Fifty Shades of Gray or Grey

Do I have any intention of seeing, let alone reading Fifty Shades of Gray?  No, I don't.  It is not really. . . my cup of tea.  If you want to see or read it, more power to you.  What is my "cup of tea," is the plethora of gray manicures that have become popular due to its eminent cinematic release (Now there is 100 dollar phrase if I ever saw one).  I saw one released by OPI (Which I now can't find), and I thought, hey I could take that up a notch.

Since I don't have the original design you can't see how took it up a notch, but trust me I  did.  The original design had all solid colors, but for my design I used Betina B-07 to get the heart design.

I don't own the OPI colors, so I made use of what I had.  The colors are, in no particular oder, Julep Braiden, Sally Hansen Big Smoky Top Coat, Konad Special Black, China Glaze Concrete Catwalk, Elephant Walk, Merry Berry, and Pelican Gray.

Julep Braiden is a matte texture polish, but it doesn't soak up top coat like other texture polishes do, so when I put a top coat on it the cool difference between it and the shiny red heart was no longer apparent, so I used Essise Matte About You to make it matte again and then put top coat only on the heart.

I hope you like my Fifty Shades of Gray manicure.  It is simple, but I love it anyways.

Tootles!
Fitz

Once There Was A Snowman

It's that time again.  You know, the time when I post a nail art design with a theme selected by Challenge Your Nail Art for their 12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge.  What is today's theme you ask?  Snowmen!  Yes, men made of snow. . .

This design was inspired by Janelle from Ellendish // Janelle.  I think I have said before that I love her!

The polishes I used were Julep Dana, Finger Paints Orange You In Love?, China Glaze Hey Sailor, Liquid Leather, and The Outer Edge.  Then I topped everything with Essie Matte About You.

I love TOE!  It is such a cool glitter!  I don't have anything like it and I have never seen another polish like it either.  You really should get some. . .  I also love Dana, however its awesomeness does not come across it the pictures.  It has this subtle blue shimmer that makes the polish glow on the nail.  It is gorgeous!

I wasn't sure if I would like the design as it was intended, matte, so I snapped a couple of shots before I put on the matte tap coat.  I actually prefer the matte.  It makes the design softer.

Don't forget to check out all the other artists.

Tootles!
Fitz

An InLinkz Link-up

I Like Pie!, Take Two

The second prompt for The Challenge Your Nail Art Thanksgiving Challenge is Fall Food.  I have done a cherry pie nail art before, but I wanted to do it again.  I really like the concept and I have seen others since and I really wanted to try it again.

I really love how this came out.  Unfortunately the pictures aren't as well lit due to the short fall days.  I came home from work did the nail art and couldn't find direct sunlight to take the pictures in.

So this was done by hand with Julep's thin nail art brush for the Plié Wand.  The colors are OPI Thanks So Muchness, China Glaze Kalahari Kiss, and Desert Sun.  Then I used a Essie Matte About You over the pie crust stripes to give it a more realistic contrast from the "pie filling."

I hope you all like this!  See you tomorrow with more Thanksgiving nail art.

Tootles!
Fitz

An InLinkz Link-up

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

This is supposed to be a teal galaxy.  I was really proud of it, unitl my Mom asked if it was supposed to be inspired by the movie Frozen!?!  What?  Clearly those are stars and not snow flakes.  *Sigh*  Well, it is a good base idea for December. . .

Seriously though, I am really proud of how this looks.  I really love pastel galaxies and I think the teal is a solid idea.

The colors are Nina Ultra Pro French White, China Glaze The Outer Edge,  Essie Where's My Chauffeur?, Julep Lissa, Liz, Misti, and Esmerelda. 

TOE isn't as apparent as it is in the pictures.  It really is a cool glitter and I like the effect it gives in this manicure and another I wore, but didn't snap picks of. . .

Well, I hope you all like it and don't think too much of Frozen when you see it.

Tootles!
Fitz

Don't Let Awareness Fade

Okay, this is what I did last night and I am really rather proud of it!  The design is based on one by Nail Polish Anon.  I saw it on a Pintrest board and had to try it myself.  Luckily I had teal loose glitter in my stash. . .

So I used Julep Lissa, Essie Where's My Chauffer?, and Nina Ultra Pro French White.

To help with cleanup I used a technique that has been going around on the web for a little while.  You use Elmer's Glue around the nail and a little farther up your finger (I tried to find the original person, but there are so many.  Google it if you need clarification).  After I sponged my design and everything dried I just peeled off the glue for clean-up!  This made it so much easier to do this technique and I am much more likely to do gradients in the future!  (In fact I have an idea for later. . .)

This is what it looks like in the shade.

I really love this design!  Remember to spread awareness for Ovarian Cancer!  Be aware of the symptoms as there is no screening test for it.  You have to be proactive and aware of your body.

Tootles!
Fitz

I hope you find this design a-peeling!

Q: What is yellow on the inside and green on the outside? 

A: A banana dressed up as a cucumber!

Today's Sunday Stamping challenge is plates that end in the number 2.  For some reason I had this plate in my head and really wanted to do something with the banana image.  So when I went through my collection of plates and saw that Cheeky CH42 did in fact end in a two I knew it was kismet!

I used the stamp decal technique to basically create my own sticker for the bananas.   I really like how they turned out.  They are very bright and and stand out nicely on the blue background.  The polishes I used were Konad Special White, Special Black, China Glaze Sunshine Pop, Essie Butler Please, and Beyond Cozy.

I am not sure how I feel about the yummy nails, I think it was better before I stamped those nails, but that was my design concept and I stuck to it.

