Lattice Lace with Heart French Tip

Hello Lovelies! Today, I have my lace nails for this week's WNAC.  I had a really epic break on my left hand, so it has gone into hiding for awhile.  However, I thought it was time I really challenge myself, and do some freehand on my cindy hand.  This is after all a weekly challenge, so why not push myself just a little bit.

Materials I used:
Basecoat - Dream Polish 'Smooth Gem'
White acrylic paint
Small detail brush (I recently won in a giveaway from IAMCCC, you can find it in her store)
Glitter or Die 'Romantic Tutu'
Dotting tool
Topcoat - Glisten & Glow 'HK Girl'

I started off with a base coat of Dream Polish's 'Smooth Gem' base coat.  This has become one of my favorite base coats because I have pretty significant ridges and this really helps hide them.  Unlike other ridge filler base coats I've tried, this is not thick and goopy and applies like a dream.  Also, it dries relatively clear which makes it perfect for doing french tip or negative space designs.

Using white acrylic paints and a small detail brush, I painted a criss-cross lattice pattern over the entire nail.  With the same paint and brush I filled in the tip with a somewhat heart shape french tip.  Switching to polish I filled in the very tip of the white french tip, leaving a boarder.  I then used a dotting tool and dotted the crosses of the lattice as well as small dots along the white board of the french tip.

I performed a small bit of clean up with gentle acetone and a brush, and topped off with a shiny quick drying topcoat.

So, my execution on this design isn't the greatest, but considering this is all done with my non-dominant hand, which hasn't really been put to task in a while it's really not all that bad.  With this design I have completed another month worth of WNACs.  I will be attempting to complete these challenges for the next couple months before I have to take a hiatus for our new little man's arrival.  I hope you all enjoyed this nail art design and the brief tutorial.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

   

Floral Water Decal - Lady Queen Beauty Review

Hello Lovelies!  If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen me post a swatch of Northern Star 'Faerie Kiss,' after wearing it for about a day I realized it would go smashingly well with some water decals that www.ladyqueen.com had sent to me.  Here is what I ended up with...

These floral water decals are Item #NA0823, they are available in 4 different patterns, this pattern is C259.

In all honesty, I have very little experience applying water decals.  In fact, I think this is only the third, maybe fourth time I have ever applied them.  However, they are not all that difficult to apply once you figure out what you are doing.

I started by applying white polish (Sally Hansen X-treme Wear 'White On') to the nails that would be wearing the water decals.  You don't have to use a color base polish but it helps the decals appear more opaque, I recommend using white because it make the decals more true to the color that you see in the packaging.

After removing the decals from their packaging, you have to trim the decals that you intend to use.  The decals in this package are arranged from a large size to a smaller size, I assume this is approximate sizing for thumb to pinky.  However, because everyone's finger sizing varies you may have to use them in a different order.  Once the decal is trimmed to the size you need, remove the protective plastic covering, and submerge it in water for approximately 10-20 seconds. Remove it from the water and slide it from the backing. Wet the nail and place the decal on your nail, its important that the base polish is dry to the touch. Wetting the nail allows the decal to slide on the nail, which helps to remove wrinkles. Using a cuticle pusher or orange stick, press the decal and smooth out any wrinkles.  Press the decal over the free end of your nail, then clean the excess decal using gentle acetone and a brush. I recommend using a dabbing or stippling motion when cleaning the excess decal. Using a swiping motion could potentionally pull and rip the decal.

For this nail art design, I used a full decal on my ring finger and half a decal on my mid finger.  I added a piece of striping tape to cover the divide and add a little decorative charm.

Decals are a simple easy way to create a fully decorative nail art design or to just jazz up a simple manicure.  

Ladyqueen.com has hundreds of water decal options both in full nail design (like this) and small accent decals.  Lady Queen Beauty also has many other nail art supplies and accessories all at very reasonable prices.  They offer the latest in Nail Art Trends as well as offer Daily Deals and Hot Sales. You may also use my code QJXS15 for 15% off. After you make a purchase you can submit product reviews and photos to earn points towards future purchases. Ladyqueen.com offers beautiful nail art products at great prices, and gives you so many extra ways to save, I highly recommend you check them out. 

