31 Days of Nail Art - Day 7: Black + White Nails

Hello Everyone!

Here's my first catch up post.  I'll be continuing with Day 17 at 12pm PST but for now, a post to replace one of the ones I missed.

Today calls for Black & White nails.  I do a lot of Black & White so I was a little stumped as to what to do without repeating myself.  I decided to go geometric and simple.

Hope you like it!


Please check out what the other ladies have done. They completed this design several days ago.  We'll be posting simultaneously throughout the month so come back here tomorrow at 12pm PST for GLITTER Nails! and much later in the day I should be catching up on METALLIC nails!

Other participants:

Kelsie @ Kelsie's Nail Files, Steph @ A Little Polish , Erin @ Beauty Bumbles + Jess @ Nearly Natural Nails

31 Days of Nail Art - Day 6: Violet Nails

Hello Everyone!

Sorry I'm running late again today.  Unfortunately somtimes things just come up that can't be avoided.

Anyway, I changed my mind about what I was going to do today as I decided I wanted to do a mini tribute to Joss Whedon.  What a weekend he is having!  I've been a fan of his for as long as I can remember and while no one would call his career unsuccessful up to now, I'm just very hapy for him to have such a massive hit that is so widely regarded on his hands.

So, of course, for this mani it meant I HAD to use WnW- Buffy the Violet Slayer.  I just added some little violets on top but I was having a bit of the same problem as I did with yesterday's mani.  The outer edge of the violets faded into the purple on camera.  In person they look really cute!  Oh well.

I should have time this evening to schedule all the upcoming week's worth of posts.  I'm hoping that means this weekend will be an anomaly and I'll be back to posting silmultaneously like last week.
Please check out what the other ladies have done. We'll be posting simultaneously throughout the month. Then, come back here tomorrow at the same Bat-time, same Bat-channel for BLACK AND WHITE Nails!

Other participants:

Kelsie @ Kelsie's Nail Files, Steph @ A Little Polish , Erin @ Beauty Bumbles + Jess @ Nearly Natural Nails

31 Days of Nail Art - Day 5: Blue Nails

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I'm running late today!!  I'll make this quick.

Today is 'Blue' nails.  I chose a gorgeous shimmery blue, China Glaze - Frost Bite and I was going to do V-gaps on it but my first line was a little off centre so I adapted to something else.  Hope you like it. 

That last photo is the only one that shows the real shimmer of Frost Bite.  I was having a problem if the camera caught the shimmer then the purple just faded away.

Hope you're all having a great weekend.  Tomorrow I'll be back to my regularly scheduled programming! =)

Please check out what the other ladies have done. We'll be posting simultaneously throughout the month. Then, come back here tomorrow at the same Bat-time, same Bat-channel for VIOLET Nails!

Other participants:

Kelsie @ Kelsie's Nail Files, Steph @ A Little Polish , Erin @ Beauty Bumbles + Jess @ Nearly Natural Nails



31 Days of Nail Art - Day 3: Yellow Nails

Hello Everyone!

I hope you're all enjoying the designs from this challenge so far!  I think we're all doing great and we're only just getting started.

Today for you, we've got Yellow Nails!

The spring here has been basically non-existent.  We're still having terrible weather.  So, I keep trying to put spring or something that reminds me of better weather on my nails.  Today, I've put some tropical flowers on my nails!

This is 2 coats of China Glaze - Lemon Fizz with acrylic paint for the flowers.  I sort of made this flower up from 2 different photos I saw.  Neither was quite right but combining the two worked for me.

Please check out what the other ladies have done. We'll be posting simultaneously throughout the month. Then, come back here tomorrow at the same Bat-time, same Bat-channel for GREEN Nails!

Other participants:

Kelsie @ Kelsie's Nail Files, Steph @ A Little Polish , Erin @ Beauty Bumbles + Jess @ Nearly Natural Nails

31 Days of Nail Art - Day 2: Orange Nails

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to day 2 of 31 days of nail art.  I hope you all liked what Kelsie, Erin, Stephanie & I did for you yesterday and I hope you're all ready for orange nails today.  Jess @ Nearly Natural Nails has decided to join us.  Links to all participants at the bottom!

Anyone feeling crabby? =)

I saw a crab on a beach towel and decided he might be perfect for orange nails.  I've changed him quite a bit (and left half of him off!) but I'm happy with this.  I think he's pretty cute!

This is 2 coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Sun Kissed and 1 coat of Color Club - Sparkle & Soar.  I painted the acrylics but let some of the base orange show through.

Here's what 2 coats Sun Kissed and 1 coat Sparkle & Soar looked like by themselves:

What do you think?  Anyone else suddenly craving crab cakes? =)

Please check out what the other ladies have done. We'll be posting simultaneously throughout the month. Then, come back here tomorrow at the same Bat-time, same Bat-channel for YELLOW Nails!

