April's Nail That Technique Challenge Recap

Hello Lovelies!  I have a lot of new nail art planned for the coming week's I just have to find time to create them, take pictures, edit, write, and post them for you to view.  In the meantime I wanted to recap all the designs I created for April's Nail That Technique IG Challenge. 

For the fan brush technique I created a simple two-tone design http://polishplebe.blogspot.com/2015/04/two-toned-fanbrush.html.  In hindsight, I consider this to be the least exciting design I created for this challenge, but I do like the colors.

I was excited about the Geometric Gradient prompt, because I have recently fallen in love with gradients.  This prompt helped me take my gradient designs to a new level. http://polishplebe.blogspot.com/2015/04/geometric-gradient.html

For the next prompt, Glitter Tint my biggest challenge was I don't own any tints so I had to create my own.  Creating tints isn't difficult but getting the opacity just right can be a bit tricky.  However, I really liked how these turned.  http://polishplebe.blogspot.com/2015/04/leopard-print-glitter-tint.html
I had a really difficult time getting clear pictures of this design because the glitter was so sparkly.

I just finished and posted the last prompt of the challenge yesterday.  The prompt for Double Stamping was probably the biggest challenge for my skills because I have a terrible time stamping.  Because I didn't have high hopes for this design, I decided to go with a color scheme that I wouldn't normally do.  This manicure turned out a bit better than I anticipated, even though the stamping isn't the greatest, and I actually really like the color scheme.  http://polishplebe.blogspot.com/2015/05/double-stamping.html

This is the third month in a row that I have participated in this challenge, and the second month in a row that I completed all the prompts.  I really like this challenge because it allows me to try techniques I have never tried before or prompts me to work on ones that I need to practice.  Though there hasn't been a posting for May's prompts yet, I plan on participating in this challenge again.  I hope you enjoyed these designs, and join in, in this challenge.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

 



Double Stamping

Hello Lovelies!  Today, I have a design created for the last prompt of the Nail That Technique IG challenge for April.  The prompt is for the double stamping technique.  This seems like a very easy tasks, because it just involves stamping two images over one another.  However, I have no luck with stamping, but I had to try anyways.  I also decided to go with a color scheme that I wouldn't normally do...

Materials I used:
Base coat - Seche Vite
Neon green polish - Fairytale Finish 'Radioactive Leprechaun'
Purple polish - Lucky Lacquer 'Dahlia'
Black polish - Sinful Colors 'Black on Black'
Stamping plate - Pureen 06
Black stamping polish - from bornprettystore.com
Stamper and scraper (I use an old credit card for a scrapper, I find it works best)
Striping tape
Top coat - Rica 'Glossy Glam'

I started out this design with my two coats of green on my mid and ring finger, and two coats of black on my thumb, pointer, and pinky.  I was going to apply a quick drying top coat, but I found that the polish I used dried very quickly and opted not to add the unnecessary layer of polish.  I find the fewer or thinner coats of polish I use the longer the manicure lasts.

With my base color dry, I started my double stamping design on my ring finger.  There are many ways to do a double stamped design, but either way the technique is the same.  You simply stamp two images on one nail.  You can use two different images or you can use the same image in two different colors.  I opted for the later and used the same image but with two different colors.  I started with a layer of black stamped dots.

Using the same image and my purple polish, I stamped the same image but I flipped it upside down.

Because I am not very good with stamping, I decided to do a simple vertical stripe design on my mid finger.  I applied striping tapes, then filled in the exposed areas alternating between my black and purple polish.  I removed the tape between stripes as I was painting to keep from pulling the polish.

I then performed my usual clean up and applied a layer of top coat.

This is not the best stamping job, but its not bad for me.  I was hoping that the purple stamping would have shown up a bit better over the green but I think it ended up creating an interesting subtle affect. 

As for the color scheme, I didn't think I liked it at first but it has quickly grown on me.  It kind of reminds me of Beetle Juice.  What do you think of the colors? Yay or nay?  I hope you enjoyed this nail art design, thank you for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,



Leopard Print Glitter Tint

Hello Darlings! Sorry for my brief absence, I had a busy weekend full of friends and flying.  It was a really great weekend!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too.  I actually started this nail art on Friday, but I never finished it and the glitter base I had applied was destroyed by the time I got back to it, so I had to start all over again today.  I created this nail art for this week's Nail That Technique Instagram challenge glitter tint prompt...

