Well, I've survived the second day of this month's Digital Dozen week and I'm hopeful that I'll be able to keep up with everything the rest of the week!
Day 2 of DD week brings us the theme of Cotton...which seems odd until you start thinking of it in the context of anniversaries. Cotton is the traditional second anniversary gift that new-ish weds exchange and so, the DD is honoring that tradition today!
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bWkW-1dRPVI/VA6bNd-LKEI/AAAAAAAAO24/jMxIzJj_mG4/s1600/wondrously-polished-the-digital-dozen-doesn-second-anniversary-giveaway-cotton-buds-field-textured-sky-nail-art%2B3.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cH4navFg9NE/VA6bNZUIW4I/AAAAAAAAO28/1NNQ2pzd0kI/s1600/wondrously-polished-the-digital-dozen-doesn-second-anniversary-giveaway-cotton-buds-field-textured-sky-nail-art%2B2.jpg)
Now, I know that my interpretation is the most literal sense of the theme. But I really couldn't think of anything else that would work for the theme. However, after all's said and done, I really love how this mani turned out and hopefully I've put my own little spin on these. I'm really enjoying the color palette and the painterly feeling that these have.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkOBuVAVjWw/VA6bOdpeICI/AAAAAAAAO3E/dbTKW1UOSE4/s1600/wondrously-polished-the-digital-dozen-doesn-second-anniversary-giveaway-cotton-buds-field-textured-sky-nail-art%2B5.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbeeFpr3Nk0/VA6bNxcDOfI/AAAAAAAAO3A/RGns8RxXuDA/s1600/wondrously-polished-the-digital-dozen-doesn-second-anniversary-giveaway-cotton-buds-field-textured-sky-nail-art%2B4.jpg)
I started with a base of Julep's Erin (from their September box) then painted thin coats of watered down dark blue acrylic paint over the grey. Then, with a brush dipped in acetone, I randomly wiped away some of the blue to give the acid-washed distressed look to the background. Personally, I think the background really makes this mani.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcO-Gxy5gnQ/VA6bOhzW7DI/AAAAAAAAO3M/uVUwXajEPZk/s1600/wondrously-polished-the-digital-dozen-doesn-second-anniversary-giveaway-cotton-buds-field-textured-sky-nail-art%2B6.jpg)
With a small and short detail brush, I dry brushed on the white cotton buds. I finished off the look by painting the stems using various shades of brown. And of course, a mani like this wouldn't be complete without a matte top coat.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MDo2n6uH-cw/VA6bNKH6CwI/AAAAAAAAO3w/DRiFeOiimpU/s1600/wondrously-polished-the-digital-dozen-doesn-second-anniversary-giveaway-cotton-buds-field-textured-sky-nail-art%2B1.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sJRsSIV_AMQ/VA6bPaz_I6I/AAAAAAAAO3Y/swBH3g4jbmM/s1600/wondrously-polished-the-digital-dozen-doesn-second-anniversary-giveaway-cotton-buds-field-textured-sky-nail-art%2B8.jpg)
Be sure to check out the massive giveaway going on right now and click the inlinkz below to see what the other ladies have done for today!...I have a feeling there will be a lot of great cotton bud manis today ;) Stay tuned!
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y6AqSugHQrs/VA6bOxTlUVI/AAAAAAAAO3Q/D1LhDg4zWZ0/s1600/wondrously-polished-the-digital-dozen-doesn-second-anniversary-giveaway-cotton-buds-field-textured-sky-nail-art%2B7.jpg)
Happy Polishing :)