Winter & Xmas Themed Nail Art (and some seasonal kvetching)

Winter... I have such mixed emotions about it.
We have Christmas, my birthday, New Year's, and snow that is magical. 
It's also very very cold, which leads me to desire hibernation.
I'm so very very tired.  In fact, I'm pooped.
I currently want nothing to do with anything that requires me to change out of pj's.  Honestly.  But at least we're past the solstice, so the days are getting longer now and it can only grow warmer.  In fact (!) I see the sun shining outside.  Right now!  Yay!

Also, some awesomeness (for me):  A friend of mine just posted to my FB wall a link.  Yay!  That's ME!!!  :D

Anyway, here are some pics:

 

I hope you all have had a wonderful and magical Holiday Season... Let's get back to the grind and ROCK THE SOCKS OFF THE NEW YEAR 2011!!!!!

:)

Nail Art - Autumn Layering

OPI Take the Stage (x3) - Konad & Bundle Monster (various colors/plates) - accent detailing with a fine nail art brush; OPI Aragon Suede & Let Me Entertain You (? I'm not sure because it was an unlabled Burlesque mini and I didn't bother to double check.) - Seche (x2)

Now... if only I were ambidextrious so that I could do BOTH hands!!! 
[Daily Nail... HOW DO YOU DO IT???!]

Nail Art - Layering Aqua Deco Flowers

Eyeko Vintage Polish +

Pure Ice Oooh Baby +

Konad White Pearl +

Seche +

Konad Black and dots +

[hastily applied] Out The Door

When I try this design again, I'm going to try to remember to use a dark brown instead of the black.  It was kind of harsh-looking and I'm thinking that the brown will seem more sophisticated.

Also, I'm experimenting with some filters on my phone. 

I'm curious as to where this leads. 

Do you like it?  (above)

Or do you prefer the cleaner and more professional?  (bottom)

[Personally, I like that the top photo hides the mistakes better!]

But tell me what YOU think!!  ^_^

Halloween Nails (and some announcements)

Well, I'm back for a moment.  I finally found in between jobs and family a few spare minutes to update.

Business first.

Announcement #1: I'm officially a Mrs!

Announcement #2:  I got a new phone, the Samsung Epic.  This means I haven't replaced my digital camera yet.  My pics have all been taken with my camera phone and the quality isn't great as a camera, but pretty darned impressive for a phone!  The touch screen is still taking some getting used to... I have to take a lot of pictures before I can get one that is even worth sharing. 

And now, nails.

First, I got this idea from here who got it from here who got it from goldiestarling on YouTube. It is seriously easy to do and everyone who sees it loves it.  So if you want a high impact mani that will receive lots of compliments this season THIS IS IT.

Next, I tried this:

I like this and I can even manage to do BOTH hands with a sweet trick that I figured out all on my own using the konad stamper!

Well, that's about it.  I shall continue to plug away in this dreary weather, day after day, until Novemeber.  Then, I think, I can take a breath and maybe sleep for a few days.  :)

Silver French with White Flowers

Well.  I got bored again.  I wanted designs that were more "summery" (read: lighter) and requiring less coats of polish (I was getting tired of making mistakes and having +16 layers of polish to re-do!)
I went for a fancy french with a clear base. I think I like it!


No-name Silver tips and dots, Konad plate m20 w/white special polish.  One coat of Out the Door. And that was it! 

I think I'd like to do something with colors next... but I can't decide on which ones.  Maybe something with sunflowers or violets. We'll see.  :)

Not very Patriotic... unless you stretch your imagination!

While everyone else's nail seem to be infected by the spirit of July 4th.... I'm being a loser.
My nails do not reflect any sort of patriotism in anticipation of the coming holiday, however I suppose that if I really think about it, I'm being "independent" from the crowd thereby exemplifying the very essence of "independence".  Eh?

Anyway, on to the nails -

Here we've got Del Sol's Knockout, a creamy nude that changes to a rosy blush with exposure to UV rays (or direct sunlight). The photo shows it at about half-way between the two shades.  I'm sorry! The sky just wasn't cooperating with me while I was trying to take the pictures.  I will try again, possibly tomorrow, to capture the two rather different shade in all of their I-wonder-what-chemicals-I've-just-put-on-my-fingernails-for-the-sake-of-color-changing glory.  Really, when I think about it, it's still totally worth it.
Over that I stamped a design from Bundle Monster plate 02 using Kiss Nail Art white.  The accents are with a no-Name silver foil applied with a dotting brush and there are very subtle pink shimmer rays extending out of the silver center of each burst.

You know now that I think about it, with a slightly different colored base and if I think of the design as a burst (instead of the flowers that I initially imagined them to be)... I would pretty much have a fireworks display.

Oh well!  Maybe next year.  :)

[Two Hours Later]....

My mom looked like she wanted to have her nails polished. So I gave HER a 4th theme!

Del Sol's Reckless with Bundle Monster plates 02 and 14. Fireworks done with Sinful's Sugar Sugar and Kiss Nail Art in a metallic blue and no-Name gold glitter. Stars done with Kiss white.  There's no top coat because she was getting a little antsy, but still... not bad!  (I wanted more glitter, but she insisted that it was "enough".  My momma's so silly sometimes!)