Other participants:

Kelsie @ Kelsie's Nail Files, Steph @ A Little Polish , Erin @ Beauty Bumbles + Jess @ Nearly Natural Nails

P.S. Giveaway winner, barring any unforseen problems, should be announced tomorrow!

31 Days of Nail Art - Day 1: Red Nails

Hello Everyone!  Welcome to May!
This month I'll be doing the 31 days of nail art challenge with three other lovely ladies!
Kelsie @ Kelsie's Nail Files, Steph @ A Little Polish + Erin @ Beauty Bumbles

I'm really excited to be doing this and to keep up, I've tried to do as many of these as possible ahead of time.  It's going to be a fun month and I've done some things I'm thrilled to finally be getting to show you.

Starting with today's...

DAY 1: RED nails

While I was brainstorming for red nails.  I kept getting that song by Nena, 99 Red Balloons stuck in my head.  Finally I googled 99 Red Balloons under images and this came up.

I found it on tumblr here.  Unfortunately, when I try to click through to who he reblogged it from, it says URL no longer exists.

Anyway, I though it was a great shot and knew I wanted to try to recreate it.  I started with 2 coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Pacific Blue.

Then I sponged on some China Glaze - Kinetic Candy and China Glaze - White on White.

And then I added lots of little red 'balloons' with China Glaze - Salsa, Velvet Bow, Hey Sailor + Wicked Style.

 

What do you think?  I really liked this one!

Please check out what the other ladies have done.  We'll be posting simultaneously throughout the month.  Then, come back here tomorrow at the same Bat-time, same Bat-channel for Orange Nails!

Other participants:

Kelsie @ Kelsie's Nail Files, Steph @ A Little Polish + Erin @ Beauty Bumbles

Last Chance: From the minute this post goes live, there will be only 9 hours left to enter my giveaway!! 

Like a Bird on a Wire

Hello Everyone!

I've got a bit of nail art for you today.  It didn't turn out quite as I had expected but I didn't dislike it.  I'd been planning to do this for quite a while but I wasn't sure that I could pull it off and I'm still not thrilled with it,  I think this is an idea I may revisit when my skills get better.

This mani was basically inspired by what I see outside my window everyday.  I live on the Pacific Ocean and there are a LOT of crows around.  Not many seagulls, just lots of crows.  Anyway, I wanted to paint them as I saw them.  My original plan was very thin lines and lots of birds but when the line came out so thick, proportionately I had to do bigger birds.

So, what do you think?  I don't know why I've been loving white nails so much lately but I have. 

I should mention that The Daily Nail recently had a mani up with a similar theme.  Our art is VERY different but I should just mention that it exists.   I can honestly say that I had planned to do these like this since well before I saw her design.

Well that is it for today kiddos!  I'm busy working on some art that won't be on display here until May when I do the 31 day challenge.

So, any ornithologists out there?

Til next time,

Amanda

P.S. Have you all entered my giveaway?

Girly Girl Challenge #7: Sugar & Spice

So I'm warning you now, my interpretation of this round is very strange!

When I was a little girl, my best friend used to pass me notes in class with these things on them.  When I asked what they were, she told me very matter-of-fact-ly, "Killer Cinnamon Buns!"  Like it was the most obvious thing in the world. :)

Well now, that's sugar with some spice!

And so I give you:  Attack of the Killer Cinnamon Buns!

They're gonna eat you as payback for all their kin you've consumed!

I know this is a little crazy but I thought it could work as a silly mani for April Fool's Day too.

Also, it's Jodie's (she who thought up these wicked little creatures!) Birthday next week. 

Happy Birthday Jo!

ETA: Jodie has approved this message!  ;)

So, only one more entry in this challenge to go for me!

Most of the other ladies participating have already completed it but you should check out what they did!

Oh, and...  Happy April Fool's!

'Til next time,

Amanda

Challenge Creator: Lindsey of Neverland Nail Blog
Ashley of Follow The Yellow Polish Road
Stephanie of A Little Polish
Kelly of Devilish Polish
Jodi of Captivating Claws
Danielle of Polish. Glitter. Rock & Roll!
Elly of Polishable
Olivia of Unprofessional Nails
Kate of This Charming Kate
Bethany of A Plethora of Nails
Lizzy of The Do It Yourself Lady
Eugenia of Talon-ted
Johanna of Neues vom Kellerkind
Ashley of Smashley Sparkles
Sarah of See Sarah Swatch
Emily of The Lacquerologist
Jess of LuvMyLacquer
Tressa of O' Natur Nail

ChiChi of I'm just me...ChiChi

CR of Color Me Silly
Amanda of Berry Polished
Robin, Erin, and Anna of Polished Cousins

Bonny of Over Stuffed

Taylor of REJOICE!
Jess of Nearly Natural Nails

Girly Girl Challenge #6: Sunflowers and Ladybugs

Hello Everyone!

