Poppies

I'm nervous about posting this latest painting because I did them as a weeding gift for my best friend.  Her wedding isn't until the end of July.  Here's hoping she doesn't look at my blog till after that.  
She picked a wall hanging from Target with the exact design as the yellow poppy as a wedding gift on her registry.  Of course I thought to myself, "I can do that and it would mean so much more if I painted it".  When I was all done, I'll admit, I was impressed with myself at how great they both came out.  Below is the original art from the Target website.  I can't wait to give this gift to her and her husband for their new house and life together!  

Laser Cut

I've been working outside at the Garden Center for a little over a month now and my nails look like it.  I just had three days off due to schedule luck and an unfortunate Bee sting. . . don't worry i'm fine now.  So, I took the time to pamper myself and get my nails back in somewhat of a presentable state.  I saw this design on Pinterest using Hot Pink and a similar Yellow.  Unfortunately, my Hot Pink was just used to enhance the soles of my new shoes for an upcoming wedding :)  !!!  For some reason the lines look thicker in the photo than they really are.  Regardless, you'll need two colors of polish, scotch tape (my new best friend) and scissors.


First: paint 3 nails one color (green) and 2 the other color (yellow)
Second: cut skinny stripes of scotch tape and lay on nails in random directions
Third: paint over nails and tape stripes with the opposite color of the base already on your nails
Fourth: allow nails to dry completely before removing tape. Trust Me!
Fifth: cover with clear top coat 

Rawr. . .

These were my last "fancy" nails before starting my new summer job at the Garden Center.  They were just fun for a little something before sadly cutting my nails :(   I really liked the look of the cheetah print on my nails from a previous design and thought why not try it as a tip only design.  So there you have it haha.


First: paint entire nail a neutral color.  I wanted a more solid tan but, this is what I had at the time
Second: use sharpie to draw cheetah design on tip of nails.  Don't give it much thought.  It'll turn out better
Third: use same color as base to add accent dots in the design
Fourth: cover with clear top coat

Oh La Ga Ga

I really just wanted to see if I would be able to still do things with all of those pearls on my nails.  As expected. . . nailed it!!!  I took the first photo without the flash so you could really see the detail of the pearls.  The second photo with the flash really shows the true color of the design.  The baby pink and bright white pearls.  Hope you guys like it as much as I do :) 


First: paint entire nail pink (2 coats and allow to dry completely!)
Second: add scrap-booking pearls in desired design
Third: for hearts - drop two dots of white next to each other and use toothpick to drag dots down into a point (allow to dry)
Fourth: COVER COVER COVER with clear coat! it's important to really get around the base of all the pearls so they don't move.  and don't worry, the excess will come off in a day or two if you hit your skin. 

Need an Adjustment?

I've been wanting to try this design ever since I started me internship.  This past weekend we attended the TLC Chiropractic seminar in Philly, so. . . what better time?  The vertebrae didn't turn out as realistic as I had planned but they definitely got the point across.  Starting from the top the nails have Thorasic vertebrae 10 down to Lumbar vertebrae 5.  My lovely co-worker Diane was the one who pointed my nails out to everyone and they were a HUGE hit.  THANKS DIANE!  Also, they're a little chipped because I forgot to take a picture before I left for the weekend. 


First: paint entire nail a solid neutral color so the drawing really stands out
Second: use a fine point Sharpie for control to make vertebrae
Third: cover with top coat

Button up Butter-Cup

I LOVE SPARKLES!  I wanted to get back to a girly design after doing some modern and simple designs on my nails lately.  


First: paint entire nail a pale neutral color
Second: paint glitter polish on top 3rd of the nail
Third: while glitter is still wet sprinkle Glamour dust on top 3rd of the nail
Fourth: add sticky pearls to thumb and ring nail for added pop
Fifth: cover with no chip clear coat 

Awesome!

