How About A Tutorial?

Good evening my polished pals! I was feeling a bit better at about 6 am so I decided to try and play with my polish for a while. I wanted to do something Christmasy but EASY since I am still feeling yuck and quite sore from all of the coughing. Candy canes came to mind instantly. I wasn't optimistic enough to attempt to do a tape mani, which I love because of the precise lines and my OCD, so I decided to use the stripe mani I did a while back for inspiration. This is my day 12 mani from the 31 day challenge.

Day 30: Inspired by a tutorial (Happy Birthday Joe Joe!)

Today isn't really a challenge day, it's actually tomorrow, nor is this mani actually inspired by a tutorial.The search of a certain tutorial was inspired by a little person. See, today is my nephews birthday. He is 5 years old today. I don't have any children of my own (and don't plan on any either!), I do have a stepdaughter, 2 nieces and my nephew. While I absolutely adore my stepdaughter and my nieces, my little man holds a very special place in my heart. The day that tiny little angel was born I knew what true love felt like for the first time. So even though he isn't mine I have a very special bond with him and he is the closest thing I will ever have when it comes to children. So this mani was inspired by the love of my life, my dear sweet nephew. 

Happy birthday Joe Joe!

 (Gizzle you better show him what I created for him! It took a lot of patience! LOL)

Day 29 "Inspired by the supernatural"

Ok, I apologize in advance for the half-assed job I've done on this day of the challenge. I was kind of in a hurry since I am in the process of a few reviews. But I am determined to actually finish this challenge with no more skip days! So since I was in such a hurry I decided to go for an easy out. Here are my Ectoplasmic Goo nails that were inspired by the Ghostbusters.

Day 28 Inspired by a Flag

Hello loves! Today is day 28! Yes, 28!!! I can't believe it's almost over! To be honest there were times I was like "IS THIS EVER GOING TO END!?!?!" LOL But I have had a lot of  fun doing this! It's really helped me expand as a blogger and it has allowed me to find some great gals that I now call friends! So If you are a new blogger or thinking about blogging  join a challenge, it really gives you the sense of community that you hear so much about from us crazy polish junkies! Thank you to all of you great gals that comment all the time and show so much love, thank you to all of you that follow and enjoy watching me grow in my obsession and hopefully talent! Thank you to my new friends, who help encourage me when I feel like I don't want to keep going! You all are frickin amazing! Now on to the challenge!

Day 27 Inspired by Artwork

Goooood morning polish world! I have completed yet ANOTHER day in the challenge! Surprised my polished pretties? If you are I can't say I blame you! Today is suppose to be inspired by art. When thinking of what I wanted to do for this the only thing I could think of was watercolor paintings. So here is my Art inspired mani for day 27. I am half asleep, so this is going to be quick! 

Day 26...and I bet you thought I forgot!

Inspired by a pattern. I really was having a major block when it came to picking back up in the challenge. I have been doing so much swatching lately that I feel like I have nail art block. Just when I was about to call it quits, I decided to use the pattern I see every single day. My towels! Duh. 

So here it is, my day 26 mani., and yes I know I skipped 23, 24 & 25, so please forgive me.

Day 22 "Inspired by a song"

Hi all, I know I'm late posting but at least I'm posing closer to the actual day than I have been! Today's mani was a tough one for me. I had a few ideas and I just wasn't feeling any of them. That on top of the killer headache I haven't been able to shake for about a week now I just said eff it and went with the song that kept popping in to my head all day anyway Mariposa Traicionera (treacherous butterfly) by Mana. 

Actually they were inspired by the album art for the single. 

2 manis,1 post. Both Nail Fail!

Hey all, sorry I've not been keeping up with my challenges lately. I have been pretty busy with reviews and I have been a bit put off with the challenges since I broke my nail. Nail art is virtually impossible to do on my right hand since I am right handed. My left hand is pretty useless unless it's holding a bottle of polish. LOL 

I did completely bypass Day 19 (Galaxies) in the challenge. I will do one before the challenge is over, cross my heart! Today I have Days 20 and 21, Water Marble and Inspired by a Color.

I want to remind you that at the very beginning of this challenge I said that I would show you even the most ugly, failed attempts. And these frankly belong in that category. 

Day 17 "Glitter"

Yes I am a day late on my day 17 post, but I have a good excuse! My wedding anniversary is on the 15th and my hubby surprised me Saturday with a few things, one of them was tickets to the Cardinals 1st game of the NLDS against the Washington Nationals!! Hubby wanted me to do Red October nails for the game, so he bought me Orly Rockets Red Glare (along with some other goodies) to make it happen!

 

I decided to do a red and white gradient then then add glitter to it.

 

 

Then with white acrylic paint I added the STL logo and my favorite players jersey number, 4 for Yadier Molina the best catcher in baseball!!

 

 

Colors used left to right:

Orly Dayglow

Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby

Orly Rockets Red Glare

 

So those are my glitter/Red October nails! I was so happy to go to the game I just wish we would have won, especially since we froze our asses off! Oh well they're kickin but right now so far!

 

Well ladies I'm going to go make a pumpkin roll for the the hubby then work on a few review manis!  Don't forget to check out the other ladies, who were probably on time with their glitter manis!

