Animal Mani

Daisy the Hippo!

9:00:00 AM

Hey everyone!!!  How are you this fine day?  It isn't so fine here, earlier in the week we were in the 50s and now we have dropped down to the 30s with freezing rain.  Luckily, we didn't get hit with an ice storm, but instead loads and loads of rain.  And nothing is more fun than walking through parking lots with ice cold rain falling on you.  I guess it could be worse, it could be snowing again.   Despite the weather, the birds are chirping, the crocuses are blooming, and the tulips and lilies are starting to emerge from the ground.  I am determined to keep my nails some what Springy and cheerful.  Cheerful nail art should make the weather cheerful, right?

This nail art design was inspired by one I saw on Instagram by Emily (@erd10).  I would have never found her Instagram or this nail design if she didn't tag her photo with #nailart.  When I get bored, I will sit and search through this tag to get inspired and hopefully find some cute designs to feature on Nails4Yummies (don't worry, I also check #TheLittleCanvas and #Nails4Yummies).  I fell in love with her little hippo and daisy nails and put them on my to-do list.  The other night, I had a couple of disasticures, and needed something cheerful, and what better than Daisy the Hippo.  Let's take a look!




Colors Used:

  • Sinful Colors - Mint Apple, Snow Me White, Black on Black
  • Pure Ice - Kiss Me Here (seriously, HATE this name)
  • Ulta - Sun Sational
So after my disasticures, I really needed to use my favorite polish, which of course is Sinful Colors - Mint Apple.  For some reason, this shade of mint with the subtle shimmer (every time I type this, I think of Susan) is just pure perfection in a bottle.  I always have full coverage in two coats, which I have seen others haven't had.  I've had two bottles and never have had streak issues or uneven application.

When my base was dried, with my nail art brush, I outlined Daisy the Hippo with the dark gray polish and painted her head in.  With my dotting tool, I added the gray ears and let the face dry.  While it was drying, I used my dotting tool and added the daisies no the other nails.  Since I didn't like the look on my nail of just two flowers, I added the white dots to even it out.  With the same dotting tool, I added the nose and eye details, finished with a top coat, and called it a night.

What do you think of Daisy?  Adorable idea, right?  Have you ever copied someones manicure you found on Instagram??

Oh how I love Instagram.  Searching the tags and finding nail artists like Emily really keep me inspired.  Don't forget to tag your art using #TheLittleCanvas or #Nails4Yummies for a chance to be featured on the @Nails4Yummies account!  I cannot wait to see what you artists all are doing on your nails!!!

<3

Color Block Mani

Abstract Color Block?

9:00:00 AM

Things I need to learn to do: write down the colors I used in a manicure directly after I paint them so I don't sit glaring at the picture going "is that my Aurora or is that just my purple??"  This is yet another manicure I did before Easter, but right after I painted the Tigers, so I guess I'm somewhat on track over here with sharing posts.  Seriously though, I think I posted a crappy photo of these using my old LG Octane.  Back before the beloved iPhone, I would take pictures on my basic phone, text them to my email, download them on to the iPod touch, then upload to Instagram.  It was a pain in my butt and pictures looked like booty.

After seeing that Instagram picture, and now looking at these ones again, goodness, they look better photographed with a real camera.  I'm also upset I didn't write a post up right after I did them because I can't remember the back story behind why I did these nails.  It's quite upsetting to me at this moment.  Did I have a disasticure, did this randomly come into my head?  I just cannot remember!!!  I think that I was in love with my Color Club Holos and really wanted to use them, so I came up with this design.

Anywho, let's take a look at my free-hand color block manicure!!!




Colors Used:
  • Ulta - Snow White
  • Zoya - Aurora
  • Color Club - Eternal Beauty and Over the Moon
  • Orly - Liquid Vinyl
Jazzy, right?  Luckily, I remember how I did the nails and achieved the look!!!

