Nails I did last night.

Nails I did last night. This was my first time trying a glitter gradient and I like how it turned out. I think it's easier to do the grade with glitter than with two colors. Another bonus is that glitter doesn't want to come off, so putting it on the tips will help reduce tip-wear and keep your polish looking nice for longer. I'm sure I'll be ready to try something different before I wear this manicure out, but that is often the case with me. 😛

So this polish... I bought it a while back, but had never worn it. Last night, I felt that it was time. I've been in a very pink mood lately. LOL So I put it on and immediately thought, "Holy shit, it's beautiful!" In the bottle, it looks like a very flat color, but once you put it on it's got this sheen. You can see it in the photo. Just iridescent-y or something. I LOVE IT. And it's a little cheapie dollar polish from Wal-Mart! It's the brand "Petites" number 412, I believe.

Anyway, between the pretty color and the glitter gradient I was thinking "These are girly nails all the way." My original plan was to stamp flowers or some junk like that on them, but as I was looking through my images plates I came across the wings and I just thought, "Nope, wings. I have to use the wings." 🙂 And then when I was done, I thought, "These make me think of Katie." 😃

I went outside to take this photo and it made my glitter look kind of weird. In the first photo, the color is accurate, but in the 2nd one the glitter looks right. That's the difference between direct sunlight and not. I don't know if there is a way to find a good middle ground, so I put them both up because of that, and also, because one has the jewelry and the other does not.

FYI, on the nail piercing - you can't even see it in the first photo. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the hole is small enough that it can be painted over and it just disappears. I was kind of wondering if I was going to have to have a hole showing in my nail, or if I was going to have to cover it with a stone or something every time, or just wear the jewelry. But it appears that I have a choice, so that is even more awesome than I imagined. Choices are good. 😃

Pink Suede by Petites by Scherer, glitter tips;
Red Angel plate RA-115;
Glitter Gradient tips and Stamping techniques;
Nail Piercing by BornPretty

Did anyone not see the nail piercing coming?

Did anyone not see the nail piercing coming?  LOL  I think I've tried just about everything else there is to try.  I still haven't run out of ideas for cute manicures, but who can with so much inspiration to be found on the internet?

Anyway, I was SO OVER the holiday look.  I wanted to do something funky and different and ME.  So there you go.  A mish-mash of kinda-matching nails.  LOL  The bottom color is one of my very favorites ever, and I think it's awesome with black.

So would you ever try a nail piercing?  I've seen it done before, and I could never make up my mind how I felt about it.  I think it can be cute, and I like the way the little dangly feels, but it's not extremely practical for me.  I've been super-careful about digging around in my purse and stuff.  I've also been holding that finger up when scratching my fur-kids, just in case.  I don't want to get stuck in a tangle and pull out their hair or rip off my nail.  Doesn't bother me when I type or anything, though.  I feel like I see these more often on those big thick acrylics, and probably for good reason.  I bet that's less scary.  LOL

Thoughts?  Opinions?  I'm just curious.  😃

Demure Vixen by essie or that Revlon I love;
Embellishments from BornPretty, Crackle;
konad plate m7;
Plastic Wrap and Stamping techniques

We went to the Dollar Tree...

We went to the Dollar Tree where I found balls for my nails!  And flakies!  And some nail wraps, which I'm fully expecting to be crap, but we'll see.  You just never know.  I have no idea how to judge which ones will be a good buy.  😐  But for a dollar - worth a try.  If I get a day's worth of wear that'll be ok with me.  🙂  They are pretty cute.

Shaun needed a new ball on a string that attaches to your wrist.  I guess his broke.  LOL  So, I'd say that's $5 well spent.  We're all happy.  😃  Woohoo!

More holiday nails! 🙂

More holiday nails!  🙂  I had a little Christmas tree stamp I could have used, but it was small, so I went for a big glequin one, instead, with little stamped presents all around.  I really like how the tree turned out!  I even decorated him some.  😃

Break the Ice by Wet n Wild;
Embellishments from BornPretty;
Bundle Monster plate BM-316;
Stamping technique

I'm not really into holidays, but...

