ehmkay nails: September 2013

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Cheers to Breaking Bad: A Nail Art Tribute for the Series Finale

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that the series Breaking Bad ends tonight. Even if you don't follow the show, you have definitely heard about it. For me, I only started watching it this past summer, and sped through the series just in time for the final season. I sort of wish I had watched it from the start--there's something about watching a series and moving through the years and the commitment. I love this show so much, and I found myself keeping it on any time I could this past week while AMC played the entire series.

So as in true nature for television shows I love, I had to do some nail art. Truly, the show is all about the chemistry, so I focused on what Walter White would be proud of.

The base is L'Oreal Raven's Strength. I then used OPI My Boyfriend Scales Wall to write the formulas seen in the opening sequence along with the two periodic table elements. I finished it off using the watercolor technique to create the hazardous-looking smoke we see so frequently in the show. The smoke was created using neons Essie Funky Limelight, Model's Own Toxic Apple, Spoiled Jaded, and Essie Shake Your $$ Maker.

Breaking Bad Nail Art

From Instagram:

Breaking Bad Nail Art

Do you think I did this show justice? I really couldn't choose a theme--I wanted to do yellow jumpsuits, or barrels, or twenty other ideas; in the end, it was the classic opening sequence that I chose to do. Here's the image that inspired me. You'll note in faint font in the background, you can see where I got the chemical formulas and numbers.

I cannot wait for the finale, yet it is so bittersweet since this is the only "live" season I've ever watched. I really hope I just don't feel empty inside like I have the past few episodes. Cheers to tonight.

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Falling for Nail Art: Early Sunsets

We are continuing our Falling for Art Nail Art Challenge and this time we are doing Early Sunsets. I basically thought of what early sunsets looks like to me and well, here it is. Actually, I really wasn't a fan of this. Not sure why. I'm weird like that.

Because Wednesdays are my crazy day, I'm going to keep this short and sweet, so enjoy the pictures.

Early Sunsets Nail Art

Blurred to show off sparkle

Early Sunsets Nail Art

Kiko 338--but it's dustier than this

I am trying to get ahead of the challenge. We will see how far I get, but I am so in love with my crunchy leaves manicure, it's not even funny!

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Sunday, September 22, 2013

Falling for Nail Art: Back to School

Hey All! Today begins a three month nail art challenge started by Plump and Polished. Unfortunately, I don't have time for 31 day challenges where I need to do art and post every day. PLUS, I like to actually wear my art, not just do one hand and take it off. So this challenge is up my alley with two prompts a week. I'm not promising to do them all, but I will try! I go crazy every year for Halloween anyhow, so expect some fun nail art.

For the first challenge, we have Back to School and I went went with chalkboard nails. Using Wet N Wild Darkest Hour (new tombstone black creme) and Zoya Evvie, I replicated the colors of a blackboard (some are black, some are green!). Using OPI My Boyfriend Scales Wall and Zoya Sookie, I did random doodles you may find on a chalkboard. I then mattified tho whole thing with Hard Candy matte top coat. The RU is for where I teach. And hopefully we all remember 1 + 1 = window!

Back to School Nail Art

Here are the rest of the challenge if you're curious what's ahead!

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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Grand Theft Auto 5 Nail Art

This does seem kind of random; but at request, I have done some Grand Theft Auto nail art and what better day to show it off than the release of the fifth edition of this game! I never realized how difficult it is to copy font and to freehand it but at least I tried, right? It's somewhat recognizable?

I started out with two coats of Alter Ego Nails Beachcomber Too, which dried to a matte finish and is a really beautiful blue. Then with Wet N Wild Black Creme, OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls, Zoya Josie, and Zoya Dove, I freehanded the GTA logo along with the fifth edition logo and a dollar sign. Grand Theft Auto is about making that money, right?

On my left hand, I did a gradient with Model's Own Sunset Chill. Since GTA 5 takes place in Los Angeles, I found the glitter name appropriate.

Here with go with some pictures:

Grand Theft Auto 5 Nail Art

The collage on my Instagram:

My right hand with Model's Own Sunset Chill:

Alter Ego Beachcomber Too with Models Own Sunset Chill

Alter Ego Beachcomber Too, both without and with top coat.

What do you think of my art? Is it close to the game's logo?

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Friday, September 13, 2013

Red Dog Designs Summershine with Layla Cherry Diva

More butterfly glitter! Actually, I only have two polishes with butterflies and well...I love them! This here is the LE glitter topper that was made for Jen at My Nail Polish Obsession's one year blogaversary and I snagged a bottle during the restock. I love rose gold and copper glitter and this one is just amazing. It looks awesome over EVERYTHING.

