Something Totally Nautical!

I love all things nautical!  And so today, looking for something pretty simple to get back to doing my nails again, I went with Something Totally Nautical (and simple).

I'm a little out of practice, so bear with me, ok?  :D

Plus, the dry winter weather means several have broken recently.  :(

I used:

Pinkie and Thumb are China Glaze "First Mate"

Pointer is China Glaze "Hey, Sailor"

Ring Finger base is Pure Ice White

Middle Finger is Wet 'N Wild "Silvivor"

A very thin nail art brush for the stripes

and the heart was made with the dotting tool and then dragging paint to a point with the brush.

Trying to get back to it in 2015!

Hi, NoJunkNail followers!

If you look at the date of my last post, you'll see I've been gone from the blog for a LONG time!  In fact, nearly three years!

And do you wanna know why?
Cuz of this cutie who's TWO!
First, I didn't post so much because I was expecting.
Then, because I had a baby.
And then she turned into a toddler.
And today let me paint her nails!

As 2015 is getting underway, I really hope to spend more time on my nails and I'll post what I do.  I'm a little rusty, so bear with me.  I'm so out of practice!

Happy Valentine's Day and beginning of Spring Challenge

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I've been AWOL, and I apologize.  I'm hoping the Purple Crumpet Fairy Spring Challenge will help me get back in the swing of things!  To start the challenge, here are now one, but TWO Valentine's Day mani's!!  

Hearts Two Ways - Dotted and Dashed!

Dotted.....

 (with a rose given to me by my lovely husband!!!)

 and Dashed.....

I think my personal favorite is the "Dashed" version.  I started with Orly Bonder, then French tips using Cover Girl White Nite and Revlon French Manicure Pro in French Lingerie.  After a coat of Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat, the hearts are made with Pure Ice Flirt Alert and Essie Fishnet Stockings.  

Here's the upcoming manicure designs for the Spring Challenge:

New Year's Eve Nails!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  December turned out to be completely CrAzY!  But I'm back in the saddle again - for real this time!  ;D  Here are the nails I painted to ring in 2012!

Four of the fingers all started with a sponged gradient from e.l.f. Metal Madness at the base, through Orly Fowl Play and Wet n Wild Blue Wants to Be A Millionaire, to Wet n Wild Shield.  This is what thee gradient looked like before I added the details...

And here's each design in detail....

The thumb and pinky are fireworks in Wet n Wild Shield.  I got to try out some new striping brushes I got for Christmas!

The pointer is a representation of "The Ball" in New York's Times Square.  Obviously, mine is not made of Tiffany glass and LED lights....but is sure does *SPARKLE*!  I used two coats of Wet n Wild Metallica, then pressed the square jewels into it while it was still pretty tacky.  I sealed it up with three coats of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, so it's pretty smooth.

The design on my middle finger is an exploding bottle of champagne!  This one contains tons of little details that took some TIME!  I painted the whole bottlw with Wet n Wild Black Creme first, then added the green glow if the bottle using a combination of Orly Under the Mistletoe with a bit of Wet n Wild Metallica, with the top left side highlighted with a bit more Metallica.  The label is done with Sally Hansen Bubblegum.  with little dots of Wet n Wild Black Creme to give the illusion of words on the label.  Then I used a tiny bit of Wet n Wild French White Creme for highlights to make the bottle look more 3D.  For the top of the bottle, I used Metallica, French White Creme and Shield.  Whew....

The design on my ring fingers is clinking glasses of that champagne!  Yummy!  I used Wet n Wild French Creme and Wet n Wild Shield.  *clink*

I had a fantastic close to 2011 and I'm looking forward to a great 2012!!  HAPPY NEW YEAR, WORLD!!

Reindeer & Santa Nails - Purple Crumpet Fairy 31 Days of Christmas Challenge Day 12

Hello again!  Did you know that this post is my ONE-HUNDREDTH BLOG POST?!  ONE HUNDRED!  Hard to believe I've done that many posts!!!

Happy One-Hundredth
Blog Post to NoJunkNail!!

