I'm not in love with these and...

I'm not in love with these and the stones weren't a great idea (Shaun told me so), but they're not bad. This is a pretty purple polish with an orange flash, so I wanted to use gel stamping polish and chrome powder to see if I could make it look like the orange was cracking through. It didn't turn out the way my brain expected, but that's ok. It was fun to do them and  I'm gonna keep them on until I'm tired of them. 😂

Research polish;

Research plate;

Stamping technique

These are the nails I tested on Shaun...

These are the nails I tested on Shaun - chrome powders over magnetics.  They look really neat!

Write recipes here

Me all day:

Video

JReine?

I never did anything else to these.

I never did anything else to these.  I just haven't been energetic lately, and that's probably because I'm not allowed to exercise.  So this is what I'm wearing this week.  No complaints.

Taken in direct sun to show the holographic flame

Taken in indirect light to show the chrome shift

I painted my nails the other day.

I painted my nails the other day. There's a lot going on here.

I used a milky white gel base, then applied a unicorn powder on that. Then, since those flake off the tips easily and I type a lot I sponged a sparkly gradient from the free edge. I stamped one nail because OBVIOUSLY I needed to. 😂 If only I had some stones here with me I would have put at least one of those on there, too - right near the cuticle of my ring finger.

But anyway. I had fun and treated myself to something pretty. Got kind of a "gelly sandwich" going on here. I like it. 😃

Research polish;
Research plates;
Stamping and Sponge Gradient techniques

Phone pic is all I've got, but...

Phone pic is all I've got, but these are my nails. I was going for a fall-ish theme, but Shaun said that they look like wrapping paper and I can't un-see it. 😂😂😂

Research polish;
Research plates;
Layered Stamping and Stamping Decal techniques

Every year...

Every year my work hosts an event for the employees. This year it's in Montana and it starts tomorrow. Since me and the other ATCs are still considered trainees we're not invited. We did get the week off with pay, though, and WHO in their right mind could complain about that after only 2 weeks with the company?

Not me. I flew home yesterday. Did the "connecting flight" and "check a bag" thing both for the first time AND all by myself. Made it here in time to celebrate Shaun's 40th birthday with him tomorrow. I missed my family. I missed home. But in my new position is absolutely where I want to be and the time spent away from home for training is going to be worth it for us all. Can't blame me for having so much enthusiasm.

#LFG

Research polishes;
Research plates;
Layered Stamping technique

Better shot of my nails.

Better shot of my nails. Still dry cuticles, and dirty creases because I'd been playing in my plants. (Sorry.)

Even though white polish doesn't look great on me I enjoyed these while they lasted, which was about 2 weeks and that's impressive to me since I'm rough on my hands and wash them about 391204 times every day.

I used a plain white gel as a base, then topped it with aurora powder, or one of two types of holographic powders. I was mostly just playing around and testing the powders out since I bought them ages ago and hadn't had time to use them. Also, I was procrastinating doing my enormous math final exam and this was a fun distraction.

The final touches were the holographic snowflakes. Those were decals. I'd also had 3 gemstones on my nails; a clear crystal at the corner of the snowflake on my index finger and two iridescent ones on my middle finger. They were pretty, but I hadn't really planned to share this mani and waited until I'd abused it a bit before changing my mind and photographing it. So you'll have to use your imagination on the stones. 😂

There was definitely a lot going on here, but I liked it while it lasted. I don't usually get this extravagant anymore, but like I said I was experimenting and it turned out ok.

Blurry nail pic.

Rooting this tiny piece of plant in water. I took this photo over a week ago, and little plant is currently doing well.

Shaun seems to think that baby / small succulents in teensy vials of water is a marketable idea. I admit that they are cute, but this is obviously not a long-term setup. 

I had just done my nails when this was taken. They didn't fare as well because I've been playing in my plants a lot lately. But doing them is half the fun, so that's ok. (Sorry about my dry cuticles. Blegh.)

Gel, Chrome, Stamping

I am feeling a bit better today.

