Neon Cheetah Print

Hey Y'all!  Happy Monday!  How are y'all doin' today?  Me?  I'm exhausted!  So sorry I was missing last week, but the teen had rehearsals all week then six shows over the weekend with her ballet company.  That meant many late nights, long days, and a lot of time sitting in the car for Mom.  But she, and all the dancers were wonderful.  So, I guess I'm actually a tired, but proud Mom.

But, it's a new week, and I have a new mani for you, a Neon Cheetah:

I Used:
Color Club:  Sweet Get Away, ultra bright neon pink crème
Barielle:  Sterling Silver, a smoky, silver metallic
LA Colors:  Black crème (the name is missing)
Dotting Tool
Fine Brush

I so loved this mani, and it's really easy to do!  I started by painting three fingers (thumb, ring and pinky) with Barielle Sterling Silver, a pretty, smoky looking silver metallic.  Then I painted the remaining nails with Color Club Sweet Get Away, an ultra bright pink neon crème.  This is from the scented neon line they did.  I think it was supposed to smell like roses, but I just got a slight floral scent from it.

Then, using a dotting tool, I made splotches that would be the base of the cheetah spot.  Then using a fine detail brush, I drew the black outline.  You don't need a brush for this, just use a fine toothpick or anything that is thin.

I hope you liked today's design!  And here's hoping it's the start to a fabulous week!

Happy Polishing!!

Spring Leopard & Gradient

Hey Y'all!!  So the teen is on Spring Break this week, and so far it's been warm & beautiful and cold  wet...typical Georgia Spring I guess.  And sadly, we don't have any plans, saving money for her summer dance camps.  Do any of y'all have big plans for Spring Break?

But it is giving me time to do a bunch of nail art for y'all!  And today I have Spring Leopard print and Gradient:

I Used:
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Bait Me (pale gray/silver with silver shimmer)
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Blow Bubbles (light pink shimmer)
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Flame On (magenta shimmer)
Make Up Sponges
Dotting Tools

Since I've told y'all a lot, how to do gradients and leopard spots, I'll just tell you what colors I used where.

I painted my ring finger and thumb with the middle color, Blow Bubbles, and the rest of my nails with Bait Me, the pale shimmery grayish, white-ish silver.  Ok, I'm not sure what color it is, but it's a beauty.  The Blow Bubbles took three coats and the Bait Me took two.

The leopard spots were made using Flame On and the lines around them were made with Bait Me.  The order of the gradient, from the cuticle to the tip, is Bait Me, Blow Bubbles and Flame On.

Also, I have a favor to ask!  My friends (Over The Topcoat, Sunshine Nails and Sassy Paints) and I have entered a contest being held by Preen.me and we would SO appreciate it if you would vote for us!!  Just click here!!  We're the Polish Mavens! Thank y'all!!!!

Have a fabulous Spring Break and I'll see y'all tomorrow!  Happy Polishing!!

Snow Leopard

Happy Friday Y'all!!  Anyone have big plans for the weekend?  Other than the now-a-teen's dance class on Saturday, our weekend is completely open.  That's rare. I don't know if we will go do something fun (I really want to get back to Saks during their Master the Look event) or if we will just have a quiet weekend at home.  Pretty sure I know which one the hubby wants o_O

I told you I went to the Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show (it was all over my twitter page) and I wore this cute gray/silver/black leopard print sweater and I wanted my nails to match:

I Used:
China Glaze- Hook and Line (dark silver/pewter shimmer)
Orly- Liquid Vinyl (black crème)
China Glaze- Gossip Over Gimlets (silver ultra shimmer/glass fleck)
Dotting Tools

Click here for my step-by-step tutorial on leopard print :)

So for my thumb, pinky and index finger, the base color is China Glaze Hook and Line, a sort of brushed silver.  For my middle finger, I used China Glaze Gossip Over Gimlets and for my ring finger I used Orly Liquid Vinyl.  Then alternated the three polishes for the spots.

I so love these!!!!

And to the utter amazement and awe of one of the young ladies at one of the make up counters, my nails matched my sweater perfectly...she asked, "What are the chances of that happening?"  Bless her heart!!

I hope y'all have a safe, fun and love filled weekend!!  Happy Polishing!!!

Mish Mash Challenge: Metallic

Hi Y'all!!  It's Wednesday!!  We're half way to the weekend!  I can't wait!  I don't have any plans, but I'm just ready for some rest.  Today I have to trudge to the grocery store.  And since I live so far out in the country and it's a million degrees, I have to haul an ice chest so the food doesn't melt.  Obviously this isn't a quick run to the store.  Oh well.  For some reason the people in this family think they should eat everyday...more than once!

Another great thing about Wednesday means it's time for another Mish Mash Challenge  This week's theme is Metallic!

I Used:
OPI- I Knead Sour-Dough (copper shimmer)
Julep- Sheryl (pinkish gold shimmer)
Orly- Liquid Vinyl (black crème)
Small and Large Dotting tools

So I went with Leopard spots.  I love doing leopard spots, especially in metallics.  I started with two coats of OPI I Knead Sour-Dough.  I love this polish.  Then using a large dotting tool (a bobby pin or a ball point pen would also work), I drew irregular shapes:

Then using Orly Liquid Vinyl:

Then fill in the some of the empty spaces with black, irregular shaped dots.  Top with top coat and you're done!

Hope y'all enjoyed today's tutorial.  And remember, the more irregular or shaky your lines and dots are, the more natural it will look.  Be sure to check out all the other wonderful ladies and their fabulous designs!!  Happy Polishing!!

Day 13: Animal Print

Hi Everyone!!  Today's prompt is animal print and once again the almost teenager came to the rescue.  She chose cheetah:

I Used:
China Glaze- Strawberry Fields (dark pink with a gold shimmer)
China Glaze- Creative Fantasy (perfect neon purple)
China Glaze- Liquid Leather (black crème)
Dotting Tools

The background is China Glaze- Strawberry Fields.  Oh my goodness!!!  This polish is gorgeous!  It's a dark pink, almost a fuchsia with a gold shimmer.  You can really see the golden shimmer in the last picture.  Just beautiful.  Then using the largest dotting tool (a ball point pin would work great here), I made irregular circles with China Glaze Creative Fantasy.  Next, using the smallest dotting tool (or a toothpick), I made wobbly u's and semi-circles around them with the China Glaze Liquid Leather.  And then lastly, I made dots with the black polish.

I hope y'all enjoy today's challenge manicure.  I'm going to go try to fight off whatever illness is trying to get me.  Make sure to visit all the other wonderful ladies and I will see you tomorrow.  Happy Polishing!!