I really do love this design.  It is fun and whimsical.  Not to mention bright and eye catching!  I hope you all like it too!

Tootles!
Fitz

Conversations Matter

I have wanted to do a manicure like this for a very long time, I think since I started doing nail art.  When I got Bundle Monster's most recent stamping plates I knew this would be the year.

I used a lot of polishes, so are you ready?  In no particular order, China Glaze Def Defying, Kinetic Candy, Finger Paints Cicus Peanuts, Spun Sugar, Julep Bea, Konad Special Red, and Special White.  That is a . . . finger full!  You see what I did there?  For the stamping I used Bundle Monster BM-421 and BM-425.  It makes me laugh that DD changed SW yellow, but it's okay.  I still like it.

My thumb up close.  Circus Peanuts is one of my favorite polishes and I was happy to find an excuse to use it.

This manicure isn't perfect, but I am still really happy with it.  It reminds me how small my nails really are.  The stamps barely fit on my nail and forget about my pinkie nail!  It also shows me I need some more practice when it come to being exact about stamp placement.  I did get a lot of complements on it and amazement at the writing.  This was definitely a good mani to end the Holiday on.

Tootles!
Fitz

Inspiration From a Sweater

One of my co-workers showed up in a really cute sweater a couple of weeks ago and I loved the color combination.  So I decided I needed to do a manicure inspired by it.

In person the sweater was more turquoise than the picture leads you to believe, so I picked Essie Where's My Chauffer and then stamped with Konad Special Red.  I also used some small loose red heart glitter to give some sparkle and a a different texture on one nail.

For my stamps I used Betina B-10 and Winstonia W102.

A view of my thumb.

I really like how the color look together.  I think it is a bit quirky an a step out of your traditional valentine look.  I am really happy with how this came out.  It is not exactly like the sweater, but you can definitely see the inspiration.

My right hand turned out really good too.  I kind of like how the stamp placed on ring finger better.  You can see the heart design more clearly and not as abstract.

Tootles!
Fitz

Favorite Flower

It is the magical time of the week we in the nail art community call Sunday Stamping.  It has been some time since I participated in this blessed day, but I will try to get on with the festivities!

So, today's challenge is favorite flower.  My favorite flower is a sweet pea, but I don't have a stamp that even remotely resembles one.  So I decide on the hibiscus.  This flower reminds me of my old childhood home in southern California where they grew in the front yard.  We had red ones, but I always thought the white ones were lovelier, plus red would not have gone with this color scheme!

To achieve the gradient French manicure I sponged Nina Ultra Pro French White, Essie Need A Vacation, and OPI Sparrow Me The Drama onto my nails.  Then smoothed them out with Julep Shoshanna.  The stamp is Bundle Monster BM-313 stamped with Konad Special White.

My thumb with its sad little chip in the polish.  I framed a picture before I took this picture.  Grrr!

This is definitely a very girly manicure and will be removed rather soon.  I like the effect, but this is just too much pink!  There is something to be said with how a French manicure makes your nails and fingers look longer.

Tootles!
Fitz

Elves, not Elvis. . .

The polish on my nails chipped, so I had to do another design, right?

A design by PachAPunchPolish was my inspiration for this one.  I decided I wanted some brighter colors, so I used Nubar Belieze Coral, Finger Paints Lucky In Love Lime, Essie Beyond Cozy, Julep Florence, and Nina Ultra Pro French White.  So many different brands!  That is a lot of typing!

I think the elves might have worked a bit better if my nails weren't so short.  Ugh!  Oh well, I still like the Kilroy was here aspect of the design.

My thumb is a bit dodgy, but it has also sustained a wicked break that is patched at the moment.

They are rather cute and I love the bright colors.

Tootles!
Fitz

There Ain't No Doubt I Love This Land

Today is Independence Day and I want to take a moment to thank all those who have made it possible for me to live in country where I can question my government, where I can choose who I want to be, where I can vote, and where I can worship how I want.  These are a few of the privileges I am awarded and I strive not to take them for granted.

To honor and celebrate I have another 4th of July themed manicure.  This was rather simple, as I did it this morning.  However I feel the Old Glory is well represented.

I used Essie Butler Please, Leading Lady, Konad Special White, and Nina Ultra Pro.

The stars were done with Betina  plate B-08.

The stripes were done with striping tape.

I hope you have a wonderful Fourth surrounded by family friends.  Enjoy good food and laughter, but spare a moment and remember the price that was paid.

Tootles!
Fitz

Oh Say Can You See!

I live in the United States if America and with my residence comes a Holiday known as Independence Day or The 4th of July.  On this day we are supposed to remember and celebrate the day the Constitution was signed in 1776.  So in honor of this day and as a prompt from Sunday Stamping (I know I am late, I just didn't get pictures taken) I give my 4th of July Manicure.

I really love how this came out!  The design came from ellandish.  I recently found her on Youtube and am loving her designs.  Plus the quality of her videos is excellent!  I did change a few things due to lack of a particular plate, plus I wanted to stamp the red polish in order to use a sparkly white.

I used plates Winstonia W107 and Cheeky CH51.  Now comes the polishes, there are a few. . . OPI Mad As A Hatter, Essie Butler Please, Konad Special White, Special Red, China Glaze Dandy Lyin' Around, Hey Sailor, and Millennium.

I love that this design is stamping and freehand.  I need to do more freehand.  My roots are there and I am getting rusty.

I forget how much I love MAAH!  It is so colorful and sparkly!  I have no idea if you can still find it, but if you do jump on it!

Well my lovelies, I must be going!

Tootles!
Fitz