Swirl Design with Nail Craze

Why yes!  That is nail art you see.  I haven't been big into nail art lately (or blogging at all actually) and especially with stamping.  It's not my forte, but I finally got my hands on a couple of Nail Craze plates and they make stamping so fun.

The design above is from the Nail Craze plate NC02.  It's the one with the unicorn and pegasus in case you don't know which one I'm talking about.  I have lots of other plates from different makers and this is by far the best one I've used.  The etches are just right so that the design lifts perfectly off the plate and onto the stamper with ease.  It transfers perfectly without any "bald spots" or lifting like I've gotten with many other plates.  The colors I used underneath are Color Club Blue-ming (mint), China Glaze Pool Party (pink), and Color Club Hydrangea Kiss (purple).  I just sponged them on individually if you wondered.  When I was dry I added one coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust and then the swirly stamp over that.  I absolutely love how it turned out and feel like it was the best way for me to ease back into nail art without too much effort.

I'm gonna try to keep this up so keep coming back.  Have a wonderful Sunday!  (:

Color Club Beyond

I can't believe I haven't blogged this polish before (at least I don't remember doing it) because I've had it for so long.  This is the first Color Club holo I bought but I've shown the other two and not this one.  I've worn it a hundred or so times but never thought to take a picture I guess.

Color Club Beyond is so appropriately named because the black base is super dark but the holo effect looks like far away galaxies.  This polish could be a one-coater if you really wanted it to be but I used two thinner coats for this swatch.  I mean there isn't much else to say about it because I know the photos speak for themselves.  I mean, the holo is to die for and who doesn't love a classic black nail?

I promise I'll post some nail art soon.  I have been trying to get inspired to do something fun, but what?  I think I'm gonna be copy-catting Pinterest manis and trying out tutorials until I can come up with something of my own.  

My Grungy Valentine

I figured since I haven't done any Valentine's manis yet and Valentine's Day is Friday, I should probably get on the ball.  Honestly I hate Valentine's Day and the whole hype around it.  It's not because I'm single or bitter about the so-called holiday.  As I got older I just didn't like it anymore.  This makes it really easy on the boyfriend though because he doesn't have to get me anything.  lol

Since I'm not that into it, I figured doing a grungy looking mani using Valentine's appropriate colors would be a fun alternative for me.  I started by prepping my nails with one coat of Color Club Blushing Rose which is a super light baby pink creme.  Then I used the dry brushstroke technique to apply the other colors.  If you aren't familiar with this technique, basically apply the polish using the brush from the polish bottle but with almost all of the polish wiped off.  This is what creates the effect you see.  If you are looking for a great tutorial, here is one from Sarah of Chalkboard Nails.  The other colors I used were a lavender purple, Zoya Malia, and an orchid, Color Club Sweet Pea.  When it was all dry I used Sinful Black on Black to do the grungy black brushstrokes.

I hope you all enjoy this mani.  I do because I know I can wear it for more than just Valentine's Day and it's so easy to accomplish.  I think I might be able to bust out some more love-y dove-y manis before Friday so make sure you check back.  (:

Winter Wonderland

Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean that Winter is.  Judging by everyone's Facebook posts, I think the cold weather is here to stay for awhile.  I live in Texas so for me to see the thermometer hit 20 degrees is exciting.  So instead of dreading it, let's celebrate it.

OMG look at these!  This definitely goes on the list of my all-time favorite manis.  It's so simple and easy but super pretty.  I started with two coats of Color Club Hydrangea Kiss then added one coat of Nubar 2010.  If you don't have 2010 you need it.  It was the first flakie polish I ever owned and still my favorite by far.  I actually need a new bottle because I'm almost out after two years.  When that dried I applied one coat of Spoiled Jewelry Heist and topped it off with Sally Hansen Big Matte.  I don't know about you but I just love glitters with a matte top coat.  Oh who am I kidding?  I love everything with a matte top coat.  lol
So what do you think?  Are you a big matte fan?  And what's on your nails this cold Winter evening?

Neon Grunge

Sorry this post is kinda late but I just got back from my fitness class.  Luckily this mani was already done so I just have to whip of the post.  (:

I was inspired by Sarah of Chalkboard Nails' distressed nail art tutorial, specifically her neon version.  Instead of using a black creme polish over the neons, I used OPI Spotted which has failed me once again.

If you all happened to see a guest post I did for Nail Polish Addiction awhile ago, I briefly explain the technique I used for the "radioactive" mani and how my OPI Spotted was a bust.  I used that same process this time except with neon shades in China Glaze Kiwi Cool-ada (green), China Glaze Creative Fantasy (purple), Color Club Lava Lamp (orange), Sinful Colors Pink (pink), Ulta Blue Streak (blue), and of course a white base - Zoya Purity.  I applied OPI Spotted and I can't say it was a complete fail.  I mean, it did separate but the colors were not as visible as I would have liked so I dipped a cotton swab in acetone and gently removed or smeared some of the black to create that grungy look.

