Category Archives: Nail Art

Neon Gradient Sugar-Spun Nail Art

05 Wednesday Aug 2015

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I am so so so sorry for the quality of this picture. I took multiple photos, many times and I never got a decent one! Eventually I snapped one with flash and while my skin is freakish, I got a clear shot of the sugar-spin.

There are multiple Instagram challenges going on in August and while I am not sure I will take on each and every prompt, I will definitely do the ones that peak my interest. Gradient and rainbow did so the following manicure covers both the #clairestelle8august and #dreamnailschallenge challenges!

I was a little skeptical about using neons for the sugar-spin especially since Sun Worshiper dries down sort of matte. I was pleasantly surprised. All three polishes I used worked wonderfully and the gradient came out exactly how I wanted.

I am a little peeved my middle nail ended up a little stringier than usual but my nails are so short I had to make the threads a little thinner.

Check out the bottom of the post for some of my tricks for a great sugar-spin!

 

Neon Gradient Sugar-Spun Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Milani Fast Fuchsia

Sugar-Spin (from cuticle to tip): Color Club Wham! Pow!, China Glaze Sun Worshiper, Daisy Know Me Name?

 

I am not sure I can do a proper video tutorial until I get a new camera. I am still using my phone and I just don’t know how to take a video while doing a sugar-spin! So, for now, I will just write down so tips below! If you have any questions please ask!!

 

  • I use a clean white piece of paper for my polish puddles. This way I do not mistakenly blend pigments.
  • I pour out the polishes before I apply my base color. That way, I am not waiting around for ages for them become tacky.
  • I use separate toothpicks for each color.
  • While I wait for each layer of my base coat and base color to dry I turn the polish over so it dries evenly.
  • After I am done with the sugar-spin, I use the clean side of the toothpick to gently push the edges of the threads underneath the nail. Then, I pull the excess straight back for easier clean-up. Otherwise, the cleanup brush will move the polish around and ruin the design.
  • If parts of the threads are too gloopy use the clean side of the toothpick to gently pull from the center of the thread to the edges of the nail.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Infinite Ombre Dry Brush Nail Art

03 Monday Aug 2015

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I only used the Infinite Ombre kit a couple of times since I won it a few weeks ago. I still keep the polishes in the case they came in and they call to me every day. I finally fished them out and went with my typical dry brush! I have to say, the actual polishes are not that great but if I sheer them out with acetone I get the consistency and effect I want.

I hope you like my creation!

 

#InfiniteOmbre Dry Brush Nail Art | The Rite of AgingAll done with the Formula X for Sephora Infinite Ombre kit.

“Do Your Circus Act!” Neon Watermarble Nail Art

02 Sunday Aug 2015

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My little girl’s back legs have been hurting for a few weeks because every time she climbs the stairs she whacks her already bad knees. Because of this, she hasn’t done her circus act trick which is one of my favorites.

When I say “do your circus act” Affie stands on her back legs and grabs her pill (or treat) from my hand. She is so freaking cute!

affie circus act

Okay, so she is totally cheating in this photo but look at that little smile!!

 

I was inspired by my dog’s antics and did a neon watermarble! I don’t even remember the last time I did a watermarble…What is my nail art life right now??

 

Circus-Inspired Neon Watermarble Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: SinfulColors Snow Me White

Watermarble: China Glaze UV Meant to Be, Daisy Know My Name? and Pop the Trunk (which is not part of the Electric Nights collection)

Studs: Born Pretty Store

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

OMD3 – Floral Freehand Nail Art for #mynailsandmyperfume

31 Friday Jul 2015

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Check the sidebar for link to challenge information.

We’re at the end of the OMD3 challenge! What a month. I am so proud of myself I managed to keep up. There were a couple of days here and there when I fell behind (and yes, one of them was yesterday) but I caught up and finished on time!

 

I am a perfume girl. I wear it every day even inside the house. I love scents. And, according to my friends, I have a signature one. The perfume mixes well with my body chemistry and they smell as one. When I wear other perfumes everyone knows I am wearing a scent but when I wear my signature it’s like I’m not wearing anything. Ah, I have reached perfume wearing perfection!

Now…what is this holy grail perfume??? Prada Infusion d’Iris.