I am feeling a bit better today.  I've got a list of things to do before school starts back.  One thing on the list was posting the nails I did over SPRING BREAK.  🤣🤣🤣  I have been behind on life.  I haven't done anything fancy since these, although I've wanted to.  It just takes effort.

These were inspired by my succulents, obviously.  The multichrome polishes are by Tonic Nail Polish and the stamping plates are from Maniology.

Research polish and plates;
Stamping and Stamping Decal techniques

This isn't nail art, but I'm proud of it anyway.

TRIGGER WARNING:  Minor (non-bloody) Nail Trauma
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This isn't nail art, but I'm proud of it anyway. One of these nails is a reconstruction. As most everyone knows I struggle with psoriatic disease. Sometimes it attacks my bones. Since I was 13 or so, it has attacked my skin. Over the last couple of years I've had 2 fingernails affected.

I think it's pretty obvious which nail is fake (the pointer finger), but I feel that at a glance it's not noticeable. I know it's not perfect, but I'm not upset. This was my first attempt at sculpting with hard gel. Also, more importantly - having this protection over my damaged nail is a lot more comfortable and is preventing additional damage from snags.

Wearing Light of Lyra by Tonic. Picture of the nail damage below the next paragraph (it's not gory, but just FYI in case you are bothered by that).

Light of Lyra by Tonic

This is the reconstructed nail without polish. As you can see, my actual nail is trimmed short and then cut away almost down to the cuticle where it had lifted away from the nail plate. Believe it or not, it was really sore before I cut away all of the un-attached nail. Since psoriasis makes cells reproduce too fast, there was pressure and buildup under the nail. Removing it didn't hurt at all and made it feel a lot better, but left it vulnerable to snags and I was constantly messing with it. Now it is protected.

Since the gel is clear I can remove the polish to check on how my nail is doing. If the pressure from the psoriasis returns I can easily remove the gel, clean my nail plate, and replace it. Added bonus is that I can make it look super similar to my other nails while I wait for it grow out. 😊

Painted my nails the other day.

Painted my nails the other day.  Wanted to share them sooner, but got lazy.  Then wrecked the thumb on the fridge this morning.  😂😂😂  I took that as a sign that I'd better hurry up and get a photo.

I'm wearing Tonic Nail Polish, of course.  The lighter color is called "Red Right Hand" and the accent nail is "Firefly."  The red glow in Red Right hand really pops next to Firefly.  I stamped the lighter ones to darken them up a bit and make them even more interesting to look at.

I'm sorry that this isn't the best photo.  I don't know what to say other than that I'm tired and didn't want to try anymore. I think this rainy weather is making me want to hide under blankets and cuddle the animals.  LOL

Anyway.  This is the closest I've come to nail art on myself in quite a while.  😕

Red Right Hand and Firefly by Tonic Polish;
Research plate;
Stamping technique

For the first time in FAR TOO LONG...

For the first time in FAR TOO LONG I did my nails.  When school is in I'm lucky if I get to throw down a coat of something pretty, so I've been missing this.

It didn't take a ton of creative energy to do this or anything - it's a mermaid look I've been wanting to wear for a while.  The amazing blue base is Alfheim by Illyrian Polish.  It has these green flakies that you can see on my middle finger that in certain lighting has this mani looking more green / teal.  I thought it was perfect for a summer / beachy kind of theme.

I've missed this so, so much.  Maybe I can squeeze in another mani before school starts back next month.  A girl can dream!😍

Alfheim by Illyrian;
Research plate;
Stamping Decal technique

So these were the other nails I did last month.

So these were the other nails I did last month.  Tonic SLAYS. ME.  These are the most beautiful and shifty polishes ever.  If you're interested in owning some I'd head on over to the Tonic Polish group and see what they are releasing on Sunday because I promise you it's pretty.  Some of it is limited edition due to lack of pigment and some of it will be back.  This is how it goes when you're a single-person indie polish maker and you've suddenly (and rightfully) become one of the most sought-after indie polish brands.

