Spring Challenge-Fruit and Dots

Just got home from spending the weekend in NYC with my cousins.  Had a fantastic weekend, beautiful weather.  Finally got to see the 9/11 memorial.  Amazing thing to witness live.  The videos I have seen just do not do it justice.  Great food and great times.....love those NYC bagels.  So, right off the train, I started thinking.......my next item on the Spring Challenge is due today.  No idea what I was going to do. Finally decided on bright colors.  I am in love with this combination.

There is just something about orange and pink together that I love.  I used China Glaze, Rich & Famous and Sun Worshiper. 

 My only regret is that I would have used a larger size dotting tool for the dots.  Other than that, I am really happy with the outcome.  Now I need to go and take a nap.  Two straight days of walking all over the city is exhusting. 

 

The Spring Challenge is being hosted by Mateja at Purple Glitters. You can read more about her VERY creative challenge and the rules here.

Please stop over to see what the other ladies who are in the challenge did today...

Taya from Taya

Ducky from I love Pretty Colors
Kat from Hooked on Polish
Kelly-Ann from Nail Art By Kelly-Ann
Riley from Pinky to Thumb
Aylin from Posh Nail Art
Brianna from Welcome to Brianna's World
Aurora from of World of Happy Nails
Mateja of Mateji Ustvarjata
The Nail Buff
Moonchild
Anna
Colorful Bottle
Thalie from Glazed Talons
Hema from Rainbow Nails
Nailpocalypse
Lady-flower 123
Nail Crazy
Mimi's Vanity Box

ASBMF #6-Ombre

OK, now that I know what ombre means.  I have researched this quite a bit since I saw it on the challenge list.  There was much discussion on the facebook page regarding whether this means fading colors on the same nail or from one nail to the next.  It seems that there is no clear answer on this.  I did learn that it is french for shaded so I guess that means you can shade whatever, and however you like.  I like both looks but I LOVE that clean transition on one nail when it comes out right. And.....I love the opportunity to use purple in any way, shape or form.

So here is my "ombre" using the sponging technique with a cosmetic sponge.  I used Revlon's Impulsive and Charming and Milani's Violet Dash.  Of course, I started out with a white base coat.  Some imperfections because I did the base at night and then went to bed after two coats so there are some subtle wrinkle marks.

Even with the flaws, I am totally in love with the color.

Please stop over and check out the contributions of the other ladies who are completing the challenge...........

Jess from Nearly Natural Nails

Amanda from Mandy's Polish
Heidi from DIY Polish & More!
Katee fromA Girl and Her Polish
Charlotte from Charlotte's Nails
Tess from Football and Fingernails
Karine at Karinea0a
Victoria from Manicurator
Ashley from One Nail To Another
Dani from Rustic Comfort
Amanda from Counting Down to Bliss
Kayono from Neues vom Kellerkind
Sarah from All This Polish
April from Munia's Nails
And of course, the creator of the challenge, Hannah from Polished Prisms. 

Spring Challenge-Flowers and Stripes

This is my second post for the Spring Challenge that is being hosted by Mateja at Purple Glitters. You can read more about her VERY creative challenge and the rules here.  For this post entitled flowers and stripes, I chose to use the color combination of blue and purple.  Once a color combination is chosen for a particular challenge item, it can't be used again.  So, you have to plan wisely.  I think it was a great color combination.

I used Cerulean Seascape from Finger Paints for the tips and striped it with Milani's Violet Dash.  A few dots in Color Club White and a finishing ouch of a flower to tie it all together.  I really love the final product.  I just adore these colors together.  The official post date is the 18th but I will not have time tomorrow, so I am getting it done now.

Please stop over to see what the other ladies who are in the challenge are doing tomorrow...

Taya from Taya

Ducky from I love Pretty Colors
Kat from Hooked on Polish
Kelly-Ann from Nail Art By Kelly-Ann
Riley from Pinky to Thumb
Aylin from Posh Nail Art
Brianna from Welcome to Brianna's World
Aurora from of World of Happy Nails
Mateja of Mateji Ustvarjata
The Nail Buff
Moonchild
Anna
Colorful Bottle
Thalie from Glazed Talons
Hema from Rainbow Nails
Nailpocalypse
Lady-flower 123
Nail Crazy
Mimi's Vanity Box

I think I got everyone, if a link doesn't work, I got a name wrong, or if you want me to add your name in where there isn't one, let me know.  

ASBMF Challenge- #5-Rainbow...Fuzzy that is

Next up on the challenge was a rainbow after the rain.  Ever since I saw Christina at Let Them Have Polish do fuzzy chick nails for easter, I had to run out and buy some flocking.  I have seen it done more recently and someone had gone into great detail explaining how you can still wash your hands and everything without disturbing the fuzz.  I LOVED the idea!!!!  But how could I use it in any of the challenges I am doing?  I know....use all the colors of he rainbow!!!! 

Well, not ALL the colors, and I did struggle with how to do ROY G BIV using only one hand to get everything in.  Well, the store had no Indigo flocking so that brought me down to six.  I decided, after much thought and discussion with the controller at work who is a CPA, there is no simple way to do this.  I had to just abandon purple.  Why you ask?  It is my favorite color and I already have another idea rolling around in my head to use it on it's own.  Now, the flocking can be bought at any craft supply store and usually comes in plastic tubs or small glass vials like this.....

I painted a base coat in each color and then just dusted the nails with each vial of flocking powder and blew it off when I was done.  The result....It actually feels like velvet.  Can't stop touching it. 

You can see it is really fuzzy.  I am in love with it.  I may do red white and blue for 4th of July.  Or maybe velvet isn't appropriate for summer????

