Christmas!

More designs to come. This is all I've had time for so far. Busy busy busy!

Snowflakes. Candy cane. Frosty the snowman. Wrapped present. Santa hat.

Konad Christmas stamps 

 Bells. Christmas tree. Santa. Candy cane with holly. "Merry Christmas!"

Halloween!.....finally

Pumpkins and a jack-o-lantern.

haunted house scene with a full moon and bats, mummy, spiderweb, candy corn

Rubber Ducky

Complete with bubbles and water.  

Sadly, I cannot take credit for this idea. I believe it came from The Daily Nail and I just recreated it for my friend Michelle. 

 Quack!

Falling Leaves

...just in time for Autumn.  This design was for my friend Lindsay.

Wild West Adventures

My friend Averi loves horses so I came up with this for her.  A horse silhouette and two horseshoes on a blue background she picked out.  

 

Halloween!

I have some great ideas for Halloween! The only problem is finding the time to actually paint them! But I will get them posted...even if it has to be closer to Christmas!  Be on the lookout for them!

FINALLY ....a new post

This is a two for one!!


I bought a new polish and wanted to try it out so I came up with this. 

Pretty simple and the color was really pretty. 

Products used:

Beauty Secrets base coat

China Glaze in Secret Peri-Wink-le

Konad image plate

Konad special polish in white

stamper 

scraper

Beauty Secrets top coat

This is what I bought a few weeks ago. 

China Glaze in Secret Peri-Wink-le and a set of display wheels.

This is the most recent design I've had on my nails. 

It's a repeat, just because I think it's so darn cute. 

Products used:

Beauty Secrets base coat

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in White On

Stripe Rite in purple

Stripe Rite in pink

Beauty Secrets top coat

So...Busy....

I know it's been a while. I have been so busy since the semester started back up. I have a few things to post so I will try to get them up[ really soon, like maybe tonight or tomorrow or this weekend at the latest!!

Trip to Sally's!!

I got some new goodies! 

Sally Girl mini nail polish (silver glitter)
I haven't tried it out yet but it's got really big pieces of glitter which is what I was looking for. All the glitter polishes I have only have the tiny pieces of glitter.




Beauty Secrets top coat 

I love this brand. I have a huge bottle of top coat by this brand and it's my favorite top coat because it lasts for weeks without chipping! So I decided to buy the base coat because I knew it would be a great product.




California Magic cuticle oil
I have been wanting to gt some cuticle oil for some time now. I have been using Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Cuticle Treatment and it's really great. But I can't find it in the stores anymore and it's a cream, so I wanted to try an actual oil.




cuticle pusher
I love these things. I use them for more than just pushing cuticles back though. I use them to remove nail polish around the edges of my nails. They are also great for cleaning up polish around the cuticles and nail edges while the polish is still wet.




Seche Vite top coat
I have heard many good things about this product. I have noticed several other fellow bloggers use it and completely sing its praises by saying it gives a really glossy shine, it dries fast, and how it's their favorite top coat now and will use nothing else. I was skeptical thinking that a top coat from a brand I had never heard of would actually be that great, so I decided I would try it. If I didn't like it, it would be just another top coat option, since I have at least 4 different top coats. After I bought it, I was very eager to try it, so I painted my toes (pictures to come) so I could test it out. Oh my goodness, I really like this top coat! It IS great! It dries fast and give a really nice shine, even with just one coat!! But my absolute favorite part about Seche Vite top coat, is you can apply it over wet polish AND IT WONT SMEAR!!!! I am very pleased with this product and plan on using it from now on. I also noticed how think this top coat is and I think that is why it can be applied to wet polish and not smear. Bottom line... I love it!!!! 

(Update: after using this top coat for a week or so, I have decided I don't like it as much. Its SO thick and globby.)




Beauty Secrets nail polish thinner
I have a few bottles of nail polish that have become goopy and think over time. Del Sol brand polishes are the worst! I like these polishes (they change colors in the sun!! who wouldn't like them???) but usually avoid using them because they are thick, sticky, and goopy, that has gotten worse over time. I have heard that adding a few drops of nail polish thinner will solve this problem restore the nail polish to the original consistency and I wanted to try it. And I have to say it works! I added three drops to each bottle of Del Sol nail polish I have (don't forget to shake!) and almost immediately after a few minutes of shaking, I noticed a big change in the consistency of the polish. I was very pleased. It's also a very big bottle and if you only need 2-3 drops each time you use it, that bottle will last several months!! 

 (Correction: It will last YEARS! Four years later and my bottle still looks like I've barely used it!)