I'm not really into holidays, but I'm TRYING to be festive. LOL These are really sparkly, but it's been so cloudy that I haven't been able to get a good photo of them. 🙁 Oh well. You probably get the idea. 😛

Research polishes;
Research plates;
Layered Stamping technique

Happy Fall! 🙂

Happy Fall! 🙂

Hey, I know it's late, but I've still got a few days before it's officially over. 😛

Four layers of stamping is what this is. Not all of my stamps came out perfect, but after I thought about it, I kind of preferred that. Fallen leaves often have holes or are torn, so I didn't bother with a bunch of do-overs. It's perfect the way it is! 🙂

Research polishes;
Research plates;
Layered Stamping technique

Black nails!

Black nails!  I don't think I've ever just worn black polish.  That's a little too goth for me.  This one is not plain black - it's got some silver glitter in it.  This one is actually Shaun's, but like a good boyfriend he let me use it.  😃

The polish reminded me of a night sky with stars.  I have these silver star studs, so I thought I'd slap one on there and call it fancy.  LOL  I haven't been in the mood for anything that calls for a lot of work lately.  While I don't feel like shit, I'm still coughing and making snot like whoa, so I'm not fully 100% awesome at the moment.  Oh well.

Shaun's Black polish;
Embellishment from BornPretty

As if I need more stamping plates...

As if I need more stamping plates...

But I REALLY, REALLY want the cat face!

I am clearly out of practice. 🙁

I am clearly out of practice.  🙁  I don't like my edges too much, and I'm not used to having nubs this short!  Being sick sucks ass!  🙁

Most of my nails are painted in a dark brown - it's such a pretty color when the light hits it.  It's a nice shimmery, warm brown.  It was pretty cloudy today, though, so I couldn't get a good photo of it.  I hate that.

Anyway, I wanted a simple and easy manicure that felt kind of fall-ish.  Browns usually accomplish that.  I don't know why, but owls always make me think of fall.  Probably because of their natural colors, too.  So I was super-excited to get to wear my little owl dude.  Unfortunately, I re-did that nail probably 10 times.  No joke.  🙁  I was so out of practice that stamping was just... hard.  LOL  Anyway.  Maybe I can get back in my groove soon.  I hope so!

Research polishes;
Mash plate Mash-37;
Stamping technique

In ❤ with Shaun.

In ❤ with Shaun.

I guess these might have been better reserved for Valentine's Day or some crap, but no holiday tells me how to feel or when to feel it!  I DO WHAT I WANT!

Anyway, I thought these were cute and I totally impressed myself with that straight-ass stamping.  Practice makes you better, for sure!  🙂

Research polish;
Bundle Monster plate BM-303, research other plate;
Stamping technique

I have not even had time for nails lately. 🙁

I have not even had time for nails lately.  🙁  So I did this really fast last night.  I thought it looked fine, but I must not have secured my blingy things because they are all gone now.  I guess I have to go and think of something else to wear now.  LOL

White polish;
Embellishments from BornPretty

For anyone who likes cheapie nail polishes:

For anyone who likes cheapie nail polishes:  Wal-Mart seems to now be stocking Sinful Colors and they also have some new (and really pretty!) Pure Ice polishes.  😃

I wanted bugs last night. And nature.

I wanted bugs last night.  And nature.  Didn't even consider how springy these would look when I was done.  Now I'm tired of them already.  LOL  I have no other ideas, and I'm too tired to paint tonight, so I guess I'll keep them a few days.  Oh well.  I think they're cute, even if they aren't what I'm in the mood for.  🙂

Research polishes;
Research plates;
Stamping technique

I was in the mood for something dark and lacy and feminine.

I was in the mood for something dark and lacy and feminine. I don't have an actual full-nail lace pattern, but I'm really fond of this... well, whatever it is. It reminds me of briars. LOL So I went with it. I figured I'd do a French tip before I cut them all down tomorrow. This is as long as I can stand to have them. They'll be a huge pain in my ass by Monday. 😛

Clear and Black polishes;
unbranded plate H22;
Embellishment;
Stamping technique

Last Halloween nails.

