#WNAC2015 - July / Gradients: Roundup

Hi everyone!

This should've gone up a few days ago, sorry!  Regardless, this is my July Nail Art Roundup for the #WNAC2015 (Weekly Nail Art Challenge)!  The schedule for August (starting this Friday) is at the bottom of the post, if anyone is interested as well. :)

#WNAC2015 - May / Neon: Roundup (+ Tutorials!)

Hello everyone!

Today I have a roundup of my nail art from the #WNAC2015 posts for May to share with you.  The theme was Neon, which was so fun!  Totally had me in a happy mood, and I think I came up with some awesome nail art (a few didn't quite make it to my Instagram either, so I'll share them with you here!).

#WNAC2014 - November / Metallic: Roundup

Hello everyone!

This is a quick roundup post for my November / Metallic #WNAC2014 (Weekly Nail Art Challenge).  The theme for the month was metallic, which was the perfect theme for leading into the holidays, I would say!

#WNAC2014 - October / Fall: Gradient

Hello everyone!

Friday was the second post for our Weekly Nail Art Challenge, and the theme was gradient.

I love a good gradient base; it always makes my nail art that much more special, I think.  I was already wearing a really pretty magenta plum shade (CND Plumville), so I decided to just add a dark gradient on top to make it a bit more "Fall", using Julep Jodi and A England Lancelot.

 

 I was really happy with the gradient, but of course I couldn't leave it alone, so I created a flower petal pattern using Love & Beauty (Forever 21) Ivory and my 18/0 Round brush from Michael’s.

The design was sort of inspired by a leaf print I found last week on Pinterest, so that's where the idea came from, although I figured flower petals would be prettier with the base colors.

I’m posting this a few days late (surprise, surprise), because I decided to film a tutorial for the design, so I hope you all enjoy it!

And here's a reminder of the challenge for the month, if you missed last weeks post:

I hope you all enjoyed this post, and thank you for reading! :)

Kristin

Connect with me:

Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest

31 Day Challenge 2014 - Day 1: Red

Hello everyone!

I have decided to try to attempt the 31 Day Challenge again this year (and try to actually complete it this time).  I'm hoping that it will keep me posting more on my blog, since I've been really slacking for a while now.  I think that it helps to have a theme for some inspiration as well.  Today was the first day, so I created some gradient rose nails for the red theme.  I created a quick photo tutorial as well, which you can view down below!

I won't go into too much detail since you can read the steps below, but I was definitely inspired by all of the Rouge Louboutin inspired mani's I've seen lately, with the gorgeous black and red gradient mimicking the bottle.  For my version, I decided it needed a bit of holo of course, so I went with piCture pOlish O'hara as my base.  I really love the simplicity and gothic quality about them.

Marc Jacobs Jezebel, Essie Trombone, Julep Hayden, piCture pOlish O'hara, a-England Lancelot, and Winstonia Store #00 brush

Here's the tutorial if you would like to recreate them:

1.  Apply one coat of red nail polish, or one with holographic shimmer as I have shown.

2.  Grab a sponge and paint a few layers of black, a deep burgundy red, and your base color directly onto the sponge.

3.  Sponge lightly onto the nail.  I had to do this a few times to deepen the black.

4.  Using a peach nail polish, begin the rose near the cuticle of the nail.  I like to start with a centre dot and a half circle sticking out from the side.  Make sure you leave some black area peeking through to give some depth to the rose.

5.  Paint similar petal shapes around the centre.  I like to make some squiggly and pointy edges to create a more realistic shape.

6.  Keep creating petals until the rose is the size you like.  If it helps, you can also see me create the same rose shape in a previous video I made here: Negative Space Rose Nails

7.  Using a red polish (similar to your base color), and a nail art brush, paint directly on top of the peach lines leaving a tiny space at the outer edge of each petal.

8.  Once you have all of the red filled in, wait a few minutes, then add your top coat.   Have fun!


Thank you all for reading!  If you're also doing the challenge, let me know, as I would love to follow along with your posts as well! :)


Kristin

Connect with me:

Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest

Holographic Gradient Nails - Guest Blog Post for Nail That Accent!

Hi everyone!

Recently, I was asked by the lovely and talented Lindsay from Nail That Accent to write a guest post for her blog.  I was so excited when she asked me because not only is she a fellow Canadian, this is also my first guest blog post anywhere!

I am the first nail artist featured for her International Nail Artist Tuesday series, and I created a super fun holographic gradient with some of my favorite polishes and techniques!

If you would like to see the full post with additional photos and a bit about how I created this look, you can check it out here: International Nail Artist Tuesday featuring Canada

I hope you all enjoy it, and thank you for reading! :)

Kristin

Join me on my other social networks:

Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest

NOTD: Neon & Nude + Enchanted Polish Seven Nation Army

Hi everyone!

I went with some bright nails for today’s NOTD.  I guess I just needed something to cheer me up since we now have snow here :(.  Today was also an Enchanted Polish restock, and I think this mani must have been good luck since I was quite successful!

