Swatch: Caress Diamond Gay

I've decided to post not only nail art designs but swatches of local nail polishes here on this blog. I've used this nail polish as the base color for my Newspaper Nails. Here's a swatch of Caress Diamond Gay.




• It's a great gray color.
• Affordable. Bought it for just Php22.75 (approximately $0.49) from Landmark Trinoma.
• Not very pigmented. Above photos were 3 coats.
• Formula was thin. Anyway, we can't expect an outstanding formula from a nail polish that's less than a dollar.

Overall, this is still a very nice gray nail polish. I love it, I still have this polish on my nails as I'm typing this post.

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. - C. S. Lewis"

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Newspaper Nails

This is my first attempt on Newspaper Nails. A lot of women have done this and decided to do it too. It looks very edgy. I love it and it's very easy to do.





I used the following:

Base Coat
Bobbie Diamond Gay
Newspaper Cut Outs
Rubbing Alcohol
Small Bowl
Pair of Tweezers
Top Coat

Let's start! From couple of old newspapers, I began cutting words such as love, hope, peace, strong, etc. Yes! I cut out words not inch strips of newspapers. I wanted this design to be a bit different from the normal newspaper nails we have already seen. The varied font types add more edginess. However, this is more time-consuming than cutting newspaper strips. I also cut a crossword puzzle solution and divided it into two smaller pieces for my thumbs. Once you have enough newspaper cut outs, around 40 words, gather the other materials.

I always paint my nails with a base coat to prevent it from yellowing. For the base color, you may use any light colored nail polish, this will make the newspaper ink stand out. I chose gray and applied two coats of Caress Diamond Gay as my base color. Let it completely dry, I watched a couple of movies. After my movie marathon, it's time to transfer the newspaper ink onto my nails. Pour rubbing alcohol on a small bowl, dip the newspaper cut outs on it using a pair of tweezers. Make sure it's completely wet, place it on your nail and press firmly for 30 seconds. Remove the paper and you'll see the ink has transferred. I used 2 or 3 cut outs depending on the nail for the first layer. To achieve an overlapping design of words, put a clear top coat on your first layer and let it dry. Once it's dry you can transfer the newspaper ink again by repeating the same steps. The most important part of this process is to make sure the nail polishes has completely dried before you start the ink transfer. We don't want smudges, right?

This design is also for Pam of Polishpolice, she posted on Instagram of a sick Sunday. I hope she gets well soon! I am very grateful that she listed me as one of her Polish Chiefs on her blog. Thank you, Pam!

Newspaper nails is another kind of reuse.

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

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Swirly Nails

Hello my dear readers! I apologize for my lack of posting, I encountered a lot of power outages and intermittent internet connection due to Typhoon Pedring, I pray for all those who were severely affected.

Here's my last nail design for my franken nude nail polish. My nude polish phase is now over.



I used the following:

Base Coat
Franken Nude nail polish
White Acrylic Paint
Top Coat
Striping Brush

I always start with a base coat then I painted 2 coats of my franken nude nail polish. For the swirly designs I used a white acrylic paint and a striper brush. The swirly designs are different on each nail, this was inspired on a swirly notebook border I found. I'm fond of getting inspirations from anything I see may it be a book, gift wrapper, box or even a fabric.

I hope you enjoyed this nude polish series as much as I did.

"Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking." - Mahatma Gandhi

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Franken Nail Polish and Dots

I created a very simple nail design this week. I'm still in a mood for nude polishes lately since I've frankened one, which I have blogged in my previous post. I remember when I first started painting my own nails, I always painted them with a nail polish that is similar to my skin tone. If you are still new to painting your nails you may start by using a nude nail polish and add a very easy design. One of the easiest designs you can do is to add dots, you may use tools that can be found inside your house such as toothpicks, bobby pins or even ball pens (I suggest one that has run out of ink). I've always used a toothpick when my design has dots in it.




I used the following:

BaseCoat
Franken Nude nail polish
White Acrylic Paint
Top Coat
Dotting Tool

I'm doing simple and easy designs recently for people who would like to start doing nailart on their own using minimal tools. This design is also appropriate to wear in the office. I think brides can also wear this mani during their wedding, simple yet elegant.

"Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest. It's about who came, and never left your side."

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Classic French Manicure with Flowers

Hello dear reader! I decided to franken a nude polish that suits my liking. I have several nude nail polishes but I find them either too dark or too light for my skin tone. From my stash, I used an old vanilla color nail polish that has a very subtle pink shimmers and added a few drops of chocolate brown nail polish. I started with a few drops first and added a couple more until I have the shade that I wanted to achieve.

I'm happy to have my first franken nail polish!


A close-up to show its very subtle shimmers.


It's a bit sheer using two coats but since I'm longing for a classic french manicure I started to paint white on the tips. I added pink flowers, the inner girly in me that kicked in.

