Category Archives: Nail Art

Bundle Monster Turns 5! Nail Art Challenge Day 10: Cupcakes

10 Tuesday Jun 2014

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I was one of those kids who dislike cakes and cupcakes, just for the sheer fact they felt weird in my mouth. I always opted for ice cream cakes instead. I love ice cream!! Love it!!

Anyways!

I do love L-O-V-E looking at cupcakes. They are a really cute shape! There are so many varieties and flavors, in cake and frosting and even sprinkles. There are neverending possibilities!

If I am asked to choose one type of cupcake it would be the funfetti ones. There are so many pretty colors! My manicure was inspired by these colorful creations!

I hope you like it! (This was a difficult one to photograph, I think there were too many details and my camera did not know what to focus on!)

 

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I started with 2 coats of Julie G White Orchid as my base.

I dotted with Color Club Mrs. Robinson, Milani Peacock, Sephora by OPI I Come In Peas and Deborah Lippman Popular (Wicked Collection). 

Before the dots dried, I “saran-wrapped” with Julie G White Orchid and Sinful Colors Chick Chick.

I stamped with Konad Special Polish in Black and Bundle Monster plate BM 307. 

I used the following polishes (from pinky to index finger) for the sugar-spun frosting:

  • Sinful Colors Chick Chick + Revlon Parfumerie Fresh Linen
  • Deborah Lippman Popular (Wicked collection) + Essie No Place Like Chrome
  • Essie No Place Like Chrome + Revlon Parfumerie Fresh Linen

I added crystal beads from the Martha Stewart crafts collection as sprinkles.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Bundle Monster Turns 5! Nail Art Challenge Day 8: Party Hat

08 Sunday Jun 2014

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On any girl’s birthday she is the princess for the day! Even if she, like me, did not particularly like princesses. Everyone says hello and wishes her a Happy Birthday. Everyone is nice to her, even just for the day.

What goes with being a princess? Tiaras!

Okay, so I never liked tiaras or princesses but I never liked those paper party hats either. It was not so much the pointy cone part but the annoying rubber band that I had to put over my face. It was uncomfortable and the hat would not stay on otherwise!

I hope you like my manicure for today’s Bundle Monster prompt!

 

ImageI used 2 coats Revlon Parfumerie China Flower and 1 coat Sephora by OPI Mr. Right Now as my base.

I stamped with Bundle Monster plate BM 304 and Essie No Place Like Chrome.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The Crumpet’s SIMPLES Challenge: Week Four – The Saran-Wrap Manicure

08 Sunday Jun 2014

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This is one of my favorite techniques! I love it but always feel guilty when I use the cling wrap just for my nails! I feel like I use so much of it for such a small canvas. I know I am weird!

I hope you like my creation!

 

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ImageGreen bases from pinky to thumb –>

  • Zoya Giovanna
  • Color Club Twiggie
  • Sephora by OPI It’s Totally Karma
  • Sephora by OPI I Come in Peas
  • American Apparel Parakeet

Purple polishes from pinky to thumb –>

  • Milani Vivid Violet
  • Color Club Pucci-licious
  • Sephora by OPI Domestic Goddess
  • Sephora by OPI Ms. Can’t Be Wrong
  • Color Club Mrs. Robinson

And, because I could not well-enough alone I dabbed American Apparel Neon Yellow on top.

I finished with one coat of INM Northern Lights.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Best News Ever – Essie Fill the Gap

07 Saturday Jun 2014

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Okay, not exactly but I am more than thrilled right now!

When I first started on my nail adventures I bought Essie Fill the Gap on a whim. The description “it helps re-create smoothness, crucial to youthful looking nails…visibly sculpts and plumbs nail base…stronger feeling and hydrated nails…helps prevent brittleness and breakage” mimicked butter London Nail Foundation on a more modest budget.

I love Nail Foundation, do not get me wrong, but it gets thick and gummy around the halfway mark which for the price is a ridiculous waste of money.

I tried the Essie alternative. Did I fall in love?

I think yes!

The formula is gorgeous. GORGEOUS! It has thick coverage with a thin consistency and makes my nail beds look perfect. The main purpose of this base coat is as a ridge filler but it also provides wonderful adherence for any future polishes.

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I always wear toe nail polish but when I want to give my toes a break, I wear this as my “naked” nails and it makes my feet look taken care of without being completely disrobed.

The best part? While I may not notice any long term effects, in the short term my nails break less frequently and are in general better health.

 

I loved this product through two full bottles. Probably the only nail product I have ever fully finished.

Then.

ULTA stopped carrying it.

I went to the internet and was no longer available on the Essie website. Was it being discontinued? My relationship with Fill the Gap ended suddenly and without proper goodbyes.

 

Until today.

 

I was at my local CVS. I was milling around the beauty section looking at all the 50% off stickers when I happened upon the smaller Essie display near the back. What did I see? FILL THE GAP. You better believe I grabbed a bottle.

I am ecstatic since I gave my toenails a break yesterday. I removed my polish and noticed chips in the nail bed. I have never seen this before. Not on the tips, on the nail beds themselves.

I better give these guys a break before true sandal season comes around!

 

How about you? Have you tried Essie Fill the Gap? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Anything in between? Is there something better? I would love recommendations because I am afraid I may not have this product for long!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Bundle Monster Turns 5! Nail Art Challenge Day 6: Macaroons

06 Friday Jun 2014

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Today’s prompt is macaroons! Weird things, macaroons. They are bright, funny colors and look like mini hamburgers. They never quite made sense to me!

I was kind of at a loss for what to do with this manicure so I just chose to use the colors I usually macaroons in and stamp that sort of resembled them.

I am still working on my stamping skills but I hope through this month I will just get better and better at it!

 

ImageBase colors in order from pinky to index finger: Zoya Reece, Color Club Twiggie, Urban Outfitters Westside, and Milani Dark Coffee.

I stamped with Essie No Place Like Chrome and Bundle Monster plate BM 322.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The Crumpet’s SIMPLES Challenge: Week Three- The Ombre Manicure

06 Friday Jun 2014

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It took me a while to come up with the pairings I wanted and even then I do not think it came out quite right. I wish I had a better purple for my index finger.

I do like how ombre between the pinky and third finger though! (I just realized they are all Sephora by OPI nail polishes! Go figure!)

 

ImageIn order of pinky to index finger – Sephora by OPI Caffeine Fix, Mrs. Can’t Be Wrong, Domestic Goddess and Milani Vivid Violet.

I used Essie Matte about You to tone down shine and shimmer. This really helped tie the colors together.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Bundle Monster Turns 5! Nail Art Challenge Day 4: Red Velvet

04 Wednesday Jun 2014

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For today’s Red Velvet prompt I thought of two things: red velvet cakes with cheese cake frosting and velvet cushions. I wanted to sugar-spin the frosting but did not want to use a cupcake stamp because there is a cupcake prompt later this month. So, I mixed both themes together!

My red velvet cushion cupcakes with cheesecake frosting and sprinkles on top!

 

ImageI used 2 coats of Zoya Cheryl and 1 coat of Sephora by OPI Mr. Right Now as my base.

I stamped with Bundle Monster plate BM 310 and Konad Special Polish in Red.

I sugar spun with a mix of Julie G White Orchid and Revlon Parfumerie Fresh Linen. I love the pearlescent color they add to icing!

I gently added glitter pieces (with a toothpick) from OPI Polka.com and Sephora by OPI Be-Claus I Said So to the top of the frosting.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.