Almost White, A Christmas Nail Art!

Hey everyone! I do have a nail art to show you today. This is not too recent, but at least something new, for Christmas season this year. I hope I'll be able to find time to do more Christmas themed nail arts before the season's over. Or at least squeeze in one more on the eve? No promises though, cause I just came back from a hectic trip. No worries! I will update you with the nails done for the wedding ;)

Fizzy Cherries with Polishville

PRODUCTS SENT BY PR

Hey everyone! It's clearly been awhile since my last post. I do apologize for being so sporadic in my postings this year. My sister is getting married (Woohoo!!) end of this year so I've been really busy whole year through! Hahaha!

Today, I have another post collaboration with Polishville. They have sent me three OPI minis from OPI Coca-Cola Collection. Haha!! They marked my first ever OPI Minis! Sooo adorable ^_^ !

Bohemian Summer Nails

PRODUCTS SENT BY PR

Heys everyone! Continuing from the previous post and collaboration with Polishville, here is a nail art look made with the polishes that was sent to me. Pardon the theme, I did this back when the north hemisphere was still experiencing summer time. Haha! My apologies. I haven't been able to get this up until now. But hopefully these nails will still be a joy to look at. :) Besides, I think Summer themed are almost always appropriate for the weather in Malaysia. Hahaha! XD

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Ahh Merry Christmas! I hope you're still in the mood for Christmas although I'm late five days (give or take) to wish you all here. I apologise as well for the long absence. Things unexpectedly took much longer time, one thing let to another and soon time was just slipping away! *gasp!* By the way, how was your Christmas?! I hope you had an awesome day! Mine was fantastic! While the whole day is not as desired, but I'm just so happy I manage to wear the kind of outfit/look I was going for! And that I didn't forget the small ones like, my watch! (it would feel like something's missing or less perfect if my wrist is without my watch :P). Haha! 

Anyway, it's really unfortunate I couldn't attempt the anticipated 12 Days of Christmas (2013 edition, lols). And though it feels rather overdued, I will be including a tutorial here that was promised at least a month ago. (Sorry!) 

Inspired by Dress Nails Tutorial

Good Morning Readers! It's been chilly morning here today, and I love it! Hahaha! Finally some cool days :) I hope it stays this way for at least a week! ;) 

Also, my sincerest apologies for the sudden short hiatus, I got a little too busy to get this post up for the past week. And I've managed to break my other thumb's nail this time. Nothing of major breakage, but just a little crack at the side. So nub it goes! Haha!! However, I did manage to take photos for the tutorial before the 'little accident' occur. :P 

A little re-cap of the nail art again before showing you the tutorial :) 

piCture pOlish Blog Fest 2013!

Celebrating The Year of the Blogger

Hello everyone! I'm so excited today to be able to tell you that I've been given the wonderful and priceless opportunity to participate in piCture pOlish Blog Fest 2013!  Yayyy!! :D It's the first time I participate in something big! So I'm really excited! And I'm so so grateful and really thank God, Jules and Megs, the ambassadors of piCture pOlish for this rare chance! :)

This year's theme is "Year of the Blogger", which is all about the bloggers and celebrating what we do - nail art! Woohoo! Participants of this year's blog fest are required to create nail art featuring 3 of piCture pOlish nail polishes which are sent to us. I sure felt my creativity mind being pushed to it's limits! Still, I am glad and happy with the results, I hope you'd like them too! But before I show you the nail art, these are the details of the challenge: -

Illustrated Flowers

Hello! It's been a stressful week. But I had a splendid weekend! Got myself a few more China Glaze polishes - 3 to be exact. Hahahaha! Sales always makes one splurge :P

For a few days, I was having trouble deciding on which nail art to do. On one of my happy trips to the bathroom, I found my inspiration there. Hahaha! It never fails to amaze me where we find/get inspirations. 

Ho-Ho-Ho Christmas Nails!

