Before & Afters: Kitty & Puppy nail art

Hello hello hello!

I am so excited to show you my second and third attempts at free-hand nail art using my new acrylic paints that Born Pretty Store sent for review. This weekend my local animal shelter had a street-fair style open house to raise money and awareness about animals that need forever homes. Since all 5 of my babies are rescue animals, you can imagine I support such causes with all of my heart and was looking forward to going. The event ended up being very small, but I was extremely glad I stopped by anyway--they had a very cute T-shirt that says 'They aren't my pets--they are my family!' which I love, so of course I had to buy it to support the cause!

Anyway, the point is, I wanted to do a kitty manicure on one hand, and a puppy manicure on the other. Right away you should spot the potential for tragedy here--one design for each hand means that one of the designs would have to be drawn with my off-hand. We'll see how that goes...

For my kitty manicure, done with my main hand, I started with a base of Zoya Rocky, a sky blue creme, because I wanted a background that looked like the sky:

Zoya Rocky, indirect sunlight

Zoya Rocky, direct sun

Next I used the acrylic paints to draw on my kitty design, which combines elements from a number of kitty free-hand designs I've seen since I started blogging:

My kitties #1 pastime--good think there is a window in the way in their case!

I seriously can't believe how great this came out. I mean, it's not perfect, of course. I need a lot of practice. But for someone who can't do a free-hand design to save their life and this is only their second design with the medium? Not too shabby, even if I am the one saying it.

Okay, now for the design I did with my off-hand. I started with a base of Zoya Mitzi, a matte avocado green (yes, I often walk around with different colors on my different hands, except when I'm going some place important--you know, like work, lol!):

Zoya Mitzi, direct sunlight

Zoya Mitzi, indirect sunlight

Here I wanted to do a mani that represented my puppy, who is white with tan spots. I free-handed the puppy with acrylics, leaving the brush strokes thick to give it more of a fur-like look. I stamped the paws on the middle finger with Konad black polish and Shany plate SH08:

Woof!!

Okay, yes, it's a little goofy-looking, but I love it--especially since it was done with my off-hand. The ears are a bit lopsided and it doesn't actually look like the breed my puppy is, but I don't care! It's a cute cute puppy, and I was proud to wear it. It broke my heart to take it off.

I am so happy with these paints--I can't wait to see what I can do once I practice a bit. And seriously guys--if I can do it, ANYONE can. If you've been afraid of free-hand like I was, give it a shot. It's such a different world when you try it with acrylics rather than nail polishes.

I highly recommend the set that I received from Born Pretty Store, which you can find by clicking here. It has everything you'll need to get started, including a nice range of colors. And I do have a coupon code good for 10% off anything and everything you buy (this is not an affiliate link):

Thanks for taking a look! Big hugs,
M.

(The acrylic paints shown in this post were provided for my 100% honest review.)

Before & After Twinpost: Flip Flop Fantasy

Hello!

I promised you a summery manicure today, and here it is! This week Dina and I are up to Cheeky plate 37, and we decided on the flip flop image from that plate.

I want to go on record as saying I was not a fan of this image from the start, lol! I'm not sure why, maybe it's because the full image has the word 'flip flop' in the middle, or maybe because in the whole image there isn't one pair of flip flops that aren't cut off one or the other in some way, and that drives my OCD crazy, lol. Whatever the reason, it just isn't my thing. But as Dina points out, that's what makes this a challenge, because it makes us do stuff we might not otherwise!

So here's what I decided to do with it. I started with a base of China Glaze Bare If You Dare, which is a really pretty coral-orange color with a golden shimmer:

China Glaze Bare If You Dare

I decided to do a layered look for the flip-flops, so I started with Sally Hansen Insta Dry Lightning, and then stamped over it again with Konad red, to make it look like there was a sole and a top-section. Then on the accent nail, I stamped little footsie prints in Lightning, with Shany plate 03...I figure, since the flip-flops are empty, the feet must have gone off on their own! (Note: I never said I wasn't crazy):

Flippety Floppety Feetsies

Overall I like it, I think it's cute; I just have to pretend I didn't mess up on the first finger as badly as I did. Ironically, it was actually the last finger I stamped. Grrrr...

So, there's a little flash of summer for you, and don't forget to check out what Dina did with this stamp, which you can see by clicking here!

Thanks for looking. :)

Xoxox,
M.

NOTD: Witch-Be-Gone

Hello!!

This is my second Witch prompt of the Halloween season, this one for the 'This Is Halloween' challenge. In my first one, I showed a troupe of witches flying through the skies and a beautiful night. Sadly, they did not all get home safely--one of them met with misfortune...so I decided to do another manicure showing her fate. Let's just say she stayed out a bit too late and got caught in the...well, here, see for yourself:

What happens when witches get caught out in the rain...So sad...

Every time I see it, I keep hoping she'll make it...but she never does...sigh...

I started out with a base coat of Barry M Vivid Purple, which I covered with a coat of Barry M Silvery Lilac to make a pretty blue-purple duochrome. I stamped the witch, the lightning bolt and the witch's hat using Pure Ice Silver Mercedes and Shany plate SH02, Bundle Monster plates BM305 and BM 209, respectively. I stamped the raindrops using LeaLaC plate A and Top Shop Cosmic Karma; I also used Cosmic Karma to freehand the puddle of water. I used Silver Mercedes to free-hand the moon, and used Wet n Wild Ebony Hates Chris to stamp the haunted house (BM224).

Luckily, I suspect at least one of her witch friends knows a spell that will reanimate her, so all is not lost! Hee hee hee...

Thanks for stopping by, and please check out the other be-Witch-ing manicures by the other bloggers in the challenge, linked below. :)

Xoxox,
M.