Halloween

The One With the Creepy Eye Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  Happy Halloween to you all!!!!  Are you dressed up as something spooky for work or whatever it is you may be doing today?  I was supposed to dress up as a pineapple along with my co-worker but well that didn't really go as planned.  Safe to say I don't think she's going to talk to me haha just kidding she loves me.  Instead I'm going to wear a pumpkin shirt and call it a day.

Today I'm sharing with you my last Halloween manicure.  It is a re-creation of my spooky eye manicure, which I now am realizing look like cat eyes.  This design was originally a re-creation of one done by Nails by Cambria on Instagram.  Is she even still around?  Now thanks to the Instagram algorithms I never see posts from people I used to.  Sigh.

Let's take a look!


Here's where I normally write what colors I used, but honestly as I'm writing this, I have a horrible migraine and I cannot even think which colors were used.  Actually let me give it a shot....
  • ORLY - White Tips
  • ORLY - Liquid Vinyl
  • ORLY - Glowstick
  • ORLY - Thrill Seeker
A quick google search of Thrill Seeker confirmed that's the green bottle I'm holding!  Alaina - 1, Migraine - 0.  Oh, I also used INM Northern Lights over the gradient - does my score go up to 2-0 now that I remembered that?!



The looks is actually super easy to acheive even though it looks very difficult.  My middle and ring finger I painted white and did a gradient with Thrill Seeker and Glowstick.  I then added a top coat of INM Northern Lights.  When that was dried, I painted on the design using a nail art brush and Liquid Vinyl.  

Took some time and precision, but I finally got the eyes to look how I wanted them.  I think next year if I attempt this design, I'm going to make the eyes a little larger.  I feel like the gradient got lost.

What do you think?  Spooky nail art?  Something you've tried?

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!!!!

Until next time, <3.


Halloween

The One With Ghosts and Googly Eyes

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all today?  Yesterday I didn't get really anything done that I had planned.  I actually had a wonderful nap though.  It rained all weekend and I just didn't have the umph to carve my pumpkins.  Hopefully I get out of work early today and can get them done!

As promised yesterday, today I am bringing you nail art I created on top of my Zoya Storm base.  Since Zoya storm reminds me of a starry night, I decided to paint some ghosts and little spooky eyes on top of it.  The nail art ended up looking more cute than spooky.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • Zoya - Storm
  • ORLY - White Tips
See what I mean about it being cute instead of spooky?  The little ghosts without arms look like Pac-Man ghosts.  Which reminds me, I never re-created my Pac-Man manicure from when I first started this blog.  That's one of those nail designs I'm super proud of.  Maybe I shouldn't revisit it for that reason.



I think this is my favorite ghost manicure to date though.  I wish my glow in the dark polish didn't dry up otherwise I would have made these little dudes glow.

What do you think?  Like this nail art design?  Your nails Halloween ready?

Until next time, <3.

Swatches

The One With a Swatch of Zoya Storm

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world! How are you all doing today?  No nail art since while I'm writing this at midnight, and I'm honestly too lazy to write about nail art.  It's cold, I'm tired, and have a headache. I blame the weather, it's just awful outside.  I'm hoping it gets a tad warmer for Halloween so I can hand out candy to the little trick or treaters!

So, since I'm too lazy to share nail art, I'm going to share the base of tomorrow's Halloween nail art post - Zoya Storm.  Swatch posts = quick and easy.

Let's take a look!


Zoya Storm - a gorgeous black jelly polish with a scattered holo.  If you don't have a bottle of this, or any of other Zoya scattered holos, then you're truly missing out.  This is one of my favorites and I actually need to grab a back up bottle of it.  Two coats, full coverage, and the perfect base for Halloween nails or even a galaxy manicure.  Speaking of galaxy nails, I haven't done those in forever!

What do you think? Fan of Zoya Storm? Have any of the Zoya scattered holos?

Until tomorrow, <3.

Halloween

The One With the Spooky Spider Web Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing on this fabulous Thursday?  Can you believe it's already Thursday?  These weeks are just flying by.  It's also abnormally cold here so I think that's why everything is going by much faster.  You know, since I come home and lay in bed completely relaxing in the comfy warm heat of my house.  Hopefully it warms up for Halloween though because nothing is worse than standing outside handing out candy when it's beyond freezing.  How else will people see my fun nails when if I'm wearing gloves?

Today's nail art is a spooky spider web design!  A little different than other spider web designs that I've created in the past.  I had seen spiderwebs over silver holographic polishes and it was just calling my name.  Since I recently had a bright silver holo with a black design over the top of it, I decided to use a dark grey holo polish and add a little twist.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • Serendipity Polish - CE0,000,000
  • ORLY - White Tips
  • Black Acrylic
I forgot how gorgeous CE0,000,000 is!  You can get away with one coat of this dark grey holographic polish, but I used two because I tend to be OCD and need to have that two coats.  When it was dried, I sponged White Tips over the nail which gave it a fog like look.  I was going for a base of a spider web look, but really it looked more like fog over that grey base, and I loved it.



