A girl and her love of nail polish

Posts tagged ‘Petites’

30 Day Challenge Day 22 – Song: U2 Silver And Gold Gradient

U2 is my favorite band, so there was little doubt as to whose repertoire I would look to for Day 22 of the 30 Day challenge, where the manicures are supposed to be inspired by a song. The problem was finding a U2 song that inspired something I could actually pull off with my limited nail art skills.

So that brings us to “Silver and Gold,” a song from U2’s Rattle and Hum album. This is a very literal interpretation of the title, obviously not representative of the dark themes of the song, which deal with Apartheid in South Africa and the power of money and wealth. Not sure how I would have put all of that onto my nails.

U2 Silver and Gold Glitter Gradient nail art

I found a video tutorial online for a silver and gold glitter gradient and used that as the basis for this manicure.

I started with one coat of Seche Natural nail treatment just to have a hint of something on my nails. Then I used two coats of Orly Rage, a rose gold metallic, to paint rough french tips on my nails. Then I dabbed A-England Merlin (dense silver glitter) along the line where the tips met my nail to start the gradient. Next I added Sally Hansen Ice Queen, silver and blue glitter in a clear base, to continue the gradient. I tried to avoid the blue glitter, just dabbing on the silver.

U2 Silver and Gold Glitter Gradient nail art

After that I switched to gold, starting with Petites Color Fever 24K Gold (gold and orange microglitter), then added some Mattese Elite Je Taime (medium gold glitter). This one was my untried, for the 30 Days of Untrieds challenge I’m doing simultaneously. I finished with one coat of Jordana Lilac Hearts (fine glitter with purple hearts in a clear base), just making sure to avoid picking up any of the heart glitter. One coat of Poshe fast-dry top coat to seal it.

U2 Silver and Gold Glitter Gradient nail art

Basically it’s just a lot of layering until I was happy with it. Pretty easy, even for someone with my skill level. Hope you like it, and hope Bono isn’t too offended that I didn’t try to represent the meaning of the song. 🙂

30-Day Challenge, 30 Days of Untrieds

Please visit some of the other bloggers that are participating in the 30 Day Challenge this month.
I know we will need a lot of encouragement to get through! Click here to see them:



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30-Day Challenge, NOTD

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30 Day Challenge Day 4: Green – Fishtail Braid Manicure

It just got interesting! For Day 4 of the 30 Day Challenge, I really wanted to make this a challenge. Since I’ve never tried a fishtail braid manicure, that seemed to fit the bill. I’m also simultaneously participating in the 30 Days of Untrieds challenge, so this covers both.

Fishtail braid manicure with sinful colors exotic green

If you’ve never seen one of these manicures, you take three colors and alternate them as you paint wide stripes across your nails, making it look like a braid. I modeled mine after a very popular tutorial from Lucy’s Stash.

Fishtail braid manicure with sinful colors exotic green

The theme for the day is green. This mani includes

  • Sinful Colors Exotic Green (untried)
  • Sinful Colors Last Chance (untried)
  • Petites Color Fever Daze (untried) *part of my giveaway haul*

While in theory this isn’t difficult nail art to pull off (swipe, swipe, swipe!), in practice it wasn’t easy. I don’t have much experience doing free-hand nail art, so wasn’t able to get the edges very neat. I wasn’t able to do a very good job with the cleanup, either, so you can see the flaws (poor little make-up brush wasn’t really up to the task).

I did get more comfortable with it as I went along, so I felt good about that and think I will brave it again sometime.

Here’s a look at Sinful Colors Exotic Green on it’s own before the braid, two coats, no top coat:

Sinful Colors Exotic Green

Have you mastered the fishtail braid mani yet? Any tips?

30-Day Challenge, 30 Days of Untrieds

Please visit some of the other bloggers that are participating in the 30 Day Challenge this month. I know we will need a lot of encouragement to get through! Click here to see them:



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30-Day Challenge, NOTD

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