Dorothy Who Goes on a Trip?

Just what it says on the tin:

A base of Wet n Wild "On a Trip" with a gradient tip of China Glaze "Dorothy Who?" I love the way the sponging brought out the silver in the glitter. This is definitely a manicure I'll be doing again.

Just a reminder, please don't forget about my blog sale.

Copy Cat

It's been trendy in the nail blogging world to do glitter tips, especially for the last couple of weeks. I'm usually not a joiner, but this is one trend I can get behind.

My base color is by Cosmetic Arts and has no name that I can determine on the bottle, and they don't appear to have a website. The color in the bottle is a super dark teal, which I love. Once applied it's somewhere between that and a forest color, so dark that it could easily be mistaken for black in some light.

For the glitter, I used Essie "Set in Stones."

I really like this manicure, but then I love all applications of "Set in Stones." It is mesmerizing. I might do another glitter tip mani next week, using one of my China Glaze glitters. They're more subtle, but the effect might be nice.

Freehand Snowflakes

Real quick, since I'm writing this at 12:30 am when I have to be up in less than 7 hours;

That's "Ivory Skull" (Sally Hansen) applied with a dotting tool over the gradient I showed you on Monday.

Have a good one!

Insert Nail Art Here

I was going to have a winter-themed manicure for you today. I really was. I had my background all set, and was going to do the fancy bits as soon as I got off work. But I seem to have come down with the flu, and while I did leave work two and half hours early, the smell of polish is kind of making me gag at the moment. So later, then. In the mean time, I have a very (VERY!) subtle gradient for you, using Sally Hansen InstaDri "Blue Bye" and Brash "Blue Dream."

Here's hoping that by Friday I'm well enough to finish this one off: 

Summer Fun: Summer Song

I have to admit that even as much as I love this song, I could not come up with a manicure that accurately depicted the imagery it conjures for me. It doesn't help that I thought today was supposed to be the palm tree manicure, and had it all set up and ready to go. Well, you'll just have to wait to see that one (I promise, it's more interesting).

In the end, I went with another layering manicure. I did a base of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in "Blue By on every nail except my ring finger, for which I used the same polish in "Lightening." Then I started putting stuff on it that reminded me of the ocean. For my thumb, I used a coat of Orly "Mysterious Curse. My index finger has one coat of China Glaze "Dorothy Who?" and Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in "Calypso Blue is on my middle finger. My pinky has a coat of Essie "Set in Stones" (Can you tell I like that one?).

For the accent nail, I sponged on "Lightening," and Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in "Sun Kissed" and "Fuchsia Power."

Today is one of those days when I really wish I had a stamping set. I might order one next week, but I need to compare some of the designs. I've heard that Konad is really good, and then there's Mash plates and Red Angel. I want to try all of them, of course, but what's a good set to start with? Which set has the biggest variety of designs?

Obviously, more research is needed. I might just have to order all of them. :)

Heroes vs Villians #6: Sleeping Beauty

Keeping with the gradient theme, I tried to to another one. This time, it didn't turn out quite so well. I got kind of a cool effect, but I was sort of pissed off when I was working on it and I might have taken it out on the nail polish.

I used Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Fuchsia Power for the base, and Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color in Blue By for the gradient.

Note to self: Don't take out your frustrations on your manicure.
I have the same complaint about Fuchsia Power that I do about the entire Xtreme Wear line: It's quite sheer and takes forever to dry. There are at least two coats in these photos. I think on some of my nails (mainly on the right hand, though) I did a third coat just before doing the gradient because it was too streaky and I could still see nail through it.


It also didn't mix very well with the blue for some reason, which made the application very difficult. In the end I did a layer of blended color, followed by one where I just sponged on blue by itself. To top it off, I had tip wear and chips within 24 hours, even with a top coat. Grr.

I think I'm just going to swatch for the rest of this week.

Heroes vs Villians #5: Maleficent

Maleficent is probably the greatest evil queen of all time, and she's frequently referenced as being the Most Evil Villain Ever. And what would the Most Evil wear on her nails?

Something simple and elegant, I think. But with a bit of an edge.

I've been wanting to try a gradient again, ever since my last botched attempt. This time I used a cosmetic sponge (half of one, actually. Waste not, want not). It came out sooo much better this time around.

I used that new Milani I showed you last week for the base. I did three coats, then topped it off with Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Instant Nail Hardener. While writing Friday's post, I was interrupted and had to go out before I could apply my topcoat. Without it, this color is very easily damaged.

The next morning, I was able to do the gradient. The black is Pure Ice "Touch Me Here," and I polished it all off with my quick dry top coat.

I just love this mani. The purple gets some really great depth once you add a top coat, and the addition of a gradient makes it even more so. Writing this, I just keep stopping to look at it.
It'll be a shame to take it off for the hero portion!