for a more neutral Viv

I still decidedly HATE the Kiss Nail Art Stencils. Either that, or I just really don’t know how to use them yet.

After the last fiasco with the stencils, Viv encouraged me to try them again with a more neutral base. The results this time? Better than that horrible blue, but still needs marked improvement.

Since I altered the regular French manicure on this one, I’ll have to try another stencil with a “standard” French manicure and see if there is any redemption for these wack little “almost sticker” contraptions which do an incredible job of leading you to believe your nails will look amazing once you have these tiny nail art design tools. ALL LIES.

Nope, I’m still completely unimpressed…. so on to the photos:

Sinful Colors “Easy Going” tips &
OPI “Malaysian Mist”

I could have kept this French manicure variation for a little while. It was a nice little deviation from my “all bright everything” preference in polish these days. But the stencil and the silver wrecked it for me.

So, Viv?? do you still like these stupid stencils?? lol

SNOW!!!! ……finally

Jan12 by Cheryl Cheryl

I couldn’t wait to get snow again…. like REAL snow…. so-I-can’t-drive-to-work snow; need snowplows and boots snow; may have to leave work early snow!!!

And even though they aren’t forecasting a blizzard or a very large accumulation…. I’m still crossing my freshly manicured fingers – well, nails – in the hopes of the forecast just being WRONG, and flakes blanketing this place into halting.

Snow is so calming to me. And at the same time, excites me. I might even like it more than sunny days…. but that race is definitely neck & neck.

There was obviously no question about what theme would cover my nails…. it was more a query of how the interpretation would play out….

I went with the typical, and with shimmery silver….. but I tried my first “gradient” and “sponging” manicure. There. will. be. repeats. TRUST. ME.

It turned out to be much easier than I expected and I love the look.

I used OPI “Moon Over Mumbai” as my base.
Then sponged on:

Color Club “Sheer Disguise”
OPI “What’s With The Cattitude”
Essie “Coat Azure”
China Glaze “Sky High-Top”
Sinful Colors “Midnight Blue”

I used a white nail art striper (and a silver glitter one to add to one snowflake on my ring fingernail) to create my snowflakes. White polish with a tiny dotting tool for random dots of snow falling, and Sinful Colors “Queen of Beauty” for some shimmer over the snowflakes.

Sounds like a lot, and I definitely didn’t need to use that many blues…but it was still faster than some of my “regular” manicures!!

Sincerest Flattery

Jan10 by Cheryl Cheryl

Even in this short two months that I’ve been posting, the support and positive energy I have received has truly been overwhelming.

You all make me smile! THANK YOU so much for sharing in my hobby (& extreme distraction). luv u all!!!

– – – – – – – – – –
On Saturday my roomie, Renée (from undergrad) surprised me with the most wonderful text:

You Inspire Me!!!:-)

I couldn’t have been happier to see this manicure again…..
____________________________________________

Then, that evening, one of my closest friends, Aisha, sent me an email with this beautiful OPI gel manicure… she said I inspired her to get color (she’s more into the neutrals)!! yayyy!!

a beautiful choice!

– – – – – – – – –

Changing hands, one nail at a time. Smile

I love you guys!

****Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. – Charles Caleb Colton***

Santa’s Belt

Dec23 by Cheryl Cheryl

OurPaintedWorld!!! <—(click for link to blog)

Cutest. design. ever.
As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to try it.

So, I used my favorite… OPI “I’m Not Really A Waitress”… striped OPI “Black Onyx” across and made a “Glitter Hologram” buckle….

Voila! Santa’s belt.

I absolutely love this design. So fun! Really may work for any time of the year – if you’re a diva…. it’s all in the context. Because it’s almost December 25th, we’ll just say this is holiday nail art. Winking smile

O Christmas Tree

Dec20 by Cheryl Cheryl

I haven’t put up nary a decoration in my place. No tree, stockings, lights…. nada.

