Author: Shannon Rae

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Quick & Easy Abstract Stripes

Hello lovelies… it’s been a moment!

Today I’ve got some fun abstract stripes to share with you. This is one of my favourite easy designs to do when I’m struggling with inspiration. I recently picked up a few new polishes from Icing so I decided to grab them as the main polishes of choice. If you’ve been around this blog a while, you know that while I adore my big brands, there is something wonderful about polishes from non-cosmetic brands–stores like Ardene, Claires, Icing & H&M have some serious awesome polishes with awesome formulas! & even more awesome — they’re super affordable! So now that I’m back to work, I’ve been adding a lot more shades to my collection.

So I thought why not create a design using them as my feature shades!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Icing 60858 Light Blue Shimmer
  • Icing Matte Effect 85900
  • Art Club Nail Art Striper in Blue Paisley
  • Quo by Orly Nail Art Striper in white
  • Quo by Orly Nail Art Striper in black

I just love how this design turned out. I wore these to work & got quite a few compliments on them! I feel like I know a design turned out well if random strangers are complimenting them (&asking if I did them myself!) That’s always a huge compliment to me!

Also this blue shade is definitely fitting in with the rainy weather outside. Blue abstract stripes always give me water vibes.

What do you think of these abstract stripes? Share you favourite quick & easy nail art design down below!

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Rifle Paper Co Style Floral

Yesterday was a beautiful Spring day, I had the day off, & I took full advantage of it. In honour of the occasion, I decided some floral nails were in order. Originally I was going to just do some more negative space nails with pastels, but I discovered a bottle of Essie 5th Avenue in my stash I bought a few months back at Lawton’s, & decided red nails were in order. I’ve been loving all the Rifle Paper Co inspired nails that pop up on my Instagram feed, & while these are not even close to an exact recreation, I was inspired by this pattern initially.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Essie 5th Avenue
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Sweet Tea
  • OPI I Eat Maine-ly Lobster
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Pretty Piggy
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Orchid-ing Around
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art Pen in Magenta
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art Pen in Black
  • Essence The Green & The Grunge
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Wet My Thistle
  • Bundle Monster detail brushes
  • Bundle Monster dotting tools

This design definitely looks very similar to this manicure I did a few months back. Something about floral on a red base just looks so good to me. & red nail polish in general… I’m so glad I found this gorgeous polish (& did I mention I scored it for only .99 cents?)

There is something just so lovely about floral. The more I paint them, the more I want to do them again. It was totally worth staying up the extra hour & a half to create them. I’m also going to keep attempting to recreate more patterns from Rifle Paper co. Their brand is such a floral loving girls dream! I pretty much want one of everything on their website (especially the phone cases… all of the phone cases!)

Where do you find your nail art inspiration? What do you think of this floral design? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 🌸🌿

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Summer Ready Vibrant Blue & Mint Ruffian Nails

You guys! I’m so excited because it was actually sunny & warm yesterday! Like warm enough I could get away with wearing just a jumpsuit & denim jacket. It was very exciting, like maybe we’ll get Spring after all. In fact this whole week is supposed to be in the double digits! I haven’t been this exciting for anything since Starbucks got almond milk! Especially exciting–I have tomorrow off work & plan on taking advantage with an outside adventure with the Bubs!

Obviously this calls for bright & colourful nails. It’s been ages since I attempted a ruffian design & I really wanted something that would pop! So I grabbed a few of my older Essence shades from deep in my stash for an eye catching ruffian.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Essence Always On My Mint (an Unforgettable Kiss collection)
  • Essence The Gel Lets Get Lost!

Ooooooh this colour combo works so well. This is one of my all time favourite Essence shades, & when I noticed my local Shoppers was taking it out of their Essence display (& had marked them all down to $1) I may have stocked up on extras… like 3 extra bottles… pretty much all the ones they had. It’s just such a good shade! It pairs well with pretty much every colour–purple, pink, mint, light blue, yellow. I haven’t discovered a colour combination I didn’t like. But I have to say, pairing it with mint has definitely become a favourite thanks to this design!

Oh, I’m just so excited with how my ruffian turned out. I feel like I’m getting a lot better with creating that rounded look. It definitely helps that Essence polishes have those beautiful thick brushes. Makes things so much easier! You get a lovely (complicated looking) design with not too much trouble. I love when that happens!

Who else is ready for actual Spring & Summer?! Bring on the iced coffees, sunglasses & maxi dresses. It’s about damn time!

What do you think of this ruffian design? Would you wear this look? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Hard Candy Coconut

Happy Sunday lovelies! It’s one of my favourite days of the week because it gives me the opportunity to focus on some favourite shades from my stash. Today it’s this beautiful from early 2015 — Hard Candy Coconut. I originally picked up this shade in the original release of the Hard Candy 20th Anniversary shades at Walmart (along with Sky, Scam & Zombie.) I’ve made it no secret my absolute love for a good white nail polish, & this one remains much loved even 3 years later!

2 coats & top coat.

I live for white nail polish. It reminds me of being young. I remember being 15 & searching so hard for a good white & layering 3 different polishes trying to get my nails to look like I wasn’t wearing white-out. Truthfully though, 15 year old Shannon knew nothing about base coats or top coats so I’d add shimmery polishes to try & level out my white polishes. Maybe I was ahead of the time? I also used to use tape to create French manicures which I’d have to redo everyday because I couldn’t stand when they chipped (& they would chip literally 5 minutes after doing them because, again, no top coat.)

There is something that is so fresh about white nail polish. Not only does it make you look semi-tanned (even if you’re not) but it’s just such a blank canvas… a world full of possibilities. I definitely wish you can see that shimmer that comes out in the bottle, because it really is so pretty, but even without it coming through this polish is a keeper. Which is probably the reason why I’m still pulling it out 3 years after I first bought it, & why I’ll always make sure I have a back up bottle for the future.

Do you have a favourite white nail polish? Let me know what it is in the comments below!

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Negative Space Chevron Moons

Hello brightness, my old friend. 🕶 Well, bright nails at least. I was feeling some Summer colours, so I decided a colour block chevron moon design was much needed! & what better than some Summery shades to make it perfect.

I decided for this design to grab a few favourites from my stash. I feel like I have too many shades in my stash I haven’t worn yet. I have this habit of buying polishes on clearance & then promptly forgetting I bought them in the first place! For example this OPI shade (I Eat Maine-ly Lobster) that I picked up for only $4 at Lawtons. I also have about 4 others sitting untried. I really need to get on that!

For this design, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • China Glaze I’ve Got A Blue Attitude
  • OPI I Eat Maine-let Lobster
  • The Base Coat Nail Vinyls stacked chevron vinyls

Ooooooooh I love this combination & how bright these are. I wasn’t sure at first how these colours were going to go together, but it turned out perfect! & oh so bright. Like, I need to grab my sunglasses bright. Which is perfect, since Mother Nature threw us a curve ball & had it snow yesterday. Not a lot, & it didn’t stick, but… seriously?! It’s the 21st of April! I should be wearing denim jackets & maxi skirts, not Ugg boots. Thankfully next week is calling for sunshine & warm temperatures the beginning of the week! So my Spring dresses won’t sit untouched in my closet much longer.

Is there anything better than chevron moons & negative space? I’ve been going through old manicures circa 2015 & I’m remember how much I loved doing both… I need to do them more often! Being back to work hasn’t been as easy a transition as I thought it would originally be. I need to take a little more time for doing my nails & having fun again.

what do you think of this design & colour combination? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!