Thanks to Sarah for making a great tutorial eventhough I didn't follow it to a tee.  lol I really enjoy both versions of this mani and I hope you all do too.  Let me know what you think in the comments below!

7 Days of Halloween - Day 3

I am super excited about this mani.  I was going to post it before I left for vacation but I decided to hold on to it for this series.  I really love how it came out and it was totally not planned.  I just kept adding until I was happy and I am so happy.

The gradient I used was supposed to look like a dusky, nightfall behind the graveyard.  The purple is Color Club Eternal Beauty and the black is Color Club Beyond.  For the moon (yes I know it looks more like a sun but whatever) I just used a dotting tool and some yellow, orange, and pink cremes all swirled together to make it happen.  Then I just used a striper brush and black creme polish in random shapes for the headstones and crosses.  I thought this mani kind of looked like an old, creepy graveyard or those headstones you see in old westerns.  lol I don't know what I'm saying.  Just ignore me.

So let me know what you think about this mani in the comments below.  Thanks for stopping in.  (:

Color Club Eternal Beauty

Hey everyone!  I'm back and guess what!  IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!  Yep I am 28 today.  Everyone has been sending me best wishes all day and I feel super loved.  I don't have anything planned so I'm probably going to just do the same thing I do everyday and I'm totally okay with that.  I mean, it's MY birthday and I'll do what I want.  lol  I didn't even try to come up with a great birthday mani so I went to work with naked nails.  Everyone was shocked.  I did receive a huge lemming not too long ago and I've been saving the swatches for today since it's so amazing.

I finally got my hands on Color Club Eternal Beauty and OMG!  I just die everytime I look at it.  I mean I'm almost speechless over it...almost.  I think the photos speak for themselves so I'll just let you all ogle it's beauty like I've been doing.  This is two coats btw.  Have a great day!

Fun With a Pastel Gradient

I wasn't really sure what else to title this post since I have a few things going on with this mani, but it is super cute nonetheless.  Check it out!

Yeah so like I said, there is a lot going on here.  lol I wanted to do something fun and different (for me anyway) and I think is not like anything I've ever done.  I started with a white base to make the pastel colors stand out.  Then I started with the chevron nails.  I taped off the pattern using striping tape.  I could have bought some zig-zag craft scissors but that seems too easy.  I like a challenge.  (:  Then I used four different pastel cremes to gradient over the tape.  The lavender is Sinful Colors Sweet Tooth, the blue is Orly Snowcone, the yellow (which is kinda tough to see) is Sinful Colors Unicorn, and the pink is Sinful Colors Soul Mate.  I only needed two layers of sponging to get the colors almost opaque.

The I took the same colors and then Color Club Blue-ming to create gradient polka dots on my pinky and pointer fingers.  Then I topped it all off with my top coat which for some reason wanted to give me lots of bubbles today.  I really love this print and color combo but I just really hope it doesn't look like clown pants or something.  lol  I wanted it to be a little funky and a little whimsical but not ridiculous. 

So how do you all feel about this mani?  You can tell me the truth if you think it looks like clown pants.  lol I asked the boyfriend if it looked like unicorn tears and he said, "No babe!  You know unicorns cry jelly beans."  OMG I laughed to hard.  I thought you all would enjoy that.  (:

Water Marble Wednesday

And I'm back with another Water Marble Wednesday.  I think people are starting to catch on...right?  lol  For some reason this one was a super duper tough.  The colors didn't want to work together and then I was fumbling with everything.  I think I got more polish on my left hand than the actual nails.  It was just a disaster getting it done but it came out pretty good.

I used the starburst design and for most of my nails it worked out.  Yeah I'm look at your middle finger!  The colors I chose were Jesse's Girl Julie G Party Dress which is an orange-y red color.  I used Ulta Blue Streak for the blue (duh), OPI Big Apple Red for the red (duh again) and Color Club Blue-ming for the mint color.  

Just a heads up, I'm most likely going to do this same design next week with different polishes of course because I don't feel like I perfected it.  I like it, but it's not amazing IMO.  I also don't know why I chose a color combo that I absolutely hate.  lol It's just not my day for water marbling.

Have a great Hump Day!

Color Club Lava Lamp

Good Evening!  Today on the blog is super hot creme to go along with the super hot weather today.  

Here I have Color Club Lava Lamp which is such a Summer-y color.  Lava Lamp is a blinding neon orange creme that dries semi-gloss as most neons do.  I used three coats for this swatch to get full opacity.  The formula was a tad on the thick side but not unmanageable.  It was also a bit streaky and had some bald spots but it builds up nicely and the three coats helped smooth out those flaws.

