Animal Print

The One With the Leopard Manicure I'm Pretty Sure I've Already Done

9:00:00 AM

Nothing to Disclose


Good Morning and Happy Friday!  I realized I have failed yet again at posting to the blog.  And on top of it, I'm again behind when it comes to editing nail photos.  I'm planning on spending this weekend inside and just working on the blog, my nail polish storage, and catching up on some much needed sleep.

Today's design is a fun little leopard manicure, which as the title states, I'm pretty sure I've already done.  It's one that I absolutely love because it's one of those color combinations that I normally do not attract to.  The subtle gradient I feel really makes it.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • Sally Hansen - Sweet Tea
  • ORLY - White Tips
  • Some random gold polish'
Sweet Tea by Sally Hansen really is one of my favorite polishes.  It's such a gorgeous peach color which applies completely in two coats.  That's impressive since I typically find that polishes in this shade usually are extremely patchy and take at least three coats to have full coverage.  It worked wonderfully for the gradient with the white polish.


When that gradient was just how I wanted it, I went through with a dotting tool and added the gold centers for the leopard design.  I then went through with a tooth pick and painted the black accenting.  I know that some use a small paint brush or the dotting tool to complete the details, but I find I have more control with the tooth pick.  Plus, I can make it look more "leopard-y".

What do you think?  Fan of this look?

Until next time, <3.


China Glaze

The One With A Cute Little Floral Manicure

9:00:00 AM

Nothing to Disclose 


Well hello there, Polished World!  I apologize for my lack of posting, but I've been slacking on all parts of my nails.  Literally back to the swatches up until last night when I painted the most fun sunflower manicure.  I've been dying to paint a sunflower design for the longest time, but work has consumed my life again that I haven't had the time.  Last night I purposely made the time because I haven't been feeling myself without my nails done up all pretty.  I'm sure glad I did because it also forced me to write this post and get more of my art out there.

Today's design is another design inspired by Pippy Polish.  I swear, I found her Instagram and I've been beyond obsessed wanting to re-create every design.  And as you know a few post back, I went on a spree about how much I have been loving doing these negative space designs, so it makes complete sense that I'm in love with her Instagram.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • Sally Hansen - Blacky-O
  • China Glaze - I Got a Blue Attitude
  • OPI - Exotic Birds Do Not Tweet
  • Sally Hansen - Wet My Thistle
  • Black and White Acrylic
Let's take a moment and applaud the fact that I wrote out the polish colors in this post back when I painted the design.  I've only been saying I need to do this for the past 3 years and never actually have.

The star polish of this manicure - China Glaze's I've Got a Blue Attitude.  The most perfect blurple polish ever.  That's right, blurple...a mixture of blue and purple.  It applies perfectly in two coats and has such a shiny finish.  I've been obsessed with this color this year using it non stop for pedicures with a holographic top coat.  For this design though, there was no need for holographics as it stands out on it's own just fine.


I love the mixtures of colors she used.  Never in a million years would I have thought have blending these colors together.  I'm so glad I found her blog so I can come out of my normal blue, pink, purple color zone and use some things I never would have before.  I think it all comes together so well, especially on top of the naked nail.

What do you think?  fan of this look?

Until next time, <3.


Dot Mani

The One With The Blue ORLY Dry Brush Mani

9:00:00 AM

Nothing to Disclose


Well Good morning!  Here we are on another bright, sunny Monday!  I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods, but it's going to be a hot one here this week.  Also, if you're home town is anything like mine, your city is overrun with mosquitos and you can't even go outside without getting ten bites.  It's awful.  My poor garden needs some TLC but everytime I go out there, it's like I'm dinner for those dang bugs!

Being inside more means I've had more time to do my nails, and my nails are longer because I'm not digging around in the dirt and breaking them every five seconds.  Longer nails means more abstract designs since I feel like abstract nails on little nub nails don't look as good.  And that's just what I have for you today, a little abstract design using one of my favorite blue polishes.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - Skinny Dip
  • ORLY - White Tips
  • ORLY - Liquid Vinyl
I absolutely adore Skinny Dip by ORLY.  It was my first ever "funky" colored polish back when I started this blog.  Funny enough, this bottle is the original one I purchased way back in the day, and it still applies as if it were brand new.  What I love about Skinny Dip is the subtle shimmer the polish has.  It adds a different dimension versus a flat polish in this same color. Two coats and you have the most amazing blue nails in the whole world. 


I love the little abstract design.  I saw something similar on Pinterest using a pink polish, but I really wasn't feeling the pink the other night.  I cannot begin to tell you how many people complimented me on these easy nails.  To get the look, after the white polish was dried, I quickly did a dry brush with Skinny Dip across the nail.  Then, I went through with my dotting tool and added the black dots.  Literally five seconds and I was done.

What do you think?  Love this look? Love the blue?

Until next time, <3



Flowers

The One With the Daisy Manicure

9:00:00 AM

Nothing to Disclose Press Sample Affiliate Link


Good morning, Polished World!  And welcome to August!!!  Can you believe how this year has just flown by?  In a few short days, it will be my birthday and in another few weeks it will be my favorite season!  Don't get me wrong, I love that end of summer warmth, but there's just something about Fall that I absolutely am drawn to.  It is by far my favorite season and I wish it lasted longer.

Regardless of my love for fall, I'm still here sharing some summer-ish manicures!  Every year I create a black and yellow daisy manicure and every year they are my favorite designs.  I saw PippyPolish added some dimension to her daisies and I thought I'd give that a go by doing a little swipe of black on the petal.  To be completely honest, I think it made the manicure.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • Sally Hansen - Blacky-O
  • OPI - Exotic Birds Do Not Tweet
  • White Acrylic
What is it with this color palette that just screams gorgeous?!  The black, white, and yellow is just so striking to me.  Especially using Exotic Birds Do Not Tweet, one of my all time favorite OPI polishes.  I took some pictures holding that bottle but it took away from the design so I opted to hold Blacky-O.  Both polishes apply wonderfully in two coats.   Once Black-O was dried, I went through with my white acrylic and added my little daisies.  Added the details, slapped on a topper, and called it a night.


I'd also like to take a moment to look at how long my nails are compared to what they were in the beginning of the year.  This has taken some time, and switching of many base coats, to get here.  I can't tell you how brittle my nails have been in the last year due to all the hand washing.  Now that I'm using ORLY Top 2 Bottom Base Coat, alongside FingerPaints Ridge Filler, my nails are truly sturdier than ever.  I also lotion them up before applying anything which I think has helped a bit too.  Maybe that's mind over matter.

Until next time, <3.