Monthly Mani Favs

The One With the #MonthlyManiFavs for February

9:00:00 AM

Hey everyone!!  How are you all doing today?  Yesterday we were slammed with snow, and now we are in a little lull before the next snow storm.  It's freezing though which is no fun.  I guess that just means more indoor time painting my nails and attempting to blog.  I shouldn't say attempting to blog,  I do feel I have been more active on my Social Media platforms.  So much so that I'm even going to have a few mani-swaps coming up over the next few days/weeks.

Due to the fact I have a mani swap coming up tomorrow, I'm going to be posting my Monthly Mani Favs for February while we are still in the month!  Shocker, right!?  Usually I'm posting like a week into the next month.  Guess I really am blogging better than I was....you know just even a week ago when I didn't post for a week.  Goodness, I'm all over the place.

Let's take a look at the Monthly Mani Favs!


  • The One With the Pink Dry Brush Manicure - This was me dipping my toe into pink manicures for February, and well as you can tell by the rest of my favorites (minutes the next one) I kind of stuck to the pink theme.  It's weirdly growing on me, but I don't think this will last, especially after I slap some green on my nails over the next few weeks.  I really enjoyed the black mixed with the pink for this manicure, and that accent.  You know me and my silver accents, so this really was a nice change.
  • The One Where I Used 100 Pieces of Nail Art Tape and ILNP Mega X - Yes, you read that right, 100 pieces of nail art tape.  If you haven't checked this post out yet, you really need to.  It by far is my all time favorite manicure that I've ever created.  It was worth every.single.second. of time that it took me to create.  My crazy self might attempt to re-create it with some other colors in the future.  Maybe.
  • The One with the Rose Manicure for Valentine's Day! And Blog-Versary - I'm kind of surprised that this manicure didn't have more "likes" on Instagram.  Truly loved this little dainty rose design with the pretty Mystic Maven by ORLY.  Also, can you believe that I've been blogging for 7 years???  Just still crazy to me that I've been doing this for so long.  I don't see myself ending anytime soon either.  Well, unless I just forget to blog like I have been.
  • The One With the Heart Manicure - My pink hating self absolutely loved this manicure.  Just everything about it was so perfect.  It was something truly out of my comfort zone and I loved it so much that I can now see myself going out of my comfort zone again in the near future.
What do you think?  Which one is your favorite?

See you soon, <3.


Dot Mani

The One With the OPI Roses

9:00:00 AM


Hello all!  A week later, and I am back to blogging.  Last week I had some of the worst migraines.  I honestly am shocked that I didn't overdose or at least get an ulcer with the amount of Advil I was taking.  On Tuesday, I walked into Costco and the migraine hit me so hard that I had to lean against a display for a minute because I felt like I could pass out.  I blame stress and the weather.  Don't even get me started on the weather.  Today, are in a high wind warning, so I'm praying that I don't lose power.  Blah.

Anyways, today's nail art is what I actually wore on Valentine's Day.  Wasn't a huge fan of the manicure, but I received a lot of compliments on it.  I wore a very pretty black blouse with red roses on it for V-Day, so I wanted to have red roses on my nails to match it.  I debated on doing a black base, but opted for the nude.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • OPI - Having A Big Head Day
  • OPI - My Vampire is Buff
  • Acrylics
Kind of cute, but not my favorite rose manicure.  Something about it just bothers me.  I think it's the leaves.  I wish they didn't look as fake and more like leaves.  I also think the base was too light for the red roses.  Maybe not.  Who knows.



I think I should have used a darker nude base.  I think My Vampire is Buff was too bright of a nude and the white dots got lost on it.  That, or I'm being overly critical.  Or the migraines have destroyed my mind.

What do you think?  Actually like this design?  Am I being too harsh on myself?

Until next time, <3.

ILNP

The One Where I Used 100 Pieces of Nail Art Tape - And ILNP Mega X

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing today??  Valentine's Day is over.  It's snowing, again.  We are into second winter here.  You know, where you think winter is over, but then it comes back in full force.  I think we will have about 6 or so inches when all is said and done today.  Not a huge amount of snow, but still, it's snow.

Since Valentine's Day is over, I'm going to delay on posting my manicure I wore on that dreaded day, and share one of my all time favorite manicures.  It's beyond perfect.  Now, this manicure took me forever to do and I think that's why I've been procrastinating on posting it.  Why did it take me so long?  Well because I used nail art tape....not a stencil.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • ILNP - Mega X
  • ORLY - Liquid Vinyl
  • ORLY - White Tips
Yes.....you read that right.  Tape was used, not a stencil.  Ten pieces of tape, per nail.  Ten nails, times ten pieces of tape equals 100 little pieces of nail art tape were used to do both my right and left hand.  I know some bloggers only paint the hand they photograph, but not me.  My OCD doesn't allow me to just paint one hand.



