Ladybird Nails

I'm not entirely sure I remember how to even post on here, it has been so long! Anyway, I began to worry I had lost my nail art mojo as the months went by, but I rediscovered my love of all things nails a few weeks ago when procrastinating from having to do work by searching through Pinterest. I found this beautiful ladybird design and wanted to see if I still 'had it'...

I used Revlon's Coconut Crush (it actually smells like coconuts!) for the base of the little ladybird nails, and Rimmel's Red Carpet for my accent nail and the ladybirds themselves. 

I love this design, it is simple and understated.

Until next time...

Yaba Daba Doooo Nails

If you couldn't tell by the title of this post I have done The Flintstones inspired nails. 

I'm not usually the biggest fan of orange nails but I love this design; it's simple yet effective! Now every time I look at my nails I can't help but hum the show's theme-tune... 

Until Next Yaba Daba Dooo Time...

Marvel Comics: Spider-Man Nails

I have found some of my biggest nail art 'supporters' have been at work, people seem to take a genuine interest in my passion and for that I am extremely grateful. More recently people have even begun to give me design ideas and themes they would like to see. A comic book theme was suggested by a few people, so I decided to do Spider-Man nails. 

The hardest part was in fact the 'spiderweb French manicure' fingers, which I had to attempt several times. 

Until Next Time...

Sunflower Nail Art

After a wonderful Christmas break it is finally back to work tomorrow, so I decided to do a bright and colourful nail design to help lift my post-Christmas mood blues. 

As a New Years promise I decided my first port of inspiration should be Ciate Advent Calendar because there are so many polishes that are still hidden away behind each little door, which seems a little sad! As my theme was bright and colourful Big Yellow Taxi, a beautiful canary yellow colour, immediately caught my eye. Firstly it reminded me of my travels to New York (I think more because of the name than anything), and then sunflowers as it is nearly spring (wishful thinking?!). I wanted a bright base, so I chose to use Revlon's Blue Lagoon, which is a sparkly baby blue colour. 

Until Next Time...

New Year, New Beginnings!

Happy New Year!

I have decided this is going to be the year. The year for what? I'm not entirely sure, but I'm hoping for big things; wild adventures, fun, friends, happiness, family, creativity, and of course nail challenges! I am definitely feeling positive about 2013 but I know it won't all be smooth sailing. So I chose to start the new year off with a Yin & Yang design to help illustrate my feelings about the year ahead...

Until Next Time...

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge - Day 10

I know I am VERY behind on my blog posts, Christmas coupled with my sister coming home from University has meant its been a week of Christmas TV/films, chocolate, presents, cupcake making, chocolate, sale shopping and more chocolate, but I am officially back!

Day 10 of my Christmas nail challenge was based on the song ' Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', so I decided to do little gift-wrapped presents on each nail.

I decided to alternate the red and the green to make it feel extra Christmassy. 

Until Next Time...

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge - Day 7

Today's nail art challenge was centered around Christmas fairy lights or the song Christmas Lights by Coldplay. 

It was my first time using a sponge to create a gradient effect but I'm not sure about it. I think the design would look better on longer nails as I struggled to fit the lights on. 

I used Revlon's Blue Lagoon as the base, it is a beautiful baby blue colour with a white/silver sparkle (I brought it last week from Poundworld - bargain!). I used Essie's Blanc and a make up sponge to try to create the snowy gradient effect. I then used a black striper to create the wire and a small brush to create green, blue, red and yellow fairy lights.

I feel my motivation has been lacking a little today, not entirely sure why (maybe it is because I'm half way through my challenge - phew)! Holly and the Ivy next...I'm hoping to muster up an easy-ish design as I struggled to do the holly on my Christmas pud nails. 

Until next time...

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge - Day 6

For today's nail art challenge I wanted to do a Christmas food related design hence choosing The Christmas Song for my theme ("chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."). I toyed with the idea of doing candy canes or gingerbread men but I decided to do little festive Christmas puddings.

The ivy was particularly difficult to do, I ended up using a toothpick to create the outline of the ivy and then filling each in with a small paintbrush.

Until next time...

