Pixel Love for Sammy

Today is my bestie Sammy's birthday (remember Cuter Cuticles? That's her!) so I decided to organize a collab with a bunch of nailistas in celebration. I suck at coming up with themes, so I decided to go with the same idea I used for her custom mug I made, which is her pixelated heart tattoo. A ton of girls accepted the challenge (I know there were more that would have been happy to participate, but I was having trouble remembering everyone to ask!) and we came up with a ton of gorgeous manis to say happy birthday. 

Here's the collage.  Lots of girls who have never done nail art stepped up- well done! 

Products Used

Daily Hues Nail Lacquer Julie

Pure Ice Siren

Wet n' Wild Black Creme

Ciate Snow Virgin

essie Good to Go

Born Pretty Store Hex Glitter

I attempted to make a decal but it wasn't really working out for me, so I freehanded the heart. This was my first glitter placement as well. I'm happy with how it turned out!

Happy Birthday Sammy!

xo Shawna

Valentines Collaborations

*disclaimer: the first mani was done a month in advance!

A few groups of us on Instagram collaborated for Valentine's Day (collab pics below!). One was typical v-day lovey dove hearts etc, and the other was the opposite - Anti-Valentine's Day! 

For the first collaboration, organized by @nebularnailz, we didn't have any specific theme. I didn't want to do your typical in-your-face pink and red palette -  so after I painted on a coat of the gorgeous chrome Push and Shove by OPI, I decided dry brushing would provide just the hint of colours I was after. 

Products Used

OPI Push and Shove

OPI Mod About You

Deborah Lippmann Jessa

China Glaze Fast Forward

Dotting Tools from Amazon

I actually tested out painting little hearts and it was a very pathetic attempt.  (This was before I discovered how to use a dotting tool to make the entire heart). So, instead I went for a more abstract look by dotting an outline of a heart on a few accent fingers. I actually liked the way it turned out, and it was pretty simple and very quick to do!

And here's the final product of the first collaboration.

Next up, we have the Anti-V-day Collab! This was put on by @vampireprincessheart. I was thinking along the line of a "blackened heart" so I used saran wrap to create the effect on the two middle fingers. I was hoping the hearts would be more distinct so I don't completely love the way they turned out, but the amazing girls I collaborated with assure me it's great! Thanks ladies you are such sweethearts! 

Products Used

Deborah Lippmann Jessa

Wet n' Wild Black Creme

Finger Paints Striper Ch-Art-Coal Black

Cuter Cuticles Cutie Guard

China Glaze Fast Forward

And this is the result :)

Did you do anything to celebrate (or protest) Valentine's this year?

xo Shawna

Valentine's Plaid

So I ordered the MoYou hipster plate with all the plaids back in December, and am just using it now! As much as I love stamping, a lot of times I just don't want to deal with the cleanup. (And I mean actual cleaning up, not just the cuticles!) However, with all the pinks and reds I've been rocking the last week, a plaid mani was stuck in my mind so I finally made it happen. 

Products Used

Orly Rage

Daily Hues Nail Lacquer Willa

China Glaze Fast Forward

MoYou Hipster 06

Dotting Tool from Amazon

I received my swap package from the Very Canuck Swap that I helped organize with Sammy (owner of Cuter Cuticles)! I got so many great goodies, click on over to my Instagram to check them out. My girl even included goodies for my fur babies- what a sweetheart! Thanks Kait! I have been lusting after Orly Rage, a gorgeous rose-gold foil, for quite some time. It did not disappoint! 

I've got one more mani coming tomorrow as well as a few collaborations in celebration (or the opposite!) of V-day. 

Any exciting Valentines (or singles awareness day) plans?

Red Creme Sweater

Hello everyone! Firstly, I'll apologize in advance for my raggedy cuticles in these pics. Secondly, YAY for finally doing the Christmas manicure I've been dreaming of all along- sweater nails over a classic red creme! And double yay to my fiancé for including a fast dry top coat in my stocking. My HK Girl was on it's last legs and as awesome as it is, I can't bring myself to pay full price + shipping for it! (I got it on sale with free shipping last time, totally spoiled). 

Products used

China Glaze Tip Your Hat

BK Matt White

China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat

MoYou London Festive 06

My friend gifted me a few polishes for my birthday earlier in the month, and this red was one of them. I must admit I was very on the fence about it. I don't normally like reds. However, once I finally used it, I couldn't stop! I think this is the 4th mani in a row in which I have used this polish. She nailed it! 