Pardon my claw hands and wonky angles, but I just needed for y'all to see the color changes and the flakies in this ONE. SINGLE. POLISH.  I also stamped on it with a shifty stamping polish so in certain lights it blended in and in others it popped.  I remember staring at my fingers a lot when I wore this.  I've got several Tonics that do that to me - including my proposal set that I hoard like treasure and rarely wear.  😂  I'm so bad because I love them so much that I never want to run out, but you just can't enjoy them the same in the bottle as you can when they are on you and with you all the time.

Anyway I just popped in to show these off.  Even though I felt pretty rough yesterday I have a little bit of energy today so I'm gonna get up and use it instead of sit here at the computer.  I hope you all have a lovely weekend.  🙂

Research polish;
Bundle Monster plate BM-319;
Stamping technique, Magnetized

It's been two weeks since my last nail post.

It's been two weeks since my last nail post.  I still haven't updated Instagram.  I even wore a new polish before this one and did nothing at all to it.  Who am I?  😱

I don't know if it was the stress of finals or what, but I feel like I've lost my nail art mojo recently.  😢  I'm just not in the head-space to be creative, and I'm almost content to just shape my nails and throw on something pretty.  It's not as though I've had a super lot of down-time, though.

Finals were Wednesday, I had errands and housework to catch up on on Thursday, then we went away on Friday.  Which yes  - that was nice, but it was travel and I came home exhausted despite doing nothing.  The rest of Saturday and basically all of Sunday was spent visiting family, and then yesterday I started freelancing pretty hard to get up some cash before classes start at JSU next week.  So I guess I shouldn't beat myself up that nail art isn't my priority at the moment, but it's something I always look forward to doing when I think I will have some free time, so not doing it for whatever reason just feels like a bummer.  😕

ANYWAY.  I'm wearing a polish that I've wanted for a while now.  I finally got my hands on it!  It is Chromosphere by Supernatural Lacquer, and it's SO PRETTY.  It's holographic but has this cool pink chrome shift to it that you can see peeking through on the nail and at the top of the bottle. That is more prominent in real life and in other lighting, but it is lit up in this photo so that the holo shines.  Also, the flakies in it are giving me life!

All I had time to do / felt like doing / could bear to do to this polish was stamp a couple of nails, so this is it.  It's what I'm wearing for probably the rest of the week unless I suddenly come across some energy or inspiration (or preferably both).

Happy Tuesday, friends!  ❤️

Chromosphere by Supernatural Lacquer;
Research plate;
Stamping technique

Still haven't even messed with Instagram.

Still haven't even messed with Instagram.  One day.  LOL

I got hung up on a 4 in Calculus.  I have asked some classmates as well as the teacher where that came from, but I still don't understand, so I took a break to post my nails.  LOL  I feel really dumb because it is probably ridiculously simple, but I'm tired and my brain is tired and I didn't know what else to do.

So... I did these a few days ago when my brain was too tired for studying.  This is a new polish from Lollipop Posse Lacquer, and the name of the polish is "The Future is Coming On."  If that sounds familiar to anyone it's because it is a song lyric, which is what their latest collection was about.  This was actually one of my favorite polishes of the collection, not to mention that the lyric is from one of my favorite bands.  Obviously, I had to have this polish.

I'm just wearing one coat of polish, so you can see my nail line under the stamping if you look closely, as well as the difference between my nail bed and tip on the ring finger.  I really wanted to go with something sheer and sparkly and delicate, paired with a strong shape and pattern and color.  I guess I was in the mood for many levels of contrast.  LOL

One of my favorite things about this polish (which you can see just fine IRL, but it shows better in the bottle in this photo) is the red to gold to green iridescent glitters.  If you look at the left and right of the bottle near the top they are pretty visible (in green and red).  I love getting the flashes of color when they change.

Anyway.  I am off to eat some dinner and then maybe (hopefully) wrap my brain around where this 4 came from.  Later, friends.  ❤

The Future is Coming On by Lollipop Posse Lacquer;
Research plate;
Stamping & Taping techniques;

I'm about to take these off...

I'm about to take these off; I've been wearing them for probably a week.  I've been meaning to post, but I've been too crazy to bother.  For anyone who follows me on Instagram @Polish_ALL_TheThings you might have noticed that I still haven't even posted my last mani there.  Maybe I will do it this weekend, but no promises.

