Pallet Cleanser

As I nice little pallet cleanser after all those heart and sugar manicures, I give you skulls.

Lets be honest I will use any excuse to do skulls, but Nail Art Ideas Linkup provided a nice one.

The polishes I used were China Glaze Liquid Leather, Flying Dragon, Finger Paints Movie In The Park, and Konad Special Black.  The stamping was done with Cheeky CH49.

I love the look of this, but I hated the staying power. . . or lack there of.  It lasted two days before it started chipping.  I don't know what it is with some neon polishes, but they chip like crazy on me and FD is a perfect example of that.

Well, I hope you liked this.  See you soon!

Tootles!
Fitz

An InLinkz Link-up

Tickled Pink

I don't know what is wrong with me.  I don't have much to say.  I will try my best.  I blame it on the rain, it has made me lazy today.

There is a prompt by Brijits Digits for each week of  February, so I thought I would try.  Plus one week is skulls and I will use any excuse to do skull nail art.  So this week is hot pink.  Not my favorite color, but with Valentine's Day and all.  Well, when in Rome.

I tried to do something a bit more off kilter.  I didn't want to be too typical,hence the green hearts.  The polka dots aren't perfect, but I love how it breaks up the pink and makes it not quite so shocking.

The polishes are Finger Paints Lucky in Love Lime, Nina Ultra Pro French White, China Glaze Sugar High, Liquid Leather, and Konad Special White.  The stamping was done with Bundle Monster plate BM-412.

I think the hearts come out okay.  I really like the lime green, however it took several coats over the black. . . Eh, it works.

Well I hope you all like it.  Have a great weekend!

Tootles!
Fitz

An InLinkz Link-up

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

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!

The last Gaelic phrase for you translates to, "St. Patrick's Day blessings to you!"

I present to you my final St. Patrick's Day manicure.  This is a relatively simple one.  Colors of the Irish flag in a plaid design with a tough of gold for good measure.  There is a reason I wanted to do this design.  It is actually a repeat of one of the first nail art designs I had ever done.

I know, you can't see much.  My nail art and my photography skills have improved. 

The patterns are similar and I used the exact same colors; Finger Paints Orange You in Love?, China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint, Gaga For Green, and Midnight Kiss.  This was all done with a stripper brush.

A look at it in the shade.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my various seasonal manicures.  I love this Holiday, although I am not sure why.  I don't really celebrate it and I certainly am not a party girl.  There is just something about it that makes me smile every year.  I hope you had a great day and celebrated in your own way.

Tootles!
Fitz

Go ndéana an diabhal dréimire de cnámh do dhroma ag piocadh úll i ngairdín Ifrinn

And the translation is, “May the devil make a ladder of your back bones while picking apples in the garden of hell!”  I love how colorful these sayings are.  You really can get a good visual!

Here is just a simple little rainbow.  I know, not too fancy.  I had the idea in my head and figured it was an excellent St. Patrick's Day manicure.  Although, if you decide to do a design like this and want to do all of the colors of the rainbow, make sure you put them in the right order the first time or that you are not a perfectionist and can live with mistake.  Otherwise you end up doing the rainbows again!

This may look simple, but it did take a lot of colors.  The background is China Glaze Kinetic Candy and the clouds are Nina Ultra Pro French White.  The sparkle is provided by China Glaze Fairy Dust.  Now to the rainbow colors in no particular order Finger Paints Spun Sugar, China Glaze Electric Beat, Lemon Fizz,  Def Defying, Papaya Punch, and Wicked Style.  My KC, one of my go to light blues, is getting kind of thick and low which means I may need to hunt down a new one.

I am sure there are many designs like this out there, but it was nice to do some hand painting again.  I have been doing so much stamping that it is nice to know I can still do hand designs.  Also please ignore my broken thumb nail.  It breaks like this sometimes and I didn't want to completely cut it off. . .

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

Valetine Stripes

I bought a couple new colors at Sally's Beauty Supply the other day and this design immediately popped into my head.  And I love it!!

First of all I must apologize for the shape of my hands.  A dry winter will do that to them.  I am using a new product that seems to be helping, although I started it after these photos were taken.  The new colors I bought are Finger Paints Minimalistic Mauve and Sculpted Carnation.  Then I accented designs with Nina Ultra Pro French White and the accent finger is Julep Love over FW.

I feel like I got back to my roots doing this all free hand. I am really proud of those stripes.  They are a bit shaky, especially when you look at them super up close, but they look really cute.  My right hand was pretty good too, although I didn't snap a picture of them.

Soft and feminine with a touch of quirk.  I really love this design!

