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

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

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

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Hey, it has been a little while, right?  Yeah, the Holidays took over a bit and now I am adjusting to being back at work.  I have been doing designs, just not blogging them. . . So, that is what I am trying to do now.

So I have been a bit tired.  My mood and the polish Butter London Knackered inspired this design.  It is simple, again with the being tired, but look at those colors.  I wasn't really sure how to use Knackered, but I saw someone put it over black, China Glaze Liquid Leather, and its brilliance shinned!  Look at those colors!  It such a great duo chrome.

Then to round out the whole tired theme we have Bundle Monster stamping using BM-605.  I loved dream catchers when I was younger and this just made me feel young every time I looked at my hands.

The name Knackered also made me happy.  My closest and dearest friend lived in Scotland and England for a few years.  She taught me the word and when I bought the polish it was with her in mind.  Plus, just look at it!  Doesn't look like a dream.  Gosh this is a pretty polish!

Well, I hope you all like this.  I think I will going to bed now soon.

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

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

Orange You Glad Halloween is Almost Here?

How do you come up with a good blog post tittle for a manicure inspired by the colors black and orange?  You go the cheesy route.

This design is from the vault, but there was wear on the tips and I felt like I could do it better, plus it was the best way to know what polishes I actually used.  Plus it is perfect for the Bundle Monster Halloween challenge!

The polishes I used were China Glaze Liquid Leather, Julep Mariska, Tia, Konad Special White, and Special Black.  The plates were Bundle Monster BM-411 and Betina B-10.

I layered two thin coats of Tia over LL because I was a bit impatient to wait for opacity since it is a jelly (Which I will explain in a post reviewing my October Julep box).  Mariska has some shimmer to it, which you can see in the bottle, but the shimmer gets lost on the nail.  I will say it is a neon, albeit subdued, so you do have the wretched neon formula to deal with.  But it is a pretty color, so I deal with it.

Well I hope you all liked this manicure.  I know there are not as many pictures as usual, I accidentally deleted one off my SD card. . .  Opps!

Tootles!
Fitz

Cool Happinin' Ghosts

Bundle Monster is doing a Nail Art challenge to win their yet to be release 2014 Create Your Own Nail Stamping Plates.  You follow the theme for the day and include some kind of Bundle Monster product.  Today is supposed to be inspired by ghosts.  I mostly have plates from Bundle Monster, but I do have some stickers.  One of the collections I own has hats, glasses, and mustaches.  I thought those might be rather adorable on the sheet ghost shape.

I know this similar to a design I had previously done, but I think it is a bit grown-up and definitely executed better.  I know the background color, China Glaze Want My Bawdy, looks blue in the pictures, but it reads more purple in real life.  I don't think blurples were meant to be photographed. . .

I also used Nina Ultra Pro French White, China Glaze Liquid Leather, and Maybelline Color Show Clearly Spotted.

I really like how these little guys turned out.  I am not sure which one is my favorite.  If you have a favorite, leave me a comment and let me know.  Any suggestions if I visit this design idea again?

Tootles!
Fitz

Edit*  I won Bundle Monster's nail art challenge for this day and this design!  I am over the moon excited!!

Painting The Roses Red

Hi.  Ummm. . . I haven't seen you for a while.  How is it going?  Anything new?  Me?  I'm doing okay.  I have been a bit busy, and have been enjoying my summer break.  One of the joys of working in education is summer break.  I have been doing nail art still and taking pictures, the blogging about it seems to be where I get stuck.  I am not going to claim a renewed vigor on my part, but I do want to try and blog again.  Plus I am just so proud of how this turned out that I had to share it.

So the design idea came from @lovessweetas.  It is almost an exact copy, but it is so cute I couldn't pass it up!  The main difference is I used black crystals and she used clear.  I don't have clear, but I do like the edge the black ones give the design.

The colors used were China Glaze Liquid Leather, Nina Ultra Pro French White, Julep Emerald City, and Tamara.

