The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents: Animals - Going to the Zoo to See Elephants!

That's right, let's leave the NCC until the last four days of the month (or almost!). Who's bright idea was.....err, never mind, I slacked. >_<

Daddy's takin' us to the zoo tomorrow
Zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow
Daddy's takin' us to the zoo tomorrow
And we can stay all day

We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, too
We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo

See the elephant with the long trunk swingin'
A great big ears and a long trunk swingin'
Snuffin' up peanuts with the long trunk swingin'
And we can stay all day

We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, too
We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Read more: Peter, Paul & Mary - Going To The Zoo Lyrics | MetroLyrics

These are my elephants! I used OPI Sparrow Me the Drama as my base. I used China Glaze Elephant Walk (but of course, right?) for the dots.

I created my elephant decals.......last week! >_<

So here they are all fresh and drying. I used NYC In a New York Minute Top Coat with acrylic paints to create my elephants. I then sealed them with the same top coat. I knew I wasn't going to be using them that night (had no idea it was going to be a week later!) I decided to add HK Girl Top Coat to make them last longer. It helped, but I think it was the HK Girl that made them really stiff, so that they can't lay flat.

Stay turned for the rest of the NCC posts this week, and if you know the song, you'll know what's coming along! (yep, more stiff animal decals! Hahahahahaha!)

Don't forget to check out the other Animal Day 1 manis!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents Dots: Holiday Dotticure!

I actually found time to get a few posts up for this week! This is for The Nail Challenge Collaborative theme for this month, which is: Dots! I brought to you some holiday dots!

I started off with two coats of Layla Softouch Effects 02 (Golden Touch). I then used Color Club Harp On It, A England Briar Rose, and A England Dragon. All topped off with NYC Quick Dry polish.

Funny thing is when I started to edit these photos I noticed a few others who have done similar holiday dots recently in the blogger-verse! :)

Don't forget to check out the other day 1 dots!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen Does Floral Week: Gift Wrap Flowers

Final day of Floral Week and I bring you yet another mani based on a print I found on Print & Pattern (seriously need to check out this site!). This is based on a gift bag found at Marks & Spencer.

I think I could have made my flowers a bit more flower shaped but I still like how it turned out and love the colors together!

I used China Glaze Pelican Gray as my base. The flowers are: China Glaze Def Defying, OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls, BarryM Plum, and BarryM Pomegranate. I used NYC Top Coat, as is smeared the flowers a bit. Sad day!

I hope you have enjoyed floral week!

Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their final floral manis!

An InLinkz Link-up

Nail-Art-A-Go-Go Challenge Day 3: Warm vs Cool

For the warm vs cool prompt for the challenge I decided to do a gradient. I really love how this turned out.

The colors I used are: Zoya Sooki, Sally Hansen Crushed, Finger Paints Art Nouv-Yellow, China Glaze Def Defying, China Glaze Electric Beat, and China Glaze Gothic Lolita.

I then stamped over it with KleanColor Metallic Jungle and Metallic Pink using MoYou Sailor 03. I topped it off with NYC in a New York Minute Top Coat. But I wanted to see what it looked like matte.

And this was the final version after two coats of NYC Matte Me Crazy and one coat of Orly Matte Top. Didn't go as matte as I wanted but I still like the softening of the gradient, especially on my ring finger.

Don't forget to check out what the other ladies have done!

Nail-Art-A-Go-Go Challenge Day 2: Jewel Tones

The prompt is Jewel Tones so I chose to make my nails into jewels that have a star burst in the center. It's a really simple but elegant mani. This shows it without top coat.

I started with two coats of KleanColor Metallic Purple. I then stamped using KleanColor Metallic Fuschia, using an Essence stamping plate. Added NYC In a New York Minute top coat! There you go, jeweled nails.

Don't forget to check out what the other ladies have done!

The Lazy Blogger's 31 DC: Black and White

Black and white. Honestly with the week I've been having I had no inspiration for this one. So I pulled out one of my lovely (got 6) MoYou plates that I won from The Crumpet's Giveaway a while back.

I chose the Sailor Collection, Plate 4. On three of my nails I painted OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls and on my accent nail I painted Finger Paints Black Expressionism. I then stamped using Konad Black on the three nails and Konad White on the other. I then fished out black and white glitters from All That Glitters: Spotty Dottie Light and Spotty Dottie Dark (two fabulous indie glitters) and put them onto the scales. I don't know. And then I used my top coat too soon (NYC in a New York Minute) and it smeared the stamping, even with a gloop and not brush touching nail.

