April Showers Bring May Flowers

I never bothered to topcoat the stamping on my hands from my last post, so they were already starting to chip.  (Also, I work in a nail spa, so it's tough for me to make it last more than a day.)
But then I ran across Kayla's blog and contest, (congrats Kayla!) and I thought it was a perfect excuse to do some real art!  (Even though I work in a nail spa and will ruin them tomorrow.)

CND Sticky Base Coat, Urban Outfitters blue glitter (tips, polish is unnamed), OPI Gone Gonzo, Black Onyx, And This Little Piggy, I Want To Be A-Lone Star, Hawaiian Orchid, The "It" Color, No Room For The Blues, Claire's Flame, Orly Blue Collar.

When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees.

It felt like spring today!
To be fair, this winter has been so mild, it's felt like spring a lot...

The green and yellow together reminds me for some reason of Ninja Turtles...

I used Yellow Stopper Base Coat, OPI No Room For The Blues, Don't Mess With OPI, The "It" Color, Black Onyx, Ulta Moody Blues, Essie Red Nouveau, Splash of Grenadine, Claire's Flame, Orly French White and 3-in-1 Top Coat.

We are the yin and the yang of the creative process.

A (relatively) quick and simple mani.  I tried to make the rainbow zebra last a few more days, but ended up ruining it at work.  :(  I purposely put more white than black because my nails were pretty stained from the rainbow, so I wanted to keep it light(ish) while they grow out a bit.

I used Orly Rubberized Base Coat, 3-in-1 Top Coat, Pointe Blanche, OPI Black Onyx, Save Me.
On my right ring finger you can see where the black smudged onto my topcoat brush and stained a bit...  Also, a lot of bubbles in these last few sets.  My top is getting old and low, so I have to dip several times to cover a nail, which appears to be the issue.  (Yes, I have another, but I feel wasteful if I throw it out too soon!)

Rainbow Zebra from Algae Veronica

I met my new favorite person, Algae Veronica, the other day when she got a pedicure from me at my spa.  Thrilled to meet another nail artist, we swapped URLs, and when I got home I immediately went to her blog...  and read all the way back to the first post.  She has some great video tutorials, and I adored the rainbow zebra one.  I had some spare time tonight, and decided to try it on myself!

I used Orly Rubberized Base Coat, 3-in-1 Top Coat (2 coats this time), LA Colors 565 (purple), Claire's Flames, OPI Black Onyx, Dating A Royal, Don't Mess With OPI, The "It" Color, OPI Red.

One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.

Just a simple strawberry pedi this time...

I used Orly Rubberized Base Coat and 3-in-1 Top Coat, OPI An Affair In Red Square, Jade Is The New Black, Eiffel For This Color.

Genius and virtue are to be more often found clothed in gray than in peacock bright.

Ah, I've missed having my nails colored...  where have I been that I haven't posted in almost a month!?  I stayed up past my bedtime last night for this:

I smudged my right index finger repeatedly, and moisturized with a shimmery lotion before taking the photo.

I used CND Stickey Base Coat and Speedey Top Coat, Orly Royal Navy, Crayola Green Apple and Blueberry, Sally Hansen Nail Prisms and Manhattan (color names are unreadable; both are iridescent green), MK 24 Karat, OPI Warm & Fozzie, The "It" Color, Teal The Cows Come Home.

Love is a game that two can play and both win.

Valentine inspired mani!  My lover actually suggested I do my absolute favorite mani (the only one he's ever seen repeated!) with colors.  Of course he's out of the country, and it will be ruined before he gets back.

Orly Rubberized Base Coat and 3-in-1 Top Coat, Pure Ice Vineyard, OPI Divine Swine.

Happy Valentine's Day!

And she was fair as the rose in May...

I was looking for Valentine nail styles.  This was all (almost real nail art!) my sister could sit still through.  ;)

Orly Rubberized Base Coat, Pointe Blanche, Purple Crush, and 3-in-1 Top Coat.

DS Temptation and DS Bold

I know, it's not really nail art.  I bought Temptation on a whim (I mean, more of a whim than the rest of the colors I buy) because I just adored it in the bottle.  I was so glittery and gorgeous!  I went back and saw Bold advertised together, so picked that up too.  I finally wore them yesterday.

