Challenge - Animal - Nudibranch Nails!

Meet Mr. Chromodoris roboi.
He can grow as big as 26mm! (We're really impressed)

I'm a teensy bit too excited about these! I pinterest stalk nudibranchs pretty hard and it came to me that they could make for some amazing nail inspiration. The hard part was trying to narrow which tiny color bomb could be done justice in polish! I couldn't hope to capture it completely since they are such ethereal, surreal little things.


In my pinterest "research" (If I call it research I can procrastinate doing the dishes guilt free, right?), I came upon this little guy who reminded me of reverse gradients.  I formulated my plan based on that idea.

First, I laid down a coat of OPI My BF Scales walls and topped it with Julep Bess. Then, I sponged a gradient using F21 Earl Grey to about three quarters down the nail and covered it all with a topcoat.  Next, I cut irregular shapes out of tape using an xacto knife and placed them on my nails to mimic the pattern on the nudibranch.  I sponged a gradient of Julep Nina, Lucy, and Cleopatra over this (careful to line up Bess with the Lucy/Cleopatra gradient), removed the tape and popped on another topcoat.

 

 I love the outcome! Reverse gradients are one of my favorite techniques. What are some of yours?

Nails of the Day - Fall Inspired Gradient

Southern California is gearing up for some 90+ degree temperatures this weekend and it feels like everyone is wishing for fall to come and cool things down. I am loving all the fall manicures being posted! If doing my nails is my grand gesture to the Lords of Autumnal Coolness, it is a sacrifice I'm willing to make. ESPECIALLY when I have seasonal cookie inspiration!

Mr Husband made my favorite cookies in the universe this week: pumpkin chocolate chip! They're so dense, moist and full of pumpkin spice.  My Julep September Maven box had a the perfect compliment to such a rich treat.

  

I started off with a base of Julep Candace (one coat for the accent nails and two for the others). On the accent nails, I put down one coat of LynnBDesigns Millie.  After that dried, I sponged Julep Zoe from the tip to about halfway down and Julep Hilary just at the tip of all the nails.

The cookie was promptly consumed after this photo

Nails of the Day - Pink Glitter Gradient and Handplaced Glitter Flowers

 I've seen these hand-placed glitter manis floating around the internet and desperately wanted some diamond shaped glitter to play with.  I must admit I didn't try terribly hard before Sinful Colors Shine on Me was received in an exchange.  Combined with a couple pearl rhinestones, Julep Madeline and sponged gradient of Wet N Wild Sparked, I have some of the girliest nails on the planet.
 



I love how flashy this glitter is; So eye-catching!



Nail Fail - Holographic Gradient

Last night was a big exciting deal for me: a company dinner/show to celebrate some of our top talent! I was determined to have a mani that was befitting such an occasion. After brainstorming with Rachel, I decided on a holo gradient.

I ended up using Color Club Miss Bliss and Nabi Hologram Effect in Purple. The sponging looked promisingly flashy! I was surprised that the color of the Nabi changed from a redder purple to a much bluer hue when sponged. Once the seche was applied, though, my hopes for a pink to purple holo gradient were quickly dashed. The pigment from the nabi penetrated the seche which effectively covered the holo and the pink!

Forgive the obvious color editing! The true color refused to be captured by a mere smartphone.

I didn't have time to start from scratch  so I tried to save it by placing a bit of Miss Bliss at the base of the nail and dry brushing it down. Accent nails got a coat of Nabi Jumbo Purple Glitter and Coco Allure Risqué Business. Though it didn't turn out how I wanted (at all), it i can't say I hate it!

Glitter Gradient

Lately I haven been trying to take pics of my manis to share.

Today I wore OPI Eiffel for This Color, with accent nail of Diva of Geneva.  I ADORE these colors! I truly fell for them...?
Anyway, Eiffel for This Color is a deep plum, It's so gorgeous.  In the bottle there is a bit of shimmer, but on the nail it's more creme. Diva of Geneva is a wonderful shimmery maroon. They look great together, in my opinion.  I did a glitter gradient with Julep's Paris. I've used this before, and still love it. There's medium hex glitter with micro glitter as well that are holographic.
My gradient is not so... Gradient-y.  But, I like it. Looks like falling sparkles.

Our GIVEAWAY ends on the 14th, so get your entries in!!! Some great stuff in the giveaway. Soo bad we can't enter our own.

Rachel

Challenge - Inspired by Candy - Spun Sugar Minty Truffles

Initially, I had wanted to do a chocolatey truffle mani but I don't actually OWN a chocolate brown. So, instead, I decided to take different elements of Candy and put them together.  My main inspirations were spun sugar, truffles, and mint.

The result? An obnoxiously sweet 80's track suit. I can totally remember my Grandma Grace giving me something very similar for Christmas as a kid. No lie - I loves these colors together then, too.

Julep Dianna and Alice were used for this.  Dianna is so hard to photograph! It is definitely not Tiffany blue bit is darker than sea foam. Alice's dusty lavender with the white shimmer is so lovely!