Broken Hearts Pond Mani

Hello Lovelies!  For this week's Weekly Nail Art Challenge (WNAC) prompt the theme is a love/hate pond mani.  Around this time last year I created a Valentine's Day heart pond manicure, at the time I referred to it as Jelly Sandwich Hearts because I was unaware that the technique was actually referred to as a pond manicure.  So, this year I decided to do more of an anti-Valentine's Day design and went with a broken heart pond manicure instead...

Materials I used:
Base coat: Dream Polish 'Smooth Gem'
Sally Hansen's 'Big Smokey Topcoat'
China Glaze 'Seeing Red,' 'Strike a Rose,' & 'Spring in My Step'
Small dotting tool
Small detail brush
Topcoat - Sweet & Sour Lacquer 'Gloss Sauce'

After applying 'Smooth Gem' base coat, currently my favorite ridge filler base, I applied random small dots in a red, medium and pale pink using a dotting tool.  I followed that with a layer of 'Big Smokey Topcoat'.  Then using a small detail brush I painted a heart torn in half.  I followed that with another layer of smokey topcoat.  Then painted more broken hearts over top of this layer.  You can repeat this process for as many layers as you choose, but I recommend 2-3 otherwise you lose your pattern and it can become very busy and messy.

As usual perform any necessary cleanup with gentle acetone and a brush, and apply your favorite topcoat.

I like pond manis because they are not overly complicated.  The most difficult part of a pond mani, is choosing colors that won't wash into each other.  I recommend when creating a pond mani choose highly contrasting tones between your gelly polish and your opaque polish, like black and white, or pale pastels with darker hues.  The contrast in tone will allow you to be able to see you design easier through the gelly layers.

I hope you enjoyed this anti-Valentine's day nail art design, and found the tutorial and tips useful.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

  

Halloween Water Decals - Lady Queen Review

Hello Lovelies! Today, I have a quick review for you of ladyqueen.com Halloween water decals.  Halloween decals?! Isn't a little too early or late for Halloween decals, I hear you asking.  Well, if you are like me there is never a wrong time for a grim Halloween-esque manicure.  Besides, there are some decals on here that are just perfect for your inner goth (or outer, if you like to wear it out there on your sleeve).

These are item #NA0755 - Pattern HOT-303, there are three different patterns you can choose from.  As you can see there are many decals on this one sheet, some are very Halloween specific and others are just ghoulish and fun.

Using water decals are relatively easy, and are a great way to dress up a dull manicure.  They are perfect for beginners because they don't require a great deal of advanced skill.  Start of with painted nails.  I used I.A.M...Custom Color Cosmetics 'Red's Club,' which is a really awesome thermal polish.  Shown here in a cool state, because my fingers are always cold lately.

Trim the desired decal out from the sheet, I choose this bad ass skull and crossbones.  Remove the protective film and submerge decal in water for approximately 10-20 seconds.  It really doesn't matter if the water is warm or cold, I typically use tepid water (it helps warm up my chilly fingers).  Remove the decal from the water. I recommend using a pair of tweezers and to pick the decal from the surface, be careful to only grab the paper backing and not touch the actual decal.  Carefully, slide the decal from the backing, dip the finger you are applying the decal to (to moisten it slightly) in water, and place the decal.  Pat the decal down gently, wetting your finger first will allow you to slide the decal into place without it sticking as much so you can get the desired placement more easily.

Once, the decal is in place and the water is dry from your finger (allow it to air dry for a few seconds), apply a layer of topcoat.  This will help to seal the decal in place and give it a beautiful shine.  Be sure to float the topcoat, otherwise you may pull the decal.

Head on over to ladyqueen.com to checkout their phenomenal collection of water decals, they have a little something for everyone.  No matter what your skill level or style I am sure there is something there you'll like.

While you are on their site checkout their Special Price, Hot Sellers, Top Trends, and don't forget their New Arrivals.  Be sure to use code: QJXS15 for 15% off your next purchase, between their reasonable prices, this generous code, and free shipping it's really a steal.

I hope you found this review useful, and the tutorial and tips helpful.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

  

Love Letters

Hello Lovelies!  Today, I have nails for this week's WNAC Love/Hate Letters prompt.  I choose love letters for a couple of reasons; I've always wanted to create this design, and it gave me an opportunity to recreate one of @letsgetpolished nail art designs for her Instagram giveaway.  Not to mention it gave me the perfect opportunity to use one of my new gorgeous polishes from I.AM...Custom Color Cosmetics 'Love Mythos Collection.'

Materials I used:
Base coat - IAMCCC 'Cement Sticky Base coat'
Blue polish - IAMCCC 'Bastet'
White polish - Sinful Colors 'Snow Me White'
Pink polish - Savina 'Dazzle'
Dotting tool
Small detail brush (also from IAMCCC)
ArtClub Duo nail art stripper/pen 'Black'
Topcoat - IAMCCC 'Diamond Pro'

I started out with two coats of 'Bastet' on all my fingers, except my mid-finger which will be my love letter, after applying my protective base coat.  This blue is perfect for this nail art design because this blue represents the Egyptian goddess of love and fertility.  Besides, its blue which is my favorite color, and this blue is so pretty (see the macro picture at the end of this post to see all the lovely flakies and holo shimmer in this polish).

On my mid-finger I created my love letter envelope, over a white base.  Using the stripper brush of an ArtClub Duo, I drew a triangular flap on one side of my nail.  Then I extended two lines (as if creating an overlapped triangle) slightly up from the point of the previously painted triangle.  My envelope ended up being a little off center, I recommend giving yourself a starting point by placing a small dot in the middle of your nail for reference.

After creating the envelope, I drew a small heart on the seal.  Using a small dotting tool and bright pink polish, I placed two small dots side-by-side.  Switching to a small detail brush, I created a v-shape for the bottom of the heart and filled it in.

I also painted a heart at the smile line of each finger.  To make the pink appear neon over the blue, I first created the heart in white, and then filled in the white heart with the pink polish.

As usual, I performed a small bit of cleanup with gentle acetone and a brush and applied a shiny topcoat.  Sadly, even though I gave the black several minutes to set and floated the topcoat, I still ended up with some slight dragging on my envelope.

Between the blue polish representing Bastet, the Valentine's letter aspect (my favorite thing to get on Valentine's Day), and the fact that it is nail art, this is probably the most loving manicure I've ever created.  I hope you enjoyed this nail art design.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,