Roses-Valentine's Week Challenge

This was possibly my favourite prompt! I knew right away what I wanted to do and couldn't wait to get started on it. It took me awhile to choose my base but I absolutely love how these came out and I think they would be appropriate year round!

Day 3- Roses

I decided that I was going to do something fairly simple but elegant and what says elegant but a French manicure?

I started with a base of three coats of Zoya Jacqueline (cream) and then painted one coat of Orly Goin' to the Chapel over it which gave it a really pretty soft pearlescent look.

I then went in with deborah lippmann Run, run Rudolph (which is technically a Christmas shade I guess) and blobbed on the rose shapes. I love love love this red!

I added in the rose details with a black nail pen and then the leaves are made from piCture pOlish Jealousy. I added Glisten and Glow Top Coat, a bit of bling (rhinestone stickers I got from Michael's) and then called it a day.

I'm in "love"! It turned out exactly how I was hoping, simple and elegant.

Tomorrow's prompt is Hearts and as I write this I haven't completed my look yet. I need some inspiration!!

Happy painting friends!

An InLinkz Link-up

Nude Leopard

I just can't get enough of the leopard print! It's so easy to do and I think it looks so fun. I started with a base of Zoya Jacqueline which is just a beautiful smooth nude colour. I then went in with a black and red nail pen and added the leopard and stripe detail.

I of course used my trusty new light box to take my photos.

The flash didn't really want to come out to play and I kind of wish I had forced it because these are looking a bit shaded.

Still getting used to the light box but I think with practice I'll get some really good photos.

Happy painting friends!

Zoya Galaxy

It's no secret that I have a deep love for Zoya nail polish. I received 15 new ones for Christmas and I am constantly experimenting with them. Today I have a really beautiful design for you featuring a gorgeous polish from the new Zoya Zenith Collection. It's called Payton and I think it's one of the prettiest polishes I've ever used.

Here is the polish pre-clean up. It's such a beautiful beautiful shade of purpley burgundy with a deep shimmer to it. I feel like I was looking into a pool it had such depth.

I thought it would be great to do a galaxy with it and I wanted to use only Zoya polishes to achieve it.

I used Piaf (a gold shimmery polish), Jacqueline (a beautiful beige cream), and Seraphina (a light silver).

I layered the polishes on with a sponge from dark to light. Then I added in some "stars" with a bronze nail pen.

What do you think? It's not your traditional colours for a galaxy mani but I love this colour combo. The only thing I wish is that I had left a little more of the base colour showing.

On to more adventures with my Zoya!!

Happy painting friends!

Ahoy Matey

I got a new sweater on the Boxing Day sales that is a light beige with orange anchors all over it and I thought it might be cute to recreate on my nails.

I started with a base of Zoya Jacqueline, a really beautiful nude colour from Zoya's Lovely Collection. I then went in with the end of a skewer (because I didn't have my dotting tools to hand) and added on the polka dots in OPI Jinx a very vibrant orange texture from the Bond Girls collection.

I attempted to do a small anchor on my index finger.

I really like the colours but I wish my work was a bit cleaner. I know you shouldn't blame your tools but I wish I'd had my proper ones so my work would have been more exact.

Look how gorgeous this orange texture is though! I'm in love with it and I'm sure I'll use it a lot in the future.

What inspires you?

Happy painting friends!