Autumn Trees (Or Fall Leaves)

Happy Monday Y'all!!  Can you believe it's already November??  This year seems to be flying by.  I could have sworn Summer had just started.  Oh well, guess I just need to count down the days until shorts weather (I hate the cold in case you haven't noticed!).  So to get myself in the spirit, I created a Fall mani:

I Used:
Orly- Chocoholic (medium brown with a subtle silver shimmer)
China Glaze- Merry Berry (a dark berry/red crème)
Julep- Natasha (orange crème)
Spoiled- Designated Driver (dark yellow crème)
Cotton Swabs
Liner Brush (toothpick will work too)
100% Acetone

This was a fun and easy(I'm just very detailed in my instructions) mani to do and it got a lot of attention.  Here's how:
1.  Paint your nails a base color.  I used the dark yellow, Spoiled Designated Driver, in two coats.
2.  You do need to use the 100% acetone to get this effect.  It can be found in drugstores, grocery stores. 
3.  Gather all your polishes.  Then starting with the darkest color, drop a little on to a paper plate or a piece of paper. 
4.  Dip your cotton swab in the acetone and then into the polish on the plate.  Repeat this step a couple of times to thin out your polish.  Do not pour the acetone into your polish bottle because that will ruin it.  You're looking for the color to be a little see-through/translucent.
5.  Then just dab random spots onto your nail, starting with your darkest color, and ending with the lightest.
6. Finally, using a liner brush or toothpick, create the branches by making short lines.  You don't want them to be real big, so that it looks like they are peeking out from the tree.
7.  Use top coat, and viola!! 

And here's the inspiration for my mani, a street in my town:

I hope y'all enjoyed today's mani!  Happy Polishing!!

Army Camouflage Nails (& Tutorial)

Happy Friday the 13th!!!!  How is everyone doing??  The now-a-teen and I have hair appointments in a few, but I wanted to get this posted for you first.  The wonderful and fabulous Kay, after seeing my Navy Camo nails (which I'm redoing this way soon), requested Army Camouflage nails:

I Used:
Spoiled- Steel The Show (taupe crème)
China Glaze- Exotic Encounters (olive/green crème)
Orly- Chocoholic (brown with silver shimmer)
Salon Perfect- Ivy League (dark green shimmer)
Fine Detail Brush
Super Fine Detail Brush

I didn't have the perfect shades for this, but I love how my Army camo nails came out.  This was done by me playing around trying to figure it out.  I so loved these, not only am I going to redo my Navy camo (my most popular post ever), I'm doing these in every color!!

I started with one coat of Spoiled Steel The Show. Then using a round detail brush and China Glaze Exotic Encounters, I started the first layer of camo by basically painting shaky C's and blobs:

Then, using a very fine and thin brush, I just filled in with the remaining two polishes.

I hope you enjoyed today's post!  Thank you to Kay for the request and so glad you liked them!

Y'all have a fabulous, luck filled day today....and if you see anyone approach you with a hockey mask and machete, RUN!!!!!!!   Happy Polishing!!

Summer Challenge: Life's A Beach

Hi Everybody!!!  Sorry I'm so late on today's post, but I got to go to lunch with the bestie today!  We haven't been able to do this much because we had small children, but now they are teens (barely) and we took a four hour lunch :D

So today's challenge is Life's a Beach, a beach themed manicure.  I wasn't sure what to do, so my now-a-teen daughter drew out an idea for me and this is what I did:

I Used:
Sinful Colors- Snow Me White
Sinful Colors- Dream On (neon purple crème)
Sinful Colors- Anchors Away (yellow/orange neon crème)
Spoiled- Show Me Some Skin (beige crème)
Orly- Halley's Comet (aqua with aqua shimmer)
Orly- Royal Navy (blue with light blue shimmer)
Konad- Black Polish
Konad Plate SE 18
Small Detail Brush
                      
Sorry for the messy clean up on my right hand...I did this at 2 am, and then ran out of the house this morning. 

Thank you Now-a-Teen for the fabulous idea...sunset on the beach.  I wish I was there now :(   With a pina colada. Yum.

Be sure to check out the other beach themes by the wonderful ladies in this challenge!  I really enjoyed doing it and can't wait until the next one!!  Happy Polishing!!

Summer Challenge: Dream Destination

Happy Thursday Y'al!!!  How is your day going?  I have a busy two days, today and tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to it and not looking forward to it...does that make sense??  Anyway, on to the nail art!!

