Frankenstein Nails

I hope everyone is having a great fall.  Here in New Jersey the weather is wonderful these past couple days which make hiking, running, and just being outside great.  It would be amazing if this weather lasts.  I think these are and will be one of my favorite designs I did this year!!! I love how cute they came out.  The colors really pop which adds to the quirky-ness.

For this mani I used a bunch of bright colors.  This was the first time I used polish from L'Oreal and I really liked it.  The colors used are: Cover Girl Vio-Last, L'Oreal New Money, Cover Girl Go-Go Mango, Maybelline Color Show Onyx Rush, Cover Girl Snow Storm. I didn't intend to use all Cover Girl, but I have bought so many of their polishes in the past because they usually have the bright colors.  

To start paint all four nails in the green (leave the thumb blank; we'll get there later).  To make it easy, we'll go design by design.  First, we'll discuss the patches.

Start by doing a diagonal swipe in orange on both the pinky and pointer fingers.  If you do not feel comfortable doing this freehand, feel free to use scotch tape as a guide.  Take the tape off while the polish is still wet.  Once the orange has dried add another diagonal swipe in purple.  Make sure the orange is REALLY dry if you are using tape.

Using a striping brush, outline the lines of the colors in black.  Then using the brush or a skinny dotting tool, add little stitch marks.  Easy enough.  Next comes the Bride of Frankenstein...

Start by painting the top half of the nail black.  I did a jagged line on purpose by waving the polish brush for her hair.

Using a large dotting tool, add two white dots for her eyes.  Using the dotting tool (the same one, or slightly smaller one) make 5 dots and blend them together to make  white streak in her hair.  Then using a small dotting tool, add black pupils to her eyes.

Frankenstein has two parts: his head and body.  For his head do a similar jagged line as his bride, however it should be higher along the nail. Using the large dotting tool, add two white dots for his eyes.

Using a small dotting tool, add black pupils in his eyes.  You can use the dotting tool or striping brush to make a small mouth and stitch lines.

Now we get to the thumb.  Start by painting it purple.  

I used scotch tape to make my lines so clean, but add a white V as his shirt.

Once the white is dry, grab the striping brush.  I started by outlining the white shirt and adding a middle line down the purple.  Next, outline the jacket collar and bring it down to outline his arms.  As final touches, grab the small dotting tool to add buttons and the large dotting tool to add two green fists. 

And now you have the cutest Frankenstein ever!!!

I hope you enjoy!

Spider Web Nails

I love Halloween and all the fun stuff around it.  Dressing up is one of my favorite things to do, even as an adult.  I have these fun nails and some others to post on the blog.  I tried these a few ways before I found the way I like it the best. 

For the nails, except the pinky I used Nail Tek Intensive Therapy II as a base coat, Cover Girl Snow Storm, Sally Hansen Black Out, Maybelline Color Show (Jewel Collection) Gleaming Graphite- only used on pointer finger, and Essie Good to Go as a top coat.

For the pinky I used the new Push and Shove from OPI Gwen Stefani Collection. This came with Lay Down that Base Coat.

For the spider webs I started with a white base coat.  

Using a make-up sponge I dropped black and white on the edge.  Then dabbed the nail to get a nice spongy look.

One the paint dries, it is time to paint the web.  Using a skinny striping brush, I painted diagonal lines on the nail.  Don't paint them parallel to each other, it will look more like a web if the lines are fanned out.  join each line with little swooping lines.

For the first time ever I used jewels in my nails; I have to say I kinda liked it.  To do this put the top coat on; while the paint is still wet use tweezers to place the jewels on.  I put another top coat to help the nails feel smoother.

For the pointer finger, I did a basecoat of the black.  When that dried I did two coats of the glitter polish.  The pinky is the base coat and then two coats of the chrome polish.

Look forward to Frankenstein nails next!!!  Happy October!