Stained Glass

Inspired by Kamsamnida’s Mosaic design, which I thought was beautiful.

I treated myself to China Glaze’s “Anchors Away Collection” this past weekend.  It was the perfect collection for this design.

Lighthouse – yellow {jelly shimmer}
Ahoy! – dark pink (magenta) {jelly shimmer}
Hey Sailor – red
First Mate – blue
Starboard – green
Life Preserver – orange
outlined with Sinful Colors “Black on Black”

   

On my left hand I used larger blocks of color, but I think I like the detail of my right hand with the smaller blocks.  Of course, it takes longer, but I think it’s worth it.

Using all jelly glitter/shimmer polishes would make this truly shine like a real stained glass window!

Red Light, Green Light

I hate driving.  But I think I hate public transportation in Chicago more.

Last week I was greeted by mail with a Red Light Enforcement Camera Ticket.

FOR ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS?!?!?!?  O_O

Now, TECHNICALLY, I didn’t run a red light.  I made a right turn.  On red.  At a permitted right turn on red light. 
So, you KNOW I was ready to contest this ticket….. until I watched the video.  Then realized that I never really came to a complete stop before the light turned red before I turned. 

BUT IT WAS BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS YELLOW WHEN I REALLY STARTED MY TURN!!!!! 

I don’t feel like fighting the ticket though.  And since I still hate public transportation more than driving right now…. I’m never driving that route to work anymore ever again. Never. 
I’m still mad about this stupid ticket!

base – OPI “ Suzi Takes the Wheel” &  Sinful Colors “Black on Black”

           

I used Orly Matte Top Coat on the gray based nails to allow the “lights” to stand out, and topped just the acrylic paint dots with a dot of Seche Vite for shine.  Did it work?

Snow... finally!

I couldn’t wait to get snow again…. like REAL snow…. so-I-can’t-drive-to-work snow; need snowplows and boots snow; may have to leave work early snow!!!

And even though they aren’t forecasting a blizzard or a very large accumulation…. I’m still crossing my freshly manicured fingers – well, nails – in the hopes of the forecast just being WRONG, and flakes blanketing this place into halting.
Snow is so calming to me.  And at the same time, excites me.  I might even like it more than sunny days…. but that race is definitely neck & neck.
There was obviously no question about what theme would cover my nails…. it was more a query of how the interpretation would play out….
I went with the typical, and with shimmery silver….. but I tried my first “gradient” and “sponging” manicure.  There. will. be. repeats.  TRUST. ME.
It turned out to be much easier than I expected and I love the look.
I used OPI “Moon Over Mumbai” as my base.
Then sponged on:
Color Club “Sheer Disguise”
OPI “What’s With The Cattitude”
Essie “Coat Azure”
China Glaze “Sky High-Top”
Sinful Colors “Midnight Blue”
I used a white nail art striper (and a silver glitter one to add to one snowflake on my ring fingernail) to create my snowflakes.  White polish with a tiny dotting tool for random dots of snow falling, and  Sinful Colors “Queen of Beauty” for some shimmer over the snowflakes.
Sounds like a lot, and I definitely didn’t need to use that many blues…but it was still faster than some of my “regular” manicures!!

 

               

  

Pucci - Licious

I need a new camera.  Clearly. 

This is the prettiest PURPLE!  But all my camera seems to pick up these days is blue .  I’m not even a real “blue” fan…. I mean, I checked my polish stash and I have PLENTY of blues there…. but when I’m polishing PURPLE, I want PURPLE to be seen… SMH
. 
I have to get a new camera SOON!  I thought my Nikon was good too.  oh well. On to the polish….

Color Club “Pucci-licious” w/ yellow acrylic paint dots  

Smooth pretty creamy luscious purple.  Set off by little yellow dots….my favorite.  Soon I will have to do a “polka dot month” of manicures.  I’m certain of it.

 

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Polka Dots Always Win

Shamefully, this has become a sort of “go-to” design when my brain cells go blank.

Drawing a blank is the worst for any artist, I’m sure.

So sitting there with random-sized dotting tools rolling across the desk in front of me, and my latent desire to just use acrylic paint ALL OF THE TIME…..

of course, dots came.  I let them happen whatever way they happened this time.  Had no clue what my nails were going to look like.

China Glaze “Concrete Catwalk” w/ acrylic paint dots

My sister would say my nails look like they have leprosy or something… and for several moments I thought “Why did you basically hide that beautiful charcoal gray polish?”  But the Dotter in my spirit won out… and I love these dots even more than the dots that have come before.

Glitter Is Making A Comeback

….as if it were ever really gone. Though glitter is evil; GLITTER RULES!

I was on a glitter hiatus until I got my Automatic Nail Polish Remover Machine….
it arrived, and seems to work nicely.  So now to test out one of polish remover’s nemesis:  GLITTER.

…and to try a tape design, as inspired by Audrey (mine still wasn’t nearly as complex or creative as hers… but I’ll get there ).

I had an impromptu polish haul at Bed Bath & Beyond. They had everything in their nail section. I was surprised! Nicole by OPI, Essie & Sinful Colors had full out displays with a quite impressive collection selection.  So I picked up 5 bottles of polish, including these 2 Color Club selections…. that I certainly didn’t NEED.  But what’s need got to do with it?!

Color Club “Wild And Willing”  & “ Revvvolution”

“Wild & Willing”                                                    “Revvvolution”  

I wish “Wild & Willing” was more opaque… “Revvolution” is perfect.  Reminds me of OPI’s “My Private Jet” and has a very smooth and covering formulation.  Just nice all around.

I’m still not a fan of tape .  I guess I’m just too impatient.  I want to get on with the design.  I almost feel like I could have done just as good a job on the diagonal lines freehand… but that might just be my confidence on swell.  Tape works.  lol.  You just have to waaaaaaiiiiiitttttt for the base color to dry.

Instant Vintage

I have no reason to explain changing my nail color, except that I was experimenting with my new automatic nail polish remover machine when I came home from the New Year’s celebration….

 

I ordered the machine online from TransDesign.com.  For $18, it was a good purchase!! I’ll definitely save on cotton squares.  I told myself I wasn’t using glitter again until I received it…. as we all know the huge HASSLE glitter presents at removal time.  I haven’t yet used any heavy duty glitter polish, so we’ll see how it responds when I do.

After I finished my dot design, it just kept reminding me of some retro wallpaper or something…vintage.  And I actually liked the results on my right hand better than my left!  My right hand always gets neglected when it comes to picture taking… had to give the right hand some camera time today.

Essie “Sand Tropez”acrylic paint dots