Just Playing Around

Hey, ladies! I hope you all are fairing well this Friday the 13th. I was trying to play around some with my nails. I didn't really know what I was trying to do and it turned out a bit wonky, but I wanted to share it with you anyway. I like the colors in it a lot. They're all Zoya, of course.

So, I tried nail dragging again. The first time I did this was here when I did tie-dye accents, which I loved! Well, honestly this is no where near as cool looking as those. Oh, why don't I just show you already! :-P

Colors used:
   ● ZOYA Midori
   ● ZOYA Robyn (base color)
   ● ZOYA Zuza
   ● ZOYA Bevin

I did not use a top coat because I liked the texture the needle left in the polish. I think the coloring is very aquatic. So, basically the color combo is all I really like about this. I'm not exactly stoked with the way it looks. Eh, you win some you lose some. Nail polishing can be quite the finicky art.

Thanks for popping by!

Butterfly Gradient Skittles

Welcome back, ladies! Boy is it HOT outside today. It's going to get even hotter as the week goes on for us here in VA. I decided on doing more nail art today. My last nail post I did ladybugs, today I have butterflies! This one is also a re-creation from a Pintrest find originally done by Beads. Nails. Food. Pairing the gradient with the butterfly look was so gorgeous I immediately bookmarked it in my head to do later. I have been getting a nice little collection of shimmer polishes so I decided to pair a shimmer with a corresponding color for my gradient. Lots of polishes and pictures for this one so hunker down there, girls.

Butterfly Gradient

butterflies and flowers (that's a Gerbera daisy from my garden)

Little Miss Amoki admiring Momma's nails from afar.

Dpow smelling the daisy

Skittle Gradients before butterfly-ification

Colors used:
   ● thumb: ZOYA Midori w/ ZOYA Ivanka
   ● pointer: ZOYA Arizona w/ ZOYA Myrta
   ● middle: ZOYA Lolly w/ ZOYA Kimber
   ● ring: ZOYA Robyn w/ ZOYA Charla
   ● pinky: JULEP Anne w/ ZOYA Zara
   ● KONAD Special Polish in Black
   ● White Acrylic

all the polishes I used for this look!

I told you I used a lot! It took a while to achieve this look. I started with 2 coats of each base color (the ones listed first under colors used) and let it completely dry. I then used a small makeup sponge and applied the shimmery colors (second colors listen under colors used) on the tips down partially to the middle of each nail. I let this dry and then applied Seche Vite. It helps to use a top coat before adding nail art so if you mess up it's easier to remove your mistake without mussing up your base color too much. After that was dried I used my small art brush and freehanded the black butterfly lines and then added the dots with white acrylic using my dotting tool. After the detailing was COMPLETELY dry, I topped once again with Seche Vite to smooth out the look and help make it last. When adding top coat over any sort of nail art be sure it's 100% dry. If it isn't, the drag from the brush can smear your work.

Phew! Hope you could follow all of that. I love my summer toes and nails! I kind of have a mixture of things going on here; skittles, gradient, nail art... :-)

Thanks for popping in!

Red, White & Blue Stringy Mani

Hello my lovely readers. I am keeping with my Memorial Day Weekend theme and went with a patriotic Red, White & Blue manicure. I tried out a technique that is new to me and I really don't know what it's properly called. I am going to refer to it as a stringy mani, but I have also seen it called the "sugar spun technique" and simply a "slim line" mani. I came across this tutorial video through another blog, though I cannot recall whose. Manicurator's April Showers Brings May Flowers - Rainbowl is probably my favorite stringy manicure.

Colors used:
   ● ZOYA Tosca
   ● ZOYA Robyn
   ● FINGER PAINTS Papier Mâché

This was no quick and easy mani. It took a long time and I will let you in on a little secret - my right hand looks nothing like my left! Don't you hate when that happens? It looks more like a splatter mani. However, now that I've done it I can perfect on it! I love the look of stringy manis and I plan on using this technique again.

Thanks for popping in!

ZOYA Robyn and Maisie

T.G.I.F!!! right?! Today I switched from greens to blue! Yay. I picked out ZOYA Robyn and Maisie as part of Zoya's Earth Day Exchange. Robyn is even more gorgeous than I thought. It's freaking fantastic! It really pops in the sun too. I am pre-warning you I have lots of pictures to share today. :-)

Robyn is an intense turquoise cream polish with an incredible sheen. I applied 2 coats of Robyn to achieve an even look and topped with seche vite. I did have some small issues with a little bit of bubbling, not sure what caused it. Prepare yourself for this beautiful blue...

direct sunlight

artificial lighting

in the shade

ZOYA Robyn ♥

All of the pigment in this polish just blows me away. I added Maisie as opposite accents on both of my hands. What I mean is that my left hand I have it on my ring and thumb, and my right hand it's on my pinky, middle and pointer. Maisie is one of Zoya's Fleck Effect Top Coats. It reflects a shifting turquoise and green color effect that is super fun.

Robyn ♥ Maisie

ZOYA Maisie over Robyn

I am so pleased with today's manicure. I LOVE the color. It's such a flirty blue that is bright and cheerful and is perfect for spring.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend and thanks for popping in!

** I just noticed that even though I said I went from green to blue that Maisie still has the green in it! It REALLY has been a green week!