I know I said I was ready for Fall, but it's always nice to post a season-appropriate manicure.  lol  Have a great night!

Color Club Over the Moon

I hope you all had a great weekend as I did.  That's why I didn't post anything.  I just really needed some "me time" and "boyfriend time".  We went to a concert, went out to eat, watched movies...just fun with my boo. ♥ 

I thought a beautiful holo would be a great comeback from the weekend.  This is Color Club Over the Moon which is exactly what I am for all of their holos.  I really love strong linear holos so much more than scattered holos.

I used two coats for these photos.  The formula is amazing and super easy to apply the second coat with no dragging or bald spots.  I took all photos inside under my nail station lamp because it was overcast that day.  Luckily there is no absence of the holo effect at all.  The holo effect is also much stronger in person, but I think you get the idea.

There is just one thing I want this polish to be...darker!  If it was a little bit more of a cobalt blue, I would die even more over it.  I've worn this so many times because of it's beauty so if it actually was darker, I think I would need a backup bottle for sure.

If this is one you don't own yet, you should now seek it out.  Also if anyone wants to give up their bottle of Color Club Eternal Beauty (the purple holo), I would be ever so happy to take it off your hands.  No pun intended.  (: 

Water Marble Wednesday - Blue

This week's Water Marble Wednesday is brought to you by the color BLUE!  I really thought it would be fun to do one the color of water since it happen's in water.  I used four different types of blue but all the polishes are cremes.  I honestly don't think I've ever done one with all cremes before.  It was different.

I started with one coat of the lightest blue which is the periwinkle color and then I started my design.  I just made the bulls eye in the water and then made "stripes" in by pulling the toothpick in opposite directions.  I guess it's more of a chevron type design...I don't really know what to call it.

I did screw up my pinky a bit because I thought I had cleaned up all of the excess polish from the water.  However I didn't see the tiny bit on the other side of my finger so when I took my finger out, there was a huge glob stuck there.  Gross.  lol  I would have redone it, but honestly it was 10pm and I was super sleepy.  Besides, I'm only human so I'm bound to screw up.  I like to think that's why you all keep coming back.  Because of my quirk and honesty about my imperfections.  (:

So don't mind the dirty looking cuticles either.  It's actually just the navy polish I used.  It stained my cuticles just a bit and I could not for the life of me get it cleaned up properly.  Sorry!

WHAT I USED:

Julep Eloise - navy

China Glaze Four Leaf Clover - teal

Color Club Blue-ming - light blue

Color Club Hydrangea Kiss - periwinkle

Now I have to get ready for work so I will talk to you all later.  Have a great Wednesday!

Water Marble Wednesday - Purple

For this week's water marble I wanted to do something a little different than I normally do.  So instead of multiple colors, I chose just one color in 5 different shades.  I wanted to stay monochromatic but still bright and fun.

I really love how this turned out.  The colors I chose worked perfectly together in the water and I think they look so good together.  I started with one thin coat of Sinful Colors Sweet Tooth just to help the colors pop.   The only issue I had was a few bubbles on a couple of my nails which I'm sure you can see when you enlarge the photos.  Other than that, like I said, it was very easy.  It was like all conditions were perfect today which is normally not the case for me.  lol

WHAT I USED:
Sinful Colors Sweet Tooth
Color Club Lavendarling
Zoya Zara
China Glaze Señorita Bonita
Essie Sexy Divide

I listed the polishes in order from lightest to darkest which is how I used them in the mani.  I really enjoy this mani and just don't want to take it off, but tomorrow is another day and another blog post so we'll see what happens.  (:

Pastel Braided Mani

So for the longest time, I couldn't figure out how to do this braided manicure.  I know that sounds silly, but I just couldn't.  I tried it with tape and it came out all wrong and then I tried it by myself and it was really wrong.  lol  Finally I gave in and looked up a photo tutorial (they are all over the internet) and could have kicked myself in the butt for not getting it the first (or second) time.  So here you have it.  My braided mani.

I have seen some tutorials where the person paints the entire nail first and then does the braid effect over it, but I didn't do mine that way.  I just painted a half moon of turquoise over my naked nail and then built the braid up from there.  I found it much easier and it dried faster since I didn't have so many layers of polish on.

I really love how the metallic silver pops out from the pastel colors.  I feel like this is a very Spring-y manicure but I guess it translates well into Summer, right?  I feel like I did a pretty good job on my lines too. I didn't use any tape so I just free-handed all the lines.

WHAT I USED:
Color Club Blue-ming - turquoise
Sinful Colors Sweet Tooth - purple
Zoya Trixie - silver

I'm really happy someone came up with this and then decided to do a tutorial for it otherwise I'd be left in the dark.  lol