12 Days of Christmas: Christmas Tree

So I joined another challenge.  I know what you are thinking, that I am crazy with the 31 one day challenge going on as well.  I couldn't help it, seeing as it is a Christmas challenge plus I have over 2/3rds of the 31 day challenge written and 4 more manicures done and waiting to be blogged and scheduled.  I think I can make it work.  I will still have to double up on weekends, but I really want to try.  So, the Christmas challenge posts will be more real time.

Something horrible happened yesterday and I ripped my thumb nail.  It wasn't a just a break.  It was painful and bled.  It still throbs today.  So last night, before I did this manicure, I filed down all my other nails, not as short as thumb, so goodbye long pretty nails.  They are still long, just definitely not as long.  I also have a band-aid on my thumb, so you will see that in the background.  I didn't even bother painting my left thumb, so the pic later on is my right.

So the theme today was Christmas trees.  I Have A Cupcake did an awesome design and tutorial a couple of days ago.  In fact this design was the reason I decided to do this challenge, because it gave me an excuse to do it.

I did my own take on it and used loose glitter stars from Artclub to top the trees.  I also just used green glitter for the actual trees, because I wanted them to sparkle.  Sad thing is I couldn't capture the gorgeous sparkle due to the icky weather we are having.

The polishes were China Glaze Red Satin, Winter Holly, and City Siren which was the background dots.

Don't forget to take a look at all the other participants.  There are a lot of gorgeous manicures!

Tootles!
Fitz

TIHNAC #10

Trick-Or-Treat!!

There is only one more challenge after this and then it is finito!  It has been a fun ride.  I have learned a lot and it has pushed me to keep trying.  I will be sad when it is done.  I kind of want to do one for Christmas, but I am not sure if I will have the time.

So today's prompt was Trick-Or-Treat.  I originally thought about doing something candy related.  Candy is usually the reason everyone goes out with common phrase on their lips.  That really wasn't why I did it.  Yeah, what kid doesn't like candy, but I loved dressing up.  I am a theater person at my core and Halloween and being on stage are the only time society doesn't frown on looking like someone else.  Hence this manicure.

I think this design by I Have A Cupcake looks like little kids dressed for Halloween.  So we have a Mummy, a Witch, Dracula, Frankenstein, and a ghost.

I used a lot of different polishes.  The only ones not by China Glaze is the over the ghost to give him an ethereal shimmer, Sally Hansen Teflon Tuff Maui White Frost and the mummy's eyes, OPI Royal Flush Blush.  The others are White On White, Señorita Bonita, Liquid Leather, Trendsetter, Holly-Day, Sunshine Pop, Gaga For Green, and Stone Cold.

A close up of my thumb.

Some photos in the shadow.

 Well I will have one more Halloween manicure.  I am supposed to choose my favorite, but I have no idea what I am going to do. . .

Tootles!

Fitz

TIHNAC #9

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea. 
~Edgar Allen Poe

Spooky, romantic graveyards are the prompt this time.  I have to admit I love graveyards.  I have always been fascinated by the lives long forgotten buried beneath the surface.  My mind tends to wander and fabricate stories about the names etched on the stones.   Maybe I shouldn't be admiting this to you. . . I hope I haven't weirded you out. . .

On to the manicure!

I found this lovely design by I Have a Cupcake and knew I had to try it!  It is completely romantic and spooky and I had to try my hand at the hand!  I am so proud of this!

I used Essie Matte top coat for a change.  I thought it made it look more like fog and more organic.  The polishes are China Glaze Recycle  and Concrete Catwalk.  I did a gradient of Recycle as the background.  I Have a Cupcake showed using your finger to make the gradient effect, so I thought I would try the technique.  I am not sure if I like it.  I think I might have to try it again with a darker color sometime so I can see the effect more clearly.

A close up of my thumb.

 Then the a couple of shots in the shade.

I really did love doing this manicure and I hope you like it too.  Don't foget to to check out all the other talented participants, they really are fabulous!

Tootles!
Fitz