Welcome to day ten- I can't believe it! This challenge has been flying by and I have been extremely happy with my manicures and super impressed with Kelly's as well. I know we have both had a lot of fun. My snow globe theme is a tribute to my favorite Floridians, Mom & Dad. They read my blog every morning at breakfast.
I started my mani with a base coat of Essie's Turquoise & Caicos. On my four fingers, I painted the tips in another December release, Julep's Harper- a mermaid blue full cover glitter in a turquoise transparent base. I coated the bottom half with Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure in Snow Globe. I then did a stripe with Stripe Rite in White.
On my thumb, I used Stripe Rite in White for the snow globe and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Mellow Yellow and Fuchsia Power for the Flamingo. I used Sinful Colors in Jungle for the palm tree and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Mellow Yellow and Caribbean Coral for the oranges. I then added some Harper to the background and coated the snow globe are with Snow Globe- of course!
I have to say, I have managed to get through a Christmas Challenge with out an onslaught of red and green... Please check out Kelly's take on the snow globe theme at Tuxarina- I know it will be amazing!
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my nail art gave to me...Christmas Sweaters!
Stay tuned!
It's day nine of the challenge and its another delicious post! Today's theme is Christmas cookies, and I have to admit that I didn't get as adventurous as I wanted to. Instead I used a couple of my favorite colors and really hoped that you could tell that these were cookies...lol
I have to say that a favorite Christmas activity of mine is baking with my mom. We typically end up making an awesome variety of Greek pastries. Sooo good! Since she is in Florida we are both baking solo this year :( Technically, she's baking and I have been working way too much.
Now on to the mani... I started with a coat of Julep's Julia, a beautiful purple-gold microglitter. I then made cookie shapes with Sinful Colors in Nirvana.
I then added details with Stripe Rite in white, Sinful Colors stripers in Jungle and Be My Valentine to form my gingerbread, sugar cookies and linzertorte cookies. I brushed on a bit of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Disco Ball for some shine. To give a bit of pop, I added Spy Princess Coronation to the background. ( I just put a coat of Coronation over my pedi of Tomorrow Never Dies....Awesome!)
Time to check out Kelly's Christmas Cookies & Treats manicure over at Tuxarina. I know she has something awesome in store today...
Spy Princess is available at Etsy.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my nail art gave to me... Snow Globes!
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Once again (Seasons) greetings, and welcome to day eight of the Christmas Challenge! Today's theme leaves (ha ha) a lot of room for interpretation- Winter Foliage. Garlands, wreaths, pine boughs, and holly are just some of the themes I considered for today. My decision to do mistletoe was made when a friend bought me a holiday nail polish for my birthday. I took further inspiration from Susan's lovely birthday gift to me- a Betsey Johnson Glitter Lips bangle.
Without further adieu I present you the most Valentine's Day Christmas manicure ever... I started with a coat of Finger Paints Paper Mache to create a solid base for the featured color. I then painted two coats of Wet N Wild's Can-Can You Hang the Mistletoe- a gorgeous neon pink glitter jelly.
On my thumb, I painted the leaves of the mistletoe with Sinful Colors striper in Jungle and Revlon's Posh. I used a dotting tool and Paper Mache for the berries. On my remaining fingers, with a dotting tool and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Fuchsia Power I drew lip patterns.
Check out my fabulous Challenge partner, Kelly, at Tuxarina to see her foliage mani. Share the comments, share the love!
On the ninth day of Christmas, my nail are gave to me... Christmas cookies & treats! ( Yum!!!)
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I can't believe it- a nail art free post! It has been ages! So, I am out of my element with this manicure- bear with me... Yes, I am wearing red. You have heard me say before that I wore I'm Not Really A Waitress back in the '90s. I don't really count Julep's Demi and Delaunay wears during the Challenge as "wearing red" because it "was about the art, man." Here I am, willingly wearing red to be in the spirit of the Holidays and all of that.
There is an ulterior motive to this crimson conundrum, it's an OPI Skyfall Collection gelcolor! I have posted on Goldeneye, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (I love that damn polish), and Tomorrow Never Dies. I do plan on completing the swatch of this whole gelcolor collection (even if it means that I have to wear a shade of red- specifically maroon- again).
I have to admit that it is a perfect Christmas color. It is a tart cherry red with a smattering of gold and red microglitter. Once again, the gel finish gives it that glorious "jelly" finish with an incredible shine and the application is flawless.
So, when it comes to gel, OPI, "Nobody Does it Better*." You even made me love a red...
*The theme song for The Spy Who Loved Me as sung by Carly Simon. ( Couldn't leave you with out a bit of Bond Trivia...)
"Not my gumdrop buttons!"
