Jubilee Street Party: Summer Challenge Day 9

Today's challenge was Jubilee Street Party. I read up on it, but I wasn't feeling incredibly inspired for some reason. I mean, there was a lot I could have done or worked with, but I just wasn't feeling it for some reason. In any case, I did manage to pull something off. I had some polymer clay canes from crafting, and in the last bundle I bought, I happen to get a Union Jack cane. Completely random, but it actually fits very well. So I just did a blue french tip with some little cane slices

I started off with a base coat
Painted on Sally Hansen Insta Dri Petal Pusher
Then used Sally Hansen Insta Dri Co-Bolt Blue for the tips
Added a drop of super glue and the cane slices
And then topped it all off with my Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti Chip Topcoat

Swimming Pool: Summer Challenge Day 8

This is another one of those that I saw on the list and INSTANTLY knew what it was that I wanted to do. When I think of swimming pools I think of looking into the water and seeing how the light reflects and bounces off it. Those little lines that it creates? That's what I was trying to mimic.

I started off with a base coat, painted on Sally Hansen Insta Dri Blue Streak.
I stamped with Pure Ice A List using plate CH16

Sunshine: Summer Challenge Day 7

Today's manicure was kept simple, but with a specific idea in mind. I guess I pulled a little inspiration from the "ombre" manicures, but I wanted it to look like sunshine that started from the middle and radiated outwards, getting lighter as it went. I suppose it kind of looks like that.

Started with a base coat on all fingers
For Middle Finger:
Sally Hansen Insta Dri Lightening
Sinful Colors Let's Meet  (layered on top)
For Ring and First Finers:
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Mellow Yellow
Pure Ice Excuse Me  (layered on top)
For Pinky and Thumb:
Sinful Colors Unicorn
Pure Ice Excuse Me (layered on top)
Topped it off with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti Chip Top Coat (of course!)

Summer Sunrise: Summer Challenge Day 6

When I first started today's challenge, I had a genius idea of what I was going to do. It was going to be a gradient of sorts. Then, as I was doing that, I started mixing the colors a bit and it originally looked really cool.
But somewhere along the way between the mixing and the sponging and the....everything, it came out looking: just orange. BORING! But it was late, and I wasn't going to start over. So, I took pictures of my giant fail to post.
Maybe this is okay. If I look at this, then all my "good" manis will seem AWESOME!

I started off with a cheap base coat for all nails.
The "gradient" was originally from a yellow to a dark orange
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Mellow Yellow
Wet n Wild  Wid Shine Sunny Side Up
Wet n Wild   Wild Shine Blazed
Revlon Top Speed Chili
Then I topped it all off with my Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti Chip Topcoat

Summer Challenge Day 5 Your Favorite Summer Color

When I first saw this on the challenge list, I thought blue. Blue is my favorite color all the time! :) But then I thought of all the pretty pastels and neons and bright colors that I love. My next favorite color is purple, and I have a really pretty light purple I'm currently in love with.
But by the time this challenge actually rolled around, I knew what it must be: MINT
One day on a whim I picked up a minty colored polish that I actually used for this manicure. I tried it on one day and it was instant love. Ever since then, I think I've bought 6 different minty colors. My current obsession for some reason!

I started of with a base coat
Painted on Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Garter Toss
Then I stamped using Sally Hansen Insta Dri Mint Sprint with plate BM06

Summer Challenge Day 4 Orange freestyle

Today's mani was quick and simple, but I like it. I was having a bad stamping day, but I think all in all this came out looking good. Plus, it was the first time that I ever tried doing a gradient. I like the way it turned out

I started with Wet n Wild  Sunny Side Up and then sponged on Sally Hansen Insta Dri Orange Impulse. I stamped an image from CH26 using Sinful Colors Black on Black and of course topped off with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti Chip Topcoat

SHOPPING!