I started off with a base coat of Ulta - Snow White.  When dried, with my nail art brush and Orly Liquid Vinyl, I outlined the squares/abstract design.  I remember that I was thinking about using nail art tape, but wanted to Little Canvas my self and go 100% freehand.  With another nail art brush, I started randomly filling in the squares with Aurora, Eternal Beauty, and Over the Moon.  After the colors were painted in and I still had some blank white areas, I re-outlined the black lines with the nail art brush to make them more square and even.

These nails kind of remind me of my Mosaic-ish nail art, especially since I did the same technique to get the look.  Colors were kind of similar too, now that I look at it.  What makes this manicure special is all the holo!!!!  Eternal Beauty and Over the Moon are just amazing.  If you don't own any Color Club Holos, I suggest you run out the the store and purchase them!!!  They are SOOO worth the money!!!!  If you can also get your hands on Zoya Aurora, I suggest that also.  This was the first time I used Aurora since I received it in January, and well, I need to use it more.  The holo glitter flecks are gorgeous mixed with the purple polish.  I'm going to be using it for plenty of pedicures this summer.  Imagine how gorgeous it's going to look when the sun hits it!!!

What do you think?  Fan of the abstract color block?  Do you free hand color block or use tape??

Until next time, <3.

Animal Mani

Tiger Nail Art Re-Visited

9:00:00 AM

I did this manicure before Easter, but am just NOW getting to post it.  I was going to post them in between St. Patrick's Day and Easter,but then I realized that these two holidays were about a week and a half apart.  Plus I had my disasticure issue before Easter which made me start Easter nails early, and well I had to fit all those in.  Oh, the first world problems of a nail blogger.

I've been very excited to share this manicure with you, as they mean a lot to me.  Last year, when I started blogging they were my very first original manicure.  Devotees will remember my Tiger Nails from last February.  A few months later, I took this manicure and created my first Photoshop Tutorial.  Both posts were a big step for me and the blog which were just starting out.  Ever since October, these nails have been in the back of my mind and I kept wanting to re-try them.  I had big plans to re-do them exactly one year from the original post date, but I had so many other manicure ideas, the anniversary of them came and left.  Regardless, I had to re-attempt.  

I sat down, looked at my own tutorial, and re-did them!!!  I can't wait to show you guys!!!!  Let's take a look!!




Colors Used:
  • Zoya - Lianne
  • Orly - Liquid Vinyl
  • Ulta - Snow White
Cute, right?  As always, Zoya Lianne is pure perfection in a bottle.  With two coats, I had complete, shimmery tangerine nails, but decided I really wanted the orange to stand out so I applied three.  This is one of my favorite orange polishes, and I think one of Zoya's best kept secrets.  Not many bloggers have this polish, and to me, it's one of those must haves.  Head on over and get yourself a bottle!!!!

Instead of re-writing out how I did these nails, I'll include the tutorial here again....


Free Hand Tiger Design:
  1. Start with a base coat of your favorite orange polish.  For mine, I used Zoya Lianne.
  2. With a toothpick, start stippling on black wavy lines with a black polish.  I start at the base of the nail and work my way towards the tip.  I also start from the outer edge and move my way in.
  3. Add little connecting lines from the other lines to fill in the gaps and create more of a animal look.
  4. Let dry and finish with a top coat.
Free Hand Tiger Faces:
  1. Start with a base coat of your favorite orange polish.
  2. With your favorite white polish, paint on the circular head.  If you do not feel comfortable paiting on the head, you can use the dotting tool to outline and fill the rest in.  The head goes at the tip of the nail.
  3. With a dotting tool, add the eyes with a white polish.  If you do not have a dotting tool, a tooth pick will work the same.
  4. With the dotting tool (or tooth pick), add the black on the eyes, nose, and whiskers.  With a tooth pick, stipple on the mouth.
  5. With a tooth pick, add tiger lines as you did for the tiger design on the other nails.
  6. Let dry, and finish with a top coat.
What do you think??  Better than last years tigers??  Have you tried the tigers or are you planning on trying them??  Would you like to see more tutorials??

