Bikini Beach

Inspiration:  Color

Products: Essie Bobbing for Baubles, Square Hue Wailea, Finger Paints Art Nouv-Yellow, Deborah Lippmann Defying Gravity, Julep Olivia

Thoughts: These muted hues made for a rather fun summer look - a good alternative to bright neons.  I do have to say, though, that I am very disappointed with this Square Hue polish (the tan).  This was my second time using it after getting it last month, and the polish in the bottle is forming an wonderful gradient as the dye all sinks to the bottom and it won't mix no matter how much I roll it.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Inspiration:  Flotsam and Jetsam on page 113 of the May/June 2014 issue of Nail It!

Products: Essie Bobbing for Baubles, Indie Polish Joni, Art Club Nail Art Duo White, Color Club Look Book, and Finger Paints Wild for Art

Thoughts: The current issue of Nail It has a some nautical themed ideas, including some tutorials.  I skipped the last step (which was to outline in black), but I think these turned out cute.  I do need a better gold striper, though.

Go Bloom

Inspiration:  Runway Nail Art How To: Go Bloom! on page 36 of the March/April 2014 issue of Nail It!

Products:  Ruffian Ruffian Cire Noir and Delirium, Art Club Nail Art Duo White, Essie Jamaica Me Crazy, Finger Paints Art Nouv-Yellow and Art Hue Serious?

Thoughts: This ended up being a little easier than it looks, but I did end up not putting the final black outlines and dots on because I simply had no room.  In the picture, Delirium looks blue, but it is really the most awesome royal purple.  And I'm not sure why my non-accent nails turned out so bubbly.  My mom was watching me paint it, and it wasn't until the end that she understood it was a flower, not a starfish, but now I'll have to try a starfish over the summer.

Sunshine on My Toes

Inspiration: Color

Products: Finger Paints Art Nouv-Yellow, Nubar Kristal

Thoughts: It's spring and I was sunshine, so I put some on my toes.  It is hard to see in the picture, but Kristal adds nice sparkle like rays of light.

Building Blocks

Inspiration:  Wedding Belles - Building Blocks on page 111 of the March/April 2014 issue of Nail It!

Products:  Julep Nicolette and Kennedy, Color Club Put a Pin In It, Zoya Dot, Finger Paints Wild for Art

Thoughts: So this is supposed to be a wedding mani, but I changed it up by using some not-quite pastels.  I also only did an accent finger and then painted each remaining finger one of the four colors.  The striping brush in the Finger Paints was fine but the formula was rather runny, so I didn't get as nice a line as I had hoped.