surprisingly pink! I forgot how much I love wearing pink on my nails. After purple and blue of course.

This starts the old ombre vs gradient nails argument. Honestly they mean the same thing. Ombre is fading from dark to light or vice versa. And with a gradient you can do the same thing. In the nail world I firmly stand by the belief that ombre nails are light to dark (or vice versa) with a different color on each nail. A gradient is using two or more colors fading into each other on one nail. Get it? Good!

Light to dark:

Thumb: O.P.I - I Theodora You

Index: China Glaze - Something Sweet

Middle: China Glaze- Pinkie Promise

Ring: Barry M: Dragonfruit

Pinky: China Glaze - Sugar High

It's almost a skittle mani with the colors I chose because I don't have ones that fade smoother into each other. But I love it anyways and I hope you do too ;)

Slanted Leopard

So I am participating in nail art August! Monthly challenges put together by Instagram user Jasmine at Californails. I love that she calls them the "I Have A Life Challenge" because they're spaced out every few days so it's easier to keep up with as opposed to other daily nail challenges. 

 Today's challenge was animal print. And since I have never posted a leopard manicure on my Instagram or on my blog I thought, "Why not!" I wanted to switch it up and do it slanted down my nail instead of an all over print. And I of course had to use a purple scheme.

For the spots I used China Glaze - Tart-y For the Party and O.P.I - Talk About An Upgrade and a black polish for the outlines.

 How beautiful is My Vampire Is Buff?! I'm not quite sure how well it goes with my skin tone.. but I am in love with it regardless. And it is so so perfect to put nail art on top of.

Teeth On My Teeth

You may be wondering.. what up with the title? Haha. Once I sent my picture a friend of my nails, when they happened to be shaped more square at the time, and he said "Your nails look like perfect teeth." Ever since then I can't get it out of my head! So odd yet funny.

 Anywho, I did a simple (and slightly strange) little mani and painted some teeth..on my teeth!

Started with a base of China Glaze - Something Sweet, perhaps to represent gums? And free handed the tooth shape with white acrylic paint using a picture online as a reference! I painted my pinkie with a wee little toothbrush using China Glaze - Ruby Pumps and white acrylic paint for the bristles and blue for the toothpaste.  

I only painted three teeth (actually four because of my thumb.. I should remove that one) because as it turns out I am getting my wisdom teeth removed Friday :( boo! And oddly enough I only have three coming in. Four has disappeared. 

Sorry if that's TMI for yall haha. I'm just hoping I do something funny coming off the anesthesia! Maybe I'll post the video here later.

Here's a swatch of Something Sweet. Formula was okay. Three thin coats and it was still patchy in some places. But I love the color. It reminds me of some really yummy strawberry yogurt!

Happy INAD!

A day late. Haha. Yesterday was the first International Nail Art Day! A thanks to Mimi for putting this all together!

Here's a short post on the simple mani I wore yesterday.

I started with a white base on all my nails, and on my middle, ring and pinkie I did a gradient using Essie - Van D' Go and China Glaze - Peachy Keen and I lovvve how it turned out! Subtle, but there. Who can ever get enough of gradients? 

And on my index finger are some "disco squares" from this tutorial by Sam using the same colors as above, and China Glaze - Mimosas Before Manis.

Thanks for reading :)

Jelly Sang

jelly sangwich.. again. Hey, I told you I've been on a (jelly) roll lately!

I just wanted to make a quick separate post because the last one already had a few to scroll through.

So the "recipe" is down below. I loovve this! Caught On Sapphire is from Wet 'n Wild's Fast Dry line. I love this polish! The glitters are so cool. I'll have to swatch it by itself also but I the moment I saw it I was like "you're going in a sandwich." Yeah.

What a lovely gift from my friend Lina! Thanks girl :)

I really love purple & blue combos. It's just says something special to me! Haha.

Jellin Like A Felon

ok. Not really a felon.. but I'm on a roll! (jelly roll that is)

Today I have a swatch of China Glaze - Creative Fantasy from their Cirque Du Soleil collection a while back. This is a vibrant yet dark (is that even possible?!) true purple shade, although it is more on the red side of the mix.

Swatches below are four thin coats with top coat because it does dry a little dull/matte, although you could get away with two slightly thicker coats. I just preferred to do thin coats :)

My mother said "This looks like grapes. But like..grape kool-aid." Haha!

 So good and shiny. Another one of my favorite jellies. And purple is my favorite color!

You ever just be like wth Seche? I don't really use this top coat but I did for my ring finger because I was in a rush when I had to re-paint it. Just wow. Cmon son.

Gray Weather... Grey Nails

Boo! Some summer I'm having here on the coast of California. Today was soooo gray/foggy. Hard to believe it's the middle of July! Anyhow, I let the weather guide my choice for a color today and I chose China Glaze - Pelican Gray.

