Tag Archives: Nail Art

#31DC2013 Day 2: Orange Nails

03 Tuesday Sep 2013

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Today’s 31 Day Challenge nail prompt is orange nails!

31DC2013

It is very Halloween but I love the bright orange, white and black combination so I decided to keep things simple.

Orange Nails prompt

Orange Nails prompt

I started with two coats of Color Club “Wham! Pow!”.

I applied two coats of Milani “Sprinkles”. The second coat I dotted on extra pieces to fill any gaps.

I used Bundle Monster plate “303” and Wet n Wild “Black Creme”. The stamp came out very light so I went over it with a brush.

I finished the look with Cult Nails “Wax That” top coat. I am not a huge fan of the matte finish top coats but I like Cult Nails’ wax top coat because it is a very subtle matte effect. It dries and works quickly which is always a plus!

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#31DC2013 Day 1: Red Nails

02 Monday Sep 2013

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I not only decided to do the Nail Art Ideas Link-Up, more information here, but also I decided to try my hand at the 31 Day Challenge.

Click on the image to see original post.

Click on the image to see original post.

I am already behind by one day but this would have been my idea for the “Red Nails” prompt.

#31DC2013

Red Nails Prompt

I used two coats of butter London “Knees Up” for my base color.

I used a small artist’s brush to swipe a line in Color Club  “Warhol” and Cult Nails “Feel Me Up”. I then mixed the two colors and added a gentle swipe in between them for a linear gradient look.

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art Ideas Link-Up: September Week One – Back To School

02 Monday Sep 2013

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I am taking part in this awesome Nail Art Ideas Link-Up (NAIL) hosted by Eeeek! Nail Polish!

For this first week I decided to take inspiration from my wonderful university Colorado State University!

Ram Pride

Let’s Show Some Ram Pride!

I painted my index, middle and pinky finger with two layers of Zoya “Goldie”. I sponged the tips with Zoya “Suvi”. To maximize the sponging in the middle I lightly sponged Chanel “Peridot”. I love Peridot because depending on the light it will look gold or green. Perfect for some Ram Pride!

I water-marbled my ring finger with the same colors. I wanted an accent nail to look different but not overwhelmingly so.

I used a toothpick to dot Color Club “Almost Famous” and “Twiggie”.

Finished off with INM “Northern Lights” top coat.

Enjoy!

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: All in my Mind?

29 Thursday Aug 2013

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To see the accompanying post click here.

For this nail art I wanted to show my frustration. Whenever I do not see visible signs of swelling I always feel like a hypochondriac. It makes me wonder how much of this is in my mind. The fire represents the frustration I always feel and the little devil represents the insecurities that plant themselves and grow.

I apologize for the messy cuticles. I tried water-marbling before I did the fire. I also apologize for my index finger. I have not been able to shape it quite right recently.

Fiery Frustration and the Demons in my Mind

I started with three coats of Sephora by OPI “Metro Chic”. It is a very runny, sheer color and it does not reach full opacity before three coats. 

I then used a skinny artist’s brush to create the flames in Milani “Foxy Lady” (dark red), Color Club “Almost Famous” (yellow), “Wham! Pow!” (orange), and “Poptastic” (pink).

I applied one coat of INM “Northern Lights”. I like how it makes it look like there are sparks flying from the flames.

I used Bundle Monster plate “305” and Wet n Wild “Black Creme”.

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: When I Was a Child…

28 Wednesday Aug 2013

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When I was a child, I loved art-related activities. One of my all time favorites was ScratchArt.

Do you remember ScratchArt? A black waxy substance covered a multi-colored piece of paper. You scratched away the wax coating to show the colors underneath.

I decided to try doing a ScratchArt-inspired nail art.

ScratchArt

This nail art was tricky. It was important that each layer of nail polish dried completely or the colors got muddy.

I started with two coats of Essie “Blanc”. I added Seche Vite top coat. I did this so I would not rub down to bare nail.

I applied two coats of Zoya “Reece”, “Crystal”, “Goldie” and Urban Outfitters “Blue Velvet”. Urban Outfitters is so pigmented I only used one coat.

I ended with two coats of Wet n Wild “Black Creme”.

I used Q-tips soaked in nail polish remover to gently rub away the polishes. I used an upward stroke towards the tip of the nail. I did not rub the Q-Tip back and forth because the colors mix together.

I used fresh Q-tips for every two or three swipes to get sharp color contrast. They needed to be totally soaked in polish remover or the colors mix.

Did you ever use ScratchArt as a kid?

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: Bright Lights in the Tunnel

25 Sunday Aug 2013

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I have been overwhelmingly low recently so I have not prepared any posts. I finally got myself to paint my nails. I decided to go bright colors in hopes that I might feel better.

I started with two coats of Essie “Blanc”. I then used the cling-wrap method to splotch the colors on top. For the colors I used Urban Outfitters “Westside”, Milani “Peacock”,  and OPI “Red Lights Ahead…Where?”. I alternated adding the colors in dots and stripes just to see if the effect would be different. It splotched the same.

Bright Cling-Wrap Mani

I let the colors dry for about 30 seconds before adding a very thin layer of butter London “Knackered”. I cling-wrapped lightly. It added a little shimmer without being too overwhelming. It is a very sheer color so it did not affect the colors underneath. I finished the look with a coat of Seche Vite Top Coat which softened the look and then added a coat of INM Northern Lights Holographic Top Coat. It is an amazing glitter top coat. The shimmer is very sparse and subtle. It adds a little finishing touch.

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: A Little Too Circular

22 Thursday Aug 2013

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After my last post I had circles on the brain.

Since June 2011 (when I was diagnosed) I have noticed certain patterns: In June, I laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of how my life has turned out; in August, my mood drops; in November, I worry about how my body will react to the weather and if I will get sick; February is always an awful month; between April and June, I am the happiest. 

When I worked two jobs I drove in a circle. I started at home, I drove to the first job, took the road that connected both jobs, and then I took the highway back home in the evening. A diamond without the sharp edges. 

It is unfortunate that my health is tied to my father’s but that is how life is. As Newton’s Third Law of Motion states: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Urban Outfitters “Blue Velvet” over Milani “Peacock”

I apologize for my sloppy stamping, I am still practicing getting the polish onto the rubber stamper.

For this nail art, I applied two coats of Milani “Peacock”. This has a fantastic formula for a pastel blue creme. It is not goopy or runny and has the right consistency for an even, thin layer. It dries quickly which is always a plus.

I used a bobby pin to apply dots of Milani High Speed Fast Dry “Quick Teal” and OPI “Red Lights Ahead…Where?”.

I used Bundle Monster’s plate “322” and Urban Outfitters “Blue Velvet”. This was such an impulse buy. I was itching to buy a new nail polish and I was standing in line at the Urban Outfitters check out. For four dollars I thought ‘why not buy one?’.  Honestly, I did not expect to like this polish. I mean, most times you get what you pay for! This polish is absolutely amazing. The polish is on the thinner side. That is my personal preference. It is easier to apply even coats and I do not need as steady a hand. By itself it is absolutely electric. I am not a huge blue fan for my nails but I really love this color.

Urban Outfitters “Blue Velvet”

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.