Stress Management and a D!ck In A Box! #NailArtForNubs

Hello, Fireflies!

I really like creating posts that showcase a step-by-step process of how I achieved a nail art look.  It really bugs me when I get so involved in the creation of the look that I forget to photograph a step!

I hope it bothers me more than it bothers you.  Pretend there was a picture of Girly Bits D!ck In A Box by itself, first, because it is a gorgeous holo.  Grey with green and a multicolor rainbow, it's spectacular.

I paired it with Ginger + Liz Stress Management, a teal creme.  I didn't use tape, just the polish brush.  I'm going to cover my mistakes with glitter in a second.

Glitter covers lots of mistakes!

I added a few festive rhinestones, in alternating green and white.

Funky and fun. This holo is super amazing, too.  So much color!

Bottle shot:  Girly Bits D!ck In A Box, Ginger + Liz Stress Management, and a Stripe Rite teal glitter striper.

Don't let nubbins cramp your nail art style! Horizontal stripes - especially offset ones - can create illusions of length.  I often choose smaller rhinestones so I can fit more on my nubbins, too - 2 mm is a great size for small nails.

An InLinkz Link-up

Two posts today! If you missed it, I posted my quick review of all the subscription boxes I received in May! Click HERE for my post.

What's Black and White and Red All Over? #NailArtForNubs

Two posts today! If you missed it, click HERE to see my review of April's Beauty Box 5!

Hello, Fireflies!

The answer to that very, very old joke is, "a newspaper" - get it? 'read all over?' har har har.  Today, though, the answer is, "my nails."

Who'da thunk I'd love this cheap Wet 'n Wild Black Creme so much?  It's not as easy or shiny as my absolute fave, Cult Nails Nevermore, but it's also 1/10th the price.

I used Pueen4 and Revlon Spirit to stamp these cute button-esque flowers.  Cute as a button!

I could have stopped here, but no.  Are you ready to take it up a notch?

As Emeril would say, "BAM!" Red, rhinestone flowers!

I was sent these to review from Born Pretty Store.  They don't seem to carry them as single colors anymore, but you can buy a wheel of different color ones, which I think is better.

This makes my flowers look 3-D. whoa.

I just love black and white and red together. What's your classic color combo?

If you'd like to go shopping at the Born Pretty Store, feel free to use my coupon (GVX31) for 10% off! Born Pretty Store can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and their blog.

An InLinkz Link-up

Two posts today! If you missed it, click HERE to see my review of April's Beauty Box 5!

Neapolitan Dipping Dotticure - #NailArtForNubs

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's look was inspired by jessuhhhkuh on IG.  I loved the pink base, and the way she did the triple dots, but I wanted to change up the color scheme a little.  I didn't realize I was going for a Neapolitan Ice Cream look, but that's what happened!  Who wants ice cream?

SephoraX Invincible is a pale, pale pink creme.  This was three coats - typical patchy pastel, but I think it leveled out okay in the end.  One of those classy neutrals that looks good with everything, but I am not really classy enough to pull off.

I used Laura Mercier Bare Mocha for the first layer of dots.  I love this chocolate/taupe kind of color.  So soft and pretty, and the formula was really nice, if a little thin.  I got this in a set from Hautelook, which has become my go-to site for Laura Mercier products.

Revlon Spirit was the white I grabbed for the next layer of dots... and promptly dinged my hand on something.  How I ever finish a nail art is beyond me, I can never keep from banging my hands on everything in sight.  Luckily, we have another layer of dots, and they will be strategically placed!

That bright pop of pink is Seche Snapdragon.  Love! What a bright, cheery pink. 

I'm always amazed at the transformation with topcoat.  All the dots just melt into one layer. 

Bottle shot:  SephoraX Invincible, Laura Mercier Bare Mocha, Revlon Spirit, and Seche Snapdragon.

Here's your personality test:  Which do you see? Dippin Dots Ice Cream, or deranged, crazy pink eyeballs?  Which will you see when you close your eyes tonight when you go to sleep?

An InLinkz Link-up

If you missed it, my DermOrganic review went live earlier today! Check it out HERE.