Last Halloween nails.  I have a few stamping plates that have similar / coordinating images on them, so I went for more skittles.  None of them are exactly the same and I kind of like it like that.  🙂

Also, I need a thicker orange to stamp with.  I COULD NOT get my left thumb to show up any darker.  I used a different image plate on it than I did on the right thumb.  That also makes a difference.  The glare on the photo doesn't help, either.  But anyway.  There they are.  🙂

Various polishes;
Various plates;
Stamping technique

Mummy nails! 🙂

Mummy nails! 🙂

This took forever - mostly trying to find polishes that would work and look mummy-ish. The colors still might be off, but I always think of mummies as dirty (or at least dusty), seeing as how they are crawling up out of pyramids and whatnot. Then getting the stripe design right was hard, too. All in all, it was a rough start, but not so bad by the time I got it going.

My favorite nail is the middle one, which is the one I accidentally marbled twice. But I think it gives the wrapped look more detail and depth, which I really like. By the time I did that I was really tired and NOT up for going back and double-marbling all of them. So it is what it is, but I do like how they turned out. I think they are cute!

Gotta give credit where credit is due - Shaun drew the black on with a nail art pen. I didn't want to. I thought I'd jack them up. 🙂

Various polishes;
Embellishments;
Watermarbling technique

Skittle Halloweenie nails!  🙂

Various polishes;
unbranded plate P59;
Stamping technique

FINALLY after two days I have completed my monster nails.

FINALLY after two days I have completed my monster nails. I painted the base coat down on Friday, but then it was taking FOREVER to dry and I got tired. I wanted to finish them on Saturday, but never had a chance. Today did not go as planned AT ALL, but that's ok. I needed to sit down and relax after all that freaking out over Teyla, so tonight was a good time to sit down, chill, and play with my stamping plate.

My base coat is already peeling up on my left hand, but I'm still going to try to get a couple of days of wear out of them. I think they are totally cute! I ❤ monsters. Anyone else wants monsters on their nails?

Research polishes;
Cheeky plate CH-32;
Stamping technique

I got my new plates!!!

I got my new plates!!!   I have no idea if I'm actually doing nails tonight or not.  I'm kind of tired.  But we'll see.  😉

So these are my first official Halloween nails.

So these are my first official Halloween nails.  I did the orange and black ones first, and by the time I got to the 2nd hand I was tired of blowing* so it looked kind of crappy.  I started thinking about how it would be more gruesome in red, like BLOOD, so I re-did the second hand the next night.  I think both hands turned out fine, but the orange and black is my favorite.  It's more cute and fun.  I'm not really into gross and blood and guts.  Which ones do you like better?

*Blowing because I painted down a base color, and then blew the 2nd color onto my nails with a straw.  It's not as easy as it sounds - especially with the nail polish fumes.  Blegh.

Various polishes;
Straw-Blowing technique

I've officially worn my fire nails for a week.

I've officially worn my fire nails for a week.  It is VERY UNUSUAL for me to keep the same paint job for so long.  But, they have stayed on like WHOA - I can't believe that I'm just now showing minor tip wear!  That is madness.  I'm not complaining, though - that's pretty exciting!

Usually my paint jobs don't last that long - they chip or peel off after a few days.  My average is a good 4 or 5 days, tops.  Even if they don't wear off I'm always excited to try something new, and I get bored really fast so I just take them off anyway.  I couldn't do that with these, though.  I was too proud of them!  LOL

So, I'm not really a holiday-themed kind of girl.  I don't like to dress up or do anything out of the ordinary, especially for something as dumb as a holiday.  But I must have the Halloween spirit this year because I think I'm gonna do Halloween-themed nails from now until Halloween.  I have about 4 cute manicures in mind - maybe they won't be so awesome that I don't want to take them off.  LOL  If I don't take them off, I won't have time to do all 4 before the big day!

I've got a few neat Halloween stamping plates (not to mention my MONSTERS that will hopefully arrive this week) so if anyone wants some cute nails, I'm up for doing them!  If there is any interest I'll post photos of my plates so you can check them out.  Just let me know!

I ordered more stamping plates today...

