Digital Dozen Does Flowers-Glitter

I wanted to try this technique for awhile.  Clearly I need a little more practice but I am happy overall with the first try.  I used RBL Motorini as the base.  You can see the glow in the pinky.  Then I used the stamper to capture flower images and painted in the flowers before applying it to my nail.  I learned a few things first time around so next time should turn out better.  I do like this color combo.

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Digital Dozen Does Flowers-Black and White

I love double stamping.  I wish I had a better eye for determining what looks good together.  I figured you can never go wrong with black and white.  This was very classic looking in person.

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The Digital Dozen Does Flowers- Vintage

I decided that I needed to add a touch of fall into my flowers.  A nice easy, vintage floral design here........ 



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Digital Dozen Does Flowers-Tinted

OK, I am committed to trying to get back on some kind of a regular schedule.  I will start out with my five flower posts this week alongside my Digital Dozen crew.  Today I will begin with my least favorite design of the week.  Sadly, it was my favorite in person but I never checked the pictures after I took them.  I didn't get the white balance correct so they came out a tad dull looking.  The colors were so much more vibrant in person.  this was done using some tints over a white stamp.

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Neutral Flowers

No surprise, I am behind.  I usually try to get my manicures done way in advance and I was on a roll but my nails broke, several of them so I waited to try and grow them out as much as I can.  This is as good as it gets.  I did a neutral background with Zoya Avery and added a little pattern with dots as the base for some summer flowers.  This is actually very conservative for me.

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Digit-al Dozen-Grapevine

When I think of summer, I think of having a glass of wine on the patio at night.  Grapes are the obvious next progression for this.  Here I have a little gradient, stamped with some gold vines and I added the grapes using acrylic paints.

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Digit-al Dozen Eye Of The Tiger

I have been thinking about doing this one for a while but I wasn't sure how to get the right depth in the image. When I thought about summer, one of the things that came to mind was heat and rain (since that is all we have had here in NY).  The rain forest was a logical progression.  I ended up getting the effect by stamping over black with a darker green underneath and a lighter green on top.  The tiger coming through the trees just gave it some interest.

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Digit-al Dozen Summer Suns

This was inspired by some summer wallpaper that I found online.  I couldn't get as intricate as the design online but it was a pretty outcome.  The base is sponged and then I taped off and did a sideways gradient across the nails.  I used all Zoyas in reds, oranges and yellows.

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Ukranian Eggs

I always loved these eggs growing up.  The intricacy always amazed me.  Obviously I couldn't begin to get that detailed but I am loving the outcome.  The base is Marc Jacobs Secret Love.  Acrylics added in the detail.

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Matryoshka Dolls

The detail work on this was nearly impossible.  So, teeny, teeny tiny.  I always loved these.  These are acrylics over Barry M Prickly Pear.

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Windmills and Tulips

This months theme for the Digital Dozen is Countries and Cultures.  I am really hoping to one day get to Holland to see a tulip farm.  It's on my bucket list.  I did a gradient background to transition between the blue sky and the green grass.  Then I added in some tulips using acrylics.  I had to add a windmill but it could use some work.  You always think of things you "should" have done when you are finished.  Overall it came out cute.  I have lots of ideas but nothing else completed yet.  Lets see what the week brings.....

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Digital Dozen Does Metal-Magnetic Tips

Quick post today.  We are in the middle of an electronic medical record implementation at work so I am exhausted right now.  I am doing these posts daily as opposed to a week ahead of time.  This was kind of a flop but looked pretty in person.  I used Illamasqua Ouija which I love because it wears well and is gorgeous.  I did a small shape on the accent nail with tips in Magnetic black.  I have no idea what the brand is because the label is no longer intact.  It was too small to pick up a real magnetic effect but I like to outcome.

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Digital Dozen Does Metals-Chrome Tips

I'm back after a few month sabbatical.  I had a lot of trouble maintaining my nail length.  I had problems with peeling and breaking nails and I tried everything to fix it but finally gave up hope.  Then over the past month, they have grown the way they used to and I was amazed.  A friend at work said that it was related to the anesthesia that I had for my back surgery.  I thought she was crazy but now I am not so sure because it took that long for my nails to grow out completely and the timing just makes sense.  Anyway, back to my Digital Dozen group with a theme from hell.  Metals????  I am struggling with this one. Here you have OPI Dim Sum Plum with OPI Push And Shove.  I am excited to find a way to wear Push And Shove since my nails have way to many imperfections to wear it on it's own.  It is gorgeous...

