I Rose to the Occasion

I rarely do 'girly' designs, but every time I watch episodes of 'The New Adventures of Old Christine', I always see one of the pillows on her couch and think to myself that it'd make a great nail design. It is an oversized graphic rose print in turquoise, with brown vines and leaves on a cream background. I adore the color combination, and I totally dig graphic prints, and I really want that pillow. :-P Today's nail art is my interpretation of the fabric print of the pillow, I even DVRed the show so I could pause it when the pillow came on screen so I could use it as reference. Yes, I'm a huge nerd, this I know. Anyway, to the nails!

I used American Apparel Cotton as a base, with China Glaze Flyin' High for the roses, and MAC Rich, Dark, Delicious for the vines and leaves. Topped it all off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

Another new TV obsession? How I Met Your Mother. (Can you tell I've been watching Lifetime lately?) Neil Patrick Harris is a comedic genius, and I swear I laugh out loud more at that show than probably any other sitcom I've seen. It's so stupid, but ridiculously funny.

By Lamplight

Today's nail art is special to me because it is inspired by my late grandfather. He was awesome in every way a person could be awesome. He was funny, and crafty, he could fix anything, or make anything you could put in front of him. He didn't retire until he was in his late 70s, and get this, he was a Construction Worker. In his seventies. Seriously. He was a man who never showed pain, and to me (and I'm sure the rest of my family) he was invincible. Six years ago he passed away after discovering he had lung cancer, and I was devastated. I still cry every time I talk about or think about him, it just goes to show that life is short, and we need to appreciate the time we have with people we love. I remember every Christmas he would allow all of us kids to go into his stained glass workshop, and he would help us make Christmas ornaments from shapes cut out of his scrap glass. Before he passed away, he asked if I wanted to have his stained glass tools and everything, and of course, I did. I've taken classes and practiced, and I hope that ONE day, I'll have an ounce of his talent at it. Today's nail art was inspired by one of his hobbies, stained glass, and is actually the design from a lamp that he made that I inherited.

I used Sally Hansen Moonstone as a base, with a mixture of butter LONDON Minger and CND Electric Orange picked up on the brush to create the stained glass marbled/swirled effect. For the flower centers, I used Barielle Unravelled Rust, and for the leaves, I used L.A. Girl Army Green, and Pure Ice Wild Thing. For the soldered lines, I used American Apparel Hassid. Topped it all off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

Eyeko Review!

Just posted my review of 14 polishes from the Eyeko line on the The Daily Nail: Reviews site. Check it out!

Mummy's Curse?

As I've said before on here, I have always been fascinated to the point of obsession with ancient cultures and civilizations, with Egypt being my number one subject of interest. Now, most of us know the story of the boy king, King Tutankhamun (known as Tutankhaten as a prince, to change to Tutankhamun after he became Pharoah), who took the throne at the tender age of nine, only to pass it on after his death at the young age of 19. Did you know that researchers have found proof that Tutankhamun was the product of incest? Did you know that a few years into his reign, he overturned his father, Akhenaten's, rule that Aten (sun disk) be worshipped, in favor of returning the worship to the god Amun? It's all interesting stuff that I could read for hours and hours. Anyway, on to the nails. Today's nail art is my interpretation of the golden mask found on the mummy of Tutankhamun. The mask depicts him wearing the nemes, the striped head cloth that pharaohs wore in Ancient Egypt. On my thumb, is the cartouche of Tutankhamun with both the hieroglyphics for his name before and after being Pharaoh. Ok, enough with the history lesson, PICTURES!!

I used China Glaze 2030 from Khrome Collection as a base, with gold leaf pressed onto it before it was dry. To paint the shadows, I mixed American Apparel Hassid with Seche Vite top coat, and for the highlights, I used Essie Bone Chilling White mixed with Seche Vite top coat. For the eyes, I used Sally Hansen Professional Lavender Cloud, with American Apparel Hassid to line, as well as for the eyebrows and nostrils. For the nemes cloth stripes, I used ULTA Moody Blues. Topped everything off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

Walk like an egyptian.

Finger Paints Breast Cancer Awareness 2010 Review

Finger Paints Breast Cancer Awareness 2010 Review is on the The Daily Nail: Reviews site.

Check it out! :)

Zoya Fire & Ice Review

Hey all, Just a note to let you know that my Zoya Fire & Ice review is up at The Daily Nail: Reviews site. Check it out! (the polishes are amazingtastical!!)

-M

Gilded Gradients

As I'm sure a lot of you know, today the new Zoya Fire & Ice collection came out, and man, is it incredible! For a collection with 4 reds/pinks, a blue, and a purple, even this girl will wear all 6. (yes, even the pinks!) I reeeeeeally wanted to utilize them in today's nail design, so I decided (after 4 attempts to create a design that I didn't end up liking), on today's nail art- a super gildy gradient! I actually reallllly love this look, I think it is super classy and chic, unlike most of my designs. lol. The polishes in this line are superb for sponging gradients, the different sized flecks and colors of foil in these create an easy and really pleasing gradient! Go Zoya!!! I'm going to get the review of the collection posted on my review site tonight or tomorrow morning, along with a few other polishes from various places.

I used Essence Pointbreak as a base (but you COULD use Zoya Kelly!!), then sponged Zoya Crystal on the tips. Topped it off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat to seal in all the sparkly goodness.

Damn, I feel sexy! I love this mani. lol It's SOOOO sparkly.


Disclosure: Zoya Crystal was provided my the manufacturer for my consideration. It can be purchased from their site at Zoya.com