I ordered more stamping plates today.  I found some with MONSTERS.  @_@  I am SO EXCITED!  And they should be here before Halloween!  😃 😃 😃

Flame on! 😃

Flame on!  😃

I was not very into water marbling on myself when I first found out about it.  It's really pretty, but it can be messy!  Lately I've found that there is a lot you can do with it, so I've been more interested in trying it again.  I feel like I've learned a lot about it recently - more about how to control and get the designs you want, and how to make the colors lighter or darker.  I'm having a lot of fun.  If anyone is up for being experimented on, let me know!  😃

I really wanted some fiery nails today.  I think I'm getting in the mood for fall-type things because the weather is cooling off.  Since I met Shaun we tend to burn stuff around this time of year - usually limbs from my yard.  Sometimes his, but mostly mine.  LOL  Since yard work doesn't have to suck, we sometimes cook dinner on the fire, or at least toast some marshmallows.  Hanging in the yard with some food, the dogs, a nice fire, and the cool night air has become one of my favorite things to do in the fall.  🙂  So, that is where I got my inspiration for these nails.

Sorry for the weird 2nd thumb in the photo.  It was the only really spectacular nail on my left hand, so I didn't feel the need to upload two photos of fire nails, but I did want that one posted.  I'm particularly proud of how that one turned out, though the right hand in general is better than the left.

Various polishes;
Watermarble technique

Nails I did last night!

Nails I did last night!  I'm SUPER HAPPY with these.  🙂  Sometimes things don't turn out like I want them to, but I still like them.  This, however, was dead on and I love it!  The orange-y polish has gold flecks in it.  It was the Essence polish I bought from Ulta on my last trip to Birmingham.  I went back today and the girl in there liked my nails.  🙂  I ended up buying a few more little Essence polishes, too.  Woohoo!  Can't wait to use them - they are so pretty!

Gorgeous Bling Bling by essence and gold (research);
Embellishments from BornPretty

I must have had too much caffeine today...

I must have had too much caffeine today because I am still awake.  😳  Water marbled a friends nails earlier - it took hours because the polish just wasn't cooperating and I didn't want to send her away with a crappy paint job.  But, I learned some things that will improve my future marbles so that's cool.  😃  I did, however, mess up my own nails in the process, but I've already re-painted them.  Pics tomorrow, probably.  They are very fall.  And blingy.  I'm pleased.  😃

Damn the lighting in my house.

Damn the lighting in my house.  LOL  When I did these I thought they were going to be neon-ish Halloween colors - orange and purple.  And then, well... they aren't quite.  But I still like how they turned out!

Had to brush up on my water marbling skillz, 'cause I'm doing a friend's nails tomorrow.  Didn't want to go messing up on hers!

Various polishes;
Watermarble technique

Look at my nubs! LOL

Look at my nubs! LOL

Scruffy has found a way out of my fence and while trying to block little dude's escape route I totally broke a nail. So, short they all are! 🙁 I can't have one broken and the rest long. It drives me crazy. 😐

Anyway, I've been trying for hours (literally. And how lame am I?) to get a good shot of this fucking awesome nail polish I'm wearing. Holy damn. It has not been easy to capture the pretty. Honestly, this still doesn't do it justice, but it's just not getting any better than this. Maybe if the sun would come out and stay long enough for me to adjust my camera and get a good shot. Oh well.

This is some Glitter Gal holo silver with some of my wayyy-too-expensive OPI Black Spotted. I ❤❤❤ how the ring finger turned out. That was a thinner coat of black spotted. The thumb has a thicker coat. I think that stuff is pretty neat. Kind of like a crackle, but not.

Black Spotted was part of OPI's Spiderman Collection. France got Black Spotted (which looks like Venom), and America got some stupid green glitter crackle stuff. Screw that. I wanted Venom! This would look so gruesome over some red or something. Maybe more towards Halloween I'll bust out with that. 😃

Silver 3D Holo by Glitter Gal and Black Spotted by OPI

Nail peoples:

Nail peoples:

This is interesting.  However, using tape, you don't need a topcoat to change your color - you just choose any two colors and go with it!  Maybe this is easier to wrap your head around, though.  Who knows?

I love how China Glaze is paying attention to what the nail bloggers are into.  It's showing in all the new goodies they are putting out.  😃  Although, I have no idea if I'll actually buy any of these, since I can already do this without a special topcoat.  Maybe if I like the colors...

https://www.chicprofile.com%2F2012%2F08%2Fchina-glaze-tranzitions-collection-for-winter-2012-info-photos.html

You know, I've been looking for a reason...

