Saran Wrap Nails

Kate's Nails

I've been seeing Saran Wrap nails all over the nail blogs lately, so I had to try it out for myself.  To create this look, you start by painting on your base color and letting it dry completely.  Then paint on your top color, and while it's still dry, dab it with a balled up piece of saran wrap.  It created this awesome marbled look.  For these nails I used a grey base color with Zoya's Natty as the top color.  I'm excited to try these again using different color combinations!

 



Fall Stripes with OPI Schnapps Out Of It!

Kate's Nails

Now that we're back in school, I'm diving head first into fall colors.  There are so many gorgeous colors in the fall collections this year!  One of the fantastic collections out there is OPI's Germany Collection.  I've already mentioned how in love I am with MY VERY FIRST KNOCKWURST, and today I have some nail art featuring Schnapps Out Of It to share.  This is a burnt butterscotch color, and the formula is wonderful.  This picture shows two very light coats.  Another home run from the Germany Collection!  I paired it with China Glaze's Liquid Leather, Sinful Colors Snow Me White, and Sally Hansen's Fairy Teal to create this design. 

 



Don't Talk Bach to Me Stamping

Cara's Nails

There are a TON of great fall color collections currently hitting the stores! Along with several other fall fabulous polishes, I picked up Don't Talk Bach to Me from the OPI Germany Collection. This is a very interesting neutral green color. I was not sure how I would feel about it once it was on my nails but I can now say that this color will probably be one of my favorites for the fall. Using the chevron pattern from Konad plate BM-201, I stamped Monica from the Zoya Designer Collection. Monica is a beautiful understated purple. I love the way these two colors together!

Composition Notebook Nails

Kate's Nails

That time of year is upon us once again - back to school.  I am definitely not ready for summer to end!  Tomorrow, teachers report to school, and the students start a week later.  Yesterday, I went to Staples to get some school supplies.  I bought composition books for all the students in one of my classes.  As I was waiting in line for what felt like a year (I wasn't the only one taking advantage of 10 cent composition books!), I came up with the idea to do composition book nails.  One bright side of the school year starting is that it brings inspiration for fun nails :)

Polishes Used:

Sinful Colors Snow Me White

China Glaze Liquid Leather

Revlon Blue Slate

Wet N Wild Red Red



Pink Lemonade Nails

Cara's Nails

My summer is officially ending tomorrow. Sad I know. As a tribute to a wonderful summer of relaxing in the sun, I created this Pink Lemonade manicure. I used Happy Go Lucky by China Glaze and Coral Reef by Sally Hansen Xtreme wear. Both colors have gotten a lot of use in my various creations this summer.

Baltimore Ravens Nails - Preseason Game 2!

Kate's Nails

Tonight the Ravens play the Lions in the second preseason game!  Today is Purple Friday (every Friday during football season in Baltimore is called Purple Friday), and it's a game day, so I needed some special nails for the occasion.  Go Ravens!!

Polishes Used:

Revlon Impulsive

China Glaze Liquid Leather

Essie Good as Gold

Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Ulta Taupe on a Rope

Sonia Kashuk Chocoholic



Loving Blue

Cara's Nails

I love the color blue!! Any manicure I compile in my head somehow has blue in it. So to show my love of the wonderful color blue, here is my Loving Blue manicure. The grayish blue base coat is Chic by Revlon. My middle finger is the same base under two coats of Diamonds by Sally Hansen Diamond Strength.The navy blue is Petrol by Sally Hansen Salon Manicures. Unfortunately, the photograph does not do this color justice. Lastly, I used Blue Rhapsody by Essie for the details and on my pointer finger. 

OPI - My Very First Knockwurst

Kate's Nails

Everyone has been talking about the new OPI Germany collection, and after seeing it in person, I know why!  I could have easily picked up the entire collection, but I showed some restraint and only bought two.  I got Schnapps Out of It (which I'll be reviewing next), and My Very First Knockwurst.  I'll be picking up Unfor-Greta-Bly Blue and Nein! Nein! Nein! OK Fine! next time I'm out. 

