Llama Nails: O is for... Owl

       All I can say is brrr!  Now, I am not one to complain about the weather, whether I like it or not, but it is downright freezing today!  I had to leave out heater on all day so my polish wouldn't get too cold.  ;-)  All right, now on to business.  Today's post is another installment in the ABCs of nail art challenge that is being hosted by the Facebook group, Llama Nails.  Each week we post a manicure that has to do with the letter for that week.  "O" was actually last week, and this mani was done on time, but I took a little blogging hiatus when we were supposed to post these.  Better late than never, right?

Base: Pro FX Fiberized Ridge Filler

Accent base:  Audrey from Zoya - 3 coats

Base: Pink Friday from OPI - 2 coats

Owl: Body - Fly from OPI

         Belly - Olympia from Sinful Colors 

         Eyes - Morning Breath from Sinful Colors mixed with French White Tip from NYC and Black Creme from Wet N'                  

                    Wild

         Nose - Clementine from Sinful Colors

Top coat: Seche Vite

Whoops, I almost forgot the most important part of this post!  I was inspired by this post on Let Them Have Polish.  I have been wanting to do this since she first posted the adorable mani.

How is the weather in your neck of the woods?  Hopefully a little warmer than 11 degrees F.

Here are some other "O" manis, please, check them out!

N is for ... Navy, Russian Navy

       Why hello there fellow nail art enthusiasts.  I have been MIA for a few weeks, but have no fear, I am here!  I didn't stop doing my nails, I just needed some time away from the blog-o-sphere.  I'm not going to lie, I was a little disappointed with the amount of feedback I received on my last blog post.  I worked so hard on that Minnie, and it didn't seem to spark much interest!  After sulking for a while, I decided it was time to jump back in to what I love to do and not care about the comments and such.  Of course that means that my "N" challenge for the Facebook group, Llama Nails is a little late, but what's that saying ... better late than never?!

     I have worn this color so many times and never been able to capture its beauty until today.  I was so excited when the sun was shining after work today that I ran into the house and started to do this mani, again, so that I could show you the beauty that is Russian Navy.  This was on my wish list for so long, and it does not disappoint, well, unless there is no sun! :-)

Base coat: Pro-Fx Fiberized Ridge Filler

Base color: Russian Navy from OPI - 2 coats

Accent nail: White on the Spot from Milani -2 coats

Top coat: Seche Vite

Stamping color: Sapphire from Kleancolor

Stamping image: Unmarked plate from Essence

All pictures were taken in direct sunlight

I wish it wasn't so hard to show the beauty of Russian Navy, but oh well, it's worh it.  How was your Christmas?  Did anyone get any polish in their stockings?

Llama Nails: M is for... Minnie Mouse

       Happy Monday!  Today I have for you my weekly installment for the ABCs of nail art challenge in the Facebook group, Llama Nails.  Each week we have to do nail art related to a specific letter and this week's letter is M.  I decided to do Minnie Mouse.  I couldn't be happier with the way this turned out.  I tried a new base coat with this mani and it lasted two days!  My manicures never last this long.  I picked up the Fiberized Ridge Filler from the Pro FX line.  I got it at WalMart and a 2.5 fluid oz. bottle cost me right around five dollars.  I am so glad that I picked this up because I used it on this mani and the one I did yesterday, and my mani's have never stayed on my nails better!

Base coat: Fiberized Ridge Filler from Pro FX

Base color: Red Red from Wet N Wild - 1 coat.  UMM CAN YOU BELIEVE ONE COAT?!?!  YEAH, ME NEITHER.  OK, done freaking out about that.

White on the Spot from Milani -2 coats

White dots: Superstar from Pure Ice

Minnie Mouse: All acrylic paint is from Artist's Loft that I bought at Michaels

Black-Lamp Black

Face-Titanium White, Burnt Sienna, and Yellow Ochre

Bow-Crimson Red and Titanium White for the dots

Tongue-Crimson Red mixed with Titanium White

Top coat: Seche Vite

I used a dotting tool to apply all the polka dots that are not on my accent nail.  I used my smallest brush for all of Minnie except for the eyelashes; I used my striping brush for that.

