Solar Powered


Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night!! (depending on what time it is when you might read this :-P ) Today's nail design is out of this world...literally. (It's the solar system!) :-P I've had this on my list for some time, but only just now got around to doing it. (too many other fun ideas kept presenting themselves!) Oh well, it's done now, and YES, I included Pluto, because to me, it will always be a planet, scientists be damned. I think Earth and the comet on the pluto nail ended up being my favorite things about this mani.

In correct order from the sun:


Left Hand:



Right Hand:



I used:

American Apparel Hassid as a base for all 10 nails, with American Apparel Cotton lightly sponged to make distant stars.

Left Thumb: Sun

American Apparel Manila as a base for the sun, with Electric Orange, Zoya Pinta and American Apparel Manila again sponged over it to give a fiery, mottled look.

Left Index: Mercury

American Apparel Cotton mixed with American Apparel Hassid and a touch of Essie Mink Muffs, and shaded with the same combination with more American Apparel Hassid.

Left Middle: Venus

American Apparel Cotton mixed with American Apparel Manila, the mixed that combination with American Apparel Pinto and a touch of American Apparel Hassid to shade.

Left Ring: Earth

Pure Ice French Kiss as a base for Earth, highlighted with Pure Ice French Kiss mixed with a touch of Essie Mint Candy Apple, For the continents, I used L.A. Girl Army Green as a base, then mixed with American Apparel Hassid and Essie Mink Muffs to create some topography. For the clouds, I lightly brushed American Apparel Cotton.

Left Pinky: Mars

American Apparel Cotton mixed with American Apparel Pinto as a base, highlighted with the same mixture with a bit more American Apparel Cotton, and shaded with straight American Apparel Pinto.

Right Pinky: Jupiter

American Apparel Cotton mixed with American Apparel Pinto as a base, with American Apparel Pinto to add in the lines and big red spot. :)

Right Ring: Saturn

Essie Sag Harbor mixed with American Apparel Cotton, then added a little Pure Ice French Kiss to the mixture to add more of the bright blue color that Saturn's Northern Hemisphere is supposed to have. For the rings, I used American Apparel Cotton.

Right Middle: Uranus

Essie Sag Harbor mixed with Essie Mint Candy Apple for the planet, and American Apparel Cotton VERY lightly used to create the almost non-existent looking ring.

Right Index: Neptune

Orly Gumdropas a base for the planet, then mixed with Pure Ice French Kiss for the outer shadow, and mixed with American Apparel Cotton for the highlight.

Right Thumb: Pluto and Comet

For Pluto, I used American Apparel Manila mixed with a tiny bit of American Apparel Cotton, then dabbed a little Essie Mink Muffs and American Apparel Hassid on it. For the comet, I used American Apparel Manila and Electric Orange.

Topped everything off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

Did you know that this past week the sun had it's most violent eruption in 15 years?!

42 comments

  1. wow- those look amazing, how do you come up with those great designs?

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  2. I LOVE that earth! It's so cute.

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  3. Extremely badass and I love the Earth as well

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  4. These are Fabulous. A-MAZING!

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  5. absolutely incredible!! one of your best so far!

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  6. TOO cute...and Pluto is totally a planet...don't care what they say lol
    SJJellyBean

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  7. oh my god!!! i literally JUST did my nails like the solar system on sunday. that is too weird!

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  8. That is soooo cool! Is this free hand or stencil?

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  9. its not badass it kick ass! XD

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  10. Hi! I'm a new reader, and I have to say that this looks amazing. I'm also into nail art, but your designs intimidate me.

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  11. Very awesome. (and I agree, Pluto will always be a planet)

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  12. Indeed, Pluto will always be a planet, and Brontosaurus will always be dinosaurs, even if apatosaurus came first.

    These are really impressive, very snazzy.

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  13. WOW, u rock so much. Jeez. It is sooo well done. Huge fan.
    :* take care

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  14. Freaking AMAZING!!!! Sending this one to my astronomer dad!

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  15. This is definitely my favorite - although I loved Hitchcock nails, too.

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  16. This is AWESOME! This could be my favorite one yet! So very glad you included Pluto!
    I had to call my hubby (an astronomy and meteorology nut) in to see this one; he was totally speechless, and then he said:
    "That is the coolest thing I've ever seen."
    Then he said: "...and Jupiter makes me want bacon."
    We both think these rock. And paper. And scissors. These win all.

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  17. these are amazing! I can't believe how well earth turned out. It looks so realistic! Pluto is a planet, that's the way I learned in school and I will always believe it <3

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  18. you must be out of your mind.... O_o

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  19. I'm so happy you included Pluto.

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  20. Earth is just beautiful!!

    I've tagged you for an award too =)

    http://happyberrynaiad.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-love-your-blog-award.html

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  21. Thanks everyone, for your lovely comments!! :)

    Iris- it is all freehand! :)

    Anonymous- don't be intimidated!!

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  22. I can't believe you did all that hard work for one day?! I hope you showed them to everyone you met ~ they are awesome!!!

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  23. wow...those are "out of this world" amazing!

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  24. Wowwwwww!!! Each day I visit your blog I'm more excited! You are very creative... I love your nails...Put your link on my blog!!! Congratulations!!!

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  25. Omgoodness. I thought those were stickers or photos or something - unbelievably realistic looking. Venus, Earth, and Pluto/Comet are my favorite. You're so freaking talented!

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  26. that shit is out of control!!!! (in a good way)

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  27. Wow! Absolutely incredible! Fantastic job! I can't stop with the compliments!!!

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  28. Simply amazing. I am speechless!

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  30. best mani ever!!!congrats
    kisses from argentinaa

    (Pluto was, is, and will always be a planet for me haha)

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  31. These are some of my favorite yet little sis, Andy's as well!! Glad I can post comments now with the new internet.

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  32. WOWW! these are smokinn, definitely something to be proud of. i bow down to you (:

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  33. Great Job love it....was just thinking of doing this! Oh well, you beat me to it :).

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  34. My astronomer dad was blown away - and he wants to know how long it took!

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  35. thank you so much everyone- glad you all like it!! :)

    The Queen: Tell him I'm flattered, and that this one took a while= about 1.5 hrs. :-)

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  36. gracilene ( Brasil )April 26, 2010 at 9:11 PM

    lindas, adorei... parabéns!!

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Go on, comment... you know you want to. ;-P