I am in love with Julep right now.  I really like their colors and being a Maven makes things very conveniant.  I also am rather impressed with their customer service.  I added a box to my monthly box and they sent the wrong one.  I called them up and they refunded me what I had payed for the extra box (due to it being out of stock now) and said I could keep what was sent by mistake!  So awesome!

The reason I bring up Julep is I used the Plie Wand to apply my polishes and to do the roses.  Can I say that thing is awesome!  It is a must for anyone who loves doing nail art!  *Shamless plug almost over* If you are thinking about becoming a Maven, click my link on the left and it will take you straight there and give me a little credit for recommending you.  Okay, I am done.  And for your patience, one last picture.

I hope you like the design as much as I do.  I love this hobby!

Tootles!
Fitz

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!

I know it has been a long time since my last blog, but I have still been doing my nails and taking pictures. . . I just haven't been blogging about it. . .  Sorry.  I want to be better and her to hoping I will be.

When I saw this design by Janelle of Ellendish I knew I had to try it.  Charlie Brown and his infamous Christmas special are a huge part of my childhood and the holiday season.  Then when I finished and I was so proud of myself I knew I needed to share it with all of you.  It looks hard, but if you follow Janelle's instructions, you can do it.  I think once the holidays are over I might have to try a Peanuts inspired manicure.

Amazingly enough, it only took six polishes.  Snoopy being on a white background adds to the successfulness of the this manicure.  I used Nina French White, Julep Catrina, Sinful Colors Cinderella, China Glaze Gaga For Green, Liquid Leather, and Red Satin.

I really like the simpleness of the rest of my nails.  Cinderella has such a beautiful and subtle shine.  I wish you could see it in the pictures.  However do note that if you use Cinderella it will take several coats as it it is very sheer.

Well, I hope this was a good manicure to start off being active again.  Life has been busy, so I can't make any promises, but I want to get back in the swing of things.


Tootles!
Fitz

Stamping an Enigma

Today Sunday Stamping was a bit hard.  We were supposed to use our occupation as an inspiration.  The problem is that I paint my nails to distract me from work. . .  Maybe I should start by saying what it is I do.  I am a paraprofessional in a classroom for emotionally disturbed children.  It is a rather stressful job that entails a lot of different asspects. I serve the children as a teacher, counselor, friend, and authority figure.  I honestly didn't know what to put on my nails.  I didn't want to do school type things, paper or pencils, but I had no other ideas.  So I went with the abstract.  You see, working with these kids is rather unpredictable.  It is kind of like playing chess, but with half the board covered.  Hence, my nails. . .

I used OPI Thanks So Muchness and then the stamp and sponging was done in China Glaze Liquid Leather.  The stamp was GALS plate GA2.

Even with the meaning being rather. . . a stretch. . . I still think it came out looking quite striking.

A bit of my thumb.

Well, until next time!

Tootles!
Fitz

Sunday Stamping: Tape and Stamp

So I joined a new group on face book Adventures in Stamping.  So, every Sunday I will be posting a stamp manicure with a theme that comes from them.  I am really excited about this.  I figure it will help me improve in mt stamping abilities and use it in more imaginative ways.

So today's theme is tape and stamping.  I had a really hard time figuring out what to do for this and while I was driving home one day this week I remembered the show Clarissa Explains It All.  Clarissa's room in the show had floral wallpaper that she painted black square over.

So I used her wall for inspiration.

I used all China Glaze polishes.  The base color is Secret Periwinkle.  When I first put it on it was a beautiful blue, but with Wicked Style stamped over the top it brought out the purple tones.  Then I taped off the accent nail and painted it in Liquid Leather.  This is only the second time I have used striping tape, but I love using is it.  It is so much easier to use than scotch tape and building it up for thicker lines, what I did here, is relatively easy.

The stamp is Bundle Monster BM-306.  WS probably isn't the best stamping polish, but I don't think it was too bad.

I know it doesn't look exactly like Clarrisa's wallpaper, but I had just gotten SP and wanted to try it.

Well, I hope you like it.  If you have any improvement ideas, let me know.  If you have a moment, check out the other group member's manicures, they are amazing!

Tootles!
Fitz