Sea Creatures

Hi all,
Today I've got a beach inspired mani  to share with you.  I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted, so this one kind of evolved as I went along.

I started with a base of Sinful Colors Cinderella.  I used a nail brush to add a "shore" of Kleancolor Mocha, and dotted it with NYC Fashion Safari and Revlon Top Speed Stormy.

I decided to add decorations to my beach shore.  I tried stamping a little crab but it didn't really work well with this color set up so I decided to switch to the "decal method" for the designs.  The outline provides a lot of detail and really makes the design stand out.

So, for the decorations, I used these plates:
Octopus - Mash 37
Palm Tree - Shany SH19
Crab & Seahorse - Cheeky CH39
Starfish - Gals 42

In some places, the polish got a little thick from the layers and the stamp decal, but it's a small price to pay to keep company with such cute little critters.

Keep swimming, Konaddicts!

A Berry Busy Mani

"Classic" Strawberry Shortcake?  It's a nail dream come true!

I've always hoped to find decals of the 1980s version of Strawberry Shortcake but have never come across any.  These little decals from Pretty Girly Girl totally made my day!

I wasn't really sure what the best "set up" would be for my awesome decals, so I chose a pastel pink - Essie Fiji - as a background.  The decals appear to be the "homemade" variety - the ones printed on water decal printer paper.  The design was perfect - no issues there - I just had trouble getting them to stay in place on the nail.

I opted for two contrasting nails - which broke up the design and also meant I didn't need to do anymore wrestling with the decals.  The contrasting nails are polished with Pure Ice Siren and stamped with Konad Special polish in White using Shany SH19.  To finish, I used a dotting tool to add dots of the contrast color around the decals.

Even with my "technical difficulties", I really love this one.  I think the ladies also approve!

Aren't they cute?  They were an awesome eBay find!

Take care, Konaddicts?  Have you had nail dreams come true?  Tell me about it!

Strawberry Shortcake Inspired Nails

Did anyone else grow up loving Strawberry Shortcake?  As a child, I had Strawberry Shortcake curtains, a Strawberry Shortcake comforter, Strawberry Shortcake dolls, the Berry Carrying Case...you get the idea.  Well, that nostalgia for all things Strawberry Shortcake inspired this manicure.

I normally like to say that my designs are quick - it makes it seem like I have a super exciting life to get back to!  Unfortunately, I can't pretend that is the case this time!  This one took a little time and experimentation.

I began this little overdose of sweetness with a base of Essie Fiji.  I stamped the dots - which didn't all stamp perfectly - with QA 12 - in Pure Ice Siren.  The design of the bows didn't stamp well over the pink, so I stamped a line of Konad Special Polish in White using M19.  I stamped the bows over that using Konad plate M56 and MyOnlineShop stamping polish in Apple Green.

...and I'm not done yet.  So much for the appearance of a very busy and exciting life!

I stamped a strawberry on the accent nail using Shany SH19.  I used Siren for the berry and my Kleancolor Grass Green for the stem.

...and finally (whew!), I added green rhinestones to the centers of my bows.

What a sweet confection!  Too sweet, even, for me, I think.  At least when I look down, it reminds me of those little dolls that I used to love so much.

...and also just found on eBay.  Uh oh.  :)

Have a berry good day, Konaddicts!  - Sorry, I couldn't help myself!

Sunset Nails

Hey, everyone!  I'm back with another mani that I've always wanted to try but never quite got around to - the sunset mani.

I started with a base of Sinful Pull Over and sponged on some orange, China Glaze Life Preserver, and a pinkish red, Revlon Cherries in the Snow.

I used Konad Special Polish in black to stamp the palm tree using plate Shany 19,  I added a little China Glaze For Audrey with a nail brush.  I used a nail pen to fill in the tree outline and then used Wet n Wild Black Creme to freehand the "islands".

I like wearing this one, but my XL Plate A with the puzzle pieces arrived, so I don't think I'll be sporting this one for very long.

Catch you soon, Konaddicts!

Strawberries on a Cloudy Day

So, the clouds aren't on the nails, but since we've had two overcast days, I haven't been able to take any pictures in the sun.

I love these little strawberries (they look like something from Pokemon)! 

I started with two coats of Essie Fiji - a lovely, very pale pink.  The berry comes from Shany plate SH19, the same plate I used for my Kites manicure.  I stamped it using Sally Hansen Insta Dri Rushing Rubies and Revlon Top Speed Emerald.  I topped it off with a dab of Sinful Green Glitter.

I wanted to add something else to jazz up the design, so I used the slanted lines on Cheeky Plate CH22 as an accent.

I was going for this:

...but I only managed to line it up like that on a few nails.

Overall, I think the accent adds a fun element (even it is stamped all crookedly!). Here's an inside pic with flash (oh, and dinged index finger!)

Have a sweet week, Konaddicts!