I can't believe it is Friday and a whole week of the nail challenge is complete! And yes, I stared the post with a quote from Gingy (of Shrek fame). I have had a lot of fun and learned a few new techniques along the way. My new brushes haven't hurt either (thanks, Jes, did I mention that you are the best ever?) Making gingerbread cookies and constructing a gingerbread house are things I do every holiday season, so I was loving today's theme. I contemplated picking up I Love NP's Ginger Spice Latte (forgot about buying until it was too late) or Lynnderella's Gingerbread Hearts ($24.00 for a seasonal polish...eek.) I ended up using my own tried and trues in the end, but I like how it came out.
Since I warned you, you knew you were going to be seeing some kind of trigger mani again- well a trigger-french hybrid, technically. I started with a base coat of Sinful Colors Nirvana- a soft brown creme. I then did a coat of Nicole by OPI's Rainbow in the S-Kylie (I'll be featuring one of the NOPI Kardashian Kolors Holiday collection next week.) With a dotting tool and Finger Paints Paper Mache, I created the icing drips.
With Revlon's Graceful and a nail brush, I painted a gingerbread man and house on my index finger and thumb. I added the details with Stripe Rite in White and then added Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Disco Ball. I topped the whole mani with Sephora by OPI's matte coat.
Before I forget, welcome to all my new followers and visitors! Remember share the comments and share the love! It's time for you to go check out my partner-in-nail art-crime, Kelly at Tuxarina. I am loving her fab and fancy holiday nails!
I will be resuming normal posting this weekend and then on Monday....
On the eighth day of Christmas, my nail are gave to me... winter foliage! (love me some foliage...)
Stay tuned...
We are already at the halfway point of the challenge- day six! I promise that there are a few more theme related glitters in store, continued bad ass nail art and of course- since it's me- a couple more trigger manicures for this holiday season. ( Remember- I warned you in advance.)
I have to confess, I did my tree nails three times. At first I had a more conventional hunter green tree formed entirely out of dots with silver and gold ornaments and star glitter. Fail. Then I went to a 1950's white and pastel Christmas with a lavender background and a feathery white tree with glitter. Fail. It wasn't that they came out terribly, I just didn't feel like they were me. So I walked away from my nail stuff, got Mojo, and thought about Christmas. And trees.
And this is how inspiration struck... I started running all these images of Christmas trees through my head from the iconic ( tree at Rockefeller Center) to the personal ( trees from childhood and when Jes and I first got married). Then I literally heard a voice in my mind of a little gruff voiced girl named Peppermint Patty saying "Hey, Chuck!" Oh yes, you know where this is going... Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree. The best holiday special featuring deficient holiday foliage EVER! ( I'll also take a minute to send a virtual kiss to my Dad, who happens to be named Chuck. Hope the palm trees are sparkly & bright in Florida...)
On to the mani... I don't know what it's called when you accent your pinky and thumb only, but that is what I did. Let me know if you come up with a cool name. I started with a base of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Emerald City. On my accent nails I used Stripe Rite in white and Sinful Colors striper in Be My Valentine to illustrate the tree and ornaments. The blanket was done in Essie's Turquoise & Caicos. ( I need to get more Essie, but can't commit to a shade...)
On my ring, middle, and index fingers I am featuring another of Julep's December release full coverage glitters- Colbie. This is a chunky peridot green glitter that has a smooth application.
Now that you have taken a trip down inspiration lane with me... go check out my Challenge Companion, Kelly at Tuxarina. You will be impressed!
On the seventh day of Christmas, my nail art gave to me...Gingerbread!
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Welcome to a festive day five! Today's theme is a bit of a variation on a theme of my Breakfast at Elena's mani. I liked the look of the presents and wanted to kick it up a notch.
Speaking of presents, as a part of my birthday gift Jesse stocked me up with nail supplies- a 20 piece nail art brush/ dotting tool set and a new UV dryer for my gels. Nice. Now to see what Christmas will bring... ( I have my fingers crossed for some Whimsical Ideas by Pam, Spy Princess, or OPI gelcolors)
I used two of my tried and true one coat metallics today- Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Golden-I and Celeb City. I have said this before, but I love a fun, flashy polish that is a one-coat. Woo hoo! Gold polishes are a little bit tough, sometimes they come off as way too yellow or brassy. Golden-I is a nice rich shade, I definitely recommend it and it will only set you back about $3.00.
For the ribbons, I used Sinful Colors stripers in Jungle and Be My Valentine and Stripe Rite in white. For the tag I used Finger Paints Paper Mache and a thin tipped black paint pen for the lettering.
Most importantly, I hope you have been checking out Kelly's awesome designs at Tuxarina.
Thank you so much to everyone for the love this week! Almost 400 page views since Monday- wow! Please feel free to comment, I enjoy the feedback.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my nail art gave to me...Christmas Trees!
Stay tuned...
