The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents - Stripes - Look 2

TGIF! I'm taking a long weekend this week so leaving work today will feel extra sweet. LOL. I'm back with my second October Stripes look for the Nail Challenge Collaborative. This look was inspired by an abstract scarf that I recently purchased.

Polishes Used:
-OPI - Alpine Snow
-NYC - Black Striping Polish
-KB Shimmer - Low and Be Bold

I really love this look, it looked even better in person too, lol. On the pictures you can see the stripes through the blue but in person I couldn't, but that's OK, it just lends itself to the abstract feel of the look. Also something weird happened in the pictures that make it looks sort of ombre with the blues, it was the same blue the whole time but I sort of love it.

I wish that I could have kept this on longer than I did because it was so fun and the blue really popped against the white background.

Let's see how the other ladies are showing their stripes below:

An InLinkz Link-up

The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents - Geometric - Look 4

Today I have my fourth and final September Nail Challenge Collaborative look I was inspired by this look that I saw on Concrete and Nail Polish, although I did my middle stripes just slightly shorter.

Polishes Used:
-OPI - My Boyfriend Scales Walls
-Sally Hansen - Pacific Blue
-Kiss - Soft Blue

I just freehanded everything, I probably would've had crisper lines if I used tape, but I sorta like this look. And I love the colors. Simple geometric color blocking.

Let's see how the other ladies are finishing up their September NCC looks!

An InLinkz Link-up

Twinsie Tuesday: Neutral Nails

Today's Twinsie Tuesday theme is Neutral. This was an easy theme for me considering the fact that I wear either Neutral polish or nothing to work everyday.

Polishes Used:
-OPI - Don't Pretzel My Buttons
-Rica - Whiteout

For this look I went with something super simple. A neutral base with some white dotted accent nails. The is was a nice simple look but with a little something extra in my opinion. More fun than just wearing a plain neutral shade.

Check out how the other Twinsies are rocking their neutral nails:

Alaina at The Little Canvas

Amanda at Amandalandish

Amber at Nails Like Lace
Anna at Going to the Showing
Bridget at A Painted Nail

Casey at CaseyLane Loves Polish

Chelsea at Nailed Blog

ChiChi at I'm Just Me...ChiChi

Cordia at Seriously Swatched

Elizabeth at Did My Nails

Erin at Paint Those Piggies

Jessica at Blue Velvet Lacquer

Kelly at Tuxarina

Lakeisha at Refined and Polished

Lisa at The Polish Playground

Marisa at Polish Obsession

Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les

Stephanie at A Little Polish

Tiffany at Polished To Precision​

Traci at DrinkCitra 

 

 

Subtle French Gradient

Happy Saturday! Early this week the Twinsie Tuesday ladies did a "Classic" themed look; I picked red, but my second choice was French. So today I'm showing you my second Classic look :-P

Polishes Used:
-OPI - My Vampire Is Buff
-OPI - Alpine Snow

I like this look a lot actually! Although it super subtle I think that's part of the fun of it. I have tried a look like this before in pink and white (which you can see here) and I think I like this one just as much as that one. And going through some of my older pictures, I really like my new nail shape a lot better too!

The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents - Tea Party - Look 3

I'm finally back with my 3rd look for the August Nail Challenge Collaborate Tea Party! For whatever reason I've been feeling overwhelmed this month, with work, weekend trips, etc. and my nails have taken a back seat.

Polish Used:
-OPI - I Think In Pink

Hmmm. To be honest, I'm not in love with this look, however, it's not that bad either. I felt the pink was a really great tea party pink and the bow decals seem very shabby chic, but overall the look is pretty simple and understated.

Let's see how the other girls are ready for the tea party below :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Twinsie Tuesday: Inspired By A Book

This week's Twinsie Tuesday theme is Inspired By A Book. I used to read a lot more than I do now, so for this challenge I searched Pinterest for some cool book covers. When I saw this one, I knew I wanted to re-create it on my nails.



