Blue Skies

I had to give the clouds a try. Since I am missing sunny skies…. I created my own. Very cute design.

OPI “What’s With the Cattitude” (Shrek Collection)
w/ acrylic paint (white & yellow)

#period.

The actual size of my nailbed, I realize, just doesn’t have THAT much space.

I have a difficult time appreciating extensive nail art with 3D ornamentry (lol, I KNOW it’s not a word – yeah, yeah, ornamentation).

Simply because of the limited area on a fingernail, visually digesting a bunch of rhinestones and feathers, numbers and letters, all at once, is just way too overwhelming for my personal taste…. and thus was born:

the dot

OPI “Black Onyx”

lol.

It was such a statement, I just couldn’t add more. and I love it.

#period

#thatisall

Shelle’s dots

Nov27 by Cheryl Cheryl

My sister finally let me do her nails. She’s more conservative in her approach to color…. I run on the “loud” side of the color spectrum. So we had to have a pre-manicure conversation. I had to remind her that if she didn’t like it……… she could always just take it off…That speaks clearly to how different our tastes are, lol.

She chose a more subtle and cool color approach to her polish color and dotting choice:

OPI “Moon Over Mumbai” w/acrylic paint dots

China Glaze–“Turned Up Turquoise” (neon) (matte)

Nov25 by Cheryl Cheryl

I’m starting to believe that nail polish companies do what they can to keep top coat polish makers in business. Matte colors should NOT bother me…. but they do. I like the brilliance and shine on a freshly painted nail. I attempted to purchase a mattifier top coat… but I couldn’t make myself purchase it. Maybe one day… *shrugs*.

…So, I added a brilliant topcoat shine with Seche Vite to this color too….

At any rate…. This China Glaze “Turned Up Turquoise” is beautiful. I think this is supposed to be a “summer color” but why limit yourself? Life is too short not to have fun…whenever you want!

This color looks so much “greener” to me in real life. Photos seem to only pick up the blue.

China Glaze “Turned Up Turquoise” (Neon)

acrylic paint dots…. Smile

OPI–“You Don’t Know Jacques!”

Nov24 by Cheryl Cheryl

I love requests for polish….. this one I especially loved. This was a wonderful impromptu selection…from an incredible “selector.” The request started as: “a nice warm, autumn-like color, let’s say a gray”…. then the request progressed to a “rich chocolate”.

The result: better than I could have EVER chosen by myself. Perfect for the season and the Thanksgiving holiday.

(this one’s for you… Winking smile …)

OPI – “You Don’t Know Jacques!”
w/ Sinful Colors – “Timbleberry” flower petals

I have SO much to be thankful for! Too many things to count on my happily manicured fingers Smile .

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

China Glaze–“Trendsetter”

Nov23 by Cheryl Cheryl

I needed a cute design to brighten my day because I feel icky. I think I’m fighting the flu and I am not a happy camper. Found a video on nail art created with toothpicks….. came home and tried it:

China Glaze “Trendsetter” with acrylic paint flowers nail art

The little flower seems like the highlight, but this China Glaze color, in all it’s drab undertone, has a BEAUTIFUL shimmer. Little eensy weensy, tiny flecks of gold meandering all through the liquid.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Colors

Nov22 by Cheryl Cheryl

As you can well tell, I’m a Sally Hansen fan! They really have a good thing with their polish formulations. And they have been around FOREVER. I remember my grandmother using the Sally Hansen hardener in the rounded bottle with the pink tint when I was really young…. and that was eons ago. lol. So this brand has staying power. And that stuff is still widely used.

When I was willing my nails to grow and retain length earlier this year, I happened upon the Insta-Dri line of polishes. TIMESAVER! It fulfilled a few goals: 1)pretty nails 2)super low time-commitment 3)frequent change.

It took about 5 minutes for me to manicure my nails from start to finish with these polishes. The very wide brush applicator covers nearly the entire nail, so in just a few sweeps of color you’re done. And it dries within a minute. Smudge possibility: minimal! I generally use two coats, but the polishes have great coverage, so it’s very possible to only need one coat.

When my nails are at their "working length" I chip polish off the tips almost daily…. so I’m consistently changing the polish. Plus, I constantly pick at the polish from the cuticle side of my nails (very bad habit, you should not do this), so my polish never has a huge chance of survival… :-/. The quick-dry feature of this polish solved the issue of not having time to do my nails. Now there is no good reason not to polish your nails.

And this line has a broad range of colors to choose from. Something for everyone.

You have 5 minutes to spare?? Polish your nails!

“Racey Rouge”

“Jade Jump”

“Mint Sprint”

“Snappy Sorbet”

“Snappy Sprinkles”

("Snappy Sprinkles "over OPI "I’m Not Really A Waitress" in right pic)

“Blue Streak”

“Quick Sand”

Outlined Polka Dots

Nov19 by Cheryl Cheryl

Having short fingernails is like a complete playground for beautiful loud polish and extreme nail art.

I found this design on a Nails Mag Blog and could not resist trying it out.

Sinful Colors “Feeling Great” was the perfect base for the yellow-trimmed black dots of acrylic paint.

The most difficult part of this nail art design is making sure you don’t paint the base color (Feeling Great) “outside the lines” of your cuticle!

The dots are child’s play.

I’m still having so much fun…..

I bought some new art brushes and some metallic paint today. All I need now is some willing participants to let me play on their nail beds…… and, some free time. Smile

BURBERRY

Nov18 by Cheryl Cheryl

Inspiration.

At the end of the day, that’s what keeps you moving forward. When you find something that motivates you, you can get it done. You find the energy to give it effort…regardless.

As tired as I was after working a 14.5 hour day at work… Burberry moved me. lol. And I wanted it on my nails. This was my first attempt. But trust me, I’ll be practicing this again until I get straight lines, and a better aspect ratio. :-). I will post update pics after I re-do this a few more times….

but I had to share… Flaws and all.

I started with the neutral peachy tan Sally Hansen Insta-Dri color "Quick Sand". Matches pretty closely to the classic Burberry base.

Then I added some white stripes with white nail polish; tried some free-hand black and red stripes with acrylic paint…. top coat….. and "almost" Burberry :-).

I’d have a huge "Thank You" for whomever wanted to present me with that hot Medium Leather Tote!! (<–link)

Will try again as soon as I have some time, and will update photos!

Stay Inspired!

*****UPDATED PHOTOS!!*****
Mon – 11/21/11

My lines are getting straighter, and I think the aspect ratio is improving. I like it better, but I think I will have to take a break from practicing it right now because I’m getting frustrated that it’s not coming out exactly how I envision it.
So, I’ll pick it up again in the future Smile

I used all polish this time. Base color is OPI Malaysian Mist, white and black lines were created with Color Club Nail Art Lacquer stripers, and the red lines created with MAC Frost Asiatique

Polka Dot “Stripes”

Nov15 by Cheryl Cheryl

….. I either needed more soothing….

…or maybe I really am just addicted. Winking smile

Now that my nails are short- I mean, short, short- they are so much FUN! So much fun to change – frequently. Playing around with my new acrylic paint and dotting tool, I came up with:

FUN!

Playful without being overly distracting. Designed but not over-cluttered.
And E-A-S-Y as pie.

My tools:

OPI “Black Onyx” in all its sleek beauty
Dotting art tool
white, pink & orange acrylic paint
Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

I love this little design. Makes me smile every time I look down at my hands. I’m definitely doing more polka dots! soon!