Mish Mash Challenge: Nature

Hey Y'all!!  I'm back doing the challenges!  I missed them.  And since today is Wednesday, it's time for the Mish Mash Challenge!!  This week's theme is nature.  Hmmm....that's broad.  I instantly thought of water, mainly because I love teal/turquoise, water, the beach, etc.  So after a lot of thought, seriously, a lot, here's what I came up with, but it needs an explanation.  Have you ever been on a cruise in the Caribbean?  When you stand on deck at night and look down at the moonlit water, it's just mesmerizing.  There's all these swirling shades of turquoise.  Love it!  That look is what I was going for in today's design.  I tried it two different ways.  This first one is my favorite:

I Used:
China Glaze-Aquadelic (light blue/tiffany blue crème)
Wet-n-Wild- Sea Change (dark blue with teal shimmer)
Orly- Teal Unreal (dark teal crème)
Maybelline- Sparkling Water (dark teal shimmer with blue and purple micro glitter)
Cotton Swabs
100% Acetone

For the top mani, I started with two coats of China Glaze Aquadelic. I then topped my nails with one coat of top coat to prevent the acetone from removing my base color.  Then, I put a couple of drops of each color (except the Aquadelic) on my nail.  Dipping a cotton swab in 100% Acetone, I swirled the colors together.  Me likey!!

The second mani was done in a similar manner (brain freeze...I can't remember what this technique is called, but the directions can be found here).  I really like how this looked, but it didn't look like swirling water.

So the first picture is my favorite for this challenge.  Be sure to check out all my fabulous polish sisters and their incredible nature designs!  I bet there are a lot of Christmas looking ones!  Just click on the pictures below.  And I'll see y'all tomorrow!  Happy Polishing!!

Shimmering Water Color

Hello My Darlings!!  Happy Thursday!!  I hope every one is doing great today!!  I have another super busy day thanks to the now-a-teenager.  She has her yearbook party (yes I still homeschool, but she takes a couple of classes a week at a co-op and they have yearbooks), then dance rehearsal.  Going to be a long day for the Momma again!  I already want a nap.  But I wouldn't change a thing :)

For today's mani, I used the water color technique:

I Used:
China Glaze- Dandy Lyin' Around (white base with silver shimmer)
China Glaze- Fancy Pants (blurple with pink/fuchsia shimmer)
China Glaze- Sexy in the City (blue with aqua shimmer)
100% Acetone (note below for acrylic users)
Brush (any type of brush, even a child's paint brush)

Water color is such a neat effect that is so easy.  No matter what, you can't go wrong!!  Here's how:

Start with two coats of your lightest color, in this case two coats of Dandy Lyin' Around.  Be sure to put a top coat on once it dries.  This will help keep the acetone from removing the base color.  Once that dries completely, place drops of your polishes on your nail.  Be sure to work with only one nail at a time.  I used all three China Glaze polishes for this step.  Then dip the brush in the acetone.

Note for acrylic and natural nails:  100% acetone can be used on both acrylic and natural nails.  But if that makes you nervous, you can substitute regular polish remover or non-acetone remover.

All you do is swirl the brush, wet with acetone, through the drops of polish.  That's it!!  That easy!!  If you remove more color than you wanted (I had to go back and add the white), then just add another drop of that color..

 

I promise it's that easy!  Have fun and Happy Polishing!!



To Acetone or Not To Acetone

The rules seem simple don't they? If you have natural nails, use acetone nail polish remover; if they are acrylic you have to use the non-acetone removers. I'm here to say, "Not true!"

Let me start by saying that I have acrylic over my natural nails, so you will know...this is what I do. Now for why that is not true. First, nail salons not only use acetone remover, they use 100% acetone on all types of nails. The second reason, non-acetone remover is weaker than water.

My recommendation: use the regular acetone nail polish remover regardless of what type of nails you have. Used normally (in other words, don't soak your nails in the remover), the acetone remover will not harm your artificial or natural nails. If you are concerned about the exposure to acetone, wear a latex glove on the hand holding the cotton with remover.  So why do I have non-acetone remover? For removing glitter from my nails using the foil method (the directions are here).

I do suggest using a cuticle cream or oil and lotion on your hands after removing nail polish. All types of removers can be hard on our skin.  Happy polishing!