Be Mine - 2014

VDay 2014 mani #2

Pink ombre manicure using (from L to R) Orly Soul Mate, Finger Paints Louvre This Pink, China Glaze Go Go Pink, and Zoya Purity; All topped with Finger Paints Kiss By The Tree.

Brazen Butterflies

Today's manicure began with a base coat and two coats of Sephora X Brazen. Next, I painted small amounts of Starrily Euphoria onto a piece of cosmetic wedge sponge, and dabbed that to the tips of my nails until I achieved the desired glitter gradient effect.

 Euphoria has adorable little butterfly glitters that I just had to have!!

Lastly, I added a layer of Gelous gel top coat to smooth out the glitter, and finished with a coat of Sephora X top coat.

Products Used

Sephora X Nail Cleanser

1 coat Nailtek Foundation 1

1 coat Sephora X Base Coat

2 coats Sephora X Brazen

Starrily Euphoria

1 coat Gelous Advanced Gel Top Coat

1 coat Seohora X Top Coat

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 29: Inspired By The Supernatural

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Two coats of Finger Paints Louvre This Pink, dabbed with a bit of Finger Paints Van Gogh's Violet on the tips of the nails. Stamped with Konad Black Stamping Polish + stamping plates RA-111, RA-112, RA-113, Mash-33, and M28 . Sealed with a coat of Dreams Lacquer Top Coat. 

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 26: Inspired By A Pattern

Pink Plaid Pajama Pants

This manicure began with a layer of Sephora X base coat, three thin coats of China Glaze Go-Go Pink, and Sephora X top coat. 

Next, I used Bondi Fuschia-istic and Mash-50 stamping plate to create the plaid pattern. Lastly, I added a coat of Seche Vite to seal the design.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 17: Glitter

To represent Glitter, I began with two coats of Zoya Brie. Then, I painted small amounts of Zoya Twila onto a piece of cosmetic wedge sponge, and dabbed that to the tips of my nails where I wanted the glitter to be concentrated. I added two layers of Gelous gel top coat to smooth out the glitter, and finished with one coat of Zoya Armor top coat.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 15: Delicate Print

Happy halfway point, Marathoners! The 'delicate' print that I have chosen for this manicure is 'Laces'.

I began with a base coat, two coats of Zoya Gie Gie, and a top coat. 

After that had dried, I chose Konad black stamping polish and Bundle Monster plate BM-420 to create the laces and corset. 

I used a dotting tool and a silver polish to add 'buttons' to the laces, and sealed the design with another layer of top coat.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 11: Polka Dots

The 11th task in the 30 Mani Marathon is Polka Dots.

To represent Polka Dots, I began with one coat of Sinful Shine Royal Flush (pink). Then, I free-hand painted half of each nail with Sinful Shine My Krypronite (teal). Next, I used a large dotting tool to add the dots on each side in opposite colors. Lastly, I've sealed the design with a coat of Dreams Nail Lacquer top coat.

Taffy Sandwich

Today's manicure uses the jelly sandwich technique, sandwiching glitter polish between layers of jelly polish.

After beginning with a base coat, I added 3 or 4 layers of China Glaze Heat Index, a neon pink jelly polish. To that, I applied two coats of Hard Candy Pink Taffy, a silver/pink/black glitter polish in a pink base. 

Then I applied one layer of Heat Index over the glitter, and finished with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

Four coats China Glaze Heat Index

Two coats Hard Candy Pink Taffy

One coat China Glaze Heat Index

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

Dazzling Monica

Above is two coats of Zoya Monica, followed by one layer of Zoya Armor Top Coat.

To that, I have used a piece of cosmetic wedge sponge to dab a bit of Sally Hansen Gem Crush Razzle Dazzler to the tips, and a bit down the nail.

A layer of Gelous gel top coat helps to smooth out the rough glitter, and after 24 hours I will seal the manicure with a coat of Seche Vite. Seche Vite does not mesh well with Zoya polishes, so it is important to only use it after the Zoya has had plenty of time to cure.

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

Two coats Zoya Monica

One coat Zoya Armor Top Coat

Sally Hansen Gem Crush Razzle Dazzler

One coat Gelous Advanced Gel Top Coat

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat (after 24 hours)

Raging Rock Stars

I created this manicure for a Will Hoge rock show Thursday night. I wanted something bright and fun, with a musical design. *Bonus pics from the show at the bottom!*

The base color is two coats of Sinful Shine - All The Rage. Over that, I put a sparse layer of the glitter pictured above, Icing - Radio Superstar. 

