DIY Pumpkin Decal

Today's challenge post is to follow a tutorial.  I have been wanting to try the stamp method for creating decals for some time as seen here on Messy Mansion.  I used Cult Joshua Tree for the base color with Deborah Lippmann Diamonds and Pearls over the top.

 For the decal I used Bundle Monster plate BM-H11 and black for the outline then infilled with essence Wake Up! and L'Oreal Safari Chic

 Then I messed it all up with the topcoat! I should know better, but I used a topcoat from Ulta and as you can see, it smeared the design everywhere!  Well, at least I know better now!.

33 Day Challenge Day 4: Tribal Nails

Tribal nails are something I haven't attempted in the past, so I was a bit nervous about this one.  I opted for just an accent nail but I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Essie: Cute as a Button
China Glaze Aqua Baby
L'Oreal The Perfect Trench
Ulta Celebutante
Sally Hansen Black Heart

Better Late Than Never?

This has once again been a crazy week! I didn't get my Friday mani posted but I did complete it so thought I would go ahead and post it now.

I started with Zoya Lael on my index, middle, and pinky fingers and L'Oreal Rainy Piccadilly on my ring finger.  Once dry, I used striping tape to created lines and applied a coat of Manglaze Fuggen Ugly.

Let the Challenge Begin! #33DC

The time is finally upon us for the 2013 Crumpet's Nail Tarts 33 Day Challenge!  I am excited about getting back into the swing of things but also a bit apprehensive, hoping I can keep up!  I always love seeing what everyone else comes up with for the themes as well, that is half the fun.  Please don't forget to check out the links below and see what the other participants come up with!  As always, don't hesitate to leave feedback or ask questions!
 Now on to the nails....
Today's theme is Dots.

I had an image in my head of how this would turn out and while it isn't exactly as I had planned, I was satisfied with it nonetheless.  I hoped the two tone dots would "swirl" a bit more (sort of like the middle on the yellow/green finger) but it didn't exactly turn out that way.
I started with a base of Milani White on the Spot, then moved on to the colors.  On my work space, I dropped a drop of Zoya America and Sinful Colors Big Daddy next to each other (touching) and started with one shade, then the other, then dipped my dotting tool in the middle where the two colors met for the middle dots.  on my middle finger is Julep Catrina and China Glaze Starboard, ring finger is Nails Inc Baker Street and OPI Roadhouse Blues.  On my pinkie I had intended to just use a "violet" shade but Zoya Pinta ended up looking almost black so I went back over with dots of L'Oreal Paparazzi Pleaser a bit offset of the others then topped it all off with a coat of Seche.

New 31 Day Challenge - Day 27

Today's theme is "inspired by you".  If you have read my "About Me" section then you already know I am a nurse 'in real life' so this one really had to be about that.  I started with a base of L'Oreal Walk on the Beach on all but my middle finger which is Sally Hansen Black Heart.

I drew a bandage on my pinky with China Glaze Dress Me Up and outlined with black acrylic paint, stethoscope on ring finger with black acrylic paint then Zoya Lara.  I also painted the 'RN' with Lara then layered white/pink dots around the edges; index finger is Disney Villains polish in Cruella DeVil.  I added a little pink stud from Born Pretty Store to the stethoscope for the diaphragm.

I can't wait to see what everyone else has come up with for this one!

Inspired by a Game

I had a few different ideas for today's theme.  I had intended to go a different direction with this one but this idea came to me at the last minute and I'm glad I went with it!  We used to spend hours as kids playing Tetris on the original Nintendo and thought it was great so these were sort of nostalgic for me.

Index finger to pinky: L'Oreal Paparazzi Pleaser, OPI Did it on Em, China Glaze Aqua Baby, and Sinful Colors Pull Over.  The little studs I bought quite a while back at Born Pretty Store and hadn't had a chance to use yet.  I painted the color on and then a layer of NYC and applied them with a toothpick while the topcoat was still tacky.

Crumpets Nail Tarts: New 31 Day Challenge - Inspired by Fabirc

As a "serial crafter" I have a lot of fabric and other miscellaneous craft supplies laying around in my office so the tough choice was picking one I like and thought I could pull of with nail art.  I love the twist on colors in this fabric for cheery blossoms and I had the polish I thought would match it.  Base color is Revlon Hazy.  I used a black polish for the branches and then went back through with a dotting tool and Revlon Buttercup for the lighter color flowers.  The darker yellow flowers are a blend of two polishes, the center dots are L'Oreal The Perfect Trench.  I actually really like how this one turned out!  It would work for tomorrows "Inspired by Nature" theme as well but I have something else in mind for that.

Caught Red Handed

Today's theme is "oldest untried".  I am horribly unorganized when it comes to which polish I have tried and which I haven't and how long I have had each one.  I try, but it just doesn't work for me.  I do know that I have had this one for several months...
I'm not sure why it has taken me this long to try it out other than I keep bringing more home!  The formula on this one was great, it went on really smooth.  My camera tends to pull more orange so the second picture is more color accurate than the first.

L'Oreal Caught Red Handed

What a Hoot!

As you probably already know, today's theme is "stamping".  I have a few sets of stamping plates...several with the plastic still on them that I haven't gotten around to trying out yet...and a new set on the way.  I had a bit of trouble deciding what to use for this one!  I had a few set aside and ended up picking Bundle Monster BM 309.  Then I just had to pick a color "theme"!  I have had L'Oreal The Perfect Trench for a while as well and had not had a chance to use it either and this proved to be a perfect combo!  I started with two coats of it and a coat of Seche to help it dry quick.  I used Revlon Hot for Chocolate, China Glaze Street Racing and Westside Warrior for the stamping colors.  Ring finger design is from plate BM 322.
I have found for me that NYC Grand Central Station works best for a final topcoat after stamping, no smearing my design!

