The New 31DC Day 31 - Recreate Someone Else's Mani

I DID IT!  I DID IT!  I completed this challenge with flying polish colors!  I'm so proud of myself and everyone else that worked so hard to conquer this beast.  lol I want to thank Debbie for creating this awesome challenge.  I definitely would love to do it again when I regain my sanity.

I am also so excited that I get to finish off the challenge with this manicure!  Don't you love it?!  I'm so excited about it.  I've never done the drip mani before and I thought it was going to turn out really bad.  IRL it's not even this great.  It's pretty blah up close.  Somehow the camera really turns it out though.  lol

WHAT I USED:
Zoya Zuza - base color
Sinful Pink over white - hot pink drips

The blogger who originally created this particular mani is Heather of Peace, Love, and Polish.  She used her amazing skills on day 21 to make a merge/melt mani in THIS post.  It was really tough choosing between all the awesome manicures during this past 31 days, but hers really stood out and just kept calling my name.  Below is a photo of Heather's mani.  How did I do?

The New 31DC Day 30 - Favorite Nail Art Technique

OMG only 1 day left!  I'm so excited for this to over (not in a bad way), but I am so happy that I did it!

I did a couple of my favorite techniques here: gradient and dotticure.  I should have gone with a brighter color like I originally intended, but ya know.  Shit happens.

In my head this was better, but on the nail it's just not a fab as I thought it would be.  I definitely wanted to get very neutral and then I added some sparkle to make it flash, but it doesn't look like that happened.  Oh and my greasy looking fingers don't help.  It's lotion and cuticle oil.

WHAT I USED:
China Glaze White on White - white (lol)
Zoya Avery - nude
Zoya LA Pop - sparkle top coat

The New 31DC Day 29 - Inspired by a Blogger

For this one, I didn't want to just recreate a mani that another blogger had done before or even one that they were popular for.  I just wanted to go very simple and very straight forward so enjoy!

My blogger inspiration is Ashley of Smashley Sparkles!  I chose to use her favorite color purple.  This is China Glaze Creative Fantasy which Ashley recently mentioned was one of her favorite purples.  It's a super rich color and it's a jelly.  This took 3 coats and you can still slightly see my nail.  lol oh well!

I used the studs because, well, let's face.  Studs are the shit!  But for real, I think Ashley is a super cool chick.  She's got colored hair and tattoos.  Just plain awesome.  I had the privilege to actually meet up with her one day and I had a blast.  I just wish she were still in the US.  ):  I also love her blog and her manis.  I admire how she can do any technique and it's always flawless.

Now that I have gone back and proof-read this post,  I hope you all don't think I'm, like, a stalker.  lol  So thanks Ashley for being my friend and just being totally bitchin'.

The New 31DC Day 28 - Inspired by Favorite Color

Ok yes my fave color is green as I've told you all many times before, but that's not the only one.  I have a few colors I tend to lean towards.  Those would be green, black, gold, and purple!  Purple is what I chose today.

I used my mani from yesterday's Inspired by Me post because, let's face it, I'm getting tired.  lol  This has been such a long month.  Isn't this such a great idea to "repurpose" or extend your mani though?

I just used striping tape in a sort of brick pattern or geometric pattern and painted 2 coats of China Glaze Señorita Bonita.  I also wanted to do it matte and then forgot.  lol  See I'm losing my mind.

The New 31DC Day 27 - Inspired by Me

A mani inspired by me huh?  Well I'll tell you a little about me and then you can see my mani.  I'm 27.  I live in Houston and have for my whole life.  I live with my boyfriend of 6 years and we have a wonderful daughter named Monster.  She's a cat.  lol  I love to bake, hang out on the couch, and obviously paint my nails.

Since my birthday is in October I chose to do opal nails which is the true October birthstone.  That ugly pink stone is what you will usually find because opals are rare and so expensive.  The majority of them are produced in South Australia so that makes them even more expensive here in the US.

I wanted to go very simple for this mani.  That's not really me, but I loved this mani so much I didn't want to cover it up with any stamping or anything just yet.  Keyword: yet!

WHAT I USED:
OPI Sweet Memories - pink base
Sally Hansen White Tip - white accent
Nubar 2010 - flakie
I used the saran wrap method before I applied the flakie just to give it that marbled look just like a real opal.