Introducing... I Heart Nail Art

After much deliberation I have decided to change my blog/domain name. I know this is potentially blog suicide but I felt I had to do it. I started this blog with the intention of covering all things fashion and beauty, but I feel I have been a little biased in my posts since I have focused primarily on nails and nail art.

Keep Calm and Paint Your Nails is the way I like to think about nail art. Painting my nails is my form of relaxation, the time in my day I get to dedicate to myself and my passion. I also enjoy wowing people, I have never been particularly musical or creative in any other way, so I like the fact I can say I've found something I am good at and like to do. 

I hope you will pop back for more nail related posts in the future :)

Love,

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge - Day 3

Today's nail art challenge was based around the song 'Oh Christmas Tree'. I wanted to do something slightly different from the traditional block colour design with a decorated tree, so I opted for a winter Christmas tree snow scene instead.

I used a clear glitter polish as a base coat, and then I painted the tips of my nails white to imitate snowfall on the ground. I used two green polishes to create the trees; Camouflage by Rimmel and Emerald City by Revlon. To finish I used a small dotting tool to create white and silver snowflakes over the top of the design.

Until next time...

Ciate Advent Calendar - Day 3 & 4

Hidden behind door number 3 was Halo, a pretty pearlescent white with an irridescent sparkle. 

Ciate Mini (5ml) - Halo

Today's door, number 4, concealed a bottle of Ciate's famous Caviar Manicure nail pearls. This particular caviar combination includes pink, silver and purple beads with hints of pink and silver glitter.

Ciate Caviar Pearls (10g) - Prom Queen

Until next time...

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge - Day 1

YAY it is finally December, and I get to start my 12 days of Christmas nail art challenge! Today's design was based around the song 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'...

Last year I did one of my very first nail art designs - Santa hats (using CutePolish's YouTube tutorial), so this year I wanted to do one better and incorporate Santa's face in the design.

All that is required for the design is a red, white and gold polish. I also used a black striper and a range of dotting tools to create the eyes, nose, buttons and fur. 

My next nail art design will be based on my favourite Christmas book.

Until next time...

Ciate Advent Calendar - Day 1

It is the 1st of December, which means I can finally open my Ciate Christmas Advent Calendar :) I was so excited to finally open the little door to see what was inside...

Cupcake Queen is a bright pink colour with a subtle blue shimmer underneath. I'm not sure it is exactly my colour but I'm sure I can find a nail art use for it!

 Ciate Mini (5ml) - Cupcake Queen 

Christmas Nail Art Challenge - 12 Days of Christmas

I've wanted to do a nail challenge for a while, so I love the prospect of doing a Christmas nail challenge! I have decided to stick to just 12 days of Christmas rather than 25 so that it gives me a little more freedom, every other day should be easier than everyday! I have chosen to base my 'themes' around Christmas songs (with the exception of the 'favourite' days). I have also specified the dates in which I plan to do each design, and I will try to upload a photograph on that day or the day after.

Here is the list...

I'm hoping this will first and foremost get me into the Christmas spirit, but also help improve my skills! 

If you are thinking of doing a Christmas nail challenge (or want to join me with mine) please let me know in the comments section below :)

Funky Leopard Print Nails

I have recently discovered TKMAXX sells Models Own nail polish (as well as Essie) in packs of 3 for around £8, which is a lot cheaper than Boots (£5 each), but you can't choose the colours so you 'get what you are given', so to speak. However, I went to my local TKMAXX a few days ago and whilst browsing the nail section I saw Models Own packs had been reduced further to £6 - bargain! I must have picked up every pack several times, but I finally found one where I liked all of the colours. 

I used (from the pack) the Top Turquoise (base) and the Purple Grey (leopard spots) to create a bright leopard print nail design (I took inspiration from a pin on Pinterest). 

                              Top Turquoise                                 Purple Grey 

Winter Sparkle Nails

Quick and simple nails with a touch of winter sparkle...

The products I used were Essie's Ridge Filling Base Coat, Lady Like, Model's Own Snowflake and Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat. 

I recently brought a selection of Essie nail polishes from Fragrance Direct for £1.99 each (RRP £7.99 in Boots & Superdrug). One of my favourites is Lady Like, a mauve pink colour. It worked as a nice base for Model's Own's Snowflake iridescent glitter polish.