For my Aunt

Front: Aunt Lori, Mom, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Keith in the back

Yesterday my Aunt Lori lost her fight with Ovarian Cancer.  Her funeral will be on Friday.  My folks are in San Jose and I am home, because facing emotionally disturbed kids at work is something I am afraid I wouldn't be able to do.  So, I decided to create a manicure in her honor.  There is not a lot I can do to prepare and to show my love for her, but I can do this.  But before I do, I thought I would tell you a little about her.  My Aunt Lori is one of the strongest people I know.  She is strong in her faith and will not hesitate to share her testimony.  She was never married or had kids, but she leaves behind nieces and nephews who will carry the love she showed them in their hearts until they are rejoined with her in the next life.  I am so grateful to know that this is not goodbye, but an, "Until I can join you." 

I did this with Bundle Monster BM-307.  The polishes were China Glaze Don't Be A Luna-tic and Nabi Neon Blue.

Doing the butterflies in the holographic polish made them rather difficult to photograph, so in the shade is the best way to see them.

But oh what the sun does for them.

I can't forget my thumb.

Ovarian cancer is horrible and devastating.  But, I am so grateful I could see her before she passed.  On Saturday I did her fingernails and toenails.  We embraced and were able to talk a little in between the times she slept.  I love you dearly Aunt Lori and I will honor you the best I can until we meet again.

Tootles
Fitz

P.S.  For more information on Ovarian cancer and the warning signs, please click this link.  Early detection is the best way to survive this disease and the only way to discover it early is to be informed.

Sunday Stamping: Once Upon A Time . . .

Today's Sunday Stamping challenge was to do a manicure that represented our favorite Fairy Tale.  I tried to think of ways to represent different Fairy Tales; Rapunzel, Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, or The Little Mermaid.  Nothing was coming to mind until I really followed the challenge and thought about my favorite one. . .

So this isn't a very common Fairy Tale.  So you might not know it, however it is the Grimm Fairy Tale The Shoes That Were Danced To Pieces, or The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  I could tell you what it is about, but I think you should read it for yourself.  I really love how the trees turned out, well except for the diamond tree. . . I couldn't figure out how to do it without it looking like another silver tree. . .

I used Bundle Monster BM-213 to represent the shoes and Winstonia W102 to create the trees.  The colors are China Glaze Want My Bawdy, Millennium, Medallion, Angle Wings, Glistening Snow, and Brownstone.  I also used loose glitter for the leaves.

My right hand I just used Medallion over WMB.

The Shade.

My thumb.  I am not sure what  could have done for the diamond tree. . . if you have any ideas, let me know.

Tootles!
Fitz

Pretty little penguins

I believe I mentioned I moved.  Well, in moving I have acquired an extension to my family.  There are two girls and a boy who run around this house we call home.  For the sake of privacy we shall call one of the girls Sue.  Sue has some trouble at school and her Mom asked me to paint her nails as a reward if Sue had a good week.  This is the second time I have done this and they turned out so cute I had to share.

Doing nail art on a four year old is no easy task.  Not only do they squirm, but their nails are so tiny that getting an image on them is intense.  So when she asked for penguins I was a little concerned.  Different ways to approach this ran through my head and then I remembered the cute little penguin on the Cheeky Plate CH43.

The idea of stamping on a four year old seemed harrowing so I made my own nail stickers using the method from Gnarly Gnails.  Preparing them made things easier, but there were still mess ups, one tore a little, but she didn't mind.  Sue didn't mind the smudges either.  What can I say, I am still learning.

So I used China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-le (the base color), Life Preserver (the beak), Recycle (the wings), Konad Special Black, Wet n' Wild French White Cremè.

Her thumbs.  The one on the right in the perfect penguin.

She looks so cute with her nails done.

I also did her toes in China Glaze Textured Itty, Bitty, Gritty.  She went around saying her toes were bumpy.

Tootles!
Fitz