stamp, sparkle & swirl

China Glaze – “For Audrey” & “Golden Enchantment”
BundleMonster – BM-206

[Accent Nail]
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri – “Blue Streak”
Northern Lights – “Gold Holographic”

I love that holo glow Smile

Sally Stamped

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri – “Jade Jump” & “Mint Sprint”
Shany Plate – SH18

I made a brief return to stamping. Well, it may not end up brief. I may linger here for a while because I think it’s so pretty. These Insta-Dri colors are GREAT. Quick drying for the base color, and perfect consistency for stamping. And I still have quite a few stamping plates to explore.

Mahjong

Jul13 by Cheryl Cheryl

I FINALLY settled on the center image from Konad plate – m8…after hours of polishing, stamping, removing, retrying, cleaning, repolishing, restamping, RE-removing….etc.. lol

But I couldn’t put it on all my nails because I realized I have no clue what this symbol means/says!!!!!

If you know what this says, LET ME KNOW!!!! Smile . I’d like to be “in the know” if I ever use this image again.

Anyway, it looks like tiles from my computer Mahjong game. And now I feel inspired to go play a round.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri – “Silver Sweep”

You know you wanna play too!

Aryiana

Mar6 by Cheryl Cheryl

When Aryiana’s dad sent me a photo saying she was “like your friend Cheryl”(that would be me, lol)… I was super flattered!!! It made my whole day.

I was inspired Smile …..and a new manicure is ALWAYS fun!

Aryiana’s design:

Pink & Periwinkle

My copycat version:

China Glaze “Sea Spray” & Sally Hansen Insta-Dri “Instant Iris”

Hope you like it Aryiana!! 🙂

The "Française"

Dec1 by Cheryl Cheryl

The French Manicure….

This has got to be the most classic “design” ever. Works for various nail lengths and types (acrylic, gel, natural). Matches everything…and is, weirdly, LOVED by so many men. (I would love for men to explain to me why they love it so.)

It’s refined and, when done well, “finishes” any hand beautifully.

Even, I, with my extreme love of color, can’t deny that the French….. is the crème de la crème.

It will never get old.

Not sure when or by whom it was created… but it’s incredible.

my nails at the beginning of growing back out

Mommie’s nails… she allows a french manicure, but no other color whatsoever
NYC Quick Color “Little Italy” & Sally Hansen Insta-Dri “Petal Pusher”

Angela’s gorgeous (and practical) American Shellac (CND)

Angela is a very successful and busy dentist (Healthy Smiles), and one of my dearest and closest friends. She washes her hands probably a billion times a day.

She introduced me to paraffin dips nearly 20 years ago. (Is there any question that she’s a REAL friend?! Smile ) Those things are amazing for moisturizing and soothing!

Shellac is a wise decision for her to maintain a finished look on her hands despite her total “manicure-hazardous” career. lol.

Though this is called an “American”…. it still looks really French to me. haha And is still so very classic and works well for any fashion look.

my nails growing out
NYC Nail Color “French Tip White” & “Love Letters”

I used to paint my white tips freehand, after a basecoat.
Now I take a page from the nail shop. I skip the basecoat, and I straighten the lines of my white tips with an acetone-dipped art brush. Mistake free every time. woo hoo!

The French Manicure will always be in my manicure rotation. Its beauty is timeless.

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”

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