I'd Love to Stay and Chat, But I really Mustache!

The last Nail Art Ideas Linkup prompt is least favorite polish.  I figured I would blow this one off, because for the life of me I couldn't think of what polish to do.  So I started this manicure and reached for a glitter polish I hadn't used before.  I don't like this polish.  I love chunky glitters, but this one, like many of them is a beast to get off the brush in a the right way.  I tried to dumb some out and then place the glitters on individually, but I couldn't get them to pick up with my dotting tool.  Curses!!

So the polishes I used were Julep Alicia and China Glaze Don't Be A Flake.

I really like Alicia, the formula is great and it wears really nicely.  I had it on for a week and just had a it of tip wear when I took it off.

The mustaches are water decals from Bundle Monster.  The first decal I put on went on at a bit of an angel,  but I liked it, so I did it to all of them.

The glitter bums me out, but I really do like the overall manicure.  I hope you do too!

Tootles!
Fitz

An InLinkz Link-up

Black Hearts

When one is tired, one should not try and blog.  But, when one wants to make sure one's Valentine Nail Art is published before/on Valentine's Day, one must blog when one is tired.  I blame the two cups of black tea I drank to help the massive headache I woke up with.  You know, really high energy leads to really low energy.

So, this design is for the Nail Art Idea Linkup, which the prompt is Hearts.  I realized, after the fact, that I have done something similar to this. . . twice.  I guess that is why red and black is such a classic combination. . .

The colors used were China Glaze Hey Sailor, Liquid Leather, Julep Beatrix, and Konad Special Black.  I used the Winstonia W102 plate for the hearts.

I really love ombré nails with a pattern stamped over it.  It is easy and always impressive.

I don't know if you can tell it the pictures, but I can tell while I am typing how long my nails have gotten.  I am using multi-vitamins and it is doing wonders for my nails!  I wonder how long the length will last. . .

Well, I hope you like the design!

Tootles!
Fitz

An InLinkz Link-up

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

Shape of My Heart

I am going to try and do some Sunday Stamping again.  Lets cross our fingers that this isn't a fluke and I will keep doing these.

The prompt for today is Pink and Black.  I saw a design on Pintrest (Curse you Pintrest for sucking up my time!) by @tweetiisweetii.  I did my own spin on it.  I didn't feel like doing chevron, so I pulled out Bundle Monster BM-604 instead.

The polishes I used were Julep Phyllis, China Glaze Stone Cold, Life Is Rosy, Scattered & Tattered, Pink-ie Promise, and Konad Special White.

I love the matte look of SC and the glossy heart.  I love that contrast.  You will see that again, because I love it!

I really love how this came out.  It is cute and a bit edgy.  Yep, definitely proud of this one!

Tootles!
Fitz

Delta Dawn

When I received Soleil in my Julep Maven Box, I have been trying to think of how to use it.  And then I thought of a rose design with vintage colors.  That is how this manicure came to be.

I've done this design before, but in reds.  It was originally done by @lovessweetas and I am grateful for the inspiration.

The colors are China Glaze Chocodisiac, Julep Emerald City, Soleil, Florence, and Nell.  Then I used the Julep Plié Wand for the design work.

I really like  how these colors came together.  The look is subtle and vintage.  It also makes me want to try a yellow rose design.  Hmmm. . . Maybe in the Spring. . .

I hope you all like the design.

Tootles!
Fitz

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue

I believe I have told you I love Julep.  Recently I went through the ringer with them and they stepped up every time.  First this polish, Paula.  I hadn't had a chance to use it till the end of December and when I did I worked at getting the cap off for a half hour.  Once I did I realized that a quarter of the polish had leaked into the overcap.  I called them and they said they would send me a new one.  I also mentioned that a gel eye liner of theirs had little white spots on it.  The guy I spoke with said it was the product separating and it was still usable.  However, if I didn't feel comfortable using it he understood and sent me a replacement polish and their eye liner pencil for free.  I was floored, and ready to sing their praises.  Before that package arrived I received my Maven ox tracking information and anxiously awaited both boxes' arrival.  I wasn't able to be home when my Maven box was delivered, and it was a big one, so when I got home that night I was in an anticipation flutter and was left with an empty porch.  I talked to my neighbors, mail carrier, and the post office and finally came to the conclusion it had been stolen.  (I hope whoever did it likes nail polish and make-up)  I called Julep to let them know and  make sure that my change of address to a business was done correctly.  Since they just sent me two free products, I was not expecting them to do anything and was resolved to that.  After all, the box theft was not their fault.  They did not even seem to bat an eye and completely replaced my Maven box, including the free gift for purchasing three add-ons!  They have a customer for life!  As long as I can financially afford to do it. . .  On with the manicure!