So on to My Very First Knockwurst.  This is my new favorite nude.  Out of all the nude polishes I own, this one compliments my skin tone (super pale) best.  It has a definite rosy-pink to it, especially in sunlight.  The pictures below are three coats, but I did them thin, so you could probably get away with two thicker coats.  This polish wears well too - I've had it on for two days now, and it's just starting to chip (which is really good for me! I keep my nails short, so I usually chip within a day).  In the pictures below, I put one coat of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Strobe Light on my ring finger.

For swatches of all the Germany collection colors, visit THE LACQUEROLOGIST



Dotting Tool Nails with Ulta Polishes

Kate's Nails

Today's nails feature four polishes by Ulta: Concrete Evidence, Joined at the Hippo, Blue Streak, and Maine Attraction. I'm an Ulta-holic, and picked up Blue Streak and Maine Attraction last time they had a buy one get one free sale.  Joined at the Hippo is one of my favorite polishes. It's a perfect rich navy.  Concrete Evidence is my go-to grey these days.  This design is super easy to create.  Just start with one color, and make a lot of dots at the tip of your nail, and less as you go on.  Repeat with each color, and voilà!



Baltimore Ravens Training Camp Nails

Kate's Nails

I am a HUGE Baltimore Ravens football fan, and today they hosted an open practice not far from my house.  Obviously, I had to do nails for the occasion!  During the football season, I do different Ravens themed nails for every game.  Recently I ordered some nail decals of the Ravens logo.  The logo is really detailed, and there's no way I could hand paint it on my nails (believe me, I've tried).  The decal was super easy to use, and I love how it looks!  You can buy the decals HERE. 

Polishes Used:

Wet N Wild Buffy the Violet Slayer

Ulta Taupe on a Rope

Sonia Kashuk Chocoholic

Sinful Colors Snow me White



Stained Glass

Cara's Nails

I have been struggling to come up with anymore summer manicure ideas. Then I thought what is a better place to find inspiration than on a bathing suit!! This particular suit has a fun geometric pattern filled with cool colors. The pattern sort of mimics a stained glass window. The base is Mojito Madness from Essie. It's a beautiful crisp green color. 

Sunflower Nails

Kate's Nails

In YESTERDAY'S POST we asked for your suggestions or ideas for nail art (if you have an idea, share it with us and we'll try and make it happen!!).  A fellow teacher suggested that, since we are almost at the end of summer vacation (I don't want to talk about it...), we should do some summer themed nails.  One of the suggestions was sunflowers.  I'm pretty happy with how these came out.  What do you think??

Polishes Used:

Zoya Farah

Ulta Sun-Sational

Sonia Kashuk Chocoholic

Ulta Taupe on a Rope



Help us out, please!!

So I'm sitting here staring at all my nail supplies, and I have NO IDEA what design I should do! So many polishes, so many supplies, and I've got nothing.  So, I thought I would ask you all for some ideas.  What nail art would you like to see? Certain colors? Patterns?  Any designs that you'd like a tutorial for? Some crazy design idea that you want to see us try and pull off? Leave a comment with an idea, and when I have nail block, I'll take one of your suggestions :)

Lime and Blue Mani

Cara's Nails

Polishes I used:

Ulta Professionals: Maine Attraction

Sinful Colors- Innocence

Olry: Shine On Crazy Diamond

Konad Stamping Manicure

Kate's Nails

Tonight's manicure features a stamp from Konad's plate m63.  I haven't done a full stamping manicure in a while.  Yesterday I tried stamping an accent nail with the gold I just bought from Essie's Mirror Metallics collection, and I loved it.  So today, when Cara and I made an impromptu polish shopping trip to Walgreens, I picked up Essie's No Place Like Chrome, which is the silver color from the Mirror Metallics.  I stamped it over Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear's Coral Reef and Ulta's Maine Attraction.  Cara has owned Coral Reef for a while, and I've been eyeing it up (especially when she used it in THIS DESIGN) , so I finally picked it up today.  Doing this manicure makes me want to buy Bundle Monster's 2012 plate collection and try some new stamping designs!



Zoya Ivanka

Kate's Nails

I bought Zoya's Ivanka a month or two ago, but hadn't used it. Now that I've tried it, I am completely in love with this glitter polish!! It goes on beautifully, and covers in two coats. The color changes depending on the light. Sometimes its a green teal, other times its a rich emerald. I bling'd up this manicure with some gems from Michael's. Love it!