The New 31DC Day 26 - Inspired by My Country

What country am I from?  USA!  USA!  lol I'm just being silly.  Today's nails are inspired by the USA (for me anyway) however I can't stand the colors red, white, and blue together.  I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I don't like primary colors together and red, white, and blue is just too close.  I don't know, whatever!  With all that rambling done and over with, I can now say that I just wanted to do something different.

I did denim!  Obviously denim is a universal thing, but I feel like the American culture has really embraced denim over the past 75 years (I'm sure even more) with companies like Levi Strauss and Ralph Lauren really perfecting the fits and washes of denim and making it a real staple.

I thought the acid wash look was really cool so I used the brushstroke technique with OPI Dating a Royal, Color Club Hydrangea Kiss, and a no-name Love & Beauty polish in navy.  I put a matte top coat on that and when it was dry I used a white nail art marker to draw stars.  Some of them got a little funky, but we'll just call it "distressed denim".  lol

I'm really in love with these nails.  I didn't want to take it off, but ya know.  The challenge must go on.

The New 31DC Day 25 - Inspired by My Childhood

This is awesome.  We are in the last week of the challenge and, honestly, I can't wait for it to be over.  It's been very stressful trying to post every single day.  lol  Today's post is supposed to be inspired by my childhood and I couldn't think of anything that would be easy enough for me to put on my nails.  I wanted to do Candyland or Power Rangers nails but those both came out so horrible.  What I finally came up with was SPICE GIRLS!  Whaaatt?!  I had Spice Girls everything.  Posters on my walls, CDs, books, pens, dolls, even candy!  Oh and of course the Spice Girls movie which I still own on VHS btw.  If y'all remember those please let me know.  I can't be the only one!  

So the pinky nails is inspired by Baby Spice.  I thought powder pinks and blues with soft glitter would be appropriate.  My ring finger is for Posh Spice.  I used OPI DS Mystery and a single rhinestone.  Is it sad that I know that she used to get a real diamond studded into her thumb nail when she would get her nails done?  How do I know?  Those Spice Girls books come in handy!  My middle finger is inspired by Scary Spice who is awesome by the way.  She always wore leopard so leopard it was.  My craptastic pointer finger is for Sporty Spice.  It's supposed to be an Adidas logo, but then I smudged it and it's just dumb.  Also I didn't think about the fact that these would be upside down when I did them.  Oh well.

And hey!  Remember that time that Ginger Spice left the group?

And then she came back?  lol My thumb nail is for Ginger Spice.  She can been seen in many of her old "costumes" wearing the Union Jack flag (and sometimes US flag...go Geri!) so I thought that was fitting.  So what does everyone think of this crazy mani?  It definitely shows you a little bit about what I liked in Jr. High.  I even had the giant platform shoes!

The New 31DC Day 24 - Inspired by a Game

Oh my, we are so close the end of the challenge.  I feel like if I complete this, I can complete anything.  Polish-wise anyway.  (:

I wonder which game I chose for inspiration here?  Hmmm!  Yep!  Super Mario Bros.  I could have honestly used this for today's post and tomorrow's (inspired by my childhood) because I think most of my years were spent in front of our old school TV that had the dial that you turn to change channels.  Somehow we were able to hook up that awesome original Nintendo console and waste our youth trying to save that stupid bitch, Princess Peach.  I mean, come on!  Who needs that much saving?

So yeah!  I love all the Super Mario Bros. games and I think I've played and beat about 90% of them so this was a no-brainer for me.  Anyway, there are lots of polishes used to make this happen so I'll skip that part.  If you absolutely must know a certain one, just leave your query in the comments below.  I always reply!  I really hope you all enjoy this.  It was super hard work.

The New 31DC Day 23 - Inspired by Nature

Oh I can't wait for you all to scroll down and see these!!

So this is my inspiration photo.  It's just a print of a cherry blossom branch.  I knew that I wanted to do cherry blossoms because they are some of the most beautiful flowers in nature.  The symbolism in both Chinese and Japanese cultures is beautiful as well.  In the Chinese culture, cherry blossoms symbolize being a strong-willed woman that values freedom and liberty.  The Japanese culture believes that there is a connection between the cherry blossom and the admiration of life or shortness of existence.  They also believe it symbolizes the sadness of passed loved ones.  Pretty deep right?

