Luck o' the Irish

Hello Lovelies! Today, I have some fun St. Patrick's Day nails to share with you. I created these nails for this week's WNAC, luck of the Irish prompt. Of course, I had to go with iconic clovers because what could be luckier. 

Materials I used:

Base coat - Dream Polish 'Smooth Gem'

Polish - Lacquered Polish 'Irish Creme'

Matte topcoat Nicole by OPI

Gel pens 

I started off with one of my favorite nude color, Lacquered Polish 'Irish Creme' it's a beautiful neutral with just a touch of gold in it. 

For this design, I decided to finally try out gel pens. I've seen some really great nail art designs created with gel pens and when I found this rainbow pack of gel pens I couldn't resist. 

I first tried using the gel pens over a gloss topcoat. This didn't work out to well, the pens didn't draw smoothly, and wiped off easily. I ended up using a matte topcoat to help with the application.  I simply drew clovers in various colors, randomly over all my nails. 

Usually, I perform a bit of a cleanup and apply a topcoat, but in this case I didn't do either because I didn't need to cleanup and I liked the matte finish. 

These were really easy and fun to create. The gel pens were easy to work with once I applied the matte topcoat. I would recommend you give them a try.  I hope you enjoyed this nail art design. Thanks for stopping by, see you next time. 

Your Fellow Plebe,

Dotted Rainbow Stripes

Hello Lovelies! I am super excited about this months WNAC because the theme is rainbows! Who doesn't love rainbows?! For this week's stripe prompt, I decided to create a dotted stripes.

For this nail art design, I decided to use my go to Ciate London rainbow creme scheme which includes: 'Mistress,' 'Cha, Cha, Cha,' 'Loop the Loop,' 'Apples & Custard,' 'Boom Box,' & 'Talent Scout.'

To create this design I painted three vertical stripes, skipping every other color of the rainbow. Then using a medium dotting tool I dotted a stripe over each seam with the colors I skipped. 

After a quick clean up with gentle acetone and a brush, this is what I came up with…

I decided my rainbow stripes need some more rainbows. So, I added a layer of I.A.M…Custom Color Cosmetics 'Quest for the Holo Pail.'

These nails were so easy to create, and they're bright and fun too. The holo topcoat gave it that little bit extra, that makes me really love this designs. I hope you like this design too, thanks for stopping by, see you next time. 

Your Fellow Plebe,



Rose are Red, Violets are Blue

Hello Lovelies! Today's nails are inspired by the poem 'Roses are red, violets are blue.' Of course, I always thought violets are violet, so that's the color I used for my violets. I created these for this week's WNAC, floral prompt…

Materials I used:

Base coat - I.A.M…Custom Color Cosmetics 'Cement Sticky Basecoat'

White polish - Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear 'White On'

Rose image - Pueen image plate Nature Lover 01

Violet image - Uber Chic Beauty image plate 5-02

Black stamping polish from bornprettystore.com

Red polish - IAMCCC 'Ixchel'

Dark purple polish - IAMCCC 'Enabler'

Medium purple polish - IAMCCC 'Secret Society of Poobahs'

Green polish - Revlon 'Emerald'

Fab Ur Nails squishy stamper and scraper

Small detail brush

Topcoat - IAMCCC 'Diamond Pro'

I started with a white base color over my protective base coat. 

I created a stamped decal for the rose and violets. It's fairly simple to create. Pick up the image, use a small detail brush fill in the image with desired colors. Apply a quick drying topcoat over the image. Peak the image from the stamper when it's dry. Apply a layer of topcoat to your nail and then gently place and press the decal onto the nail. Trim the excess decal with either scissors or nail clippers. 

Use gentle acetone and a brush to carefully remove any remaining extra decal, the acetone will also help mend any lose decal to the polish underneath. Finish up with a layer of your favorite topcoat. 

I repeated this process to create the violet. The initial image included two flowers but I was only able to use one flower. 

With this nail art design I have completed another month of WNAC. I'm hoping to be able to do next months challenge but I'm getting close to my delivery date and the arrival of our little guy. I appreciate all of you sticking with me through my sporadic posting. I'll keep posting for as long as I can, before I take a break. Thank you for stopping by, see you next time. 

Your Fellow Plebe,

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,

  

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Inspired Nails

Hello Lovelies! Today, I have some nails that were inspired by the book and the new release of the movie, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen.  I have been a fan of Jane Austen's novels every since they have been published, so I am super excited about the movie.  I mean who doesn't love the idea of some strong zombie ass-kicking women taking care of business.  I also thought this would be fitting for this week's Love/Hate sponging WNAC.  Plus, I also got some new pretties from I.AM...Custom Color Cosmetics that I just couldn't wait to use.

Materials I used:
Base coat - IAMCCC Cement Sticky Base Coat
Polishes - IAMCCC 'Venus' and 'Freyja' (from her most recent Love Mythos Collection)
Liquid tape - So Much Goodness 'Purple Nurple'
Make up sponge
Stamping plate - Pueen image plate 22
Stamping polish - Mundo de Unas 'Gold'
Stamper and scraper - Fab Ur Nails XL Gold Stamper set
Blood spatter polish - Pueen 'Super Instense - So Red'
Drinking straw
Topcoat - IAMCCC 'Diamond Pro'

After applying my base coat (which I always do, to protect my nails from excessive staining), I applied one coat of 'Freyja' the lighter of the two colors of my sponged background.  I prepped my fingers with some liquid tape, for easier clean up.  Using a makeup sponge, I dabbed 'Venus' and 'Freyja' in a spotted pattern over each nail.  I then removed the nail tape, before proceeding with this design.

I love this combination already, and I feel just a bit guilty about covering it up.  This has a very soft feminine touch to it and just look at all those lovely gold flakies.

After, struggling with the dilemma of covering this beautiful background for a little while, I stamped a rose pattern image from Pueen plate 22 with gold stamping polish over all my nails.

I think this looks just like Victorian wallpaper, which is exactly what I was going for.  I really could have stopped here and called this a completed mani, but...

Since, this nail art is inspired by "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" it only seems right to add a little gore.  I once again prepped my fingers with So Much Goodness 'Purple Nurple' and using a drinking straw and Pueen 'Super Intense - So Red', I blood spattered all over my pretty Victorian wallpaper nails.

As usual I had a bit of clean up to do, so I used gentle acetone and a brush to clean up.  I didn't apply the liquid nail tape far enough up my finger so I used a cotton swab and acetone to clean the polish from my fingers.  I then applied a quick drying super glossy topcoat to finish off this mani.

For those of you who know me personally, can probably guess that I am absolutely in love with these nails.  They encompass everything I love, soft pretty nail art, a classic Victorian theme, and just a touch of gore!  For me they couldn't be anymore perfect!

I think these are perfect for the WNAC too, because they encompass both elements of love and hate.  The romantic Victorian print for all you lovers out there, and the gore for all you haters.  Of course, if you're anything like me this mani shows nothing but love.  I'm curious what you think?  Do you see a love mani or a hate mani?

I hope you enjoyed this beautifully gory nail art design.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

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,

   

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,