You know, I've been looking for a reason to wear this bizarro tentacle-skull-wearing-a-crown stamp.  I couldn't see it on any other color but pink, but Nancy gave me the perfect one last night!  So, here it is.  It's actually meant to be a French tip stamp, but I don't do those much.  I like it better how it is, sideways across my nail.  I think it's cute.  🙂

Research polish;
Bundle Monster plate BM-325;
Stamping technique

I own 5 crackle polishes and just realized that...

I own 5 crackle polishes and just realized that I've only got photos of one put up - and in the photo, you can't really tell it's a crackle! How goofy. LOL I know what happened. I went back and looked at my nail photos, and it wasn't long after I got my crackles that I also got my stamping goodies. Stamping goodies > crackle.

Anyway, this is my black one over a Maybelline Color Show Limited Edition pinky / champagne something or other. LOL I can look at the name if anyone actually likes it. They had it at Walgreen's. Which, btw, if you are into polish, they seem to get a lot of cool exclusives that other stores don't get. 😉

So, crackle. Love it or hate it? Most people seem to have a strong opinion one way or the other. I like it, especially when you get nice big cracks. 😃

Pink Cosmo by Maybelline and Black Crackle

We went to Ulta...

We went to Ulta, where I got an Essence polish. It was cheap and pretty and I didn't have one of those. And I got to meet all the Zoya's and Ulta's and other fancy polish brands they don't have around here but that I always see blogged about. LOL I know that sounds goofy, but I was totally excited even though I was too broke to buy any of them. Then we went to Sally's where I got a back-up magnet and some moisturize-y stuff. Between the Essence polish and Sally's I spent a total of $5 on myself today and I am SO happy with what I got. 😃

Nails from last night.  I did another mani with Saran Wrap.  LOL  I liked how the first one turned out so much I had to do it again.  But this time I used 3 colors instead of two, and glequins!

Honestly, I don't see me laying off of these anytime soon.  The textured look is nice alone, or would look great with stones, stamping, etc.  And it's SO EASY to do.  I love the way water marbles look, but they are so much trouble that I rarely bother.  But not this.  If you like painting your nails, you should TOTALLY just try it out at least once.  For realz.

I know those orange glequins look like they might not belong with that mostly pinkish paint job, but the last color I put on was a metallic pink / orange flip, so they totally go.  It's just not always easy to capture it in a photo!

Research polishes;
Plastic Wrap technique;
Embellishments from BornPretty

Music nails!

Music nails!

Ok, so these weren't anything like I envisioned.  Like, not at all.  LOL  I wanted to put my piano key and sheet music stamps on there (because it was Amanda Palmer, duh!), but that did NOT go as planned.  First of all that really pretty flaky paint did not go down smooth, so it was not easy to stamp over.  Secondly, when I tested out the stamps they were all warped.  When a stamping image is, well, anything but straight lines it will usually look fine - even if it's not perfect.  But piano keys and sheet music both have a lot of straight lines and it's hard to make that look nice stamped over a curved nail.  My designs kept coming out warped and I just didn't like it.  🙁  So, I scrapped that idea.  I might have to practice with those and see if I can make them work because I like the images and I will be bummed if I don't get to use them.

Anyway, this is what I wore last night.  They were totally pretty when the light hit them.  🙂

Research polishes;
Embellishments

Freshly showered - now gotta do my nails...

Freshly showered - now gotta do my nails for the Amanda Palmer show tonight.  Can't be going in there with crazy blue and glequin nails!  LOL

Did my nails just last night, but...

Did my nails just last night, but the tips have already started wearing off.  Thought I should photograph these before they got totally messed up.  😐

So... the things on my ring finger were coined "glequins" by one of my favorite nail bloggers, The Nailasaurus.  (Google her and you'll see why she's a favorite).  These little things are too big to be glitter, too small to be sequins.  LOL  When I saw them I had to have them.  😃

They actually match my polish pretty well.  They probably look so light because I've got a light pointed right at them for a photograph, but just looking at my hand, you *almost* can't tell it's not polish, except for the ones that are catching the light and keeping it interesting.

These weren't hard to put on, but I didn't want to do all of my fingers.  I guess I'm lazy like that.  LOL

Research polishes;
Glequins from BornPretty;
Embellishments

I chipped a nail today.

