Bleu French

My muse and I love Blue nail polish-  she used a darker China Glaze to paint her toes for sandal season...   so that was our base of inspiration today...

We used the same dark blue and added 3 other shades to create this French design.

So here is Bleu French for your liking....  I hope it makes you feel happy about spring just as it did for us...

thank you to my friend and muse....
Happy Spring...  finally...

Easter is here....

When I think of Easter- I always think of Mom and Grandma.
They were the epitome of ladies with flare.    I always had an Easter dress with a matching hat, gloves and of course patent leather shoes and lace tights.    In the spirit of that... I chose to have something simple for my nails. I wanted something easter-y  but not too bling.  So in quiet memory of Mom and Grandma-  here are my  Easter-e Nails.

Here's to all Ladies - my inspiration today....
 

Black Iris for spring...

I didn't really intend for this to look like a floral print- sometimes you just start creating and it becomes what it is and you simply finish it...

I really didn't want full color- and the nails look so nice and fresh after you finish filling them and filing your refreshed shape-   I felt a French was in order.   But when you say French now- there are so many variations, its difficult to make a choice.   Standard?  White tip? for me, just isn't enough.

So I started with the French tip but added some black and green to the mix.    Using 2012 crackle, as its one of my favorite mediums now-  here comes... Black Iris  for the defrost into spring...

Sometimes your best art comes from a simple start... and just let the creative juice flow... it takes on a life of its own and becomes what it wants...  then you can just add a name to it and it make sense. LOL...

thanks for viewing.

 

Going to Philly

Happy New Year!
My apologies as my attention has been focused elsewhere for a while...
Here is my lastest- entitled-  "Going to Philly" 

ofcourse you can not take a trip without having your nails done- so here are some fun nails done with the fan brush technique-  using OPI color and glitter.  Some striping for effect.

Thank you to my muse... you keep me motivated.

 

Nostalgic..

when I see these-  I think of those lava lamps that were the rave in the 70's.  I saw them advertised the other day and they made me think of bubbles.... that blob of stuff that heats up and makes those shapes in the lamp...

I guess this is my version of 1970-

Silver polish at the base, blobs of black and blue added and stripes to accent the shapes ...

Here is 1970-

thank you to the muse.... 

Halloweenie Fun!

This time of year - your imagination goes wild- you can create some fun holiday related art or take your brush to the extreme-

these were created with a bevy of colors collected over the years...

Here is Fire:

Black polish and White tips with a glittered overlay in purple-  the black really shows off the glitter in this one of a kind blend...

I am always on the search for the perfect purple- its hard to find that shade that's in my head- but
I keep trying...
Here is Electric:

a blend of a bluish purplish color that actually glowed- 

 

These were simple but still made their own statements.  

 

here come the Ghosts and Goblins...

Being an adult is so difficult- and sometimes all you want to do is remember how it felt to be so carefree- just like a child at Halloween....

These were simply fun creations-  with a bit of twist on the shape... 
This color of china glaze is odd but hypnotic and reminds me of Halloween -  we added a black tip and some orange v stripes  to accent-  kind of reminds you of candy corn... :)

 

 

 

Feeling a bit on the Jazzie side....

When you think of Fall- you always remember the color of the leaves on the trees as they change colors and begin to fall on the ground...  it signals a bit of sadness as you start to realize that summer has ended and soon there will be snow...

so here is a lovely set to remind you of the warmth and beauty that surrounds us in September and October...

A bit of OPI in orange and fuchia brights- and some glam nail art...

Thank you to the muse that inspires these creations!

 

We kept laughing and looking at these to try to figure out what they reminded us of...It was definitely something in the 80's...   using a strips of stripping was crazy..... so I had to give in and use my stripping brush to help-  the base is multiple bright colors and we used the old fashioned striping tape in diagonal shapes and painted over them with black...        We used Orly's-  liquid vinyl and many other combinations to create the base underneath.

They are really a blast from the past for me......

Thanks Stacey for the laughter- it keeps me going....

 

Summer time Blues...

this has been a year of CHANGE for me...  no doubt for some of you as well...   Every once in a while you get the Blues...  so this Lady is singing thru her nail art....  perhaps its 1 sure way to cheer yourself up....

so here they are:   using 2 distinct shades of Blue OPI and some Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat- Wool Knot and a bit of stripping to bring out the contrast in colors. 

thanks Doug for the emotional inspiration....

 

Birds of a Feather....

It doesn't take much to introduce someone to the Art of Bling-  and soon they are hooked.   She found this new China glaze color?    They call it Feathering....

This redhead looks hot in Orange and since the theme was already going-  we used some Hot Brights from OPI....   and the China Glaze feathering - "Your a HOOT"     it made for an interesting pattern and cool design....

so here it is...  Birds of a Feather....

thanks Stacy.

 

The Fourth of July!