Aly's Melon Balls of Steel Blue #NailArtForNubs

Hello, Fireflies!

Sometimes, I put together a few polishes, and I'm not sure where I'm going when I start, but something kinda cool happens when I figure it out.  I didn't know what I was doing when I started this nail art - and some of you might argue that I didn't know what I was doing when I finished, either... but I like it!

I started out with Aly's Dream Polish Melon, a pretty, feminine peachy-pink scattered holo.  I love that it's not so pink, and it's not quite peach, either.

I added Aly's Dream Polish Deep Steel Blue, leaving Melon as a half-moon detail.  I really like layering holos together, especially from the same brand, because the texture just continues through both polishes!

I wasn't sure that this metallic pink striper would look good, but I'm glad I tried it! I think it's awesome and bright and cheerful. I added the white in the spiked detail for some contrast.

The metallic pink almost looks like striping tape, it's so opaque and shiny.

Bottle shot: Aly's Dream Polish Melon and Deep Steel Blue, and nail art stripers in metallic pink and white.

I love getting inspiration from other nail artists, but sometimes I surprise myself and come up with something I love all by myself! Have you ever created a look - either an outfit, or makeup, etc, and were just pleased with what you came up with?

An InLinkz Link-up

In case you missed it, I reviewed both March and April's Ipsy bags earlier today! Click here to go to the post!

Chucks! #NailArtForNubs

Hello, Fireflies!

I'm so excited about today's nail art.  It's a slice of my childhood mixed with a new collaboration with Born Pretty Store!

I started off with Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, and a wide French tip in OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls.

Born Pretty Store sent me these decals, and immediately I was excited to see the Chuck Taylor sneaker pattern and logo!  I'd been meaning to do a Chucks nail art, anyway, and this made it sooo much easier.

When I was in high school, I had a pair of white and a pair of black hi-top Chucks, and I wore them OUT.  When I got my job as a summer intern working in Washington, D.C., I hiked from the Metro in my power suit and Chucks, while everyone else was in their Reeboks.  Yeah, I was cool like that.

Wearing my Chucks nail art just takes me back! A few years ago, my husband started collecting the Chucks that have superheroes on them, so we have a whole new collection of Chucks in the house!

Bottle shot:  Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, and OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls. Because real Chucks aren't bright white - you get them dirty as soon as you can, and then you write all over them. 

I have a lot of nail art to show you this week featuring other water decals and things I got from Born Pretty Store!  If you'd like to go shopping, feel free to use my coupon (GVX31) for 10% off! .  Born Pretty Store can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and their blog.

If you missed it, my review of March's Beauty Box 5 also posted today!

An InLinkz Link-up

Textured Stripes and Flowers - #NailArtForNubs

Hello, Fireflies!

It's Nail Art For Nubs day!  Well, every day is for me, isn't it.  But today, I am joined by other nubbins! Wear what you like, regardless of nail length, I say.

Today's nail art was inspired by this Pin of Nailicious on Tumblr.  I loved the simple bold stripe with the delicate floral accent!  I started with Nabi Silver, a silver holo on the subtle end of the linear spectrum. 

Using my ruler, abacus, and level, I meticulously applied the striping tape.

Yeah, right.  I totally eyeballed it.

I painted L'Oreal Pop The Bubbles on the top half of each nail, and Hidden Gems on the bottom.  I actually wanted it to look like a gradient, so I purposely let the colors mix in the middle.  Which you may not actually believe, because that's the sort of thing I would tell you to cover a mistake, but in this case is actually true.  I'm the blogger who cried wolf!

Hidden Gems is the real star of the show for me.  I love how the light blue specks in it are actually the same color as Pop The Bubbles, so it looks like the shimmer carries all the way through the nail.  I totally planned that.  Now you'll never believe me.

Decals were the easy solution to getting the flowers to show up over the busy and textured background.

Bottle shot:  Nabi Silver, L'Oreal Pop The Bubbles, and Hidden Gems.

Do you like to mix patterns, like florals and stripes?

(Did you miss it? I reviewed my February Ipsy bag earlier today.  Click HERE for the post!)

An InLinkz Link-up

Blue and Grey and Dots and Studs #NailArtForNubs

Hello, Fireflies!

