NOTD: New Year's Super Blingy Ombre Glitter Mosaic + Tutorial

So far, we have already received nearly a foot more snow than we normally average in an entire winter.  And all that shoveling is what I'm blaming my lack of posting in January on ... winter doesn't appear to be letting up any time soon but I guess I'm not surprised ...  that's where the name Minne"snow"ta came from =)

Anyway, here is what I had on my nails for New Year's, just before I made a big chop (which if you haven't see on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc will be coming up in my next post).  The base color is just OPI Black Onyx; the glitter ombre is done with Martha Stewart glitter from Michaels in the colors Onyx, Sterling, Florentine Gold, Fire Opal, Garnet, Tourmaline, Kunzite, Charoite, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Verdalite & Olivine:

The overall ombre was a beautiful effect, although some nails the difference was very drastic, such as on the black/silver nail - some nails the difference was nearly invisible, such as on the red/orange nail:

Here's the tutorial:

This look was inspired from a design on Pinterest, and I did it my own way before I actually read up on the blog posts by the original creator.  That's how I usually do it unless I really can't figure out how to accomplish the effect, but after the fact I learned quite a lot from reading, watching, and even a few comments back and forth with Polish All The Nails.  So the next time I do a glitter mosaic - and there will definitely be a next time - I plan on using at least 2 coats of my base color, to give the glitter a deeper layer to be pressed into.  Also, I trimmed the overhanging glitter & then added a topcoat - I think I would topcoat to help the glitter stay in place, then trim, then more top coat to smooth everything out.  This wasn't horribly rough - and actually wore much better than I expected, only losing a few glitters by the time I took it off - but I think with practice I can get it even smoother!

This was a super fun manicure to wear, I kept in on a whole week & I got a LOT of compliments ... here's a look at it in motion:

Do you have the patience to do a look like this?  Maybe just as an accent nail would be enough for many LOL.

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Green Color Block for Depression Awareness + Tutorial

Well, this is just a tad late onto the blog, but I did manage to get it posted on YouTube before the end of October which was my goal.  (October is Depression Awareness Month)

This manicure was inspired by a design I saw on Pinterest and added to my "I Wanna Try That" board (here:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/460422761875760772/), and after digging through just my unworns I picked a light green for my base color & seven additional greens for my blocks; Piggy Polish Daylilly's & Music, Color Club Kiss Me Mistletoe, Finger Paints Evergreen Dream, Icing All That Glitters is Green, Love & Beauty ? (no label & not sure if it ever had one), Sinful Colors Exotic Green, Ulta Army of 1 & Zoya Shawn:

I made each nail a little different, but if you have one that you particularly like, obviously you could stick with just one style.  Here's the tutorial:

I think I already have more ideas pinned than I may ever get to, but now that I'm finally on there I just can't help myself, there are so many cool ideas!  So you can count on seeing more Pinterest-inspired manis going forward =)

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Skull & Crossbones + Tutorial

So, as far as old vs. new posts, I decided that I'm going to do both.  If I just try to do the old stuff, I'll feel like I'm just falling further behind & it would be true.  Plus, with Halloween today & the holidays right around the corner, no way I'd get caught up in time to share this year's themed manis with you.  So, I'll just try to state whether what you're looking at is old or new ... although in the end, it probably doesn't matter that much, right?  Nails are nails & a mani that was beautiful a few months ago is still beautiful today.

This post is a new mani, for this year's Halloween.  I wasn't sure at first if I was going to do any Halloween manis this year, I just didn't have much inspiration, and then I decided to do these ... they weren't my favorite ever, because as you know I'm a perfectionist, but it was fun to do & good practice at freehanding (which I need).  Base colors were OPI Black Onyx & OPI Alpine Snow, bones done with AS & the skull done with black acrylic:

Here's the tutorial:

And I actually ended up doing another, even free-handier, Halloween design - stay tuned for all of the little Goodwill Halloween faces from the commercial!

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Girl on Fire Water Marble + Tutorial

This was my favorite design from Water Marble March, and I did in fact have it on my nails when I went to see the movie =)  & if you somehow still have not heard about the Hunger Games ... well, what rock have you been under LOL?

I started this manicure with a base of Orly Crush on You with a coat of the glitter Icing Pumpkin on top.  Since the colors I marbled with were mostly jellies, the glitter sparkled through a little & really brought the fire to life.  Marbling is done with Crush on You as well as Orly Ma Cherie & Liquid Vinyl - somehow although I had this on for around a week it appears I didn't get any natural lamp pictures but I think the rest do it pretty good justice:

Favorite flame-like nails:

And of course here is the tutorial:



Did you see the movie & have you read the books?  I try not to think too much about the next movie because it's so far off, but really I can't wait!

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Capitol Couture Water Marble + Tutorial

Another Hunger Games inspired manicure, this one using polish from China Glaze's Capitol Colors collection.  The base color is Fast Track, then marbling is done with Fast Track, Hook and Line, & Smoke and Ashes:

I got really well positioned dips with this marble & had a ton of favorite nails:

And of course here is the tutorial:



Thanks for reading =)

~Colette

NOTD: Bumblebee Water Marble + Tutorial

This water marble has, for some reason, become one of my most popular on YouTube.  I swear I can not figure out what will be a breakout hit - some of my  most favorite are only middling performers, others that I didn't think anything special draw in millions of views.  The next-highest vid from Water Marble March (which is the Four Leaf Clover marble, if you're interested) only has a bit over 300k views while this one is at 1.2 million & going strong.  Not that I'm complaining, mind, but my favorite from that month was hands down my my Girl on Fire marble (which is 2 manicures down the road, so you will see it soon!) & it hasn't even hit 200k.  More proof, if any was necessary, that I guess my style does not always line up with everyone else's style =)  & that's perfectly fine LOL.

Anyway - on to the actual manicure.  Base color is China Glaze Happy Go Lucky, marbling done with HGL & China Glaze Liquid Leather:

I know some people find the stripe design just a bit tricky - it's really very similar to chevrons, but very tight & instead of drawing straight across you want to go just a bit backward & this should help to straighten out the lines if that makes sense.

Here's the tutorial:



Still 3 more manicures from Water Marble March ... and then we'll be moving on to Nail Art April, which started with another water marble LOL.

Thanks for reading.

~Colette