Here (finally) is my Girly Girl Challenge entry #6.  Day 6 was, Who Inspires You? Show some love to your favourite female role model by creating gorgeous nails in their honour.

So like many of the ladies in this challenge, I chose my Mom.  I thought about choosing something different just for some variety, but, when it comes right down to it, she's inspired me most in my life.

So, these nails are for her...

My Mom really likes both Sunflowers and Ladybugs so I figured, why not both?

This is China Glaze - Smoke and Ashes with Acrylic paint freehanded on.  The Ladybug is China Glaze - Red Pearl.

I really liked how this one turned out.  It's definitely the most involved freehand I've done so far.
I had two sources of inspiration for this:  A metal garden decoration I just bought for my Mom of a Sunflower with a Ladybug on its leaf and an old copy of Painting Magazine from July/August 1994!  It featured a black watering can with Sunflowers on its cover.

I was really thrilled with how this turned out as this was basically how I'd envisioned it.

Please check out what the other lovely ladies participating came up with.  Most, if not all, are up now.  The next round starts tomorrow!

ETA: I've swapped some of these photos out for new ones.  I wasn't happy with how dark those other ones looked.

'Til next time,
Amanda

Challenge Creator: Lindsey of Neverland Nail Blog
Ashley of Follow The Yellow Polish Road
Stephanie of A Little Polish
Kelly of Devilish Polish
Jodi of Captivating Claws
Danielle of Polish. Glitter. Rock & Roll!
Elly of Polishable
Olivia of Unprofessional Nails
Kate of This Charming Kate
Bethany of A Plethora of Nails
Lizzy of The Do It Yourself Lady
Eugenia of Talon-ted
Johanna of Neues vom Kellerkind
Ashley of Smashley Sparkles
Sarah of See Sarah Swatch
Emily of The Lacquerologist
Jess of LuvMyLacquer
Tressa of O' Natur Nail

ChiChi of I'm just me...ChiChi

CR of Color Me Silly
Amanda of Berry Polished
Robin, Erin, and Anna of Polished Cousins

Bonny of Over Stuffed

Taylor of REJOICE!
Jess of Nearly Natural Nails

A Snow Leopard Goes His Own Way

Hi Everyone,

I know I still owe you all a Girly Girl Challenge and that is coming, I promise.  But first, I wanted to do something for the nail art contest at rebecca likes nails.

I like leopard patterns but since I've had so much colour in my manis lately I went for a more subdued colour scheme.  A Snow Leopard! 

One of the leopards is just a little wilder than his buddies! ;) 

I love the colour scheme of dark teal and tan so I went with that.  As I was painting this, I kept singing that old Sesame Street song, "One of these things is not like the others..."

This is Base Colour - China Glaze White on White.  Spot on all except ring are China Glaze Fast Track.  Ring spots are China Glaze Shower Together.  Black lines are China Glaze Liquid Leather.

I freehanded the pattern and am pretty happy with how it came out!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post.  It's finally my GGC#6 post.  I'm absolutely in love with how it came out.  So, that's up next.

Anyway, what do you think?

'Til next time,

Amanda

A Fistful of Butterflies and A Few Butterflies More

Does anyone get that title is a reference to some old Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Westerns?  Can you already tell I used to work in a video store?

Alrighty, so this should be my post for Girly Girl Challenge #6 but I got a little off track.  Here's why...

My favourite time to really play with nail art is when I'm about to take off a mani.  I figure it's no risk.  If I like it, it usually revitalises an old mani for a day or two more and if I screw up or hate it, well, it was coming off anyways!

So with that in mind, I sat down to play with my previous mani of Solar Power and butterfly wing ring accent.  Now after the ring finger had worked out, I chickened out and didn't want to go any further for risk of ruining it.  But now it was go time!  I did butterfly wings on all the fingers and it looked pretty good so I took it a step further...

Please ignore the tip wear on the ring, like I said this was ready to come off at this point.  Anyways, I took all but the original ring butterfly off and added China Glaze - Red Pearl on the thumb, China Glaze - Sexy Silhouette on the index, China Glaze - Riveting one the middle and China Glaze - Tree Hugger on the pinkie.  Then I flutterby'd them all up!

I liked this enough that I cleaned up the ring tip and wore it for another day!  Hence the delay with the challenge.  Also, this was some great practise for me.  It was far from perfect but I'm getting better!

Here was the full hand of Solar Power...

So what do you think?  Did anyone get the movie reference?

Also in OMG! OMG! OMG! news:

I won two giveaways today!!!!  I've never really won anything my whole life and then to win two giveaways today?!  I'm floored.

