National Donut Day Nail Art

Happy Donut Day everyone! Since I no longer work at Dunkin Donuts (I've moved onto bigger and much better things), I get to actually enjoy today and paint my nails for it! We weren't allowed to have painted nails even if we wore gloves over them and it was torture. I had just started getting into nail art and I couldn't even practice!
Alright, back to today's nails...

I started with a base of Too Yacht To Handle on all but my ring finger. Using a striping brush from my Glam Gadgets set, I painted semi-circles using Coach Ella and filled them in. I took a medium sized dotting tool and made the "edge of the icing" using Nirvana, Pinking Out The Window, and Sugar Cube. I didn't get too close to the edge of the tan to leave some of the "donut" showing. Using the striping brush again, I made sprinkles on my middle finger with Sugar Cube, Treble Maker, and Home Sweet House Music. I didn't have a dotting tool as big as I wanted, so I used the end of a paint brush dipped in Too Yacht To Handle to make the hole in each donut. I waited for these three nails to dry and applied Salon Perfect Top Coat.

For my accent nail, I started with a base of Coach Ella. Using a larger dotting tool, striping brush, and Pinking Out The Window, I created my drips by making three lines from my cuticle toward the middle of my nail and adding dots to the ends of them. I connected the sides of the dots to the line and then connected the lines together with curved lines and filled in. Like with the sprinkled donut nail, I used the striping brush and Sugar Cube, Treble Maker, and Home Sweet House Music for the sprinkles. Finally, I finished with Salon Perfect Top Coat.

Polishes used:
China Glaze - Too Yacht To Handle
China Glaze - Pinking Out The Window
China Glaze - Treble Maker
China Glaze - Home Sweet House Music
Salon Perfect - Sugar Cube
Fresh Paint - Coach Ella
Sinful Colors - Nirvana
Salon Perfect Top Coat

Tribal Stamped Accent Nail

Did a simple stamped accent nail for the weekend. I love how it turned out and I'm so excited my stamping has improved so much in just a few weeks!

Polishes:
Julep - Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat
China Glaze - License & Registration Please
China Glaze - Pop The Trunk
Rica Polish - Black Out
Julep - Oxygen Top Coat

Stamper
Bundle Monster Plate BM603

Memorial Day Nail Art

Today I have some patriotic nail art that can be used for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or any day really! I had purchased the stamping plate I used for the stars over a year ago, but was still 100% failing at stamping so I never got to put it to good use. This is actually the exact mani I had in mind at that time and I'm kinda glad I never attempted it until now. I finally have this stamping thing down and a year ago I would have insisted on hand painting the stripes (which would have ended up crooked or uneven).
*Note: I realize my stars are upside down here, but when I was looking at my nails while stamping, they were right side up. It all depends on which way ya look at them. ;) 

I started with a base of Essie "Hide & Go Chic" on my index and middle nails and Salon perfect "Sugar Cube" on my ring and pinky and applied Dream Polish "Gem Glam Top Coat". I gave the top coat about 5-10 minutes to dry completely before adding the finishing touches. I used "Whiteout" from Rica's Polish to stamp the stars and Straight Vinyls from Nail Vinyls with China Glaze "Bing Cherry" for the stripes. I let the details dry completely for about 10 minutes to prevent any smudging before finishing with Salon Perfect Top Coat.

Polishes:
Essie - Hide & Go Chic
Salon Perfect - Sugar Cube
Rica - White Out
China Glaze - Bing Cherry
Dream Polish - Gem Glam Top Coat (Jelly Bean Scented)
Salon Perfect - Top Coat

Tools:
Stamping plate
Stamper from this set
But the larger scraper from this set
Straight nail vinyls

Stamped Mermaid Nail Art

After multiple failed attempts at stamping, I think I've finally done it! I'm only on my fourth stamper, second brand of stamping polish, and last bit of patience, but I did it right? I can't wait to master stamping so I can share all the helpful hints the nail community has shared with me to help me with this.

I started with a white base, then gradiented over it with my blues and greens. Once it was opaque enough, I applied a holo top coat and then a quick dry top coat. I waited about 10 to 15 minutes before stamping to make sure all my polish was completely dry. I stamped my mermaid scale pattern on each nail, applied top coat again and added rhinestones, pearls, and a seashell charm to complete the look.

Polishes:
Salon Perfect - Sugar Cube
China Glaze - Shore Enuff
China Glaze - My Way Or The Highway
China Glaze - License & Registration Please
Bliss Polish - Holo Bliss Top Coat
Just Ricarda - Blackout
Salon Perfect - Top Coat

Game Of Thrones Water Decals

Game Of Thrones is back! While looking for some GOT nail ideas a couple weeks ago I came across these decals from Tentacle Studios. I flipped out! They're so perfect! (They also come with Greyjoy, too, but to be honest they've never done much for me, even in the books.) I had to have them so of course they happened to be out of stock, but a miracle happened and they were relisted the next morning! They arrived just in time for Sunday's premiere and I am absolutely in love with them!

Polishes used:
Sinful Colors - Ruby Ruby
China Glaze - Pelican Grey
China Glaze - Bing Cherry
Wet N Wild - D'Oh!
OPI Matte Top Coat

China Glaze Electric Nights Gitters

 

My first thought when I saw China Glaze's Electric Nights Collection swatches was OMG SO MUCH NEED! The same thought I have every time they release a new collection. After the initial excitement, I can narrow my choices down to the ones I actually do need (okay... really really want). This time I decided on the three glitters of the collection. My reasoning? I have an amazing neon collection already and I'd feel bad about cheating on it. The glitters, though... I just can't resist! Full swatch photos and reviews after the jump...

Easy Leopard Print Accent Nail

Four years into nail art and I had never done leopard print. It was one of the first "easy" techniques I pinned on Pinterest and I can't believe I never tried it sooner. It's not really my thing, but it's super quick and simple for an accent nail. My Cindy hand looks almost identical to this one which never happens, even with vinyls.

Don't Open Dead Inside Mani

The prompt for day 27 of the nail challenge I did in March was Inspiration. The last few days I ended up getting behind and did 27 of the 29th... The Walking Dead season five finale. Last year, I did a pretty bad TWD inspired mani for the season four finale so I thought I'd do it again. That one was inspired by a poster I have, this one by the t-shirt I was wearing. Details and more pics are after the break...

March Nail Art Challenge (Part Six)

Although part six starts out pretty boring, I made up for it on days 22, 23 and 24. Check it out after the break...

March Nail Art Challenge (Part Five)

Part five got pretty sparkly! Check it out after the jump...

China Glaze Road Trip 2015 Swatches

Of the 12 polishes in China Glaze's Road Trip collection, I picked up 8. The four shimmer polishes just weren't doing anything for me, but that doesn't mean I won't end up getting them. Check out my 8 swatches after the break!

March Nail Art Challenge (Part Four)

Days 13 through 16 were prompts I've done a million times (or just once), so nothing new for me here. Check them out after the break...