Four-Leaf Clover Tutorial

I'm really excited to share this with you all! I finally made my first tutorial!! Aren't you excited!? ;)

I ended up doing a quick tutorial of the color blocking clover I did from today, and while I'm incredibly awkward and terrible at explaining what I'm doing, I had a blast creating this video. I can't wait to put together another video to share with you all. Let me know what you think and I would love to hear comments and suggestions for tutorials to come. I'm still figuring out iMovie so bear with me...the video is still a bit sad ;) 

Here's the tutorial! Be nice...

Here is the look I created. 

Some spring time colors...because I said so!

I had such a clear vision of what I was going to create tonight that I was positive I would have no problem executing what I saw in my mind's eye. However, I came to find out that my brain and hands were not on speaking terms tonight and what ended up on my nails, while similar in concept and colors, is no where near what I had originally intended. That being said, I really love how this turned out! I am so ready for these bright colors and I love what I see when I look down at my fingers. I may have ended up at Sally's today to partake in their Orly sale and maybe I bought China Glaze's Re-fresh Mint and maybe I felt like I was going to explode if I didn't get this stunning color on my fingers immediately. After that, Lime Crime's Creme de Limon and L'OREAL's New Money began their incessant begging to be used with their new friend. Yes, I am personifying my nail polish. No, that's not weird. 

31 Day Nail Challenge - Day 4: Green

Can I just say that I'm pretty impressed with myself that I'm actually keeping up with this challenge (well, in that I'm actually doing it still...)! I was a bit stumped at first at what to do for my green manicure. I think part of it is that I really loved my stained glass nails which were GREEN and so a lot of my creativity for the time being went into those. However, I ended up coming up with something that I have fallen madly and disgustingly in love with. As I type this, I am looking every few seconds at them in the way you stare at a newfound crush that you're pretty sure you're in love with...yes, you are all invited to the wedding. Maybe that's a bit too much build up and my apologies if you all see these and think I'm crazy for loving them oh so much. BUT beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I'm not budging on my stance ;) 

Deborah Lippmann - Across the Universe

I was so spoiled this Christmas. Not only did I get to spend 10 days in Costa Rica, my boyfriend bought me enough polishes to keep me busy for a LONG time! Yay! He ended up getting me the entire On Safari collection from China Glaze which I fell in love with from the first moment I saw it. It's a Trap-eze! from their Cirque du Soleil collection was also included. If that wasn't enough, I got 3 new ButterLONDON's AND my very first Deborah Lippmann!!! To top it all off, I got a new Shany image stamping plate that I absolutely love. I can see myself using every single one of these stamps. I am so excited about all of them and feeling so fortunate for everything I have right now :)

I fell so hard for the Deborah Lippmann that I had to put in on immediately. I went with something simple and ended up using two of my new China Glaze's as well, Man Hunt (blue) and Exotic Encounters (green). And of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone so I added a stamp using my new plates! I really love this look...possibly because I am back to my favorite colors ;)

Gradient? Err...sort of

I really like the look of gradient nails and had always been curious if I too, could hop on that bandwagon. Well, I sort of did? My attempt isn't the traditional smooth look that so many have been sporting, but I like it nonetheless. 

I used Essie's Turquoise & Caicos as my base color and let it dry for as long as my impatient brain would allow for before beginning the gradient. I suppose I should have researched a bit more into how most people do a gradient, but I had heard that THE thing to use is a makeup sponge. I had several lying around and gave it a shot! (without watching any tutorial on the "proper" method of application...oops!). Anyway, instead of painting both colors on the sponge and rolling it over your nail a few times as is now convention, I painted just my gradient color (Sally Hansen's Gray by Gray) onto the sponge and dabbed away!

While my "gradient" isn't necessarily a smooth transition between the two colors, I am still in love with the look I've created. It's understated but with a little bit of a surprise ;)

They remind me a bit of watermelon or candy or I don't know...magic? Anyway, next time I shall attempt using the proper method, but for now, I am in love. 

Happy Polishing.