I eventually decided on Layla Softouch in Cherry Diva, which actually was a RAOK from Jen. So this manicure is completely dedicated to her and it looks amazing. I can't explain how much better this looked in person! Two coats of Layla Cherry Diva topped with one coat of Summershine. Love at first sight! I had broken my middle nail, so sorry for my unevenness.

Red Dog Designs Summershine with Layla Cherry Diva

Layla Cherry Diva

Although this one is no longer available, there are still tons of other great glitters on Red Dog Designs' shop. You can purchase Red Dog Designs polishes HERE for $10.00 and shipping is always fast!

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Neon Splatter Mani with Cirque Polish Electric Circus

This manicure was one of effort and so messy and I'm not sure I will ever splatter mani again! I also tried a FULL nail wheel of combos to put Electric Circus over...then chose white. Talk about frustrating.

I started with two coats of my go to white shimmer, Orly Au Champagne. I used one coat of Cirque Polish Electric Circus over my ring and thumb. Using the colors of the glitters, I decided to splatter mani. I used China Glaze Surfing for Boys, Wet N Wild Nerd Alert: Screech, and Color Club Wicked Sweet (which is awfully scented, but I love the color).

Here's the thing: DO NOT CUT YOUR STRAWS IN HALF. I figured I would be "green" but cutting my straws in half...well, I ended up getting nail polish all over my hands and face and you can see the wear of this mani on my thumb. I was literally cleaning this mani for days! I do love the outcome but oh man, I will need to try a splatter mani on a day I feel more patient. I then used one coat of IMN Northern Lights over the splattered nails.

Neon Splatter Mani with Cirque Polish Electric Circus

Any other tips on how to make the splatter mani any easier?

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Monday, September 9, 2013

My First Skittlette of Many: Gradient Dotticure with Texture Polishes!

That title is a mouthful. I love skittlette manis; although I posted a True Blood inspired skittlette HERE, this was actually the first skittlette I tried on my nails and I was immediately hooked! So easy, you use lots of untrieds, and it's just gorgeous! And yes, I am very backlogged of manis in my drafts!

This manicure started when I noticed all my new blues and they looked amazing sitting together on top of my helmer.

On my index nail, I have two coats of Julie G Blueberry Crush from the Gumdrops collection. On my thumb and pinky, I have two coats OPI Tiffany Case from their Bond Girls Liquid Sand collection. On my middle and ring finger, I have 2-3 coats of Orly Pretty Ugly. This color is anything but! It is a gorgeous baby blue with blue shimmer! Using both textured polishes, I did gradient dots. You can do a more complicated design, but I was short on time.

Skittlette Gradient Dotticure with Texture Polishes

P.S. I was nervous to use Tiffany Case because I heard it was a stainer. Well it didn't stain my actual nails! Rather, I was sloppy removing and stained my cuticles as I removed it. So be cautious!

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Dior Lime and Sunnies Gradient with Fuzzy Glitter Gradient

I feel so silly! Because of my vacations, I missed a month of blogging and showing some pretty awesome summer manis. But if you're like me, you don't care about seasons and wear whatever you want on your nails! I hope you don't mind me showing some brighter manis before summer is officially over. Plus, this mani can be used with any colors!

When my mom went to Las Vegas in May, I asked her to hit up the Dior store to find me some colors no longer available. Using Dior Lime (which has an amazing two coat formula---lime greens can be tricky) and Dior Sunnies, I created a gradient. Sunnies looks a tad darker here because it's layered over the green

Then using the Sally Hansen Fuzzy coats Fuzzy Fantasy and Peach Fuzz (which I got for 99 cents, what a steal!) I started where the gradient met and dabbed in the opposite direction. I was obsessed with this!

Dior Lime and Sunnies Gradient with Fuzzy Glitter Gradient

Do you love this look as much as I do?!

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Monday, September 2, 2013

Strawberry Kiwi Nail Art

Happy Labor Day! I hope if you're off from work today, you enjoy the day off and what it means. The weather is pretty dreadful on the East Coast, but I'm catching up on life before the teaching semester begins tomorrow.

I had been thinking of doing these nails for a while and realized summer is just about over, so they needed to happen. I'm actually wearing this mani as this post goes up--which is pretty rare for me.

I started with alternating my nails with a base of Red Dog Designs Strawberry Shortcake and Essence Kiwi. Strawberry Shortcake is a gorgeous pink shimmer base with red, green, and white glitter with black microglitter (I think). Kiwi is a green shimmer base with green microglitter. Both were an easy two coats.

I went in with Barry M Spring Green and Greenberry to make the strawberry leaves. I used Wet N Wild standard black and white cremes for the kiwi details. This is my abstract version of strawberry kiwi but I still think it's cute. Enlarge the pictures to see the shimmer.