Wanna see some nails.....??  I'm a bit behind on the "schedule" of the Purple Crumpet Fairy 30 Days of Christmas Challenge, but oh well!  These nails were actually a design I did back in December of 2010 - when I only had THREE followers - and one of those was my MOM!  LOL!  Anyway, since it was a FANTASTIC design, and 86 of you followers weren't around to see it the first time.....here it is!!


Santa's Crew of eight tiny reindeer
(Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen)
plus Rudolph and Santa himself!
And here they are!

These were pretty easy for all the cuteness in the end!

Here' s a close-up of the reindeer (which look just like Rudolph, but with back noses):

Here’s a quick how to:

1)  I started with two coats of Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Emerald City.  If I had it to do again, I’d use a much lighter color…like a blue.

2)  Using New York Color Fifth Avenue and my largest embossing tool, I made oval shapes for the reindeer heads.

3)  Using a smaller embossing tool, I added triangular ears with the same bark brown.

4)  With New York Color Bryant Park, a lighter brown, and my smallest embossing tool, I added three-pronged antlers and little lines to highlight the inside of the ears.

5)  Next, I used Sally Hansen Hard As Nails White On and a mid-sized embossing tool to make the white parts of the eyes.  I put them close together on purpose for extra cuteness. 

6)  The little black dots were done with Sally Hansen Black Out.

7)  Using Black Out and that largest embossing tool, I made big black noses.

8)  and then using the smallest embossing tool, I made the smiles on the sides.

Done!  Easy!

To make a Rudolph:

7a)  Using White and the largest embossing tool for the nose

7b)  Then I used Sally Hansen Cherry Red and that largest embossing tool to make the red nose on top of the white

7c)  Made the nose look "lit" by adding a small line of white on the top right.

And the Santa close-up:

He was actually pretty easy too!

1)  I used Sally Hansen Hard As Nails White On and my largest embossing tool to make the entire shape with white...yes, the whole thing, beard, head, hat and all with white.

2)  Using Sally Hansen Cherry Red, I painted the red hat on top of the white I had just painted.

3)  With New York Color Bryan Park, I painted a rounded rectangle for the face.

4)  Made eyes like the Reindeer steps 5 & 6

5)  I used CG Boundless Color Pink Taffy to make two dots for rosy cheeks

6) Cherry Red for the nose

7)  Sally Hansen black-out for the mouth.

Then top everything off with two coats of Revlon Extra Life No Chip Top Coat!

Merry Christmas to all....and to all a Good Night!

I'm not the only one in on The Purple Crumpet Fairy 31 Days of Christmas Challenge - - - 

Other bloggers in this Challenge:

Claire Gallaugher - Purple Fairy Dust All Things Beautiful 

Debbie Crumpet - The Crumpet

(those two are the Purple Fairy Crumpet part)

Emma Hoop - Manicurity
Kerrie Black- PhishPosh and Polish
Bee Justice - Bee Polished
Zoe Garner - Obsessive Compulsive Nail Painting Disorder 
Felicia Banuelos- Confessions of a Nail Polish Junkie
Lisa Armstrong-Waite - Happy Nails 
Julie Rivard - Tales of Knit and Nails
Alyssa Dees - No Junk Nail 
Arielle Stephenson - Only Always Soccermom 

Maria Pitarelli - The Girl with the Rainbow Hands

Merry Christmas!

You can join in, to0!

Most Festive Green and Red - Purple Crumpet Fairy 31 Days of Christmas Challenge Days 9 & 10

Hello, blog?  Nice to see you again...sorry I was MIA.  Extended holiday and all that jazz.  Plus four broken nails.  It's not pretty.  I've missed you.  And I'm glad to be back!!!


So here's where I jump into the Purple Crumpet Fairy 31 Days of Christmas Challenge: a combination of Days 9 & 10 - Most Festive Green and Most Festive Red. (More about that challenge at the end of this post)


First a disclaimer - these are not my real nails.  :(  I broke off FOUR nails in one sickening *pop* when I tried to open a frozen-shut car door.  My hand slipped off the handle and all four nails snapped...down to the quick.  It was painful and I was so mad that I cried!  The newly-exposed skin at my fingertips was so sensitive that touching soft things was excruciating!  To cope, I put on falsies....Ok...enough of a pity party - on to the nails!!

