Christmas nailart

I've been seriously slacking on the blogging front. Work has well and truly got in the way of blogging and painting nails. Booo :(

Here is a quick post of my Christmas nails that I did, they looked so much better in real life, but for some reason all my photos came out shit.

For the presents I've used Sally Hansen, Diamond Strength in Red.  I've used a striper brush and carefully created the cross and bow using Models Owns White nail art pen and then added a small silver gem in the centre. For the Christmas tree I used tape to mask of the shape and used Models Own, Green tea. I then added small dots of white and yellow using a dotting tool for the fairy lights and added another gem on top of tree. Finished of with a top coat of 17 Nail Xtras, glitter top coat.

Day 30 in the 33DC - A mani featuring the same pattern, in various colours

Day 30 is here and the prompt was, a mani featuring the same pattern in various colours.

I've taken the name of this challenge literally, I did animal print with bright neons as the base. I used Models Own, Snow White for the base and used a sponge to create an ombre effect with Models Own, Luis Lemon, Models Own, Bubblegum and La Femme Beaut, Ultra Green. Then with a thin nail brush swipe across with black. Sadly the brush wasn't as fine as I thought so it turned out a little lumpy.

Day 29 in the 33DC - My favourite pattern

Day 29 in the 33DC - My favourite pattern

I love animal print but only in small doses. Animal print on my nails is just the perfect size. I'm really pleased on how these nails turned out!!!

I broke my index finger so had to file down the others nails. I wasn't prepared to file them all the way down to match the short stumpy middle finger. I know it looks a little silly but my nails grow soo fast that it wont take too long to be matching again.

I've used Models Own, Snow White for the base and sponged on Revlon Mischievous and Models Own, Sterling Silver and then using a thin brush that comes in the Models own nail art pen added the strips.

Day 28 in the 33DC - Lines

Day 28 is all about lines.

I asked some work mates what I should do for todays prompt as I was struggling to come up with any decent ideas. I was given pinstripes and 'go faster' stripes. I liked the idea of pinstripes but knew I wouldn't be able to get the lines fine enough so I went with Go Faster stripes. Think boy racer cars, the film Fast and Furious and supped up cars with loud base music. awful just awful.

I've used Models Own, Snow White and Models Own, Betty Blue. I love this blue soo much but sadly it stain my nails so I've used three coats of white to hopefully give some protection against staining!

Day 27 in the 33DC - Three patterns

Day 27 is here and we only have 6 more design left. This challenge is keeping me busy, I'm always a day or so late on most prompts but I'm sure no really minds :)

I had no idea what to do for this prompt. How was I supposed to get three designs onto one nail?! I am no way as neat or capable of fine nailark work as others in this challenge. I opted for a skittle effect using three colour and three patterns making them blend better together.

I love the contrast between the high glittered Gold Rush and the clean bold White. The green (Jade stone) is one of my favourite colours but it just work with these colours. I put the bottles together before I started and they looked good so I guess it's down to trail and error as to what works well together in a design and what doesn't.

I've used Models Own, Gold Rush. Models Own, Jade Stone and L.A colours, Art Deco in White.  

Day 26 in the 33DC - Inspired by Pinterest pin

Day 26 in the 33DC - Inspired by Pinterest pin.

I have so many pins and boards on Pinterest this was tricky to pick one. I decided to try something new, a Jelly sandwich. I was looking in my collection for a big chunky glitter in one colour. I have a few multi colours and lots of tiny single coloured glitters but then I remembered about my L'Oreal top coat confettis it's not one colour but it's close enough. The following pin was perfect  This one which came from Here which is a featured post from Lindsey http://www.wondrouslypolished.com

I've used Sally Hansen, Forever Lilac and L'Oreal, Confettis

Day 25 in the 33DC - A new technique for you

Day 25 in the 33DC - a new technique for you

I've been wanting to try sugar spun nails for such a long time. I though about doing them a few previous prompts at the start of this challenge but held off until now. I love how dramatic and sticking they look.

I followed a tutorial done by the amazing The Nailasaurus, this one  Mine have turned out better than I thought, considering this was my first attempt. My middle finger went a bit wrong, don't those blobs look ugly?! My the time I got to my right hand I think I'd got the hang of it a bit more and the white looks thinner but still a few pesky blobs turned up.

All in all I'm chuffed with how they have turned out and I think I'll be doing these again soon.  I've used NYC, Spring Tulip for my base and Models Own, Snow White for the topping.

Day 24 in the 33DC - a mani featuring the colour you own the most

Day 24 in the 33DC - a mani featuring the colour you own the most

Before I looked at my ever growing collection of nail polish I though the colour I had most of was Reds and Pink but it turned out to be blue, I have 13 blues all together and only 7 reds. The La Femme Beauty bottles on the right of the picture look the same but they aren't, they are different shades.