Image Source: http://flavorwire.com/146667/new-kafka-book-covers-by-peter-mendelsund

And here's my look:

Polishes Used:
-Konad - Green
-Orly - White Tips
-OPI - My Vampire Is Buff
-OPI - Red
-Essence - Black is Back
-Precision Lacquer - Blissful Abyss
-Morgan Taylor - Varsity Jacket Blues

Yes, if you were counting I am listing more polishes that what you see on my nails, they look pretty basic, lol, but I mixed White Tips and MVIB together for the offwhite and Blissful Abyss and VJB together for the blue in the eye.

I think that this look is a good representation of the book cover. However, I have never read this book, have any of you?

Can't wait to see how the other Twinsies were inspired by books for their mani's this week!

Alaina at The Little Canvas

Amanda at Amandalandish

Amber at Nails Like Lace
Anna at Going to the Showing
Bridget at A Painted Nail

Casey at CaseyLane Loves Polish

Chelsea at Nailed Blog

ChiChi at I'm Just Me...ChiChi

Cordia at Seriously Swatched

Elizabeth at Did My Nails

Erin at Paint Those Piggies

Jessica at Blue Velvet Lacquer

Kelly at Tuxarina

Lakeisha at Refined and Polished

Lisa at The Polish Playground

Marisa at Polish Obsession

Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les

Stephanie at A Little Polish

Tiffany at Polished To Precision​

Traci at DrinkCitra 

 

 

The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents - Tea Party - Look 2

Happy Sunday! Earlier this weekend, I did my second Tea Party look; these are so fun, although with this look I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do, just started polishing and came up with this.

I went with a light and delicate color theme and lacey design  to represent a tea party! I wanted to do something a little different (for me) with this nude triangle with single rhinestone. It was fun and very subtle so  I liked that. It was inspired by some looks that I have seen Lisa of The Polish Playground do before and could picture her rocking a look like this.

Make sure to check out what how the other ladies are celebrating their Tea Parties this week!

An InLinkz Link-up

OPI Beach Sandies Nail Art

A couple of Friday's ago I arrived home from work to find a mysterious birthday gift waiting for me. The first time this happened to me (around Christmas) it took me a while to figure out who the gift was from, however, this time I knew right away, my friend Amanda! Amanda and I used to work together and were really close when we were working; she has since found a different job, and although we don't get to hang out as much, she's still a good friend, and super sweet for leaving mystery presents on my doorstep!

This package included a Coach wristlet and the OPI Beach Sandies mini set. Coincidentally, I had been eyeing up this set earlier this year when it came out but never ended up picking it up for myself, so it was perfect that she got this for me.

Is anyone surprised that I decided to do a negative space look? LOL. I'm obsessed lately! The colors included in this look (and the set) include, Samba-dy Loves Purple (purple), I'm Brazil Nuts Over You (pink), What's a Little Rain Forest? (blue), and You're So Flippy Floppy (yellow).

These colors are so bright and vibrant and were perfect for creating this fun summer look, especially since they dry to a textured finish. What do you think? Do you own any of these Beach Sandies?

P.S. Thanks again Amanda!

Twinsie Tuesday: Inspired by Nature

This week's Twinsie Tuesday theme is Inspired by Nature. I wasn't 100% sure what to do for this theme, I had a couple ideas but nothing I was in love with, so I turned to the internet, and found this picture:



Source: https://www.etsy.com/listing/61697293/misty-morning-in-pink-art-print?ref=shop_home_active_1

I liked how misty this nature scene was and the pink was definitely calling my name, so here is my look!

Polishes Used:
-OPI - My Boyfriend Scales Walls
-OPI - Don't Pretzel My Buttons
-OPI - Alpine Snow
-Acrylic Paints

My nails are for sure not an exact re-creation of the photo, but more of an "inspired by". For the most part I like how these turned out but there are some things I would change if I ever re-created them. I think for the most part that I need a thinner brush. The brush that I used for this look is the thinnest that I have and sometimes it still seems too thick.

