Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge - Day 9

It's such a sad day!! :(( Today is the final day of Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge *sniff* I love these challenges because it helps me go outside my comfort level and do things I wouldn't usually do :D

So today's theme is "Recreate Your Favorite".. it could be recreating a day you've already done, or recreating another participant's mani. I knew exactly what I wanted to do! :P

I chose to recreate Day 1 - Galaxy Nails. I completely fell in love with the whole aspect of galaxy nails, and how one nail or design never looks the same as another.. and the color combinations are endless! I think I did pretty good the first time around, but after I did these the other night, it's my absolute favorite of any nail art I've done :D <3

I used Milani Black Swift as my base color, then sponged on Sinful Colors Snow Me White. Then I went in with Wet n Wild Root of All Evil, added more Snow Me White, then sponged on Wet n Wild Toxic Apple. After that, I sponged on China Glaze Pink Plumeria, went back in with Snow Me White and Root of All Evil, and added a little more Pink Plumeria. Dotted on some "stars" using the smallest dotting tool and Snow Me White, let dry, added China Glaze Fairy Dust, and top coated with HK Girl top coat! I'm telling you, these pictures don't do this mani any justice! It is so much more beautiful in person <3

I'm so sad this is the last day! :( I may have to find another challenge or start my own! :P

Don't forget to enter my 300 FB Likes Giveaway!! You still have 10 days to enter! :D

300 Facebook Likes Giveaway!

I recently reached 300 likes on Facebook and thought how awesome it would be to celebrate with a giveaway!!

One person will win 4 polishes! Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Snow Globe, Revlon Heavenly, Revlon Girly, and the once-a-year Sinful Colors Green Ocean.

This is US/Canada only! Maybe the next giveaway will be international, but as of now, I can't afford international shipping and hopefully the Royal Mail fiasco will have been made better!

Good luck to all of you!! <3

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Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge - Day 8

Heeelllloooo my lovelies!! <3 I hope the weekend is treating you all well!! :D I have a very awesome post coming up after this one, so be on the look out for it!! ;)

We're on Day 8 of Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge, which is Polka Dots! I recently bought the new Sinful Colors Sugar Rush Collection (LOVE!!!) and decided to use a few of the polishes to create some polka dots! I used Cotton Candy as my base and used 3 different sized dotting tools to do the dots. I used Sweet Tooth, Orange Cream, Sugar n Spice, and Sweet Nothing for the dots. Absolutely love this mani!! It's so sweet and cheery and just makes me happy :D

See you in a couple of days for the grand finale.. the last day of the challenge, which is Recreate Your Favorite! I already know what I'm doing :D

Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge - Day 7

Can you believe it's Day 7 already?? Well, the last day for Day 7! Only 2 more challenge themes left! :((

Day 7 is Inspired by a Tutorial.. I had a heck of a time doing this one because the tutorials were going to take forever to do, or I just wasn't feeling any of them. I finally settled on cherry blossoms and used the tutorial done by Nails by Kayla Shevonne.

I used 2-3 coats of Sinful Colors Mint Apple, top coated it, used a black Milani nail art polish to do the branches, and for the cherry blossoms, I used my dotting tool and Square Hue High School Crush and Wartime Romance. I tried top coating one finger afterwards and it smeared the blossoms. I tried again in the morning and still smeared! So the trick to NOT smearing is having a light hand when applying top coat :(

See you in a couple of days for the next theme!!

Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge - Day 6

I seriously thought it was Day 7 of the challenge, not Day 6! This cold is really kicking my butt!!

The last time I did gradient nails, it was a huge and total flop! This one turned out so much better, even thought I had to go back and dab some more polish on a couple of fingers. Then this morning, I was picking off the dried top coat on the side of my pinky nail and ended up pulling off the nail polish! I was so upset!

Anywho!! I used 2 coats of China Glaze For Audrey, and I'm sooo glad I bought this because it is just lovely! Then I used a wedge sponge, For Audrey and China Glaze Ripe Watermelon for my gradient. To cover up my oopsies, I sponged on Polish Me Crazy Little Mermaid.

Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge - Day 5

Happy Valentine's Day!! Or Happy Singles Awareness Day if you celebrate that instead :P Just a quick post because I'm trying to clean my room and watch Doctor Who at the same time!!

Today is Day 5 of Erica's Nails and February Nail Art Challenge, and since it is Valentine's Day, today's challenge was a Valentine's mani!!

