I feel like I found my creativity, thankfully...

I feel like I found my creativity, thankfully, but just in time to go back to work and be too tired to put something like this together again.  🙁  Boo!

So I know this is totally spring and not summer, but I don't care.  I felt inspired by a plate and I went with it.  I'm happier with these nails than I've been with any of them over the last few months, but with as much other stuff as I have to do I guess I should be glad I have time to paint my nails at all.  Putting the same design on every finger can look really nice, but it's just not me.  Unfortunately, having so many options can be overwhelming, so it usually takes longer for me to decide what to do than to actually do it.  😕

Anyway, I did this the other day and it was ok, but I had stamped the caterpillar down in just black outlines and I really ended up being disappointed that I didn't do a decal instead.  SO... I took that finger off and started again.  😛  Originally I was going to make the caterpillar a cute little pink one, but, well... it made her look kind of phallic, so Shaun picked a blue and we went with that instead.  She's got green leaves and vines around her, as well as pink bow on her head and a yellow flower beside her.  That is much better than trying to discern what you're looking at with no color definition at all!

The background for all of the nails was done using plastic wrap - it's a lime green base with two other greens dabbed on top for texture (probably most visible on my thumb).  If you don't remember what I'm talking about since it's been so long since I've done it, you just crumple up some plastic wrap, dab it in some polish, and then lightly dab your nails until it looks how you want.  Super easy!  It's great for getting a marbled appearance and things like that.

The rest of the nails I explain on Polish All the Things if anyone is interested.  I wasn't planning to make a long post about these nails, but it looks like I did it twice.  LOL  Oh well.  My brain feels all swimmy from lack of sleep.  I think I am rambling.  Ok, done.

Any questions on methods or products, let me know!  ❤❤❤

Various polishes;
Research plates;
Embellishments from BornPretty;
Stamping Decal, Stamping, and Taping Techniques

Spring and Butterflies

I felt like I deserved it so I treated myself last night.  I painted my nails!  Woohoo!  😃

I didn't go with the whole "butterfly on each finger" thing.  I just can't.  It feels so wrong to try to match my nails.  And when I inevitably fail it will look dumb, too because they won't be perfect, so... there's that.  😂

I wish this lighting would have captured the beauty of my base coat, Demure Vixen by Essie.  I know it's not the best match to my skin, but I love the pink / lavender undertone.

I also meant for one of my butterflies to turn out blue (the one on the thumb), but the way I layered the colors it didn't work out that way.  Oh well.  At least it is somewhat different than the green and purple on the ring finger.

Anyway.  I did it.  And I like it.  But I wish I could take it off already and paint something else now.  😂  I'm terrible.

Demure Vixen by Essie and Various polishes;
unbranded plate BC-10 and konad plate m36;
Stone Embellishment from BornPretty;
Reverse Stamping and Layered Stamping techniques

Painted my nails earlier this week.

Painted my nails earlier this week.  It's been MONTHS since I've taken care of them at all so of course they are nubs.  But that's ok!

This paint job was to celebrate spring.  Bugs and flowers and all that.  🙂

I haven't posted anything on my Happy Nails page in ages, but when I went to upload this photo I found that I have over 2000 followers there now.  😳  I am not sure how that happened, but it's SUPER COOL.  Here's hoping I'll have more time now that my schedule has changed to keep up with all this stuff.  🙂

Polishes:
Cheeky plate CH43, Fab UR Nails plate FUN 4;
Stamping and Freehanding techniques

These are my smaller rings.

These are my smaller rings.  I think they are a little larger than a half inch in diameter.  And they have pretty bands.  🙂

Creme de Mint by L'Oreal;

Red Angel plate RA-115;

Stamping technique

Preamp by Orly, Iridescent Glitter, White;

Red Angel plate RA-115;

Stamping technique

Various Blue polishes;

Messy Mansion plate MM29;

Stamping technique

Cinderella by Sinful Colors;

unbranded plate QA40;

Stamping technique

Flakie, White polishes

Silver and Iridescent Glitter polishes (research names);

Fab UR Nails plate FUN11;

Stamping technique

Winterberry by Sinful Colors, White polish;

unbranded plate QA40;

Stamping technique

Siren by Pure Ice;

unbranded plate HD01;

Stamping technique

Sand Dollar Make You Holler by China Glaze;

Fab UR Nails plate FUN11;

Stamping technique

Silver and Iridescent Glitter polishes (research names);

Fab UR Nails plate FUN11;

Stamping technique

You Yacht to Know Better by Finger Paints;

Messy Mansion plate MM13;

Stamping technique

Butterfly nails! 🙂

Butterfly nails!  🙂

I have wanted this stamping plate for a LONG time, but it's always sold out every time I try to order it.  Thank goodness that Ninja Polish had one!

I used all holographic polishes, but I just couldn't get the camera to pick up the rainbows today.  I desperately need a new camera.  My birthday is coming up soon, so maybe I will get one then. Paws crossed!

Research polishes;
Research plate;
Stamping and Dotting techniques

Crappy photo of a kind of crappy manicure.

Crappy photo of a kind of crappy manicure.  I guess it's not bad, but it's really not doing it for me.  I THOUGHT I was in the mood for dragonflies, but maybe not.

Not to mention that I did this last night and if you look at my middle finger, you can see where I broke that nail a couple of hours ago and glued it back together.  Also, on my pointer finger I have chipped and broken it, as well.  I do believe it is time to go and shorten my damn nails.  LOL

Research polishes;
Research plate;
waterslide decals

Been wearing these bright yellow nails all week.

Been wearing these bright yellow nails all week.  This happy bright color was given to me by the lovely Shauna.  😃  Thought I'd run with the brightness and put on some bright decals to make it interesting.  These just came from a drug store I'm pretty sure.  But I thought they were cute and super easy.  I should have let my polish dry a little bit longer before putting them on, but that's ok.  I'll know better next time.

Lemonade Stand by Your Man by OPI;
unbranded stickers

I wanted bugs last night. And nature.

I wanted bugs last night.  And nature.  Didn't even consider how springy these would look when I was done.  Now I'm tired of them already.  LOL  I have no other ideas, and I'm too tired to paint tonight, so I guess I'll keep them a few days.  Oh well.  I think they're cute, even if they aren't what I'm in the mood for.  🙂

Research polishes;
Research plates;
Stamping technique

I ❤ beetles. 🙂

I saved my favorite polish from Janet for last!  It's GREEN LIKE A JUNE BUG!  👀  I hadn't had a chance to use my little gold balls so here they are.  FINALLY.  😃  The whole paint job - color and lumpiness - makes me think of beetles.  I ❤ beetles.  🙂

Research polish;
beads from BornPretty

This is what made me so happy.

This is what made me so happy.  I have a Konad stamping kit that Shaun got me for my birthday. It is SUPER fun.  I can now stamp tiny images on to my nails.  I know that none of this matches each other or go with the colors I have on, but I don't care.  I HAD TO TRY IT OUT!  And sorry my hands look so grody - I was cutting metal before I left work today.

Various Polishes;
konad plates m3, m13, m30;
Watermarble, Taping, and Stamping techniques