Wishing for Spring with a Green Gradient

I happen to live in one of the coldest states in the continental United States, Minnesota.  This is the worst time of the year for me.  Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years hare over and now comes the long cold stretch until Spring Break, but even then it is still cold.  So it is natural, if emotionally torturous, that my mind turns to spring at this time, which is reflected in my nail art.

It has been so long since I have shown nail art on Bria's nails.  Mostly that is because she broke several nails and they are so skinny that if you reduce the length, there is hardly any room for any art.

The theme for these came from The Crumpet Nail Tarts Pick-n-Mix 52 week challenge.  It is "three shades of green/yellow".  I started with a gradient of Sally Hansen Lightening, Lickety Split Lime and Julep Payton.  I have never tried the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri for a gradient, but if they all behave like these two, I will have to try more!.  They give really good coverage, so you do not have to sponge as many layers, and it dries quickly so you don't have to wait as long between layers.  Brilliant!

After the gradient was fully dry, I used striping tape tape to create vertical stripes with Finger Paints Black Expressionism.  I don't know why, but I love vertical stripes on my nails.  Maybe it is because it makes you nails look longer.  You can see more vertical stripes HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.  

Finally I added some little flowers layered with Black Expressionism, China Glaze In the Rough and more Sally Hansen Lightening in the center.  As you can see, Bria loved these!  Unfortunately she has started a new work study at a local college deli, which means she is washing dishes a lot.  The result is that this only lasted a couple of days.  She is going to have to go polishless for awhile :(

Thanks for looking and commenting.  Don't forget to check out the other Tarts nail art!

My First Attempt At Watercolor Nail Art

I am trying not to have multiple posts in one day, but with a 31 day challenge and six (yes, I said SIX) weekly challenges, it may not be possible.  Today is one of those days!  This is for the Style Those Nails watercolor prompt and Blogger Braggers watercolor prompt.  How could I not combine these?  This is my first time doing watercolor nail art and I love trying new things, that's why I do challenges!  Let's see how I did...

I almost used this for Chalkboard Nails 31 Day challege too, since today's prompt was green.  I thought three challenges for one mani was going a little too far.  It may happen sometime this month though!  The green is two coats of Essie Navigate Her.  Yes, that is a ding on my index.  Happens to the best of us.  The base for the accent nails is OPI My Vampire Is Buff.

I feel like this is not too bad for my first attempt!  I learned a lot too.  First thing I learned is not to top coat before adding the paint.  The surface is too slick and my dots were just sliding off and pooling in my cuticles.

Secondly, DON'T use actual watercolors!  I couldn't figure out why my paint kept pooling together so I couldn't get larger dots.  I just kept at it and did the best I could.  I realized after that all my favorite artists use acrylic paint.  DUH!  The idea is to give a watercolor effect, not use watercolors!  Lesson learned!

Despite the problems, I still think it is passable.  What do you think?  Thanks for looking and commenting!  You can check out the other artists work for the #stnchallenge by joining the Facebook group HERE and the Blogger Braggers HERE.  

GOT Indies for #31DC2014?

Today's prompt for the Golden Oldie Thursday challenge is "indie".  I will admit it, I am a bit of an indie polish snob.  I would much rather spend $13 on one indie polish than on two or three (or more) mainstreams.  $13 for Butter London?  Way too expensive!  $13 on Crows Toes?  Let me get out my card.  Not that all indies are expensive.  Some of my favorites are priced right there with the Sally Hansens and Revlons.  There are so many creative polish makers out there, and I would much rather support these home grown, handmade "companies".  Besides, the polish is so gorgeous!

All of my indie polish is on my table top in two holders.  This is where I go for base colors for nail art, unless I am looking for a cream or an exact match for something I am trying to recreate.  The problem is, I have run out of room!  All the beauties are beginning to encroach on my work space!  I could put them in drawers.  I have enough space.  But then I wouldn't get to see their pretty faces every day!  I may have to invest in another display option!

All this is to say that I don't have a whole lot of indies that are neglected, but their are some.  Since the #31DC2014 challenge prompt for today is green, and I knew I had a green indie somewhere in my unposteds, I went through my files and found this lovely for another two-fer.

Not wild about the stamping.  I think I was going for a leaf look without a leaf stamp.

Scofflaw Wee Beasties with Flash

Scofflaw Wee Beasties in Artificial Light

This is three coats of Scofflaw Wee Beasties.  This is from the first ever Scofflaw collection and is no longer available....unless you can hunt it down in a blog sale!  This mellow green filled with multi-glitters and gold shimmer reminds me of a field of wild flowers in the sun.  So lovely!

I stamped with Apipila P.6 and some gold that I didn't write down.  I don't think it was my normal Bold Gold since there seems to be a bit of holo-ness too it.  Maybe Ozotic? 