Deets!! Two coats of China Glaze Naked, which I'm starting not to like! On my ring finger, I did argyle nails with China Glaze Long Kiss and Milani Nail Art White Canvas. On the rest of the fingers, I used (Cross Your Heart &) Kiss Your Elbow Pinky Promise <3

Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge - Day 4

It's Monday! Blah! I may be absent from here, and Facebook for a few days. After complaining of severe stomach pains for 3 days, my husband finally listened to me and went to Express Care to see a doctor, who in turn sent him to the ER, where they determined via CAT scan he had appendicitis. So he was rushed into surgery yesterday and is on the road to recovery. Since he now has an infection they need to clear up, he'll be in the hospital until at least Wednesday :(( Miss my hubby! So for now it's just me and the two kiddos, which is why I'll probably be quiet for awhile. Right now, it's just me and Eli, since he was sick and I kept him home from daycare :((

Anyway!! It's Day 4 of Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge, which is inspired by a pattern. I knew instantly what I wanted to do with this. My boss and his brother are huge fans of argyle, so I wanted to try that out :) Unfortantely, adding the white bits was a huge flop! Even though I'm not happy with it, I'm still going to post the pics :P A challenge is a challenge for a reason, and now I know to use a tinier, skinnier brush instead of the one that came with the nail art polish :@ And to keep in mind that, hey! You have tiny fingernails! Stop trying to use a brush the size of a broom to make lines!! Definitely going to try this out again :D

The lilac is Revlon Enchanting, the darker purple is Revlon Colorstay Amethyst, and the white is Milani Nail Art White Canvas. Everything was done free handed :)

 (see the smudges on my pinky?? I tried using a toothpick, tried to rub it off, then went back over with the nail art brush. EPIC FAIL!!)

Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge - Day 3

Hiiiii!! I almost totally forgot to post this!! Egads!! I've been so busy with work, being mom, and watching Doctor Who, that I forgot about getting this posted :P

I have a lot of stuff to package up tonight, so this is a quick post! Day 3 of Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge is "Glitter Loaded." I recently went off of my no buy and bought Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Blue Me Away! and NOPI Confetti Fun from the Selena Gomez Collection and knew immediately what I wanted to do.. JELLY SANDWICH!!

I used 2 coats of Blue Me Away! and 2 coats of Confetti Fun. I didn't get a picture of those two by themselves, but it was awesome!! Then I added 2 coats of Zoya Frida, which just changed it completely! It is so SO gorgeous in person. I love jelly sandwiches.. the combinations are endless <3

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See you in a couple of days for Day 4: Inspired by a Pattern! Already know what I'm doing.. hope it turns out well! :D

Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge - Day 2

Howdy do, everyone!! Well, Monday is getting ready to come to an end. Hope yours was better than mine! Aaaahh, the joys of working in a pharmacy and having to explain insurance to patients! :P

Anywho! We're on Day 2 of Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge, which is Half Moons. I'm on the fence with half moons. They look great on everyone else, but I don't think they look good on my tiny fingernails :(

I used 2 coats of LAQA&Co Chubs, which is a really pretty light gold shimmer polish, almost bordering on being a foil. Then I applied my hole reinforcements after I cut them to help them stick to my nails without getting leakage underneath them :P I used 2 coats of China Glaze Naked and 2 coats of Daily Lacquer Makoto <3

See you in a couple of days for Glitter-Loaded Nails!! <3

Erica's Nails and More February Nail Art Challenge - Day 1!!

YES!!! It's finally here!!! Erica at Erica's Nails and More is hosting the February Nail Art Challenge!! I'm so excited!! I participated in the last challenge she hosted and it seems like ages ago!!

Because February only has 28 days, it's a 9-day challenge instead of 10, with one challenge only being 2 days to squeeze in a special Valentine's Day mani! :D Here is the line up!!

I actually started early on this challenge, but since I'm just now typing up the blog post for it, it really doesn't matter, does it?? :P

Day 1 is Galaxy Nails and I am sooo glad this was the first theme, because I had so much fun with this!! I took a ton of pictures to try and capture the awesomesauce that are the galaxies I created. Can't wait to do this again!

After applying base coat, I applied 2 coats of my current favorite black, Milani Black Swift. I cut a cosmetic wedge in half, put a little bit of Orly Mysterious Curse on an index card and used the sponge to apply the first color of my nebulas. Then I used Julep Daphne and Sinful Colors Jungle Trail around Mysterious Curse. Added a bit of Sinful Colors Boom Boom and because it was too pink, dabbed on Sinful Colors Snow Me White, then added more Boom Boom because it was too white, LOL. Added a bit more Mysterious Curse and I was done with that part! Grabbed my dotting tool and used Snow Me White to add some random stars. Think maybe they came out too big, though! Fished a few glitters out of OPI Pirouette My Whistle and  placed them randomly, as well. Added a layer of China Glaze Fairy Dust and 2 coats of HK Top Coat and I was done!! I think it took me about an hour to do :D