Who doesn't look forward to the 4th of July-  a great Barbeque Holiday - and one that you don't mind getting your hands dirty with bbq sauce and wet naps :)  

I was surprised by a Red, White and Blue request.....  doesn't seem this persons type of bling at all but we managed to do some fun nails using Red White and Blue colors- and I even had some Stars for an extra splash.   So here they are:      Fireworks

thanks Stacy.

A touch of Pink

She really hates pink.... but I needed to do something with a bit of pink at least once,  and it was only on 2 signature nails.   So here is a touch of Pink....   Thanks Stacy-  you survived it..

 

The world is a marble...

I was just viewing the difference between Ombre, blended and Skittle nail art techniques.     REALLY?

Ombre- is actually several shades of a color in the same family- a different shade on each nail.
Blended- is using 2 or more shades and making the color seem to fade from one into the other.
Skittle nails- is using several shades of bright colors (like skittles the candy) painting each finger a different shade.

Now that we have had our lesson.....  I wanted to try the Ombre look- as I understood it-  but actually this came out more blended with several shades of purple.   I wasn't quite satisfied- so I added the marble technique to bring out the shades of purple-  It's funny how they look like they glow- and that's what reminded me of the earth rotating on its axis-  seems to look like a big glowing marble sometimes.

I guess that's just me.....   So using the awesome blendability of Color Club and Orly nail polishes-
I created the following ......      Thank you Stacey-

Pink a dink a doo!

Hey!
life has been hectic lately- and I almost didnt have time for nails...   OMG!   Its winter- so you know we dont care as much about the nail thing during those months like we do when its summer and everything has to bling!

Easter was coming and I needed a little something to perk me up!   So I did the "PINK" thing-  I used 5 different shades of pink polish from OPI to China Glaze.    But plain nail polish just will not do for this Bling-a-fied chick!   So behold-  here are my Pink a dink a doo nails...complete with some Essie glitter and a bit of
OPI shatter.     Hang in there - more fun and glam to come.

All Glittered Up!

We decided to try something different this time-  so We bought some - Salon Effects nail polish strips.   Who ever thought these were easy to apply- has certainly never tried them.

Its a good thing we decided to do a french with these because all the strips were used up when we were finished!  And we didnt even cover the whole nail-  whats with that?  And I feared that they would simply peel off with in a few days.

Anyway-  These look awesome- using the black glittered strips and some quick squiggles of nail art paint.
If you have the patience-  go for it-  but it will take some time to get them on and make them last.

Thank you Stacey for your patience and laughter on this one!!!

Drifting into Fall...

Fall is the time for darker shades of ....   well anything I guess.  We are no longer limited to Reds, Oranges or Mauves, although they are nice, some of us prefer to hang onto the last remnant of the bright colors we proudly display during summer.

So here is our version of Fall-  as we slowly drift into the changing leaves and falling temperatures...   lets slowly fade from bright to rich and shimmer as we do it.

Featuring: OPI's  "Take the stage"  (a gorgeous shimmering copper shade), Color Clubs " Love em, Leave em" (also a shimmery shade of beige tones)  and  2012's "Judgement Day".    

I added some sassy striping with Color Club's -black striper to complete the mood. There is nothing like adding black- it really tends to finish your artwork.

* I have to make special mention of Milani's  nail stripers-  Can we say awesome?  
In this picture I am using "blue print"  as an accent to my 'canvas de 'ode to fall'.

I must share with you the fact that these stripers have not only some awesome colors available but the coverage for use is amazing too.   Sometimes your stripers are a bit watery- but not these-  1 quick swoop and you are all set.  If you really like nail art- you have to get at least 1 or 2 of these for your collection.  You will reach for them time and time again.

Thank you Ms. Stacey!    Your hands are my muse!

Dabbling with 2012

Every once in a while I like to sit down and dabble with my incredibly large collections of polish.   I got in on a deal when all the 2012 crackles were out- and when I went back for more-  Poof- they were all gone.

Crackle may be heading out for some but i will always try to incorporate just a little into a design when the mood strikes me.   So I tried just using the Crackle's alone with some black striping and here is what I got.

did I mention how difficult it is to take a picture of your own hand?   the steering wheel and remote are the best for getting a shot.... :)

Featuring  OPI  "Blue Shatter"  and 2012's "Judgement Day"    I liked the boldness of both shades but felt something was missing.

A Flash of Lightning

We saw and borrowed the striping idea and these came to light-  6 stripes in various shades of white and blue used as the back ground and outlined with black.   Some black and white dots and squiggles thrown in for effect.    They came out striking against the faux alligator wallet.  
Featuring  "Color Club" stripers in various shades.  Thank you to the original artist for your idea.

 Thanks Stacey!   These are totally awesome!

Lovely in Pink

The color pink has a way of making a ladies hands look so feminine.  These are gel nails done with a powder/liquid ratio.  A little harder to work with than acrylic but cures nicely and self levels perfectly.
 Featuring OPI's  "Flashbulb Fuchia" some nail art in blue and black and white dots for effect.

Thanks Mom for your model hands and lovely fingers.