Lime and Teal Art Deco

After all the traditional Christmas colors, I was feeling ready for a bright, out there design.  This is two coats of Kleancolor Melon Green (which has a lovely subtle sparkle to it) stamped with Kleancolor Metallic Aqua.  The pattern is from Chez Delaney (or, at least an eBay version of it) XL Plate B.

Ahh...it's kind of refreshing!

See you in 2012, Konaddicts!

More buttons!

Button madness continues!

For this manicure, I used Revlon Peach Petal as a base.  I taped off (only one piece of tape this time so it was much easier for me to handle!) the nail and polished using Revlon Demure.  Finally, I stamped buttons with Konad Plate M16 in Kleancolor Metallic Black and Metallic Red.  The buttons sparkle a little (which, unfortunately, you can't see in the pictures).

Snow is in our forecast, Konaddicts, so I hope you are warm and buttoned in wherever you are!

New Year's Nails

For this manicure, I have confetti and streamers (and a spotty glass of wine!) to welcome the new year.

The plate is A16.  I love, love, love the A-series plates (and eBay searches show that new designs have been released - hooray!).

I used Milani Black Magic as the base and Sally Hansen Chrome Nail Makeup in Gold Chrome for the stamp.  I used my brand new dotting tools to add color to the "confetti" in various metallics.


Best wishes for a wonderful start to the New Year, Konaddicts!

PS: Santa's Amazon Gift Card means that new nail plates are on the way - Red Angel, a brand I haven't heard of before (you can see them on Amazon here).  I'll give you the low down when they arrive, so stay tuned! 

Christmas Tree Nails

Three coats of Finger Paints Sketch and Etch stamped with silver using plate BM205  

Christmas Wreath Nails

This mani was inspired by all of the lovely Christmas wreaths around this time of year.  I started with a base of Sally Hansen Insta Dri Jade Jump.  I stamped the leaves with Kleancolor Military Green using Konad Plate M83.  I painted a stripe of Jade Jump over the pattern to serve as a background for my bow.  Finally, I stamped the bow with Insta Dri in Racin' Red using Konad M56.   

Ah...this mani reminds me of winter trips through the mountains and deep breaths of clean mountain air.  I think we could probably all use a deep breath in this holiday rush! Take care, Konaddicts!

My little dog, Barley, is also doing her impression of a wreath. :)

Santa Sightings: Santa Hat Nails

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Jade Jump, Racin' Red, Whirlwind White; Stamped with Plate BM 214; Dotted with Silver

I'm hoping to get on the Nice List while there's still time!

Falling Snow(men)

Christmas nails continue!  Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Brisk Blue is the base.  I used one coat of Pure Ice In the Mood to add the lavender blue sparkle.  The snowmen were stamped in Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Whirlwind White using plate H-12 (you can see a picture of the plate in the Asian Inspired Nails post).  The tiny snowflakes came from an unnamed plate that I received as a bonus with an order.

The snowmen were fun to stamp - even when their heads went on a little crooked! (Sorry about that, Frosty!).

Well, Konaddicts, there are only a few days left before Christmas!  I hope you like the mani and that you have your lists all ready for Santa!

Christmas Candycanes

I'm back with another Christmas manicure!

For these simple stripes, I started with a base of Pure Ice Siren and used Revlon Top Speed Emerald for the accent nail.  Once those base coats dried, I used a thin coat of Out the Door top coat before stamping the stripes in Sally Hansen Insta Dri Whirlwind White (just to try to keep the white and red from smearing when the final top coat went on).

I used Bundle Monster plates for the stripe.  The pattern on BM 20  is pretty small, so I had to try to match up my lines in some places in order for the pattern to fit the whole nail.  It wasn't always perfect, but the final product turned out okay.

I freehanded the tips in white.  I found that if I tried to stamp them, the polish wasn't thick enough to cover the bottom of the stripes.

I intended to leave things there but I felt like something was missing.  I added a few rhinestones (I didn't have any in red!) for a little contrast.

As a side note, I'm almost 80% done with my Christmas shopping!  Woo hoo!

I hope you like the design.  Be well, Konaddicts, and remember to be good.  Santa will be here in no time!

Buttoned Up

I love the buttons on Konad Plate M16!  To get the black and white, I tried my very first tape manicure.  If you've never tried one of these, Jane at Nailside has a great tutorial here.  I stamped the buttons using M16.

I used Sally Hansen Insta Dri Whirlwind White for the base, Milani Black Magic for the accent, and the Whirlwind White for the buttons.  Konad Special Polish in white stamped better, but it also seemed to smear more.

As for the tape mani, I like the result, but I had a hard time getting the tape on straight, getting it pulled off without smearing everything and (because I'm impatient), trying to tape other fingers while the polish was still wet (not to mention trying to dispose of sticky tape with wet polish on it!).  It's also worth noting that it takes twice the drying time since you have to wait for your base coat and then your accent color to dry before moving on to your stamping.

Now...off to think of more designs with buttons!  Thanks for reading and happy stamping!

Holly, Jolly Christmas Nails

Holiday nails are always fun!  Even a broken thumbnail doesn't take the jolly out of this mani.  The gold is Color Club Gingerbread Man.  I stamped the holly entirely in green using Revlon Top Speed Emerald (the lighter color) and Sally Hansen Insta Dri Jumpin' Jade.  I went back with a pin to dot on Racin' Red for the berries.  The plate is BM 14.

Stay jolly, Konaddicts!

Christmas Stripe Nails

Today I'm wearing a simple and festive design.  I used Sally Hansen Inst Dri Racy Red as a base.  Over that, I used one very thin coat of Kleancolor Metallic White, a shimmery type of white.

I stamped the stripe in Konad Special Polish in White using Konad Plate M44.  Hope you like it; thanks for reading!

Snowflake Nails

Snowflake Nails; Kleancolor Metallic Sapphire and Love My Nails Silver

I didn't have to look hard for inspiration for these nails! Brrr!  Stay warm, Konaddicts!

Ladybug Nails

This is a summer manicure that I did earlier this year that I'm finally getting around to posting.  It's ladybugs!!  

For the background, I used Kleancolor Pastel Teal.  I stamped the little swirls with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Blue Bast using BM224.  I tried to stamp around the perimeters so my background didn't overlap with my ladybugs.  

I stamped the ladybugs using Konad Special Polish in black and GCOCL plate K05.  I filled the ladybugs in using a handy (and cheap on eBay!) Nailstar Two Way Nail Pen.

The result wasn't perfect, but it sure was fun to make and fun to wear!

Keep your head up, Konnadicts. Winter won't last forever!