Despite all that hard work, this manicure was so worth it!  Just look at it!  Mega X is by far my favorite holographic silver polish.  Barbara hit it out of the park with that one.  I need to get another bottle next time I do an ILNP order.  It looked GORGEOUS underneath the black and white tape design.


What do you think?  Can you believe that I used 100 pieces of nail art tape?

I cannot wait for my nails to start growing out so I create another design like this.  The winter has been so hard on my nails no matter what type of cuticle oils or lotions I've used.  Now that it's second winter, I'm not seeing any end in site.  Sigh.

Until next time, <3.

Flowers

The One With the Rose Manicure for Valentine's Day! - and Blog-versary!

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world and Happy Valentine's Day!  Blah, hate this holiday, but guess what?  It's the 7th Anniversary of The Little Canvas.  Weird that it's the anniversary of my blog seeing as I hate this day so much.  I remember when I started this blog, I was homesick for a month with some ungodly illness.  Before getting sick, I was beginning to discover the world of nail polish blogs.  I so badly wanted to get my designs out there, and while lounging around the house attempting to get better, The Little Canvas was born!  Looking back at it now, while that sickness was horrible, I'm grateful it happened, because if it didn't I wouldn't have this blog, and I probably wouldn't still be painting my nails.

So while everyone is showing their love with their significant others, I'm going to show my love for all my lovely followers.  From those who have stuck from me since the very beginning, to all my new followers, I thank you all joining me on this journey!  I truly love you and couldn't imagine not having you all in my life!

I guess I should stop being so sappy and start talking about my manicure for today!  I love rose manicures, and this one is no exception.  The colors, the little roses....just everything is perfect!!

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - Mystic Maven
  • ORLY - Head in the Clouds
  • ORLY - Mirrorball
Look at this manicure!!!!!  How could you hate it?!  Mystic Maven is drop.dead.gorgeous!  Mystic Maven is a purple mauve cream from the Deep Wonder collection from Winter 2018.  I said this in my last ORLY post, but polishes like these are the reason that I still have a subscription to the ORLY Color Pass.  It's such a great deal and you get all four main ORLY collections.  Since Sally Beauty stopped carrying the Limited Edition collections, this was the way to go for me.  Especially because the Color Pass is much cheaper than what I could purchase them for in store.

Anyways, Mystic Maven covers completely in two coats.  Honestly, you could get away with one coat on this gorgeous polish.  I'm so happy to have this color in my collection.



Trying a little new background for my pose like this.  Not sure if I like it yet, but it does feature another shot of Mystic Maven, as well as the beautiful Head in the Clouds.  This polish is from the La La Land Spring Collection in 2017....another Color Pass purchase.  Two coats for that polish, but I used three because I felt like there was one patchy spot.  I think that was operator error though.

What do you think? Love this rose manicure? Love the ORLYs?

Again, I want to thank you all who have followed and supported me for the past 6 years!  You have no idea how much it means to me!  Here's to another year!

Until next time, <3.

Dot Mani

The One With the Heart Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  Welcome to yet another Monday here in 2019.  We have entered into the week of the dreaded Valentine's Day.  At least I have a super busy week so I can ignore the fact that everyone is being super extra.  I'm a firm believer we should show our love for eachother every day, and not be forced to do it one day a year.  Now we all know that Valentine's Day didn't start out as a Hallmark Holiday, society commercialized it into what it is today.

Despite my hate for the holiday, for the blog (and my resident's), I festively paint my nails.  Today's manicure is for sure out of my comfort zone because of all the pink.  So.much.pink.  I wasn't sure of it at first, but then when I finished it off with the rose gold accent.....well, you'll see.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • INM - Celine's Jelly Bean
  • ORLY - White Tips
  • ORLY - Lucid Dream
Gorgeous, right? Celine's Jelly Bean is a perfect pastel pink polish.  Two coats and full coverage.  I was scared this would be a three coater because typically light pinks like this are more sheer and crelly like, but this one isn't.  Perfect cream polish which I think I might be using again around Easter time.



I can see myself wearing more pink manicures because of this design.  Lucid Dream by ORLY is a perfect accent to balance everything off.  It is a two coat, rose gold polish from the Deep Wonder winter collection.  Polishes like this are why I continue with the ORLY Color Pass each year.


What do you think of this manicure?  Think I should do more pink manicures?

Until next time, <3.


Dry Brush Mani

The One With A Pink Dry Brush Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world, and Happy Friday!  This week has draaaaaaaged and I am so happy that Friday is finally here.  Sleep in Saturday is so close, yet so far.  And who really knows if I will be able to sleep in, there's always the risk of something happening which disrupts my slumber.  Hopefully though, that doesn't happen.

