Valentine's Day Nails

I recently bought Nails Inc's base coat polish, and this was my first time trying it out.  I am throughly impressed!  After painting on the base coat I only had to use one coat of color on most of my nails!  With some of these polishes I've used up to three coats in the past!  Below are the polishes I used for this nail-do.  Left to right: Nail Inc.'s base coat, Urban Outfitter's Cupcake, Ulta's Encore Pink, Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear Bubblegum Pink, Nails Inc's top coat, Sally Hensen's nail art pen in white, and a red permanent marker.  

I paint on a coat of the base coat, then I randomly painted my nails with the three different pinks.  Once those coats dried I painted on a second coat of color, just because I'm used to doing that, not because they really needed another coat.  Then once the pinks had dried completely, or so I thought I attempted to draw on some hearts with the nail art pen.  I quickly realized the polish had dried completely and decided to do polka dots on the other nails.  I thought I could get away with using the marker while the polish was still wet, but I didn't have much better luck.  Plus when I went to paint on the clear topcoat it bleed all over the place, and now my hearts look like they are bleeding.  

I seem to be ultra impatient when painting my nails.  I have a hard time waiting for my nails to dry, and end up with smudged messy fingers.  Polka dots are so easy though, and always look great.  They are my saving grace when it comes to painting my nails.  I always think my nails look nice when they are adorned in polka dots.  Hope you have a lovely day, chris!

Gradient Nails

Today I tried out The Nailasaurus' Gradient Nails tutorial.  I used Orly's Won't Chip for a top coat, Sally Hansen's Green With Envy for the second color, and Orly's Lemonade for the bottom coat.  I had to use two coats to get proper coverage with the yellow color.  One coat was almost thick enough though.  I painted all my nails with two coats of Lemonade. 

Then I mixed the green and yellow together on a paper plate using a paperclip, and then I used a kitchen sponge to dab the polish onto my fingers.  

I cleaned up the skin around my fingers with cotton swabs I dipped into polish remover.  I coated each nail with the clear top coat, which helped smooth out the sponge marks.  

I like this look, but it's not as refined as The Nailasaurus' paint job.  I'll have to try it out with other polishes, and sponges.  I need to buy more top coat, maybe I'll treat myself to a new color!  Hope ya'll had a great weekend, and happy DIYing, chris!

Halloween Nails

We got a ton of laundry done today.  Aaron and I bought a new microwave, and got it plug in ready to go.  We got some food shopping done.  Which was surprisingly not crazy.  I thought the super market would be overrun with people trying to prepare for the impending Stormtober.  They were low on a lot of things, but it was pretty much a regular sunday shopping trip.  We cooked breakfast for dinner, which was awesome.  I love having a big pancake, egg, and sausage dinner.  Then Aaron left for work, and I decided to paint my nails.  I was thinking Halloween, but I don't have any black nail polish, so I couldn't do any traditional themed halloween dos.  

I have a couple oranges, and I thought some greens would work nicely with the oranges for Halloween.  I also used my silver crackle nail polish over the green nail polishes.  For the spooky face I used a black sharpie to draw it on my nail once the orange had completely dried.  It smeared a bit when I painted on the clear top coat, but I think that kind of added to the creepiness.  Not the best manicure I've ever given myself, but it's fun for the upcoming holiday.  Though I'm worried that it will get rained out.  That would be so sad for Halloween to get cancelled due to lame weather.  

Hope things don't get too windy or wet here, and good luck and stay safe to anyone who will be encountering Hurricane Sandy over the next few days.  If you don't here from me, it's because I lost internet.  Happy DIYing, chris!

Fall Inspired Nail-Do

We got back from Vermont today, and after nine hours in the car I just wanted to do something relaxing for my DIY.  I had painted my nails this orange color by Wet n Wild Fastdry for the wedding.  

So when I got home I taped some different designs on my nails, and painted a coat of this sparkly teal by Julie G.  

These are the polishes I used.  Wet n Wild's Fastdry 9.0.2.1. Orange, and Julie G's Mermaid's Tail.  The orange I painted on two coats, and the teal I only used one coat, but I'm certain if there wasn't already a base coat I would have needed to use two.  They both dry fast, and have really pretty sparkles in them.  I'm totally please with these two new nail polishes.  

Hope ya'll have a great day, and happy DIYing, chris! 

Yellow and White Nails

A couple days ago I bought a small bottle of Orly's Lemonade nail polish, and I've been dying to try it out.  So when I got home from work today I set aside some time for painting my nails.  

I used Orly's Lemonade, and Sally Hansen's White nail art pen, plus Orly's Won't Chip clear coat.

I painted two layers of the yellow color, and then two coats with the white nail pen.  

I tried really hard to try to wait until the yellow had dried before I painted on the white, but I can see on a couple nails where I didn't wait long enough, and it smudged some.  Then I had to play the waiting game again before I could paint on two clear coats.  I love this look!  It will definitely bring some sunshine to these rainy days.  

I need to get some laundry done.  Happy DIYing, chris!