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

Sunset Sponging

I did this design for Crumpet Nail Tarts' Tri Polish Challenge (those are two separate links).  The idea of the challenge it to do four different designs a month using the same three polishes.  Black, white, and glitters are freebies, so to speak.  So, it will be two designs this week and two next week and the will be posted on Tuesday and Thursday.  April we are supposed to peak a pink, orange, and turquoise.  I picked three colors from China Glaze's Avant Garden collection; Sunday Funday, Mimosa's Before Mani's, and  Life Is Rosy.  I may be cheating by using colors from the same collection, but I love these colors.

So I sponged on the colors to look like a sunset over Wet 'n Wild French White Cremè and then the clouds were done with a dotting tool in Dandy Lyin' Around, which is also a China Glaze color from the AG collection.

I got the idea from a Wistonia stamp, but when it didn't work stamping I decide to do it by hand.  SF is so hard to clean up!  Although that is not the first time I have had that problem with a turquoise.  I also need to work on my sponge technique or I should have don MBM on the tip, because it got lost in SF.

Well, I better go and get started on Thursday's manicure.  Don't forget and take a gander at the other participants' designs!

Tootles!
Fitz

Half Moons and Hearts

Today I went over to my friend Kathleen's house and did her nails.  It was so nice to visit with her.  I don't see her often enough and it was great to catch up a bit.  She didn't know what she wanted on her nails, so I decided to use her for the challenge.  The only problem is that after I did it I looked at the rules and it says I had to use my nails and I forgot to take a picture with a sign.  Oh, well.  I will continue to do the challenges, I just won't be eligible for the prize.  It isn't a big deal, I just wanted an opportunity to have a little direction in my designs.

So this is what I came up with for Kathleen's nails.  She wanted something soft and feminine.  She really didn't care for my last manicure with the black and red.  So I decided to do the top of a heart in her half moon and the full heart on an accent nail.  I am not sure about the "lace" dots, but I am still happy with it.

I used China Glaze Kinetic Candy, Wet N' Wild French White Cremè, and Essie Need A Vacation.  I don't know why NAV has been unused for so long.  It is such a lovely, creamy pink.

I know the pictures aren't my best, but it was hard to get the right lighting and they were about to start dinner.

Well. don't forget to look at the other artists!

Tootles!
Fitz

12 Days of Christmas: Snow Flakes

I had orignally planed to do this on someone else, but our schedules didn't mesh right, so you get my nails.

This was inspired by Indigo Nova 1's tutorial.  She inspired me to use different colors and I half went for it.  I wish my lines weren't so heavy handed, but I rushed through it a bit and that is what I get.

I used China Glaze Liquid Leather, Sephora by OPI If You've Got It Haunt It, and Wet n' Wild French White Cremè.  I love IYGIHI!  From the first time I saw a swatch of it I knew I had to have it!  I think it looks like snowflakes against a starry night sky.  Mmm, I need some hot coco now!

My sad broken thumb, but I wanted you to see how lovely IYGIHI is.


Make sure to look at everyone else's designs!  They are stunning!

Tootles!
Fitz