TopCoatIt

I seriously can’t get enough of these cartoon nails lately. Yes, I did them again.I love the gradient addition to the design though. I’m quite happy with the gradient by itself. I took extra care to make sure I blended it well. Then outlined it and added the highlight with acrylic paints.

The polishes I used for this design were Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow, Revlon Peachy and NYX Girl Pink Strawberry and topped it off with Chill Zone top coat.  If you haven’t tried Cutepolish’s animated cartoon nails tutorial yet, you should.  It’s my newest favorite.

I don’t think crackles are dead. There’s a time and place for them. They’re fun to get a little creative with too, like how I incorporated it into my fishtail braid yesterday.
Today, I’ve used two different blue crackles to create a gradient effect. I used OPI DS Temptation underneath and OPI Blue and Turquoise Shatters on top. Because you really only have one chance with crackles, I simply brushed them on. Blue at the cuticle and turquoise at the tip.

Are you over crackles or do you still use them in your designs?

I’ve seen this type of mani stamped many times. I really like it, but being that I don’t stamp, I freehanded it and I just have to deal with imperfect lines.

I used three new polishes for this mani. The hubs and our daughter picked these up for me for my birthday a couple months ago and this is the first time I’m using them. Portobello, Holland Park and Notting Hill Gate are three new neon shades from Nails Inc. These are all jelly-ish; not in your face jellies, but not full on cremes either.

Because these polishes blended so well together, to do this gradient I just polished them each on one after the other. No sponges necessary. I used a small striping brush and black acrylic to do the stripes.

Is that a long enough title for you?  Gradient, argyle skittles for Easter.  This is such a happy manicure.I love how many manicures can be done with the same set of polishes. I’ve been using these same polishes for the past several manicures.

For this mani I used Revlon Cloud, Wet ‘n Wild On a Trip, China Glaze Peachy Keen, Sinful Colors Hazard, Jordana Orangesicle, Essie Borrowed and Blue, Sinful Colors Aquamarine, American Apparel Butter, Sinful Colors Pull Over, Barry M Mint Green, Color Club Edie and Milani Fresh Teal. I used a white acrylic for the stitches.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today is all about our favorite colors. My very most favorite color is red, but I wasn’t feeling a red mani. Various shades of aqua and teal are a very close back up. And what better color to pair up with these aquatic colors than coral.

I really love this gradient. I used three colors to achieve it. I started with Barry M Mint Green then added Color Club Edie and Milani Fresh Teal. I did just the gradient on my left hand and it was so pretty by itself.

My roses are Sinful Colors Hazard. This seems like a summertime mani. I’m always a season ahead of myself. I don’t really even like summer. I need to slow back down and enjoy spring.

Be sure the check out all the other manis today:

Amanda of Amandalandish
Anna of Going to the Showing
Anne of Grape Fizz Nails
Ashley of Art Evolve
Brandi of The Beaulieu Review
Chelsea of Nailed Blog
ChiChi of I’m Just Me…ChiChi
Cordia of Seriously Swatched
Elizabeth of Did My Nails
Jamie of Polish, Please!
Katherine of Haul of Fame
Maribeth of Obsessive Cosmetic Hoarders Unite!
Marisa of Polish Obsession
Meredith of Polish and Charms
Nory of Fierce Make Up and Nails
Sarah of See Sarah Swatch
Tara of Polishy of Truth