Hello once again! I know I'm late again. So here's the 3rd Christmas nails of the 12 Christmas Nails Series! It was rather impromptu, as I only know in one of my series I wanted to attempt what I defined as Urban Christmas tree. I only had a rough idea in my mind and I've not been slacking exactly, but been pacing around trying to put the idea together so I can finally show something decent here. 

Scrape nail art Tutorial : Toothpicks/Small dotting tool

Just sharing a tutorial which I've delayed for sometime. I did this nail art which I've come to call it Scrape nail art, in Makeup Savvy's Nail Art Challenge Day 7. Its a method very much similar to the Chocolate Mint Tutorial. A little different though.

click image for larger view

Steps Explained:

Step 1 : Prepare 3 coats of desired base colour. Yes, this is a must or else your base colour will end up getting scrapped off showing your nails underneath instead of just the colour. *optional: protect the base colour with a clear top coat. Allow drying time.
Step 2 : Using a contrasting colour (or any colour you desire), apply 1 fairly thick coat of selected colour onto a single nail. Work 1 nail at a time.

Step 3/4/5/6 : These steps need to be done fast. While the top colour is still wet, using either a toothpick or a small dotting tool, drag the toothpick/dotting tool (lightly) from the cuticle to the tip of your nail forming a middle line. Doesn't matter if its straight or crooked. Then do little lines that seem to converge to the center line. Until you get results similar to image in Step 6. 

Step 7/8 : Using your finger, gently tap down "pointy ends" to smooth the "frays". Allow this nail to dry and move on to your other nails repeating Step 2 - Step 8. 

Step 9 : Now that you're done with the designs, go ahead top it off with a top coat. 

So, I hope you find this tutorial and the explanations easy to understand. I've realized there were lack of explanations in the mint tutorial previously made (I have editted it a bit though). Anyway, this is a super flexible and experimental technique. Go ahead and explore! :D 

I Heart Chocolate Mint.

Good morning ladies!

Today I'll be sharing with you this:

click image to source

Haha! I wish I had baking skills. I'd gladly pamper myself with chocolate mint anytime! Unfortunately, I can only drool over the image while hoping that someone will be kind enough to bake it for me (or purchase it for me, hehe). 

I'd still be sharing a Chocolate Mint sort of recipe, except, its not the usual one; A Chocolate Mint Inspired Manicure. 

So ladies, what do you think? Looks delicious? Are you drooling yet? Would like to have some of these chocolate mint goodness on your nails too? I've prepared a really simple recipe that all you lovelies may follow and spread the love of chocolate mint ♥ !

The Recipe :

How to:

Step 1 : Prepare 3 coats of your favourite mint nail polish colour on each of your nails. Allow polish to dry fully or you might mess up. (3 coats so that you have a thick base colour.)
Step 2 : Focusing on 1 nail at a time, use a brown nail polish (or any chocolate-ty colours you have) and apply 1 fairly thick coat on top of the mint colour.
Step 3/4/5 : While the brown polish is still wet, use a toothpick (the pointy side) and draw random horizontal lines across the nail plate. Adjust pressure in order to create variation of thick and thin lines. Be careful not to put too much pressure or you might scrap off the bottom colour.
Step 6 : Repeat step 2 - step 5 to the rest of the nails individually.
Step 7 : Allow time for nails to dry.

*tips : I prefer my nails to maintain the raw look of the textures because I think that they look more like Chocolate Mint cream/ice-cream that way. Which is why I have not used top coat in any of these images shown. In my opinion, applying the top coat kills the look of Chocolate Mint manicure. Should you still prefer to put on a top coat, perhaps applying them horizontally across the nails would help maintaining a certain amount of the Chocolate texture over the Mint.

That is all for today! Have a very Chocolaty Minty Saturday!


Nail Polishes and Tools used :
1. Skin Food Nail Vita BR609
2. The Face Shop GR501
3. Toothpick

Vintage Lace Nail Art Tutorial

Hello!

