The hit parade.

I wanted to update everyone further on what I have been up to nail wise during my quiet time away from the blog...so here are some highlights....

  

Playing around with the one stoke technique...they almost look like flowers....

And a simple purple gradient....

One of my FAVORITES...

Simple pink glitter gradient....

There was this craptastic Valentine's Day caviar and glitter mani.

Another TOP FAVORITE based on a pair of earrings that I purchased.

Summer neon with glitter....all China Glaze and fun.

A mod matter color block... 

Flip Flop Fantasy with stripes and dots....

Now I look to the future to see what I can learn, perfect, and just admire because it is pretty!!

You Purple Stud!

I went on a purchasing binge last month and made an impulse purchase of what I thought were a pot of glequins.  Interestingly enough, when I arrived home I realized they were actually studs.  No matter!  I love the color and have never played with a 3D object on my nail before.  So what the heck, let's give these a whirl!!

Colors used:

Gray- OPI's Nein! Nein! Nein! OK Fine!

Purple- OPI's Palermo Purple

Glitter- OPI's Polka.Com

I used a non-quick dry clear coat to serve as my base for placing the studs.  Although, I may have used too much on my thumbs because the studs started to drift off center a bit.  I cemented them on with more clear coat.

My middle finger is an adventure in glitter gradients again.  :)

I actually enjoyed the look of these studs.  I thought I may be fussing with them throughout the day, but that was not the case.  They stayed put and never popped off for the week that I had this on my nails.

A little mermaid.

I have been trying to improve my glitter gradient skills.  This last one that I am posting today is from a few weeks ago.  I do confess that I have been in full on wedding planning mode this month and have been neglecting this part of my life.  Well...NO MORE!  :)  i have a few posts to share with you of what I have been up to this month.  I want to start with this glitter gradient.

This look was inspired by a video that I saw on YouTube. HERE It is by PackAPunchPolish.  I had all the colors she used, so I thought, "what the heck!  Let's try it!"  

I started with a base coat of China Glaze's Unpredictable.  The three glitters on top are from Sinful Colors: Call U Later, Nail Junkie, and Super Star.  

I really like the was this one looked outside.  Sadly, I couldn't get the camera to pick up half of the iridescence and sparkle that this mani had.  Trust me, it sparkled!  

Weekly Challenge Continues...Glitter Gradient Part 2

Okay, so let's talk about glitter and my ability to spread it across my nails...I have set myself up with a skills challenge of the week and this one is for improving my skills with glitter gradients.  I have not been good at this seemingly easy skill  I tend to have it get all blobby on the nail.  With my last post [and my first] in this challenge, I think I got off to a great start.

If you remember....

I got this....

or....

maybe...

I don't.

I thought I would continue the process and reverse it up a bit.  Seemed like a good idea.  I started with OPI's Pamploma Purple and my glitter was Julep's Vivien.  Both polishes I like independently.  This should be an easy marriage of deep purple cream and multi textured gold glitter...it wasn't.  I have my suspicions that I did two bad things in combination to lead to this semi-disaster.  :)  I think I started with glitter that was too thick on the brush and then I couldn't pull it own the nail with much success because I was already all blobby.  

This was a great learning experience.  I can't wait to try to try again!!