Author Archives: MonicawithRA

Patchwork Nail Art: In Stitches

28 Wednesday Jan 2015

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Well, Saachi was scheduled for surgery after she collapsed earlier this week. I don’t really want to go into a lot of details right now as she is still in recovery and we are waiting on some biopsy results. I am happy to report she is mending nicely and hopefully will be home on Thursday if everything goes as planned (EDIT: She is recovering so well she may be home a full 24 hours early!)

 

DSCF1955 - Version 2

Anyways, this is the first patchwork nail art I’ve done that hasn’t made me cringe. I used acrylic paint and while it is not particularly perfect by any means I am proud of my creation!

 

DSCF3058_fotorI started with Barry M Gelly Lychee and Seche Vite as my base.

I achieved the watercolor distressed look with a square paintbrush, acetone, SpaRitual Howl, Running with Wolves and Barry M Gelly Lychee.

I used black acrylic paint for the stitches.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nimbus Nail Art: Ticking Time Bomb

25 Sunday Jan 2015

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I am in a green mood. Okay, I am always in a green mood. Interestingly, it is not my favorite color but it is a chosen for nail art..is that odd? Maybe it is just one of my many quirks!

I am still not feeling one hundred percent yet. I am actually feeling worse so nimbus is a great nail art technique. What else is RA-friendly? Water decals! …and my Pueen Cosmetics ones have been long neglected..

I hope you like it!

 

Ticking Time Bomb | The Rite of AgingI started with 2 coats of Barry M Gelly Chai and 1 generous coat of Seche Vite as my base.

I nimbus-ed with acetone, Q-tips, China Glaze In the Limelight, American Apparel Neon Green, Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy High Stakes, and Pahlish La Royale.

I used clock decals from Pueen Cosmetics.

 

EDIT: I did not initially make this nail art for any challenge but realized it fits one of the prompts for the #31DC2015! Check out the other 3 shades of green or yellow manicures below!

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Born Pretty Store: Stamping Plate Review

24 Saturday Jan 2015

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I have another Born Pretty Store stamping plate review for you! I have a few more for you in upcoming weeks!

 

The Born Pretty Store is a massive online distributor with a large variety of nail art goodies for every style. I love stamping so I jumped at the chance to review more plates. BPS re-launched their stamping plates a few months ago. Before the re-vamp, multiple reviewers mentioned issues with etching and transferring but since the new release I have not heard anything about these recurrent issues.

 

BPS plate 19

Product ID: 17264

The above photo links directly to the product’s site. I used the plate before I scanned the image and boy does that Mundo de Unas polish stain! Do I need to say why I chose this plate? I have a weird obsession with leaves! Well, nature in general, but definitely leaves! I did not even think twice. These beauties were made for me! Check out some nail art below.

 

Fall Leaves Marble | The Rite of Aging

Stamping Fall Leaves | The Rite of Aging

Thoughts:

I already talked about the images but let me reiterate how wonderful they are: the perfect leaves! (!!!Look at that fern!!!) The quality of stamping is good. I experience clear transfer to the stamper, no smearing on the nail and I use an assortment of non-stamping and stamping specific polishes. As you can see, I have some trouble with the copper. I think it is due to my inexperience with Mundo de Unas polishes (they are wonderful and so amazingly pigmented). I experience a lot of excess pooling on the stamper itself (but I have this problem with other plates as well). I have some difficulty with the stems, as well, because the image is so fine it dries quickly on the stamper and does not transfer to the nail.

 

I recommend this plate as I had good experiences with BPS’ new line. This plate retails for $2.99 on the website and if leaves are not your thing definitely check out the other stamping plates! If you read my first BPS review you know how I feel about shipping…but at the low price of their products, it is worth giving them a try!!

 

If you are interested in placing an order, feel free to use my 10% off coupon code below! Have you tried any of the new BPS plates? What do you think?

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Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Saran-Wrap Manicure for A2Z Nails: K is for Kitchen Sink

24 Saturday Jan 2015

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I am all about chaos on my nails. How many times have you seen one of my manicures and thought…Monica definitely didn’t need to add that or this would look better with out this…Well, I certainly have. However, the kitchen sink idea just made me nervous! There is a method to my madness, whether I am using the same color scheme or technique.

Kitchen Sink prompts as many colors, techniques, embellishments, and designs as I can possibly fit on my little nails. CONFUSION!!!

Unfortunately, my wrists decided to leave me hanging again so I opted for some fun, simple RA-friendly saran-wrapped (read: bubble-wrap) and color foiled nails.