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Digital Dozen Does Brands-For Dummies

I really wanted to do posts this week that didn't involve words and that readers could identify by a quick glance.  I have not had much success but I think today's post is a keeper.  I turned in my room and looked at the bookcase and saw a few "how to" books for "dummies" and I knew that would work.  Look Familiar?

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Digital Dozen Does Brands-Tampax

The brand theme was actually my pick.  I am regretting it now because I have no real inspiration this week but the reason I started it was because of a post I saw on Instagram where someone was inspired by a tampon box.  I was inspired by one also,  specifically the colors.  This is using white as a base and it is topped with the green and blue from the new OPI tints.  I am totally in love with these and will be using them again very soon for some additional nail art.  It's like using watercolors.

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Digital Dozen Does Brands-Pringles

I love potato chips.  All time favorite food ever.  The controller at my job, who has an office right next to me, keeps a family size bag in her office all the time.  If they were in my office, I would eat the whole thing for lunch.  One of my favorites, even though I try to stay away from them because they always make me sick, are Pringles.  I tried to recreate the chips here on my nails using some textured polish and sponging on some other colors.  The accent is the character that you always find on the cans.....

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The Digital Dozen Does Vintage-Popeye

Last but not least, who doesn't love Popeye?  I wish I had more time to add in Olive Oil but I just can't pass an opportunity to play across multiple nails.  I like the yellow and Blue base combination.  I think it really adds a vintage feel. 

Quick Valentine's Nails with Betty Boop

This week's Digital Dozen Vintage theme made a want to use my Betty Boop decals I got last year.  Here is a quick look at what I did.  Stamped on some red and pink in Marc Jacobs to give some interest in the background.  Love these decals from KKCenter.  They are super easy to apply.

Digital Dozen Does Vintage-Paris

I was shooting to recreate a post card here.  I used a technique of brushing on polish lightly in different directions when the brush was very dry.  I used about five different neutrals and added a bit of gold to give it some added depth.  Then I stamped on the lettering and my crooked Eiffel Tower.  I actually liked it crooked, it gave it more character. 

Digital Dozen Does Vintage-Felix

I love to recreate cartoon characters as you probably already know.  I picked Felix because I found a great picture that allowed me to use all my brightest Illamasquas.  I painted a few coats on plastic and cut out the squares for this design.  It is done on Illamasqua Cameo.

Digital Dozen Does Vintage-Coffee For Sale

This month's theme is vintage and I really struggled with this theme quite a bit.  I did a lot of Google and Pinterest searches and still didn't come up with anything I was head over heels for.  I wanted to try and create an old sign for one of the five manicures and this is what I came up with.

OPI Brazil Collection Liquid Sands Swatches

I had to take today off in order to not lose any of my vacation time but I had no real plans.  I decided to take a trip to Old Navy and on the way home stopped at Cosmoprof to see what was new.  I was surprised to see the new OPI Brazil Collection because I had forgotten it was released yesterday.  But even more amazing was that I never realized they were releasing some new super bright liquid sands.  As you all know, I am NOT a swatcher.  I am strictly nail art and that is because my nails are not meant for swatching.  They just don't look good naked or without a little distraction in the form of art.  Thankfully, the sands are very forgiving so I figured I would let you have a look...

All of these swatches are two coats.  Obviously no top coat for these pics although I will be trying them all out with a top coat soon.  Application was a bit spotty for coat one but the second blended them out nicely.



First up, You're So Flippy Floppy.  A gorgeous bright textured yellow with some tiny yellow glitter.

 

 

Next we have I'm Brazil Nuts Over You, a textured matte pink.  Great vibrant color.  I am putting this on my toes when I go on vacation.

 

I thought this would be my clear favorite but surprisingly it was not.  Samba-dy Loves Purple is a violet texture.  Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful but not as beautiful as the last one.

And, saved the best for last...... OMG, this was amazingly gorgeous.  Like looking into the Caribbean ocean.  This is What's a Little Rain Forest.  It's like an aqua blue textured with some gorgeous shimmer.  Definitely planning some great nail art for this one. 

