52wkCrumpet31: Three neons

This is week 31 of Crumpet's 52 week challenge! The "rules" are very flexible and you have all week to accomplish the mani. As always, must be done on your own nails, using the colours suggested (or parts thereof).
This week's prompt: Oceanic and three neons (either each alone or combined). I chose the three neons and did a gel gradation skittlette design.

The base was a Luxio nude. On my left hand, two nails were painted in black then topped with a matte top coat. The inverted French were gradiented painted in neon pink and orange and I used the same technique for the flowers. The pinkie is a gradation of neon blue and black. Then I used a 3D technique to add some relief to the flower outlines and the French smile lines. And added Swarovski crystals for good measure!

On my right hand I created a full gradation mani from black through orange (and the tiniest bit of yellow). Note the big groovy heart crystal!! This is the first time for me to wear a larger crystal. I embedded it in clear gel and hope it will last! Though not soooo autumnal, I like the brights!!

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52wkCrumpet2: 3-tone gradient with pink hearts

This is week two of Crumpet's 52 week challenge! This is a great one as the "rules" are very flexible and you have all week to accomplish the mani. As always, must be done on your own nails, using the colours suggested (or parts thereof).
This week's prompt: three-tone gradient and pink (either each alone or combined). I combined.

I was in a bit of a quandary on what colours to choose for my three tone gradient. I had just worn blue and the time before red and brown. And also green. And I didn't want to do the sunset or butterfly gradient, again. So I decided to try a Zoya Pixie Dust gradient. That was ..... dumb. It is really hard to gradient pixie dusts as they have a lot of glitter particles in them that stick to the sponge. I keep forgetting that.

Even though the base looks predominantly green, there is a three tone gradient in there! I did start with a gently applied base of green (Zoya Vespa). The gradient is then achieved with Vespa, Zoya Godiva and OPI Solitaire. Solitaire (the white one) overpowers as it is also the tip of my nail. And Godiva is a faint tone, almost the colour of my nail bed. One coat of Out the Door and then a coat of Poshé. Pixies eat top coat and you could definitely feel the girt after just Out the Door. Poshé is nice and thick (and glossy and quick dry as well).

right hand

For the hand drawn hearts I used China Glaze Neon & On & On - this is one of my fav pinks. I painted them in different sizes and amounts, added a black one here and there. This was top coated again with Poshé to give a real gloss and smooth out the entire mani.
In the end I think the nails look like an advertisement for a game of bridge! Perhaps too Queen of Heartsy. The gradient is there, but quite faint. But in the shadows the hearts pop in neon!
Cheers girls x – looking forward to seeing all the others!

An InLinkz Link-up

52wkCrumpet1: 2-tone gradient teal with negative design on accent

This is the beginning of Crumpet's new 52 week challenge and I am so excited to begin again! This is a great one as the "rules" are very flexible and you have all week to accomplish the mani. As always, must be done on your own nails, using the colours suggested (or parts thereof).
This week's prompt: two-tone gradient and teal (either each alone or combined). I combined.

The base is Pahlish Sitting in a Tin Can. It is a great grey with a concrete aspect to it. Flecks of black and white embedded in the grey. Then I chose Manshong teal as my gradient colour. One coat of top coat brought it all together.

right hand

I decided to do two accent nails (ring on left, index on right) using a negative checkboard design with nuanced colouring. For the checkboard I used Layla CE50 grey (the Pahlish would not have been as effective), China Glaze For Audrey, basic black and the Manshong teal. I applied the tape to my nude nail (no base coat) and then used a tiny brush to fill in the squares. I top coated twice.

right hand

The grey and teal work well together and the darker Pahlish adds extra dimension. I really like the checkerboard in negative. Though fiddly, totally cool!
Can't wait to see what the others do! The more ambitious will do two prompts a week, but I am hoping to stick to one! Cheers girls! x

An InLinkz Link-up

Sixth day nail art school

Hi girls! Another full on day, and I didn't finish completely. After warm up I started in on new designs. Practiced on my pad before starting the first set. On the to-do list was a gradient with dolphins and palm tree. Neither are on my personal hit list but, hey, you'll never know what clients want.

