Challenge Your Nail Art: Snowmen

05 Friday Dec 2014

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I dreaded today’s prompt a little. Not because I did not like the idea but because I could not freehand to save my life! I remembered I bought holiday water decals from BPS last year. Then I remembered they were a year old and when I last tried them they dried up and smeared with top coat application. Regardless, I proceeded with caution knowing fully well my attempt might end up in failure and I would have to start again.

Thankfully, the water decals worked pretty well. However, it took 5 minutes of soaking in water to detach them from their backing paper. A little bit of a bummer especially when in the end I did not wait long enough for two of them to dry and they smeared. Well, at least my favorite (on the ring finger) did not smear! That snowman is just so ridiculously cute!

I hope you like it! Can you see my subtle gradient?

 

12daysofxmas - snowmenI started with 3 coats of Zoya Crystal as my base. I could have done two since I completely went over with another color but at the time I still was not sure what colors I was going to use in my gradient.

I used a makeup sponge, butter London Knackered, Zoya Dream and Urban Outfitters Mystic (from cuticle to tip).

I used an assortment of Born Pretty Store water decals and sealed everything with a generous coat of Seche Vite.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to check out the other cute snowmen below!

Challenge Your Nail Art: Christmas Trees

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

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I knew exactly what I wanted to do for today’s CYNA prompt! Better yet, I knew which colors I wanted to use! I absolutely love using this color palette but it is very winter-esque so I rarely wear it outside of the holidays! Initially, I only wanted to stamp my ring finger because I wanted the glitter topper to stand on it’s own but I could not tell the image was a Christmas tree. In the end, I really liked the stamps on all my nails.

 

I hope you like it!

cyna - xmas trees

I used 2 coats of Zoya Giovanna + 1 generous coat of Serum No. 5 Forest Lights and 2 coats of Essie No Place Like Chrome as my base.

I alternated the colors for the stamping with Bundle Monster plate BM 321.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to check out the other Xmas tree manicures below!

Challenge Your Nail Art: Snowflakes

01 Monday Dec 2014

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Quick post tonight because I am running a little behind and I am a little tired.

Today starts the 12-Days of Christmas challenge within the Challenge Your Nail Art group. We have had the prompts for a while but it completely took me by surprise today. I knew the first day was the 1st of December but for whatever reason I thought it was in a month! December really crept up on me.

Needless to say, I was always excited about the snowflakes prompt because I got to use my favorite Bundle Monster stamping plate image! I used this stamp on multiple occasions and you will probably start seeing it more regularly!

I liked the idea of water-marbling and stamping so I set out to do that. I cannot decide whether I like the final result or not. I like how the marble works with the snowflakes but I do not like the colors on their own…What do you think?

 

CYNA: snowflakesI started with 2 coats of Milani Power Periwinkle as my base.

I marbled with Sephora by OPI Metro Chic and Pahlish Mind Like a Diamond.

I stamped with Bundle Monster plate BM319, Konad Special Polish White and Essie No Place Like Chrome.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Check out the other snowflake manicures below!

Nail Art: Halloween Brights Stamping

27 Thursday Nov 2014

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Guess what? I am finally getting the hang of full nail stamping! Now that I am getting a proper technique down I can try double designs! Maybe…Unfortunately, the bright orange in this manicure looks like part of the sponged base.

The Mundo de Unas stamping polishes have recently taken the spotlight on nail art blogs. I bought a few because I was impressed with how they stamped over dark opaque colors and the polishes definitely do not disappoint! However, given my current skills I really have to practice with these beauties. The strong pigmentation combined with my heavy hand results in smearing and slipping. This is totally due to my user error, though. These polishes are great, even if they smell a little overwhelming. This being said I am really proud of myself because I did not smear the design today!! Unfortunately, I could not see it very well so I added black on top.

On a different note, my Konad Stamping polish smears with top coat application. This never used to happen and it only occurs with the black polish. Is it getting thicker with time? I wait at least 20-30 minutes for it to dry but it still smears!

Now that I have ranted and raved…I hope you like it!

halloween brightsI started with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Petal Pusher as my base. I am not usually a fan of baby pinks against my skin but this is one of the few I wear on it’s own!

I sponged with a foam eyeshadow applicator, Milani Foxy Lady, CoverGirl Glosstinis Flamed Out, Zoya Goldie and Barry M GNP 8/Grapefruit.

I stamped with Mundo de Unas 28/Neon Orange, Konad Special Polish Black and Pueen Cosmetics plate PUEEN-79 (from the Leisure collection)

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Fall-ing for Nail Art: Fall Colors

26 Wednesday Nov 2014

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A short post because my wrists and fingers are really painful right now.

Hope you like my sugar-spinning!

 

fall colors sugar spunBase – Milani Dark Coffee

Detailing – butter London Scuppered & OPI Pros & Bronze

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Check out the other fall manicures below!

NAIL (November 2014): Dreamcatchers

25 Tuesday Nov 2014

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In elementary school we made dreamcatchers during art class. I was so proud of my creation I brought it home to my parents. They hung it in their bedroom and it stayed there until we moved house. I was convinced the dreamcatcher worked because whenever I slept in my parent’s room I never had bad dreams. I had recurring nightmares as a kid so I frequently slept in their bedroom.

Now, I have the occasional nightmare but I regularly dream. And are they VIVID! Honestly, I sometimes have difficulty separating reality from fiction. My dreams make a whole lot of sense during my REM cycle but when I wake up I realize they do not occur in a sensible order. The dream starts one way, switches scenes, plays out, then returns to the original thought. I think it is really funny I clearly remember the details, though. I am pretty sure I dream in HD.

For this prompt I would have loved to paint dreamcatchers but I my skills are not quite there so I decided to stay with my trusty abstract ideas. However, because of this, it took me a while to think of a suitable design. I am glad I stamped. I probably would not have the patience to freehand this look.

 

I purchased the new Pueen Cosmetics (Leisure Collection) stamping collection. I could not help myself. I love the brand’s designs and the plates are high quality. I have had no trouble scraping, transferring or stamping and I like that they are not separate images but full plate designs. I am highly anticipating the release of the Festival collection in December!

 

I hope you like it!

 

dreamcatchersI started with 2 coats of Milani Peacock as my base.

I sponged with a foam eyeshadow applicator Milani Peacock, Vivid Violet, Power Periwinkle and Color Club Pucci-licious.

I stamped with Konad Special Polish Black, White and PUEEN Cosmetics plate PUEEN 77.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Fall-ing for Nail Art: Pumpkin Chai Lattes

25 Tuesday Nov 2014

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The Challenge Your Nail Art group is hosting another challenge! This week we honor Thanksgiving and Fall. I am beyond bummed I missed yesterday’s prompt (fall leaves) because I had a great idea but I was so flared up life was too hard. I think I will re-visit the theme later, though. Honestly, I did not think I was going to participate in any of the prompts except yesterday’s but as I was inspired by a stamping image from my Pueen plate.

At the beginning of  “fall” Trader Joe’s sold an assortment of pumpkin flavored everything. One of my favorites was the seasonal pumpkin chai mix. I already was a fan of the traditional  chai mix and the pumpkin added a little seasonal flair.

I had a very specific color in mind for the base but did not have the matching nail polish. I mixed two and they turned out exactly how I wanted it to.

 

I hope you like it!

pumpkin chai lattesI started with 3 coats of Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Short Cir-cute and 1 generous coat of OPI Pros & Bronze as my base.

I stamped and dotted with Milani Dark Coffee and Pueen Cosmetics plate PUEEN30.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to check out the other foodie manicures below!

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