Sadly, this started chipping today, and I proceeded to help it along until it was completely gone.  I bet it's a great toe color though!

Orly Rubberized Base Coat and 3-in-1 Top Coat, OPI DS Bold and DS Temptation.

Rainbow French

My other sister stopped by and talked me into a manicure - she loved my very favorite French, and decided she wanted a French with five colors.  (I don't ask questions with her, just go with it.)

I used Orly Rubberized Base Coat and 3-in-1 Top Coat, OPI Yodel Me On My Cell, Animal-istic, OPI Ink, Finger Paints Meet Me At The Met, China Glaze Icicle.

Flower Toes

I needed to do my toes...  I almost did just a plain color, then decided to put some flowers on.

I used CND Base and Top, OPI Pink Before You Leap, Road House Blues, Orly Pointe Blanche.

Meep-Meep-Meep and Gone Gonzo

Another sister manicure, with more glittery brights!

Orly Base and Top, OPI Meep-Meep-Meep and Gone Gonzo (accent nail).

Ring In The Red and Divine Swine

No nail art...  Just polish on my sister, again.  But some new colors to see!  Two coats of Ring In The Red all over, except the accent nail, which has just one, and the second coat of Divine Swine.

China Glaze Ring In The Red, OPI Divine Swine, Orly Base and Top Coat.

DS Extravagance and DS Bold

Sister needs a manicure just about every day now, so I have some more polish to show off!  She loves the bright glittery ones.

OPI DS Extravagance (accent nail tip) and DS Bold , Orly Base and Topcoat.

Twinkling Glitter and Icicle - French

Hands again!  This is the better French I mentioned in the last post - I just adore these colors together!  I almost did this again for my date, but I buy so much polish I felt like I had to use some new ones.

China Glaze Icicle, Venique Twinkling Glitter, Orly Topcoat.  I don't base coat my French manicures, even at work...  is that bad?

I took up French boys and wine and I studied psychology.

A glitzy French manicure for a date.  ;)  I like the colors together, but alas, I ruined it at work today - even wore gloves for every service!  Don't mind the dry skin around my nails, it's all that acetone.  And I even moisturized just before the photo was taken...

Next I'll show you a similar French mani with different (better!) colors.  I absolutely adored it!

China Glaze Tinsel Town and Snow Globe.  Orly 3-in-1 Topcoat.

At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.

My sister informed me tonight that I need to get someone else to take the pictures....  As if I didn't know! The ones my five year old daughter took are better than mine.  :-/  Next to my baby toe we have holly or mistletoe, then a gift/bow, a white tree, a snowman, and candy canes.  The rest were mixing and testing new colors.


I used Lippman Collection Hydrating Base Coat and On A Clear Day Topcoat, Fingerpaints Scenery Greenery, Sally Hansen Cherry Red, OPI Black Onyx, China Glaze Velvet Bow and Ring in The Red, Orly French Tip, Venique Twinkling Glitter.

If someone offers you a breath mint, accept it.

I finally broke down and painted my hands again.  I'm still working at the spa, and I think I've decided to go to school this winter instead of trying to get a professional job.

I used Lippmann Collection Hydrating Base Coat and On A Clear Day Top Coat, Orly French Tip, China Glaze Ring In The Red.

When I see a dolphin, I know it's just as smart as I am.

With the combination of Big Bang Theory, Two And A Half Men, Lover over my shoulder, and assorted other distractions, I have absolutely no commentary to accompany the following photo.  Enjoy!

I used Lippmann Collection Hydrating Base Coat and On A Clear Day Top Coat, A Perfect 10 Missy, Orly French Tip and Royal Navy, Avon Lagoon, OPI Teal The Cows Come Home and Black Onyx.

Being in a band you can wear whatever you want - it's like an excuse for halloween everyday.

Happy Halloween!  I feel that my toes are much harder than my fingers, but I'm still trying to keep my hands professional looking.  My photography is still a bit of a failure, so the colors don't show as nicely as I'd like.  Oh well, my costume is awesome enough to make up for both.


I used:  Orly Base and top, French Tip, Hook Up, Royal Navy, OPI Red, Finger Paints Meet Me At The Met, Wet n Wild Green Shimmer, Sally Hansen Aqua Chrome, Black and White Nail Art Pens, Gold Glitter Top Coat, Crayola Orange.