Green Tips

I didn't intend to do 2 Sunday Challenges so close together using the same green base, but I've been so slack about my nails lately, I hadn't even seen this week's challenge until today. Fortunately I had done this manicure sometime in August and just hadn't posted it yet.

I tried to get a good macro of the design on this stamp, but although Kleancolor Metallic Green stamped really well, it's a little too gritty looking for a sharp design. 

Another reason I accidentally used the same green polish is because I'm really loving Finger Paints Tough Art to Follow. The best part about it was how cheap I had gotten it at Sally's when their clearance was half off. In the Gold Leafy post, it looks so much darker in different lighting.

Finger Paints - Tough Art to Follow

Kleancolor - Metallic Green

NYC - Extra Shiny Top Coat

Shany - SH06

First Attempt at Nail Tape

This was my first time trying out nail tape. I had originally used it to mask my ring finger, but I was too cautious in removing it and the polish dried too much resulting in a messy stripe. This is also my first time using the Spectraflair topcoat I made with my sisters a few weeks ago. Too many polishes so little time! On the downside, the topcoat was an afterthought and took away from the natural subtle sparkles of Orly After Party on my ring finger.

You can see on the edges I made the mistake of doing my nails at night with the intention of photographing them in the morning. The edges started to lift in my sleep. I tried to clip them down a little, but after a couple of hours I was pulling them the rest of the way off.

The picture below is a better shot of the Spectraflair holo, but still doesn't do it as much justice as being in full sunlight. I think one more coat would have done a better job of giving it a more linear feel.

Finger Paints - Grape Gumball

Orly - After Party

Spectraflair - topcoat

Pink Nail Tape

Gold Leafy

I took the week off, but I couldn't miss Sunday in Adventures in Stamping! This week is Leafy and I only stamped one leafy thing because doing the other fingers wound up looking cluttered.

I did 3 coats of a dark green and then I stamped the fern image with a Shany plate and then barely stamped the other fingers with a tip stamp also from Shany to give it a gold leaf gilded look. It was overcast today so although the green is dark, it looks almost black in these photos.

Finger Paints - Tough Art to Follow

JLB - Immortal Gold

NYC - Extra  Shiny Top Coat

SH17

SH06

Glitter Explosion

I'm ashamed to admit I usually try to stay away from glitter due to the effort it takes to take it off. Being that I change my nails daily, it becomes a hassle. I saw a post by Mandy in Adventures in Stamping the other day and not only did I need to try her manicure out, I needed to buy the same brand glitter polish to do it too! Luckily with the Sally's Beauty Supply clearance deal going on right now, I picked up a teal shimmery Finger Paints polish that worked perfect as a base to fill in the bare spots under the glitter.

Here's the closeup of the finished product with BM-320 over the top.

This picture is in natural light. The rest were taken inside with a mix of lighting. It looks way toned down with the stamp over the top. Below are the pictures that show just how ridiculously packed on the glitter is!

This was 2 coats and then a lot of strategic placement of Teal Jewel FX by Milani.

I thought the glitter looked absolutely gorgeous, but I really needed the stamp because flashy blinding blue glitter isn't something I feel like I can pull off on a regular day.

Finger Paints - Late Night Rendezvous

Milani Jewel FX - Teal

Wet n Wild - Black Creme

Seche Vite - topcoat

BM - 320

Sunday Challenge: Gold Silver Bronze

Sunday's challenge in Adventures in Stamping: Gold, Silver, and/or Bronze. I did all 3 and because new Shany plates came in the mail after I had done my Sunday challenge manicure, I had to do another one!

I was so pleased with the gradient on my index finger, I had to do a closeup with both a stamped finger, and the index finger before stamping.

Finger Paints - Bronze Sculpture

Sally Hansen - Silver Sweep

JLB - Immortal Gold

SH01

This is the one I had originally done, but liked it less than the Shany design above.

This one was done with Bundle Monster and as you can see there was a slight bit of shadowing on the stamp.

Finger Paints - Bronze Sculpture
Sally Hansen - Silver Sweep
JLB - Immortal Gold
BM - 213

Fairy Dust

I love e.l.f. polishes and here's another reason why: Fairy Dust! Fairy Dust is a beautiful holo flakie. This one is new from e.l.f. and is normally $2.00. However, I got this when they had their 50% off anniversary sale for $1.00 with a bunch of other stuff like their super great waterproof eyeliner pens at $0.50 a piece.

You can see here how it changes from red to gold to green. This was 2 coats of Fairy Dust over Wet n Wild Black Creme and Finger Paints Bronze Sculpture on my ring finger with a Seche Vite topcoat.