Tribal Print Tutorial Using Zoya Kristen

So all week my nails have been sporting Zoya Kristen.  Zoya's website describes Kristen as "a gull gray nail polish with a mild bluish hue."  She's gorgeous and is my go-to polish for the winter to spring transition.  See how beautiful she is:

This picture was not taken today, it was taken the last time I wore Kristen.  Earlier this month I painted my tips with this delicate blue on a bright sunny day.  Today is a grey cloudy January day:-\  But the perfect day to show you a fun tutorial.

Donna Karan's Spring 2012 dresses were all completely stunning.  But the ones that stood out to me the most were the monochromatic tribal prints, as seen below.

Retrieved from http://www.socialbliss.com/assets/user_images/pic_42_1333906795.jpg

In all honesty, I'm a sucker for anything black and white.  So naturally these tribal prints inspired me.  As I just said, I LOVE monochromatic color palettes especially black & white.  However, I thought it may look rather harsh against my pale wintery skin.  Instead, I decided to use blue & white, to soften the entire concept.  Here we go!

Tribal Print Tutorial 

This is what you will need:

-base/background color

-another color of polish to create your design

-small old makeup brush or paintbrush (mine was from this brush kit with for $1.99)

-skewer, toothpick, or pin to make the fine lines

-topcoat

 Optional:
-basecoat

-remover pen for cleanup

 ***I apologize for any blurry pictures, I was having trouble focusing my camera in macro.  Also the coloring is off, but only so you can see the steps better.***

Step 1: Prep your nails, use your basecoat, etc. Let dry completely. 

Step 2: Paint your nails in your base color.  I used Zoya Kristen ($8 from zoya.com).  Make sure you achieve the desired opacity in as few coats as possible.  I used 2 coats. Let dry completely.

Step 3: Get your fine brush.  Unscrew the lid of your layering polish and scrape the polish off the brush onto your brush. Pick which finger you are accenting with this design (if you were REALLY ambitious you could do this to all your nails...) and draw 2 parallel lines on the left side of your nail.

Step 4: Between the lines you just created, add smaller lines to create a ladder-like design.  Do not place them too close together or you will be unable to finish the design.

Step 5: Within the squares that you just created when painting the ladder, you're going to paint forward and backward "L" shapes.  Make sure the "L" shapes touch the left most line on your finger.

 Step 6: In the middle of your nail paint a wide white line separating the left side that you just painted from the right side.

Step 7: On the right side of your nail you are going to paint a boxy looking zig-zag. 

Step 8: On the far right side of your nail make upside-down "T" shapes.  The bottom of the "T" shape should fit in the boxy zig-zag pattern.

Step 9: Finally, next to the wide line in the middle add some dots.  I added mine to the left side of my nail.  We have now painted your nail from left to right.  If you are left handed or painting your right hand you may find it easier to do it in the opposite direction.
 

Step 10:  After it completely dries. Finish with your favorite topcoat.  This not only helps your manicure to last longer but it also tends to even out the texture.

Voila!

 There is absolutely no right or wrong way to do this design.  Make it your own by changing the design to suit your taste.  And it's better than nail strips because you can do the colors you want.  I would LOVE to see what you come up with!  If you end up doing this link, facebook, or email me your picture! I cannot wait to see where you take this:)

The sun came out for a picture!

***Please stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway featuring some gorgeous Zoya polishes!***

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest

Zoya Hauling

A couple weeks ago Zoya's facebook page was buzzing with people finding their polishes on clearance at Ulta.  The day after I heard this amazing news, I visited my local Ulta.  Unfortunately, my Ulta is a tad slow.  I think that its location means that It may get shipments & such in later so their clearances of some products is delayed.  ANYWAY, to make this long story short, I went in last week and much to my surprise I found the La-Di-Da Collection polishes on clearance for $3.99!  I picked up America, Dita, & Ali.  (Nothing looks quite like the actual color because of the grey rainy day we're having)

I also went polish crazy at the end of the week & purchased a few more lovelies.  I did pay near full price on these babies but I was able to purchase them from amazon.com from my favorite storefront Beauty of a Site.  They give you a coupon for your next purchase, use eco-friendly packaging, AND they don't charge you out the wazoo for shipping.  I chose Elise, Edyta, Gemma, & Adina.

Many of my purchases on amazon.com are done with gift cards that I receive through Swagbucks.  Swagbucks defines itself as the following on their website:

Swagbucks.com is the web's premier rewards site. Powered by Prodege LLC, Swagbucks.com allows web users to earn virtual currency by doing the things they do every day - search the web, shopping at their favorite retailers, and by engaging in other activities such as phone recycling, submitting polls, and completing special offers. Swagbucks.com is the only place on the web to get what you want without ever having to spend a dime. 

Swagbucks allows you to earn "swagbucks" which you can redeem for prizes.  I prefer amazon.com giftcards and I have earned hundreds of dollars in amazon gift cards through Swagbucks.  I highly recommend it, even if you don't get stuff for free from amazon, it can end up making your purchase cheaper or more justifiable, like my recent haul.

Sorry for the lengthy post, just figured I'd share:)

Hint: I *may* be accruing polishes for an upcoming giveaway!

Monday Manicure

Here is a peek at my my  nails today!

 

It's safe to say that I'm obsessed with classic suiting prints.  I always have been.  Here is my take on a herringbone manicure.  I hope to do this in greys or lavenders for spring:)

As usual, let me know what you think!