I used the following:

Franken Nude nail polish
Caronia White Satin
Pink Acrylic Paint
Gold Acrylic Paint
Top Coat
Dotting Tool
Striper Brush



I hope my nail designs will serve as an inspiration the next time you'll get your nails done. I admit that I don't have a lot of readers on this blog but if you are reading this now, thank you. Just the fact that you visited my page is truly appreciated.

"If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves." - Thomas Edison

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Back to School Nails

Hola! I decided to create these notebook inspired nails to all those who are going back to school.





I used the following:

Base Coat
Caronia White Satin
Blue Acrylic Paint
Magenta Acrylic Paint
Black Acrylic Paint
Top Coat
Striper Brush

Put a base coat first to avoid yellow stains on your nails. Paint a coat of white nail polish, let it dry and paint a second coat and wait for the nail polish to completely dry. While waiting I usually watch a movie, maybe for 30 minutes or an hour. Now the fun is about to start, it's time to begin painting! I drew the notebook lines first using a blue acrylic paint and a striper brush. Then using a magenta acrylic paint I drew the margins. Once you have all your nails done, you can write anything on your notebook nails. I'm gonna do this mani again when I'm with my friends and let them sign on my nails. Time to bring home the A's!

"Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will." - Vernon Howard

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Diamonds

Hello! I hope everybody's well. It has been rainy these past few days, despite of a gloomy weather here’s another nail session my lovelies!



I used the following:

Base Coat
Bobbie Kohl
Bobbie Weng-Weng (A Holographic Nail Polish)
White Acrylic Paint
Top Coat
Dotting Tool

My usual nail routine starts by cutting and shaping my nails into my desired length. Next, I buff my nails and paint a base coat to prevent them from yellowing. Then I painted a coat of Bobbie Kohl (black nail polish) and let it fully dry. For Bobbie Weng-Weng, which is a holo polish, I used 1 coat and it let completely dry again. I don't rush things especially when I'm doing my nails, I paint my nails while watching a movie and pausing it to resume doing my mani. I used a white acrylic paint and a toothpick to create the dotted diamond design. Put a top coat for a long lasting manicure.

"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials." - Chinese Proverb

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French Manicure with a Flair

I'm back! I've been MIA for a couple of months and this blog has been neglected. To my readers, I apologize.

It's time to post my nail designs again.

This is my version of a French Manicure. I used the following:

Base Coat
Caronia Gold Rush
Black Acrylic Paint
Top Coat
Thin Paintbrush
Dotting Tool




You can do this too! Time to start polishing! Enjoy!

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill

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Bubbliest

Hello! I'm sorry I have been MIA for the last month. I don't wanna bore you with the stories, I have just been very busy on some important things. I will do my best to post more often now.

Here's the mani I am wearing today.





I used the following:

Base Coat
Caronia White Satin
Caronia Simply Red
White Acrylic Paint
Black Acrylic Paint
Thin Paintbrush
Top Coat

I always buff my nails before I put on a base coat, I usually change my mani every week. I am still using Sally Hansen INSTA-BRITE Nail Whitener as my base coat. For the base color, I used 2 nail polishes, Caronia White Satin and Caronia Simply Red. I painted several nails white and some red. I used white and black acrylic paints for the bubbles. Black bubbles on white nails and white on red. Light color on a dark color and vice versa will work best in making details stand out. Painting the bubbles doesn't need creating perfect circles, sometimes imperfections make them more unique. I painted random sizes of circles on my nails and put dots on the small spaces between them. The tiny dots are optional. This mani will still look adorable even without the dots. I used the same paintbrush to create the dots. Don't forget to put a top coat on. I wasn't expecting that this mani will look cute until I finished all of my nails. I honestly enjoyed painting the bubbles!

Let's get polishing!

"The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way." - Robert Kiyosaki

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Love Month Nails III

Hi! Valentine's Day is already over, however I consider February as the Love Month. Here's another mani I made a couple of days ago.



I used the following:

Base Coat
Caronia Simply Red
Caronia Chinese Rose Frost
White Acrylic
Thin Paintbrush
Top Coat

I buff my nails before I put on a base coat. I have been using Sally Hansen INSTA-BRITE Nail Whitener for several months now and it is effective against staining my nails. For the base color, I used 2 nail polishes, Caronia Simply Red and Caronia Chinese Rose Frost. I randomly sponged these polishes on my nails for an abstract look or you may also prefer to put on a solid color. Make sure the polishes are already dry before you write the word "Love" to avoid smudging, I used a white acrylic paint and a thin paintbrush. On my left hand I used a normal font (looks like Times New Roman) and on my right hand I chose a script. Don't forget the topcoat. This mani will still look nice with any color and font you would prefer.

