31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Day 6 - Purple

This is Sally Hansen Insta Dry Vigorous Violet stamped with Sally Hansen Insta Dry Uptempo Plum and plate BM11.  I love Uptempo Plum in the bottle.  It looks like a very deep plum with purple shimmer.  On the nail, it mostly just looks black.  The shimmer comes out more in sunlight, but not much. It's a definite one-coater, though, which makes it great for stamping.

31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Day 5 - Blue

Zapow!  I'm loving this one.  So sparkly! Inspired by Nailside's laser mani tutorial.

This is Milani HD, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Black out, Color Club Blue-topia and an unnamed Cosmetic Arts blue.  It's a medium blue creme.  There's not much depth to the color, but it is a pretty, soft shade.  Kind of reminds me of Cookie Monster.

31 Day Nail Art Challeng: Day 4 - Green

Aaaargh! Shrinkaaaage!  I need a new top coat.  Also a better gold for stamping.  Revlon Gold Coin is just not cutting it; it's a little too grainy.

I used NYC Flat Iron Green, Zoya Dree, and Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle Creamy Olive.

Flat Iron Green needs at least three coats if worn by itself.  I did two because I knew I'd be covering the tips anyway.  I keep forgetting how gorgeously buttery smooth Dree goes on. It's like nail polish perfection. Creamy Olive is a little disappointing.  The color is a little odd: kind of a slightly yellow green with a lot of gray to it. Almost more gray than green. The brush is flat and very wide with coarse bristles, so it doesn't hold on to the polish very well and makes for awkward and messy application if you're trying for thin, even coats.  Definitely not one of my favorites.

31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Day 3 - Yellow

Not much to say about this one.  It's three coats of Revlon Colorstay Buttercup (yeah, it's pretty much the only yellow I have) stamped with Essie Power Clutch and plate BM12.  I probably could have gotten away with two coats of Buttercup if I were more careful.  This was not the neatest paint job I've ever done.

31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Day 2 - Orange

I absolutely love this one.  It's just so cute and bright and summery.  And I never thought I'd like colored tips - they always struck me as a little boring, even in bright colors- but I think I'll be doing this more often from now on.  I tried taping the tips for a crisper line, but the tape ripped my base coat right off.  I think next time I'll either use a different base or none at all.

I used NYC Spring Street, Revlon Colorstay Buttercup, and Wet n Wild Sunny Side Up.  Why have I never owned orange polish before? This challenge is doing great things for my stash, but horrible things to my wallet.

31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Day 1 - Red

The 31 Design Bi-Weekly-Ish Challenge begins!

This is three coats of OPI Got The Blues For Red ("distressed" with acetone), Pure Ice Super Star and L.A. Colors Color Craze Atomic.  I'm not really sure where the inspiration for this came from, it just kind of popped into my head.  My husband insists it's from when I would sneak out at night and tag the local overpass.  I'm not sure who he thinks he married.


(For those who want to know, it says Chroma)

Blue Matte Flake

This is two coats of Revlon Royal and one thin coat of Essie Shine of the Times.  Royal is a bright true blue.  I probably would have been better off with three coats as it was still a little transparent, but only in bright sunlight.  Shine of the times is my first flakie and I'm hooked.  It's a red flake that flashes green with a little yellow in the right conditions. I would like it better if the flakes were a little more sparse, but it's fun to wear in a can't-stop-looking-at-my-nails kind of way.  I understand it's very similar to (if not a dupe of) Nubar 2010, so I may pick that one up at some point to compare the two.

I've been infatuated with matte topcoats lately, particularly over glitter or flakies.  This one is Essie Matte About You and is the only one I currently own, but it works so well I don't think I'll bother with anything else.


I've been seeing the 31 Day Nail Art Challenge all over the place, so I've decided to give it a go.  I'll be kind of cheating, though, since I have neither the time nor the inclination to do 31 designs in 31 days. Mine will be more of a 31 Designs Bi-weekly-ish Challenge.  Mostly I just want to improve my nail art skillz and exercise my brain meats.