Just showing you the image that I stamped.

So, not thrilled but oh well, life goes on! C'est la vie!

Don't forget to check out Emma's awesome nails over at Manicurity! Because I know she something totally awesome! She always does! :)

The Lazy Blogger's 31 DC: Floral

Floral huh, they are a lot of different floral tutorials that I have been wanting to do. So the tutorial that I chose to do today I have been putting it off forever. It always looked so hard because the end results were always so beautiful. But, it is Technique Tuesday and a floral prompt, I had to give it a shot.

So I finally opened my folder with all my "to try" manis in it and search for the one by The Crumpet. I chose to use her tutorial on How To...Freehand Roses. Her roses are always just so gorgeous I was scared to try it!

Let me first tell you, Debbie, from The Crumpet, makes awesome tutorials, easy to follow. Because if I can do it, anyone can! So let's see the photo!

Look at that! Can you believe it! I couldn't! Even when I was creating them I thought they weren't turning out right. but once you add that top coat. Presto! Roses! And I love them!

I also realized that these colors of roses reminded me of my mother. She would tell me that the year that I was born everything was in the rosebud pattern. And so I had a rosebud diaper bag, changing pad, dresses, hats, blanket, you name it.

And when I look at these I am reminded of my mom, who passed away 8 years in February. So I am really glad I did these roses because I got to relieve some wonderful memories that I hadn't thought about in years.

For the polishes I used: OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls (base), OPI Sparrow Me the Drama (big part of flower), OPI Steady as She Rose (petals), and OPI Mermaid's Tears (leaves). Yep, a Pirates of the Caribbean rose mani! :)

Don't forget to check out Emma's awesome nails over at Manicurity!

The Digit-al Dozen Does Monochromatic Week: Purples

Day two of Monochromatic week brings us purples! And since it is Technique Tuesday I thought I would try a new technique: Nailside's Tutorial: Explosion Design Tape Mani.

Can I just say, she makes this look so easy placing those darn triangle cut tape pieces on the nail. Pfft! Don't know if my are explosions but they are still pretty neat! :)

I used OPI Funky Dunkey as my base, China Glaze Urban-Night (dark one), and OPI Planks A Lot. Topped off with NYC In A New York Minute top coat. 

I'm definitely going to have to try this technique again......much later, kinda was a little frustrating! Hahaha! :)

Don't forget to enter our Giveaway by clicking HERE or on the sidebar image.

Also don't forget to check out the other ladies and their fabulous manis!

The Digit-al Dozen Does Monochromatic Week : Neutrals

Welcome to the first Digit-al Dozen Week of 2014! And we are doing monochromatic! Today I choose to do neutrals to go along with my Neutral Mondays that I have been doing. I was inspired by TopCoatIt: Chocolate Mountains, mine are just grey! :)

A reason to break out a ton of grey? Yes please! And this isn't even a pinch of my greys! Mmmm, I love me greys! So calming and purdy!

I started out with Essence Romeo as my base (best grey ever!) Then I used Catrice London's Weather Forecast, followed by Duri Gin Greyhound, and then Revlon Iconic. I topped it off with my fabulous grey glitter that I had custom made by Dragon Lacquer called: Geeky Owl! :)

Topped it off with NYC In a New York Minute. I love how this turned out. Simple but very neat.

Don't forget to enter our Giveaway by clicking HERE or on the sidebar image.

Also don't forget to check out the other ladies and their fabulous manis!

Neutral Mondays: Essie Chinchilly with Flakies!

Ah, Monday we meet again. Actually, with no job, Monday's aren't all that bad! :) Especially while wearing a nice neutral like Essie Chinchilly. 

Now I've seen a few different versions of this color some that are more brown or more grey. But either way it's a lovely taupe-y grey color that is just perfect. I decided to add a little fun to it.

Flakies! Remember when these were all the rage? Especially the Finger Paints Flakies? I bought the entire collection that first week they were out, but I haven't used them that much. But here I used Finger Paints Twisted. I used NYC In a New York Minute as my top coat.

Honestly I forgot how fun flakies are. They can brighten up a simple mani and add a bit magic to your mani!

Are you a flakie fan?

The Lazy Blogger's 31DC: Polka Dots

Today's Lazy 31DC prompt is Polka Dots! Well I went the sparse route! I've had a mani pinned on pinterest forever and I finally wanted to recreate it. The original is by Deez Nailz (actually hers is a copy of another's).