Today's Summer Challenge is Dream Destination.  The destination was easy, Hawaii!!  I've always wanted to go.  Everything about the islands interests me.  It's funny, my first job was at a Hawaiian themed hotel in Florida (I don't know why but there are a lot of them in Florida).  And I use to love the Polynesian resort and show at Walt Disney World.   Plus, it doesn't hurt that I'm a huge Elvis Presley fan and so many of my favorite movies of his were in Hawaii!!  Ok, so here is my tribute to Hawaii:

I Used:
Finger Paints- Vintage Vincent (shimmery neon turquoise)
Sinful Colors- Cotton Candy (pastel pink crème)
Spoiled- Plastic Flamingo (neon pink crème)
Finger Paints- Pink Perspective (bright neon pink crème)
Dotting Tools (toothpicks would work too)

I went with a lei in the water, because it's the beaches that I want to see the most.  I really love how this turned out and it was really easy, I promise.  I started with two coats of Finger Paints Vintage Vincent.  Then I just used a dotting tool to make the flowers.  They are all in a row, like a lei.

Be sure to check out all the other Dream Destinations!!  And, if you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?  Let me know in the comments!  Happy Polishing!!

Blue Flowers for Autism

Hi y'all!!  Happy Monday!!  Only 5 more days until the weekend!!!  I'm trying to get two posts up for y'all today, so let's get to the first!  I joined some fabulous ladies in a month long Autism Awareness challenge!

Here's the schedule:

I Used:
Julep-Fiona (bright green crème)
Spoiled- Designated Driver (yellow crème)
Orly- Snowcone (light blue crème)
China Glaze- Blue Iguana (sparkly blue with purple shimmer)

So today was flowers....and I drew a blank!  I finally came up with a design:

It didn't turn out how I wanted, but I still like them.  I started with two coats of Julep Fiona.  Using a dotting tool, I made random dots in a sort of circle, ha ha.  Then using a detail brush (just a very thin, short bristled brush), I drew tear shaped petals using the lighter blue of Orly Snowcone.  I then used a liner brush and China Glaze Blue Iguana to add more depth to the petals.  I like the general idea, so I'm going to have to try these again.

Be sure to check out all the other wonderful ladies in the challenge (list below picture)!  And Happy Polishing!!

Alicia from Makeup and Nails, Not War

ChiChi from I’m Just Me... ChiChi

Cordia from Seriously Swatched

Erin from Paint Those Piggies!

Jessica from Nail Polish Anonymous

Jillian from Jilltastic Nail Design

Kelly from Peace Love Lacquer

Laura from Little Laura Loves

Lisa from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes

Nicole from Dipped in Lacquer

Paulina from Paulina’s Passions

Rachael from Rachos Nail Love

Roxana from Beautylicious

Tina from Light of the Moon Nails

I'm Back!!!! (I think and hope)

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Hi Everyone!!  Oh my goodness!!!  I can not even begin to tell you what a drama filled two weeks I've had.  My little one was super sick, pneumonia with a touch of the flu, and I had the flu with a touch of pneumonia!  Yikes!!  And as I was undergoing all this testing, they found something that has just struck me from left field...can't talk about it.  And I refuse to think about it today. :)

So I hope to be back full swing come Monday, but here is a mini post to show you what I've had on my nails for the last two weeks!!  Yep, you read that right...TWO weeks!  Here it is:

I Used:
Orly- Monster Mash (green base with holographic green glitter)
Sinful Colors- Exotic Green (green crème)
Pure Ice- Jaguar (gold shimmer)
Spoiled-  Show Me Some Skin (nude crème)

I really like this design...thank goodness, since I've had to wear it so long, ha ha.

I have a lot of great things coming up for y'all, including a St. Patty's Day swap I was in, so see y'all next week!!!!

Inspired by a Movie, R31DC

Hi Everyone!!  I'm back among the living!  I went to the doctor today and got medicine and am scheduled for some tests.  He told me in the meantime I had to change my diet...because my food was TOO healthy!!  What the heck?  He told me no more salads, leafy green vegetables, no more whole grains or whole wheat, but to eat lots of pasta and white bread!  That just isn't going to work for me, not to mention I would gain a ton!  Besides the healthy stuff is what my normal doctor said to eat.  Why do they have to be so confusing??  Ugh!!

Anyway, today's challenge prompt is Inspired by a Movie and my movie, although it hasn't come out yet is "Catching Fire".    My daughter and I read the entire series by Suzanne Collins and LOVE IT!!  I love dystopian books anyway and the "Hunger Games" is one of my favorite series.  Here is my design;

I Used:
Nina Ultra Pro- French White (white crème)
Spoiled- Designated Driver (yellow crème)
China Glaze- Roguish Red (a bright orangish red crème)
China Glaze- Adventure Red-y (dark red crème)
Confetti- Masquerade Ball (very dark, shimmery red)
Wet-n-Wild, Fergie- Glamorous (clear base with hexagon and micro gold glitters)

Fire has been done so many ways, and I wanted to try to come up with one more, lol.  This is supposed to look like your staring into the fire with the gold glitter being the sparks.  I started with one coat of white so the colors would pop.  Then using the eye shadow applicators, I sponged the yellow, orange, red and dark red onto my nails to represent fire. Be sure to sponge the colors on from lightest to darkest.  I wanted a rougher look than a regular gradient.  Then I topped it off with one coat of Fergie's Glamorous, a clear base with large hexagon and micro gold glitters to emulate sparks.