I chipped a nail today.  I was honestly a little disappointed, but I'll live.  Now I have an excuse to bust out some of my new goodies!  😃

It's been a pretty good day.

It's been a pretty good day.  I got my order from the born pretty store, so that means I have MORE NAIL GOODIES!  😃  My little wheel of stones was broken, but I think most of them are still in the envelope.  I will be checking that out shortly.

ALSO, I got the polishes I ordered from the blog sale I posted a few days ago.  Five name brand polishes (some of which I wouldn't be able to find around here), for $8, including shipping.  So what, they were used?  Looks like she swatched them and decided not to keep them.  Seriously, they look brand new.  And I read somewhere that germs and bacteria can't live in polish.  Probably why you can PAINT nails without a license, but not do cuticles and all that.  Anyway.

So my biggest complaint for the day is that I like the nails I have on, so that means I don't want to take them off to play with my new goodies.  I can live with that.  😃

Super easy and fun nails I did last night with...

Super easy and fun nails I did last night with... wait for it... Saran Wrap.  LOL

I've seen it done two ways:

1)  Paint on your base color, then paint on another color and dab it OFF with the wrap, or

2)  Paint on your base color, then dab a second color ON with the wrap.

I think that the amount of coverage you want with the 2nd color would probably determine your method.  I dabbed color on with the wrap because the other way around just seems wasteful.  And you can always dab on more for more coverage.  🙂

Research polishes;
Saran Wrap technique

Shaun's too sweet.

Shaun's too sweet.  I wanted the new China Glaze Magnetix II Collection, but I couldn't buy it for myself because I knew I had vet bills coming.  So I wouldn't miss out I told him I wanted it for my birthday (which is in November), but that he should buy it now.  Well, it came in today and he gave it to me.  I'm considering not using it until November, that way, it's still my birthday present.  LOL  I didn't get him two gifts for his birthday - he can't get me two!  That is totally not fair!

Shaun.  You're a strange one.

Y'all know who's on my mind. ❤

Y'all know who's on my mind.  ❤

Research polishes;
MagnoNails plate D;
Stamping technique

My first holographic polish...

My first holographic polish given to me by the lovely Robin.  😃

I'm SUPER STOKED to have this one.  I don't have any like it and unless I order some really expensive stuff from online I have to wait until China Glaze releases their Hologlam collection sometime next year.  That wait is gonna kill me, for realz.  😳

Anyway, this one is too pretty - all of the awesome can't even be captured in a photo.  It's all rainbow-y and glittery and shiny and beautiful.  It's my precious!  LOL

Research polish;
embellishments

These are the nails I did...

These are the nails I did the night I hung out with Mary Beth and Nancy.  I didn't get to stamp them until later, but this is Nancy's neon yellow polish.  I decided to use a color that I didn't have.  LOL

And of course, I jacked up the thumb.  Stamping my thumbs is not easy.

Nancy's Neon Yellow Polish;
Bundle Monster plate BM-322;
Stamping technique

Nails I wore the other day.

Nails I wore the other day. I haven't had time for anything, let alone doing / posting nails. I'm about to shower and hopefully will get them painted again before I pass out.

Anyway, this is a polish that Janet gave me. I love the hot pink / orange shift. 🙂

Research polish;
Bundle Monster plate BM-305;
Stamping technique

Confession Time...

Confession Time...

Y'all remember that OPI Black Spotted French Sephora exclusive nail polish that OPI said they would NOT be releasing in the US?

I got one.  😃

And no, I did not pay $50 for it on ebay.  That's just crazy.  o_O

Not really a purple kind of girl...

Not really a purple kind of girl or a flower kind of girl.  But I really like these!  They are totally girly and swirly and pretty.  🙂

Research polish;
unknown brand BLE244;
Waterslide Decal

These are what I did the other day.

These are what I did the other day.  The polish is Swanky Silk from the new China Glaze Bohemian Luster Chrome Collection.  It's a pretty gold / pink foil.  🙂  I wanted to stamp something feminine on top, so hello, swirly vines.  🙂

I'm off to go and do my nails again.  These are chipping.  I've had a stressful few days, so I need to relax and treat myself, if only to a new paint job.  ❤

Swanky Silk by China Glaze;
Bundle Monster plate BM-314;
Stamping technique

Last night I couldn't decide...

