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

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!!!!

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!

Try it, and send me your results. I would love to see what you come up with!

OPI–“Suzi Takes the Wheel” (Touring America Collection)

Nov13 by Cheryl Cheryl

Beautiful crème gray…. but it’s not “just” gray. Each time I want to call it gray, I just keep seeing a hint of green. Like an undertone of camouflage green keeps peeking its little head out. ( I think the more accurate color would be “sage” though.)

You might say, “well, I already have a gray crème polish.” I reply, “not this one.” Though it’s very neutral and seemingly subtle, something about it is very eye-catching in its smoothness.

Very nice coverage with this polish. Nothing sheer about it. Quality OPI.

OPI–Wocka Wocka (Muppets Collection)

Nov13 by Cheryl Cheryl

Irresistible….. Had. To. Purchase! This is a stunning red. It’s gorgeous. Very creamy “bold statement” red, with a shimmer. OPI at its best. Ridiculously similar to OPI’s “Im Not Really A Waitress”… Still beautiful. Still purchased.

OPI “Wocka Wocka” with Sally Hansen Hard As Wraps as basecoat and Sehce Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Newspaper Nails

Nov10 by Cheryl Cheryl

My friend Natural Hair Styling by DiAnneB. (<—link to her page) sent me a wonderful link…

“Newspaper Nails”

I had to try it IMMEDIATELY….. I was so excited to see if I could make it work. This was my first attempt:

OPI – Rumple’s Wiggin’ with the Trader Joe’s marketing circular

I wasn’t 100% pleased with the results, so I had a do-over! That’s one of the wonderful things about nails…. you get to try again. I liked my second try much better:

OPI – Moon Over Mumbai with The Chicago Reader