ASBMF #13- The Paper Gal- Newspaper Transfer

Second to last challenge right here!! Let me just confess how nervous I was about this challenge! I wasn't even sure I liked the idea of this challenge...it looked boring to me. Again, the April Showers Bring May Flowers challenge has proven me wrong! Not to mention, I've learned that there's another nail art technique out there that I can do- and like! I feel like this is such a momentous occasion! haha!

Anywhoooooo......the challenge!
I used the soaking method with the 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol.
I applied 1 coat of Zoya Carey (1 is all I needed!). I let it dry and soaked my nail in the alcohol for 5 seconds. Immediately upon taking it out, I placed some newspaper on it and patted it down (like you would a temporary tattoo, really). This is what resulted:

I should have waited just a little longer before putting the top coat on!! Blast!

Just an up close of my ring finger.

I can't wait to do this one again! Maybe with a light colored base!

What are your thoughts on the new watermark? I need some feedback on it!

Thanks for reading!
Hope you enjoyed!

-Amanda

ASBMF #12- May Flowers! (Watercolor Manicure)

Wow! I only have 2 more to go and I'll have finished my first challenge!! Soon up, I'll begin the Summer Challenge! But let's not get ahead of ourselves here!

For May Flowers, I knew I wanted to try the watercolor manicure technique. When I first saw this technique, it instantly reminded me of an impressionistic version of a flower garden! I knew this would be perfect for this challenge.

Now, this was my first time executing it. I will say, I've learned a lot on the way on how to make this even better next time.
More than anything else, I learned that I need to get a better brush! I used a makeup brush and it was just a horrible shape and kept falling apart. Hilariously, I have a few brush strands STUCK in the polish on my right hand. I got super annoyed when this happened but there was nothing to be done! Those babies were stuck!

Also, it's disgusting out today. It's dark and rainy. I tried and tried to get some decent pictures but only manages one. Better than none!!

Poor, poor middle finger. Too much acetone fell off that stupid piece of crap brush and killed the effect- and washed away some of my base!!
Other than that- it's not too bad for a first try! And I like my version of "flowers".

I used Sinful Colors Snow Me White for the base (2 coats), added Seche Vite to keep the base from running (2 coats), and then used Color Club Almost Famous, and Poptastic and Sally Hansen Blue Me Away!


I hope you enjoyed!
Thanks for reading,

-Amanda

Abstract, and Ethereal?! An Adventure in Mixing Techniques~

What do abstract, and ethereal both have in common? THIS MANICURE!

See, I enjoyed my last stamping attempt so much that I wanted to try another one! I was feeling extra ambitious so I thought I would do some sponging too! Whoa man!

I knew I wanted to work with my three favorite colors- Blue, Green, and Purple.
I started with a base of Color Club Twiggie. Then sponged on some Sally Hansen Blue Me Away! and Color Club Pucci-Licious. Sorry about the washed out picture quality as compared to other recent pictures. It's gross and overcast today so not much natural lovely light to work with. Oh well.
 Here's a picture of the sponging:

 I feel like these take on a serious abstract- wanna be grunge look! I mean the colors totally negate the grunge vibe, but I think you get what I'm saying?

Alright, next, I picked up my Bundle Monster stamping plate (BM-212) and chose one of the peacock-esque (making up words here, look out!) and stamped it on my nail using Zoya Trixie. I wanted a little sparkle but not too much and Trixie did the trick! Oh, fun fact of the day- I LOVE peacock feathers. The colors, the design, love, love, love them!

So here are some pictures of the finished product.

I don't know if anyone would necessarily agree, but I think Trixie gives this manicure a lovely ethereal feel!

Hope you enjoyed!
Thanks for reading!

-Amanda

Strawberry Fields and Stamping!

Hi all!
I finally got back around to practicing some nail stamping. I'll be the first to admit that this has always proved difficult for me. I LOVE to look at pictures online of nail stamping successes and I've watched enough tutorials that you think I'd be a pro! Yet, I always struggle with finding a good stamping polish and I just haven't gotten around to purchasing any of the Konad polishes.
Anyway, I decided it was time to stamp again. I wanted something bright and fun and something that was atypical for me. So, I went with a bright color called Strawberry Fields by China Glaze. Can I just say WOW! On its own, this color is a stunner. But I wanted more! So, I grabbed my new bottle if Sinful Colors Rampage, and my Bundle Monster plate (BM 221) and went to town! What do you think?

I like it! I don't like, however, how dry my hands look in these pictures! I used acetone for the first time in forever and now I remember why I stopped in the first place! It dries everything out so quickly! But I will admit, it gets the job done! (that's what she said? ....sorry! I couldn't resist!)

I hope you enjoyed!
Thanks for reading!
-Amanda

ASBMF Challenge #11- Eggs and Chicks

Ahh....this challenge. I really wasn't looking forward to doing this particular challenge. Why? Well...mostly because it's May and I feel like wearing bright colors and glittery things and eggs and chicks just screams muted colors to me. So, I thought to myself- how can I make this less Eastery....more any time of the year? I came up with the idea of doing a little baby blue bird instead of a baby chicken. I hope that's okay!
For the egg portion, I decided to show it in varying states of breaks.
I think the idea looked better in my head, but I'm IN LOVE with my baby bird!! I wish I had done more!

I was so nervous about drawing my little bird! He came out super cute though!

Tried to make it look like he just broke free from his egg. 

I wish my egg lines had come out better. My hand was shaking so badly today and caused me to smudge them. So frustrating!

For this, I used a base coat of Sinful Colors- Snow Me White, I drew the eggs with SoEasy Stripe Rite in black, the bird was hand drawn with Zoya Yummy, accented with Nubar Blue Hydrangea, and beak and tootsies were done with Essence Mellow Yellow.

I hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading!

-Amanda

Election Day

Happy (Belated) Memorial Day! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! I know I did!
I wanted to be sure to do a patriotic manicure for the holiday, as our freedom and the sacrifices made to ensure it, are the reason for the day.
I recently purchased Election Day by Paris Sparkles on Etsy. I'm not sure why, but I expected the glitter to be more vibrant in color. I still love this polish though! It's a subtle take on the patriotic theme! All pictures are 2 coats Election Day, 1 coat Gelous, 1 coat Seche Vite- taken in sunlight.

(This picture was taken on my cell. I was trying something new...

I'll stick to my regular camera from now on ha ha)

You can find Paris Sparkles on ETSY, and on FACEBOOK.

Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading!

-Amanda

ASBMF #10- Butterflies!

This challenge was a series of trial and errors. I initially wanted to do the popular butterfly wing nails but messed up a few time and got so frustrated! So, I took a day off and came back to it. 

I started with 2 coats of China Glaze Four Leaf Clover on all nails but my index. Index got 2 coats Sally Hansen Pacific Blue. Colors were opposite on my right hand. Butterfly was drawn with a white, purple shimmer, green, and black nail art brushes. Flowers done with dotting tool using Sinful Colors Snow Me White and Color Club Almost Famous.

I feel as though I should have excluded the flowers. I think it would have looked better without them. Your thoughts?

Also, I'm super bummed the true color of the base polishes didn't show up on my camera! Four Leaf Clover is so VIBRANT in person. And Pacific Blue is much deeper in color in person. I tried to fiddle with the color settings but nothing worked well enough. 

Best picture I could get of the butterfly up close.

Hah! Look! My right hand! I had no idea how dry it was until I was editing my pictures! Oops!

I hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading!

-Amanda