Anyway, please feel free to stop over and check out the contributions of the other ladies, 

Jess from Nearly Natural Nails
Amanda from Mandy's Polish
Heidi from DIY Polish & More!
Katee fromA Girl and Her Polish
Charlotte from Charlotte's Nails
Tess from Football and Fingernails
Karine at Karinea0a
Victoria from Manicurator
Ashley from One Nail To Another
Dani from Rustic Comfort
Amanda from Counting Down to Bliss
Kayono from Neues vom Kellerkind
Sarah from All This Polish
April from Munia's Nails
And of course, the creator of the challenge, Hannah from Polished Prisms.

Fantasia

Lindsey over at The Neverland Nail Blog is having a nail art contest called Do you believe in Magic?  You can read more about the rules here.  Now, I have to admit.  It isn't my favorite topic.  Not really into fairies and magic.  I told a friend about it and she suggested I do Fantasia from Disney.  Loved the idea.  I am not that great at drawing so I tried to display the power of magic in other ways using very noticeable references from the film.  The hat, wand and glitter for the "magic" of course.

What is always amazing to me is that you can buy the best quality brush and just take it out of the box and there is always that stray piece that is either going in it's own direction or longer than the rest by a smidge. 

Of course, my favorite is the hat with Mickey's ears attached.  I was going to do something with the brooms and buckets but I have zero colors in the brown and gold family with the exception of a few metallics which probably would not work well here.  

Spring Challenge-Love and Life

OK, this is a little hectic but SUPER fun.  I signed up to participate in two challenges at the same time.  This is my first post for the Spring Challenge that is being hosted by Mateja at Purple Glitters.  You can read more about her VERY creative challenge and the rules here.

The topic for today's post is love and life and I selected green and pink for this particular challenge.  Love automatically brought hearts to mind for me.  When I thoght of life, I thought of healthcare since I work in it.  And, the symbol, for me of health and life is always the ankh.  If you are not familiar with it, it is an Egyptian Hieroglyphic character.  It means eternal life.  My father worked in research for a pharmaceutical company and I remember they used the symbol at his agency.  They used to give their employees keychains with the ankh on them.  So here is what I came up with.....

I painted a coat of Color Club Twiggie and then used saran wrap to dab on OPI Italian Love Affair.  The hearts are China Glaze Rich & Famous and I added the Ankh in rhinestones over Italian Love Afair on the accent nail.  Love the hyacinths as a backdrop except I probably will not be able to breathe the rest of the day.

Please stop over to see what the other ladies who are in the challenge are doing.  I have seen some really great interpretations from amazing designers.

Taya from Taya

Ducky from I love Pretty Colors

Kat from Hooked on Polish

Kelly-Ann from Nail Art By Kelly-Ann

Riley from Pinky to Thumb

Aylin from Posh Nail Art

Brianna from Welcome to Brianna's World

Aurora from of World of Happy Nails

Mateja of Mateji Ustvarjata

The Nail Buff

Moonchild 

Anna 

Colorful Bottle

Thalie from Glazed Talons

Hema from Rainbow Nails

Nailpocalypse

Lady-flower 123

Nail Crazy

Mimi's Vanity Box

I think I got everyone, if a link doesn't work, I got a name wrong, or if you want me to add your name in where there isn't one, let me know.  Looking forward to this.....

ASBMF Challenge- #4 April Showers + Award

Here we are at item #4 on Hannah's list. April Showers, can I just say that I really spent quite a bit of time thinking and over-thinking this.  I tried a whole look with umbrellas and long tinsel for rain but it came out looking like a third grader might have painted it in art class.  I will show you my attempt in a small photo at the end of this blog.  If nothing else, someone with better art skills could use it for inspiration.  So......what I ended up with, I still don't like but I surrender.  It is what you and I are stuck with.

I am totally in love with Sally Hansen's Ice Queen.  Love the purple and blue glitters.  It does remind me of rain.  This was definiely my least favorite so far.  The others challenged my skills and forced me to try new things.  This challenged my brain and.....well.....you can see where that turns out.

Anyway, please feel free to stop over and check out the contributions of the other ladies, amazing designs they have created.......

Jess from Nearly Natural Nails
Amanda from Mandy's Polish
Heidi from DIY Polish & More!
Katee from A Girl and Her Polish
Charlotte from Charlotte's Nails
Tess from Football and Fingernails
Karine at Karinea0a
Victoria from Manicurator
Ashley from One Nail To Another
Dani from Rustic Comfort
Amanda from Counting Down to Bliss
Kayono from Neues vom Kellerkind
Sarah from All This Polish
April from Munia's Nails
And of course, the creator of the challenge, Hannah from Polished Prisms.


Now, I wanted to say a big thank you to Anna from Anna's Dope Blog for giving me the one lovely blog award.

This award asks you to list 7 things about yourself and then asks you to nominate 15 people for this award.  I will list some things about me because I love to read about other people when they do the same but I am not going to tag people specifically because I had mixed reactions the last time I did this.  Some people were pleasant but you can tell were annoyed at receiving a tag for it. Others didn't even acknowledge it at all.  It does involve quite a bit of work and not everyone has the award on their page so you may be giving it to someone for the 100th time.  Truthfully, I follow 174 blogs.  I think they are ALL equally lovely!!!

OK so 7 things.....

1) I ride a motorcycle.

2) I scuba dive and have done more than one shark dive.

3) I am addicted to reality TV (social worker by trade...perfect fit).

4) I am obsessed with pugs. 

5) I love working with the elderly.

6) My brother is an emergency room doctor.  Apparently we were both destined for healthcare.

7) I love sushi.

OK, back to my peek at the first try for April showers.....ready?

I made it very small so you can't see the hideous details.......

I tried to make it look like it wasn't raining under the umbrellas....