I hope y'all enjoy today's design and be sure to check everyone else's movie designs!  Happy Polishing!!

Day 10: Gradient, R31DC

I absolutely LOVE gradients!!  I think it's so much bang for so little effort.  They are definitely one of my absolute favorite designs to do.  My only problem was what kind of gradient to do.  Then I was looking at my You Tube subscriptions and knew I wanted to do this one by judeobsessionmakeup.  The video is in French but I think it's pretty self explanatory.

I loved how this looked so much, I only changed the coloring of the manicure a little bit.  I just used darker colors for a more sunset look, but stayed in her color families.  It's SO pretty I just couldn't change it much!  She did a fabulous job!!

I Used:
Spoiled- Designated Driver (dark yellow crème)
China Glaze- Flying Dragon (neon purple with blue and purple and blue micro-glitter)
China Glaze- VIII (dark purple glitter)
Make-up Sponges
Toothpicks

For how to do the gradient, click here.  Everything else is in the video link above.  If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email at glitteryfingers@gmail.com.    Be sure to check out the other wonderful ladies and their designs in the links below.

And don't forget to enter my new Giveaway!!  Happy Polishing!!

Day 9: Rainbow, R31DC

Hi Everyone!!  How are y'all doing today?  Any big plans for the weekend?  There is so much going on this weekend I'm sure it's going to be fun.  "The Vampire Diaries" are filming in town.  You may think so how will you ever see them?  But when I say I have a small town, I'm not kidding.  Downtown is one block.  And TVD puts signs up pointing to where everything is!!  And all I can say about Ian Somenholder is, drool!!  And yes I've met him!!  And my almost teenager is getting her first pair of pointe shoes!!  And that means a trip to the city!!!  Wonder if there is an Ulta near the dance store?

Ok, enough about all that, on to the challenge! First I've decided to abbreviate it to R31DC as opposed to writing out Relaxed 31 Day Challenge.  Next, today's prompt is rainbow.  I didn't know what I was going to do until the blue  challenge last Monday (sorry, for some reason I can't get the link to work today).  So here is my rainbow:

I Used (from lightest to darkest):
Green:
     Pure Ice- Wild Thing
     Wet-n-Wild- SaGreena the Teenage Witch
     Finger Paints- Avante Garde Green
Yellow:
     NYC- 114A
     Kleancolor- Neon Yellow
     Spoiled- Designated Driver
Blue:
     Bonita (name missing)
     Wet-n-Wild- Saved by the Blue
     NYC- Skin Tight Denim Crème
Red:
     A mix of China Glaze- Rougish Red and white polish
     Wet-n-Wild- I Red a Good Book
     Orly- Torrid
Purple:
     NYC- Lavender Cupcake
     Wet-n-Wild- On a Trip
     China Glaze- VIII

I had a lot of fun creating this manicure, despite the first words out of the almost teenager's mouth that I got the colors in the wrong order, lol.  I love it anyway!!

And here is the rest of the challenge:

Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend!!  Be sure to check out the other designs and check back next week as I add another, albeit, relaxed challenge! Happy Polishing!!

Frosty the Snowman

Hi Everyone!!!  I hope you have are having a fabulous week!!  I have something a little different for you today.  Nail Polish Canada is having a winter nail design contest and I need y'alls help.  The theme for this week is snow, so I did Frosty the Snowman.  The Christmas season always officially started when I saw Frosty on tv.  So here is my entry:

If y'all like it, could you please, please go to Nail Polish Canada and vote for my design?  I would appreciate it ssooo much!!  Here are a couple more pictures along with what I used at the end.  Thank y'all so much!!!  Happy Polishing!!