I'm just so proud of these nails.  I can truly see through this post and last years that I have grown as a nail artist.  My cuticles are cleaner, my nails are longer, the lines are straighter....just all around better looking!!!

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I have!!!!  Until next time, <3.

Fun and Random

Autism Awareness - Puzzle Piece Manicure: Take 2

9:00:00 AM

Good Day Polished Peeps!  I hope you all are doing well!!!  Today I bring you the manicure I wore for National Autism Awareness Day which was yesterday, April 2nd.  Since April is National Autism Awareness Month, I figured it would be okay to post them a day late.   Plus, I'm able to keep to my every 3 day posting on the blog which leads to better consistency and less anxiety for me!  I have this minor fear that one day I'm going to come to the blog to write up a post and I won't have anything for you.  Currently, I have two manicures that I need to post from awhile back sitting here waiting, so I'm good.  I'm rambling, on to the manicure....

For this manicure, I of course wanted to use my blue polishes, which are my favorites!  I'm pretty sure that majority of my stash is blue.  For those of you who do not know, the Autism Awareness Ribbon is decorated with multi-colored puzzle pieces.  According to the Autism Society, the puzzle pattern represents the mystery and complexity of the autism spectrum, and the bright colors represent the diversity of the people and families who are living with the condition.  

I wanted my nails to not only include the blue, but the puzzle pieces as well.  Therefore, I decided to attempt puzzle piece nails again, which if you remember my last post, I talked about how much I hated it.  I said I would try it again with two colors, and well here we go!!!  I also came up with a different technique which was sooooo much easier!  I'll explain that after the pictures!!! Let's take a look!!  The pictures kind of upset me because my camera/lightbox were not participating with me, but I hope you like!




Colors Used:
  • Sally Hansen - Blue Me Away!
  • Sally Hansen - Blue Away!
  • OPI - OPI...Eurso, Euro
  • Ulta - Snow White (Base)
Loveeee!  Okay, so, remember how last time I complained that using tape was impossible?  Well, this manicure was done with no tape what so ever!!!!!  No lie, I used NO TAPE.  As a hater of scotch tape, I refused to use it again for puzzle pieces.  When I sat down to paint these nails, I immediately thought of my nail art tape and thought that I could use that.  I tried to figure out a way to do this.... should I paint a dark blue base and tape mani my lighter colors?  Should I do a white base???  Ugh it was becoming too confusing for one manicure.

Then, it hit me....I should use my dotting tools!  Confused?  Don't worry, I'll talk you through it.  I remembered when I did my Checkerboard Tape Manicure and I dotted the colors in the squares?  I thought that I would do the same thing, except this time, using no tape.

I started off with a base coat of Ulta - Snow White.  When dried, with my medium dotting tool, I dotted on the light blue polish.  I first stippled a cross onto my nail and then filled in each corner.  Then with my darker blue polish, I filled in the rest of the white space.  I then added the puzzle dots when both polishes were somewhat dried.  Even though my lines were rather neat, I really wanted the puzzle pieces to stand out.  With my nail art brush, I used OPI Eurso, Euro and outlined the puzzle pieces.  I should have taken a before and after picture, because trust me, the outline made them look so much better.

What do you think?  Would you be interested in possibly seeing a tutorial on these nails using the Dotting Tool Method??  Did you wear blue nails for Autism Awareness?!

Quick note, I have decided that I'm going to host a monthly nail art contest where the winner is featured on all my accounts.  You do NOT have to be a blogger to enter, you can be an Instagram poster, Twitter artist, or just a paitner for fun.  I want to feature as much art as possible and I think this would be a great way to see how many truly talented artists there are out there!!!  I'm still working out the details, so in the next few days I'm going to put up a blog post looking for your opinions!!!  Thanks to everyone on Instagram who thinks it sounds fun and will participate!!!

Until next time, keep rocking your blue nails!!!!  See you in a few days! <3