I hope you enjoyed this nail art design, and found the tutorial and review useful.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

Silver flakies Mermaid Nails

Hello Lovelies!  Today, I have some mermaid flakie nails I created for this week's WNAC. This week's prompt was foils/flakes, I have never used foil and didn't have any foil supplies. Besides, this gave me the perfect excuse to use my favorite silver flakie polish from Laquer Up's Polynesian Paradise collection.

Materials I used:
Basecoat - Dream Polish 'Smooth Gem'
Black polish - Sinful Colors 'Black on Black'
Flakie polish - Laquered Up 'Fiji,' 'Hawaii,' & 'Oahu'
Vinyl - I'm unsure were they came from, I think I won them in a giveaway
Topcoat - Glisten & Glow 'HK Girl'

I started with a black base polish.

I prepped my fingers with So Much Goodness liquid nail tape.

Using a makeup sponge, I created a radial flakie gradient, it took about 3 applications for me to achieve the look you see below. On my ring finger I used a mermaid scale vinyl and I placed a mermaid vinyl over top the flakie gradient on my mid finger.

I did a quick clean up with gentle acetone and a clean up brush. I then topped it all off with a glossy topcoat.

I wish I knew where these vinyl came from because I love these adorable mermaids. If anyone recognizes these please let me know.

Laquered Up's Polynesian Paradise collection makes a perfect mermaid manicure. I think these nails look just like mermaid scales, glistening in sunlit waters. I hope you enjoyed this nail art design, thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

Gender Reveal Nails

IHello Lovelies!  Awhile back I made a personal announcement that my husband and I were expecting our second child.  Since, then I have had many inquires as to the babies gender.  We did find out a couple of months ago, but I thought it would be fun to create a gender reveal manicure in conjunction with a mini tutorial, to share with all of you.  If you just want to know the gender and can't sit through a tutorial, go ahead and skip through to the end.

I started off with a solid white base, using Color Club 'On Cloud Nine.'

Then I stamped the chevron image from Pueen plate 03 in one of my Mundo de Unas stamping polishes, no I'm not telling you or showing you what color yet.

Using a small dotting tool and yet another Mundo de Unas polish I added cute little foot prints.  Using the smaller side of the dotting tool, I placed five cute little piggies (toes).  Then using the larger end I added the ball of the foot, and then the heel.  I connected the ball and heel with a little arch, dragging the dotting tool in an almost half circle shape.

I repeated this on my pointer finger, reversing the foot to make a left and a right.  I did a small bit of clean up with gentle acetone and a brush, and applied a glossy topcoat.

So, is the anticipation killing you?  Are you dying to know if it's a boy or a girl?

That's right, we're having a boy!  We are all very excited!  My daughter has been asking for a baby brother since day one of the pregnancy.  Plus, this is the first male grandchild in a family bursting with girls.  Needless to say he's going to be spoiled just a bit.  I'm currently 28 weeks along (aka 7 months), and I'm looking forward to meeting our new bundle of fun.  Already, in the womb he is a very active baby, so I know I'll have my hands full when he arrives.

Thank you to all who have shown interest and provided well wishes to myself and my family.  I hope you enjoyed this nail art tutorial and gender reveal nail art design.  Thanks for stopping by see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

For those of you who are interested I used the following materials:

Basecoat - Dream Polish 'Smooth Gem'

White polish - Color Club 'On Cloud Nine'

Pueen image plate 03

Mundo de Unas stamping polish - 'Light Blue' & 'Neon Blue'

Fab Ur Nail squishy stamper and scraper

Topcoat - Glisten & Glow 'HK Girl'

Stamped Dotted Diamonds over a Chrome Metallic Smoosh Attack

Hello Lovelies! I apologize for the long title of this post but I just wasn't sure what else to name this nail art design. I created these for this week's WNAC prompt,  diamonds.  I decided to go with a stamped pattern because it was quick and easy. I chose the smoosh attack background because when I created a smoosh attack nail art design last year, it became my most viewed nail art blog post. This is the finished product...

