More Fun With Nail Vinyls!

Hello lovelies! Today I have a simple but fun manicure I did using nail stencils from My Nails Did Vinyls

I purchased these stencils back before Christmas from her holiday collection, then forgot to use them! Whoops. But I’ve been in such a nail vinyl kick, I wanted to figure out a way to use them in a manicure so I decided to pair them with this beautiful holo polish from ACO by Ardene called Grunge Goddess. 

The polishes I used for this manicure were:

Oh man, I just love this combo together. The combo of the black holo and neon fushia kind of reminds me of Star Sapphire.

 I rarely ever wear black polish all on its own anymore–not since High School–but I’m ALL about this black holo! And it just pairs so well with China Glaze Purple Panic. It’s the kind of manicure I could see myself wearing for a girls night out. 


What do you think of this mani and colour combo? Let me know in the comments below!  

Pink gradient and leopard print. 

Are you ready for something a little fun?! 

I’ve been trying to practice my gradients lately so I decide to try a tri-coloured gradient. Using pinks. I’m a little pink obsessed lately. My blending turned out a little more harsh than I would have preferred but I really love the colour combo. I finished everything off with some leopard print.    

The colours I used for this manicure were: 

  • Essie Peach Daquiri 
  • China Glaze Feel the Breeze 
  • China Glaze Purple Panic 
  • Sally Hansen I 💗 Nail Art pen in Black
  • Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat 

 

What do you think? I’m really craving brights right now. It’s May and officially that much closer to Summer–so hopefully it starts feeling more like it soon! ☀️

Out of this world Galaxy Nails–with a bonus tutorial!

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After being inspired by two of my fellow nail art girlies on Instagram (mymintnails and banulovesnailpolish) the other day, I was in the mood for Galaxy nails. The last time I did them was in April during the early weeks of this blog, and I hadn’t tried them since so it felt like a good time.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • OPI Who Are You Calling Bossy?!?
  • Unnamed Blue Joe Fresh Metallic Polish I got as part of their holiday collection this season.
  • LA Splash Heiress.
  • LA Splash Glitz & Berry.
  • LA Splash Maroon.
  • Quo by ORLY Trashy Glam.
  • ACO by Ardene Showtime.
  • China Glaze Fairy Dust.
  • Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Top Coat.

I’m seriously so happy with how my galaxies turned out. I’ve done galaxy nails a couple of times now, and always get frustrated by the fact I don’t find they look very Space-y. However thanks to using ACO by Ardene’s Showtime for glitter placement (the stars) and China Glaze’s Fairy Dust I managed to create my very own galaxies on my nails.

And I thought since I’m trying to create more tutorials I would share my steps for creating this manicure. I know everyone has their own way of creating galaxy nails, these are just the steps I took for the above manicure.

 

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  1. Paint all nails black (OPI Who Are You Calling Bossy?!?) and apply quick dry top coat.
  2. While that is drying, applying OPI Glitter Off Base Coat around cuticle area. I do this to keep the sponging I do when creating gradients and other like manicures off my fingers and minimize clean up.
  3. Sponge on first colour (the unnamed Blue Joe Fresh polish with shimmer.) Depending on how sheer the polish is, you may have to sponge a couple times to be able to see the polish.
  4. Continue sponging using a variety of other colours. I try to keep my sponging in a line so you get that galaxy look. I also will apply some polishes thicker than others, or just sponge small spots so that it’s not too heavy handed.
  5. Using a dotting tool, place stars in random places on nail. (ACO by Ardene Showtime.) I also used some of the bigger glitters in Showtime for along the sponging.
  6. Apply a coat (or two) of Fairy Dust over everything. Then, after a couple minutes apply your top coat to seal everything in. Once that’s dry, you’ll be able to peel off your protective layer around your cuticles, and clean up what you might have missed around your cuticles.

And tada! You now possess galaxies on your finger tips. Galaxies are one of the easiest nail art designs you can probably do because they can be done with pretty much any polish, at any level, in whatever style you want! And the plus side is–it’s almost impossible to screw them up.

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In case you’re interested, my ring is courtesy of Kristalized_Designs on Instagram (who also happens to be my sister!) She designed two gorgeous midi-rings for me, and is going to be designing a little something special for an upcoming giveaway I’m going to be holding. She’s in the process of getting her Etsy page up and going, but you should definitely check out her page for a sneak peak at her designs. Everything is hand made and one of a kind (there is even a picture of her making the above ring.)

 

So what do you think of these galaxy nails?

More Chevron Moons, and my new favourite nail art pen!

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I have a serious obsession right now with chevron moons. They’ve replaced regular half moon manicures as my favorite I-don’t-know-what-to-paint-on-my-nails designs. I have given up on trying to do the perfect tape manicure, but I have to say I’m really happy with how my freehand lines are coming along. Definitely a HUGE improvement from when I first started. Plus with my new Essence Nail Art tattoo pen, it’s so much easier to draw on thin lines as opposed to using my stripers! Plus I find the polish doesn’t gunk up the same way that my stripers do.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Orly Decades of Dysfunction — off white base colour.
  • OPI My Dog Sled is a Hybrid — chevron moon.
  • Essence Nail Art Tattoo Pen
  • Seche Vite Rapid Dry Top Coat.

Seriously, I’m in love with this nail art pen. I bought a couple Sally Hansen Nail Art Pens years ago, but never really got into using them. However, I’m absolutely in love with this Essence Pen so I think I’m going to have to bring them back out and give them another try now that I know what technique to use to get nice lines. And it makes creating freehand lines such a breeze! Since most of the designs I create are freehand, that is a big help to me!

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So what do you think of my chevron moons? Like I said, I’m so in love with chevron moons right now–more so than any other kind. It’s a great, easy way to add something else to an otherwise plain manicure–in a short amount of time!

Also I just have to make a shout out to @mynailpolish_addiction on Instagram who twinned me with an awesome (and sparkly!) chevron moon mani and Starbuck Gingerbread latte! Jessica is actually the sweetest ever, we’ve become great friends since meeting through Instagram! You must check out her nail art because the girl is fantastic and SO talented!

**I purchase the Essence Nail Art Tattoo pen on my own accord, and have not be compensate for my comments in any way.**

Poppy nails in honor of Remembrance Day.

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Today, November 11th, is Remembrance Day and in honor of that I did a special manicure.

I grew up as part of a military family — both past and present generations have served in the Air Force, Army and Navy. I even have a Great Uncle who was held prisoner in a POW camp during WW2.  Because of that I’ve always made sure to take the time to stop, reflect, and remember those who have fought so hard to defend our freedom–those who came, those who didn’t, and those who were forever changed all in the name of Peace and Freedom. I wanted to do a simple Poppy manicure in memory and remembrance, and I think they came out perfectly.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • ACO by Ardene Day Dreamer — base color.
  • ACO by Ardene Strawberry Fields — red.
  • Mariposa Black.
  • OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls — white.
  • Seche Vite fast dry top coat.

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So what do you think of these Poppy Nails in honor of Remembrance Day?How do you mark the day? I went to my local Remembrance Day services this morning with my father (who is retired from the Air Force) and the boyfriend and it was amazing to see everyone gathering together to pay tribute.