Pretty self-explanatory. . . 
First: paint entire nail Pink
Second: write whatever word you want starting on the Right Pinky Nail so others are able to read it
Third: cover with top coat

On the Edge

First: paint entire nail green
Second: cover with top coat
Third: use Sharpie to make solid line on tip of nail. Make it as thick or thin as you want
Fourth: cover with top coat

Frilly & Girly

First: paint entire nail pink (about 3 coats)
Second: cover with coat of clear coat
Third: apply strip of lace decal to tip of nail
Fourth: cover with generous amount of top coat

A peak into my Sketch book. . .

I did the above two during October 2011.  I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!  It was really fun to work on these as the holiday got closer.  The clean lines really make it pop.  Still can't bring myself to color Frankenstein; maybe I'll do it one day. 

I did the ambigram above for my best friends brother, Jamie.  He asked me to draw some type of tribal design with his daughters name for an upper arm tattoo.  I've done a tattoo design in the past for a class mate and was really honored Jamie trusted me with little direction.  He hasn't inked it yet but is absolutely thrilled with the end result.  Yaaaaaa!!!!

"What goes around comes around" is a saying I use constantly and saw it as a tattoo on Pink's wrist.  Immediately I fell in love with it.  This is just my slightly different version for in case I ever decide to ink it on myself. 

The Unicorns are still a work in progress.  One of the girls I work with mentioned she wants to have one on her lower back.  So of course I offered to draw something up for her.  We're still trying to figure out exactly what she wants. But, it's been fun so far. 

Coma Coma Coma Chameleon

My Aunt D came to visit during the loss of our Aunt Margie and she brought some polishes for everyone to look through and match with their outfit.  Yes, even in the face of death we're one of those families :)  She had this shade by Chameleon that has like an oil spill effect.  On the nail it didn't have enough green for me so I added the lime green by China Glaze.  The name "Chameleon" was the inspiration for the design.  I just realized there's silver in the picture.  I was going to use that color for the lizard but it didn't look as nice as the black. So you can just ignore that. 


First: paint entire nail purple.  Immediately paint the top third of nail green
Second: cover with top coat while colors are still a little wet.  This helps them blend together more
Third: WHEN COMPLETELY DRY draw lizard design with Sharpie.  Allow 10-15min to really dry otherwise top coat makes the marker bleed
Fourth: cover with top coat

R.I.P. Margie

My Great Aunt Margie passed away this week and I wanted to do something for her.  She was always a women I looked up to because she knew exactly who she was and never apologized for it or tried to be anything else.  She and I are Catholics so I felt rosary beads would be the most appropriate. 


First: paint entire nail black
Second: using two different size brush ends make a curve of white dots.  This gives the  necklace effect
Third: using the smaller brush end, carefully make small crosses in lower corner of nail.  *You can see on the pinky nail it's basically an "X".  On the larger nails I was able to make the horizontal line closer to the top which makes for a better cross. 
Fourth: cover with top coat

Catch a Cheetah by the toe. . . nail

I had originally painted my nails with the hot pink and intended to leave them that way.  After a day I had to pout something on them haha.  The cheetah pattern is something I've been working at with no luck till today :) Using a lighter version of whatever the base coat is as circles really gives the design dimension and pulls off the desired look.  The pink is much brighter in person. I'm disappointed with the photograph and think I'm going to use a bright green next time.


First: paint entire nail Hot Pink. Or any color really
Second: using black polish, I used a sharpie for more control, make small ameba shapes and then half circles in the empty spaces
Third: use the back end of a paintbrush to add contrast color dots on one outer edge of each ameba shape
Fourth: seal with top coat

Luck of the Irish

It's the week of Saint Patrick's Day and my office is throwing a client appreciation day this Thursday.  It's a party to celebrate our amazing clients and the fun day of St. Patty.  Obviously, four leaf clovers and gold were the only option for this week!

First: paint nails with gold glitter.  I used Sally Hansen Salon Effects gold strips

Second: cover with clear coat to protect strips. Or base coat of gold polish

Third: draw four leaf clovers with black thin point sharpie. The outline gives the clover more dimension and structure

Fourth: use paint brush to fill in clovers with green polish

Fifth: cover with clear coat

Blue me Away

I had the joy of having the day off today.  After some yard work I decided it was time to change my nails up. I wanted to do something that would match my navy blue work shirt.  So, I took the obvious choice of . . . navy blue haha.  The flowers turned out better than I expected and I was able to use my pearls again!!!!! Yyyeeeeeee!!!