Overally, I'm happy with this look and I hope you can all see my inspiration; make sure to see the other ladies "Inspired by Nature" looks:

Alaina at The Little Canvas

Amanda at Amandalandish

Amber at Nails Like Lace
Anna at Going to the Showing
Bridget at A Painted Nail

Casey at CaseyLane Loves Polish

Chelsea at Nailed Blog

ChiChi at I'm Just Me...ChiChi

Cordia at Seriously Swatched

Elizabeth at Did My Nails

Erin at Paint Those Piggies

Jessica at Blue Velvet Lacquer

Kelly at Tuxarina

Lakeisha at Refined and Polished

​Lisa at The Polish Playground

​

Marisa at Polish Obsession

Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les

Stephanie at A Little Polish

Tiffany at Polished To Precision​

 

 

The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents - Recreate Your First 4 Mani's - Look 2

I know I just posted my first re-creation on Monday, but I'm back in action today with my second one. The second look that I posted on my blog was a half moon design, which you can see here.

In my original post, I mention that half moons are on trend. I think that they still are cute and trendy and love all the ways that people have been able to create different looks with them.

I used the same polishes in this look as I did in the original, OPI On Collins Ave, and Essie Plumberry. Both of these shades are colors that I would wear alone now, just like in my first post, I do feel that colors with more contrast would have really made the look pop.

I think you can see the color contrast better in the original photo lighting lol. (I also only used one coat of plumberry this time around where-as I used two the first time) Anyway, I went with something even simpler on my re-creation by skipping the accent nail and making my half moons "shallower". This was a super simple look to create then as it was this time around as well.

Can't wait to see the ladies' second re-creations!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents - Recreate Your First 4 Mani's - Look 1

This month's theme in the Nail Challenge Collaborative is "Recreate your first 4 mani's". I voted for this and thought it would be really cool, until I went back and looked at my first four looks; I am pretty sure that only one, maybe two, would be something I would wear again.

You could interpret this theme to be an exact re-creation, something "inspired by", using the same technique, etc. but I decided to try to stay as close to the originals as possible with only minor modifications.

This is a re-creation of the VERY FIRST blog post that I posted, which you can see here. The base color that I used was OPI Chicago Champagne Toast. I had just received that color as a gift, when I received it, it was a color that I would wear a lot, 2 1/2 years later, not so much, but I won't part with any of my OPIs so lucky me, I still owned this shade for the re-creation mani.

As you can see in the original look, I had a bit of a half stamped half plain look which is actually kind of cool, except the reason I had it like that was because I wasn't very good at stamping so I was lucky to get half a nail stamped; but hey, necessity is the mother of invention, right? I also had some bling on my original look, which I chose to omit in the re-creation since the base is a bit metallic on its own.

So there you have it, my "first" re-creation. If I wasn't sticking to the original colors I would have chose a nice tan cream for the base and done a traditional leopard print, but I really liked the idea of keeping it as close to the original as possible.

Check out how the other ladies have re-created their first looks.

An InLinkz Link-up

Patriotic Stamping - Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July for the girls and boys in the US! Of course I had to do a patriotic mani and with all the holiday themed stamping plates out there, it was easy :)

 

Polishes Used:
-China Glaze - Electric Beat
-China Glaze - Man Hunt
-OPI - ?? (It's a mini bottle red shade)
-Rica - Whiteout
-Cheeky Jumbo Plate 6 - Happy Holidays

This is just a really simple look, I started with the Electric Beat base and them sponged on some random red and blue and topped it off with the USA stamping :)

To celebrate the day, I'll be hitting up the Pirates / Phillies game later today and maybe getting together with some friends. (Can't get more American than a baseball game on the 4th right?)

Let me know what you think of the look and what your plans are for the day!