What polish colours do you usually avoid? Do you ever surprise yourself and fall in love with a shade you were convinced you wouldn't like?

xo Shawna

christmas eve water marble

So, I am newly obsessed with water marbling after figuring out it's all about the polish. China glaze seems to be great so far, and thus made the base for a christmas coloured mani which I wore to church and the movies on Christmas Eve!

Products Used

China Glaze Snow

China Glaze Be More Pacific

China Glaze Tip your Hat

Seche Vite Top Coat

Dotting Tools from Amazon

I didn't really have an appropriate christmas green, so this ended up being a lighter coloured mani. I added accent nails of a gift wrapped thumb and polka-dotted pinkie.

Water marble is so fun!

Merry Christmas!

xo Shawna

candy cane stripes

I've been wanting to do a candy cane striped mani, and I knew the red creme from the China Glaze holiday 2014 collection would be the perfect pairing with white. I'd also been itching to try watermarbling again after watching the video tutorial I linked the other day, so I figured why not kill two birds with one stone!

 Products Used

China Glaze Snow (marbling)

China Glaze Tip You Hat

BK Matt White (stamping)

HK Girl Top Coat

MoYou Festive 06

I am really happy with how the water marble turned out! The tutorial definitely gave great tips. I also used the tape to minimize cleanup this time and it worked like a charm (until I got excited to do the opposite hand and forgot to tape up for that one- oops!)

There will probably be one more post before Christmas! Do you have any exciting Christmas manis planned?

xo Shawna

waterfall nail art

I have been stamping a lot lately, so I wanted to get back into some freehand art using a christmas palette. I consulted my "to-do" list and settled on a waterfall mani in shimmery holiday colours!

I followed the tutorial from the nailasaurus, it's nice and simple with minimal tools and cleanup (which I love!)

I've also tried a few new things with the photography. First up, new hand pose- what do you think? Secondly, I scored an Ottlite for a wicked deal from Michael's- you can see how much whiter the lighting is, although sadly this particular lamp is defective and keep turning off and on by itself- and I've exchanged it TWICE already! I'm going to return it for good and buy a different model because the difference in lighting is truly amazing. It's nice for my nail art and knitting as well to have that extra source of light. Ok- onto the nails! 

Products used:

China Glaze Define Good...

Barry M Catwalk Queen

Sally Hansen Hi-Ho Silver

OPI Love.Angel.Music.Baby

Ciate Speed Pro Top Coat

Nail Art Brushes from eBay

Look at how yellow the background looks here!

So... comment below and tell me what you think about the new hand pose! Yay or Nay?

xo Shawna

Striped Mani for Nail Art November

Theme for day 10 of #nailartnov is "Tape Mani". This could be interpreted a few ways (I've used scotch tape before!) but today it was the perfect reason to use my striping tape I received a few weeks ago. The design isn't groundbreaking, I've seen it various times on Instagram, but it seemed like a good basic design for my first time!

Colours used:

Deborah Lippmann Marnie

OPI Wocka Wocka (I think... it's an unlabelled mini)

Echoes Polish Holo Cow

HK Girl Top Coat

I added a holo top coat, although I instantly regretted it. I should have just added a few gems instead but live and learn! It's not the most unique manicure ever, but for my first time I'm still pretty happy with how it turned out. 

Have you worked with striping tape before?

xo Shawna

Autumn Inspired Gradient Manicure

I wasn't in the mood for anything complicated tonight, and I haven't done a gradient in a while, so I had a pretty easy time deciding what to do for my newest manicure! 

Seeing as tonight is the autumnal equinox, it only seemed fitting that I break out some of my more autumn-like polishes. 

Polishes Used:

OPI You Don't Know Jaques

OPI Wocka Wocka (I'm pretty sure... it's an unlabelled mini!)

Sally Beauty Gold Glitter Topper

HK Girl Top Coat

I used the sponge technique where you paint the polish directly on, I find it a lot quicker than dabbing the sponge into the polish on plastic. 

I love the look and think perhaps I might not miss my summer palette of pastels as much as I thought! (And who am I kidding- I don't follow the rules anyways :-P)

Do you let seasons dictate your colour palette?

xo Shawna