Christmas Challenge - Candy Canes (& Gingerbread Men)

I didn't know if I HAD to do both items or if I could choose just one, but I did a Candy Cane Theme. The only gingerbread man I could do would have been a stamp and I really didn't like the looks of the design on the stamp.

I am super happy with how this turned out. I just wish today wasn't dark and rainy because I can't get any natural sunlight pictures to show just how beautiful this mani is in real life. The pictures certainly do not do it justice!

I used the following:

Base Coat of Nail Magic Nail Strengthener
Two Coats of China Glaze - Ruby Pumps
(Ruby Pumps is an AMAZING deep red with the most beautiful sparkly shimmer)
Top Coat of Seche Vite
Scotch Tape (To do the Silver Stripe)
Kiss brand white striping polish
Top Coat of Seche Vite

On my thumb I used:

Two Coats of China Glaze - Ruby Red (LOVE THIS COLOR!)
BM Plate #209
Special White Konad Polish (For Stamping)
Top Coat of Seche Vite

Here are some pics:

Enjoy!!

**smiles**
Tara

My First Nail Challenge!! Woo Hoo!!

I've decided to try a nail challenge to get my butt in gear again. I know I would never be able to do a 31 day one, so I opted for a two mani a week one - it seems more my speed. If you are interested in the challenge please click here to go to Crumpet's Nail Tarts on Facebook. They offer many challenges and are a great nail community. Here is my Christmas Challenge......

I have done two mani's for the Snowflakes and Snowfall Challenge today. On the first one I used the following:

Base Coat of Nail Magic Nail Strengthener
Three Coats of Sturdy Sapphire from Sally Hansen
Top Coat of Seche Vite
BM Stamp #323
Konad Special White Polish
Top Coat of Seche Vite

Here are some pics

On this next mani I used the following:

Base Coat of Nail Magic Nail Strengthener
Two Coats of OPI Fee Fi Fo Plum
Two Coats of China Glaze Full Spectrum (Multi-Sparkle)
Top Coat of Seche Vite
BM Stamp # 319
Konad Special White Polish
Top Coat of Seche Vite

Here are more pics

Enjoy!!

**smiles**
Tara

Feather Mani - It's Totally Easy - Who Knew??!!

It took a while to build up enough courage to try this type of mani, but I was totally surprised to find out how quick and easy it really was.

First, I bought some natural looking brown/black feathers from Walmart in the craft isle for $2.50. That seems to be the only feathers they carry that are worth a crap. Then I did the following:

1. Used my regular Nail Magic Strengthener base coat

2. Used a brown from China Glaze called Ingrid

3. Nail by nail, I put a Seche Vite top coat and applied
    a feather (top part down)

4. Let my nails dry with the feather hanging
    off - (this looked really funny)

5. I then used nail clippers to trim each feather - being
    careful not to clip my actual nail

6. Apply 1 - 2 Top Coats of Seche Vite and your done!!

Before I started this mani, I figured out which feather I was going to use with which finger. You can usually find one that fits perfectly without trimming the sides, but you may have to trim them a little so they will fit every nail perfectly.

All in all I really liked this look and since it was mainly feathers and not polish, it would have lasted a week without chipping or looking worn if I wasn't so anxious to start my first ever Christmas Challenge. :)

Here are a parade of pics. I really need to recharge my camera so I can quit using my iPhone for pics. Sorry.

Enjoy !!

**smiles**
Tara

I'm baaaaack......and a little out of practice!!

Happy Halloween!!!!

I love Halloween, but next week I start my diet!!! I guess that means I can let loose and eat all my sons candy that I want ?????......

I don't really have a great excuse for being gone so long from my blog. My son started his soccer season and work got hectic and we were spring cleaning (in the Fall) which was not too good for long nails, so I had a few breaks.

But enough excuses! Here are some pics of my way out of practice Halloween Mani's. Please don't laugh at the skeleton one......oh, who am I kidding.....go ahead, I laughed at it too!

Oh yea!! I thought of another excuse!!! We adopted another shelter dog!! He's a purebred Chihuahua and is around 2 years old. We named him Frankie and he is adorable and weighs 4.5 lbs. We adopted our first shelter dog a year and a half ago. His name is Carlton and he is a Chihuahua Mix that is 3 years old and weighs 10 lbs. They instantly became inseparable and constantly play fight and run around everywhere together. They are truly best buddies!! They keep me super busy!!

**smiles**
Tara