I had no inspiration just before I started to paint my nails so opted for a simple layer of blue glitter over a blue base. I 've used Models Own, Beths Blue (the middle bottle in the picture) and La Femme Beauty, Mirage (the one next to Beths Blue)

Day 23 in the 33DC - Geometric

Day 23 in the 33DC - Geometric

A short post for you today, Work is getting in the way and my internet keeps going down. say this these nails took just over an hour to do!! Purely down to doing the design on all ten nails and the nail art pens kept clogging and drying up making them really hard to get a constant even flow.

I think if I had more spare time on my hands I would have used tape but then it would have taken me twice as long!!

I've used Models Own nail art pens in Black, Blue, Pink and Yellow

Day 22 in the 33DC - 3 colour gradient + pattern

Day 22 in here and it's 3 colour gradient + pattern time.

I love gradient nails but seam to struggle to get them to look smooth and well bended. Some nails have worked better than others and some just look shit. I don't understand how this happens as do them all the same - well I think I do! I also ran out of time to do a decent clean up but hopefully it doesn't attract to much from the nails.

I've used Barielle, Going to the chapel. Simple Pleasure, mint green and pink for the gradient. All layered over a white base with vertical tape creating the stripes.

Day 21 in the 33DC - Europe

Day 21 is here and the prompt given was Europe.

I live in the UK and I've done the Union-Jack a few times and learnt that you need steady hands and lots of time to get it to look perfect and well to be honest I don't have time nor the patience right now so I ruled that idea out. The next idea was a map of Europe which well, just wasn't going to happen!!

I wasn't able to select one country to focus on because (A) There is too much choice. (B) I'm sure I should include everyone/thing that come under the umbrella of Europe and (C) I don't have a favourite locations. This got me thinking about locations and places I've been holiday. I love the sun and I love holidays. beach holidays, city breaks, weekends away and all the rest :)

So my 'nod' to the prompt of Europe is travel to and from, in particular by plane. I always feels a little more exciting when you have to travel by plane. I recently went to Bruges in Belgium and went by Eurostar. I was amazing and magical but felt close to hope because we didn't catch a plane - sounds silly but it's true :)

I've used La Femme Beauty, Light Blue for the base, Barry M Black nail art pen to draw the Plain and an un-named Stamping polish in White for the clouds.

Day 20 in the 33DC - A pattern from my wardrobe

Day 20 in the 33DC - A pattern from my wardrobe

With the weather officially miserable and winter is firmly on it's way I anted to do something which reminds me of warmer days and sunshine.

This sheer jacket has purple and cream flowers all over it. You cant really see the purple in the photo but trust me there is purple in there, I promise!  I was going to try the one stroke technique to do the flowers but I don't have the right brush so had to make do with and old make-up brush and layer white over the purple.

For my base I've used Rimmel, Chic and Cheerful. Simple Pleasures un-named purple and Models Own Snow White. adding the detail with Models Own Black nail art pen.

 

 

 

what they looked like before I added the black outline, I think I liked them more with out :)

Day 19 in the 33DC - follow someone's tutorial

Day 19 in the 33DC - follow someone's tutorial

I've wanted to try cartoon nails ever since I first sore them. I love how they look and was keen to try them.

This tutorial is by Procrastinails, please check out her blog: http://procrastinails.blogspot.co.uk/
She has made this look so simple when in reality this was harder than I thought! I'm not as steady or as neat as I want to be and I think with practise, patience and lots more practise I'm determined to master this design.

Once I'd finished I did another search and found another ways on how to create this look. they all start with a black base and then once dry adding the colour over the top leaving a slim black edge. Looking back I with I'd done it this way round. next time I do them I try it this way around so I have something to compare against.  I wonder which way round will win??

 

For my nails I've used  Models Own Pro, Black Jack and NYC Spring Tulip and a un-named white stamping polish for the 'shine' mark. I added Rimmel Matte finish to remove the shine from the polish which adds to the effect. I waited an hour before added the matte top coat but yet still it made the black run.

Halloween nails

 

Halloween nails :)

Day 18 in the 33DC - featuring 2 patterns

Day 18 is a mani featuring 2 patterns.

This challenge is certainly turning into a challenge with each prompt. How was I to incorporate two patterns into one mani?! I could do each pattern on a different nail? change of the colour/direction of the pattern - once decided on what pattern of course.

I was going to go for spots and stripes but thought that would be the safe option and the point of doing a nail challenge like this one it to try new things and be more creative.

So I used Models Own, Snow White for the base and Barry M Black nail art pen for the black stripes. I didn't want to faff around with striping tape trying to get perfect straight lines because I was going to added another pattern over the top so you wouldn't see the lines completely (well that was the plan) I went over the black and white stripes with Models Own, Smash up Pink.

I was hoping that the pink would be thicker, bolder and not as transparent as it turned out to be - to be honest it was a little disappointing. I wanted the pink to be bold and then through the cracks it created you'd pot the black and white lines but in the end it turned out looking more like a red/pink brick wall!!