Geek Nail Challenge - TV #2 (Dexter)

Hello there! Today I'm back with another post for TV Week of the Geek Challenge! This one is inspired by one of the shows I am most addicted to, Dexter. I can't wait for the new season to start!! I was a late bloomer on this one and only got into it last year after multiple friends told me they knew I'd love it (What does that say about me??? I'm hoping they suggested it because of the psychology aspect....) Anyway, without further ado, here are the TWO manis inspired by Dexter! First, I recreated Ice Truck Killer nails by doing a different bright color on each finger like in the show. I had a hard time finding the exact colors on the doll and the bodies without rewatching that season but I finally found a picture online and I think the colors are right now! Here's a shot of the hand in the ice from Dexter:

And here's my version!

I had to do a post holding my hand upright like in the actual show, please ignore my head in the background haha!

And, I also decided to try my hand (hand, get it, ha ha) at the splatter mani that I've seen done by other bloggers before. This was my first attempt, and while I don't hate it, I think it will take some practice to get the splatter right.

I played around with holding the straw at different distances from the nail (Middle finger - closer, ring finger - further away) and well, the difference is obvious. Holding the straw further away creates a better look. Also creates more of a mess!

Anyway, that's it for today, but here's a little preview of what I have in store for tomorrow ;]

Kelly

OH - and PS, I'm up to 21 followers currently (I know, small achievement but it's exciting to me!!) and I'm planning on holding a giveaway when I hit 50! I've got some great ideas in mind, so stay tuned everyone ;]

Summer Challenge Day 13: Water Animal

This day of the challenge was supposed to be favorite water animal, but when talking about water animals, my boyfriend suggested trying a jellyfish and I thought it was a great idea! I don't even know if I have a favorite water animal - maybe those baby seals, but that would be too hard to paint! Anyway to be clear jellyfish are NOT my favorite water animal, in fact I'm really afraid of them and they are the reason I don't go deep into the ocean (well that and sharks). But I did think it came out cool and unique as a mani:

I can even make it look like it's swimming when I wiggle my fingers haha! I like it :] Don't forget to check out the other ladies!

Kelly

Happy Birthday Mama!

Hey everyone, again sorry I've been so MIA lately! I was in a wedding last weekend and was sooo busy leading up to that! But, tomorrow is my mom's birthday and I wanted to do a design in honor of that, so I combined a few different birthday nail art designs and came up with this.

Most of these are obvious what they are (at least I hope!) but the ring finger is Sinful Colors - Bikini underneath and Pure Ice - Spitfire overtop, and I did this because my mom loves pink, and sparkles. So I didn't want to do all generic birthday stuff, I wanted to add a personal touch too.

I'll update soon (probably tomorrow) with a couple more recent designs, including the one I wore for the wedding I was in, and some nail art wheels I've gotten done. I'm excited to start the July nail challenge soon! :D


Kelly

Hauls...

Yes, I finally got the pictures I took with my boyfriend's camera so that means...a galaxy tutorial will be up soon! But, since I have to go shopping and I have to work tonight, that one will have to wait since it will take me a while to type up. Today, I have an update of my last few hauls (as of, like, three weeks ago so I've bought a lot more polishes since these) and some of my latest designs. I had a few coupons or needed certain colors so here are a lot of the polishes I've gotten recently:

I think I grouped these together because I either bought them or got them in the mail on the same day. I had a coupon for BOGO half off Revlon at Rite Aid so I picked up these two - Copper Penny and Whimsical. I had seen a lot of people talking about Whimsical so I was excited to get it - haven't tried it yet! Then, I heard about this free $20 basically, at bloom.com and I made good use of it by getting an awesome basecoat - Zoya Anchor, and then two pretty polishes - Zoya - Jem, and Essie - Shine of the Times. From what I can tell, Shine of the Times is another must-have, and so far, I can see why. I just tested it on one finger at some point, over green and it was absolutely gorgeous.

Some spring colors I picked up, I don't have them next to me at the moment so not sure of the names right now, but you get the idea. That purple Pure Ice has so many colors in it, I love it!

Some new Wet n Wilds - can't remember the first one, but the Fastdrys are from left to right, 9.0.2.1.Orange, Gray's Anatomy, then How I Met Your Magenta, and last Party of Five Glitters.

New Sally Hansens. I got the first one because I went to try to paint a Pokemon nail set and realized I had no lime green. That grey Xtreme Wear must have been broken open or something because it is really thick and lumpy and it was all dried around the lid when I opened it, but of course I didn't save the receipt. It's too bad because it's an awesome flat grey. I'm sure I'll buy it again. The blue and green came in a two-pack for ONE DOLLAR at the Dollar Tree! :} And those last three Diamond Shines, especially the glitters - I'm in love. I showed the pink one, Ring-a-Ding, in an earlier post.

I went to the mall intending to buy...something else, I can't even remember what! I left with this. The four on the ends are from Forever 21. They had some really interesting colors and they were pretty cheap. Plus I think I was hungry when I was shopping and they're mostly all named after good (i.e. sherbet, mint chip, etc). The middle three are from Icing. I haven't tried the mood one, but it was on clearance, so I thought why not? And the other two were pretty glitters. I've tried the rainbow confetti one, and it's great! The black and gold one reminds me of Pittsburgh, so that's why I picked it up.

A bunch of new NYCs. The first two came in another two-pack at the Dollar Tree, then there's Bowery Black (I fell in love with it because it's such an interesting color, it's not really quite black), then Matte Topcoat, Flat Iron Green (I believe) and Big City Dazzle.

I think that's it for now. I've bought more since then but don't feel like doing another one of these, haha. I have some new nail designs that I've been working on that I will probably put up tomorrow since this post was so picture-heavy. I'm excited to try some of these out still! :] I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day!!


Kelly

Galaxy Nails

So last night I tried my FA at galaxy nails...as you might have guessed from my previous post I don't have a whole lot of patience. So needless to say if you've tried this technique, this was not my favorite manicure. I probably had to remove polish from a nail and start over about 4-5 times, which was extremely frustrating. I've watched some tutorials, looked at a ton of pictures and still couldn't get it just right. The sponging was tough, and I couldn't get the colors right. Finally after about 2 hours (on and off while working on a take home final) I ended up with something that I wasn't embarrassed to leave the house with. I like it, but I don't love it - I think it's something that will just get better as I practice with sponging and blending colors, etc. So here it is, my FA at galaxy nails:

Yes I'm holding a bunch of pens because I was at work, haha - I didn't have anything else! I tried a few different color combinations as well as different glitters for the "stars". I think my favorite might be my pinky - I used a silver sparkle (Wet n Wild - Kaleidoscope) rather than the blueish, chunkier sparkle that I used on my ring and middle finger (Sinful Colors - Hottie). I think I prefer the silver because the blue sparkle almost sort of covers up all my hard work!

A closer picture, and one that you can see the thumb. I chipped the sparkle coat on the ring finger (stress!) but otherwise I think they are holding up pretty well. I did try to vary the patterns and shapes in the nebula on each finger, but they ended up looking really similar so I will have to keep trying!

And, just for reference, a picture in natural lighting (the other two pictures were with flash). I really like how the sun hits some of the bigger sparkles and give a sort of iridescent look. I did these last night, and I was really pleased with how they looked in daylight with the sun on them. So overall, I really like the pattern, but the process was really frustrating and stressful so maybe next time I try this I will not start while working on a final! Now I'm off to Rite Aid to buy the NYC Matte Me Crazy top coat that I read a review on today at Cosmetic Sanctuary. I think I officially have a problem....