I love how this turned out but it was unbelievably difficult to get a decent picture of for some reason!  Sorry about that! :(

Trashcan Nails?!

Got your attention, didn't I?  This post is meant to make you think.  Think about what inspires you, where do ideas come from?  Years ago, starting out as a bead artist, I learned to see inspiration in everything.  The way the colors in a room work together, the pattern on a bold fabric, the colors in nature and the designs.  I have taken some of this with me in this newer addiction.  Colors are everywhere, in everything we see.  As a nurse, lots of the modern scrubs have very bold colors with sometimes funky designs (unfortunately for me, I am stuck wearing nothing but navy; how boring!).  Some may find inspiration on Pinterest or as part of a group you belong to or a variety of other avenues...maybe even a trashcan.  Yup, you read right; I said a trashcan.  My "polish room" is actually part of my lampwork studio (which has been grossly neglected lately), my craft room, and my office all rolled in to one.  It's my own space to create whatever I feel like creating that particular day and I love it.  The walls aren't finished, and the floor is concrete but for my needs, it is perfect.  Anyway, back to the trashcan.  I found it years ago at Target, it was $1 and I liked the colors, so I bought it.  It sits beside my desk, unused because for here it is too small; but tonight it was inspiration.  The colors and the pattern, I though would translate well into some funky nail art.  I will let you decide for yourselves what you think.

Trashcan Inspiration

I used a black cream base and for the colors I used China Glaze Aqua Baby, OPI Did it on 'Em, and L'Oreal Paparazzi Pleaser.  I freehanded the stripes using a striping brush and used a dotting tool for the dots.

I was quite pleased with how they turned out, though I think I like them best with a matte finish.  

Another Water Marble

I have done a few water marbles lately as part of the Summer Challenge and typically I point out how I love the look but hate the process.  Today I forced myself to try again because, as we all know, practice makes perfect!   I did have to  make some adjustments, some of the colors I originally picked didn't work quite right for whatever reason.  Overall, this turned out to be the best so far I think.  It still isn't perfect, I still have bubbles that are infuriating to me, but I was pleased nonetheless. 

Colors Used: Essie Little Brown Dress
China Glaze Mahogany Magic
China Glaze Desert Sun
L'Oreal Walk On the Beach

Summer Chevrons

Today's Summer Challenge theme is "summer chevrons".  I had not attempted this design before the challenge but had been meaning to give it a try so this was the perfect chance.  I started with a base of L'Oreal Walk on the Beach.  Once dry, I taped off the "v" and applied a coat of L'Oreal Now You Sea Me, and free-handed the gold accent between the two colors.  It is also a L'Oreal shade called Because You're Worth It.  Overall I was pleased with how this turned out and I'm sure it's a design I will do again in the future.

What do you think? Is the chevron design one you would wear?  Don't forget to check out the other ladies' blogs and remember to check out the Summer Challenge tab at the top!

Walk on The Beach

I have been seeing a lot of nude polishes popping up lately and while I have a few in my stash I had yet to actually try any of them. I'm not sure why I was drawn to this color out of all the others on display with it but I'm glad I picked it up! Walk on The Beach is a L'Oreal color that I picked up at Walgreen's last week. It is a very pale cream shade that went very well with my skin tone (that surprised me a little).

I wanted to kick it up some but not take away from the beauty of the polish so I opted for an accent nail with freehand stripes in Ulta's Maine Attraction and the darker shade is Sonia Kashuk's Taunting Teal.

Post V-Day Epic Haul!!

So I have talked before about living in the middle of nowhere with really no beauty stores nearby. However, they have recently opened an Ulta about an hour away so today I decided to go. I found several deals and made it out with several new polishes and then stopped at a few drug stores along the way to see what I could find...

Top L-R : OPI Skull and Glossbones, Stranger Tides, Mermaids Tears, Revlon Coconut Crush and Sublime Strawberry (both scented) then Ulta Army of 1 and Maine Attraction and the one on the end is Sally Hansen Pumpkin Spice

Bottom L-R : Butter LONDON Knackered and Bossy Boots, Essence Luxury Secret, Where is the Party, High Spirits, Glamours Life, and You Belong to Me and a pack of the Vanilla polish remover pads

They also had a special going for a free gift with purchase of $17.50 worth of Ulta product (I also got one of their mascara) so this was what was in the gift bag. The polish is called Lav-ish.

Top L-R : Wet N Wild Wet Cement, I Need a Refresh-Mint, Undercover, Disturbia, L'Oreal Walk on the Beach and Eiffel For You, Sally Hansen Yellow Kitty and Lavender Cloud

Bottom L-R Sinful Colors Call You Later and Nicole by OPI It's Not Me, It's Blue

Top L-R : Sinful Colors Glass Pink, Nail Junkie, All About You, You Just Wait, Unicorn, Nirvana and Cinderella

Middle L-R : Sinful Colors Exotic Green, Tutu, Easy Going, Love Nails, Purple Diamond, Gorgeous, and Sally Hansen Night Flight

Bottom L-R : Revlon Plum Night, Ruby Ribbon, Emerald City, CQ Rustic Dream, Sonia Kashuk Taunting Teal, Blank Slate and L'Oreal Caught Red-Handed

This is probably the most polish I have gotten in one day, a good mix of textures, colors and finishes and everything from high-end to drug store brands...now if I just had enough hands to swatch them all ! :)