Last night I couldn't decide whether to use one of my new polishes or use the foils I got so long ago.  So, I decided to use both!  😃  The polish is from the new China Glaze Bohemian Luster Chrome Collection; Rare & Radiant is the name of it.  It's got this cool green / gold / sometimes orange-y sheen, so I picked a foil with colors I thought kind of went with it.  I only have a few foils, as I didn't know if I would like them or not, so I didn't have much to choose from.

For those who have no clue what I'm talking about, foils are kind of like those Sally Hansen nail wraps - it's a picture on a little sheet, but with the wraps, you stick the whole thing on and leave it.  Where as with a foil you transfer the image down with special adhesive.  As far as I know these are not popular in the USA and I have no idea where you would buy them besides online.  You can find some pretty cool images / patterns if you are interested.  This one, I think, is string.  It looks like woven string to me.  LOL  I've heard that foils have craptacular staying power, so I'll comment on how they wear in a few days.

I know my thumb looks a little rough.  This was my first go at trying foils and my topcoat wrinkled it up and then half-ass smoothed it back out.  Oh well.  I still like it.  🙂

Rare and Radiant by China Glaze;
Research Foil

I'm off to shower and do my nails.

I'm off to shower and do my nails.  I got two new polishes from the China Glaze Bohemian Luster set today, and I'm so torn.  I want to use them, but I've also got an itch to try my foils out.  I've had them since December and haven't had a chance yet.  Ah, decisions.  😉

I did these Sunday and I wasn't quite finished with them, but...

I did these Sunday and I wasn't quite finished with them, but I never got a chance to do anything else with them.  Nor have I had a chance to change them.  Oh well.  I thought they were cute, and I really like the multi-colored glitter.  Maybe I'll have time to stop and do my nails this weekend.  🙂

Research polishes;
Layering technique

I've been wearing these for a couple of days, but...

I've been wearing these for a couple of days, but I've been too busy with animal stuff to get them posted.  I don't know what I was going for when I did these, but Shaun says they look like a TrapperKeeper.  LOL  I could TOTALLY see that.  🙂

They look actually pretty cool in person because I'm wearing a blue / green flaky polish over the green and under the black.  I ❤❤❤ flakies!  🙂  But they just don't photograph well.

Research polishes;
Bundle Monster plate BM-320;
Stamping technique

Happy Hump Day! 😃😃😃

Happy Hump Day!  😃😃😃

I'm not really into yellow all that much, but come on - they are smileys!  That was a good enough excuse to wear it.  LOL

Also, I am NOT sure what happened on my thumb... the topcoat just wrinkled up my polish and didn't smooth back out.  🙁  I ❤❤❤ my Seche Vite, but sometimes, shit happens.  *shrugs*

Research polish;
Bundle Monster plate BM-304;
Stamping technique

Damn, the up-close nature of this photo...

Damn, the up-close nature of this photo shows all of the imperfections here. Regardless, I still really like these. I think this is one of those stamps that was intended to look a little messy and wild, but it's nothing you couldn't do with a fine brush or nail art pen.

Also, this color. Got it from Sally's yesterday. Part of the new Orly's. Holy shit, I'm in love! 😃

Preamp by Orly;
Bundle Monster plate BM-316;
stamping technique

GREEN PAISLEY! 😃😃😃

GREEN PAISLEY! 😃😃😃

This was another image on my set of plates that I was really stoked to get. I love how intricate and fine the pattern is, and it transferred so well. Sometimes, the finer images just don't work as well for me.

I love x 1000 this green. It's very close to the color of my living room. When I saw it, I knew I had to get it. I only wish the bottle was bigger. It's one of the new Maybelline's from Wal-Mart. The paisley was stamped with a darker green China Glaze polish. I can get color names if anyone is interested. 🙂

GoGo Green by Maybelline and Westside Warrior by China Glaze;
Bundle Monster plate BM-315;
Stamping technique

Hoot hoot! 🙂

Hoot hoot! 🙂 I have OWLS on my NAILS. Got my new stamping plates yesterday. 😃 😃 😃 There are quite a few designs on there that I'm psyched to use. OWLS WERE #1. No idea what I'm gonna do next.

