31 Day Challenge: Day 12 and my first franken!

Hello everyone!

Today is Day 12: STRIPES and  at first I wanted to do a matte/shiny stripe combo, however,  it turned out horribly, and I have no idea what I did wrong. After that fail I thought I'd stick to something more basic and fool-proof, so I did what I'm showing you today- something on the nautical side:

I used OPI Alpine Snow as a base, then I used my Migi Nail Art Pen to make the stripes. Now, for those of you who don't know, Migi art pens are so good for nail art that involves making skinny lines, or teeny drawings. Here's a photo of what the tips look like:

image source

See? They are so tiny, and perfect for small nail art. I used my blue one for the stripes, and yes, I know they aren't the best stripes on the planet, but they were freehand and very small. Be gentle! After I made the stripes I went over them with a small brush and Essie Mesmerize to deepen the blue because it wasn't dark enough for me. 

Then on my ring finger I did a red anchor, and here's where the franken comes in. I was originally just going to use China Glaze Salsa, but I kind of wanted a more orangey red, so I thought I'd franken one. I used China Glaze Salsa, and Style Wars, and Orly Terracotta for this, and this is how it came out (I only made a little bit because I knew I'd just be stamping):

I thought it was a really nice orange-red. A little pink, but who cares? I was wrong. I don't know if the stamp (Bundle Monster BM08) was faulty or what, but it was very sheer, and the stamp didn't even pick all the color up. I was disappointed.. So I just used the same brush I was using to paint the stamp-and darken the stripes- and freehanded the anchor, using China Glaze Salsa. 

All in all this manicure was, in my opinion, way more trouble than it was worth. I got the idea for this manicure from here. I want to give credit where credit is due. See you tomorrow!

Thanks for reading!

~Emily

EDIT: I'll actually be seeing you later today, I typed this last night, but my computer had a complete freakout and said no battery was detected.. I couldn't figure it out to save my life, but today everything's right again and I have no idea what I did. So, see you later!

31 Day Challenge: Day 9

So, this manicure was supposed to be for a couple days ago, so I'll be doing two posts tonight, Day 9 and Day 10.

Day 9 is RAINBOW nails and this is what I came up with: :)

the brush I used to make the tiny lines

The above polishes are:

• Red: China Glaze Salsa
• Orange: Essie Vermillionaire
• Yellow-Orange: Wet 'n Wild Sunny Side Up
• Yellow: China Glaze Happy-Go-Lucky
• Yellow-Green: Zoya Mitzi
• Green: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Going Green
• Blue-Green: Orly Blue Collar
• Blue: Essie Mesmerize
• Violet: China Glaze Grape Pop
• Sparkles: China Glaze Fairy Dust

I made the lines with the small brush above and then just topped the entire thing with Fairy Dust. 

Thanks for reading!

~Emily

31 Day Challenge: Day 5

I know, I know, I'm a bad blogger. 

I really tried to post yesterday. But it was 10:30 again, and I was insanely tired and I hadn't even taken pictures yet so it would have been at least another hour and I just wasn't up to that. I'll try to make up for lost time and post twice tonight, but if I don't get a chance, don't get even angrier. Day 5 is BLUE nails and I chose a new polish I hadn't worn yet, Orly Stone Cold: 

close-up of the wonderful shimmer :)

Not the best pictures in the world, but hey, at least I have pictures! This was SO COOL! It's a blue jelly base stuffed with little shimmer plates. As you added more coats, (I did two here) it gets deeper and more complex and the extra coats add so much depth! It's mesmerizing. I thought I would try some crackle over it, so I did my thumbs in black and white crackle. I only have a picture of the white though, because the black looked weird and you could barely see it. White was much better:  

YES! I used China Glaze Lightning Bolt. Well, that's all for this post! I have Day 6 coming for you! Yay!

Thanks for reading!

~Emily

TOTD: Color Club- Poptastic + Orly- Oh Cabana Boy + Crackle!

Hi ladies!

Yesterday I felt really summer-y, so I thought it was time for summer toes! And summer toes they are. They are really bright! Take a look :)

 Before the crackle :) So bright!

 Aaaand after! :D So pretty!

Here they are all together! Beauties! :)

Thanks for reading!

~Emily

NOTD: Orly Gumdrop + Essie Mint Candy Apple!

Hey guys! :)

So this is the mani I did from that ULTA haul.. It is a base of Orly Gumdrop, and stamping from Konad plate m21 with Essie Mint Candy Apple. I think it is very pretty! And quite springy! :)

Please forgive the chips. It was ready to come off, but I didn't have any pics! First I did 3 coats of Gumdrop, because it was kind of runny, and stringy. Then I konad-ed over that with Essie Mint Candy Apple, and loved it! It was kind of subtle, but not so that you can't see it. After adding topcoat, I added a tiny pearl to the large flower's center. It was so cute! ^.^

Thanks for reading!

~Emily

Haul: ULTA!

Hi ladies!

I have a new favorite store! ULTA! Last Friday I went up and got, well, a little crazy.. :) Take a look at my new beauties!

 First row: left to right: Orly Gumdrop; Orly Cotton Candy; Orly Pixy Stix
Second row: left to right: Essie Midnight Cami; Essie Mint Candy Apple; Essie Mesmerize; Essie Lilacism; Essie Van D'go

The Orlys:

The Essies:

And one more group shot:

:D I love them! I have already done manis with Gumdrop and Mint Candy Apple, Lilacism, and Midnight Cami, not to mention a pedi with Mesmerize! I will post soon! :)

Thanks for reading!

~Emily

New Crackles!

Hi ladies!

Today I am showing you the two new crackles that finally came in the mail last week! :) They are Mia Crackle Glazes Blue, and Black. Here they are, alone and layered

 

 Left to right: Blue- Alone; Layered over Orly Glitz; Layered over China Glaze Cheers to You

 Left to right: Black- Alone; Layered over Zoya Nova; Layered over Color Club Wham! Pow!

And that completes my "Crackle Haul"! I can't wait to do more neon/crackle combos! :) They are fabulous. I also loved black, and Nova! I will have to do that. That's all I have for today! Until I polish again!

Thanks for reading!

~Emily

Mini Haul

I got these last night. The Orly and China Glaze are from Sally's. The others are from Walmart.

Top: China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat, Hard Candy Mr. Wrong, Hard Candy Sky, Orly Goth
Bottom: Pure Ice Once Again!, Nicole by OPI Me+Blue.

Thanks for reading!

~Emily