Tag: OPI

Posted on

Christmas Ribbon Candy Swirls

Hello beauties & happy Friday! It’s almost the weekend, & not just any weekend, but Christmas weekend! That’s insane but exciting. I had to keep my holiday inspired nail art going with some more abstract nail art.

The first thing this design made me think of after I did it was the Ribbon Hard Candy you get around Christmas. I’m sure you know the stuff, but if not it’s this stuff.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI
  • OPI Unfrost My Heart
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel 5 Golden Blings
  • Red & Green Acrylic Paint
  • 16mm Striper Brush from Nailstuff.ca

I decided to use a combination of acrylic paint & nail polish for this design to make it a bit easier for me. Sometimes, I find when I’m doing bigger stripes, my polish starts drying a bit too quickly, but you don’t have the same issue with acrylic paint.

I really, really like how these stripes turned out. I know, I know — I say this every time. But I don’t think there is anything wrong with being proud about your nail art! For a long time, I was extra critical of my work, so I’m glad to enjoy what I do. & it is a little bit different from typical Christmas nail art.

What do you think about these ribbon candy inspired abstract swirls? Do you like the holiday vibes they are giving off? Would you wear these for any Christmas celebrations you’re partaking in this weekend? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Happy Friday 🎄

Posted on

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE DECEMBER — Christmas Presents 🎁

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! A damp, rainy, cold Wednesday here in Halifax… & I’m so not into it. Today was supposed to be my day to go & get all my Christmas shopping done as it’s my last day off before Christmas Eve… but I am not into the idea of getting caught in that weather. Ugh

Still trying to keep hold of some semblance of the Christmas spirit, so happy to share the next manicure for Glam Nails Challenge December. Today’s prompt is Christmas Present, & I really enjoy the design that I created for today.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • OPI Infinite Shine Bring Out The Big Gems
  • OPI Rolling in Cashmere
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Good as Gold
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm detail brush

Don’t these just look so classy? If only my wrapped presents looked as beautiful as this. At this point, if my presents even end up getting wrapped before Christmas morning, I will be happy. But I’m so happy with how these turned out, & I was excited to pull out this OPI shade I purchased last December again.

What do you think about these Christmas Present nails? Are you all ready for your holiday morning (if you celebrate)?

Don’t forget, you can see all the #glamnailschallengedec designs on Instagram. So many beautiful designs to see that have been done this month! Maybe you’ll even find some inspiration for your own Christmas morning design!

Happy Wednesday ♥︎

Posted on

Freehand Snowflakes (Recreation from 2015)

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! Can you believe we are 10 days away from Christmas Day? This month is literally speeding by so quickly!

Today I’m excited to share a design I did early last week. I was looking through old Facebook memories, & this blue design popped up & I knew I needed to recreate it! I always say I am going to redo certain designs, & get distracted. But I’m so glad that didn’t happen this time!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • OPI Blue My Mind
  • White acrylic paint
  • Starrily Space Debris
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm detail brush
  • Small dotting tool (NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio)

As you can see, I took these pictures when we had a fresh coat of snow on the ground. sadly, after a massive rainstorm, our actual Christmas is looking more green than white, but at least we had snow for a minute.

I’m so beyond in love with how these turned out. They colour, the design — it just all makes me so happy. I did use acrylic paint for the design itself, but had to add some sparkle obviously!

& just for fun, my original inspiration versus my updated version.

What do you think of my new blue snowflake design? Do you like the original 2015 design or the updated 2023 version better? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Have a lovely Friday. 💙

Posted on

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE DECEMBER — Christmas Cookies

Hello beauties & happy Monday! It is feeling like Spring toady, which I’m not keen on to be honest — it does not feel like Christmas at all.

But today I have another Glam Nails Challenge December design to share & the prompt is Christmas Cookies! I love making Christmas cookies– my favourite thing to do at Christmas is make Gingerbread cats–so I was excited to create a cute Christmas cookie design on my nails.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • OPI In The Moon for Love
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Oh My Coffee
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel A Moo Point
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm detail brush
  • Small dotting tool (NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio)

Doesn’t this design just make you want to eat some Christmas cookies? I’ve been so busy with work I haven’t had a ton of time to make cookies, like my granny’s shortbread cookies, but I’m definitely going to use the next couple days to do a bit of Christmas baking!

What do you think about this cute Christmas cookie design? Do you like this design? What is your favourite holiday treat to make/eat this time of year? My granny’s scotch cookies are definitely top of this list, but we also use to make something called Oh Henry Bars which are definitely a bit favourite! I made them gluten free a couple years ago, & they were incredible. I definitely need to make them again soon.

Don’t forget to check out #glamnailschallengedec for all the other beautiful designs!

Have a beautiful Monday loves! ♥︎

Posted on

SWATCH SUNDAY —OPI Sleigh Parking Only (Holiday 2014)

Hello beauties & happy Sunday! I hope everyone has been enjoying the weekend so far! Mine has been busy with work — Christmas in retail, am I right? — but I did have a chance to go through my stash & find a fun throwback Christmas shade from almost 10 years ago!

This is Sleigh Parking Only from the OPI 2014 Gwen Stefani Holiday Collection.

2 coats + top coat

This shade was originally gifted to me by a coworker, as part of a set featuring two of the glitters in the collection (more on that later). The shade itself is a dark plum purple, very appropriate for this time of year. The formula was easy to apply, with just a smidge of pooling towards the cuticle — you might be able to see where I had to do some clean up around the cuticle on my pinky nail.

The colour itself is very beautiful, even though I don’t know how “Christmas-y” it is just on its own. Definitely a winter shade though, with that dark plum colour.

However, as I mentioned I received this shade in a set that also contained two of the glitter toppers from the collection: Comet in the Sky, & Snow Globetrotter. I decided to apply a coat of Comet in the Sky over Sleigh Parking Only, & oh boy do I love how it looks! Definitely gives more of that holiday vibe — as glitter usually does!

Do you remember the OPI 2014 Gwen Stefani Holiday collection? Do you have shades from this collection? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & what your all time favourite Holiday nail polish collection is!