I like how, up close, you can tells it's owls. And from afar, it just looks like a neat print. 😃

Research polish;
Bundle Monster plate BM-309;
stamping technique

Well... naked-ish nails. 😛

Well... naked-ish nails. 😛 Since going back to work from vacation on Monday, I've been WIPED OUT. I can't believe how tired I've been. LOL I'm wearing clear polish, but it drives me crazy now to not have SOMETHING neat to look at on there, so I put on one of my decals. Easy and fun. I actually really, really like this. The decal reminds me of a tattoo, so having it on the skin-colored part of my nail kind of goes along with that. 😃

I've been trying to be really careful with base coats and all that to keep my nails from staining, but it's not 100% working. Oh well. I'll keep searching until I find something that works. Also, this is about as long as I can stand for my nails to get. Anything beyond this is asking to be broken off. I can't function with long claws! 😐

Clear polish;
Decal by Me!

Here is a 2nd go at interlocking dots.

Here is a 2nd go at interlocking dots. At least I did more than one finger this time, and the colors aren't so similar that you can't tell what's going on. LOL I think they turned out ok. The pink is a new polish I got from China Glaze called Rose Among Thorns. The color looked neat in the bottle, but even better than that - without topcoat (which I have to wear after so many layers, usually), but on it's own, it's got this really neat satin finish. Not quite matte, but not shiny. I ❤ that. I'll have to make sure to wear it by itself one day. I guess that wouldn't kill me, now would it? It's been forever since I've done that, I just realized. Wow.

Research polishes;
Dotting technique

Oh. my. gosh.

Oh. my. gosh. That ring finger was so. much. trouble. @_@ I would like to do things like this more often, but not on myself. LOL The sheer frustration I put myself through to get one good nail is crazy sometimes, which is one reason why I'm so <3fond<3 of accent nails. I'd pull what little hair I have out if I tried to do all 10 and have them turn out nice. You don't even know. I'm sure it would be much easier to do on someone else.

I'm also sure that the fact that I tried to do my nails in Shaun's man-cave did not help. He keeps the lighting low at his house, and these weren't exactly colors that pop, so I didn't have the easiest time seeing what I was doing. All in all, this shouldn't have been that hard. Put down one color, tape it off, put down another, then dot away! I feel like I will try this again, but with brighter colors. And in brighter light. And when I'm not so tired. LOL I have a bad habit of doing nails right before bed. It kind of relaxes me.

Anyhoo... check it out, Jilanee. More dots! 🙂

Research polishes;
dotting technique

Got a new polish yesterday from Walgreen's.

Got a new polish yesterday from Walgreen's.  It's a Maybelline something or other - one of their denims.  I think these are new since I haven't seen them before.  Without topcoat it really does resemble denim, but I had to topcoat these because of the stamping.  Which, btw, I know that my stamping is not great here.  I am wayyy out of practice and not only that, it was like, 3 am when I was working on these.

And I started doing one thing, then Shaun had a good idea, so I scrapped that and started a few nails over, then didn't like them, and did them over AGAIN.  I bet I did each nail twice to get them to even look like they do.  It was an ORDEAL.  I was so frustrated by the time I was done.  😂  I do like how they turned out, though.  And I REALLY like that blue color.  I might have to snag another bottle of it, just in case.

Styled Out by Maybelline;
Bundle Monster plate BM-202;
stamping technique

My nails are so bright, they gotta wear shades!

My nails are so bright, they gotta wear shades!

Yeah, I might have problem. LOL Three different paint jobs in 3 days. Oh well. I'm on vacation, and this is FUN. FOR. ME. 😛

Research polish;
Custom Decal by Me!

Nails for my trip to Lake Hypatia yesterday.

Nails for my trip to Lake Hypatia yesterday. I changed from the Invisible Pink Unicorn to the Atheist Atom. 🙂

Research polishes;
Custom Decal by Me!

These are the nails I decided to go with...

These are the nails I decided to go with, since tomorrow I'm going to stop in at the goings-on at Lake Hypatia (Alabama Freethought Association).  I figured that everyone there would "get it."  LOL

I think they are cute, though pink isn't a color I tend to use a lot.  What better occasion, though, right?  🙂

For anyone who doesn't know who the Invisible Pink Unicorn is, have a Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_Pink_Unicorn

Research polish;
Custom Decal by Me!