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

Matte about Dots

I now give you the last installment for this month's Tri Polish Challenge.  It has been a lot of fun trying to think of different designs for the same three polishes.  Next month I think I will be more creative.  It has been rather hard to think of things, but it has definitely challenged me and I can't wait to try next month.  So without further ado I bring you matte dots.

You know the colors, China Glaze Sunday Funday, Life Is Rosy, and Mimosa's Before Mani's.  Then I used Essie Matte About You over the entire design.

I really like this design.  I did something similar in December, but it still is a classic look.

I hope you liked it.  Take a look at the other participants if you have a moment.  They really are inventive.

Tootles!
Fitz

31 Nail Art Challenge Take Two Day 20: Emotion

Aliens, ghosts, the dark.  What emotion could I possibly be doing.  Do you need another hint?  Snail.  Yes, I said it SNAILS.

Okay, so maybe you don't find them scary, but I know someone who does.  This person will go un-named, because quite frankly I try very hard not to tease her about it, even though I find it kind of funny.  So, to justify putting a snail on my nail and calling it fear, I added what the snail would be afraid of.  SALT!  Dun-dun-dun!

I hope you can see the little guys slow run away.  I am discovering the effects you can do with matte polish.  I used China Glaze Gaga For Green, Concrete Cat Walk, White-on-White, Millennium, and Cover Girl Continuous Color Tickled Pink.  Oh, and don't forget Essie Matter About You.  The little guy, we shall call him Gus, was done with Cheeky plate CH43.

The embodiment of fear by its self!

I was honestly at a loss as to what to do, but once I figured it out I had a lot of fun.  I am really proud of this.  Maybe the next time I see my friend this might be on my nails. . . but then I might not have a friend anymore. . .

Don't forget to emote with all the other participants!

Tootles!
Fitz

New colors to play with!

I went to Ulta for the first time and spent a little money.  Hey, I got payed to babysit and I wanted to use the extra money for some OPI polishes which are a rare expensive treat for me.  I wasn't sure that I would really buy anything, but then I saw Dutch 'Ya Just Love OPI and it was all over!  I was in love!  Then I saw Don't Talk Bach To Me and thought they were kind of cool together.  That one led me to Schnapps Out Of It!.  I liked the color, but the name did me in.  I don't drink due to personal beliefs, but I couldn't stop chuckling over that one.  Sometimes the names are just as awesome as the colors, am I right?  So I decided to play with my two initial finds.

I wanted to do some stamping, but nothing was really popping out at me, so I went online for some inspiration and saw some matte French tip manis and decided to give it a try.  (Talk about a run on sentence!  Where is that editor when I need her?  Editor. . . wait. . . what?)

I really like it.  It is subtle and shows off the colors rather well in my opinion. 

I tried to do one of those cool side pictures, but it didn't work out as nicely as others. . .

Well, I hope you like my play time!

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