Tag Archives: gradient

OMD3 – Watermelon Gradient Nails

12 Sunday Jul 2015

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Well hello everyone!! I was really scared about today’s prompt! I have never attempted watermelon nails so the first idea that came to mind was to freehand them. Nothing new here but I chickened out!

I was so unsure about today’s nails I took to Instagram and searched hashtag “watermelon nails”. I ran across a matte gradient by IG@b_jessica_3 and knew immediately I had to re-create that look. I decided not to matte the final result or add seeds. I wanted to, but in the end decided to leave well enough alone. It might have looked alright but I think given how soft, blurred and pastel the colors are stark harsh dark seeds would look really odd!

 

In real life the pink is a lot more prominent but unfortunately, we know my track record with photographing whites. I tweaked my hand position a little to capture the pink a little more but it still came out a bit wonky…

Hope you like it!

 

#OMD3NAILS Watermelon Gradient Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Gradient: damp makeup sponge, acrylic paints

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Gradient Sugar-Spun and Stamping Nail Art

22 Monday Jun 2015

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Today I went with a fun, pink sugar-spun gradient. I cut my nails last night so this ended up being a little more difficult than I anticipated. I still like how it came out, though!

What do you think?

 

Pink Gradient Sugar-Spun and Stamping #NailArt | The Rite of AgingBase: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Petal Pusher

Gradient: (tip to pinky) Milani Fast Fuchsia, American Apparel Neon Purple, Julie G Peep Toe Pumps

Stamping: Pueen Cosmetics plate PUEEN 77, Milani Fast Fuchsia

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Stamping and Gradient Nail Art

08 Monday Jun 2015

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It took me two days to complete this look. I started with the Milani polish as my base and forgot to apply top coat. I brought up the base color while sponging on the gradient. Whoops. It was already 10pm so I reluctantly removed my first attempt and reversed the polishes. I used the SOPI as my base color, top coated it and let it set overnight.

Tonight, I completed the sponge gradient and applied the stamping, WITH MY CREATIVE STAMPER AND A THINNER METALLIC POLISH! Last post I speculated I might have the hang on this new stamper. I think I have! Wooo!

Anyways, I hope you like my simple sponge gradient and some coffee stamping on top! (Why haven’t I used this plate before? I loves it!)

 

Red and Gold Gradient Stamping Nail Art | The Rite of Aging

  • Base: Sephora by OPI Mr. Right Now
  • Gradient (tip to cuticle): Sephora by OPI Mr. Right Now, Milani Mauve Medley
  • Stamping: MoYou London Cookbook 04, Zoya Goldie

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Can’t Get Enough of These Gradient Nail Arts

28 Thursday May 2015

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I posted this on IG already because I was too excited! I seriously could not get enough  gradients. And, I did not even have to think about what colors to use!  The two blues were sitting next to each other, looking perfect!

 

I promised myself I would practice my freehand skills. I put it off just because it  was really freaking difficult! But, I felt the itch and bit the bullet because there was an  upsurgence of freehand designs on all my feeds.

In the spirit of National Arthritis Month, the gradient is RA-friendly. THE FREEHAND, however, IS NOT. NOT. NOT. I set out only wanting to do one nail (hey, I have to start out slow) and am I glad that was it. Had I wanted to do more, I would not have been able to: I developed a severe case of the shakes. As in, my arm, all the way up to my shoulder was trembling like mad.

Regardless, I am really happy with how my freehand came out! But, I’m a long way from anything too complicated!

I hope you like it!

 

Blue Teal Gradient Nail Art | The Rite of Aging

 

 

  • Blue Teal Gradient with Freehand Accent | The Rite of AgingI started with a base of China Glaze UV Meant to Be.
  • I used a makeup sponge and Barry M Cancun at the cuticles.
  • I used acrylic paint for the accent.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Gradient Nail Art Inspired by My New Tumbler!

26 Tuesday May 2015

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The new Starbucks Duochrome tumbler has made quite a bit of noise across social media over the last few weeks because apparently, it is relatively difficult to find in stores. In these types of situations, I cannot help but try to find the item, whatever it may be, so I scurried (yes, scurried) to my nearest Starbucks. There were quite a few in stock but I was instantly drawn to the Sunset Gradient one instead.

Which one do you prefer? Do you like either of them?? Are these cups worth all the hype?