I started with my favorite base coat - Sally Hansen Double Duty.  It's getting a bit thick at the bottom of this bottle, so it will have to be replaced soon.  My Most Festive Red is my new e.l.f Red Velvet from my Secret Santa exchange in Polishaholics Anonymous on Facebook.  

After putting on the Red Velvet, I used a small square of a kitchen sponge to add Zoya Ginessa.  I had intended to stop there....but something was missing.....so I grabbed my My Most Festive Green, which is Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Emerald City, and added just a bit of that on the tips - perfect!!

The nails in THIS particular picture below are actually my real nails.  They're on my right hand, and therefore were painted and sponged using my left hand.

 These are my left hand again, on my Most Festive Red sweater!

I'm not the only one in on The Purple Crumpet Fairy 31 Days of Christmas Challenge - - - 

Other bloggers in this Challenge:

Claire Gallaugher - Purple Fairy Dust All Things Beautiful 

Debbie Crumpet - The Crumpet

(those two are the Purple Fairy Crumpet part)

Emma Hoop - Manicurity
Kerrie Black- PhishPosh and Polish
Bee Justice - Bee Polished
Zoe Garner - Obsessive Compulsive Nail Painting Disorder 
Felicia Banuelos- Confessions of a Nail Polish Junkie
Lisa Armstrong-Waite - Happy Nails 
Julie Rivard - Tales of Knit and Nails
Alyssa Dees - No Junk Nail 
Arielle Stephenson - Only Always Soccermom 

Maria Pitarelli - The Girl with the Rainbow Hands

Merry Christmas!

You can join in, to0!

Back in the Saddle Again!

Just a quick note to tell you that I'm not dead...just crazy-busy!  And I broke off FOUR nails on my left hand (the one I photograph!), so I've taken a bit of an extended holiday...... But I'll be back in the saddle again later on today as I jump into the Purple Crumpet Fairy 31 Days of Christmas Challenge!  I missed a few....but later on today, I'll be posting a combined Day 9 & Day 10 Most Festive Green and Most Festive Red!

The other bloggers doing this challenge are:
Maria Pittarelli - The Girl with the Rainbow HandsClaire Gallaugher - Purple Fairy Dust All Things Beautiful 

Emma Hoop - Manicurity
Kerrie Black- PhishPosh and Polish
Bee Justice - Bee Polished
Zoe Garner - Obsessive Compulsive Nail Painting Disorder 
Felicia Banuelos- Confessions of a Nail Polish Junkie
Lisa Armstrong-Waite - Happy Nails 
Julie Rivard - Tales of Knit and Nails
Alyssa Dees - No Junk Nail 
Arielle Stephenson - Only Always Soccermom 

Leopard Print Nails

This happened by happy accident!  I took off the Plaid Nails, and it took forever!  I was using non-acetone remover :(  By the time I got all that blue off my nails, it was LATE...but I had to put something on my nails....so I went looking through my Wet n Wild Fast Dry polishes for something "Fall-ish" and settled on The Gold and the Beautiful.  After 3 coats (or was it 4?) I called it a night and went to bed.  


And they stayed bare gold for two days!  *gasp*  I wasn't really enamored with the plain gold, but hadn't had time to do anything else....


Then last night, I turned pure gold into leopard!

This design is great because you don't have to be perfect!  Just like my Cow Spots, you don't have to make perfect dots for this!  I used a dotting tool and NYC Fifth Avenue for the brown spots.  Then used my smallest dotting tool to add "C" shapes and "( )" shapes to the spots with Wet n Wild Black Creme.  

More photos.....

Bear Claws

My friend "T" wanted me to do her nails before she went to watch her friend play basketball this weekend. Her friend plays for the Missouri State Bears who played the Kansas State Wildcats this weekend.  (btw, her friend didn't win)


Anyway.....I painted bear claws on her fingers with her friend's #14 on the thumbs.

Polishes used:  Wet n Wild Burgundy Frost, Wet n Wild Black Creme, Wet n Wild Ebony Hates Chris, Wet n Wild French White Creme.

Plaid Nails

The Polish-aholics Anonymous Monday Nail Art Challenge was plaid!  

