Tag Archives: Essie

Challenge Your Nail Art (9/15 – 9/19) – Pirates: Sea Creatures

15 Monday Sep 2014

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Jessica over at Be Happy and Buy Polish hosts one of my favorite challenges. They are bite-size and last no longer than 4 days. She polls the Facebook group for the most popular prompts and compiles the top themes. Jessica hosts a different challenge every few weeks. I find these challenges more hardcore than daily monthly challenges because the themes are more unique and specific.

I cannot tell you for sure if I will complete each day (be prepared for a double 31DC2014 manicure tomorrow) but I will certainly try.

I hope you like my sea creatures manicure. I especially like the double stamping of bubbles. This look was loosely inspired by Pandora, the National Zoo’s late  Giant Octopus, who passed away last February. Unfortunately since then, the Invertebrate House has lost even more funding and was shut down a month or two ago.

 

Pirate's Nail Challenge (9/15): Sea CreaturesI made a gradient using a make-up sponge, Sally Hansen Blue My Mind (cuticles) and Zoya Dream (tips). I sealed the gradient with INM Northern Lights (Silver).

I double-stamped bubbles with Milani Power Periwinkle, Peacock and MoYou London plate 08 from the Sailor collection.

I used MoYou London plate 04 from the Princess collection and Essie No Place Like Chrome. I love stamping with this polish but it shows every little flaw!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to check out the other sea creatures below!

#31DC2014 – Day 6: Violet Nails/FingerFood Theme Buffet: Marbling

05 Friday Sep 2014

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I am kind of super excited I am a day ahead in the 31 Day Challenge. It gives me a little wiggle room in case I lose steam during the month. I decided to kill two birds with one stone because I was itching to use some of my neglected purple polishes.

I avoided water marbling. I tried a couple of times but they were fails and I felt discouraged. I attempted ziploc marbles but I was too impatient for them to dry so I tried a toothpick marble. It is hard! I kept scraping my base and I could not really “marble” but I liked the end result. Without top coat, the design resembled the Picasso Swirl technique; with top coat, it looked a lot more like what I was after.

I hope you like my manicure today! I like the cloudy, floaty feel (if that makes sense) of the creams on top of the flaky base.

 

#31DC2014 - September 6: Violet Nails | The Rite of Aging…EarlyI started with 2 coats of Zoya Payton and 1 generous coat of Nfu Oh Opals  Nfu 51 (one of my severely neglected polishes…sometimes I wish I used it more, sometimes I want to save it because it was discontinued!) as my base.

I marbled with a toothpick, Sephora by OPI Domestic Goddess, Essie Smokin’ Hot and Milani  Vivid Violet.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Check out the other violet nails for the 31-Day Challenge!

 

 

…and the marble manicures for the Theme Buffet!

#31DC2014 – September 4 (Day 4): Green Nails

04 Thursday Sep 2014

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I decided to go simple for today’s prompt. Initially, I wanted to stamp silver flowers and freehand green leaves. Before I knew it I stamped silver branches and birds! I have not taken enough advantage of the full design plates, from MoYou London, so I am really trying to practice achieving a “panoramic” nail art.

I realized I have been using my MoYou London plates pretty regularly and my Bundle Monster ones have been totally neglected. Poor little stamping plates, they were the ones that got me into stamping to begin with! I am very excited, though, I recently bought some Mundo de Unas plates and I’m debating between Pueen or Wistonia plates. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Last week, I barely blogged because I was not feeling well. This week I cannot seem to shut up! I know I am rambling so thank you so much for bearing with me! I guess that is what blogs are for 🙂

 

I hope you like my green nails for today!

#31DC2014 September 4: Green Nails | The Rite of Aging…EarlyI used 2 coats of Revlon Gel Envy High Stakes as my base.

I stamped with MoYou London’s Mother Nature plate 02 and Essie No Place Like Chrome. I love stamping with this polish but it dries way to quickly for me to properly clean the details on the stamper! I’m getting better but it is definitely a race against the clock!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

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

Oh Mon Dieu 2 Challenge – Day 24: Fruits

24 Thursday Jul 2014

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Typical me, I went with abstract art! I could not bring myself to draw actual fruit so I went for a lemon-lime theme.

I hope you like it!

 

DSCF0354_fotorI used 2 coats of Essie Mademoiselle to even my base.

I detailed with China Glaze In the Lime Light and Color Club Almost Famous.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to check out the other fruity manicures!

Oh Mon Dieu 2 Challenge – Day 22: Feathers

23 Wednesday Jul 2014

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This is my first ever feathers manicure! I think it came out pretty cool looking even though they do not really look like feathers. The color scheme ended up pretty winter holiday-ish but I like it anyways!

I hope you do too!

DSCF0346_fotorI made a mistake on my Instagram and said I used Milani nail polish as my base. It is actually two coats of Wet n Wild Burgundy Frost. 

I detailed with Julie G White Orchid, Essie No Place Like Chrome and On a Silver Platter.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Oh Mon Dieu 2 Challenge – Day 9: Jelly

09 Wednesday Jul 2014

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I do not own a single jelly! I need to change this. The closest I have is a recent Revlon Gel Envy purchase. Why it is close? Because it has “gel” in the name. Gel is short for Jelly, right??

It is not a jelly but dries to a springy finish. I love describing things as “springy” or “spongy” because it makes everything a little more fun.

I also used a polish with “Jelly” in the name. This all counts towards the prompt, right? I say yes, in a weird twist five times around kind of way!

I hope you like it. I have been in a stamping mood so I layered a couple of this manicure.

 

DSCF0177_fotorI used 2 coats of Revlon Gel Envy High Stakes as my base. Revlon polishes are hit or miss with me but this polish is definitely a hit. The formula is good and the color is gorgeous.

I stamped with MoYou London plate 03 (Scholar collection), Pretty Jelly Plum in Love and Essie No Place Like Chrome. Both polishes stamped really well!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Oh Mon Dieu 2 Challenge – Day 7: Holographic

08 Tuesday Jul 2014

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In Star Trek, holograms are “projected three-dimensional images made of light and force fields”. (Thank you Sarah!)

Are holograms possible in the color world? They would translate into prismatic arrays of colors. Rainbow shimmer! I only own a couple of holographic polishes from Pretty Jelly (Liquid Jelly Liz’s nail polish line) and I love them! The shimmer is prominent and gorgeous!

I took inspiration from Luciana’s SIMPLES mixed sizes & colors dotticure. The dots are impeccable and the gradient is gorgeous! I was blown away! Click the picture to check out the Facebook post/group!

 

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I matte all the nails but lost the shimmer in the process. Which do you like better? I think I lean towards the matte finish. I can see the gradient dotticure a little better.

 

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DSCF0151_fotorI used 3 coats of Pretty Jelly Dream Cloud as my base.

I detailed with Urban Outfitters Blue Velvet, Pop Beauty Pacific Hoot and Milani Peacock.

I protected the design with Seche Vite and finished with Essie Matte About You.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to check out the other futuristic manicures!