I then went through with black acrylic paint and added the spider webs, and boy did they pop on the nails!  If I didn't have that white sponged look underneath, I don't think this manicure would have been as cool looking as it was.

What do you think?  Fan of this manicure?

Few more before Halloween!

Until next time, <3

Halloween

The One With the Kind Of Halloween-ish Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world and welcome to Monday!  I feel super ahead and ready to tackle this week.  Yesterday I worked for five hours on a project I've been trying to complete at work for about two weeks now.  I honestly was having flashbacks to when I was writing my Master's thesis.  When I completed this little project, I had the same feeling I did when I completed that thesis also....the huge weight has finally been lifted!  If I knew being an adult was going to be this stressful, I would have taken more naps when I was in elementary school and forever held onto those days.

Since finishing my work project, I've been able to catch up on my Halloween manicures.  Or Halloween feeling manicure which is how I'm going to describe today's design.  It was inspired by one I saw on Instagram.  I grabbed two of my new ILNP polishes and got to work re-creating it.  It kind of looks like a Frankenstein abstract mish-mosh mani....

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • ILNP - Sundance
  • ILNP - Sidekick

Why oh why haven't I used my ILNP summer holos yet?!  I bought the whole collection months ago on pre-sale and they sat around in my un-tried pile just waiting to be used.  I'm literally kicking myself because they are GORGEOUS.  Just like all other holos I own from ILNP, the effect is beyond strong, the colors are vivid, and the formula is perfect!


To get the look, I painted half my nail with Sundance and the other half with Sidekick.  Not going to lie, I was super impressed with how straight my line was down the middle of my nail that I almost didn't want to cover it up with the black.  But alas, the design needed the black, so I dry brushed the black down the middle of the nail.  It gave it that stitched Frankenstein look!

What do you think?  Fan of this design?  Love the ILNP polishes as much as I do?

Until next time, <3.

Dot Mani

The One With the Candy Corn Dotticure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world and Happy Wednesday to you all!  Finally I got to putting up all my Halloween decorations on the house, plus I added a few new ones.  This is the latest that I've gotten them up but I've just been so busy or so tired.  I feel like the month has flown by as well.  Can you believe that it's already October 17th?  Before I know it, I'm going to be putting up my Christmas lights on the house.

Since it's October 17th, it's time to start sharing some Halloween manicures.  This is later than normal for me.  Kind of disappointed in myself, especially because I'm not super inspired yet.  I feel like the month flew by so fast that I haven't had time to really sit and think about new designs, so we might have a boring year of re-creations.

Today's re-creation though is one of my favorites.  You all know how much I love the negative space dotticure.  The candy corn dotticure is no exception!

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • OPI - No Tan Lines
  • OPI - Exotic Birds Do Not Tweet
  • OPI - Alpine Snow
These colors are the PERFECT candy corn colors!  I haven't had candy corn in years because of an allergy to food dyes, and it makes me quite sad.  I enjoyed it, just a few pieces here or there.  Never too many because it was sweet.  What I'd give to have some again.  I should look up and see if there are any dye free alternatives other than those I'd have to make on my own.



Since I can't have candy corn, I guess I can stick to painting my nails with the candy corn colors.  I might re-create my candy corn gradient with the splatter design I did last year.  Absolutely loved that manicure.

What do you think of this dotticure?  Fan of candy corn?

Until next time, <3.

INM

The One With the Fall Leaves

9:00:00 AM


Saturday.  It is here!  A day of sleeping in, Pinterest projects, nail painting, and hopefully NO WORK.  I just came off of a six day stretch, where most of the nights I worked until after 6:00pm.  I'm quite tired and cannot wait to just do what I want to do.  I need to go to the store and get some apples so I can make some apple pies.....or apple crisp....oooo or that apple pie cake!

As you can tell, Fall is here and I'm happier than ever with it.  You know this is my favorite season of all, especially because the colors on the trees are finally changing.  Everything is starting to turn so by next weekend we should be fully peaked and it will be even more gorgeous than it already is.  Therefore, I thought it was perfect timing to paint some leaves on my nails.

For years I have tried to recreate this leaf design.  Each year it's been an utter fail.  After seeing it again on Instagram, I decided it was time to give it another chance and see if I could actually get the design to look how I want it to.

Let's see how it turned out!


Colors Used:
  • INM - Acai
  • Zoya - Tomoko
  • Acrylics
It was not a fail this year!!!!  Cannot believe I was actually able to do this!!!  Look at my leaves!!!  To get the look I started off with a base coat of INM Acai.  This polish is quite gorgeous - it's a dark brown/red polish.  I used it a year or so ago and was in love with it.  It's such a perfect fall color, and is the perfect base for this manicure.  Especially when I added the sparkly tips by sponging on Zoya Tomoko.