For today's post, I'd be showing a simple tutorial of the vintage lace nail art I did on Saturday. Its based on a tutorial by Nailside.

click image for larger view

Step by step:

1. Prepare two coats of desired base colour (here, I've used two coats of muted yellow). Next, I used my green nail polish's brush and strip it gently creating the broad but narrow line. 

2. Repeat the striping technique next to the first and start off a little lower.

3. Strip again using the nail polish's brush starting a little lower than the second strip.

4. Using a the smallest dotting tool you have (or toothpick), dot three dots using the base's colour in an arc shape as pictured.

5. Using a medium size dotting tool (or blunt pencil), dot a slightly bigger dot of the base's colour just below the arc. This would create the illusion of holes.
6. Repeat step 4-5 to the other two columns.
7. Repeat step 1-6 with a red colour, changing the dots' colour to the previously used green.
8. Repeat step 1-6 with a teal colour, changing the dots' colour to the previously used red.
9. Allow drying time and because there are quite some layers, clean up and top it off with a fast drying top coat.

Tips: Do allow drying time in between layers (dipped nails into a bowl of icy cold water to speed up drying time).

Its going to take sometime before you get the hang of this. Feel free to experiment with different colour combinations. :D

Enjoy!

Nail Art Contest + Nail Tutorial (Textured Nails)

Good Day!

So, here to share with you this look which I've called Textured Nails (sorry lack of inspiration on creative naming hehehe!) I was inspired by this picture I saw some time ago in Etsy:

The Inspiration :

Picture Link Here

Pretty right? I was so inspired and in awe when I saw that! And guess what? The Polish Well has organized this great giveaway which also allows their followers to participate in a nail art fashion themed competition! Wow, talk about right timing!! Hence, I am absolutely grabbing this chance to carry out my inspiration.

The Results: Textured Nails

There you go! My inspired nail art! Do you like it? I am very glad of the outcome. Its almost like how Ii've picture it in my mind! One of the reason I made it textured is because I wanted to translate the beautiful leather texture that the collar have. And these nails are so simple to do too!! Here's the tutorial I made to share with all of you:

Its so simple and no need to worry too much about "messing up". I'm left handed as you can see I made the tutorial with my right hand, that's how easy it is! And the tools are things that are very available at home. Kitchen towel and cotton buds! 

Step1 : Apply two coats of white nail polish. (allow it to dry completely between each coats)

Step2 : Prepare the cotton bud by dabbing and rolling into a clear polish (to prevent it from fraying too much later on)

Step3-5 : Apply one coat of grey polish, before the polish dries quickly roll the cotton buds in to take away some of the grey polish while creating great textures on your nails. Do one nail at a time. 

Step6 : Drop a few drops of blue polish (or any other colour as desired) onto your prepared paper. Take the kitchen towel fold them so you get a nice corner to work with. 

Step7 : Dab the blue polish and lightly press the colour onto your nails in any direction you desire. (I did mine diagonally). To create small "dots/splash" effect, use the pointy part of the kitchen towel and very lightly dab the areas you want to have the small dots and splash effect.

Step8 : Repeat Step7 to all the other nails. Allow to dry.

Step9 : Drop a few drops of gold nail polish.

Step10: Okay, following the method from Step 7 to Step 8, picture how you want the gold to appear on your nails and dab the gold polish overlapping the blue and white. At areas where you want more gold, dab more gold polishes onto it. Lightly dab the golds on areas you want smaller spots.

Step11: Clean up and apply top coat. Done!

What I love about this method that I've used is that I can get the splash effect the way I want it to appear on my nails. Feel free to experiment this technique with other colours of your own desire! (I think substituting the blue to black would be a great combination too!) Hope you will come to enjoy this technique as much as I do! 

disclaimer: I do not own the picture of the beautiful dipped collar. The link to the owner is below the respective picture. 

Yours Truly,

Lacqueerisa