 

 

-Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner
-Kat at Hooked On Polish
-Diana at Nails By Diana
-Aly at Wonderland Beauty
-Meredith at Perfectly Polished
-Nicole at The Color Republic
-Kate at The Painted Pony Nails
-Cee at Absolutely Cee
-Sam at Polished Art
-Nail Narcotics
-Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
-Shelby at Shelby's Swatches
-Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful
-Mixed Mama
-Joanna @ Sweet Polish of Mine
-Patty Greenberg
-Liz and Lisa @ Lozlosa
-Mari at Nailista
-Miss L at Beauty by Miss L
-Chameleon Stampede
-Pam at Nail-E-Glance
-Me, Myself, and Polish
- Robin Sparkles

 

 

Day 16 of the 31 Day Challenge "Tribal Print"

Hello ladies, yes again! I know, 2 posts in one night!? It's a miracle! LOL I had been so behind in my 31 day posts I really wanted to try and keep in schedule since I have a really full month! Today was the day in the challenge, along with day's 18 and 19, that I have been dreading! I've never done a tribal print mani before. I have adored the time some of you girls take to put into the very detailed tribal but I just don't like spending that much time on a mani that I know will be taken off in 24 hours anyway! However, once I saw my inspiration for this mani I actually got a tad bit excited about it.

I started off with 3 coats of Orly Dayglow. 

Dayglow was part of the Feel The Vibe collection and my favorite white in my collection so far. It has a slight blue shimmer to it, which is extremely hard to capture in pictures. Take my word for it, it's beautiful!!!

These earrings were the inspiration for this mani. I found them on Pinterest. Here's the link to my board with the pin if you're interested.

Next I used Spoiled Distant Memory and Sally Hansen Golden-I to create my designs

I know my designs aren't an exact match for the pattern on the earrings but they were my inspiration none the less. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out, much better than I expected!

Don't forget to check out the links below for the other great tribal manis that were done!

-Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner
-Kat at Hooked On Polish
-Diana at Nails By Diana
-Aly at Wonderland Beauty
-Meredith at Perfectly Polished
-Nicole at The Color Republic
-Kate at The Painted Pony Nails
-Cee at Absolutely Cee
-Sam at Polished Art
-Nail Narcotics
-Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
-Shelby at Shelby's Swatches
-Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful
-Mixed Mama
-Joanna @ Sweet Polish of Mine
-Patty Greenberg
-Liz and Lisa @ Lozlosa
-Mari at Nailista
-Miss L at Beauty by Miss L
-Chameleon Stampede
-Pam at Nail-E-Glance
-Me, Myself, and Polish
- Robin Sparkles 

I want to end this post by telling you all that my friend Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed is having a giveaway! She has an awesome blog with a butt ton of free hand nail art! Her blog is one of my faves! Go follow her and enter her giveaway by clicking the picture below!!!

Delicate Flowers...Days 14 & 15

Ok here it goes!  I am rushing through this post to try and beat midnight! O_O  I've been slacking off a bit lately and I need to get ahead of the game here! I apologize.

Today is day15 of the 31 day challenge but, since I missed day 14, I decided to combine the 2!

 

I started off with 2 coats of L'Oreal VIP Status...

 

VIP Status is a lovely charcoal color with a kind of blue undertone.

 

The formula is awesome, 2 coats gave full opacity and it is very forgiving if spots are missed, which I tend to do, you can go back over those spots and it blends well.

 

Then using Bundle Monster stamp plate BM-318 I stamped hibiscus flowers with Essie No Place Like Chrome.

 

I'm still working on perfecting my stamping skills but I LOVE stamping with the Essie Mirror Metallics. They are thick enough to make stamping so much easier for someone who gets the process but hasn't got it down pat yet.

 

I felt it was lacking something, and it was still a bit to severe in contrast to be "delicate" so I wanted to add something and decided on Finger Paints Flecked.

 

This is my first time using a flakie. I have to say I am in Love! I love the texture it brings to the mani without being overpowering like normal glitter can be. This particular bottle was a prize in a giveaway that I recently won.

 

I decided I wanted to make this a matte mani to make it even more subtle so I used my new butterLondon Matte Finish. 

 

Unfortunately in my excitement over using 2 new polishes I forgot to take pictures before I mattified it! Sorry! It was just as lovely all shinny as it is matte, at least I thought so.

 

Sorry about all the pictures I just couldn't get enough! LOL

 

As always don't forget to check out what the other lovely ladies have done!

Aaaaaand...if you haven't entered my giveaway click on the picture on the left of the page right above my profile!

 

 

-Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner
-Kat at Hooked On Polish
-Diana at Nails By Diana
-Aly at Wonderland Beauty
-Meredith at Perfectly Polished
-Nicole at The Color Republic
-Kate at The Painted Pony Nails
-Cee at Absolutely Cee
-Sam at Polished Art
-Nail Narcotics
-Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
-Shelby at Shelby's Swatches
-Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful
-Mixed Mama
-Joanna @ Sweet Polish of Mine
-Patty Greenberg
-Liz and Lisa @ Lozlosa
-Mari at Nailista
-Miss L at Beauty by Miss L
-Chameleon Stampede
-Pam at Nail-E-Glance
-Me, Myself, and Polish
- Robin Sparkles