January Wheel Spin

I am so glad I set up the wheel of nail art for ideas to get me going.  I have so many polishes that have never been worn that this is a great way to use them.  Anyway, when I spun the wheels this time, I got Teal as my color choice and Gradient as my design.

What I used:
*KB Shimmer - Meet Me At The Barre
*KB Shimmer - A Touch Of Glass
*KB Shimmer - Teal It To My Heart

I'm sorry to say that the pictures don't really do the color justice.  It was really pretty on though!

Thanks for stopping by!

26 Great Nail Art Ideas - Blue & Silver

Hello!  It's been quite a while since I have posted.  It's been really busy in my life, but I am starting the 26 Great Nail Art Ideas with the New Crumpets Nail Tarts.  The first prompt is Blue + Silver so, here we go:

The blue color combo makes me think of a Batman comic or something.  It's October, so I needed a little spookiness in there so I used Bundle Monster BM-S205 for the stamp.

If you've been here much, you know how much I love a gradient!  These colors all blended together nicely.  It's a spooky night manicure to get things started.

One last look.  Stay tuned for the next one!

Thanks for stopping by!

Plenty of Purple

Have I ever mentioned how much I am drawn to purple?  I simply love the versatility of it.  My nail polish collection is drowning in pink and purple!  How is it that there are so many different shades?  I have combined a bunch of purples for this mani!

I'm not even sure why I turned to purple for this look.  I guess I just wanted to show it some love.  You know I love a gradient look too!  Had I not been circling the nail art forums so many years ago, I wouldn't have known the beauty.  I love this community so much and everything it teaches me.  :)

I started with my usual base coat to protect my nails and then started with 2 coats of In A Lily Bit.  Once that was completely dry, I started the gradient.  I use a make-up sponge for my technique.  I put a stripe of each color on the sponge and lightly add it to each nail.  Once each layer is dry, I go back over it until I am happy with the color.

I can't even begin to express how much I love Winterberry!  It has the deepest color with such a hint of shimmer.  A lot of people like to do gradients with only 2 colors, which are absolutely stunning.  I, somehow, typically gravitate towards three colors.  For my accent nail, I applied 2 coats of Stevie to my ring finger.  In my opinion, Zoya makes the best textured polishes.  They can be worn with a top coat (which is my preference).

Once the polish is dry, I put a layer of Seche Vite on to even out the color and to prepare for stamping.  I used BM-711 for this image.  I love the fine lines and MDU Copper was a perfect accent.  Another layer of Seche Vite finished this pretty manicure off.

I also, for the first time ever, stamped my big toe while I did a matching pedicure.  It is the first time I have been able to bend that far over since having 2 major back surgeries two years ago.  That was fun!  Not to fret, I won't ever post a picture of my feet on here.  Thanks for stopping by!

Cranberries In The Sand

I wanted to do something with a neutral color and red.  That is all I had to work with for this design.

I ended up with cranberries lounging on the beach.  LOL  That is all I can think of when looking at this.

Wocka Wocka! is just divine!  The color is irresistible and it paired wonderfully with On Taupe of the World.  I used a make-up sponge to apply these two colors over a base of the ULTA nude.  I did this on ALL of my nails then added the glitter only on the accent nail - with a make-up sponge to get the glitter spread out without the weight of the clear base.

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One thing I learned on this manicure is that Seche Vite will spread the red color!  I lost a couple of fingers on my non-swatching hand learning how to really "float" the top coat on.  Once I had that down, it was much better!

Tea Party #1

I was never a tea party kind of girl...I never played that as a kid and I haven't ever been to one as an adult.  I guess I am deprived...  I do like tea though!

I am starting my research on inspiration for this challenge and found an image that caught my eye as it was beautiful, yet non-traditional.  I found this on Pinterest and would have provided the link back to it but it was dead.  :(

Using this as a guide, I went to my swatchcicles and picked out a few beauties:

• Mash-41 (stamping plate)
• Mundo de Unas Bronze (stamping polish)
• Zoya Gaia
• Revlon Midnight Affair

I started with 2 coats of Gaia, which is my favorite off-white polish (ever)!  I put a coat of Seche Vite on top of that to seal it and prepare for the gradient.  I applied the blue gradient with a make-up sponge that had both the colors on it to get a smooth transition.

