So our theme this month is, obviously, something new, and we're supposed to use a technique we've never used before, or an untried polish (except that I don't actually have any untrieds - I tend to incorporate each new polish into a manicure within weeks, if not days, of getting it!) The first thing that popped into my head when I read the theme was the little jars of powder I have sitting in my stash, that were purchased waaaaay back when V and I went to Hobby Lobby and wandered around for an hour going, "What can we put on our nails?"
I started with one coat of China Glaze Mahogany Magic and topped it with one coat of Orly Buried Alive. I don't know why I started with Mahogany Magic given how opaque Buried Alive is. I blame it on painting my nails at 6:30 in the morning - I'm a night owl and my fingers usually get painted closer to 10 P.M. than anything A.M.!
I headed off to work that way, but I took my supplies with me...so lunchtime found me adding a layer of topcoat and dipping a few of my fingers into little jars of embossing powder. Obviously, I used brown embossing powder on two fingers, and green embossing powder on my thumbs.
I can't decide whether I like this or not, honestly. One of my co-workers said it looks like mud and grass, which wasn't an insult. It's kind of cool. I like texture, and it's like sandpaper on my fingernails. Which sounds bad, I know, but it doesn't feel bad. I just don't feel like it's very nail art-ish, maybe. Meh. I'm ambivalent. I didn't take them off the minute I got home, so clearly I don't hate them. I think when I do take this off, I need to do a fish egg manicure next. :)
I particularly love the green, it looks like a perfect football field
ReplyDeleteI thought so, too - it's such a great grass color! Thanks for the comment.
DeleteI agree with your collegue, it reminds me of Mud and Grass, but in agood way! i love it.xx
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a good way. I'm a big ol' nature lover, anyway, so wearing "mud and grass" on my nails wasn't a problem! Thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteLove that you chose your thumb as the accent nail. Something I haven't seen, but will definitely try!!
ReplyDeleteI've seen thumb/ring finger combo as accent nails before. I had a hard time deciding which nails to do with what, actually. I didn't want to cover up the Buried Alive completely, so I knew I was going to do one nail in green and two in brown, but it took me a while to pick *which* ones. Thanks for letting me know you liked the way it came out!
DeleteBurke Alive is such a great polish and I love what you've done texturizing it with the embossing powder.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree - I *love* Buried Alive. I don't wear it often enough...but then I can say that about any particular polish, since I only do my nails twice, sometimes three times a week, and I make it a habit of not leaving untrieds in my stash for long. In fact, I have a yellow L.A. Colors polish I got in my winter holiday stocking that is begging to be used, since it's the lonely only untried! Thanks for commenting! :)
DeleteI've only seen people using flocking powder, but not embossing powder, so this is definitely something new to me :) Looks cool, especially the green.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really even know what the difference was, honestly. V and I were just wandering Hobby Lobby going, "What can we put on our nails?" and we spent a long time in the scrapbooking section. Got some stickers (my nail armor mani) and this embossing powder. I also have a bronzy-metallic colored powder that I haven't used yet. I'd like to get some flocking powder so I can feel the fluffy on my nails, but the sandstone-feel was great! Thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteWow!!! they do look pretty. Love the colors used and the sanding effect. Great job! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I really appreciate getting compliments - I've only been doing my nail art for a year now and it still floors me whenever somebody - outside of the people I know personally or the co-workers I do the rounds with to show them the new manis - notices or comments on them. It's still pretty rare and it gives me happy for DAYS. Thanks for taking the time to comment! :)
DeleteThis one is awesome! I still remember that shopping trip. It was fun! We can always go again to see what new ideas are out there...
ReplyDeleteAnother way this one might look cool is to create a solid background, topcoat it and let dry, then add a design to the nails and dip THOSE in the powder. This would create a raised 3-D effect.
Maybe I can be your canvas? *puppy eyes* - V