Enchanted Polish Seven Nation Army is basically a holographic topcoat, filled with lots of black and white glitter in a few different sizes.  The glitter is so dense that only one coat is necessary if you are layering it, but it could also be worn alone, it's just awesome!

OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons, Enchanted Polish Seven Nation Army, and China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy

Hope you all had a lovely weekend, and thank you for reading! :)

Kristin

Follow me:

Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Beautylish  |  Pinterest

Pink Lace Nails for Breast Cancer Awareness + Tutorial!

Hello!

I posted this design on Instagram last week since October was Breast Cancer Awareness month.  I really wanted to create some special pink nails, and I am so happy with how they turned out.  I also decided to film while I was working, so I have created a little tutorial for this look too!  You can view the video below. :)

Essie Fiji, Dance Legend Ibiza, Orly Beach Cruiser, and Lime Crime Parfait Day.  Brush is from my Urban Outfitters set.  Not pictured: Cult Nails Tempest

I wanted them to be super feminine and delicate but quite striking at the same time, so I came up with the idea to create an interesting lace print over a subtle gradient.

My accent nail is Dance Legend #19 Ibiza, the most amazing neon pink textured polish.  I think it's the perfect compliment to the other nails.  I am just obsessed with everything Dance Legend right now!

Here is the tutorial:

I hope you enjoy it!


Thank you for reading! :)


Kristin

31 Day Challenge - Day 10: Gradient Nails

Gradient Nails was the theme for Day 10 of the #31DC2013.

I'd probably wear some variation of gradient nails everyday if I could.  They are so easy and always look pretty, especially with a bit of glitter.

This time I went with a super fast and simple gradient using China Glaze Blue Sparrow and a-England Camelot.  These nails were a pain to photograph, so I'm not very happy with the photos, but I figured I would post them anyways.  This gradient had so much depth in person because of the jelliness of Blue Sparrow, and I loved wearing them.

Thank you for reading!


Kristin

31 Day Challenge - Day 6: Violet Nails

Day 6 of the 31 Day Challenge (#31DC2013) was Violet Nails.

I really love the look of Bourjois Bleu Violet (the base that I used for these nails), but it was a pain to photograph.  It either looked black or totally blue in photos, when in person it's actually a really lovely blurple (quite a bit more purple than blue though.)  I used two coats for these nails, and it has a nice squishy finish.

I waited a while for the base to dry, and I applied some striping tape diagonally on my nails to create diamond shapes.  I sponged Enchanted Polish Purple Roses on the tips, then quickly removed the tape.  I love the holographic shimmer that Purple Roses adds to the effect.

My accent nail is two coats of OPI Alcatraz...Rocks, one of the most amazing Liquid Sand polishes OPI has created, in my opinion.  It's the strangest mix of blue, grey, and purple, and it has some gorgeous multicolored shimmer; I think it's mostly gold, pink, and purple, maybe some green too!  It's just stunning.

Thank you for reading!

Kristin

31 Day Challenge - Day 3: Yellow Nails

I rarely wear yellow on my nails, but I knew exactly the yellow I was going to use for Day 3 of the 31 Day Challenge (#31DC2013); Lime Crime's Crema de Limon.

Crema de Limon is a very pretty soft yellow, and while I'm not sure if the formula is streaky on it's own, I decided to use it as a gradient with Essie Blanc to skip any application issues.  I topped the gradient with China Glaze Golden Enchantment (my bottle is very sad looking!), and a few pyramid studs from Born Pretty Store.

On my accent nail, I have one coat of Elevation Polish Mount Feathertop, then I placed some striping tape vertically on my nail, and applied the same gradient as the other nails to create a "negative space" design.  I added a small round stud near the cuticle, and topped it with Golden Enchantment as well.

By the way, if you are ordering anything from Born Pretty Store, you can use the code KSG10 to get 10% off your order, with free shipping worldwide!

Thank you for reading! :)

Kristin

Rainbow Gradient Nails + Tutorial!

On Instagram last week, a bunch of nail accounts (111!) joined together to create some rainbow nails as part of one big collaboration hosted by @nailslikelace.  I always love to participate in collaborations with others; it's really exciting to see so many different interpretations of a general theme.

For my rainbow nails, I decided to create a simple rainbow gradient.  This was my first time using so many colors in one gradient, but I'm very happy with how it turned out.  I figured my rainbow needed a pot of gold, so for my accent nail I used two coats of Chanel Gold Fingers, one coat of Gosh Greed, and then I placed some loose holographic gold glitter to create a glitter gradient effect.

Zoya Sooki, China Glaze Sun Worshiper, Orly Glowstick, Love & Beauty Neon Green, and Essie Avenue Maintain

I've been slacking on YouTube (I really need to get a routine going!), so I decided to film this look as well!

Here is the tutorial:

Let me know what you think, and as always, thank you for reading! :)

Kristin