When I started, my plan was just some basic cheerful nails…. because I really need a mood lift. 
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As the task progressed….. do you realize how many ways there are to make a flickin’ smiley face these days??!!
Emoticons are taking over…. except ones with botox -__- LOL!
it did improve my mood… and is teaching me steadiness with a nail brush. 
When I saw the snowflakes “falling” on the main page of the blog site (yay!), I immediately got excited. I LOVE snow. Love is an understatement.
Now mind you, I’ve been practicing good snowflake designs for like two weeks. And still no presentable snowflakes in sight for my nailbeds. 😦
Now this one from cutepolish vids is adorable….
…. and though I love her designs, and I love using my dotting tool – it seemed too simplified for my lofty expectation of my artistic ATTEMPTS… As I still haven’t mastered even a “neat” snowflake.
then I found this snowflake tutorial. I liked. More dots, but it was a tiny bit more complicated.
I ended up with a sort of in-between snowflake from the two… and I could only withstand the painstaking task on the fingernails of my ring fingers…. this nail art is work! 
I used the appropriately named “Avalanche” for the base color, and white polish with a very skinny nail striping art brush for the snowflake. I used a glitter polish with a dotting tool for some sparkly spots. When it actually snows here in Chicago [I wish it would hurry up and snow!!], I’m doing a snowflake design – again. (does this one count?)
China Glaze “Avalanche”
I am from Ohio. First from Dayton, and then we moved to Columbus.
My Dad is a Buckeye fan…. so, of course, SO AM I!!!!
Contributor Dee Dee and I will have a “forever feud” about her wack Michigan team versus those auspicious Buckeyes!! 
With Monday’s announcement of the new head football coach at The Ohio State University, I felt it was a wonderfully appropriate time to show some Scarlet & Gray love.
Maybelline Express Finish “Racy Red”
OPI “Suzi Takes the Wheel”
white acrylic paint (dots)
Color Club black & white nail art stripers 
I took inspiration from Urban Meyer’s press conference tie & mic cover. I may have to practice writing out “Ohio State” with my nail art tools. lol
GO BUCKEYES!
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) 
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
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
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…. 
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…
…)
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 
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Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
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.
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 
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
Polish2Times 