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest

New York Color Liquid Lip Shine

Press Samples

As mentioned in previous posts, I am an active "Influenster" and receive Vox Boxes from Influenster.  These boxes contain a wealth of products to sample & review.  The latest was the Holiday Vox Box which was set up to prepare you for the holidays with things for getting ready & others to tote around just-in-case.

One of the items in my Holiday Vox Box was New York Color Liquid Lip Shine.  The card we receive in the Vox Box reads:

Straight from the city that never sleeps, New York Color's Liquid Lipshine is uptown style at a down-to-earth price.  With pure pigments that create a 3-D gloss effect and vitamin E that provides shine and moisture, this product is perfect to keep lips looking and feeling fabulous this season.  Comes in 10 shades from neutral nude, to berries, & fuchsias.

My Vox Box contained the creatively named Nude York City 582.  The lipgloss went on smoothly with a flexible doe foot style applicator.  It had a pleasant fragrance which reminded me of frosting.  The gloss lasted for hours & was not overly sticky, shiny, or wet.  The color of the gloss was subtle but noticable & is perfect alone or for layering over a favorite lip color.  The gloss also contained a hint of sparkle, which was barely noticeable but added dimension.

I LOVE this gloss and I will be purchasing more for sure.  I actually thought that I lost it with all of the holiday traveling that we did, thankfully I relocated it and did the appropriate happy dance to accompany the find.  These are so reasonably priced that you can have a variety of colors or maybe you'd rather just one color but multiple containers so you can have one in every purse;)  I would highly recommend that you pick up this gloss before I buy out of their entire stock. 

This product retails for around $2.49 at these stores nearest you: Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, CVS, Family Dollar, Duane Reade, Kmart, HEB, and others.  Visit newyorkcolor.com to check out all shades and fun products from New York Color!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. Influenster provides products for review through their VoxBox program to innovative trend setters in the industry. http://www.influenster.com

imPress Press-on Manicure Review

Press Samples

As mentioned in previous posts, I am an active "Influenster" and receive Vox Boxes from Influenster.  These boxes contain a wealth of products to sample & review.  The latest was the Holiday Vox Box which was set up to prepare you for the holidays with things for getting ready & others to tote around just-in-case.

One of the items in my Holiday Vox Box was an imPress Press-on Manicure by Broadway Nails. The card we receive in the Vox Box reads:

Introducing imPress, the revolutionary way to spply nail polish!  Featuring advanced technology, you will get a salon-perfect manicure in seconds-simply peel off, press on, and you're done (no drying time!).  imPress comes in 36 colors and patterns, including trendy brights, fun prints, and classic darks and animal prints.

The imPress manicure that I received was 110 Joyride, a bright metallic magenta.  I loved the packaging, the nails come in a little nail polish bottle!  Adorable!  Unlike many press-on manicures that you see in stores, imPress is not garrishly long.  Which I appreciated, a lot!

 The nails applied like a dream.  I was "impressed" (pun intended) on the variety of sizes in their packaging, it made it easy for me to find nails to fit my tiny nails (my engagement ring/wedding band are size 3.5).  The directions on the packaging were clear, and they even have a video on their website (see below), on the correct application.

Removal was not difficult either.  These lasted the entire weekend that I had them on without a hitch.  However, I did have to remove them for work on Monday.  I would recommend these for a special occasion, a night out, for nail emergencies, or when you want them to look pretty but don't have the time.

imPress Manicure retails for $5.99 for colors and $7.99 for patterns, and is available at CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade, KMart, Walgreens, Walmart and more. For a full list of online and in-store retailers, visit imPressManicure.com, where you can download an exclusive coupon and virtually try on all the colors and patterns!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. Influenster provides products for review through their VoxBox program to innovative trend setters in the industry. http://www.influenster.com

Cult Nails Nail Art

Maria from Cult Nails is hosting a Nail Art Contest in which the entrants need to use at least one Cult Nails polish in their design.

Now many of you know I'm a nail art newbie & that I am not that great.  But I gave it my best shot and this is what I came up with:

My design was inspired by a Lollia candle that I received from my mother-in-law for studying.  I know it sounds strange, but just bear with me.  It was her go-to candle that inspired her as she worked on her PhD thesis.  She said she went through at least a dozen of these in the past 2.5 years completing her PhD.  As the generous woman that she is, she bought me one to light & enjoy as I work on my graduate school studies.   It was a thoughtful and meaningful gesture.  She is amazing and such an inspiring woman.

My nail are design includes Cult Nails Cruisin' Nude and Cult Nails Iconic (as well Cult Nails' famous base & top coat).  This was done on a canvas of Zoya Jane (3 coats).  I hope you enjoy my inspired, personal connection to this manicure.  Thank you for reading:)

If you want to check it out & vote here it is:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=328855083814287&set=a.326953690671093.86174.141755299190934&type=1&theater

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Source: never-sure14.tumblr.com via Reina on Pinterest

Zoya Angelina...to be or not to be

How many of you remember this picture of Zoya Angelina?

This picture belongs to AdoptAPolish, an organization who finds homes for wayward polishes.  

I would LOVE to own this beauty and I would also LOVE to show you swatches of this beauty.  However, Angelina is not yet adopted by me.  Angelina's adoption has come down to 4 finalists.  I wrote Zoya Angelina an original poem to profess my love for her and to show that I could be a great "parent." 

Please take a minute or two out of your day and read the entries and pick which one suites your fancy.  I would LOVE for you to vote for me (Kate) of course, but if you find another worthy, I understand.  Thanks so much loves!

Please vote here: http://www.adoptapolish.org/adopt-this-polish/

If you vote leave a comment on this post *hint, hint* as there may be a special little something for one of you fabulous supporters;)