Elegant Gradient Art

I won't even bore you with the busy state of my life. Suffice to say two adults working full-time and three kids in three separate schools will keep you on your toes. My nails have never hated me more. So imagine their surprise when I treated them to some *gasp* nail art!

Oh man am I rusty at my picture game too. At any rate, I LOVE the simplicity of this one and just had to share it. From the nail base up the colors are China Glaze Crimson, China Glaze Sweet Hook (I still remember when that line came out - I haunted Sally's to score the whole collection!), Julie G 9 to 5 (which is actually a neon peach, but when sponged it became this gloriously muted peach). The triangular swathe of glitter is China Glaze Dancing and Prancing.

This one is direct sunlight to help pick up the glitters.

I have more fun in store so stay tuned...a very popular feature will be making its way back on here!

Scratch art manicure

Do you remember those black scratch art sheets as a kid? You'd get a little wooden stick to scratch out colorful art and it was PURE MAGIC. So when I was watching endless video so of pretty nail art all strung together and saw something that looked liked that I knew I had to try it out.

The thing is the video didn't say who the original artist was! So if you know let me know so I can update this with the creator.

Isn't it so 90's?! I LOVE IT SO MUCH! The scratch art is just decals I made on my UberChic mat over a gradient manicure. It's such a cool look.

Also summer so this photo happened. It's so warm and pretty outside with flowers all in bloom. So unbelievably beautiful.

I love how different all the decals come out, but it's totally perfect for this type of manicure. I want to try it over red with gold glitters. Oh the possibilities!!!

Let's be real (and my gradient tips)...

I've agonized over not posting regularly. I'm so busy and when I'm off work I'm trying accomplish all the things I can't do while working. But above all else: I'm being a mom to four, sweet, growing kids. Plus I dig into freight boxes on a near daily basis. My once gorgeous nails are a little battle worn. It's, for reals, sad. You have been warned.

For some reason gradients are a go to for me. They feel easy and look amazing even if your clean up isn't 100% on point (which mine is not). My biggest pet peeve is having to clean so far from the cuticle to get clean lines but, eh, life moves on.

My gradient tips:

• I use a standard makeup sponge triangle. I cut it in half and then in half again to get a surface about the size of my nail. It's easiest to line up this way.
• I start with my middle color in the center and work out with my colors for even application of color. For this look I have (from base to tip) Orly Liquid Vinyl, China Glaze City Siren, Julep Jackie, Sinful Colors Anemone, and China Glaze Peachy Keen. I HIGHLY recommend when starting out on gradients to use 2-3 colors. It's a challenge even for me to get 5-6 colors on one nail.
• For brighter colors use a base of white. I used OPI Alpine as it's a squishy white so it doesn't play with some of the sheerer colors like Julep Jackie.
• I will usually go over my gradient twice. So I load up my colors, sponge (sponge on straight and then daub up and down slightly to mix the colors), then I load and repeat. I use one sponge for each hand. 
• I don't ever wet my sponge first. I've read this as tip, but I find it messes with color intensity and dry time so I don't do it. Ever. 
• Finally I finished my look here with China Glaze Fairy Dust. I don't always finish with a glitter topper and this is NOT what mixes the colors together. The daub up and down with the sponge is what does it. But it's a nice touch don't you think? ;)

There you have it. Gradients are my absolute favorite. I don't know if I'll be regularly posting again anytime soon. But my blog is never far from mind, as are all of you. I love my nails and my polish still, but life is just so chaotic right now. I wish you all the very best. Until next time (whenever that may be)!

Neon splatter nails

First off I'm still here! I've been working long hours and trying to still mommy/run a household. Turns out this is quite the juggling act. I'm still doing my nails, just not much art lately.

These nails are inspired by a screenshot of someone else's nails that a friend posted. So if they look familiar comment below so I can give credit where credit is due. Hubby took one look at them and said, "Please promise you'll post those. They are my favorite!" My lack of posting is making him sad I think.

I haven't done splatter nails in awhile and I love the pop of neon against the black to white gradient. Polishes used: Orly Black Vinyl, Zoya Snow White, with China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy splattered on top and then mattified with NYC Matte top coat.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer so far!

A mixed skittle manicure

Hey everyone, how's it going? We have been doing sickies over here (as in taking turns). It's been great fun! <-- THAT is sarcasm.

So this one is from the vault. I always see bloggers say that and, for me, it means from a time past my current nail size/shape. BUT I loved this one, took pictures of it, but never got it posted. Which, as you will see, is a crying shame.

I just realized the cuticles were slightly ragged in this. Eh. Real life happens to cuticles in this mommy's life.

I love the look of metal against bright colors. So harmonious!

Have a happy fall day!

