Stripes and Checks

I was inspired to do this awesome nail art from YouTuber Meliney (search for Meliney nail art!)--she posts lots of cool nail art tutorials, so you should go check her out!

I started with a base of Zoya's Rocha. I then used a red nail striper from Shany Cosmetics to make vertical stripes down each nail. I used a Fimo rod I purchased from Amazon and a razor to cut a few thin pieces. I adhered these to the nail using clear polish, then sealed them on with a top coat of Seche Vite. I did this with each nail except the ring finger.

For the ring finger, I did a base of Rocha, used the red striper, then painted a coat of Seche Vite. I let this dry about 10 minutes, then, using a piece of Scotch tape, I taped off the top 2/3 of the nail, leaving the bottom 1/3 exposed. I painted this portion with Zoya's Purity. I waited for this to dry for a couple of minutes, then went in with a flat nail art brush and Ebony Hates Chris to make the checkered pattern. I then added a Fimo rod flower to the center of the nail and finished with a coat of Seche Vite. 

Neon with Shades of Gray

I saw this nail idea from ibeautyideas.com. I started by painting a white base. Then, using a thin nail art brush, I painted upsidedown V's with Salon Perfect Yowza Yellow, a custom color made by mixing white and Rimmel London's Gray Matter, Gray Matter, and Zoya's Raven. I completely filled in the bottom portion with Raven. I added a diamond-shaped rhinestone to the ring finger's base. I finished with a coat of Seche Vite. 

50 Shades of Purple

Ok, so it's only two shades, not 50. Don't spoil it for me!! So I saw these on Nails 2 Die For on Facebook--once again, the artist was not credited so that's as much info as I can give you all. Mine aren't quite as sharp and neat as the person's, but I still really like them!

Colors:  White--Zoya's Purity
              Black--Essie's Licorice
              Gray--Rimmel London's Gray Matter
              Light Purple--Essie's Play Date
              Dark Purple--Zoya's Mira

Left pinky: White base, two diagonal stripes of dark purple, and I used Shany nail striper #16 (dark gray) to outline each side of the stripe.

Left ring finger: White base, black dots with a dotting tool

Left middle finger: Light purple base, various sized dotting tools using gray and dark purple. Then I placed rose gold nail beads around in a circle along the outside of the nail.

Left pointer: Dark purple base. Using Mash stamp plate #38 and black, I stamped a checkerboard. Then I placed rhinestones at a few of the corners.

Left thumb: Light purple base, dark purple moon on the cuticle. When it dried, I used Sally Hansen nail art pen in Periwinkle to draw uneven lines out from the edge of the moon.

Right thumb: Half white/half light purple base. Using the nail art pen I drew uneven lines along the midline.

Right pointer: White base. Stamp the checkerboard with gray. Fill in some of the white squares with dark purple using a dotting tool. Place rose gold nail beads at each of the corners.

Right middle finger: Black base, white dots with a dotting tool.

Right ring finger: Dark purple base, light purple and gray dots with various sized dotting tools.

Right pinky: Light purple base. Used the Shany nail striper to make three diagonal lines. Used a dotting tool and white to make dots between the lines.

I finished everything off with a coat of Seche Vite.

Coral and Gray with Polka Dots

I saw this mani on Nails 2 Die For on Facebook. I changed it slightly but it's the same basic idea.

I used Essie's Sunday Funday on nails 1, 3, & 5, and Rimmel London's Gray Matter on 2 & 4. I used a fan brush and gray matter and made stripes on the pinkies. I used a dotting tool and opposite colors to make dots on the middle and ring fingers. On the pointer fingers, I used two different sized dotting tools to make dots running vertically with Sunday funday. Then using the smaller dotting tool, I made a dot with gray matter in the bigger dot. I used a plastic bow and stuck it to my thumb with clear polish. I topped it with a coat of Seche Vite.

Patchwork Shapes

I LOVE these nails! They are just almost too cute for words ;) Although mine are not as cute as the picture I got them from (saw them on Nails 2 Die For on Facebook--again, the artist was not credited). If I do them again, I think I will use a Sally Hansen nail art pen rather than a thin nail art brush to have thinner lines.

I started with a base of Essie's Sunday Funday. I made the heart, triangle, and square on the middle and ring fingers. Using Sunday Funday and a dotting tool, I made various sized dots in some of the shapes; then using the same color and a thin nail art brush, I made stripes in some of the shapes also. Using a thin nail art brush and Essie's Licorice, I traced around each shape and added hash marks around the edges to represent "stitching". I finished with a top coat of Seche Vite.

Roses and Stripes

I got this nail design from The Nailasaurus (www.thenailasaurus.com) - I thought it was so pretty and girlie!

I started with a black base coat (Raven by Zoya). I made white stripes with a white nail striper (ironic, yes?!) from Shany Cosmetics. With a large dotting tool, I made 3 blue dots on each nail (OPIs Suzi Says Feng Shui). Using a thin nail art brush and a dark blue (Michelle by Julip) I made "shadow" pieces inside the roses. With the same brush, I made highlights with a light blue color (Essie's lilacism - I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be a light purple but I think it could swing either way). Then using a light green (Essie's mojito madness) and the same thin brush, I drew 1-2 leaves on each rose. I finished with a top coat (Seche Vite) and that was that!

This is probably some of the most detailed nail art I've done in awhile but it was just so pretty that I couldn't pass it up :)