I won a custom Hunger Games inspired polish by FEVERlaquer from the lovely Casandra at The Mani-Logues.  Check out the awesome polish I won.

And

Some elf eye shadow palettes from Kimberly in her big Birthday Giveaway at Libby's Pink Vanity .

Please check out these ladies' awesome blogs if you haven't already.  I'll be doing specific posts for all my winnings when they arrive! Yay!

Also, since I seem to be on a roll, I have a lottery ticket for tonight.  Tune in tomorrow to find out how many millions I've won. LOL.
Alright, I supposed I've blabbed on long enough.
'Til next time,
Amanda

Butterflies & Sunshine

Hello Everyone!

Today I've got some more nail art for you!  I'm ready for spring to arrive although the weather here has been anything other than springlike.  It's like we're headed back for winter.  So, I thought I could at least make spring arrive on my nails.

I really liked this!  This design is not my own.  I first saw it years ago in an unwatermarked photo with a pink china glaze polish.  Then I found this youtube video from 2010 where she is talking about seeing that same photo, which she shows, then does a tutorial based off it.

I decided I wanted to go yellow to really brighten up the manicure.  It's China Glaze - Solar Power.  The black and white is just acrylic paints.  So, originally I had planned to do it on all nails.   Then I started by totally screwing up my index finger which I had to redo.  So, I figured maybe just an accent finger?  The ring finger worked out pretty well and as I wanted to wear these to work, I chickened out and decided to quit while I was ahead.

When I was a kid in Quebec, my Nana had a huge field of milkweed by her house and the Monarchs would come and land on the milkweed in almost a blanket.  It was amazing.  Year after year.  Sadly, I don't think I've ever seen a Monarch here in BC.

Here's a shot of Solar Power by itself.  You can actually see the subtle shimmer in this one.

So, what do you think?

'Til next time,

Amanda

Girly Girl Challenge #5 - Gotta Love Chick Flicks!

Hello Everyone!
Are we all ready for another instalment of the Girly Girl Challenge?  I can't believe it's more than halfway done now. :( It's going too fast!  Hey Lindsey? How about adding a second round?

So for today, let's check our handy dandy chart...

Day 5 : Gotta Love Chick Flicks! - We just CAN'T resist!  Wear a mani inspired by your favourite chick flick.

Alrighty, so I must admit...   I'm actually not much of a fan of chick flicks in general, with one exception.  I love cheesy dance movies!  I'm a total sucker for those big-talent-and-a-dream type of movies.  Now for me, I think the King of dance movies is Dirty Dancing. 

A scene that always stuck out for me was when Baby, in an attempt to make conversation with Johnny, told him she carried a watermelon.  It always struck me as amusing and truthful.  Sometimes we just don't sound as cool as we'd like to.

In honour of Baby, who can still catch her man, no matter how awkward she is, I give you my, "I carried a watermelon?" manicure.

So, I have seen several people do variations on this manicure and I don't know where it originated.  I googled for pics and found one I liked to used as inspiration which I found here.  However, she was only using it as her inspiration too and doesn't cite where it came from. 

Unfortunately this turned out to be a bit of a fail for me.  I was doing so well.  The base colour was on.  I'd freehanded the green tips and despite the extremeness of their colour, the line was smooth and even.  I made the little black seeds and they actually managed to look like seeds!  Then, I went to do the little white highlights on the seeds and my hand got the jitters.  What were meant to be delicate little highlights turned into big white blobs.  And it kept happening!  Oh well.  Sometimes we learn more from the fails than the wins, right?

Anyways, this was Orly - Retro Red from the Plastix collection for the base colour.  The green tip is China Glaze - Watermelon Rind (Appropriate!) and acrylic paint for the black, white and green highlights.

I'll be checking out what my fellow challengers did when I get home from work, but you should check them out right now! ;)

'Til next time,
Amanda

Challenge Creator: Lindsey of Neverland Nail Blog
Ashley of Follow The Yellow Polish Road
Stephanie of A Little Polish
Kelly of Devilish Polish
Jodi of Captivating Claws
Danielle of Polish. Glitter. Rock & Roll!
Elly of Polishable
Olivia of Unprofessional Nails
Kate of This Charming Kate
Bethany of A Plethora of Nails
Lizzy of The Do It Yourself Lady
Eugenia of Talon-ted
Johanna of Neues vom Kellerkind
Ashley of Smashley Sparkles
Sarah of See Sarah Swatch
Emily of The Lacquerologist
Jess of LuvMyLacquer
Tressa of O' Natur Nail

ChiChi of I'm just me...ChiChi

CR of Color Me Silly
Amanda of Berry Polished
Robin, Erin, and Anna of Polished Cousins

Bonny of Over Stuffed

Taylor of REJOICE!
Jess of Nearly Natural Nails