Time Warp Challenge--Day 3

Today's challenge is...

I remember when...

Personal or historical events were the inspiration and focus of this challenge.  I focused on history since I find it more fascinating than my own life:-P So many great historical events flooded my mind.  I listed and sketched so many ideas.  I ultimately landed on what I was most excited to recreate on my own nails...

October 4, 1957

The launch and orbit of Sputnik.

 I'm pretty pleased with my choice of this event and of the final product.  I think it's a pretty neat twist on a galaxy manicure:)

Polishes used: Too many:) Seriously, I don't know if I remember all of them!  Here's my best shot (not in the order applied): SinfulColors Black on Black & Nail Junkie, piCture pOlish mirage & orbit, essie Fear or Desire, and Zoya Purity

What event would you have chosen? (My other choice was the fall of the Berlin wall)

Edgy Gradient

After seeing this picture following Fall 2012 NYFW, I decided I wanted to try this beautiful gradient on my own nails using black and a brighter color.  I was however hesitant to replicate it immediately as it was spring and it didn't seem very springy to me.

For this manicure I used a base coat to prevent from discoloration or staining.  Next, I followed that with 2 coats of Sinful Colors Black on Black on all of my nails.  After that dried, I sponged Barielle Surf's Up on the tips of my nails.  It's quite simple.  I love the contrast between black and the bright color sponged on the tips.

I would love to see this with any of my favorite colors for fall: navy, cobalt, teal, rust, ochre, olive, and oxblood.

How do you change up your manicure/nail art for fall?

Summer Fun Challenge--Day 4

Lindsey at the Neverland Nail Blog is so incredibly creative.  I love her blog so very much and about 3 weeks ago she announced The Summer Fun Challenge.

Day 4: WE LIKE IT HOT, HOT, HOT!

I thought about taking out some of my nearly neon nail polishes for this one, but decided on a glittery/jelly gradient instead.  Summer of course reminds us of the squelching heat.  I was instantly drawn to use Essie Fear or Desire so I painted all of my nails wit this beauty.  Then I sat there admiring my small polish collection, waiting for inspiration to strike.  I decided that Sinful Colors I Miss Yuo could make a beautiful gradient because of its purple jelly base and holographic glitter.  I think this turned out pretty well, even if it isn't as great of a gradient as I had hoped (another thing I need to work on).

Other HOT manicures:

Smokey Nail

Thunder is an older Revlon polish and I love the weird grey/purple/taupe/gunmetal color a lot...I just wish it was less frosty and more metallic/foil.  I posted a (not-so-great) swatch of Revlon Thunder before (it was one of my first posts).

A while back I came upon the most wondrous realization that polishes that are frosty are streak-free when they are sponged (duh!).  Like so...

Yup, that's it.  My smokey-nail manicure created with the lovely, mysterious Revlon Thunder:)

Are there any frosty/streaky polishes that you have used in alternative ways?

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Mermaid Manicure Tutorial

I've been asked a few times about creating a tutorial for my "Mermaid Manicure." This tutorial was done with photographs, so this post is very picture heavy!  I apologize for those of you who would rather just have the word directions, but some of you may (or may not) learn from the pictures:)

This is what you will need:

-base/background color

-glitter polish or another color

-sponge applicator (like the cheap-o things you get with eye shadows & never use)

-topcoat (I guess this is optional, but it will help your mani to last longer & will smooth it out)

 Optional:
-basecoat

-remover pen for cleanup

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






 Step 2: Paint your nails in your base color.  I used Sinful Colors Open Seas ($1.99).  Make sure you achieve the desired opacity in as few coats as possible.  I used 2 coats. Let dry completely.




Step 3:  Get your sponge applicator.  (I got mine in this kit for $1.99 for the sole purpose of destroying it with polish)  Unscrew the lid of your layering polish and scrape the polish off the brush onto your applicator.  My layering polish was Sinful Colors Nail Junkie ($1.99).







Step 4:  Lightly dab polish onto your nail (at the tip, the left or right corner, one side, or your nail bed).  As you dab polish concentrate on one part of the nail, I did the tip, and lightly fade it out before getting more polish.

Step 5: Wait between layers for polish to dry or it will become tacky and get indents in it.





  


Step 6: Continue adding layers until the desired darkness/concentration of layering polish is achieved.  Do not forget to "fade" while using your sponge applicator.

*Some people swear by sponging a thin layer on 3/4 of the nail, wait for it to dry.  Sponge polish on 1/2 the nail, wait for it to dry. Sponge on last 1/4. See illustration below*







 Step 7: Finish with your favorite topcoat.  This not only helps your manicure to last longer but it also tends to mask any minor flaws in your sponging.





Here is the illustration I created on how to sponge.  Keep in mind that you can create a gradient by using polishes of slightly different colors, just like in the picture.

Let me know what other tutorials you would like to see.  I can always give a manicure a shot, even if it doesn't turn out perfectly;)