 

I also got the rest of the Brazil Collection so I will have some new nail art coming up with those.  They are all amazing as well but you will not see any swatches from me.  Do you have a favorite?



Olympic Themed Nails

I love to watch the Olympics, both summer and winter.  I decided to try something that would showcase the US colors and my original plan failed but I ended up with this and loved it.  It is like a grunge themed mani.  This is Cult Nails, Tempest, Evil Queen and Time Traveler.

My Polish Storage....and a pug.

I have posted pictures on Instagram before of how I store my polish stash but I decided to upload a video on YouTube since I only have one video on my channel and want to start expanding.  Elmer wanted to get in the picture so I had to include him.

 



Hope you guys liked it.  How do you store your stash????

The Digital Dozen Does Monochrome Illamasqua

I had never owned an Illamasqua before they did that incredible sale last year.  Wow, do I regret that now.  I love their polish.  Beautiful colors, like no others in my collection and amazing application.  My fifth and final post of this weeks monochrome theme (late, I know) uses Illamasqua Harem as a base and is stamped with a very delicate pattern in Illamasqua Poke.  Simple and beautiful....

The Digital Dozen Does Monochrome Glitterball

Last year when Sephora was getting rid of all their old polish collection Sephora by OPI, I bought out the store.  Like with most sales, I just went a little nuts.  They were just so cheap I couldn't resist them.  Now I am regretting this decision a bit.  I have been opening up the seals little by little and testing them out.  I am finding that I love the colors but I hate the formula.  For this manicure I needed to use four coats of each.  FOUR!!!  I can't even stand a three coater.  For that reason, I am not telling you the names because they will not last in my collection through the next purge.  I added some loose glitter here.  The glitter mix varied in that some pieces were more opaque than others and that gave it an amazing finish in the light.

The Digital Dozen Does Monochrome Texture

I have used this technique once before and loved the way it came out.  It kind of has an abstract art feel to it.  The base is OPI Incognito in Sausalito and then I use hole reinforcers once the base is dry and I added OPI Kiss Me At Midnight.  No top coat after that because the textured polishes pops in real life like its 3D.

The Digital Dozen Does Monochrome-Zoya Stripes

A real simple monochrome look for you today.  This is Zoya Demi as a base color and I painted on some stripes using Zoya Aurora.  This was so much prettier in person.  The depth of Aurora still amazes me.  It is one of my all time favorite polishes.

Digital Dozen Does Monochrome-Double Stamp

I really struggled a lot with this theme.  I had very little luck finding inspiration.  Everything I Googled was black and white so I figured I would start there.  I used Cult Nails Tempest as a base and stamped using OPI Push and Shove from the Gwen Stefani Collection and then stamped again using Konad black.  It came out looking very crisp but a bit cartoonish.  Overall, I liked it.

Digital Dozen Giveaway



Super excited to share this with you guys!!  The Digital Dozen is doing a giveaway for it's followers with a bunch of amazing prizes.  Don't miss the opportunity to win.  Just use the Rafflecopter at the end of the post.  Check out what you have a chance to win......

Contributed by The Digital Dozen members.....two US $100 gift cards to a polish retailer of the winners’ choice.

 

And, contributed by some amazing sponsors......

• Mega Bundle from MoYou including 10 plates (winner’s choice), 3 types of stamps and scrapers, 4 rhinestone wheels and a surprise from the new MoYou jewellery range
• $50 store credit to spend with GG Couture
• $25 gift certificate to spend with Moon Sugar Decals
• Full-size bottles of Chirality Polish Party All the Time, Neptunus, Yoda Purpurata, and Gazoo
• 4 x Simple & Seasonal polishes from the winter collection
• All 4 polishes from the VooDoo Lacquer Winter Holiday 2013 Collection (Marshmallow World, Polar Express, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Holly Jolly Christmas)
• 3 x Renaissance Cosmetics polishes and 1x 10ml cuticle oil
• Plumilicious, Milky Candy Pack and one full bottle (winner’s choice) from Candy Nail Polish
• Chloe and Misfit Toys from Ruby White Tips
• Eponine and My Name’s McGill from Quirk
• 5x 50% off coupons for Simple & Seasonal (five winners)

Good luck and thanks for following!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway