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

A modern Christmas Tree

My sister posted a picture of a nail design that she liked on my Facebook page, so I decided to do it for her today.  It was inspired by this design by Romina - Cajon de los esmaltes.

I took a few liberties in making it my own by changing the color scheme.  I don't often get to use China Glaze Party Hearty and thought this would be a perfect opportunity to.  I love the this glitter, it is just so festive!  I also used Near Dark.  I thought the extremely dark green would be fun.  And don't forget the lose gold star on top.

ND did take two coats to get it this dark, but I actually wanted it darker I was just tired of waiting for coats to try.  Alright, I got a bit impatient, so sue me.

I have decided when doing someone else's nails the thumbs are the hardest.  Have I complained about that before?  If not, now you know.  The thumb on the other hand didn't turn out as good at all.

Such a simple and elegant design.  I really love how this turned out.

Tootles!
Fitz

Stars

Just thought I would give this manicure a posting.  It is a rather simple loose glitter star manicure that I did a while ago.  I used Ulta Moody Blues and Nabi Metalic Coral.  I hope you all like it!

Tootles!
Fitz

There Ain't No Doubt I Love This Land

Today is Independence Day and I want to take a moment to thank all those who have made it possible for me to live in country where I can question my government, where I can choose who I want to be, where I can vote, and where I can worship how I want.  These are a few of the privileges I am awarded and I strive not to take them for granted.

To honor and celebrate I have another 4th of July themed manicure.  This was rather simple, as I did it this morning.  However I feel the Old Glory is well represented.

I used Essie Butler Please, Leading Lady, Konad Special White, and Nina Ultra Pro.

The stars were done with Betina  plate B-08.

The stripes were done with striping tape.

I hope you have a wonderful Fourth surrounded by family friends.  Enjoy good food and laughter, but spare a moment and remember the price that was paid.

Tootles!
Fitz

Stars. . . Lots of stars

So I wanted to change up my manicure.  I also wanted a design.  I didn't want to take up a lot of time, nor did I want to mess with stamping and picking a plate.  So I saw China Glaze Passion for Petals in my stash and realized something this pretty should not be on my untried list.  I also recently bought some loose glitter and this manicure was born.

I like simplicity and I am going to keep that going and not talk much more in this post.  I'll just let you enjoy the pictures uninterrupted.

Tootles!
Fitz

12 Days of Christmas: Holiday Song

Today's theme was Holiday Song.  Originally I thought of Silver Bells, but then Little Town of Bethlehem came to mind and I did some image searches and found this.

There are a lot of city scape nail designs out there and I decided to try my hand at them and use it as a way to suggest Bethlehem.

I know this looks messy, but the problem is I should not have used China Glaze Hanging In The Balance.  I love the color, but it stains something fierce.  Well, if you've done a gradient before, you know it gets rather messy.  I used nails polish remover, I scrubbed, I slept with lotion and gloves, I scrubbed some more, and used more nail polish remover.  Yeah, I cleaned it up as best as I could without taking it off completely.  So then lesson for you is, only use this color in controlled, small amounts.

I also used China Glaze Spontaneous, White-On-White, Fairy Dust, Happy Go Lucky, and Liquid Leather.  Then the star is some loose glitter I bought on ebay.

I hope you can see the starlight shinning down.  I think the star and its light are my favorite part.

Check out the other participants if you have a chance they are some amazing artists.

Tootles!
Fitz

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

Everyone has to start somewhere

So. . . I have been doing nail art since December of last year.  I did little Santa hats.  I had seen videos and other pictures online and never thought I could do it.  Well, I had the colors and it looked pretty simple and from there the addiction grew.  I have been teaching myself through watching videos and reading tutorials.  I have been inspired by other designers.  I have been posting my pictures on my facebook page and have had friends request me to do their nails.  I am still a beginner and still learning, but I love it and thought maybe it was time to take the next step.  So here I am and posting one of my latest creations.  I just did my nails today, but have yet to take a picture.  After I do that tomorrow I will post those.

My left hand.  The stars came in two sizes and so I played with the large size on my pinkie nail.  I don't like it there.

For now I will show you a night sky with a tree line.  My sister actually came up with the idea and did a design herself.  She then asked me to show her my take on it.  I didn't want to hand draw the stars or stamp them, so I scoured my hometown for small star shaped glitter.  I bought a few of them, but settled on a gold holographic by Artclub.  This was my first experience with placing individual glitter not in a polish.  I used China Glaze Midtown Magic for the night sky.  I didn't want to use a typical black and I didn't have a blue I liked.  I saw this gorgeous purple with gold flecks and thought it was different and cool.  Unfortunatly it photographed more brown, but trust me it is purple.  I then tore a make-up sponge and applied China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint.   I knew I needed a lighter color to make the medium green stand out against the dark purple.  The pale green seemed like a better option than white as it would blend better.  I then sponged China Glaze Gaga For Green over that with a light sponging of China Glaze Holly-Day to give it some texture and depth.  I am really quite proud of this because although the idea was my sister's the execution came from my own brain and looked completely different than hers.

A closer shot of my right hand.  It is not easy photographing your own dominant hand. . . Just sayin'.

My sister's original version.  My addiction hobby is contagious.

Now, how should I close this. . . perhaps. . .

Fitz out!

I don't know if I like that. . . We shall see.