 

Sunset Gradient Inspired with Tumbler (Thumb) | The Rite of Aging

Oddly enough, I liked this tumbler over the Duochrome one. I generally go for blues and purples but something about this particular cup screamed “me”. I purchased it without hesitation!

 

Sunset Gradient Inspired with Tumbler | The Rite of Aging

And, with my love of gradients how could I not re-create the look on my fingertips after I realized I had the right polishes!

I hope you like it!

 

  • Starbucks-Inspired Sunset Gradient | The Rite of AgingI started with quick coat of Milani Spotlight White to highlight the metallics on top.
  • On a makeup sponge, at the top, I applied a combination of Zoya Goldie and Severine with Milani Foxy Lady at the tips. The tumbler’s golden top is really really frosty and neither Goldie or Severine on their own quite represented the color accurately.

 

Sunset Gradient Inspired with Tumbler | The Rite of Aging

 

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Pink Gradient Nail Art

23 Saturday May 2015

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Rest in peace, dear Fujifilm, rest in peace. My camera of 10 years died on me. It just wouldn’t turn on! It was a good camera and one of the best point and shoots at the time. The manual settings left much to be desired so while it was great to take out and snap some pics, for blogging purposes I was generally frustrated.

On the bright side I can finally buy a new camera. I’ve wanted to upgrade for about six months but life got in the way and I put off the purchase. My Samsung Note takes relatively decent pictures but it is totally dependent on whether it is sunny outside Unfortunately, in my neck of the woods, weather forecasts are not completely trustworthy. So, now that I do not have a camera, I need a camera!

I had my eye on a couple of Canon cameras and I narrowed it down to the G16; but while I wait for my new toy the pictures will be taken with my phone.

 

I bought a new nail stamper (specifically, the Creative Stamper) and I was dying to try it out. However, when I saw how well my gradient base turned out I couldn’t bring myself to add anything on top! Heh…hard to believe, right?

I hope you like my RA-friendly sponge gradient!

 

Pink Gradient | The Rite of AgingI started with a thin coat of Milani Spotlight White. I strongly dislike the consistency of this polish but I can’t bring myself to toss and waste it. I use it exclusively with bright colors to help them pop!

I used a makeup sponge and (from cuticle to tip) Barry M Rhossili, Grapefruit and Sally Hansen Petal Pusher.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

RA-Friendly Glitter Gradient and Water Decals Nail Art

07 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Nail Art, Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Did You Know?

Rheumatoid arthritis is often diagnosed late or after joint damage begins. Symptoms are often mistaken as having a less severe cause.

When I first noticed symptoms it was six months before my diagnosis. I sustained a wrist “injury” that took six months to heal. In retrospect, this type of problem should not have eaten away at my mobility, let alone over six months. This was a huge indicator of a larger problem. As the wrist healed, I noticed issues in my other joints.

Thinking even further back, I may have experienced symptoms during college! I lived on the third floor of my dorm and I thought my knees and ankles and hips hurt because I carried my textbooks and heavy backpacks up and down the stairs all day, all over campus. I was unhappy, excessively tired and I just assumed it was stress. How wrong was I?!

I was always healthy before this. I got the occasional cold and sinus infection but there was no indication I could be seriously ill. I just chocked these symptoms as “college life”.

Here’s a tip: NEVER EVER blog before you’ve taken your medications. I woke up at 5 am this morning because I needed to pee. Prednisone is a diuretic and the higher the dose, the more urgent my bladder becomes. I forgot I cannot drink water after 11pm at night before and well, I did. After I woke up I remembered I Love Lucy was on and then I was fully awake.

I thought about using my Dragon Dictate (voice recognition) software but didn’t? I have no good reason for not using it.

As a result of this second of stupidity, I was tired, run down, listless, today,..(heh! [minus the listless]) and I had a boatload of errands to run. So, today, I present a seriously RA-friendly nail art: sponged glitter and water decals.

 

Sponge Glitter and Water Decals | The Rite of Aging Early

 

Sponge Glitter and Water Decals | The Rite of Aging EarlyI started with 2 coats of Color Club Twiggie as my base.

I used a sponge tip applicator to apply a generous helping of Serum No. 5 Happy Special Day! to the cuticles.

I applied Pueen Cosmetics water decals to random fingers.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.