TRI - Deco

Hello, Fireflies!

Welcome to a new month of TRI-Polish Tuesdays! This month's colors are Lilac, Teal, and Grey/Silver.
I decided to do a technique for creating an Art-deco style graphic that I saw on Pshiiit.  It makes this neat pattern a lot easier to do, though I will admit to having some trouble lining up the striping tape.

I started with Cover Girl ShowStopper, a nice smooth silver.  When that dried, I applied the tape according to the diagram on Pshiit.

I wasn't talented enough to take pictures of the process.  I did want to show you that it's kind of a mess when you pull off the tape, though.  Don't be discouraged! A lot of nail art looks a hot mess until you put topcoat on.

I found that it's easier to do this one nail at a time.  Paint the nail bed portion first, and then the tip.  Quickly, before the polish starts to set, take off the tape with a pair of tweezers.

I used Rimmel Salon Pro Purple Rain and Pop Beauty Brave for the lilac and teal.

I love this look, and it can be done with so many different colors!

Bottle shot:  Cover Girl ShowStopper, Rimmel Salon Pro Purple Rain. and Pop Beauty Brave.

What do you think about this Art Deco type look?

An InLinkz Link-up

Not Your Typical Graduation Manis

Hello, Fireflies!

When I started preparing for this challenge, I starting thinking about nail art like mortar boards and diplomas.  Then, I realized I had the *perfect* nail art to show you.  A few weeks ago, one of my friends graduated with her Masters' degree, and the day before the big ceremony, she had a little party.  I did a few manis for the graduate and her friends and family, and in return, I got to eat some of the best grilled chicken I'd ever had.

None of the girls had experienced stamped nails before, so most of them were eager to try it! Their reactions were priceless - like I had just done some wand-waving magic over their nails!

The graduate, Chelsea, loves purple, so she chose Sinful Colors Enchanted as her base, and Essie No Place Like Chrome for the stamp. 

Our friend, Carolyn. wanted seahorses over a glittery blue base, so I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Blue By! with OPI In True Stefani Fashion for most of the nails.

Again, I used Essie No Place Like Chrome for the stamp.  Sea horsies!

The Mother-of-the-Graduate had a gorgeous floral blouse with blues and purples, so I painted her nails with Sally Hansen Salon Trouble Maker, a soft blue-toned violet, and dabbed some L'Oreal The Shift Me, a pink iridescent color-changing topcoat over it.  POP Beauty purple glitter went over everything.  So festive!

Last, but not least, was the Graduate's sister.  She wanted a gradient, but I forgot my sponges, so I did a dabbing gradient of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Jumping Jade (which is really more teal to me, than jade..) over Sinful Colors Nice Stems, a light blue.  I used Milani White On The Spot to stamp some simple flowers.

It felt great to give my friend a very unique and special graduation present! We all had a great time chatting and doing nails, and I'm going to miss her now that she's graduated!

An InLinkz Link-up