Materials I used:
Base Coat - Yellow Stopper (because this is a peel off base I typically only use it for glitter designs or designs I don't intend to wear for long).
Latex Mani Mask - Ellagee 'Lickity Split Latex Mani Mask'
Glitter polish - Ciate 'Confetti'
DIY Tints - I used Sinful Colors 'Clear Coat,' 'Dream On' (purple), 'Endless Blue,' 'Happy Ending' (green), 'Let's Meet' (yellow), and Sephora by OPI 'What Aura Gonna Wear?' (pink).
Black polish - Sinful Colors 'Black on Black'
Make up sponge
Small brush
Small dotting tool
Top coat - Rica 'Glam Gloss'

I just wanted to take a minute and give you a pointer on applying glitter polishes.  I personally have a love-hate relationship with polishes.  I hate applying them and I hate taking them off, but I love the way they look.  Well, when I first applied this glitter polish I Friday I was too lazy to get all my nail art stuff out so I just went ahead and applied it using the applicator brush in the bottle.  After four coats I finally had the opacity I was happy with... (Please excuse the dark picture, I didn't have any of my photo set up out either.)

In my opinion four coats of any polish is way too much, three is usually pushing it for me.  So, when I re-applied this glitter polish today I started off by prepping my fingers with my favorite latex mani mask from Ellagee.  Just a note on latex, don't let your fingers touch where the latex is applied.  It sticks together (duh!).  I had to re-apply the latex after this picture because it pealed off most of my fingers when I separated them.

I then used a makeup sponge and sponged the glitter onto my nails, pretty much in the same manner that you would sponge a gradient.  Except I was aiming to apply glitter to my entire nail.  How is this any better or easier than using the applicator brush?  Well, the sponge absorbs much of the suspension base that the glitter is in, so when you apply it to your nail you get more glitter and less base.  With the sponged application I applied two coats versus the four with the previous application.

Because I don't own any tints I had to create my own.  This is very easy to do, and doesn't require many supplies.  You simply need a clear polish and colored polishes of your choice.  Some people mix the tints right in the bottle.  However, I am not that committed to anyone or few colors, so I just mixed mine in a painters pallet.

I mixed all my colors up front so that I could just get right into painting.

With my colors mixed and ready to go, I used a small detail brush and randomly applied tint over various areas.  I didn't do a specific pattern and I didn't worry about colors overlapping.

I repeated this process on all my nails.  I thought my tints were a little too thin so I did about three applications to get the opacity that I wanted.  When I was happy with the glitter tint, I applied a layer of top coat.

When my top coat was dry, I used the smallest dotting tool I own and created a leopard print.  This is essentially random weird circles, most of them open as well as some oblong random dots.

On my ring finger I created the print on my entire nail but on the rest did a cascading pattern.  After a couple minutes of drying time I applied a final layer of topcoat.

Sadly, because I am falling behind on my nail art challenges I only did one hand for this nail art design.  I usually do both hands and wear them for a couple of days but I don't want to get much further behind on my challenges.  But I did put together a little macro collage to give you a close up of the glitter, glitter tint, and glitter tint with leopard print.

I really like the nail art design, it is something I'll definitely be recreating again in the future.  I really wish I had more time to wear it.  I hope you enjoyed this nail art design as much as me.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,



Geometric Gradient

Hello Lovelies!  This week's Nail That Technique Instagram challenge is geometric gradient.  I wasn't exactly sure what this means, but I figured if it involved a gradient and some kind of geometric pattern that it would probably be good enough.  I've actually had the idea to do this nail art design for a while, so this prompt was just the thing I needed to get it done.  Here is what I came up with...

Materials I used:
Base coat - Seche Vite
White base polish - Sinful Colors 'Snow Me White'
Three colors of polish for gradient - Lucky Lacquer 'Teal We Meet Again,' 'Spring Charm,' and 'Sweet Pea' (see swatches here)
Single chevron vinyls from nailvinyls.com
Liquid latex (not shown in picture) or something to cover the skin around your nails to make clean up quicker.
Makeup sponge
Top coat - Rica 'Glam Gloss'

I started off with my white base polish and allowed it to dry completely.  Some people prefer to use their lightest shade of polish when creating a gradient.  I choose white because of the design, and because it helps to brighten the sponged polishes without too many layers.

I then used my single chevron vinyls and created a boxed pattern.  Yes, I did intentionally make them off center.  If you would like your box pattern to be more centered, I would recommend using straight vinyls or striping tape and create a t-shape centered over the entire nail and then use individual tapes or single chevrons to do the corners.  After I placed my vinyls I applied my liquid latex mask around my nails to help with clean up, the mask I'm using is from Ellagee.com.  I then used a makeup sponge and sponged my gradient over the white. Top to bottom on the sponge the colors are 'Teal We Meet Again,' 'Spring Charm,' and 'Sweet Pea.'  I sponged about three coats and then removed my tapes and mask.  I performed a bit of clean up with acetone and a brush, I also touched up some of the white stripes with a white nail art stripper.

I created the geometric gradient on my mid and ring fingers.  Originally, I had intended to leave all my other fingers white, however, I really like this gradient combination so I just did a basic gradient on all my other nails.  I also topped this off with Rica 'Glam Gloss' top coat for extra shine.  I have had problems in the past with this top coat bleeding, but I gave ample time for the nail art to dry before applying the top coat this time and I had no problems.