This was my first attempt at plaid, and I'm pleasantly surprised.  

Here's the first pic...

I used Zoya Phoebe for the background here.  It's a gorgeous, pearly matte.  Blue polishes like this one have a reputation for staining...badly.  Plus, matte polishes have a tendency to chip easily.  So I started this mani with a single layer of Sally Hansen Double Duty Base and Top coat, wrapping the tips - which means putting polish on the flat outer edge of the nail.  This helps prevent chipping.  After that had dried really well, I added a single layer of Zoya Phoebe, wrapping the tips.  The matte polish dries really quickly and the first coat looked really streaky, but that's to be expected.  When Phoebe was dry, I added another base coat layer, again wrapping the tips.  Then two coats of Phoebe, wrapping the tips, to finish it all off.  Whew - that's 5 layers of polish!  Hopefully, that layering will help this polish last, since obviously, I can't put a no-chip top coat on top of the matte!


To make the burberry-esque pattern, I started with white Kiss Nail Art Paint, a striping polish, and hand-painted both a vertical and horizontal stripe.  I waited to that to dry because when I was testing out this idea on paper, I learned that without letting the polish dry, my next layer would cause some serous smearing.  The next layer was the black on the sides of the white.  When that was dry, I added the pink.  All three (white, black, and pink) are hand-painted with Kiss Nail Art.  To see more of exactly what these polishes look like, go here.


To clean-up around the side cuticles and the base of the nail, I used a small brush dipped in pure acetone.


Ready for more pix?

And as I was taking these photos, my darling five year-old decided to "add a little something" to my photos.....her fake spider....LOL!  And you know how I feel about spiders! (read this one)

Hope you enjoyed these!!

AAAaaaand...the WINNERS ARE....

AAAaaaand...the WINNERS ARE....


ANDREA (Entry #39)and LINDSEY (Entry #12)!


Andrea is a good friend of mine, and it's so fun that she won!!!
She won the Pure Ice Prize including Busted, All-Nighter, Gold Dust and Celestial

Lindsey is a Polish-aholic who blogs at http://neverlandnailblog.blogspot.com/
 I think my very favorites were her Whirly-Swirly and Breast Cancer Awareness Nails with matching lips!!  Go check them out.
Lindsey won the Hard Candy Prize including Beetle and Matte-ly in Love.

THANK YOU

to everyone who entered,
everyone who follows my blog
and everyone who 'likes' my Facebook page!

GIVEAWAY Update

The NoJunkNail Giveaway is closed as of 12:01am Central Time 11/14/2011.


Winners have been e-mailed!   As soon as I get a response....I'll be posting the winners!!


THANKS to everyone who entered and to all 83 of my followers and 54 who 'like' my Facebook page!  if you haven't 'liked' NoJunkNail, you can do that here.


THANKS AGAIN!!

Zoya Alyssa, er...Zoya Charla

Zoya should have named this polish "Alyssa" because Zoya's Charla is SO ME!  Any of you who actually know me in real-life know that THIS is my color!

I've been working really hard at being more "neat" as I polish my nails.  I'm trying really hard to have less on my fingers.  The hardest part has been not "flooding the cuticle."  In nail polish circles, it's best if you don't get polish all the way to the base of the nail, but instead leave just a little bit of a gap.  This is difficult!  But I'm getting MUCH better, as you can see below...


These were taking in all kinds of different light and I LOVE how SPARKLY it is!  Have I mentioned I LOVE THIS COLOR??

First, here are some of my favorite, non-conventional photos.   

and some photos with the Zoya Charla bottle

Indirect sunlight

 Direct sunlight

Different angles and different lighting make all the difference!

For those who are curious, here's a layer list:

1) Sally Hansen Double Duty base coat, wrapped tips

2) 3 thin coats of Zoya Charla, with wrapped tips on first and last

3) Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat, wrapped tips

Then I cleaned it up with a small brush in acetone where I got a little too close to the skin.

Have I mentioned I love this polish?  My new, all-time fave!  I love this Zoya, my very first, and I cannot wait to try out Ginessa, Pippa, and Phoebe!  You can see them in the bottles here.