I can feel the heat now. Summer has already started in the Philippines. I hope everyone had a great weekend!

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

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Love Month Nails II (Valentine's Day)

Hola! I designed something simple yet elegant for Valentine's Day. I used:

Base Coat
Bobbie Milkshake
Caronia White Satin
White Acrylic
Thin Paintbrush
Dotting Tool
Top Coat


I forgot to mention in my previous posts that I always use a base coat to prevent my nails from being yellow, I use Sally Hansen INSTA-BRITE Nail Whitener. For my mani's base color I used Bobbie Milkshake, a glazed nude color and Caronia White Satin to paint the angled tips. White acrylic paint and a thin brush to make a very thin stripe where I can draw zig-zag lines and half circles. I used my white acrylic paint again and a dotting tool (my ever handy toothpick) to add the 3 dots. Don't forget a top coat to protect the mani.

"Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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Love Month Nails I

Ciao! I was suppose to post the previous manis I did last month, however I can't seem to find the photos. I recently deleted a couple of folders I saved on my external hard drive to free up some space and remove duplicates. The pictures must've been included during the deletion. Sigh. I guess I'll have to move on to the next manis I'll be doing.

It's already February and it's the Love Month! A lot of people must be excited for Valentine's Day. For this month, you may find my nail posts "girly." If you're not a fan of reds and pinks, please excuse me if you'll be seeing a lot of it.

Here's the first mani I created for the Love Month, it's a Gradient Pink and Hearts Nails. I hope you'll like it.



For the gradient I used Caronia White Satin, Caronia Chinese Rose Frost and an unbranded dark pink nail polish I found in my stash. I also used a sponge to achieve the gradient look. For the hearts I painted my nails with a white nail polish (Caronia White Satin) first. I mixed some red and white acrylic paints to create a medium dark pink for the hearts. I used an artist's brush #0 to paint the random sized hearts. And a topcoat to protect the mani.

Aside from painting my nails, I also love to run. Me and my friends started joining marathons since last year especially if it's for a good cause. February 6, 2011 we participated in Condura Skyway Marathon 2011 Run for the Dolphins, from 3000 runners in 2008 to 6000 in 2009 then 8500 in 2010 and now 15000! The growing running community and the supporters of the annual Condura races was not only able to generate close to a P1,000,000.00 in donation. It has also succeeded in increasing the awareness and concern of runners and the public in general toward the marine environment. It's a very grateful feeling to have this chance to help save these super adorable marine mammals. I really enjoyed this run and an excting part of it was having a medal with a dolphin engraved on it.


It's always comforting when you have friends who will run with you and help motivate each other when you feel like hitting the wall. To my wacky runner buddies who very much enjoys a well deserved pigging out at Dampa after every successful marathon, let's keep on running!

I hope that this post will help spread the word in saving our environment. Let's do our share even in the littlest ways.

"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts." - William Shakespeare

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Chocolate with Colored Sprinkles

Bonjour! A sweet manicure for a sweet lady! I made this mani during the 2nd week of January 2011 when I am extremely craving for a chocolate bar. I'm having sore throat at that time and controlling myself from eating one afraid that my condition might get worse. I resorted to painting my nails for a sweet treat instead. I listed the materials I used below.

Chic Ash
White Acrylic Paint
Red Acrylic Paint
Blue Acrylic Paint
Yellow Acrylic Paint
Dotting Tool
Topcoat

For the base coat, I used Chic Ash. Its color resembles a chocolate after 2 coats. However, the application was horrible. The polish was too thick, I had to put several drops of nail thinner a couple of times. For the colored sprinkles I used a few acrylics. What I really like about using acrylics is that you can create your own colors. I combined red and yellow to produce an orange, to make some pink mix white and a bit of red. Once you have created your colors, paint random dots on your nails using a dotting tool (I used a toothpick, again). Put on a topcoat to make the mani last longer.


I hope you find this toothsome!

"If you have melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly."

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New Year Nails

Hi! This was my mani during 2011 New Year's Celebration. I thought of starting the new year with a "Bling," and here's my interpretation. These are what I used:

Caronia Gold Rush
Caronia White Satin
Silver Glitter Polish
White Acrylic Paint
Dotting Tool
Topcoat

I painted half of my nail diagonally with Caronia Gold Rush, then the other half was painted with Caronia White Satin. I put some Silver Glitter Polish on the white part for an added spark. I used a toothpick and some white acrylic paint to put the dots on the center. Put a topcoat on. Here's what it looked like.


If you like this design and plan to do it too, please leave a comment and post the picture. I would like to see it.

Let's get polishing!

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to make things right."

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My First Blog

Hello! I'm getting ready to post the nails I've done these past weeks, I'm also working on designing this blog to make it look at least decent. It's time to learn HTML again.

I'll be posting more soon.

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” - Plato