31DC2013: Days 8 & 9

Since I'm playing catch up (on blog posts, not on the challenge!) I'm going to combine a few days in the next couple of posts. In reality, I'm on day 16. Sigh. Oh well, here we go! Day 8! Metallic.

The colors used were Sally Hansen Golden -I and Sinful Colors Heavy Metal.

I was pretty uninspired again today. I saw so many wonderful Metallic creations on Instagram, but couldn't come up with my own! I was happy to be able to use some of my new star shaped studs!

Day 9: Rainbow! This has to have been one of my favorite days so far! It was a bit of a challenge, but fun at the same time! I used my Sinful Colors Sugar Rush collection for this mani. I started out with a base of Sugar Rush, like this:

The clouds on the pinkie and the thumb were so simple, I used a dotting tool! Starting with some very large dots, I added a series of small dots around each one, to create the cloud shape.

Next, I added the stripes of each color with a thin nail art brush. Once I added top coat, the colors seemed to blend together quite nicely! 

 I was pretty happy with this one! What do you think? Thanks for reading!

31Day Challenge - Day..... 7? Yikes!

So, really it's day 16! I can't believed I've slacked off this much on the posting! In reality, I haven't missed a day of the challenge. Every day has been done and sent off to Instagram and Facebook, but I'm quite behind on my blog posts! Okay, let's see... where did I leave off?! Day 7, Black & White. Day 7's nails were not my favorite.... but I'll share anyway. I had so many ideas, but for some reason none of them turned out quite right! The colors I used were my basics, Sinful Colors Snow Me White and Studio M Darkest Black.

 I started out with a base of Snow Me White, and covered about 3/4 of the nail with Darkest Black. It worked on the first two nails, I'm not quite sure what happened with my ring and thumb! After that I added a coat of glitter. Glitter cures all!! The glitter I used was China Glaze Glitz N Pieces.

So, definitely not one of my best creations. In fact, I'd probably call this one a #nailfail. Oh well, it's no big deal, since they will be replaced tomorrow!! Thanks for reading!

31DC2013 - Day 6: Violet

I had to be to work at 5:00 this morning, yet I still managed to get up and get my daily nails done! (Call me crazy if you'd like!!) As a result, Violet day wasn't quite as exciting as I'd hoped it would be, but it was at least sparkly! I like to say, when in doubt, use glitter! So that is just what I did. The color of the tips you see in the pictures almost looks like a neon green, but it most definitely was not. It is actually the same color as the glitter, believe it or not! The colors I used were Rimmel London Wild Orchid and Studio M Energy Star, along with Sinful Colors Lush Life.

 I started off with a base of Wild Orchid, then added Energy Star to the tips.

 Then I topped it off with Lush Life, to give it some sparkle!

Probably the easiest manicure you can do. What do you think of this one? <3 H
(By the way, I started this post on Friday, these nails were done on Friday. I have not missed a day of the challenge YET!)

31DC2013 - Day 5: Blue

I know, I know, I'm a day late! I'm not late on the challenge, just late on the posting! Oops! I had a busy day yesterday, ended up going to the Apple Orchard with Zoey, and we were just busy all afternoon. Then, I had to work at 5 this morning, so I went to bed early. Oh well. At least I got my nails done!! Today's challenge was blue! I knew exactly which color I wanted to use. It's my newest blue, and it's so bright and beautiful! These nails were really simple, and they didn't turn out at all how I wanted them to, but I was content with them. Especially since I knew they were only going to be on for 24 hours! The colors I used were Sinful Colors Endless Blue (One of my favorites!) Studio M Darkest Black and a silver Sinful Colors polish. (Can't remember the name of it right now.) I really LOVE this blue, it goes on so well, it takes two thin coats and dries very shiny. It's a really pretty color.

 I didn't like the first design, so I took it off and started over. Here's what I ended up with!

What do you think? Check back soon for Day6: Violet!

31DC2013 - Day 4: Green

I was pretty sad that there wasn't a "pink" day in this challenge, and I've been thinking of ways to incorporate my favorite color! Today's nails were going to be One Up Mushrooms from Mario, thanks to cutepolish on youtube. Unfortunately though, I was tired, and didn't have the patience for that! Instead, I decided to do something simple, yet still pretty. These are actually the first flower nails that I have ever done! I was amazed at how easy they were, and I was pleased with the results.

The colors I used were (suprise!) Sinful Colors Innocent, Sinful Colors Snow Me White, Studio M Neon Caution and Sinful Colors Sugar and Spice. 

 I started out with the basic colors, added a yellow dot for the center of the flower ( with my dotting tool.) and then added the pink dots around, to make a very simple, yet cute, pink flower. I added just a few little spots of green for the leaves.I really love the thumb, which was the easiest and cutest part of all! Thanks for reading! <3 H

31DC2013 - Day 3: Yellow

I had several ideas for yellow! After searching for some inspiration online, I decided to turn my fingers into mini Chucks! I have wanted a pair of yellow Converse high tops for quite some time, but have had no such luck in getting them. Yet. So, I thought I would make some! Of course, it's not the same, but this will work for now! :) Before I even begin, I will say that I thought these were cute overall, but I am really disappointed in how some of the lines turned out! Oh well, not too bad for a first time, I'll say! I'm really loving this challenge, and my reason to practice nail art! For this mani, I used Studio M Neon Caution, Sinful Colors Snow Me White and Studio M Darkest Black. Oh, and Rimmel London French Tip White. I started out with Snow Me White as the base: 

Sinful Colors Snow Me White

After painting the white base, I added in the yellow. I went about 3 quarters of the way down the nail with the yellow, to leave space for the white tip, the "rubber." After the yellow, the next step was super simple. Using my dotting tool, I added 6 black dots to each finger, to make the eyelets for the laces to "go through."

I thought they looked kinda cute already! I used the french tip white to make the laces. That was a lot easier than I thought it would be!

Last but not least, I used a black striping brush for the final lines, to complete the "shoe." Tell me what you think!

31DC - DAY 2: ORANGE!

 Today was day 2 of the 31DC that I am doing, thanks to inspiration from Sarah at Chalkboard Nails. This is her 3rd year in a row doing this challenge in September. I was so excited to see that the challenge was fairly simple, yet I knew that it would be a real challenge, especially since it's 31 days in a row. I have been "off" for the past few weeks, and had no inspiration to polish, so my nails were naked!!! I decided that this was a great way to get back on track. Nails Polished = Happiness! Yesterday was the first day, and the theme was red. I painted some cute ladybug nails, they were so simple, yet extra cute! Today the theme is orange! I had so many ideas for orange that I found! I didn't come up with this one until the end. Oh yeah, I created a new board on Pinterest for the inspiration for this challenge, the link is right here. Okie Dokie! The polishes that I used today were Sinful Colors Snow Me White, Sinful Colors Clementine and Sinful Colors Innocent.The glitter of the orange rind is Color Club Sparkle and Soar, from the 2012 Take Wing Collection.

Inside at night, with flash.

Inside at night, with flash.

Inside at night, no flash.

This design was very simple, and pretty self explanatory. To be completely honest, the hardest part was the little green leaf! What do you think? I was pretty happy with it! Cute and summery. Thanks for reading! :D ~H