I love, love, LOVE these nails!  However I didn't quite know how to "draw" them out on my nails since my nails are shorties, so I thought just using my dotting tool was enough.  I showed this to some friends before today and they all knew what it was right away. (:   I thought the blossoms on here were a little too blah in color, so I added brighter pops of color on mine and also some sparkle.

WHAT I USED:
Sephora by OPI Don't Feed the Hand Models - base color
Zoya Codie/OPI Warm & Fozzie - branches
Color Club Blusing Rose - light pink dots
Hard Candy Fabuluxe - pink glitter dots

This was a super fast and easy manicure so that's great and means I can do it again when I'm in a rush.

The New 31DC Day 22 - Inspired by a Fabric

Just a little forewarning, these are not the best of nails, but they are the best I could do.  I'm just happy that my free hand is getting better.  I mean, practice makes perfect, right?

This is my inspiration photo along with THESE baroque print nails from Sarah of Chalkboard Nails.

These are my baroque print nails.  I couldn't really make all the curly-Qs happen, but I feel like I did a pretty good job getting my point across...right?!

WHAT I USED:

Sally Hansen White Tip - white base

American Apparel Army Jacket - olive design

Ulta High Roller - gold accent

Guest Post for Nail Polish Addiction

Hey Everyone!

Just in case you are getting burnt out on The New 31DC posts, you can check out MY GUEST POST for Juliana of Nail Polish Addiction.  You can see how I made this happen!

Have a great day!
D

The New 31DC Day 21 - Merge or Melt

This might be one of my favorite manis from this whole challenge.  I have been wanting to do this for such a long time (I know it's super simple), but just never got around to it, but the challenge was a great "excuse" for me to take a mani off my bucket list.  lol

Today's challenge is merge or melt so of course I did a gradient using the two brightest colors I have in my entire collection.  I thought I would do a needle marble, but to be completely honest, I don't really like it.  I can appreciate a good one when I see it, but I would never do it myself.  Well, never say never right?

Anyway...
WHAT I USED:
Sally Hansen White Tip - white base (unseen)
Spoiled Did I Dye It Too Blonde? - neon yellow
China Glaze Kiwi Cool-ada - neon green
Cover Band Sticks 'n' Stones - black/white glitter

I have been trying to get SnS for what seems like forever.  Everytime I get the email saying it's restocked, the site always acts up and I can never complete the transaction.  Other times, it's just plain sold out.  Finally an amazing friend and blogger, Jen of My Nail Polish Obsession, sent me an amazing RAOK package and this was in it.  She knew it had been a lemming of mine for such a long time, but now it's all mine!  Thank you so much Jen!!

The New 31DC Day 20 - Texture

Alrighty now!  This is my version of cupcake nails for my Paw Paw's 84th birthday which was yesterday.  I wanted to originally use flocking powder, but then I realized it was his birthday and I wanted to do something cute for him.  I mean he couldn't care less about nail polish, but I do!  lol

WHAT I USED:
Orly Snowcone - blue base
China Glaze White on White - white icing
China Glaze Four Leaf Clover - green candle
Zoya Pippa - yellow flame
Finger Paints Candy Drops bead pot

They really do look like sprinkles right?!

The New 31DC Day 19 - Favorite Polish

Yeah for day 19!  This is supposed to be my favorite polish, but since I love all of my pretties, I let my readers pick.  They chose Zoya Charisma!

This was a really tough polish to capture because as we all know purples don't like to show up correctly on camera.  This photo before I doctored it was very pink, but I didn't want to give you all false representation of the beautiful color.  My fingers and background are blue tinted because I wanted to get the polish color correct and this is as close as I could get it.  

Charisma is a bright neon magenta color that covers well in 2 thicker coats.  If you are used to using thinner coats, then be sure to use 3.  It definitely has that matte finish that neons do so I added a super shiny top coat and was out the door.  The formula is a bit on the thick side, but nothing completely unmanageable.  I ordered this polish because it was so blinding and I wanted to add to my "neon collection".  I don't have as many as I'd like.  This is also one of InStyle Magazines "Best Beauty Buys" of 2011.  Now it's one of my best beauty buys of 2012!  (: