a la Renee

So now that I’ve spent wayyyyyyy too much time viewing Love4Nails youtube videos….. [THANKS RENEE!!!]

I went out and purchased a couple new brushes.
When I got home, I realized I already had one of the brushes Love4Nails uses in her nail art…. one I NEVER use. (I have about 21 nail art brushes… and I use dotting tools more than anything. Twenty-one. I probably didn’t need to purchase ANYTHING.)

I also made a few realizations….. I like synthetic brushes better. Liners are better than spotters. Acrylic paint is easier for me to control because the consistency doesn’t seem to change. And I need to practice….. on others.

I wanted some graphic art of my own because I really liked Renee’s:

OPI – “Heart Throb”

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And I practiced a little on my crazy sister’s nails. Yes, crazy. This crazy girl didn’t even want color on her nails (WHAT?!?!)….. well, with the exception of her thumbs. And she wanted smiley faces with their tongues sticking out on those. She LOVED the one I made a mistake on…. because it looks like a smirk expression instead of a smile. SMH. I love my sister Smile .

Graphic Art

Jun22 by luvnme1

When Cheryl asked me to be a guest on the blog, I must admit I was extremely flattered! Thanks Cheryl!!!

I have always loved graphic art designs and decided to try my hand at it in a Pedi. Surprisingly, I liked it so much I did a matching mani!

This look was inspired by Love4Nails….it reminds me of Mardi Gras! Don’t ask me why, it just does.

The colors I chose are all by China Glaze…the base color is Style Wars, an outrageous Orange that is nothing less than gorgeous when worn alone. The accent colors are Turned Up Turquoise, a familiar color here on Polish2Times, and Frostbite, an absolutely breath taking blue with just the right amount of shimmer. I then used Yellow, Black and White Stripe Rites to create random stripes and dots.

Had I known I was going to be asked to share on the blog, I would have taken pictures of the process and tried not to be so messy. Next time I’ll be prepared…LOL!

Hope you have as much fun as I did creating some graphic designs. Enjoy!!!

Here Today, Gone……

Jun22 by Cheryl Cheryl

China Glaze – “Hey Sailor” & “II”

Nails had to be chopped. In all their flourishing beauty, sadly they were actually in the way. Because they were so strong, I had to soak my nails in water to soften them a bit so I could actually cut them. I wanted the process to go as smoothly as possible.

Here today, gone…well, tonight…

I’ve been thinking to test out this “II” color for at least six months. It never seemed the right time. It’s gorgeous. It’s a beautiful nude color with the prettiest gold hologram shimmer. But it’s so sheer, you’d never be able to avoid a visible nail line.

Enter the beauty of having nubby nails.

….and of course, there were dots. lol

Tape! Tape! Tape!

Jun21 by Cheryl Cheryl

This has to be the most subtle tape manicure… BUT it was a total success…. again! Yay!!! *doing a little jig*

Time consuming? yes.

But I have come to a new appreciation of this tape process. The clean lines that can be achieved are just flickin’ amazing! Look:

China Glaze – “Papaya Punch” & “Sun Worshiper”

The “real life” color is probably somewhere between the first picture and the last picture. Sun Worshiper is near neon, and Papaya Punch is pretty deep and muted against it. The color change looks a light reflection as opposed to an actual color change. . .

Shall-Lounge’!!!

Jun20 by Cheryl Cheryl

Yes, as in: CHALLENGE! lol

challenge [chal-inj]:
–– to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties

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Michelle ^^^ in her pretty, strapless, summer garb requested a manicure inspired by her dress print. (Hot mama!)

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I started with a basic white nail. [China Glaze – White on White] And I truly wanted to just stop there. I love this chic look!!

But then I TOTALLY succeeded with a TAPE manicure!!!! [OPI- Windmillion] Can you believe it?!?! Shocked the mess out of me. I may even attempt another tape manicure again in the future.

Followed by a free hand design with acrylic paints and a black nail art striper.

So Michelle??? What do you think? How did I do??

ShowOff CopyCat

Jun15 by Cheryl Cheryl

I should probably refrain from trying to give myself a manicure while tipsy. It was fun, but not presentable. HAHA

I had to take off my first attempt this evening. LOL. And since I didn’t have a clue what to do with my nails after my failed efforts….. I copied Duana’s white polish.

I was trying not to be a complete copycat….. and then Chi Chi & Duana called me a showoff…..BUT I WASN’T!!!!!! I promise!

MANNNNNNNNNNN. Cannot win. Maybe next time.

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Oh my beloved dots… how I’ve missed you so.
This manicure made me so very happy. It was worth the name-calling. lmao.

China Glaze – “White On White”
& a slew of magical acrylic paint dots
Smile

Super Duper Wonderful Pretty Plaid

Jun13 by Cheryl Cheryl

Could NOT resist the green/pink plaid design by Lace: A Nail Art Blog. (top row, 2nd from left)

Apparently the majority of the great designs require this horizontal line thingy. I’m going to just have to keep practicing. It’s so much work. But eventually it’s going to be easy for me, and then y’all ain’t gon’ be able to tell me NOTHIN’!!!!! lol *cue Kanye music*(link) nuh unh you can’t tell me NOTHIN.

OPI – “Green-wich Village”
Essie – “Chastity”

As expected, I have some shaky stripes going on…. but at this rate, I may have super straight lines by Christmas. Smile . I attempted a silver glitter nail art striper on my left hand thumb nail, but decided it was too much and actually detracted from my love of the design. Sometimes less is more. A LOT of times, less is more.

Wardrobe

Jun12 by Cheryl Cheryl

I saw a striped design mani on my bloglovin’ feed today… BUT I CAN’T FIND THE MANI I’M COPYING!!!!!! Hers was incredible. She had horizontal stripes on all but an accent nail. And her lines were nice. I’m still practicing. LOL. So, I did more diagonal lines than horizontal.

I chose these colors because I picked out clothes for work in this color scheme. Smile It’s always cool matching……….. or at least complementing.

China Glaze – “Pelican Gray”
orange, black and white nail art stripers

Tartan

Jun11 by Cheryl Cheryl

Back to nail polish strips.

Let me just say: I really, truly love Sally Hansen products.

Now that that is out of the way. This product was trash. Hot burning, flaming, smoking trash.

I wanted so badly to have this argyle pattern on my nails. But it took FOREVER to apply this particular design. And maybe it was user error all day. Perhaps my nails are in the way now that they have grown out and made it more difficult to apply the polish strips.

But I don’t think so. The last time I used Sally Hansen strips my nails were even longer. (Houndstooth design). The diagonal white line in this design was printed in such a way that the strips kept tearing easily at the point where the line was printed. Sad smile . ALL BAD!

It took like 40 minutes to apply these suckers. I COULD HAVE JUST POLISHED A DESIGN BY HAND ON MY NAILS IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME! Applying a polish strip is supposed to cut DOWN on manicure time and potential error.

This application turned out sloppy. And I was disappointed in the flaws. But I did still love the design… wore them for three days – flaws and all.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects – “SWEET TART-AN”