I Used:
City Color Masquerade- Light Gray (light gray with a silver shimmer) Sky gradient
Ulta- Tutu Cafe (light purple creme) Sky gradient
Orly- Decoded (dark gray) Frosty's hat
Orly- Chocoholic (brown with silver shimmer) the trees
Ulta- Red Carpet Red (bright red creme) Frosty's nose
Orly- Basket Case (pink creme) flower on Frosty's hat
Spoiled- Designated Driver (dark yellow creme) Frosty's broom and pipe
China Glaze- White on White (white creme)
China Glaze- Liquid Leather (black creme)
Orly- Shine On Crazy Diamond (holographic glitter in clear base)
Make-up Sponges
Largest Dotting Tool
Smallest Dotting Tool
Liner Brush
Pro-FX Quick Dry High Gloss Top Coat

Fall Glitter Design

Hi Everyone!  I'm sorry this is being posted so late, but it's been a busy day (see the end of the post).  So this is going to be a quick post :)

Here is the final design:

I Used:
Spoiled- Steel the Snow
Orly- Buried Alive
Finger Paints- Fall of Surprises
Scotch Tape

I started with two coats of Spoiled- Steel the Snow, a dark taupe.  Once that has dried completely, use scotch tape diagonally across your nails:

Ok, that picture is for 2nd part, but you get the idea.  I used Orly- Buried Alive, a dark shimmery brown, for the bottom stripe.  As soon as you paint the color remove the tape.  Let the polish dry completely before the next step.

For the last stripe, tape your nails like the picture above.  For the glitter, I used Finger Paints- Fall of Surprises, a pretty copper glitter in a clear base.  This required two coats of polish so leave the tape on your nail until you've completed the second coat.  Don't forget to top the design with a top coat.  I used two coats to get a smooth finish.

So my poor daughter, who shall remain nameless by her order (lol), has been sick for a week and felt horrible today.  And then her baby brother, Count Damon, and baby sister, Countess Delilah weren't feeling well.  My almost teenager won't let me post her picture, but here are her baby siblings:

Count Damon

Countess Delilah

Yes, these are my precious babies (don't judge me) and they rule the house.  So a day with them all feeling yucky meant it took me 12 hours to get this posted.  I hope y'all enjoy the design!!  Happy Polishing!!

Halloween Water Marble

Hi Everyone!  I've been so excited to do this:  a Halloween water marble.  I really had a hard time deciding on what colors to use.  At first I thought I would just do orange and black (and I still may), but I'm not a huge fan of two color water marbles.  Then I thought I would use white, orange and yellow for candy corn, but that made me crave candy corn.  Yes, I love candy corn...don't know why but I do!  But then I started thinking, how can I do a Halloween water marble without black?   I love black polish.  So, I finally decided to use them all! 

I Used:
China Glaze- White on White
China Glaze- Liquid Leather (black)
Spoiled- Designated Driver (yellow)
NYC- Times Square Tangerine Creme

Note:  Be sure to check out my step-by-step  water marble tutorial.   This one was done the exact same way as the Fall water marble.

I started with two coats of white polish to help the other colors pop.  The order I used for my bull's eye was white, orange, yellow and black.  I was disappointed that the white barely showed and that the yellow was so dominate.  But that happens sometimes with water marbles.  You can't always tell 100% how they are going to turn out.  That's also what makes them fun.  I also ended up with bubbles, sorry.  I dropped the yellow bottle but I waited 30 minutes before using it in the marble, but....bubbles.  I tried to pop them in the bull's eye, but it didn't work.  So let that be a lesson for y'all...you can't pop the bubbles on the surface of the water.  They are evil and just hide!

All that being said, I love my Halloween design.  But then again, I love water marbles!  And they are one of my favorite techniques.  I hope y'all enjoy it too!  Happy Polishing!!




Right hand, my favorite



Left Hand

70's Swirls and Dots

Hi Everyone!!  I've been so excited to try my new Konad stamping kit courtesy of my friend Babs at Ezmerelda Enterprises, and I finally had the chance today.  So, this is my first attempt at stamping...not the best, but I still like how it turned out.  It reminds me so much of the 70's!

I Used:
Orly- Oh Cabana Boy
Spoiled- Designated Driver
Konad Plate m79
Konad Polish- Metallic Blue
Dotting Tools

I started with two coats of Orly's Oh Cabana Boy in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.  I love this polish!  It's a bright pink with a royal blue shift, or shimmer.

Then using the Konad stamper, plate m79 and the Konad blue polish, I started stamping...for the first time.  I have to say using the Konad system was a breeze.  And the clean up was so easy.  I was amazed how easy I found it to use.  My only problem came in the fact that my nails were longer than the stamp...and I couldn't line it up for a second stamp.  But that's ok, that will come with practice.  I was still happy with how it turned out.  I love the loops.  Although next time I use this design, I will probably use the stamp for a french nail effect and put the dots underneath that.

Since the design reminded me so much of the 70's, I added yellow polka dots (very popular in the 70's) of two different sizes.  I really like the final look.  What do y'all think?

And don't forget to to check out my friend's website.  She is looking to reduce her inventory and y'all are getting the benefit.  You can contact her at Ezmereldaenterprises@yahoo.com or babs.parker@gmail.com.  Be sure to tell her I sent you!  Happy Polishing!!

Despite receiving the complimentary Konad system, the opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced by Ezmerelda Enterprises.