So I wanted to try out some of the new stuff I bought and my toes needed to be redone, so I painted this design. It's the colorful leopard print design I did several days ago on my fingernails.

Products used:
Beauty Secrets base coat
OPI in What's with the Cattitude
OPI in Rumple's Wiggin'
OPI in I'm Indi-a Mood for Love
N.Y.C. in Taxi Yellow
Pure Ice in Free Spirit
Konad special polish in black
stamper
scraper
image plate m57
dotting tool
Seche Vite top coat 

Although, the products I bought are great, the trip to Sally's was unsuccessful in the end. I actually went to buy China Glaze Matte Magic but THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT!! And when I asked about it, they acted like they weren't even going to get any in at all! Bummer... I guess I will have to find it elsewhere or online. 

One SUPER design

Have no fear, the superheroes are here!! 

Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and Wonder Woman!! 

Mamma mia, it's Mario!

We've all played a Mario game at some point in our lives.

The only problem with this design is his face. It looks a little weird. I couldn't get it just right. But at least you can still tell who it's supposed to be, right?

Ugh, the more I look at it, the more I don't like it. 

Products used:

Finger Paints base coat

Orly in Angel Face

Stripe Rite in black

Stripe Rite in silver

Stripe Rite in white

Stripe Rite in yellow

Stripe Rite in green

Stripe Rite in red

Kiss Nail Art Paint in blue

Kiss nail Art Paint in green

assorted nail brushes

Beauty Secrets top coat

Nail Care Tips

Always swipe nails with remover before applying polish. It removes dirt and oil so the polish will adhere to the nail plate better.

Be sure to use a moisturizing nail polish remover.

Massage cuticles with cuticle oil or lotion and gently push them back using a cuticle pusher. Wipe excess off nail using a soft cloth dipped in nail polish remover. Never cut your cuticles! They help prevent infection and cutting them could also damage the nail.

Always apply a base coat! It prevents nail staining and helps the polish last longer.

To cut back on mess and avoid bumpy nail polish, apply it in three strokes: one in center, one on left, and one on right.

Allow enough time for the polish to dry completely before applying another coat.

Always apply a top coat! It will protect your polish from chipping! Don’t forget to cap the nails by holding the brush vertical and swiping it across the tip of nail. Continue to apply the top coat every other day to keep the nails looking fresh and to prolong the manicure.

Do not bite your nails! File them in one direction using a fine grit nail file instead. It’s not a healthy habit because the area under the fingernail has at least 75 times more microorganisms per density than anywhere else on the hands!! Biting also makes your nails weak and well, they just look bad too!

Don’t throw away think, goopy, sticky nail polish! Add some nail polish thinner and it will be like brand new! Sally Beauty Supply sells it for just $3 - $4.

Colorful Leopard

I wasn't sure how this design would turn out, but I really like it. It's very colorful and perfect for the summer! I got many compliments!

Products used:

Finger Paints base coat

Pure Ice in Oh Baby!

Pure Ice in Flirt Alert

N.Y.C. in Taxi Yellow

China Glaze in For Audrey

OPI in Rumple's Wiggin'

Finger Paints in Well-Cultured Pearl

konad image plate m57

stamper

scraper

dotting tool

Beauty Secrets top coat

Starry Night (Van Gogh)

This design turned out really well. It's based on my favorite painting "Starry Night" by Van Gogh.

Here is the painting:

And here is the nail design:

Products used:
Finger Paints base coat
OPI in What's With the Cattitude?
Pure Ice in Oh Baby!
Pure Ice in Splash
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Blue It
Stripe Rite in black
Stripe Rite in white
Stripe Rite in yellow
dotting tool
 assorted nail art brushes
Beauty Secrets top coat

Day and night

It looks a little messy, especially around the edges, but I really like this design. On the middle finger where day and night collide, I used a sponge to give the "fading into darkness" effect.

Products used: Finger Paints base coat Orly in Angel Face Finger Paints in purple Pure Ice in Oh Baby! e.l.f. in clear OPI in What's With the Cattitude? Love My Nails in Glory Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Blazing Blue Stripe Rite in yellow Stripe Rite in white Stripe Rite in silver sponge dotting tools Beauty Secrets top coat

You scream, I scream, We all scream

..for ice cream!

This is a design with mint chocolate chip ice cream - yum! It's pretty simple. I'm still trying to decide on whether or not I like the ring finger with the whole nail covered... I don't think I do. But the other nails are cute.