 

Storytime: I actually first smelled this from an magazine insert. I fell in love and bought it without testing it in-store. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, doesn’t it? Well, it turned out to be the ONE. What a stroke of luck!

 

I decided to push myself for the last day and freehand some flowers. I practiced painting irises but they did not turn out too well so I opted for regular flowers in iris colors. I hope you like it!

 

#OMD3NAILS - Freehand Irises Nail Art | The Rite of Aging

 

#OMD3NAILS - Freehand Irises Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Pahlish Sunless Sea

Details: acrylic paints

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

OMD3 – Dots and Decals Nail Art for #mynailsandmybag

31 Friday Jul 2015

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Check the sidebar for link to challenge information.

I really don’t understand why sometimes my camera decides to take different types of pictures at different points in the day. I take my photos in the same room, inside the house, away from natural light…so, I would think the photos would be unaffected. My phone is quite odd sometimes. My photos are pretty subpar today but I really couldn’t win the fight. Hopefully when I do the last prompt tonight it will no longer throw its tantrum!

Anyways, I hope you like my nail art inspired by my Jonathan Adler bag! I saw this about a year ago on the Gilt.com website and immediately bought it. No hesitations or questions. I needed this bag.

Hope you like it!

 

Jonathan Adler Dogs Bag | The Rite of Aging

 

#OMD3NAILS - Dots and Decals Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: OPI Red Lights Ahead…Where?

Dots: Anise Make Waves

Decals: Pueen Cosmetics

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

OMD3 – Sugarspun Nail Art for #mynailsandmydrink

29 Wednesday Jul 2015

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Check the sidebar for the link to challenge information.

Instagram has created a TUMBLER MONSTER. After the duochrome tumbler went viral on social media I became curious of the others…and I bought the sunset gradient one. Now, every few weeks, I stalk the website for new additions to the cold and warm drinkware pages.

Alright, so maybe this isn’t new. When I started traveling after college I wanted to collect something to remember my trip. The question was what? Postcards and stamps are cute but ultimately useless. Who is going to want to use either for their proposed purposes since they mail right out of your possession, completely nullifying adding them to your collection in the first place!

When I was little I used to collect little jars of sand from the places my family visited…once again though, cool but impractical.

I dug a little deeper. What could I stockpile that I could use? What do I love more than anything in the world? Coffee. Then it hit me. I drink coffee, hot tea and cocoa almost every day and what do I drink them in?? COFFEE CUPS. Not only can I drink from mugs but I can use them as holders of well, stuff! Literally all my shelves have one or two mugs, some hold my keys, others markers, and some I use to collect pistachio shells (heh!)

Now, back to the point…one afternoon while scrolling through the Starbucks website when I saw the new dog doodle tumbler! No contest. No question. I needed it. I mean, I am pre-freaking-vet and I love dogs. No hesitation. No buyer’s remorse for breaking my no-buy.

When you know you have to have something. You just know. Am I right?

 

For today’s prompt, I hit a little block. I knew which #mydrink I would use…but I did not know what #mynails I would do. I usually fill my cold drink tumblers with iced tea or water and take them in the car so I considered an Arnold Palmer gradient. However, I was just about to hit the treadmill and didn’t want to sip on iced tea during my workout. Since water is clear it opened up almost every nail art and I decided to pull from the green tennis ball…Hope you like it!

 

#OMD3NAILS - Starbucks Tumbler Sugar-Spin Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: SpaRitual Running with Wolves

Sugar-Spin: Girly Bits Cosmetics Supersonic

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.


OMD3 – Brushed Gradient and Glitter Nail Art

28 Tuesday Jul 2015

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Check the sidebar for link to challenge information.

When I think of princesses I think of pink and glitter and tiaras. However, as you know, I am not a huge pink or glitter or tiaras girl! So…what do I do for today’s prompt?

I settled on a pink, purple, peach brushed gradient with one of my favorite glitter toppers. It is a princess look with a little flare mixed in! Hope you like it!

 

#OMD3NAILS - Brushed Gradient and Glitter Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Gradient: acrylic paints, flat top artist’s brush

Glitter: OPI Polka.Com, INM Northern Lights Silver

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.