Diagonal Duochromes

Taking a break from the 31 Day Challenge for Chalkboard Nails' Cool or Warm nail art contest! 

The rules are pretty simple, pick cool or warm colors and create a manicure. I picked cool, as it gave me a perfect chance to try out something I've had lurking in the back of my head for nearly a month.

I thought, how cool would a glitter crackle over a duochrome be? After testing it out I decided it wasn't quite as fabulous as I'd envisioned, though still pretty neat looking, so I used it as an accent instead of the full mani.

I started with a base of China Glaze - Unpredictable, then taped off diagonals and added China Glaze - Deviantly Daring. I painted a thinnish coat of Nicole by OPI - Amethyst Texture on my ring and thumb nails, then finished off the look by placing glitter pieces from the purple glitter in the Claire's Precious Metals set along the diagonal with a toothpick. Topcoat and done!

After finishing this, I had an idea for a warm-toned mani also using crackle accents. I might have to go ahead and do it as a bonus for all the lovely people who read my silly little blog! :)

31 Day Challenge Day 8 - Metallic

For the metallic day of the challenge, of course I had to break out my favorite gold of all time. And then I did nail art on it.

I started with a base of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Golden I, which is an absolutely fantastic gold foil polish. One-coater, if you're careful! I did two coats because I tend to paint very thin. I taped off triangles at the base of my nails, and painted over that with Revlon - Copper Penny, a nice copper metallic polish. Also a one-coater, this time even for me and my tendency to paint thin! Finally I added pink dots at the tips of the triangles with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Pink Satin. More a chrome finish than a foil, goes on very smooth and like Golden I can be a careful one-coater. 

I love Pink Satin even though it's one of those kind of "old" looking pink shades... to me it's retro rather than granny, and I like to rock it with a denim jacket and some 80's style.

31 Day Challenge Day 4 - Green

This mani was done for a friend who specifically requested it, inspired by a custom-painted keytar played by the keyboardist of our favorite band. First the inspiration:

Henrik Klingenberg from Sonata Arctica with his epic green keytar

Now the nails!

I used L.A. Colors - Palm Tree for the base, and used tape to mark off the pieces on all but my thumb, painted over with Wet & Wild Wild Shine - Metallica. On the thumb I tried to re-create the gradient on the actual keys with the sponging method and the same colors.