Hubby's Picks (HP32): Day and a dollar late

I could Google that phrase to find out what it means but then the mystery would be gone and what fun would that be? But I imagine it works with this...

So Sunday was Father's Day and I got in over my head. For special occasions we make yummy for for each other and I got it in my head I'd make half of his Yum board from Pinterest. I spent, literally, the whole day cooking and baking. 0.0

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. I have nothing for yesterday so my excuse there is a day and a dollar. See? It fits!

This is what happens when you take photos in direct sunlight, don't check them, and move onto the next manicure you're behind on. It was actually a deeper and more sultry look.

Get the look:

• First lay down your colored base with glitter. This one had large circles in it (Glam Polish Lucky - a teal jelly with lots of glitters) so it'd be hard to do art with so it went down as the base.
• Next I sponged the darkest and solid colored polish (Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Grey Area - a purple toned mushroom grey) and then sponged the topper over it to create a slight duo chrome effect. (Ulta Sugar Cookie - a very shimmery gold topper that has a slightly glass flecked glitter feel to it).
• Finally I added swirled accent dots in Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Lava.

There you have it! I really wish I had gotten better photos of this one because it was simply stunning. The look of sponged duochrome over a jelly is a beautiful combo.

If you recreate this or any Hubby's Picks look send me a link to your post or email me a photo and I'll feature it on the following week's post. I'd love to see your creations!

A sophisticate manicure

Gradient plus leopard print equals subtle sophistication with a twist. This manicure inspired by Pam Heil of Girly Bit's love of my gradient and leopard print manicure from this post. Did I fan girl a little when she commented on my post? Alrighty I admit I did.

On the same day I did this post I got the mail and found my order of simple but sophisticated layering bracelets had arrived and I love how they look with this:

The manicure itself is a base of Essie Licorice with a gradient of Girly Bit's Shift Happens down with a leopard print accent in the corner using Julep January and outlined in Zoya Ziv.

I love the look of the color shift over the black.

Until next time!

May Glitter Guilty Pleasures box review: It's party time!

*Please note that I bought this with my money and have no agreement with the company for a review. If you subscribe be a doll and use Candice Buchanan as your referral pretty please. Additionally this is both text and photo heavy. You have been warned.*

It's Glitter Guilty Pleasures Box time!!!!!!

So Jessica over at Glitter Guilty announced that this month marked her birthday and that she'd be going with the party theme in the May box. *throws confetti in the air and dances in it* True to her word this month's package of awesome arrived with this:

So the Glitter Guilty Pleasures Box (in case you didn't see April's post) is a monthly indie subscription box in which she sends subscribers the monthly mini and a special full-sized polish hand picked from a pool of polishes based on your likes and dislikes. You get to specify these in the sign-up process. I changed mine to see how the polish would be different. Here's what I went with this month (check April's review to see what my selections were then):

Colors you love: Teal, turquoise, green, blue, orange, BRIGHT, matte, round glitter, gold, silver, copper

Colors you hate: Yellow, pink, shards

Oh and a artisan goody each month. Yeah I know - it got me too. At 15.99 which includes shipping it's WELL worth it. For another review and to see what my bestie over at Constantly Redone got click here. Her full sized is deep and totally amazing.

So here's the full-size I received:

In for a closer look:

My full size is called In A Roundabout Way and the monthly mini is called Party Hearty. Love them both!

 It took three coats to get In A Roundabout Way up but WOW is it pretty! It reminds me of the story Rainbow Fish. Dries quickly especially for a jelly and I didn't have to fish for glitters.

 I decided on a mixed manicure with both solid color undies and gradient undies. Ooh La La Polish did a neon on nude and I feel so in love with it that when I saw this neon glitter mix I knew instantly what I was going to do.

Lets go in for a close up shall we:

 Dots, squares, neons, brights, glitters, and just so much I totally adore. This month also had a chocolate called Chuao Potato Crisp. LOVED IT! Loved it more then last month's chocolate. It says all natural on the package and I love that she's searching for unique artisan selections for her boxes.

Next month is non-chocolate due to heat (this month's melted but the freezer fixed that) so I'm intrigued to see what that is....until next time!

If you signed up tell me in the comments what you got or, better yet, leave a link to your box photo!

Mommy Does her own rendition of a Rainbow Honey Robots Collection review

So Rainbow Honey Robot Collection popped up on Fab.com, but I was all like, "Eh, I'll wait till it hits her site." Then Fab.com was all like, "Guess what? Free shipping!" Hook, line, and sinker. The siren call of free shipping takes another frugal polish loving fiend down. At least it was for a great collection though!