Once the base and sparkles were dried, I got to work with my acrylics.  Layering, shading, and painting a little more, and I got some really pretty leaves on my nails.

What do you think?  Like this look?  Think I did a good job??

Until next time, <3.

Flowers

The One With ORLY Olive You Kelly and Sunflowers

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all on this fine Tuesday.  Guys, I have a bone to pick with the weather around here.  It's about 50 degrees in the morning, then in the afternoon it's 80 degrees and humid.  The drive home is really creepy because there is fog on the waterway and fields I have to pass.  It's just so haunting yet beautiful.

With this weird weather, I am not feeling fall, yet I am not feeling like summer.  Therefore I needed a perfect in between Summer/Fall manicure.   After seeing a sunflower manicure on olive green polish done by 25 SweetPeas, I had to re-create it.  It was so fitting for this type of weather!

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - Olive You Kelly
  • ORLY - Fall Into Me
  • Acrylics
Absolutely LOVE this manicure!!!  Especially because that base.  ORLY Olive You Kelly is a gorgeous olive green polish which covered completely in two coats.  I really wasn't sure how I would like this color on me, but I absolutely loved it.  Makes me want to go re-visit some polishes I bought years ago and never wore because I didn't think they'd look good on me!



I also loved Fall Into Me, which is the shimmery dusty gold polish.  It worked wonderful for the polka dot design on top of the base.  Now I covered it up a lot because my sunflowers were so big, but I do not regret the size of them.  I seriously LOVED how they turned out.

What do you think?  Enjoy the sunflowers?  Love that base color?

I need to get more Fall colors in my life.  Actually, I need Fall in my life.  Maybe then I'll start feeling like doing some Halloween designs.

Until next time, <3.

China Glaze

The One Inspired by The Nail Whisperer

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing today?  I was going to share some Fall nail art with you since it's October 6th and Fall is here.  Then, I saw the weather report - guys, it is going to be 83 degrees today.  That's right, 83 degrees in New York in October.  I'm hoping this weather doesn't mess with the fall foliage.  I've told you in the past that this is my favorite time of year, mostly because of the trees changing, so if this ruins that, I'm going to be pretty upset.

Since I'm not feeling too Fall-ish with this weather, I decided to share a holographic design I did last week.  It's inspired by Dylan from The Nail Whisperer on Instagram.  I have been following him since the beginning of my nail blog, and it's been so fun watching him grow as a nail artist.  I'm in love with his abstract designs and am always scared to re-create them because I don't want to destroy his work.  After seeing this fun holographic one, I just had to try. 

So I took a deep breath, got my holo polish, and took a shot at it!  Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • China Glaze - OMG
  • Acrylic
Can we talk about how OMG by China Glaze truly lives up to its name?!  Just oh....my.....gosh.  Look how amazing that holo is!!!!  Two coats of this silver linear holographic polish.  It's so strong the effect that even in indoor light you can see it.  In the sunshine it was just beyond gorgeous and beautiful!  Only complaint was the polish was a tad patchy for me.  I found that it dragged because it dried a little fast, but in the end it was well worth it.



Seriously, do you see what I see?!  It's just amazing!!!  I'm so happy I purchased the re-release of the China Glaze holographic polishes.  Huge shout out to the girls at my Sally Beauty who held them for me until I could get to the store and buy them.

What do you think?  Love this holo?  Love the abstract design?

Until next time, <3.

Monthly Mani Favs

The One With September's #MonthlyManiFavs

10:00:00 PM

Good morning - or ummm evening polished world!  I meant to have this post up this morning, but alas, I forgot to hit publish.  What is wrong with me lately!?  I know, my mind is going crazy and I need a vacation.  Actually it really feels like there is a full moon all the time lately.  Just weird things happening.

Anyways, today's post is the #MonthlyManiFavs for September.  Can you believe it, it's October.  I need to start thinking about Halloween designs!  This year has gotten away from me, and September really just flew by.  I blame the weather - most of September it was in the 80s and it didn't feel like Fall.  It was just a weird, long extension of Summer.

Let's take a look at my favorites!


  1. The One With Sally Hansen Smartease and Metro Midnight - That holo!!!  Main stream brands like Sally Hansen need to come out with more holographic polishes like this one!  This truly compares to some of the ILNP holos that I own and well, Barbara's polishes are amazing!
  2. The One With the Last Summery Palm Tree Manicure - Still held onto summer since summer was still hanging on.  One of my favorite palm tree designs I've done . I don't think I've ever been able to fit two designs that large on my little nubs of nails before.  Huge accomplishment for me.
  3. The One With the Neon Yellow Pineapple Manicure - ORLY Glowstick and Pineapples - need I say more?
  4. The One With Sally Hansen Bourbon Belle, Sundown Socialite, and Sunflowers! - Love this sunflower design, especially because of that base.  It was that perfect Summer to Fall transition design!
What do you think?  Which is your favorite look??

Now off to think about some Halloween designs!!!

Until next time, <3.