Tag Archives: Nail Art

The 31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017 – #31DC2017) Day Four: Nature-Inspired Green Double Stamped Nails

04 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by in Beauty, Nail Art, Reviews

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What is there to say about green except it represents nature, growth and health. I feel at peace and happy when I am outside and in nature. I miss the days when I could hike for hours, kayak and rock-climb outdoors. Now, it seems like a distant memory.

I really love the look I came up with for today’s 31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge. I used one of my favorite Born Pretty Store stamping plates (in general, they make some very cute leaf designs). I double-stamped on top of my new Chanel polish in Fantastic which is a funny neon. Over a white base it pops but on it’s own it is your average bright green. Though, for this look, it’s exactly the color I neede. Can you see this as a print for a bag? I definitely can!

As per usual, don’t forget to check out the Inlinkz below and use the social media hashtag #31DC2017 if you participate!

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31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) - Day Four: Nature Inspired Double Stamped Green Nails (#31DC2017)

Base: Chanel Fantastic

Details: OPI I Drive a SuperNova, Zoya Olivera, Born Pretty Store plate BPL-026

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The 31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) – Day One: Red – #31DC2017

01 Friday Sep 2017

Posted by in Nail Art

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This year I’m trying something a bit different. I will match each look with something RA-related. I am not sure I can for every single color but I will try my darn-dest!

For the first day, I went with a simple ombre red with some sort of abstract design. Yes, specific, aren’t I?? This look represents every single blood draw I sit through for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. Techs prick me at least twice a month, sometimes more. They are so consistent that the vein in my left arm is permanently inflamed. You know how after you exercise your veins pop out and you feel “pumped”. That’s what the vein on my inner elbow looks like all the time.

Funny story: My blood has bled these four shades before depending on my health and hydration levels…Have you experienced the same thing?

Anyways, check out the Inlinkz below to see all the other cool designs and don’t forget to use the social media tag: #31dc2017!

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31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) - Day One: Red Ombre and Glitter Accent Nails31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) - Day One: Red Ombre and Glitter Accent Nails

(from pinky to index)

Base: OPI Guys & Galaxies, Ro-Man-ce on the Moon, SinfulColors GoGo Girl, Revlon Parfumerie China Flower

Glitter Accents: Born Pretty Store Shine in the Dark, OPI Ce-less-tial is More

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge – 2017!

30 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Nail Art

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Wow, how time flies…It feels like just yesterday I participated in the last 31 day challenge!

This is arguably the biggest challenge of the year. Nail artists across the globe participate and share their gorgeous looks on blogs, Instagram and Twitter. Use the nail art social media hashtag: #31dc2017 to ensure everyone sees your designs!

Every day in September we tackle a open-ended prompt and create looks to our heart’s content. Of course, in true Monica with RA fashion, I stick to primarily arthritis friendly looks because that is a lot of small motor function for a month!

Here is the badge I will use on my blog but there are four more here. Save it, share it, use it and participate! The more the merrier, always!

31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge - September 2017

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Born Pretty Store Review – Plaid Water Decal Nails (+ Tutorial)

27 Saturday May 2017

Posted by in Nail Art

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Products provided for review. All opinions remain my own.

As you guys very well know, I swear by water decal nail art. Water decals are easy to use, create incomprehensibly complicated looks and make you/feel look like a professional artist. They are perfect for autoimmune and chronic pain sufferers.

Look, the truth of the matter is us Spoonies love beauty but many of us can’t manage the physical aspect of it. That’s where these great nail art hacks, like water decal nails, come into play.

Scroll down for photos and a quick review on these inexpensive and cute plaid decals from Born Pretty Store.

When I saw these plaid designs I couldn’t help but place them in my cart. I have a soft spot for water decals and for plaid so if you combine them, you have my heart!

I was very impressed with these decals. I soaked them for only a few seconds and detached them easily from their backing. I had no issues placing them and they did not move around once I did. I did not experience bunching or creasing. I did experience a bit of tearing near the edges but, given the pattern, it was barely noticeable.

The best part about these is the white color is completely opaque!! I did not need a base color, just a base coat, and I was all set. So many wins and so little polish wasted!

What do you think? Is this something you’d wear? Scroll to the bottom for my water decal tutorial!

 

Born Pretty Store Full Nail Water Decal Review in PlaidBorn Pretty Store Full Nail Water Decal Review in PlaidBorn Pretty Store Full Nail Water Decal Review in Plaid

Born Pretty Store Full Nail Plaid Water Decals

 

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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Stars Shining So Bright || Born Pretty Store Nail Art & Review

11 Thursday May 2017

Posted by in Nail Art

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Items provided for review.

Contains some affiliate links.