Since Valentine's Day is a week away, I figured I should get a little festive with my manicures.  You all know that I dislike the holiday because it's a Hallmark up holiday and believe we should show our love to each other everyday.  I'm also not a huge pink/red person, so painting my nails for this "holiday" really isn't something I look forward to.  But, I do it for the blog.

Let's take a look at my semi Valentine's Day design.


Colors Used:
  • Finger Paints - Hue Left a Message
  • Serendipity Polish - Summer Sunnies
  • Serendipity Polish - Building My Empire
A lovely black and pink dry brush manicure.  Kind of nice intro into the pink nails with a little splash of black.  I actually enjoyed this manicure and could maybe see myself wearing pink more often because of it.  It's kind of surprising to me how many pink polishes I own despite not being a huge fan of pink.  Most of them though are coral/dark pinks, not these light pastel pinks.



For someone not liking pink, Hue Left a Message by FingerPaints was one of the first glitter polishes I purchased when I started blogging.  Which, mind you, was six years ago.  That's right, coming up on Valentine's Day, we will be celebrating six years of The Little Canvas.  Crazy to me that it's been that long.  I'm kind of shocked this polish is still perfect after six years.  I put on two coats over one coat of Serendipity Polish Summer Sunnies.

What do you think?  Like this manicure? Fan of Valentine's Day?

Until next time, <3.

Color Block Mani

The One Inspired By SamRoseNails

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing today?  It's Tuesday but I wish it was already Friday.  The weeks are just getting longer and longer, and my rest is getting less and less.  I need a long vacation.  Anyone have any suggestions?

Since I'm tired and running off to work, my post is going to be short and sweet.  Today's manicure is inspired by SamRoseNails on Instagram.  She had the cutest mosaic looking nail art which I fell in love with as soon as I saw it.  The mint, the silver, then the nude.  It just all went together so well!  After I broke two of my nails, I thought that this design would look perfect on my shorties that I was rocking for a little bit.

Sadly, mine didn't turn out as good as hers, but I still do like them.  Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • Jessica Cosmetics - Flower Crown
  • Sally Hansen - Champagne Supernova
  • Sally Hansen - Silver Stallion
My lines were so much thicker than hers which looked kind of messy and not so neat.  I love the design, but I think I just was tired and ended up blobbing the lines on the nails instead of paying attention.  It looked good on my thumb, but that's a larger canvas which helps things out a bit.

Flower Crown is a gorgeous mint polish which I received last year in a giveaway.  I never win anything, so when Jessica Cosmetics contacted me saying that I won the Gypsy Collection, I was happy as could be!  Then the collection got put on the back burner and I haven't used any of the polishes until now.  I'm a slacker, I know.



This view of the manicure I like better than the other photo.  Probably should just delete the other photo and pretend it didn't happen.  I switched up the manicure a bit and instead of doing two of the mint/teal nails I did a silver accent to match the silver on the design nail.  Not sure if I lied that silver nail, but after showing it to my friend she prefered it.  Who knows, she might have just said it to be nice!

What do you think?  Like this manicure?

So happy my nails are growing out again.  You know, just in time for the dreaded Valentine's Day nails.  Blah.

Until next time, <3.

Monthly Mani Favs

The One With January's #MonthlyManiFavs

9:00:00 AM

Hi all!  How are you all doing on this fine Saturday?  We are coming out the other end of the Polar Vortex, meaning that it's not going to be -1 degree with -35 wind chills.  We will be in the 30s today, and then I think the 50s on Monday.  Thennnn we will rewind back to the single digits towards the end of the week.  It just needs to stay one temperature for the next few weeks so my sinuses don't explode.

On top of the weather being all messed up, my week was crazy busy and the exhaustion is real.  I am so tired that I'm shocked I got this post up.  I'm really looking forward to staying in bed most of the weekend, watching Hulu Live, and literally pretending that there is no outside world.

Until those moments occur, let's take a look at my Monthly Mani Favs for January!


  • The One With the First Snowflake Manicure of the Year - I had a real black, silver, and white kick at the end of December/beginning of January.  Honestly, I feel I may go back to it because it's so clean, neat, and sharp.  Loved this snowflake manicure accented with my favorite - ORLY Mirrorball.
  • The One With the Snowman and Snowflake Nail Art - A re-creation of one of my all time favorite manicures which was inspired by Ruth's Nail Art.  After seeing a few people re-create my design, I decided it was my turn to re-do it as well.  Love it this time around so much better.
  • The One With the Smoosh Snowflake Manicure - After discovering an amazingly easy way to create a smoosh manicure, I got to work on this manicure.  This has to be my all time favorite snowflake design!
  • The One With the Galaxy Manicure - Who doesn't love a good galaxy design?  Every year I create one, and every year I love it!

What do you think?  Which one was your favorite?

I guess it's time to start some Valentine's Day designs.  Ugh, I hate this holiday.  Maybe I'll skip being festive.  We will see.

Until next time, <3.