This gradient kind of reminds me of a sunset, well the colors not the geometric pattern part of it.  However, I thing the geometric design changes it up a bit.  I did debate putting China Glaze 'Fairy Dust' over the top of this but I decide not to do it this time, since I did it on the previous gradient I created.  Did you notice that both of my hands are in some of the pictures?  I finally got a new tripod, so I can start doing double hand shots again.

If you are a newbie nail artist that is looking to improve on your photography set up, I highly recommend you invest in a tripod for your photo equipment, even if you are using a cell phone.  Not only does it allow you to photograph both of your hands, but it helps create consistent, clear pictures.  I have very unsteady hands, trying to hold my camera to take a pictures is not very reliable, they often come out blurry and out of focus because I can't keep still.  Just a minor pointer for those of you looking to up your nail art photography game.

I hope you like this nail art design, and found the tutorial and my little photography recommendation useful.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,



Two-Toned Fanbrush

Happy Saturday!  Today, I bring you another super simple, super easy nail art.  This week's Nail That Technique Instagram challenge is Fan brush.  A fan brush is one of those wide brushes that looks like a fan (uh duh!).  In my opinion there isn't a whole lot you can do with a fan brush, in fact there are only two ways that I can think of to use them.  This is one of the ways...

Materials I used:
Base Coat - Seche Vite
Two shades of polish - I used Color Club 'Sweet Getaway' and 'Tall, Dark, & Handsome' both from the Love Tahiry collection.
Fan Brush
Top Coat - Rica 'Glossy Glam'

I applied two coats of the slightly less opaque of the two colors I choose which happened to be 'Sweet Getaway.'  This hot pink polish smells like roses, it's looks pretty and smells good too.

 
I then applied a stripe of my second color, 'Tall, Dark, & Handsome' (cologne scented) on one side of my nail with the polish applicator brush.  I then used my fan brush to pull the grey over the pink horizontally across my nail.  I repeated this twice on each nail to get the opacity that I wanted.

I alternated the grey on the left and right sides of my nails across all my fingers.  After performing a brush and acetone clean up I applied Rica's 'Glossy Glam' top coat to give it extra shine.  Between the rose and cologne scent my fingers smell like they are ready for a hot date, or they are a hot date ; )

This is a really simple nail art design that is near impossible to screw up and requires very little skill.  Basically, if you have two colors of polish and a fan brush you can create this nail art design.  It's easy enough to create with both your dominant and non-dominant hands with relative consistency too.  Sadly, I haven't gotten a replacement tripod for my broken one so you get single hand shots for now.  Hopefully, I'll get a replacement soon so I can show you double hand shots of future nail art.  Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this super easy nail art design and that you'll give it a try yourself.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,



Pink Clouds

Hello Darlings! I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend so far.  Today, I have a very simple manicure that is perfect for all skill levels.  I created this pink cloud pond mani, for the final #nailthattechnique Instagram challenge of March.  I know it's April already but I had until today to submit (hey at least its on time).  This is probably the only non-Easter nail art design you are going to see from me this week too.  So, what is a pond mani?  Well, I call this a jelly sandwich manicure but I heard that a jelly sandwich is layered with glitter, were a pond mani involves a sheer polish and a design.  Whether or not this true I'm not entirely sure (if you know, please comment).  I decided to do a simple cloud design because it is simple and I always have my head in the clouds.

Materials I used:
Base coat - Seche Vite
Sheer polish - Sinful Colors 'You Just Wait'
White polish - Sinful Colors 'Snow Me White'
Medium/small dotting tool
Top coat - Seche Vite

Creating a pond manicure is fairly easy, I created a very similar manicure with heart's a couple of months ago.  You simple alternate between layers of your design (in this case clouds) and sheer polish.  On the previous design I started with a layer of sheer polish, however, this time around I started with my cloud layer first, and then applied a sheer layer.  I continued alternating between clouds and sheer until I was satisfied.  This time around it was about a total of nine layers; five layers of clouds, and four layers of sheer, beginning and ending with a cloud layer.

I love the cute little puffy clouds, which are simple random groupings of four or five dots.  It makes me long to get up there in the skies.  How I wish the weather would cooperate so I could do some flying (for those of you who don't know, my other hobby is aviation).      

A pond mani is so easy to create and can be done with flowers or just dots, really any shape that you can draw can be used to create a pond mani.  It allows you to practice one pattern repeatedly, and you can cover up mistakes with the next layer.

I hope you enjoyed this simple and cute, pink cloud manicure. As a side note, this is the first time I have ever completed a mani challenge.  Even though I didn't get them all done for their weekly due date, I did get them all done before the final deadline.  Hooray!  Thank you for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,