Materials I used:
Basecoat - Dream Polish 'Smooth Gem'
Black base polish - Sinful Colors 'Black on Black'

Cuticula Liquid NailTape
Chrome metallic polishes - Color Club 'We'll Never Be Royals,'  ' Burnt Out,' 'Sorry, Not Sorry'
Fab Ur Nails stamper
Pueen image plate 07
Stamping polish - Mundo de Unas 'Gold'
Topcoat - Glisten & Glow 'HK Girl'
UberChic mat

I began with a solid black base color.

I created the smoosh attack background a little differently than the previous time, but this time I had my Uber Mat, which made it a little easier.  After prepping my fingers with liquid tape, I placed drops of chrome polish onto the mat. Using a stamper I smooshed the polish twisting the stamper to further blend the polishes. I then stamped the pretty mess on my nails. I repeated the process until I had the appearance I wanted.

I almost stopped here because I really like the result of the smoosh attack with the chrome polishes...

But I went ahead and stamped the diamond dotted pattern from the bottom of Pueen image plate 07 in gold over top.

I finished this nail art design as I usually do, with a quick clean up using gentle acetone and a brush, and topped it all off with a glossy topcoat.

I happened to be going to a late holiday party and a birthday party this weekend and I think these nails will be perfect for both.

I hope you enjoyed this nail art design and tutorial. With any luck I'll have a a video tutorial up on my Instagram feed over the weekend or early next week. Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

Sinful Colors Valentine's Collection Swatches and Review

Hello Lovelies!  I happened to be out and about shopping last week, when I happened upon a brand new, untouched display of Sinful Colors Valentine's Day collection.  Well, you know I just couldn't resist and had to be the first to touch it.  I purchased every polish in the collection except for the clear polish because I already own it, and it is not really necessary.  I also did not purchase the nail stickers that are available either.

All the swatches are photographed indoors under daylight lamps.  I was able to achieve full opacity in two thin coats for all the cream polishes though many were nearly full opaque  with one coat.  I didn't bother applying a topcoat because these polishes were naturally shiny on their own, as you will see in the photos below.

Feeling Great

First up, is a beautiful rich berry red, that's not too bright or too dark.  It is a perfect cream polish with a beautiful shine.

Gogo Girl

This is a sultry, sexy red that is absolutely perfect for Valentine's Day.  This was one of the more translucent polishes of the collection, however, you can see that with two coats it is fairly opaque.

Tempest

This is a very cute light/medium lavender purple shade.  It reminds me of the heart shaped candies that are out this time of year.  Not only is this wearable for Valentine's Day but it makes a great spring and Easter polish.

Sail La Vie

Next up, is a very pretty light/medium blue that appears to be a cream but, in fact, has a lovely little iridescent shimmer to it.  I personally don't think of blue shades as very fitting for Valentine's Day, however, you know I love my blues.

Pink Smart

Last for the cream polishes, is this perfectly creamy, perfect for Valentine's Day pink.  According to Sinful Colors' website this shade is a Walgreens Exclusive polish, however, I did not purchase these at Walgreens.

Love Bombs

I saved the glitter topper for last, because it's typically the last part of any nail art application (besides the topcoat, of course).  I swatched this over various polishes from the collection that I thought it coordinated well with.  For the topper application I did apply it via makeup sponge to prevent a gel build up.  This super sparkly topper has a purple tinted base (though it didn't affect the base colors it was applied over, with the way I applied it) full of medium pale pink holo hexes, smaller darker pink (fuchsia-esque) pieces, and tiny silver glitter pieces.

Overall, this is a great collection.  You really can't beat the price of Sinful Color polishes, not to mention that their colors are gorgeous, the opacities are strong, and they're shiny even without a topcoat.  I would recommend these polishes, especially for someone who is just starting out or for someone who is looking for a quality polish on a budget.  I hope you enjoyed these swatches and found the review useful.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,