Day Thirteen TDoHNC: Trick or Treat! Give me something good to eat!

It's the last day! Wow, talk about a month flying by. I don't know where October went and this time next week, I'll be in Florida, while Jes holds down the fort up here. Maybe Mojo will blog about hamster things in my absence...lol.

So, today's theme is favorite Halloween treat. I couldn't settle on just one, so I did a smorgasbord on my nails. I had a lot of fun. I used metallics and mattes. Neutrals and neons. I even used shaped tips on two nails and created my own stamp out of a pencil eraser. I threw caution to the wind with this one.

I began with a coat of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Celeb City- the best silver one coat ever! For my candy corn I used Finger Paints Paper Mache and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Mellow Yellow and Sun Kissed. For the button candy, I used Finger Paints Paper Mache ( which I mattified for the paper look), Revlon Posh and the following Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Fuchsia Power, Mellow Yellow and The Real Teal. 

For the snowcaps, I used Sinful Colors in Nirvana ( with a matte top coat) and Stripe Rite in White. The pixi stix were done with Stripe Rite in White, Essie's Turquoise and Caicos, and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Fuchsia Power and Mellow Yellow. Finally, the chocolate bar was done in Sinful Colors in Nirvana ( with a matte top coat). The squares were stamped on with Revlon Graceful and highlighted in Stripe Rite in White.

And there you have it, the Thirteen Days of Halloween is over! I've completed my first challenge! Thanks to all the girls who have participated with me, it was so much fun. I really appreciate the support and feedback. As I said before- let me know when the next challenge starts- lol.
 

Kelly from Tuxarina

Heather from Peace,Love, & Polish

Jennifer from Little J’s Nail Corner

 

To everyone else, I hope those affected by the Hurricane will recover soon- our thoughts are with you.  

Before I forget- Happy Halloween!

Day Twelve TDoHNC: Sugar Skulls, Spice and Everything Nice...

Here we are at day twelve and today's theme is skeletons. I love all of the la Dia de los Muertos ( Mexican Day of the Dead) imagery especially sugar skulls. I wanted to incorporate some of that feel into my nails today.  

I started by doing a skittle mani using Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Caribbean Coral, Sun Kissed, Mellow Yellow and Fuchsia Power and Revlon Posh.

I then did a coat of Nicole by OPI's Rainbow in the S-Kylie. I finished by adding the detail of bones and floral designs in Stripe Rite in white. The whole mani got topped off with a coat of OPI for Sephora Matte Top Coat.

This totally made me get out my Sugar Skulls jewelry from Tarina Tarantino. ( Love, love, love her stuff!) Our challenge is almost over but remember to check out all the coolness on the other ladies' blogs- always sure to impress!

Kelly from Tuxarina

Heather from Peace,Love, & Polish

Jennifer from LittleJ’s Nail Corner

 

Our conclusion, day thirteen...fave Halloween treats!

Day Eleven TDoHNC: Once in a (Full) Blue Moon

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Welcome to the final week of the Thirteen Days of Halloween Nail Art Challenge- this month has flown by! Day eleven brings us to the Full Moon. I love Fall nights, the air is so crisp and you can always seem to catch a whiff of someone’s fireplace. I truly think that this is the best part of the year in New England.

I think this mani captured some of the mystery of the Fall night. I started with a base of Revlon Fashionista (btw… this color is amazing with a matte top coat).

I dabbed on Finger Paints Paper Mache and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Wet Cement to create the clouds and give them some depth. The moon was done using the same two colors. I then added some straight-up-no-name-Halloween-pumpkin-shaped-glow-in-the-dark polish on the moon (it’s as crapperific as it sounds). I thought I could take a pick with the moon glowing- it was a bit of an epic fail. 

I think this is one of the more painterly manis that I have done thus far- call it a tribute to all of Kelly’s sweet atmospheric nail effects so far. Speaking of, go on and check out the other ladies- they never fail to amaze!

Kelly from Tuxarina

Heather from Peace,Love, & Polish

Jennifer from LittleJ’s Nail Corner

Stay tuned, day twelve… skeletons!

An Unfor-greta-ble Oktoberfest & Julep-mail

I know Oktoberfest ended about two weeks ago, but I was so caught up in all things Halloween that I didn't take a moment to pause for other October events.

Jesse and I visited friends last month, and attended an Oktoberfest event. I can tell you that potato pancakes and applesauce were consumed- along with our weight in beer. I even donned a traditional headband of flowers and ribbons. It was down right festive.