It's definitely one of my favorites. I love that it's not your typical gunmetal gray, rainy blue/gray. It's just a very pretty light, muted gray. Gray, gray, gray!

 Formula was a little thin but it's buildable and dries quickly. I'm wearing three thin coats.

 I lovvvee it. Decided to add a little flair! (Spectraflair 35 to be exact!) My bottle is from KPT but many other indie brands have it out there. Gives any polish you have a holographic finish! How cool is that?! And I'm diggin this over the light gray. Gives it such a subtle look.

 Don't know why I put it on if the sun isn't out though! Haha. So here's some directly under my lamp.

Thanks for reading ;) Do you prefer gray or grey? I think I asked that before. I switch back and forth between the two!

Mint Manis for Talia Joy

Many who are involved in the beauty blog/vlog life, whether viewing or contributing, knows we lost beauty guru Talia Joy Castellano on July 16, 2013. I wasn't an avid watcher but I did know about her and watch her occasionally. How was she better than most grown women at make-up?! Haha amazing! I was so..devastated to hear the news. All I can say is she isn't in any pain anymore and she definitely left her mark on the world and raising awareness of child cancer.

 Darker green is Revlon - Posh and the lighter green is Keep Calm, Paint On by China Glaze. Design done with striping tape.

Thank you Nicole for organizing this and creating the hashtags. R.I.P Talia and thank you for always being such a positive light despite your hardships. Prayers to her family. 

Talia's last post was the inspiration for the mint mani.

Thank you.

Sunday Funday

Today I have a swatch and a little art for you :) below is two coats of China Glaze Sunday Funday from the 2013 Avant Garden collection! 

 The swatches are two easy coats, although you could have done one thick coat, and no top coat.

My artsy fartsy shot.

 And I did some glitter placement nails in a polka dot formation thanks to a tutorial by Candice (MrCandiiPants) on YouTube! Can't believe I never thought of this cute idea!

Hope y'all are havin a good Sunday.. funday! Haha! Thanks for reading :)

Bright Triangles

Today I did some really simple nail art based off this cute and bright tank top (racerback) I got at Target!

I was pretty pleased I had polishes in my collection that were 90% spot on with the colors on the tank top! The blue is Splish Splash by China Glaze, and the bright/neon mint color is Highlight of My Summer also by China Glaze.

I switched up how I usually do accent fingers and I did two, my index and middle finger. I started with two coats of  Milani White On the Spot and after that dried completely I placed striping tape down in an X pattern and sponged on 1-2 layers of the colors in the triangle sections formed from the tape.

I loved the result! I can't think of anyone who isn't obsessed with striping tape. They create such cool designs that can look like it took a lot of effort, when in reality it didn't! I also loved using the sponge in this design because that's what the triangles look like in the tank also. Like they have a sponged effect.

My thumb also made it's way into these photos. Two coats of Splish Splash!

 And Mr. Sunshine graced our little town with his presence today so I could capture some decent photos of these nubs. Thanks for reading!

Quick Post!

Quick, one photo post. Boring, I know. But I just wanted to share another amazing experience with the first generation Winstonia stamping plates! The quality is beyond belief for a new stamping plate brand, and for the first generation. From the biggest full nail images, to small very detailed images.

This right here is the mermaid image from plate W108. After two coats of China Glaze Seaspray, I stamped with China Glaze Strap On Your Moonboots from the Hologlam 2013 collection. And it came out perfect!

I also only have one nice photo because chlorine destroys all longevity in manicures. I love swimming class but I have to make sure I get a good photo before or else all you will see is it peeling and chipping. I chose the mermaid because it was the last day before our school pool is closing down and it only made sense to choose something water themed.

So if you don't already have these plates, get them! They are also reasonably priced :)

Snappy Colorblock

Hello! Today I have a swatch of Snap My Dragon, from the 2013 China Glaze Avant Garden collection! It's a very vibrant red leaning very pink color, but unfortunately my camera just wanted to pick up on all the red. Anyone else's camera hate reds? Haha. 

This really pretty color also has some hidden shimmer in it! I would definitely recommend picking it up if you are a fan of reds and shimmer.

After having this on for a day I was trying to figure out something simple to put over it. So I went with a really fun and easy color block tutorial by Brit Nails! I love this look and it will definitely be a go to mani when I am uninspired and need some pizzazz.

I just used a silver and then a black polish in my collection.

Unfortunately the sun did not come out today.. so my pictures will be a little darker. Lovely summer weather we're having here! Not..

 A rare photo of my right hand. Haha. Anyone ever feel too lazy to do the same thing on the other hand? I didn't feel like fiddling around with placing striping tape with my non-dominant hand, so I opted for something with the same colors and easy. Polka dots! What a cute cop-out right? Ring finger is a little Mickey Mouse. ;)

Thanks for reading!