Chinese New Year 2012

I recently entered a competition to do a nail art design for Chinese New Year. We were told that even though it is the year of the dragon it could be anything to do with Chinese New Year. I decided to do some cherry blossom and some Chinese symbols.
I used 'Miss Sporty 150' red for the red base coat, then the branches for the blossom was done in Nubar 'Noir'. I used a striper brush to draw the branches onto the nail.
The cherry blossom was done using Orly Instant Artist 'Pink Pastel' and a dotting tool to do the three dots of the blossom, then using Nubar nail art striper 'Basic White' I put a dot in the middle of each blossom.
I decide to put two Chinese symbols on the nails to help break up the red. I put a Dragon symbol on one to symbolise the year of the dragon. I then thought it might be nice to put the symbol for the Ox which is from the year I was born.
Altogether I think the design works well, and has the effect that I was looking for.

Simple but effective!

Pink and Green Marble Art

I decided to try my hand at marble art this week and was very impressed with it. Marble art is so easy to do and you can get some brilliant results from it. I decided to use Nubar 'Amazon Coral' and 'Pink Lily', Solutions 'French White' and 'Miss Sporty 150'. I took it in turns to put a drop of each colour into a tub of cold water. I alternated the colours until I had what looked like a bullseye of colours.Then with a cocktail stick I gently pulled the paint from the outside in. I done this several times until it made like a flower shape.

Then once I had the desired effect I put my nail into the water and kept it at the bottom of the water. With my other hand I used my cocktail stick to peel the polish off the top of the water. It should make like a skin on the top so is easy to pick up. Once the polish has been taken off the nail can be taken out of the water. Once the nail had fully dried I put a topcoat on and it just made it shine. I was really pleased with the end result and because I had done it on a nail stick and had put no base colour on first, it made it a little bit transparent which I like.

I also tried the same effect using different colours. These would be great for near Christmas time. Again I used the 'French White' and 'Miss Sporty 150'. I also used Orly 'Luxe' and 'Miss Sporty 346'.  

I used them in exactly the same way as before and the end result is below.

Halloween Nails

For halloween this year I thought I would try and do something different. I thought that instead of doing the traditional thing of doing all your nails in one design I would alternate the designs. I went for pumpkins and cobwebs this year as I thought it would be quick and simple. I was so wrong. As long as I only do nail art on my left hand I'm ok.

I started by putting a base coat of the Gelicure in Black. I done the Gelicure as I would normally which means when I put the nail art on, it will be easy to wipe it off the nail and still leave the black on the nail. To do the nail art I used the Orly Instant Artist Orange Peel Water-Based Nail Art Striper, Nubar White Nail Art Striper, and their Silver Glitter Striper.

With the cobwebs I did them in white, and then done the silver glitter over the top of the white. This just makes it sparkle and gives it that edge. You might be able to see this effect in the picture on the right.

The pumpkins were done with dotters as I found it easier this way, rather than using the striper brush.

Gelicure Sparkler

I got 5 of the 12 new Gelicure glitter colours today, and have been so excited about trying them.

I decided for my first set I was going to use the 'Sparkler' gel polish, but thought I would make it a little bit different by trying the current trend of doing your ring fingers a different colour to the rest. I thought I would put the 'Sparkler' on the ring fingers with 'Magenta Fire Flower' on the others.

The new Gelicure glitters are really good either on their own, or you could put a colour underneath to give the colour more depth. With the 'Sparkler' I chose to use 'Gelicure White', and 'Gelicure Bois De Rose' under the 'Magenta Fire Flower.
The glitter gel needed about 3 coats on each nail, and I did find that sometimes when I paint the polish on it takes some of the glitter off so alot of patience was needed.

The end result was a lovely shiny and glittery colour. The 'Sparkler' gel shows up really nicely as it has both small and big glitter in it, as you may be able to see in the picture. It is so easy with these colours to be able to create stunning nails, that will get alot of attention.

The new glitter gels all cure in the same amount of time as the previous colours, and still have the same effect. They are the same price (and in my opinion) the same quality as the other colours they have in the Gelicure range. I think that after trying these I am going to have to invest in the other colours, as I know that my friends are going to want these doing ready for christmas! The fact aswell that these last up to 3 weeks is just an added bonus really.

Purple Disco Gelicure

Whilst choosing yet another Gelicure colour at work I had an idea. After having a Gelicure demo day a few days earlier the trainer had done some nail art that she had left with us to display and inspire people. The idea was to use the A La Mode on the nail then to put Pink Alpha Jewels 060" on top. The effect was stunning and very eye catching.

I decided to try and create the same effect but using a different colour-I mean how hard can it be?

I chose the Aubergine with the Lavender Alpha Jewels 062". 

These jewels were the exact same size as the pink the trainer had used with the display. This way I knew it would have the same effect.

I put 3 coats of the Gelicure Aubergine onto the nails. The gel polish went on really well and after curing each coat for 2 minutes, I was ready to put the glitter on. I put another coat of the Aubergine on so the glitter had something to stick to. If I was going to be putting on just parts of the nail I would have put a top coat on first then cure it. Then I could put the top coat on just the part I wish to put the glitter. 

After putting the glitter on I cured the nails for about 3/4 minutes. The Gelicure only needs 2 minutes but because I had put glitter on I wanted to make sure that it was all stuck. Otherwise my top coat would be very glittery, and I dont think anybody wants that! 

Then after each top coat I filled the nail to smooth the glitter. Then applied another top coat. In total I think it took about 3 coats of top coat to get it smooth enough. 

I was really chuffed with the end product. The Gelicure is an up to 3 week polish and with the glitter on there aswell I think you will be really pleased. When I wore mine I got so many comments and people loved them when they catch the light. 

I have put a picture of the end product here so you can have a look and see them for yourself. 

This effect was very time consuming and very messy, but was WELL worth it!.