First: paint ring fingers white.  When dry cover with clear coat.  (This prevents the blue flowers from running when final clear coat is added)

Second: paint remaining nails blue

Third: (one at a time) place a drop of blue polish on white nail

Fourth: (quickly) using fine paintbrush, drag polish outward to create petals.  Don't worry about the flowers not looking perfect.  The smudgy-er they look the better the overall effect. 

Fifth: When completely dry paint with clear coat.  Add pearls if you like. The design works w/o them too. Then cover with another layer of clear coat. 

Roses-R-Red. . . or Orange

A design similar to this one was sent to me by my good friend Jessi.  I altered it slightly.  Adding the white stripes to the pink nails and not adding leaves to the roses.  Also, I had hoped the color would have photographed better.  I used a red sharpie to be more precise and it turned out a little orange.  It did look better in person however. 

First: paint every other nail pink

Second: paint remaining nails white

Third: using white polish pen draw vertical stripes on pink nails

Fourth: using red sharpie draw roses in circular choppy motions.  This gives the appearance of roses w/o being to exact

Fifth: Cover with clear coat

CoCo Chanel

I saw this design online awhile ago and couldn't wait to try it.  The end result was not what I expected but I think managed to get the point across.  I will not be trying this one again haha.


First: paint three nails white, one a neutral base and one black
Second: paint tips of white nails black
Third: paint neutral nail with glitter polish
Fourth: using white polish pen draw Chanel symbol on black nail
Fifth: using white polish pen draw quilted lines on black tips
Sixth: add pearl decals as desired
Seventh: Cover with generous amount of top coat. 
Note:  Allow ample time for all steps to dry, especially the last one. 

School Day Doodles

I saw this doodle design on Pinterest and immediately wanted to try it.  Since I am not left handed in the least; I had to recruit some extra help for the right hand doodles.  My dad was very helpful and came up with the doodles on his own haha.  Thanks Dad!  I wore these to work this week specifically for two girls that come to the office.  They had noticed my designs and I promised I would have a new one whenever they came in.  To my surprise they each had, fairly simple although impressive, designs on their own nails.  Keep it up girls. 


First: paint entire nail white
Second: use blue sharpie to create paper lines.  Don't worry about mess ups; the doodle can always cover it
Third: use black sharpie to create doodles
Fourth: allow to dry completely and cover with top coat (Quickly and thick so marker doesn't smudge)

Sock Monkey

This design was sent to me by my Aunt.  Thanks Aunt D, they were a big hit at work!!!  I loved the idea of these Sock Monkeys.  The only thing is I wish I had put the eyes farther apart and bought red nail polish for the mouth.  I only had a deep pink but, the over all look worked out.

First: paint entire nail white

Second: use manicure strips to create eye and mouth line

Third: mix white and black polish to create gray if you don't have gray polish.  Then paint eye line

Fourth: paint tips red

Fifth: remove strips while paint is a little wet to avoid smudging

Sixth: when dry, use sharpie to draw monkey face

Seventh: when marker is good and dry cover with top coat

Happy Valentines Day!

This project served to be much harder than expected.  The stickers were too stiff to mold to the shape of my nails and so became much more 3Dimensional than planned.  However, it was cute for about two days.  I recommend either cutting the stickers smaller or writing the words directly on your nail.  Have a great V-Day everyone!!!


First: paint entire nail purple
Second: cover with clear coat to protect and leave tacky for step three
Third: place stickers on flattest area of nail and press into tacky clear coat 
Fourth: handle things very carefully Bahahha

Polka Spots

I wasn't sure how this design was going to turn out as I was painting it.  When I was done though, it turned out to be my favorite so far.  I don't think the photos do it justice.  In person the design is so fun and bright.  I spent the better part of my work days looking at my nails.  


First: paint entire nail white
Second: dip back end of paintbrush in nail polish and decorate nail.  (I changed my mind on the straw b/c the straw gives larger rings rather than dots)
Third: cover nails with clear coat