You can check out these other "M" challenge's using the codes below.  I hope you enjoyed my Minnie Mouse mani.

Saran Wrap Nails Using Pure Ice Outrageous and OPI Black Cherry Chutney

       Happy Saturday everyone.  I hope that you all enjoyed your Saturday.  I am just now relaxing after ten and a half hours of work, dinner making, and some laundry.  Ahh.  I wish I could say it is relaxing, but I am actually really irritated.  Tomorrow is my only day off and I am helping a dear friend move.  I hate helping people move, but no one else was willing to help.  I can also hear my neighbors music through my walls, and my husband is screaming at the X Box.  I want to leave, but have no strength or motivation too.  I may just put some ear plugs in here pretty soon.

     I picked up Outrageous when I was ignoring my crazy mother-in-law at WalMart, (talked about in the second paragraph of this post) a while ago.  I picked up this color mainly for stamping purposes, which I completely managed to let it slip from my mind.  I almost got mad after I swatched this because this polish is not very forgiving.  It shows EVERYTHING thanks to its metallic-y finish.  After I put this on my nails, I almost removed it, but then remembered my beloved saran wrap mani's and decided to fix my problem with that.  I am so glad I tried this because I love the finished product.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Triple Strong Advanced Nail Gel Fortifier

Base color: Outrageous from Pure Ice - 2 coats

Top color: Black Cherry Chutney from OPI

Top coat: Seche Vite

Taken inside with flash

Taken inside without flash

Please let me know what you guys think in the comments!

Reverse Gradient With Sinful Colors Ice Dream

       Hi everyone!  I hope you all had a great Tuesday.  I only had to work a half day today because the weather was so crappy!  But I got a lot done today.  I went to Ace, bought some pegboard, spray paint, hooks, and organized my kitchen.  It looks so good!  I'm glad I didn't just sit on my butt all afternoon, like I usually do!

     Today I have one of the winter polishes that Sinful Colors released last month.  This color is called Ice Dream.  I researched Ice Dream a little bit before I wrote this post and I found out that it is a dupe for China Glaze Lorelei's Tiara, and Sally Hansen Gem Crush in Showgirl Chic.  I don't own either of these polishes so I can't show you, but you can click on the links to see the comparisons.  I didn't want to just wear Ice Dream by itself, so I decided to wear it over black.  Then I remembered this mani for a reverse gradient from A Polish Addict.  I love how this turned out!

Base coat: Sally Hansen Triple Strong Advanced Nail Gel Fortifier

Base coat: Black Creme from Wet N' Wild - 1 coat

Accent nail: Ice Dream from Sinful Colors - 2 coats

The gradient was done with one coat of Ice Dream

Top coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

This was taken outside without the flash

This was taken inside without the flash

This was taken inside without the flash, just in different lighting

And here is a picture of my kitchen!

I hope you like my nails and my kitchen!!

ABC's of Nail Art Challenge: L is for... Laughter - Sinful Colors Unicorn and Stamping With Mash 31

       Today's post is for the Facebook group, Llama Nails.  Each week we do a manicure that coincides with each letter of the alphabet.  A is for apple, B is for baby, C is for cat, and so on, and so on.  This week we are on the letter L.  I was going to do love, but the mani that I did, didn't turn out at all like I wanted to.  I was going to redo the mani, but we went to a comedy show on Thursday night and it dawned on me, L is for laughter.  I wasn't quite sure how I was going to use the Mash 31 plate, and this became the perfect opportunity.

     Unicorn is a really pretty light yellow that requires three coats.  It is a pretty streaky formula which required the third coat to be a little thicker.  The outdoor pictures show Unicorn a little lighter than it is, and the indoor picture shows it darker than it is.  The accurate color is in between these.

Base coat: Diamond Strength Hardener

Base color: Unicorn from Sinful Colors - 3 coats

Top coat: Seche Vite (I applied this over Unicorn to dry it quickly so I could stamp over it).

Stamping images: Mash plate 31

Stamping color: Stamp Me! Black from Essence

Top coat: Sally Hansen Insa-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Outdoor without flash

Indoor without flash

What do you guys think?  I hope you like it.

You can check out these other L related mani's using the links below.