"This is Halloween" Jack-o-Lanterns

It's the 4th challenge in the "This is Halloween" nail art challenge. Today's theme: Jack-o-lanterns!

Last year I remember seeing these completely unique and awesome Jack-o-lantern nails over at Nails by Kayla Shevonne. I went to her blog searching because I remember she had a tutorial for them. Well, I found said tutorial and decked my nails out.

Jack-o-Lanterns

I added CHINA GLAZE Ghoulish Glow to the cut out parts of the jack-o-lanterns, but I had one heck of a time capturing the glow. Here is the "best" (and I use that term loosely) photo of it.

Colors used:
   • base color - CHINA GLAZE Liquid Leather
   • base color glitter - CHINA GLAZE Skyscraper
   • Jack-o-lantern cut-out color - SALLY HANSEN XTREME WEAR Sun Kissed
   • Jack-o-lantern cut-out color - CHINA GLAZE Roguish Red
   • glowing top coat - CHINA GLAZE Ghoulish Glow
   • I used white and black acrylic paints as well to make the orange pop on top of the black and then to cover up any mistakes and add detail to the shapes

Kayla is extremely talented and artistic and this design and tutorial are both fantastic. I absolutely love how it turned out. This is the epitome of Halloween nails.

Thanks for popping in!

Go Pink Wednesday - Pink Stripes with Pink Ribbon Accents

Today is another Go Pink Wednesday. Today's design sort of evolved as I was doing it. I originally was going to go with a table cloth sort of striping, but then decided I didn't want horizontal stripes. Then I decided to add the pink ribbon accents. I have lots of pictures so get ready!

pink stripes w/ pink ribbon accents

I'm actually quite pleased with this. :)

Colors used:
   • base color - SALLY HANSEN XTREME WEAR White On
   • stripes - ZOYA Kate
   • pink ribbons - CHINA GLAZE Go Go Pink

I absolutely love ZOYA Kate. It's one of my favorite polishes I own.

I free handed the stripes with an art brush and added the pink ribbon accents with the same brush. I had to do a few coats of Go Go Pink because it's so light to make sure it popped against Kate. I topped it all with Seche Vite.

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Thanks for popping in!

SALLY HANSEN XTREME WEAR White On

Hello and happy hump day. I have 2 posts today. I seperated this one because I did not have a swatch post of this polish, White On, yet. I will be posting the nail art I did over this right after.

Okay, so SALLY HANSEN XTREME WEAR White On is the color of the day. Just a typical white-out white. The formula is just okay. It needs at least 2 coats for full opacity. It's a nice clean white though.

SALLY HANSEN XTREME WEAR White On

Still looking for that awesome white that has full coverage in just one easy applicable coat.

Anyways, come right back because my Go Pink Wednesday post is coming up! Thanks for popping in.

"This is Halloween" Water Marble Challenge

Today is the 2nd day of the "This Is Halloween" nail art challenge and it's water marbling.

This technique is not one I have perfected by any means. I have 2 designs to share today, one is from last year and one is from today. I hope you enjoy!

Orange Water Marble

Colors used:
   • FANTASY MAKERS Creepy Pumpkin
   • ZOYA Arizona (base color)
   • SALLY HANSESN XTREME WEAR Sun Kissed
   • FINGER PAINTS Orange-Cordur

I had other plans for this manicure when I started out, but if you've done water marbling before than you know not all polishes work. I ended up going all orange because these colors worked the best in the water.

I also wanted to share with you the water marbling I did last year for Halloween when I wasn't actively blogging.

I added a cute skull decal I picked up from Sallys as an accent. The black certainly pops more and I was trying to use it in this years, but the polish refused to spread in the water.

Water marbling takes a lot of patience to be sure. I love how the end result is always unique and pretty. I do feel that I still need more practice with this technique.

Thanks for popping in!
I wish the inlinkz where different for each challenge, sorry the links are cluttered between two of the challenge days!

4th of July Mani

Happy Independence Day! I know my post is late. I was having a polish block. I didn't know what I wanted to do! I have seen so many great 4th of July manicures all over the place. I tried to do something cute to my toes and it ended up a horrible mess. So, I took a break and just recently finished up my manicure.

Of course my colors are red, white and blue. I went for an abstract star look. I started with a base coat of White On and then, using a small art brush, I did a rough freehand star-ish outlines.

4th of July abstract stars

Colors used:
   ● CHINA GLAZE Frostbite
   ● SINFUL COLORS Ruby Ruby
   ● SALLY HANSEN xTREME WEAR White On (300)

Very rough star-ish (emphasis on the "ish") outlines, indeed. Regardless, I think it's fun and patriotic!

I hope you all have a safe and fun holiday! HAPPY 4th OF JULY!

Thanks for popping in!

Red, Orange & Yellow + Crackle

Hello, lovelies. I hope you are all having a fine and dandy Friday.

Last night I painted my friend Stephanie's nails. I  sponged on an orange, red & yellow gradient which I topped with a black crackle (China Glaze Black Mesh).

Yellow, Orange & Red Gradient

Black CG Crackle on top

Colors used:
   • CHINA GLAZE Lemon Fizz
   • CHINA GLAZE Black Mesh
   • SINFUL COLORS Ruby Ruby
   • SALLY HANSEN xTREME WEAR Sun Kissed 150

Who says crackle has come and gone, pssh. Granted I do not see myself picking up any new crackles at this point in time, but that doesn't mean I can't still enjoy the ones I have! I've done Melissa's (my other sister) nails with crackle and she really liked it too.

Thanks for popping in!

Tie-Dye Accents

Happy Saturday, ladies!

I am loving this weather! I can't say the same for my 2 siberian huskies though who much prefer the cold and snow.

We did take them down to the Boardwalk though which they enjoyed. There were LOTS of huskies out that day!

Dpow is on the left & Amoki is on the right

Aren't our babies gorgeous?! Ok Ok, enough of being one of those people who fawn over their dogs...we have nails to discuss!

So, I did end up adding that nail art to Lemon Fizz yesterday. I'll jump right into it and show you because it makes me happy!

Isn't it PSYCHEDELIC?! I used this great tutorial. This look is achieved by gently dragging a small pin or needle through your still wet polish. I must have done mine a bit too hard because instead of smearing the colors it revealed the white underneath, but I still LOVE this. It's so fun and I remember making tie-dye shirts when I was younger. I did a small change to the base polish by removing Lemon Fizz on my thumb and ring finger and replacing it with China Glaze Papier Mâché to give myself a good base to make the colors for the tie-dye really pop.

Lemon Fizz & Papier Mâché

Colors used for tie-dye in order of use:
● FINGER PAINTS Papier Mâché
● CHINA GLAZE Lemon Fizz
● SALLY HANSEN XTREME WEAR Sun Kissed (150)
● JULEP Cameron
● ZOYA Sooki
● JULEP Anne
● CHINA GLAZE Frostbite
● CHINA GLAZE Holly-Day
● Topped off with Seche Vite

I definitely plan on trying this pin dragging art again. I think the look it makes is fabulous.

Well, thanks for popping in and enjoy the rest of your weekend!