Day 1 of the N31DC-Black and White

Here we go! 31 days of creatively gruelling nail painting coming right up! For the first day of the challenge I chose to do a “straw manicure” which is something I have been dying to try as it’s fast, easy and looks really artsy on the nail. As you may have guessed, this manicure involves dipping the end of a straw into polish and stamping your nail with it.

For my base colour, I used two coats of Essence-Black is Back and once that dried a little bit, I took my straw dipped in Venique-Wingtip White and Barielle-U-Concrete-Me and stamped the partial circles onto my nail. I then topped everything off with OTD Top Coat. I just love the effect! I think I even have a dress that looks like this which I just might try to dig up for work tomorrow.

Swatch It Up: OPI–Pink Yet Lavender

Today, I would like to introduce you to someone…my RIGHT HAND! Yes, this is what she looks like and was very hard to grab a picture of as she is normally quite shy ;)

From the new OPI Mariah Carey collection, this is Pink Yet Lavender and was an unexpected purchase while paying for my pedicure at the checkout. They shouldn’t place nail polish there! This a pink hex glitter with holographic glitter in it. I have layered two coats of it over Venique – Wingtip White so you can see the glitter more clearly.

How are you liking the Mariah Carey collection?

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Film Strip Nails ala Zooey Deschanel at the Golden Globes!

Zooey Deschanel has become a bit of a nail art lover over the last little while and this year’s Golden Globes were no exception! There have been many recreations on the nail blogosphere as of late, so I apologize if any of you are just sick of seeing these, but when I saw the latest cutepolish tutorial for film strip nails, I knew I had to give them a try!

I started off with three coats of Venique – Wingtip White and then OPI – Goldeneye for the film strip. I drew the camera and outlined the film strip with black and white acrylic paint. I finished off with inm-Northern Lights Hologram Top Coat in “Gold” on three fingers and Sephora by OPI – Only Gold For Me Top Coat on my thumb and pinky.

Will any of you take a stab at film strip nails? They are so cute to look at once they’re all finished!

Day 27–Inspired by Artwork

I know it’s probably the next day for some of you, but now that I’m back at work after a two week vacation, the last couple of posts might be a little bit later. It’s still Day 27 here on the West Coast! I was a little stumped for ideas on this one as I’m not very artistically-inclined. I can manage basic shapes and lines, but when it comes to shading and faces, I cannot draw if my life depended on it. I was always the girl with perfectly drawn maps and chemical structures, but never anything else! What you are about to witness is my feeble attempt at some trees. I couldn’t get the faces to show up very well…

I started off with two coats of Venique – Wingtip White and sponged on a grey gradient of Barielle – U-Concrete-Me. I then did one coat of the infamous China Glaze – Fairy Dust and drew on the branches with black acrylic paint. I felt like my nails looked depressing once I was finished drawing so I dotted on some red berries in Zoya – America to give the whole manicure some “pep”.

Be sure to check out the other fabulous ladies who are also taking on the 31 Day Nail Challenge!

Naomi @ Bellezza

Traci @ drinkcitra