After much spring cleaning for an inspection I had coming up, I happened to find a couple lottery tickets (the scratch off kind) that had a few dollars each on them. I was lucky enough that my loving boyfriend decided he would take me shopping. And boy, did I get some good finds today!
First stop was the Dollar Tree, which I actually only stopped by to get some cleaning supplies. I am leaving for a trip tomorrow morning, and needed some things for .... Car cleaning. blah. But while I was there I happened to find these:

There are ten in a pack, and each sheet has 9 pockets. So 90 storage squares for my nail plates!! :D I bought 4 packs, not because I have that many Nail Plates.....yet. But I do plan on my collection growing. In fact, I just ordered the new MASH plates, so I'm eagerly looking forward to those coming in.
And then, I was wandering around the store. My boyfriend found these:

Foam Board! So I bought enough to make two shelves, which is enough to hold my collection and allow for a little growth. That will be a nice project for me to work on when I come back.
Then we went to Walgreens, and of course, I splurged on nail polish.

That would be Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Mint Sorbet, Sinful Colors Unicorn, Sinful Colors Cinderella, Sinful Colors Open Seas, Wet n Wild Black Creme and Wet n Wild Blazed.
I am pretty much addicted to minty colors for the summer, and Cinderella I've had my eye on for a while. I was also looking for something sort of coral-ish, and at 99 cents, Blazed was it. The Black Creme was for nail stamping. And Unicorn??? I'll admit it....impulse buy. I'm surprised my boyfriend still takes me near nail polish. :D
I'm very excited by everything I got today. And grand total? $25 including the cleaning supplies for the car. So I would say job well done!

Summer Challenge Day 3

So today's challenge was Summer Dots. My challenge was made more interesting by the fact that I led my boyfriend to my massive collection and told him to pick a few colors that screamed summer to him. This is what I came up with

I know it's a little sloppy around the cuticles, just look away! It was a quick mani right before bed. Long day. Lots been going on! Live in an apartment that was having inspections and what have you, so lots of spring cleaning. Anyway, left hand:

The blue is a "base" of Sally Hansen Insta Dri Co-bolt Blue with Pure Ice Strapless layered on The top. The yellow is from Icing and is called Grande Margarita.
And right hand:

On this one, the yellow is still the same one from icing, and the green is Sinful Colors Call You Later. I just used a dotting tool to blob on some colors, and then topped it off with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti Chip Topcoat. Which is my little miracle in a bottle!

Summer Challenge Day 2

So today's Summer Challenge was "Chelsea Flower Show". I have only about A TON of different flower things, so it was hard to decide, but this is what I came up with

The pictures don't do it the sort of justice that I wish they would. I liked the way this turned out a lot. It's a dark purple with light purple flowers on it. The metallic purple gives it a nice pop, but probably not as intense as it is in the picture, with the light bouncing off of it.

Anyway, on to the products. I don't remember the base coat I used. Something generic just to keep the color from staining. The dark purple I used to paint my nails is Sinful Colors Amethyst. I stamped with Pure Ice New Lilac using plate BM 224. And then I used Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti Chip top Coat, which has become my favorite lately.

I am having so much fun with this, and really enjoy seeing all the other takes on it too. I just recently went through the list of blogs on the facebook group and am following every single one! It is fun to see everyone's creativity!

Start of Blog!

Hey Girls! So, I decided to start this blog A) Because I am addicted to doing my nails and B) While surfing nail blogs one day, I found a "Summer Challenge". I thought the idea was absolutely ingenious, and decided to jump in on the fun. I can't remember the blog off the top of my head, but here is the facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/265185020183992/
Most of the girls on facebook have blogs, so I thought I would join the fun. So, in honor of what made me start the blog in the first place, here is my first post!
This was the first challenge of the Summer: The torch starts its journey. So here is my interpretation of that:

I hope you like it! It wasn't exactly what I had envisioned, but it works. The point comes across.
I'm so excited to start this blog, and look forward the the many posts I will add in the future :D