Category Archives: Nail Art

Nail Art: Snow Globe

12 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

To see the accompanying post, click on the first picture!

I really have to gush about this nail art. I wanted to go for a snow globe effect, which I had a lot of trouble photographing. In person, though, it looks exactly like a snow globe! There are a ton of top coat layers. This manicure better last!

 

Image

The picture below shows the snow globe effect a little better.

Image

 

Now on to the fun stuff. Let’s see if I remember all the steps!

I started with 2 coats Milani “Peacock”.

I dotted with Julie G “White Orchid” and Essie “No Place Like Chrome”.

I stamped with Zoya “Crystal”, Wet n Wild “Blue Moon”, and Bundle Monster plate “BM 319”.

I applied 1 heavy coat of Seche Vite.

I used water decals from Born Pretty Store on my thumb and middle finger.

I applied 2 coats of Seche Vite and 1 coat of INM “Northern Lights”.

I dotted again with the Zoya, Wet n Wild, and Julie G. 

1 more coat of Seche Vite!

 

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Forever 21 x Disney’s Mickey & Co.

12 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

I do not know about fashion. I love it, I keep an eye on it. I love shopping.

But my expertise only goes as far as looking for pieces that fit, wearing them multiple ways, and accessorizing them wonderfully. I do not know the science behind it.

However, the Forever 21 Disney collaboration really caught my eye! I was perusing the local Forever 21 store and saw racks upon racks of Mickey! I was psyched!

I did some research and found that Forever 21 collaborated with Mickey & Co. (the leader in Mickey Mouse-inspired clothes) on a 41-item collection. It spans sweaters to Converse-style footwear and jewelry!

 

ImageImageImageImage

Photos used from forever21.com

 

Some of my favorites have the intense pops of color or really work the black and white 80’s feel.

Initially, I spent my time in the store with almost six or seven pieces from the collection. Magically, I walked away with just the cropped black and white sweater. Though, I am itching to go back and pick up the pj pants, shoes, and plaid shirt!

 

I have a soft spot for my childhood favorites and I think Forever 21 really nailed these great Mickey designs!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Clean-Up Secret Weapon

12 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art, Reviews

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, ,

Over the last couple of manicures I noticed my clean up got exponentially better! Finally!

I wanted to share my secret weapon! Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes in Evening Soothe. (I love the smell and it is a little more moisturizing than the others in the line).

After I take off my nail polish, I rub a towelette over each nail with a little nail polish remover (Zoya Remove +). It takes off any residual color from the nail and cuticles. It also moisturizes the cuticle a little so they look even better.

The quilted pattern grabs the polish and removes it completely without spreading it over the skin. It is like the nail equivalent of the Swiffer Sweeper!

I use a painter’s brush, q-tips, and pure acetone to clean the area after I apply polish. I do a quick rub down with the same towelette and Zoya. A little moisturizer and my nails are ready for a photo-shoot!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: Messy Marble

11 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

Apologies on the clean-up. The greens really stained my skin and try as I might I could not shake it from my cuticles.

 

Image

Image

I love how the flakies look under the marbling! I added a blurry picture to show it off 🙂

Image

 

I used 2 coats Zoya “Suvi” as my base.

I added a sheer coat of Nfu Oh Opal 51.

I added a thick coat of Seche Vite so the marbling would pop on top.

I first marbled with Sephora by OPI “It’s Totally Karma” and Orly “Bonder” base coat. 

I then marbled Sephora by OPI “I Come in Peas” and Orly “Bonder” on top.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: Eat Your Leafy Greens

10 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art, Reviews

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

To see the accompanying recipe, click here.

 

Image

 

I used 2 coats butter London “Tea with the Queen” as my base.

I used dotting tools to apply Color Club “Twiggie” and Sephora by OPI “It’s Totally Karma”. 

I applied a coat of Seche Vite to even out the dots.

I stamped with Milani “Quick Teal” and Bundle Monster plate “BM 310”. I am not going to lie. This was a hassle to stamp.

First off, it came out more sheer than I expected. It still looks good, but not exactly what I was going for. Furthermore, I had to clean the stamping plate after every use or it would not transfer to the rubber stamper. I do not know if this was because of the “quick-dry” formula or the consistency but it definitely was not worth the aggravation. I will not be stamping with Quick Teal any time soon. It is a shame because I love the color, the formula and how it looks as a nail base but for stamping, it is not so great. Also, it stains like mad so clean up was a pain.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: Flower Power

08 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, , ,

I am going through a stamping phase. I want to do it, practice it, get better at it!

 

Image

 

I used 2 coats of Milani “Quick Teal” for my base. I could not photograph the teal color at all! It came out as a baby blue. In reality it is a bright teal.

I stamped with Urban Outfitters “Blue Velvet” and Bundle Monster plate “BM 321”. 

I did a second stamp with Milani “Peacock” and Bundle Monster plate “BM 311”.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: Peppermint Snow Day

07 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art, Reviews

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

Brrr! It’s cold! My little Affie needs her sweater to go outside! It’s time to turn those pjs inside out! (Did you ever do that for a snow day??)

When I set out to paint my nails today all I knew was I wanted to stamp. I did not even know what colors I was going to use!

I closed my eyes and grabbed a bottle and came up with Sephora by OPI “Cover Me in Petals” and I took it from there.

 

Image

 

Sephora by OPI “Cover Me in Petals” is extremely pigmented. Especially since I was stamping I could probably get away with one coat. I decided to do 2 just for insurance.

I stamped with Sephora by OPI “Caffeine Fix” and Bundle Monster plate “BM 320”.

I did a subtle design next. Since I already had rectangles I continued with sharp edges. I used Cover Girl glosstinis “Inferno” and Bundle Monster plate “BM 315”.

I wanted to use silver with these colors. Initially, I tried lines but the silver masked the designs underneath so….what looks better in silver than snowflakes?

 I love love love Essie “No Place Like Chrome” for stamping. It is so pigmented, I cannot go wrong. I used Bundle Monster plate “BM 319”.

One coat of Seche Vite and one coat of INM Northern Lights polished the look.

I love this manicure. It reminds me of peppermints and the holidays!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.