31DC2017 - Day 24: Inspired by a book

Yeah, I know - not technically just "a" book. And honestly, I never read the books (I'm speaking of Harry Potter if you weren't aware) - I didn't get into the franchise until aout 4 years ago. I'm good at resisting hyped up movies and books.

Soooo yeah, I chose to represent the four houses - based on the color scheme and pattern of their ties. I didn't have a subtle enough yellow, so it's a bit too bright for my taste, and it doesn't go well with the rest of the nails.

As always, I suck at freehanding lines, please forgive the squiggliness!

Colors used:
- China Glaze - I Sea The Point (bright blue)
- essence - let's take an elfie (shimmery white)
- butter LONDON - British Racing Green (dark green)
- essence - we will spock you! (silver linear holo)
- China Glaze - Happy Go Lucky (sunshine yellow)
- JESSICA - Batty (shimmery black)
- essence - pink & perfect (burgundy)
- OPI - 18K Ginza Gold (yellow gold)

31DC2017 - Day 14: Floral

I'm sticking with my tradition of doing an extended mani for this day of the challenge. I decided to re-use the daisies from my "Heart Don't Break Around Here" nails from earlier this year.

Colors used:
- essence - the night of magic (dark navy blue, basically black)
- China Glaze - It's My Turn (gold scattered holo)
- white

31DC2017 - Day 11: Polka Dots

I'm really pleased with how these turned out!

I love the combination of the slightly cool-toned grey and the warm-toned gold multichrome! Generally, I think combining metallic shades with cremes is greatly underappreciated.

Colors used:
- Catrice - Cloud Nine (grey)
- Catrice - Enchanted Camouflage (gold multichrome)

31DC2017 - Day 10: Gradient

For today's prompt, I decided to go for a murky green gradient, topped off with a holographic topcoat! It kind of reminds me of decaying leaves. I was hesitant about the glitter after I put it on, but it's really starting to grow on me.

I did this gradient on a bare nail (apart from the base coat) and it turned out better than expected! I was worried about the middle color not getting opaque enough (because it's a jelly/crelly), but it worked out fine!

Colors used:
- KleanColor - Military Green (dark green)
- China Glaze - Budding Romance (murky green (jelly))
- KleanColor - Fashionista (brownish green)
- China Glaze - Golden Enchantment (gold microglitter topper)

31DC2017 - Day 8: Metallic Nails

Welcome back!

For today's prompt, I went for a grungy distressed metal look. I'm really quite happy with how it turned out!

I started off with a gold to green duochrome base, then started sponging and brushing on some different colors. I went with a warmer toned gold to bronze, silver, and even some green to brown duochrome! I then made random markings with a sharpie and went over them with acetone to create a watercolor-like look. Lastly, I added some black dots on top and sealed it off with some matte topcoat.

I included a flash picture below so you can really see that green I used. The pic is a bit blurry (and also a bit overexposed) but I think it does the job.

Colors used:
- Catrice - Enchanted Camouflage (gold to green duochrome)
- s-he - 321/130 (bronze)
- Manhattan - Heart Of Stone (antiqued silver)
- OPI - Green On The Runway (green to brown duochorme)

31DC2017 - Day 6: Purple Nails

Look at all that holo goodness!

So, not gonna lie, I once again had no idea what to do. I was already wearing Cupcake Polish - Berry Good Looking and I ended up doing the gradient on top of it (which is probably why the hue is slightly uneven when you're comparing pinky and ringfinger with middle and index finger - oopsies.).

I took Zoya's Aurora and Payton for the gradient, then did some simple white flowers, with China Glaze's GR8 in the middle. I kind of dig these. Y'all probably know I'm a sucker for holo, so these are extra pretty to me. :)

31DC2017 - Day 1: Red Nails

Happy first day of the challenge y'all! I can't believe it's September already again!

I'll keep my thoughts on this pretty short since I have plans tonight, but I'm really digging it! It's a little festive for September, but whatever - I'm gonna try to keep it fall-colored again this year.