I just love how these turned out, even on the nubs! Nub Nail Art for the win! :)

I used OPI I Have a Herring Problem (two coats). Then used Finger Paints Black Expressionism for the stripes. I dotted using OPI Don't Talk Bach to Me. Topped it off with NYC In a New York Minute Top Coat and added the rhinestones.

What do you think? Kind of matches my blog huh! :)

Don't forget to check out Emma's awesome nails over at Manicurity!

Some Winter Sparkle for You!

Just a quick post for a quick and easy mani! I think it is very frosty and sparkly and perfect for this time of year!

I used two coats of Essie Marshmallow. I then lightly brushed on Orly Halo. Topped it off with NYC In a New York Color Minute Top Coat.

I was inspired by Glitter and Nails.

Super easy!

Technique Tuesdays: Santa Hats

So this isn't a major technique. But it involves free-handing a french tip, dotting tools, and applying jewels!

I have been seeing these hats all over the place (most recently by Sue from Creative Nail Design by Sue) and new I wanted to try it out. I think they are super cute. Now, mine aren't too perfect, some of the hat tail things are too big and look like they are bleeding but hey, I still think they are festive! Not bad for a first try! Hahaha! :)

I used Duri Rejuvacote as my base. I then free-handed french tips using Color Club Mamba and added the little "tails". Then I added a coat of China Glaze Ruby Pumps to add sparkle and festivness! Next I used my dotting tool and white acrylic paint for the fluffy part of the hat. Following that I dabbed a bit of clear polish on the tips of the hats and applied my jewels. I then topped it all off with NYC In a New York Color Minute Top Coat.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Technique Tuesdays: Fan Brush

Welcome Owlets to another new feature that I want to try out: Technique Tuesdays! This is where I will try out those intimidated (to me at least) techniques that I have created a file of. And I will post them no matter the result! It'll kind be like those Pinterest Nail'd it photos you see (you know, where they actually really didn't nail it!)

I'm actually excited about this because if I don't completely succeed I am still going to let it be up on my blog. Because, gosh darn it, not everyone can do those nail arts perfectly! So some Tuesdays you will cheer with me when I succeed, other Tuesdays you can laugh along (or cry, there could be tears) with me! :)

So today is the fan brush. I used Neverland Nail Blog's: Fan Brush Gradient + Tutorial for reference. I used OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls as my base. Color Club Mamba and Sally Hansen I-Rush Luck were the colors I decided to use, trying to make a holiday gradient. I topped it off with Orly Prisma Gloss Gold and NYC In a New York Minute Top Coat. 

No I don't think this is a fail. I think my colors kind of muddied a bit. But I love the markings of the fan brush. So this is a win for me because I didn't totally botch it! :)

What do you think? Did I nail it?

The Digit-al Dozen Does Red, Gold, and Green: Waterfall!

Day 3 of The Digit-al Dozen Does Red, Gold, and Green and I attempted a Waterfall again. I think I did better than last time but still need to practice some more. The Nailasaurus makes it look too easy! :)

I still kind of like how it turned out (need to work on my brush skills). The colors are holiday, but which holiday? Kind of makes me almost think of Halloween with the red/blood and the chartreuse/slime. Hahaha! I love it! :)

I started with Sally Hansen Emerald City (again) as my base, I then mattified it with NYC Matte Me Crazy. For the waterfall itself I used: Nails Inc Chelsea Embankment (gold), Finger Paints Sexxy Sundress (chartreuse), and China Glaze Ruby Pumps (red).

My goal is to perfect the waterfall! So watch for more to come! :)

Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their manis!

33DC Day 9: Indian

Yes! Finally a win for the challenge for this week! I was inspired by the henna designs used in India. I just love the way this turned out! I really can't stop staring at it!

So there are a few photos, because 1. I really like it, and 2. wanted to make sure I captured it correctly! :) In this photo the lighting is a bit different but I love the detail it showed. I used two coats of Essence Cafe Ole.  I seriously love this nude polish! It's perfect! And there is a slight shimmer. I added one coat of HK Girl Top Coat.

I stamped using Konad Chocolate and MoYou Pro 04. These flowers totally reminded me of the intricate henna designs.

I then used a thin coat of HK Girl Top Coat to seal in the stamp followed by NYC Matte Me Crazy. I love this design matte! It's perfect!

Whoop! Weird angle, but I still love it. Is that enough gushing for you? You know, sometimes the polish and stamping forces combine and align just right, and that doesn't always happen for me. So I need to rejoice in it! :)

And I'm done! Have a wonderful weekend!

Don't forget to check out the others doing the challenge! Would you like to join? Then come visit: Crumpet's Nail Tarts on Facebook!