Subtle Gradient & Houndstooth

I'm finally back home!!  I ended up blogging far less than I was hoping to be able to while away this past month, but I was still doing my nails so I've got quite a few posts backed up.  I've also got some awesome polishes to swatch, which I'm working on right now, so expect to see those on the blog soon too! 

At the ballet school I've been at for the past month (and where I'm going full-time next year) we're not "*technically* allowed to wear nail polish.  But, being the rebel polish-addict that I am, I did anyways.  For the most part I tried to keep my manis light and subtle, and I have one of them to show you today.  

I started with a gradient of Essie Waltz and piCture pOlish Fairy Floss; I really liked the clean and simple look of this gradient and wore it plain like this for a day! 

The next day I wanted to spice it up a bit, so I stamped the houndstooth pattern from BM-322 using Essie No Place Like Chrome.  It's all topped off with a coat of LaCC 2013 top coat. 

Although having to do manis using only lightly-coloured polishes was an interesting challenge this month, the first thing I did at home this morning was put on a dark vampy polish!!  How do you like this subtle look?  :)

Fandom Mash-up Skittles (on Alisha's nails!)

Happy Monday!  My summer intensive is almost over and I'll be home on Sunday, so things should start picking up around here again soon!  For this morning's post, I've got what is probably the most complicated and time-consuming freehand nail art that I've done to date!  

A few weeks ago, one of my (and my sister's) best friends came camping with us for the weekend.  She slept over the night before, and I had told her that I'd do her nails for her.  It started with the idea of just one or two of her favourite characters, but escalated rather quickly after that... Four hours later: 

Alisha had some amazingly large nail beds, which was perfect for this detailed nail art!  The base colour for all her nails is... you guessed it, OPI My Vampire Is Buff.  Most of the detailing was done with acrylic paint, and all nails are topped off with one coat of LaCC 2013 top coat followed by one coat of Seche Vite.  We started with the well-known Nyan Cat on one thumb...  

And on the remaining four fingers of that hand, I did (from index to pinky, L-R) Toad, Spongebob, Princess Peach, and a Despicable Me Minion!  The yellow base for the minion is Spa Ritual Enlightened Soul, and Peach's tiara is Essie Good As Gold. 

On the other thumb, we hose to do Bowser... this one took quite a while!! 

And finally, to finish it off, we did (pinky to index, L-R) Pikachu, Link (from Zelda), Pooh, and Yoshi!  

Here's what Alisha had to say about these... (she loves me a lot after doing this.) 

"I always love when Emma does my nails! Every time I get many compliments (unfortunately I have to tell them I didn't do it) but it's still cool :) These nails were the most amazing thing I think Emma has ever done! With only taking 4 hours of our lives away, it was amazing to watch the techniques of how to get that thin black outline, or where she was going to even start! Thanks Emma! :D "

I've got to say that I'm definitely proud of this nail art!!  Alisha wore them around for about two weeks, and was completely paranoid about chipping them, haha!  My favourite nails are coincidentally the ones I was most worried about attempting, as well as the ones I ended up doing best on (in my opinion!)  My favourites are Peach, Bowser, and Link, but the Nyan Cat is pretty darn awesome too!!  Which nails are your favourite?  :)

Guest Post at Sincerely Stephanie

Good morning!  I just wanted to pop in and let you all know about a guest post I did for Stephanie while she's on her Alaskan cruise! 

To find out more about how I created this mani, hop on over to Sincerely Stephanie!  :)

Glitter Bunny Polish: Strawbermelon & Rainbows on Crack

Hi all!  It' time for the last two polishes from Glitter Bunny Polish!  Today I've got Strawbermelon and Rainbows on Crack to show you; you can see I Got A Goodie Bag! and Little Pink Dress in yesterday's post. 

Lots more photos and a full review after the jump! 

Glitter Bunny Polish: Little Pink Dress & I Got a Goodie Bag!

 Good morning!  Today I've got two polishes from Glitter Bunny Polish to show you, and keep an eye out for two more tomorrow!

Lots of photos and a full review after the jump.

Nerd Lacquer: Don't Blink

In light of the revelation that is to be announced in just a few short hours, I figured today was a good day for yet another Doctor Who Nerd Lacquer to keep my mind off of the constant worried excitement over waiting to find out who has been cast as the twelfth Doctor!!  

Today I've got Nerd Lacquer Don't Blink to share; you can see all my previous Nerd Lacquer posts here.   Seeing as this polish was inspired by one of the most terrifying (in my opinion) Who monsters, the weeping angels, I was seriously freaked out while searching for gifs to load in here, as you can probably understand.  As River Song told us, anything that holds the image of an angel becomes an angel in itself.  I might be a little bit paranoid.  

Distracting dancing-Matt gif!!  The rest of the post is after the jump.  Read at your own risk; I'm not responsible if an angel climbs out of your computer screen.  

Femme Fatale Cosmetics: The Other Side of the World & Cloudburst

I've got two more lovely polishes from Femme Fatale Cosmetics to show you today!  If you missed yesterday's post on Spindleweb and Winter Hyacinth, you can check that out here.  

Read on after the jump for lots more photos!  :)