I originally planned on covering all my nails completely with this pattern, but after being half-way done with my index finger, I decided to keep it that way.

Colors used:
- Orly - Rock-It (dark red)
- Orly - Luxe (white gold)
- matte topcoat

Hearts Don't Break Around Here | Ed Sheeran inspired (again!)

"Daisies, daisies, perched upon your forehead..."

I'm back again with another design inspired by Divide! This time, it's based on Hearts Don't Break Around Here, which might just be my favorite song off the album (at least right now).

As soon as I heard the lyrics above, I had a pretty clear idea of a design - which luckily worked out really well! I'm so happy with these!



I used waaaay too many colors painting the girl to list them all here, let me just say that. I mixed a lot of colors to create transition shades and stuff like that. It was a lot of fun though!

The base is China Glaze - It's My Turn. Stunning!
The lettering (and part of the girl's hair) was done with Revlon - Chocolate Truffle (the Parfumerie version - so my nails smelled like chocolate in the beginning!)
Flowers done with white and China Glaze - Happy Go Lucky

31DC2016 - Day 11: Polka Dots

Did some teeny tiny dots for today. I really like how these turned out. Simple but effective.

And isn't the base just stunning? This is two coats of essie - leggy legend. I was all over this when it came out last year and I really wanted to use it again. I still love this!

31DC2016 - Day 8: Metallic

Today's nails are quite dainty and delicate, not necessarily something I'm going for a lot.
These might look like they are quite easy to do, but they were not! Getting that curve and thickness of the gold/copper to be the same on all nails was really difficult!

Colors used:
- essie - spin the bottle (nude)
- essence - do you hear the jingle bells? (gold-copper)

Gilded Holly - Holiday nail art

Hey guys!
I know, I know; I haven't posted in ages. I've been super busy with uni, but I managed to squeeze in a little nail art time last night (at like 3am)!

Is it too early for Christmas nails? I don't know. I just thought that today would be a good day to start, because there's only a month until Christmas!
If I celebrated Thanksgiving, you probably would have seen at least one design for that, but since I don't... straight from Halloween to Christmas nails for me!

31 Day Nail Art Challenge - Day 19: Galaxy Nails

WARNING: Picture-heavy post!

I have done countless galaxy manicures in the past, so I decided to switch it up with these. First of all, I let my mom pick out the colors I was gonna use. She picked out a lot of seemingly random colors, but to my surprise, they all worked perfectly together. I ended up adding one color to make it a little more 'complete'. All in all, these were a lot of fun to make and to look at. And the best part? They glow in the dark!

I am also officially calling these rainbow galaxies, because that's how they ended up looking to me. I really truly love these and just a single picture does not do them justice. They're really sparkly!

Here, have some pictures.

Make sure to click through these pictures to magnify them!
The glow wasn't the strongest unfortunately, even after charging the polish with flash. It would have possibly worked better if I put the polish over an actual white base.

Colors used (in no particular order):
black, white
Manhattan - 10B (dark blue) [destashed]
flormar - U09 (sparkly medium purple)
essence - i don't need money, honey! (teal foil-effect polish) [destashed]
butter LONDON - Shag (shimmery medium brown)
MaXFactor - Deep Coral (dark orange/red)
flormar - S02 (shimmery green jelly)
OPI - Bling Dynasty (yellow gold)
OPI - Ski Slope Sweetie (white glass fleck polish with cream shimmer) [destashed]
essence - let stars rain down on me! (small holo glitter) [destashed]
claire's - White Out (white jelly, glows green in the dark) [destashed]

31 Day Nail Art Challenge - Day 16: Geometric

I loved today's prompt of the challenge! I also love how the finished mani looks! There's something about the way creme polishes and liquid metal polishes complement each other that really amazes me.

I didn't have any specific inspiration for this, but I have a feeling this will be one of my favorite manis of the challenge.

Colors used:
don't sweater it - essie (taupe)
Liquid Metal Gold - claire's [destashed]