Julep Paula is such a pretty color I didn't want to add too much to it, so I did an accent of Nell and that is it.

I am not sure how well you can see the subtle golden shimmer, but in real life it is stunning!

Not only does Julep make gorgeous colors, but their customer service is amazing!

Tootles!
Fitz

Away In A Manger

Challenge You Nail Art's prompt for their 12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge is ice blue and white.  Well when I was trying to come up with something for today I was thinking the prompt was blue and silver.  So, when I did some inspiration hunting and found this design by Mely of Rock Your Nails I thought was great for the prompt, now I realize it is not, but there is no time to go back. . .

I am really proud of this.  I am not happy with the painted on silver stars.  If I ever did it again, I would skip that part.  But still, this is rather cool if I do say so myself.

I used Ulta Moody Blues, Julep Dana, Bess, Liz, China Glaze Liquid Leather, Millennium, and Fairy Dust.

I almost had to give you pictures from a cloudy day.  Luckily the clouds left later in this afternoon and I was able to take pictures in sunlight that could capture the brilliance of FD.  So shiny and pretty!

Well, I hope you all liked this design!  Don't forget to check out the others.

Tootles!
Fitz

An InLinkz Link-up

He Sees You When You're Sleeping. . .

Did anyone else find that slightly creepy as a child?

The prompt for Challenge Your Nail Art's 12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge is Santa Clause or Elves.  I decided to re-create the first nail art design I ever did which was a design by Cutepolish.

I had been admiring nail art for a while and felt like I could never do the amazing things others were doing.  When I saw this design I knew I could try it and a passion was born.

For this design I used Nina Ultra Pro French White and Julep Karmen.

It is a rather simple design that anyone can do, so if you are thinking about taking the nail art plunge, give a try.  You know you want to.  All the cool kids are doing it!

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

O Tannenbaum!

Here comes the second challenge day of the Challenge Your Nail Art 12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge, Christmas trees!!  I saw this design by Love Life Lacquer, which was actually done in the last Christmas challenge I participated in, and really wanted to re-create it.

Using the Julep Plié Wand I painted the trees with Julep Emerald City, Sephora by OPI Read My Palm, and China Glaze Holly-Day.  I then decorated the trees with Julep Karmen and star loose glitter.

I really liked the texture that the three layers of paint created and so forgoed the top coat.

I am really proud of this design!  It totally makes my heart happy.

I hope you don't forget to check out the other participants.

Tootles!
Fitz

An InLinkz Link-up

I won some plates!!

So, I won Bundle Monster's newest set of stamping plates from their Halloween nail art challenge.  My winning design was my ghost manicure.  (Dude, that is a lot of links)  With the Holidays in full swing I haven't had a chance to really do much with them, but I did do this one before Thanksgiving and had not blogged it yet.

This was done with Julep Fazia and Konad Special Black.  The stamp was Bundle Monster BM-618.

I really love this design.  It is very classy.  Plus Fazia is awesome!  It is this amazing red and black duo chrome.

Like I said, I haven't had much of a chance to play with the plates, but this design worked really well.

See you all soon.

Tootles!
Fitz

Pie Inspiration

I know I wanted to do another pie design and I wanted to base it on Pumpkin Pie for the Challenge Your Nail Art Challenge.  At first I did brownish-orange polish (OPI Schnapps Out Of It) and then dotted on a neutral polish around the cuticles to give the illusion of a pie shell.  I didn't love it.  I decided I wanted to re-do it, thinking I just didn't like the way I did the shell.  I wanted it more rounded.  Then I thought of the Ruffian manicure.  I have never done one and thought this might be just the occasion to do so.  So using Pumpkin Pie colors I came up with this.

When I first did it I was amazed with myself and then after wearing it a few days I wasn't so sure.  Now, looking back at the pictures, I like it again.  I think with this color combo and the neutral being close to the cuticle it makes for some weird everyday nail art, but seeing it in pictures, I am really happy with it.

I used Julep Zoe and Florence.  I used the Julep Plié Wand and that gave me so much more control with the polish.  There wasn't even much difference between my left and right hands.  Have I told you before how much I love my Plié Wand?  The last picture is in the shade for reference.

Until tomorrow!

Tootles!
Fitz

An InLinkz Link-up