If you missed it, I had a post go live earlier today.  Click HERE to see my review of February's Beauty Box 5!

But now, for my #NailArtForNubs!  Today's look was inspired by Raggio di Luna dots and square studs nail art.  She does some of the most creative nail art, and I really love her style.

I started off with Paula Dorf Stormy, a light grey creme.  I picked up a few Paula Dorf polishes in a blog sale, and I've loved each one so far! Great formula.

On top, for a little sparkle, I layered NailNation 3000 Dancing In The Sky, a light grey holo.  I love how it adds a slight blue tinge.

I had some trouble lining up the dots in the center.  I tried to put a marker in the center (like on my thumb) with Julep Josephine, and then build the diamond on top of it.  This worked better for some nails than others.  Probably because some of my nails are wonkier than others!

Also, geometry is important, kids.  Stay in school.

I used Julep Char for the next set of dots, sweeping to one side..

And I used Julep Something Blue to make the dots that swept to the other side.

The original nail art used square studs, but I'm so in love with these triangle studs I just got, I had to use them instead.  I love a good stud.

Topcoat is essential for keeping a stud in its place.  All studs should be properly, um, restrained.  Use your imagination.

Bottle shot:  Paula Dorf Stormy, NailNation 3000 Dancing In The Sky, and Julep Josephine, Char, and Something Blue.

Hopefully, you're seeing through this series that even nubs are a playground for studs.. and nail art! No need to hide your hands because of short nails!

An InLinkz Link-up

Darling Stripes - #NailArtForNubs

(If you missed it, my Beauty Box 5 January box review went live this morning.  You can find it HERE.)

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's nail art was inspired by geometric nail art by The Nailasaurus.  Nobody does nub nail art like Sammy.  I really love the shape of her nails, and her art is always so clean.  Mine is definitely the lazy girl version!

I started the look with Cameo Colors Lacquer Darling Nikki, a purple holo with red glitters.  I really thought it was a red polish at first!  It's pretty unique in my stash, and I really like it.

If I had used tape, this part would be cleaner, but that's why this is the lazy girl version.  This is Julep Anisa, a blood-red creme. 

This part is where Sammy's nail art looks so awesome - because her nails look so perfectly square at the bottom, the stripes look so much sharper.  No matter how hard I try, I can't square mine off.  I don't like the pointy edges, for one.  Pointy things = owie.

Sephora by OPI Break a Leg Warmer is a pretty grey that I love with both the purple and the red, and I think really brings all the colors together.

Bottle Shot:  Cameo Colors Lacquer Darling Nikki, Sephora by OPI Break a Leg Warmer, and Julep Anisa.

I love stripes in nail art! What do you think of this version?

(If you missed it, my Beauty Box 5 January box review went live this morning.  You can find it HERE.)

An InLinkz Link-up

Flowers over Flakies - #NailArtForNubs

Hello, Fireflies!

If you missed it, I have another post today about how the Beauty Bloggers of Central Florida were introduced to SpaTouch, LLC and the IBX nail repair and strengthening system!

But I have flakies for you now! It starts with China Glaze VIII, a dark, creamy, smoky purple. Gorgeous!

Over that, I used Color Club Violet Twilight.  Don't let the blue base deceive you - it doesn't really look like that on the nail. You can see it hardly affected the dark purple China Glaze. Look at the red and green and gold flakies, though.  *sigh*

Inspired by Devilish Designs nail art, I set out to make a similar flower and swirl design using Revlon Spirit, a creamy white from their Top Speed line.  I gotta say, this polish impressed me! So nice for nail art - opaque, but thin enough to make the swirls easily.

I used the China Glaze again to add in the flower details.  Look how the flakies wink from behind the design.  Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more!

Topcoat to make it all shiny - it helps the flakies to really look their best, too.  I like the nail art, but it really is about the flakies, isn't it.

I love the contrast between the dark and flakie background and the stark white flowers and swirls.  So different!

Bottle shot:  China Glaze VIII, Color Club Violet Twilight, and Revlon Spirit

Do you like putting art over a flakie, or is it a crime to cover up their beauty?

An InLinkz Link-up