Once I had the blue the way I wanted it, I put another coat of Seche Vite on to prepare for stamping.  I tried really hard to center the stamp and I was pleased with how it came out!  I chose the bronze over the gold because I felt it had a warmer quality to it.

Once the stamp was dry, I added the last layer of Seche Vite to seal it all in.  There is a lot of polish on these nails this time around.  

I hope I can find some other feasible inspiration pieces looking around!  The women in this challenge are amazing!  Be sure to check them out below!

Catching up: Lilac Lovliness

I might just love purple more than pink.  Did I just say that out loud?  It is really hard to choose sometimes!  This mani is a simple purple gradient.  That's it...nothing too fancy.  BUT, I loved it!

• Ulta Tutu Cute
• Some unknown polish
• Ulta Vintage Violet

I used Milani White as an undie to make the colors vibrant and began sponging on layers until I got the desired effect.  Topped with a coat of Seche Vite and it's done.  :)

The Lone April Tri-Polish Challenge Entry

Hi everyone!  It has been a while since I posted!  I missed you so much.  I wish I could say that I will be back on a regular basis but things are crazy busy at work and it is taking up more and more of my time these days.
April's Tri-Polish Challenge colors are yellow, pink, and blue.

I chose:

• Ulta Sun-Sational
• Orly Hawaiian Punch
• Ulta Blue Streak

I literally picked these colors blindly.  I closed my eyes and went to my swatch sticks and used what I picked.  It really worked in my favor though.  I personally think any colors can make a beautiful gradient.

I started with my white undie polish: Milani White then used one coat of Sun-Sational.  After a layer of Seche Vite, I began the gradient.  I use a make-up sponge and put a stripe of each color on it and dab away.  This was about 4 passes of the sponge.

These colors blended together nicely!  I decided to add an accent stamp too.  As much as I reminded myself to stamp the butterfly going the other way so that when I take the picture you see it right-side-up but I still managed to do it wrong.  Oh well!  This butterfly is on RA-119 and has some great detail in it.

So...never mind that wonderful blemish on my middle finger.  I squished my finger between my laptop and my phone at work the other day and that is my reminder of how dumb I am!  It's a blood blister and since I tend to heal slowly, it will be sticking around for a while.

Be sure to check out the other lovelies who worked hard on their Tri-Polish Challenge mani's this month!

French Manicure Revisited

I think my last "classic" french manicure was about a year ago.  I enjoy them so much!  I have always thought they were so clean and pretty.  I have been doing my nails since I was in high school and would you believe that I never knew what "pink & white" was until about 3 years ago!  I always wondered why, when I had acrylics done, mine were never very pink, but more of a beige color.  Anyway, a french manicure is the driving force behind my love for nail art.  So, in my desire to see the sun amongst all of these cold, windy and snowy days, I did another french manicure.  They make me happy, what can I say?  I used some old and unused polishes too.

• Wet 'n' Wild Never Been Kissed
• Color Club Take Me To Your Chateau
• UNKOWN PINK (does anybody know what this is?)
• China Glaze Fairy Dust

I started this mani with 2 coats of Take Me To Your Chateau then a layer of Seche Vite.  Once that was dry I did a gradient of the 2 pinks and the white.  Let me just say that this white has ALWAYS been my favorite for french manis.  I'm pretty sure I have had this polish for more than 5 years now.  

I applied the gradient with a make-up sponge as I always do.  This is about 4 passes on the nails.  Once that was dry, I added a coat of the Fairy Dust then another layer of Seche Vite to seal it all in.

I am so in love with this manicure that I am not sure when I will take it off!  I can't stop looking at them.  They look like acrylics!  I love it when people get that look of shock and awe when they ask you who does your nails, only to be followed by "those are your real nails?!".