I was somewhat disappointed as I flipped through the book I keep my stamping plates in, I thought I had more music related stamp designs. It turns out all I have are a few piano-type stamps, and this wavy musical design. I love the way this one turned out though, despite not having many to choose from. I must get more music stamps!

The stars are very hard to get from this this bottle of glitter polish, which ended up working out for me. After I placed the stamps, I fished out the stars and individually placed them onto the nails around the stamps with a dotting tool. (There is one star peeking out from the stamping on my pointer nail, it was the only one that came out naturally when applying the glitter. I left it where it lay, and I think the music pattern on top is pretty cute.)

The star glitter has some sharp edges at the points, so I went over the design with a coat of Gelous gel top coat to help smooth it out. If you look close at my ring finger nail, it is slightly smudged...I learned that Gelous will do this to your stamps if you aren't super-super careful. I know that now :/ lol. Over that, I applied a nice coat of Seche Vite and it *almost* smoothed everything out completely. I still had a few star points poking up which I could have solved with another layer of Seche Vite, but it didn't bother me enough to add another coat.

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

Two coats Sinful Shine All The Rage

One coat Icing Radio Superstar

Stamping Plate M22

Konad Black Special Stamping Polish

One coat Gelous Advanced Gel Top Coat

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

*Bonus pics from the Will Hoge show!*

Sinful Shine - All The Rage

All The Rage is the second color I have tried from the new Sinful Shine line of Gel Tech polishes. 

This is two coats of All The Rage, pictured with no topcoat. It really is very shiny on its own, just like they claim! 

I really like this color on me, and it's a great base for the design I did on top, Raging Rock Stars.

LC's Black Tie

I've been loving the new Hard Candy Crystal Confetti Collection, so today I have another one to show you. This manicure begins with a base coat, two beautiful coats of Zoya LC, and one layer of Zoya Armor top coat. (Be sure to scroll past the before/after at the bottom of this post, for some bonus 'fail' footage.)

I followed that with one, very easy to apply, coat of Hard Candy Black Tie Optional. I just love all the different sizes and shapes of black and white glitter in this polish.

I then added one coat of Gelous gel top coat to smooth out the glitter, and finished with one more coat of Zoya Armor.

Products Used:

One coat Zoya Anchor Base Coat

Two coats Zoya LC

One coat Zoya Armor Top Coat

One coat Hard Candy Black Tie Optional

One coat Gelous Advanced Gel Top Coat

One coat Zoya Armor Top Coat

Bonus 'Fail' Footage

My good friend Soguesswhat11 posted a lovely manicure the other day that had a soft pink base, a metallic green wavy design all over, and red flower stamp accents. This was my attempt to recreate her design with my own twist, see her video tutorial here.

I chose two coats of Zoya Erika as my pink base color, Sinful Colors Moss Have and stamping plate Mash-50 for the vines, and Zoya LC and stamping plate Mash-28 for the flowers. 

In the end, I just didn't think it was as successful as I had hoped it would be. I love the base color, but perhaps should have chosen a darker or more vibrant green for the vines (Moss Have is the only metallic-ish green I own), and maybe a different flower stamp. It's OK, but it isn't a total win in my book. I'll have to give it another try someday!

Fancy French Bows

Today I have another french tipped design, I am much happier with this than I was with my French Sequins manicure. I used scotch tape and white polish to create the french tip on each nail. I've attempted to depict this simple process in the photo collage below. 

As always I applied a base coat and let it dry. Then I took a small piece of scotch tape and stuck it to my arm to make it less sticky, you don't want the tape to pull off your base coat. Turn the piece of tape sideways so the flat edge is toward the tip of your nail, and position on the nail leaving enough space to create the desired tip, press down so the tape is flush with the nail. Using Zoya Purity for the white, I painted one even coat across the tip and immediately removed the tape. I followed that with  two coats of Sation - Of Corset I'll Call You, which I received in my April Ipsy Bag (both 1 and 2 coats depicted), plus a coat of Zoya Armor top coat.

The bow stamp is from Bundle Monster Stamping Plate BM-317, and is stamped with Konad white stamping polish. Tiny pink rhinestones add a cute, whimsy touch to the middle of each bow. I sealed the bows and stones with another coat of Zoya Armor.

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

One french tip coat Zoya Purity

Two coats Sation Of Corset I'll Call You

One coat Zoya Armor Top Coat

Bundle Monster Plate BM-317

Konad Special White Stamping Polish

Tiny Pink Rhinestones

One coat Zoya Armor Top Coat

24 hours later - One coat Seche Vite Top Coat