Tootles!
Fitz

Once upon a time three purples. . .

Today's Sunday Stamping challenge was to stamp with three purples.  When I saw the challenge I knew I wanted to do a gradient.  I love gradients and they never fail to impress and they are easy!

I knew I wanted to start with China Glaze Sweet Hook so I took out my box or purple polishes and went started playing with color options.  I decided to join SH I would use Finger Paints Spun Sugar and China Glaze Gothic Lolita (one of my absolute favorites!) and top it all off with China Glaze Fairy Dust.  I knew I wanted to stamp in white so that it blended a bit with SH so Konad Special White was puled out too.

Finally I had to pick a plate.  I decide with valentines coming up soon I wanted something in the vein.  I also knew I wanted a full nail image design.  When I saw Bundle Monster BM-H18 I knew it was exactly what I had in mind.

One of the things I like to do is vary the stamp a bit so it looks slightly different on each nail, especially when I am not doing an accent nail.  I am lucky I can do this because I have such small nails.

Well that is the finished look.  I hope you like it.  It is great for Valentine's Day and would really cool in the more traditional pinks and reds if that is your thing.

Tootles!
Fitz

Jelly Time!

So I had a jelly stamp sandwich manicure in mind, but I also wanted to do something with Julep Bette.  When I started this manicure I didn't realize Bette was a jelly.  I am glad it is, because I love what I came up with.

I think Bette looks great Finger Paints Winter Sky topped with Julep Esmerelda.  This look is probably more summery than winter, but I love the colors together.  Esmeralda is filled with teal micro and medium hexagon glitters.  Teal always reminds me of my Aunt and Ovarian Cancer, so I feel like I am honoring her each time I wear it.

For the stamping I used plates GA15 by Gals and B-19 by Betina.  I used Konad Special White for the stamping polish.  Then I added another layer of Bette over the top.  This creates the jelly sandwich.  Most people do sandwiches with glitters, but I really like stamping.  It gives a more subtle stamp.

Well, I hope you like this non-New Year manicure.  I hope you have lovely day celebrating the hope and possibilities 2014 will have in store for you.

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

World Ovarian Cancer Day

I have been stressing over this blog post since the moment I decided to do it.  I have always felt that this blog would be more about my nails and less about my life.  I wanted to let my art speak for itself without delving too much into my personal life.  I always knew I would add anecdotes and make sure my personality bleed through in my writing, but this was not going to be a diary blog.  This post will be different.  This post will be both, because this nail art and the reason for it couldn't be more personal.  My Aunt Lori was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has been battling it for quite some time.  This is her third recurrence and she has decided to let the disease take its course.  I love my Aunt Lori dearly and know that this decision has brought her peace and happiness.  What more could I ask for her?  However, there are other women out there who go through life not knowing about the ravages of this fatal disease.  There is still things unknown about it.  There may still be ways to help those who are diagnosed in the future and if we don't raise our voices in awareness they may never be found.  Today is World Ovarian Cancer Day.  All around the world people will be wearing teal and talking about survivors and those who have been left behind.  We can do something about it.  I take great honor in joining my voice with chorus of others all over this planet we call home and singing to others about it.  I found a group called Teal Toes that I feel a kinship with and have been telling others to paint their toenails teal to help spread awareness.  This is where my blog comes in.  What a perfect way to express my love to my Aunt and to tell others about Ovarian cancer than to use nail polish.  First I want to show you my manicure.

I used Konad Special White and Finger Paints Winter Sky.  The plate was Bundle Monster BM-321.  I tried to offer some variety in placement of the stamp to break up the uniformity, but unfortunately my index finger suffered from ill placement.

I also broke my thumb nail.  At least the stub isn't too bad. . .

I do like how this turned out, but I want to try something different next time.

Now here is the really cool part.  My sister joined in my quest in Ohio and created two manis herself.

Now with Teal Toes being the point of the other orginization I few of those pictures too.

These are, from the top left going clockwise, my Aunt Lisa, Me, my Mom, my Grame, and my Aunt Lori's Teal Toes.  Everyone, but me was Sephora by OPI Mermaid to Order.  Then I was China Glaze Deviantly Daring.

My friend Angie and her daughter did some gardening and then took pictures of their teal toes for me!  I have some amazing friends!

If you would like me to include your teal manicure or pedicure, send me the picture at starchild202(at)sbcglobal(dot)net with any information you would like me to include and I will add it to this post.  I may even do another post with them.  I am also thinking of doing a challenge in September, which is Ovarian cancer month.  In the meantime more information can be found at Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.  I want to leave you with this last photo that shares some statistics regarding Ovarian Cancer.

Tootles!
Fitz