Looking Brighter

Sorry I've been gone for a while guys, just sort of lost my way for a while.  Life was getting complicated and some adjustments had to be made but it seems to be looking brighter now.  I've been able to get back into the swing of things and hopefully will be able to post regularly again which I am excited about!  For today I have a bright look featuring China Glaze Flying Dragon and Aqua Baby. I love the way these two look together!

Added blue tips and matte topcoat.  Which look is your favorite?

St. Paddy's Day Dotticure

Kind of in love with how this one turned out.  This wasn't exactly what I had in my head when jotting down ideas but once I started this is what happened and I am pleased with the result. Base is Zoya Snow White with dots in Starbord from China Glaze and Zoya Jancyn.  These dotting tools are a great way to get starting with dotticures!

**This post contains affiliate links, this means if you order through these links, I may receive a portion of the sale at no additional cost to you. 

31 Day Challenge Day 9 - Rainbow

Way too many colors to list on this one!  My orange is indistinguishable from the red I used but other than that I'm pleased with how this one turned out.

Easter Nails Inspired by The Little Canvas

Today's post is my attempt at following a tutorial put together by Alaina over at The Little Canvas.  I used different colors, specifically China Glaze Sweet Hook, Dance Baby, Electric Beat, Papaya Punch, and Lemon Fizz.  Zoya Purity for the white and Sally Hansen Black Heart for the black and my new favorite topcoat from Glisten and Glow (seriously, if you haven't tried it you MUST!).  For more info on how I created this look, head over to Alaina's tutorial here.

Pink and Green for Spring!

The weather here was beautiful today!  I actually got home from work a bit early for a change and had time to actually paint my nails!  I wanted something colorful and this is what I came up with.  I also wanted to use mostly polishes that I hadn't used before so that was a little extra challenge.  If you follow me on Instagram  then you may have seen the basket full of "unused" polish I posted tonight as well.  It's a bit embarrassing.
Colors used OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls Essie First Timer and Secret Story, and Salon Perfect Kaboom

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.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Well, we made it!  Today is the last day of the New 31DC with Crumpet's Nail Tarts!  It is a bittersweet moment really.  I had a lot of fun doing this challenge, but keeping up with daily manis and posting is wearing me out!  The final challenge is to recreate someone's mani from this challenge.  That was a daunting task, there have been so many great ones!  I finally settled on this one from A Girl and Her Polish.

I used OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls for the base with black and Revlon Hazy for the dots.  Mine didn't turn out quite as good as Katee's but I still love the look of this, simple and classy.  Thanks for following and commenting through this challenge and be sure to check out the other's below!

A Pink Wednesday Dotticure

I realize I have missed a few Summer Challenge posts, including yesterday and today; but I haven't dropped out!  I haven't been felling well lately so I have pretty much just been working or sleeping for the past several days.  I'm starting to feel a bit better now though so maybe I can get back on track!  At any rate, it has been way too long since I have done a Pink Wednesday post, so I though now was the time.  This one is fairly simple, base of Zoya Reagan on all except the accent nail which has a base of China Glaze Dance Baby.  I then used those same two colors for the dots on the alternate base color followed by NYC as a topcoat.

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.  

Summer Challenge Day 3 - Summer Dots

Today's challenge is Summer Dots.  This one started with a base of Orly's Decades of Dysfunction from the Dark Shadows collection.  I love this polish!  It is a very pale pink...almost looks beige at times, but gorgeous.  I added dots in four shades, China Glaze Aqua Baby and Riveting, Finger Paints Pretty as a Portrait and Zoya Kimber.  Topcoat of Seche.  Be sure and check out the other ladies who are participating in the challenge!

List of girls taking part in Summer Challenge

Debbie @ The Crumpet - http://thecrumpet.blogspot.co.uk/

Danielle - http://lbobeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

Neivys - http://maquiclubgirl.blogspot.com/

Jo @ Northern Nails - http://therockchicksrambles.blogspot.co.uk/

arlene @ http://euzefelus27-nailart.blogspot.com/

Helena - http://nailwish.blogspot.com.es/

Cuti-CLUE-les - http://cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/

Katee - www.agirlandherpolish.blogspot.com

Alyssa at Fancy Phalanges - http://fancyphalanges.blogspot.com/

Sarah - http://www.ynails.blogspot.co.uk/

bec - http://lacquerdreams.blogspot.com.au/

Misha - www.enigmatic-rambles.blogspot.com

Sharon - http://whatcolorismycoat.blogspot.com/

Melissa - http://www.misadventuresofawannabemartha.com/

Laurie http://dressedupdigits.blogspot.com/

Lucie @ Lucy's Stash www.lucysstash.com

Emma @  http://manicurity.blogspot.com/

Caitlin - www.caitlinscreativecorner.blogspot.com

Jane- http://absolutevarnish.blogspot.com/

Amber www.nevernakednails.blogspot.com

Vic @ Glowstars http://glowstars.net

Jackie- http://memasmanis-jackie.blogspot.com/

Rychelle @ Colorsplash Nails- http://colorsplashnails.blogspot.com/

Stella - http://mywetnails.blogspot.com

Missy @ http://missysmanis.blogspot.co.uk/

Christine @ http://lost-in-my-reverie.blogspot.com

Angie @ http://ourpaintedworld.wordpress.com

An Experiment With Dots

I have seen a lot of amazing nail art around the web lately and thought I would give it a shot. I started with a base of a black creme polish and chose OPI An Affair In Red Square (my FAVORITE red!) for the dots. I started with the end of a paintbrush dipped in the red in the center of each nail and then used a dotting tool to make smaller dots around the larger center dot. I then went back and added more dots in the negative space directly above the first "row". I still need some practice, some of them are a bit off, but overall I think I like how it turned out.