Vera Bradley

I am a Vera Bradley fanatic! I have so many purses and bags in a few patterns. My favorite pattern is Purple Punch (middle finger). Night & Day is on the index, Loves Me is on the ring finger, and Simply Violet is on the pinkie.

This the picture I used as a guide showing all the patterns.

Jungle Fever

What do you get when leopard meets zebra? Jungle fever! (...although technically here it's a line of glitter). This is the lovely leopard design I posted earlier and have been wearing for a few days. I just added the zebra pattern over half of it today.

Product used:
Finger Paints base coat
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Flashy Fuchsia
Pure Ice in Black Rage
Stripe Rite in silver
Stripe Rite in silver glitter
Konad Special Polish in white
image plate m57
stamper
scraper
Beauty Secrets top coat

Get out of the water!!!

 I can hear the Jaws theme song now.... dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun!! It's Shark Week on Discovery Channel!! So I came up with this design last night while watching "Into the Shark Bite." 

Products used: Finger Paints base coat Pure Ice in Black Rage Stripe Rite in black Stripe Rite in white Orly in Angel Face OPI in What's with the Cattitude? OPI in Shower Together N.Y.C. in Big Apple Red N.Y.C. in Times Square Tangerine Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Blazing Blue BonBons in silver dotting tool assorted nail brushes Beauty Secrets top coat 

Minion Mania

Have you seen Despicable Me? It's been out for a while and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by it. I didn't particularly want to see it; I thought the previews looked a bit... well, stupid. But I went after all and was glad I did. It's a cute movie with some really funny parts."It's so FLUFFY!"

So this is my take on a Despicable Me nail design (0riginal by The Daily Nail).

Aren't they adorable?
Products used: Finger Paints base coat Orly in Angel Face Pure Ice in Black Rage Pure Ice in Oh Baby! Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Blue it N.Y.C. in Taxi Yellow Stripe Rite in black Stripe Rite in white dotting tools Beauty Secrets top coat

Lovely Leopard

This is the first design using my new image plates that I added to my Konad collection. It's almost painfully simple with just a pink base color and a white leopard print overlay.

Product used:
Finger Paints base coat Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Flashy Fuchsia Konad Special Polish in white image plate m57 stamper scraper Beauty Secrets Top coat

KONAD!!!!!

FINALLY!! On Monday, I ordered some more Konad goodies from OCnailart and they came today!!!! Here is a picture of everything I got.

A dual-sided stamper that came with an extra stamper.

A one-touch pump bottle. This thing is AWESOME. I used to pour my nail polish remover in the cap and set it down while I was working, but sometimes it would get knocked over getting everything wet and nail polish remover can be damaging to hard wood floors and fabrics.....

But with this bottle, the mess is gone and all spills are avoided!!

 

and three image plates

m40

m56

m57

Dippin' Dots

I came up with this very simple design when I got new dotting tools. They came in a set of 5 and included several different sizes. In the picture it's kinda hard to see but there's a glitter topcoat over the dots.

Products used: Finger Paints base coat Pure Ice in Oh Baby! China Glaze in For Audrey N.Y.C. in Taxi Yellow Pure Ice in Don't You Wish OPI in I'm Indi-a Mood for Love OPI in Rumple's Wiggin' dotting tools Beauty Secrets top coat

Cutie Cupcakes

Yummy cupcakes. Each with a different color wrapper, colorful sprinkles, and glitter icing.

Products used: Finger Paints base coat N.Y.C. in Taxi Yellow Stripe Rite in yellow OPI in I'm Indi-a Mood for Love Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Hot Magenta OPI in What's With the Cattitude? China Glaze in For Audrey OPI in Rumple's Wiggin Love My Nails in True Lilac Stripe Rite in white Pure Ice in Oh Baby! Pure Ice in Flirt Alert Pure Ice in Wild Thing China Glaze in Shower Together Sally Girl Mini polish in bright purple Pure Ice in Don't You Wish assorted nail brushes Beauty Secrets top coat

Sports Crazies

Time out! Now let's play ball! Football. Basketball. Baseball. Tennis. Soccer.

School Days

Teacher, school, education theme. Complete with a school bus, a chalkboard with letters, and apple, a graded paper, and a pencil. 

Acetone & Detail Polishes

Recently, I bought some pure acetone to use as remover and to remove artificial nails. I also came across some polishes with a long skinny brush used for details and lines. I usually use the brand Stripe Rite from the beauty supply store but these came from Wal-Mart (so they were cheaper!) and the brand is Kiss. They work great and I really like them. They came in a pack of three in lime green, bright pink, and royal blue.