Nail vinyls or pattern guides are extremely useful if you have arthritis. With quick easy placement and a little dab dab dab of polish you get minute patterns that are definitely not possible during flares. The guides make intricate details into simple nail art designs without the work or precision. These create the perfect arthritis friendly nail art.

Of course, go figure, my experience with vinyls is rather limited for a couple of reasons. First, the designs are usually too big for my nails and second, I prefer unrestrained designs over patterns.

However, when I saw these small vinyls on Born Pretty Store I hard to try them because these really had to be small enough and I just love stars. Scroll through for my thoughts on this product.

This looks also serves for one of the 26 Great Nail Art Ideas Challenge – Yellow with a bright bold color. Nothing says bold like black on yellow. Right? Don’t forget to check out everyone else’s looks. There are some really great ones this week!

Interested? Check out cutepolish’s tutorial at the very end of the post.

 

Born Pretty Store Stars - Nail Vinyl/Guide ReviewThese vinyls are ultra-sticky. Generally, pattern guides are only slightly tacky so they don’t uproot the polish underneath so to make sure this didn’t happen I let my polish dry for at least two hours. That’s a little long, in my opinion. However, that being said, the stickers stick so well that polish does not seep underneath and I get a very crisp line after pulling them off. The smudges you see are solely my human-error.

Another plus, is these actually fit my nails! I don’t just get one full star and maybe a couple of points here and there. I get enough that I see the repeating pattern. Win.

I’ll definitely use these guides again. I get extra use out of one pack because I cut one sticker in half and use it on two nails! Yes, my nails are that short.

 

Born Pretty Store Stars - Nail Vinyl/Guide ReviewBorn Pretty Store has really upped their game over the last couple of years. I’ve been reviewing their products for two years and have noticed a definite difference in the quality of their products. Even with that, their prices remain low. I am pretty sure they have some of the lowest prices!

Go check out their huge nail art selection here and if you choose to place an order don’t forget to use my 10% off discount code because, why not save a little money.*

 

Born Pretty Store Stars - Nail Vinyl/Guide Review with Zoya OpalBase: American Apparel Neon Yellow (discontinued), Zoya Opal (discontinued)

Details: SinfulColors Secret Admirer, Born Pretty Store Star Pattern Vinyls

 

SinfulColors in Secret Admirer  Born Pretty Store Star Pattern Nail Vinyl Guides

 

 

 

 

 

*I do not get any compensation when people use my discount code. It’s just there for my followers benefit!

Born Pretty Store 10% off code

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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All About the Fire || Nail Art

08 Monday May 2017

Posted by in Nail Art

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The most arthritis friendly nail art design is the one I don’t even paint on my nails, right?

There is a relatively new technique called “drip marbling” which is very similar to acrylic paint marbling.

I create a design on a flat plastic surface. Once it dries, I cut it into smaller pieces and apply them to my nails as decals. It a very simple nail art technique but yields a beautiful result. I showcase water decals and no-water marbles on my blog all the time so I bit the time bullet and tried out this new to me style.

 

Interested in how to do this? Scroll to the bottom for a wonderful tutorial by my favorite nail art YouTuber, Colette!

 

 

Fire Drip MarbleThis is exactly what I was going for: an irregular marble without any muddiness. It kind of reminds me of lava…

 

Fire Drip Marble side viewI  love the end result but these decals are thick which is to be expected when using so much polish.

 

Fire Drip Marble 3Base: Wet n Wild Black Creme, China Glaze Fairy Dust

Marble: SinfulColors Gogo Girl (true red), Feel the Vibe (orange), Chick Chick (yellow) – discontinued*, OPI Nail Lacquer Guys & Galaxies

 

China Glaze Fairy Dust     Wet n Wild Black Creme     OPI Guys and Galaxies     SinfulColors Gogo Girl     SinfulColors Feel the Vibe     sinfulcolors chick chick

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

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Sugar, Spice and Sweets || Nail Art

03 Wednesday May 2017

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I’ve had these water decals in my stash for ages but every time I sat down for a Instagram community challenge I just couldn’t find use for them. Lately, I’ve taken a step back from challenges and just paint my nails as an idea hits me!

I hope you enjoy this extremely simple, arthritis-friendly look. Water decals are seriously a pain sufferer’s best friend. All you do is dip them in water, position them on the nail, top coat it and done. And now that water decals are all the rage in the nail art world you can get them in almost any design or character. Not exaggerating. They are the perfect nail art hack.

 

sweets3.jpgHow neon are those pink dots? This Color Club polish does not look particularly neon in the bottle but it pops in the sun! (Well, it was part of the Pop-tastic collection so I can’t be surprised!)

 

sweets2I get so hungry just looking at these nails!

 

sweets1Base: Zoya Charlotte (discontinued), SpaRitual Bismuth (discontinued)

Decals: Born Pretty Store Cake Pattern Water Decals – 011

Details: Color Club Poptastic (discontinued)

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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