You can tell that these pics are about a month old.  Sometimes I actually do nail art that does not correspond with a challenge prompt, just what I feel like doing.  Then the pics languish in my unposted file until they fit a challenge.  This is one of those.  My cuticles are in such better shape now, thanks to some rigorous care, and my thumbnail is much longer!

Didn't really end up looking like leaves.  Guess I should have used a brown or dark green to stamp with.  Thanks for looking and commenting!  I should have a second post up later tonight (or early am tomorrow :) for another couple of challenge prompts.

#31DC2014 Orange

Today's prompt for #31DC2014 is organge.  I went with the obvious.

Oranges!  Although I don't like orange with my skin tone, I still love this!

I started with two coats of Cuttin' Edge Orange Cream.

I then stamped with Bundle Monster BM-308 and Konad Special White.

Finally, I added another coat of Orange Cream.

You can see with the flash that Orange Cream is an orange jellie filled with a gold shimmer.  It may be perfect for lead lighting.  We will see.

I love the squishiness of this!  See you tomorrow!

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Not in Love with Yellow

Yellow is the only color I do not like on my tips.  Today the prompt for Adventures in Stamping is "over yellow".  Almost skipped it, but that's what challenges are for, stepping out of your comfort zone.

Yellow tends to make my skin look brown.  On top of that, I got a new cuticle pusher.  It works well...too well.  It is plastic with a sharp edge and my cuticles paid for it.  Please forgive their tortured look!

Not only is this not my favorite color, it is also not my favorite execution.  Should have used white over the whole nail instead of doing a stamp gradient.  Almost didn't post this, but I figure I went to the trouble and I know everyone has a bad nail day.  Might as well show you the bad as well as the good.

I started with a gradient of Cult Nails New Day, NOPI Ladies in the Limelight and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Lightening over a white base.  I actually like this.

Then I used MoYou Pro 06 and did a stamp gradient with Konad Special White and SH Lightening.  Don't know what a stamping gradient is?  Check THIS post.  Like I said, should have just used white.

You can see the yellow over the gradient a bit better with the flash.  By using the yellow I covered up the purdy (as purdy as yellow can be) gradient.

Despite its downfalls, I still think it was a valiant attempt.  Thanks for looking and commenting!

#OMD2 Final Catch Up

Today I have something a little different.  I have a bunch of pic of nail art I created for the OMD2 challenge.  No details, just pics for now.  If you want details, let me know in the comments and I will do individual posts for the ones you request.

Dark - You can find the other darks HERE.

Holo - You can find the other holos HERE.

Jelly - You can find the other jellies HERE.

Favorite Polish - You can find the other favorites HERE.

3D -  You can find the other 3Ds HERE. 

Funky French - You can find the other frenchies HERE. 

Feathers - You can find the other feathers HERE. 

Nautical - You can find the other nauticals HERE. 

Bridal - You can find the other bridals HERE. 

Signature Style - You can find the other signature styles HERE. 

That's it.  Remember, if you want details, let me know in the comments and I will post the details.  Thanks for looking and commenting!.

Finger Food Rainbow and AIS Tiger = Obsession

I have an image of myself.  I am romantic, but not cutsie.  Dark, but not morbid.  Alternative, not disco.   I am "Supernatural", not "Keeping Up With The Kardashians".  Hayley Williams, not Beyonce.  "Seven Psychopaths", not "The Hangover".   "Amelie", not "Titanic".  I am artsy, not crafty.  I am a little off...but in a good way.    My animal totem would be a wolf, a bit of a loner, but part of the pack and maybe a little misunderstood.  But I am more vampire than werewolf.  My blog will never be stark, but it might be a bit minimalist.  I am not animal print, I am lace.  Fall, not summer.  I am oxblood, not neon.  So then why the hell do I love these so much?!?  What does this say about me?!?!

Every time I glanced down at these, it made me smile, grin and skip.  Maybe because it brings me back to my childhood with its Lisa Frank-ish feel.

Don't let the pictures fool you, these are neon, bright and obnoxious.  A gradient of China Glaze Loves a Beach, Celtic Sun and Splish Splash could do nothing other than scream "LOOK AT ME!"  That is bad enough, but I took it a step farther.

I added tiger stripes.  This is just unnatural.  Why does it make my heart happy?!?

What caused this adorable abomination?  Finger Food Buffet rainbow prompt combined with Adventures in Stamping International Tiger Day.

My eyes!  But I can't stop looking!  I want to show random people on the street!  What is wrong with me!  Maybe my view of myself is totally wrong!  Who knew a bit of nail art could cause such self questioning.  Running to remove it before I start questioning my whole existence.  Gotta go.