There are reviews and swatches for this collection popping up left and right. BUT what I saw when I the promotional photos first slipped into my Facebook news feed was GRADIENT THOSE SUCKERS! Seriously though. What is it with me and gradients?! Lucky for you it looks AMAZING! Also what is it with me and caps?! Anywho prepare for the photo bombardment!!

Foils are a PAIN to clean up BUT these are all one gradient stamp of  the entire collection.

NOW for a walk through of the incredible package itself! I am HUGE on her gorgeous packaging and she didn't fail to wow yet again. The poster is going up in my stash cupboard. <3

These last three shots I wanted to show a few minor things. First off, above, two of the bottles have shorter caps. She didn't know that had happened and has promised new caps to those who got this mishaps. Then there's this too:

It's a small thing, but a bit of an oversight. No biggie in my book, but it was somewhat odd. Overall I love this collection. It's very fun and very nerdy! For the Rainbow Honey Robots collection go here.

Hubby's Picks gone wild! (HP27)

So this week's line up included some refreshingly bright colors and a bit of contrast. Try as I might I just could not resist the call of the gradient. It's like Hubby's Picks meets Lisa Frank this week!

So the line up this week was Kleancolor Coffee Addict, NYC Empire State Blue, China Glaze Peachy Keen, and Color Club Hot Like Lava. I've never done a leopard print manicure so I thought that now seemed a good time to try!

Mixed media ME-YOW!

• First I lined up my colors up to see how they looked next to each other. I wanted the gradient to repeat on the first and last nail so I planned the gradient from there. I cut down my sponges, sponged the pointer and pinky first (three thin layers to build colors), then sponged the other two fingers. Immediately I cleaned up after I finished each finger.
• Next, using a dotting tool, I created the leopard splotches alternating the dotting sizes. This part is easy and fun since the splotches look best imperfect and mismatched. You'll notice the splotches are done in the third gradient color not present on that nail. So Hot Like Lava on the Peachy Keen to Empire State Blue and so forth.
• Last I went back and used my last color, Kleancolor Coffee Addict, to add a splotchy line on either side of each colored splotch to complete the look.
• Top with topcoat and presto! Wild Lisa Frank like leopard print manicure!

I have to say this is one of my favorites so far! Luckily the tools for this and some other goodies will be present in an upcoming giveaway. Wait. What?!
Yes you read correctly. Hubby and I have come up with a Hubby's Picks themed giveaway for my two year blogeversary! I will be announcing it next week (I'm waiting on one additional goody to arrive) and I've known I was going to do it for over a month now and just can't wait much longer to spill the beans! So stay tuned.

Hubby's Picks: I'm still here! (HP24)

It's been a loooooooong week where, no matter how hard I tried, I just could not catch up. Up till one or two AM most evenings pushing myself to finish things and just falling short. So no preview of what Hubby picked BUT I did do a manicure! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

In order from nail tip to base and then up in layers is Sally Hansen HD Resolution, NYC Empire State Blue, Color Club Candy Cane, and Butter London The Black Knight.

Intentionally blurry so you can see that glitter. It was like BAM! GLITTER! The glowey base with the blingy glitter made for such a wonderfully eye-catching manicure.

So I think I'm going to try doing something a little different. I'll take you through the steps I took to achieve this look just in case you should want to try something like this on your own.

Step one: I created a gradient with Sally Hansen Resolution and NYC Empire State Blue. I used the makeup sponge method making sure to cut the sponge just slightly larger then my biggest nail. This is key for building up a solid look with sheer polishes. I sponged each nail making sure to sponger back and forth slightly to blend the meeting place in the center, let it dry, and then repeated. This is a solid 5 coats! These were very sheer and very thin polishes, but this shows it's doable.

Step two: After the base was COMPLETELY dry I taped a "v" shape up on the tip using painters tape. I've switch to painters tape because I feel I get cleaner lines and have less accidental pull up of the layer underneath the tape. I then applied Color Club Candy Cane and immediately removed the tape. This is essential for a clean line so you need a denser polish for this step to ensure full coverage.

Step three: The problem I ran into with the smaller "v" shape on top was that it's difficult to get perfect, tiny strips of tape so I can get the edges the same size. So I used striping tape and laid it down in the same fashion leaving a margin to ensure I got a thicker line of the Color Club to peek out from beneath. This was tricky as there was far less room for mess and error but with a nicer brush like on the Button London it's totally doable!

Step four: Wait until it's semi-dry to dry and top off with your favorite topcoat (Seche Vite in the case of mine) Enjoy your mixed media and very sparkly manicure! This would work sooo gorgeously with fashion chic colors like burgundy, mustard, navy, and pea green. Or in neutrals. Or neons. The possibilities are endless! Have fun :)

If you recreate this look either drop me a line or a post specific link in the comments - I'd love to do a weekly feature of inspired by Hubby's Picks!