Tag Archives: Nail Art

#AtoZChallenge – O is for OPI!

22 Friday Apr 2016

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OPI’s polishes are sometimes a hit or miss for me. Some of the formulas and colors are fantastic, while others are just “meh”.

However, Guys & Galaxies, from their recent Starlight Collection, is one of my favorites. The formula is sheer and the color is similar if not a complete dupe for Sephora by OPI’s (SOPI) Mr. Right Now. This would not be a shock as both brands are OPI but it is nice to know there is another option since Sephora dropped OPI in favor of Formula X Nails.

opibottleFor today’s O post, I did a quick and simple stamping look!

I hope you like it!

 

opifingers

opiwobottleBase: OPI Guys & Galaxies

Stamping: Mundo de Unas Stamping Polish Copper, Pueen Cosmetics stamping plate PUEEN44, clear jelly stamper from Born Pretty Store

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#AtoZChallenge – N is for New Hobbies, Nails and Nail Art

18 Monday Apr 2016

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I jumped into the nail art and blogging world without an introduction. I never actually said how I got into nail art which really surprised a whole bunch of people.

 

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(above) Check out some of my nail art through the years!

Growing up, I was a huge tomboy. I wore boy’s clothing and makeup was not my best friend. I always loved nail polish but only wore it on my toes because (even then!) I hated chipped nails.

Fast forward 10 years, add a Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis and  I was placed on a medical leave after over-working. I had nothing to do for two weeks. I could marathon Netflix for days but two weeks? My brain would turn to mush. Reading was always a must but just like well, everything else, I got distracted by all the books and mixed up my plots!

I needed something else so I stopped by a nearby Ulta and picked up six Zoya polishes on sale. I spent all two weeks trying different combinations, different techniques, photographing….and the rest was history!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#AtoZChallenge – L is for Let the Beat Drop!

18 Monday Apr 2016

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No, I’m not super fly nor a good dancer but I am a good nail artist. So, for the L prompt I decided on a quick, easy nail art look. “Let the Beat Drop” is a fantastic neon glitter topper from the nail polish brand China Glaze!

I am so thrilled with how this glitter gradient turned out. It is a super RA-friendly look and the glitters just melted right into the base.

I hope you like it!

 letthebeatdropBase: Barry M Gelly Chai

Glitter Topper: China Glaze Let the Beat Drop

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Born Pretty Store – Clear Jelly Stamper | Review

10 Sunday Apr 2016

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Product provided for honest review.

Clear jelly stampers (CJS) are serious game changers for nail artists. Long gone are the days of hopefully applying stamps straight or in the right place only to find out I missed the entire nail. Now that the popular squishy stampers are clear I can see exactly what I’m doing.

Ever since CJS’ hit the market I wanted to purchase one. However, just as quickly, reviews, both good and bad also saturated the Internet. I could not justify that amount of money on something I basically already owned if it was just going to fall apart within a few uses. So, when I saw that Born Pretty Store had their own version I jumped at the chance to try it.

 

This stamper retails for $2.99 at the Born Pretty Store website and comes with a hard pink scraper which I personally never use since I prefer my more flexible card ones.

 

clearstamperI think my favorite part about this stamper is I can transfer the stamp straight onto the nail. The stamper head is squishy I do not have to roll it from side to side or up and down. This eliminates any stretching of the image.

 

stampingI did notice that this stamper is more temperamental than most. All squishy stampers are sensitive but this CJS is definitely more so. I have to make sure I use it on a completely flat surface or the image does not transfer from the stamping plate.

 

holi2I tried several polishes (metallics, cremes, and stamping polishes) and noticed some key differences. This stamper works well with thin, smooth colors but has trouble with glitter and shimmers.

When I used Mundo de Unas stamping polishes they left a melted, indented pattern on the stamper head. They didn’t destroy the integrity of the stamper and the stamper returned to its normal shape but I should probably keep an eye on it.

 

greenstampingAs of now, I have not experienced any deterioration (I use medical tape to clean and prime the stamper) but am very careful to keep acetone away from it.

I reach for this more than any other stamper and it has quickly become my favorite!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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#AtoZChallenge – E is for Easter Eggs | Nails

06 Wednesday Apr 2016

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I meant to post these at Easter but then I just forgot and didn’t. I got a second chance with the A to Z challenge!

I was hit with a bad sinus infection and slight fever two weekends ago so I was barely functional over the Easter weekend. I still wanted to do festive nail art so I decided on the quick, easy and (you guessed it) RA-friendly splatter paint technique. I love how these actually look like painted Easter eggs. The acrylic paint cracked just the way I wanted to!

I didn’t initially set out to use all Pahlish colors but when I realized they worked well with the base I just couldn’t help myself. How cool is it when this sort of thing happens!

I hope you like the look I came up with!

 

speckledeggsBase: assorted acrylic paints sponged over Formula X Nails White Matter

Splatter (from pinky to index finger): Pahlish Fevers and Mirrors, Le Bijou de Roi, La Royale, Reinette

Essie Polish Matt-e About You

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#AtoZChallenge – A is for Abstract, B is for Blue

02 Saturday Apr 2016

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This blog is first and foremost a nail art blog so who would I be if I didn’t add a few nail art looks to Blogging A to Z??

I don’t know how I will add them; whether they may go by brand, or technique, color or polish name but I’ll upload looks as I feel inspired.

Today I combined the abstract water-spotting technique with blue colors to satisfy the first two prompts of the challenge. As per usual, this look is very RA-friendly! I hope you like it!

 

aisforbisforBase: China Glaze UV Meant to Be

Water-spotting: Sally Hansen Blue My Mind, Zoya Severine

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Black and White Classic Marble | Nail Art

24 Thursday Mar 2016

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I’ve been dying to do a classic black and white marble ever since I purchased Pipe Dream Polish’s “Clearwater”! Every time I attempted one in the past the white and black polishes blended together. The final result lent a cool effect but it was never the look I had in mind.

I have to say, this came out exactly the way I wanted and I have an all new zest for water marbling!!!

I was going to reach for my usual white base polish SinfulColors “Whiteboard” when I came across my long forgotten “White Matter” by Formula X Nails. I have to say, this white is almost perfect! I get an even opaque  application after two coats. I received this sample with a Sephora purchase almost five or six months ago and the formula is still relatively thin and in good condition…it does pool into the cuticles but honestly that doesn’t bother me too much!

I hope you like this look!

bwmarbleBase: Formula X Nails White Matter

Marble: Wet n Wild Black Creme

Dots: China Glaze Pop the Trunk

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.