My current nails capture the spirit of that day perfectly. OPI's gelcolor in Unfor-greta-bly Blue from the Germany collection. I spiced it up with a bit of floral nail art ( no ribbons though). It reminds me a lot of Swimsuit, Nailed It! which I wore as my summer Florida pedi. It is less glittery than DVA's C10- the 19 day wear uber-gelpolish.

I also got some Julep-mail yesterday, in the tiniest box I have received via USPS. I recently joined the Maven program and I couldn't resist some additional shopping while I was at it. Inside was a nail polish, a sample of The Best Pedi Creme Ever and candy corn. Too cute.

I have been totally wanting some glow-in-the-dark polish and Serum No. 5's Day Glow has been escaping me. I end up with Sofia. One of the polishes in the bombshell collection, it is a translucent mint-green with a light turquoise shimmer. It has a gritter semi matte texture due to its phosphorescent quality.  It is currently on my toenails over a coat of Finger Paints Paper Mache.  I am way too excited that my toes glow in the dark...

Remember tomorrow the Halloween thrills and chills continue with our final week of the challenge! (I have to say I hope some of the ladies are up for a Christmas one, because I am already planning..lol)

Julep Winter Collection 2012

As promised, I swatched my Julep Winter Collection 2012.

Overall great coverage in two coats for mostly all of the colors. Ellie definitely required three and I recommend using a matte top coat as a base to give a smooth surface.

Both Demi and Gayle are great classic winter colors, perfect for office parties or family get-togethers. Julia and Vivien are both showstoppers meant for date night or drinks with the girls. Ellie is  a great demure shade for daytime events or the office.

Ellie- a pale pink shimmer with aqua and gold undertones

Vivien- a silvery gold micro glitter with larger gold hex glitters 

Demi- a rich blood red creme

Gayle- an elegant aubergine creme

Julia- a purple-gold micro glitter in a semi transparent purple base

I have to say Julia was the standout for me. The micro-glitter is outstanding with its flecks of purple, mint, pink, and gold.

Which color is your fave?

Day Ten TDoHNC: Werewolves of London

Our second week concludes with day ten's theme- werewolves. Like yesterday I had a bit of fun with this challenge. I was inspired by the Warren Zevon track " Werewolves of London".  Any song that has lyrics such as " Little old lady got mutilated late last night..." definitely has that je ne sais pas.

I started with a base of Sinful Colors Nirvana ( except on my ring finger where I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Caribbean Coral.

I added the details for the werewolves in Stripe Rite in white and Finger Paints Striper in Chart-Art-coal Black. I finished the Union Jack design with my white striper and Revlon Fashionista.

These nails may me happy and Jes refers to them as werehamsters ( Mojo approves).

As usual check out the spectacular blogs of the other ladies, I love seeing what they do every day!

Kelly from Tuxarina

Heather from Peace, Love, & Polish

Jennifer from Little J's Nail Corner

Another weekend hiatus for the challenge, but my regular blogging will ensue.

Stay tuned for day eleven... full moons!

Day Nine TDoHNC: There Will Be Blood

I have to say that I have been dreading today- day nine, blood. I am not particularly inclined towards red. That's not entirely true, I mean back in the nineties I wore OPI's I'm Not Really A Waitress to my Freshman Winter Formal. I have to say today achieved two things a fun nail design and a red that I really like!

I could have gone for something gory and oozy but I just wasn't feeling that. I wanted fun, and excitement, and maybe a drink...lol. So, I channelled that into some party nails with a dripping blood French Manicure and a bit of freehand art in the shape of a Bloody Mary cocktail.

I started with a base of Finger Paints Paper Mache. Then with Julep Vivian I did a glitter coat. I love the shimmer and gold hex combo. On my four fingers, I dabbed on Julep Demi to get the dripped blood effect.

On my thumb, I drew the main part of the glass with Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby. I added shading with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Mellow Yellow and Julep Demi. I drew the stem and outlined the glass in Finger Paints Striper in Ch-Art-coal Black. The celery stalk and lime slice were painted with Revlon Posh, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Mellow Yellow and Stripe Rite in white. I dabbed Julep Vivian around the glass to finish.

I love, love, love these nails. Makes me want to do some tiki bar nails at some point. Be sure to check out the other girls' blogs, they have been doing some awesome work!

Kelly from Tuxarina

Heather from Peace, Love, & Polish

Jennifer from Little J's Nail Corner

 

Stay tuned day ten... werewolves! AHHHHWOOOOOOO!