Had to decorate somewhere, so…. you already know where that decoration landed…lol

Christmas tree, star, ornaments, and tree skirt….. only things missing here are the presents.
(feel free to give me gifts. I will gladly accept them) 😉

OPI “Jade Is The New Black” – base

garland

Dec15 by Cheryl Cheryl

It was supposed to be a candy cane. I promise. LOL….. I have no clue why it looked so different in my mind when I was devising it.

After the first nail was finished, I determined it looked like some tinsel-y garland wrapping around a foil tree… which suits the holiday theme just fine.

so there you have it. I’ll try a candy cane theme again in a couple days. and see what it ends up looking like. ha ha

OPI “Designer De Better” (Muppets Collection)

I almost stopped right here. This foil polish is so pretty, so so pretty…

however, I pressed on in my quest to summon some holiday cheerfulness. I attempted CANDY CANES!!!!!… ended up with garland. smh. if it wasn’t an acceptable garland…… that would have been a MESS.

I’m just saying…. it was supposed to be a candy cane design! lol

happy holidays

A Dream Deferred

Dec12 by Cheryl Cheryl

expression…

good for the soul??

concept better than reality:

Nicole Miller “French Vanilla” (base)
OPI “Green-wich Village” & dark pink acrylic paint (applied w/nail art brush")
Color Club Nail Art Striper “Crème de Razzery” & “Glitter Hologram”

Reality better than expected:
OPI “Sparrow Me The Drama”
green acrylic paint & Color Club white nail art striper

inspired by:
TopCoatIt’s "argyle nails”

new attempts:

OPI “You Don’t Know Jacques!”
Color Club Nail Art Striper “Crème De Razerry”
Stripe Right green nail art striper

i love it.

Essie “Chastity” (base)
Color Club – Nail Art Stripers “Mint” & “White”

BLAH!

Dec8 by Cheryl Cheryl

I just didn’t really like ANYTHING today. Everything is going awry right now. I can’t focus, can’t make well thought-through decisions, can’t figure out what to eat, what to wear, what to do next…. so not having a solitary clue what color to paint my nails shouldn’t have surprised me.

My nails are already back to their high-maintenance length. The tips of the nails will be an extension of my fingertip and therefore, polish will undoubtedly chip…. every day. So, they’re definitely getting new polish each time…. However, I’m exhausted and have way too much to do. my brain is on overload. Good thing polishing my nails is a soothing activity.

I removed the contact lenses that were completely irritating my eyes and tossed them.
SO WHY DID I PULL OUT MY GLASSES TO FIND THE FRAMES BROKEN IN TWO?!?!?! wth?!

I taped the frames back together so I could finish working.

After that, I gave up.
I was frustrated, sleepy, irritable and overall BLAH!! So, I just put it on my nails.

My muted and autumn neutral OPI spread

Separately these colors are stunning. Together….. they are just BLAH! Perfect expression of my feeling. Enjoy. – __-

OPI
“Jade Is the New Black” (Hong Kong Collection)
“Stranger Tides” (Pirates of the Caribbean Collection)
“You Don’t Know Jacques!” (La Collection De France)
“Suzi Takes the Wheel” (Touring America Collection)
“A-Taupe the Space Needle” (Touring America Collection)

Thank you….from Diedra

Dec7 by Cheryl Cheryl

Contributor Dee Dee gave me the nicest thank you card last week. That isn’t really surprising… she’s thoughtful like that.

The card was so pretty I couldn’t get the envelope print out of my mind.

And then it kinda ended up on my nails. Smile

I tried to keep it simple, so I only tested out the hologram top coat on the nail of my ring finger. It’s SOOO pretty. It took all kinds of self-control to keep from slathering that beautiful topcoat across the other nine nails…well (I did slip. I put it on the pinky nail of my other hand. I couldn’t resist.)

The base color is OPI - “Malaysian Mist”… dark pink, brown and orange acrylic paint applied with a dotting tool.

Top Coat – INM’s Out the Door – “Northern Lights” (Hologram Top Coat ‘Gold’”)

The Ohio State University

Dec2 by Cheryl Cheryl

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!! Winking smile

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