The gradient is acrylic paint instead of polish, using a car sponge! Made for a very uneven surface, a polish base would have been helpful. And a smaller sponge. But who am I to question the schooling?! I added a glitter and top coat before continuing. Then the base of the dolphins and tree were drawn in black. The tree is a multipart endeavor for the feathering. It's a tad large, too.

White was added to the dolphins and then top coat. When dry the set goes on my board and I start a new set. Next on the list was freehand French as a bridal set using roses and rhinestones.

I ended up using white acrylic for the tips as the white polish was well beyond its use-by date, way too thick. Also, I would have applied a nude base before but, again, what do I know?! You can't top the white tip too much otherwise the tip is no longer white. Duh. So my design in the end will suffer but I think people will get it. My tips are nice, though, even and clean with simple strokes.

They were topped with a pale pink (I secretly topped up the white again, even though they thought it looked good). Then I started my roses. One each in white, then a fill in with different levels of pink. Then a second pink. Then time was up so I will finish tomorrow with leaves, pale background flowers and rhinestones (though I did place a couple of stones). Bye for now! x

French blue gradient tips with sparkle

This is what I would call my go-to mani for those days when you want some sparkle, just a little nail art (usually due to scheduling problems) and some elegance. I always think this is a very classy nail art solution. You can use almost any tip colour - from French white through darks. Maybe not black. Would look like dirty nails – or that you're trying too hard to be Lorde!

The base is the simple beautiful OPI Bubble Bath. One coat. That is enough to give a sheen to your nails as well as a nice base to work off of. I used OPI Unfor-greta-bly Blue for the tips. I sponge gradiented them in different areas. Trying this time to get more of a marble effect. Then the gradient "line" was covered with Zoya Electra. Top coat brings it all together.

And that was that. Easy peasy. Touch up on tip wear is fairly easy, if need be, with just sponging on some more blue and top coating. I will probably keep these on for this Saturday's market. They look a bit winter-y with the icicle type glitter and blue shimmer tips.
Today has been a bit of a non-event. The internet keeps shutting itself on and off. I heard from Internal Affairs and they need my actual birth certificate (vs an authorized copy). I spent three hours looking all over for it! Finally found it. Therefore, the day flew by with nothing much accomplished!!! To calm myself after my nice long walk to the post office, I made a red wine and thyme stew that is simmering on the stove.

piCture pOlish Color Storm-ed Amethyst

Am totally in a piCture pOlish extravaganza lately. I splurged and bought some newbies and a couple of basics that have been on my list for awhile. No, I could not wait until they were here in NZ, had to have "now"!

The base is two coats of Amethyst. This is a very interesting purple. pp calls it a denim purple – yeah, makes no sense to me, either! The purple has tiny holographic flecks in it that shimmer blue. So, kind of a denim-y sheen. I can see why it is so popular. Very unique. That said.... it could use three coats. I found the colour almost too sheer for my liking. Had tip wear after a shortish while and the unevenness of some of my nails crept through. Weird that.

I topped this in a cuticle gradient with the extremely exciting and totally groovy Color Storm. This is the most fab glitter!!!! In fact, the Mr thought I had done a dotticure. The pieces are round and multi-coloured. I fished a bit for some yellow but all in all, very good glitter distribution with just stroking on. There is a fine white glitter in the clear base and the round flecks are in the primary colours.

So, this mani was a winner! Really like the purple tone (even if it could be more opaque) and the combo with the glitter.

For those who have been following, life is now on the horizon! The end of the café era was yesterday. Done, dusted and over. After cleaning, scrubbing (on all fours on the floor!), mopping and what-not, the exit inspection went fairly well with only one gripe. The landperson is overly defensive, morally unfair, an ungrateful being. Just no one you want to associate with. The Mr was very nervous going in, I tried to stay calm but in the end did unfortunately let the b*tchy out. !! The Mr brought it back on track. There is just no pleasing the person, so who knew what could be found not up to "standard" (ha! The place was a dump when we took over). But, done. Keys gone. We celebrated with bubbles, relaxing in our lounge, fire roaring, in our home, in our life.