 

At first, I did not really like my final result but it grew on me. It is definitely not soemthing I would normally choose but it kind of sort of works, right? Maybe if I got rid of my pinky?

What do you think? Is this a miss?

 

Kitchen Sink Brights | The Rite of AgingI used (from index to pinky) China Glaze In the Limelight, American Apparel Parakeet, Girly Bits Supersonic, and American Apparel Neon Yellow as my bases.

I sponged Nfu-Oh Opals Nfu-51 on my index and pinky finger before applying color foils (from Born Pretty Store).

For the middle finger, I bubble-wrapped with Pahlish La Royale and American Apparel Neon Violet.

On the ring fingre, I bubbled wrapped with Color Club Warhol and applied a sheer coat of Zoya Maria Luisa.

When the index and pinky nails dried I sponged a little Neon Yellow to blend out the colors.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to check out the other kitchen sink nails below!

Distressed Nail Art for 31DC2015 – Day 20: Rainbow

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

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I love the rainbow prompts. I can use as many colors as I want! However, I never actually use traditional “rainbow” colors. I don’t think the colors work well together…at all! I know, I know, I’m super weird!!

Anyways, I hope you like today’s abstract, distressed look!

 

Blue/Green Distressed Nails | The Rite of AgingI started with 3 coats of American Apparel Parakeet as my base.

I used a paintbrush, acetone, Pahlish Le Bijou de Roi, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Hunger Flames, Girly Bits Supersonic, and Color Club Pucci-licious.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Check out the other rainbow manicures below!

Sugar-Spun and Stamping Nail Art for NAIL (January 2015) – Marsala

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

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When the magazines announced the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year I was a little bummed. I am more than a little certain I’ve seen this color before. It looked like “wine red” except a little more orange, which then became “burnt orange”, right? I don’t know. I am not feeling the hue of this “marsala”; it’s not a particularly attractive shade to me.

However, the main polish I used for this prompt is quite pretty and I wear it all the time! (Okay, dilemma: has anyone experienced an amazing amount of anxiety about running low on their old Milani polishes? I’m torn between using them and saving them for the end of the world).

Anyways….I hope you like my nail art!

 

Marsala-Inspired Sugar-Spun Manicure | The Rite of AgingI started with either Wet n Wild Black Creme or Milani Mauve Medley as my base.

I sugar-spun with Milani Mauve Medley and Foxy Lady.

I stamped with Black Creme and Bundle Monster plate BM 311.

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Stamping Nail Art for 2 Challenges

17 Saturday Jan 2015

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I am going to be 100% honest with you. I am going to flip flop the rest of this month. I am so behind on every nail art challenge it makes little sense to catch up. I am bummed about this because I mapped out all my manicures in my new “Cat Naps” planner. My entire plan flew out the window due to this seven-day flare!

Initially, I did not plan on participating in the Winnie the Pooh challenge. I wish I did not have to because I L-O-V-E Winnie the Pooh. My dogs even wear Winnie the Pooh collars! But, I couldn’t think of any non-freehand art designs I could do so I figured it would be best for my arthritic self-esteem! But, I received a few stamping plates in the mail and it sparked an idea for both the 31DC2015 and Challenge Your Nail Art group.

I love leaves. The way they change color in the fall, the way the holes age after bugs eat through them any other time of year is just amazing.

However, there is one specific memory I will always hold dear. The first day I stepped onto the Colorado State University campus…

Colorado State University was my #1 choice junior and senior year of high school. However, my school did not allow us to apply to any university without visiting first. This ended up in my favor as I only applied to one school. Anyways, my father and I eagerly flew out to Colorado and drove into Ram Country. There is only one weekend where the leaves turn color before they fall off the trees. Seriously, this color change only lasts a couple of days. We were so lucky we visited that one weekend. These gorgeous leaves cast a spell on the entire campus. Each tree was full of life and I knew I had found my home for the next four years!

Every year after, I looked forward to that one weekend. I spent as much time as possible exploring campus, just to breathe in this gorgeous scene.

I know it sounds ludicrous in some ways but I always felt completely at peace.

 

And now that I’ve gushed on and on…

 

I hope you like my manicure!!

Stamping Fall Leaves | The Rite of AgingI started with 2 coats of Barry M Gelly Chili as my base.

I used a makeup sponge, Chili and Sephora by OPI Mr. Right Now for the gradient.

I stamped with Mundo de Unas Copper, Barry M Gelly Mustard and multiple images from Born Pretty Store plate BP-19.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Check out the other tranquil manicures from the CNT 31-Day Challenge below!

…And don’t forget to check out the other 100-Acre Woods manicures!