I haven't felt super great and so therefore I'm not feeling creative, so this is what it is.  However, the special thing about this paint job (to me) is the polish.  It is one I've wanted since August of 2014.  It's an indie polish, so it was only made for a short time.  I got it in a destash and I am so happy.  The color is "Refresh...ing" by Colors By Llarowe.

Side note about my nails:  I REALLY REALLY like the way this shape looks and despite my arthritis / grip problems the shape has proven to hold up on me better than any other so far.  But I think I might have to round the points just a touch, or either start sleeping in gloves.  I have woken up 3 times within recent memory because I was being stabbed BY MY OWN SELF.  🤣🤣🤣  Twice in the face and once on my side if I'm keeping score.  I haven't left any marks, but they are definitely sharp enough for it to hurt.  They feel AH-MAZING when I have an itch, though.  🤤

Anyway.  I'm off to paint my nails.  I don't have the brainpower currently to do Calculus and I've done enough Literature for one day.  I'm gonna chill tonight.  I think it is necessary.

❤❤❤

Refresh...ing by Colors by Llarowe;
Research plate;
Stamping technique

Neon nails!

Neon nails!

I think my camera just couldn't handle the neon yellow.  My skin looks dead and the neon doesn't quite pop.  I don't know what to do, but I have mid-terms coming up, so I can't edit on this photo all day.  😜

So even though it's been rainy here the inspiration for these was the sun!  The hot, blinding, Alabama sun.  ☀️🌞☀️🌞☀️

These are not colors I'd normally wear, but I had an idea and ran with it.  The base is an orange to yellow gradient, and then I've got some sparkle thrown on there, then topped with a metallic red stamped image.  I think they look interesting, but I'm not sure if I like them.  LOL  I will probably take them off and do something for Independence Day soon.  I feel like these hurt my eyeballs.  😂😂😂

Research polishes;
Research plates;

Sponge Gradient and Stamping techniques

I should be studying, but I have a headache and I'm in a bad mood.

I should be studying, but I have a headache and I'm in a bad mood.  So... I edited my nail pics and here I am instead.  😬

I've been wanting to try my hand at doing marble / stone nails, but it's so hit or miss whether they turn out nice.  There are quite a few techniques that will get a similar look, but I never found one before now that would give me consistent results.  I did some for Shaun once that looked nice, but I couldn't make it happen again for myself with that same technique, so it was pretty frustrating.

I'm gonna keep this short because I am a tired grump and I have emails and other notifications to deal with, but believe it or not I did these WITH A SYRINGE.  I saw a quick tutorial on Instagram, so I was like "Why not?"  Funny thing is - this is the backside of the polish - the flip side of what the person in the tutorial had showing on her nails, but I liked it better, so whatever.  😜

I hope you all are having a good week.  I have not yet recovered from yesterday, but hopefully I will soon.  ❤

Research polishes

Last night was one of those nights...

Last night was one of those nights where even though my mani was hanging on I was ready for something different.  And I wanted something kind of moody, which is why my ring finger is wearing her lingerie.  😉  Her fishnets are ripped and she doesn't even care!  😳

"Sheer black" is a thing that was popular for a while.  It might be over now, but I still see it on nail art pages on Instagram, so whatever.  😜  At first I hated the way it looked, but I guess it grew on me.  I'm sure that someone sells a sheer black by now, but I mixed my own.  That's probably my first and last foray into frankening my own polish.  It's wasn't hard or anything, but it's nothing I care to do.  I just added drops of black polish to a bottle of clear until it looked about how I wanted it to.

Anyway, nothing new here - no fancy nail art techniques or anything.  I am wearing two of my most favorite colors; Kinbaku by Femme Fatale and Cyber Punk by Vapid, so in this case the polish IS the art.  There is really nothing else needed to make your claws pop when you have such pretty polishes to wear.  I am not sure if these will last the weekend - I'm almost certain that I will want to play in polish again, but Shaun has offered to let me paint him up, so I just might.  😁

Research polishes;
Research plates;
Embellishments from BornPretty;
Stamping technique