Summer Challenge Day 17 - Hippie Retro SummerLove

This was a lot of fun.  I was happy with the result, because it was exactly what i had in mind (don't get that confused with happy with the actual overall look, I definitely need to brush up on my technique) and please forgive me, the cuticles weren't cleaned up properly.  I was at my mums when i did this manicure and didn't have my paint brushes to clean around the cuticles properly.  They got very messy from all the stamping and only had cotton-tips.

But here is the end result anyway.

Again here is the before and after the stamping exercise... oh my!

 

At first I was keeping it simple. Was really liking the simplicity of this up til here and was toying with the idea of slapping on the top coat and calling it day.





How about some cute smileys :)

And last one

Colours Used from Left to Right:

Revlon Red

OPI - On The Same Paige

Sally Hansen - Yellow Kitty

OPI - Suzi Says Feng Shui

Generic Purple (it was promo freebie, no name)

OPI - Alpine Snow (used this as a base to stamp on)

I also didn't have a green nail polish bright enough for a rainbow so mixed the yellow and blue polishes listed here.

Image Plates Used:

BM07 (peace symbol)

RA-117 (Smileys)

Thanks for having a look. I thought this was a really fun design.  I like to hear your comments, so leave a comment below.



Next...

Day 18 - Ballooning or Kites

See you next time  

xx Karen

Summer Challenge Day 12 - Hot Hot Hot Combo

Hi Everyone,

Hope you having a great day and enjoying this challenge as much as me.  I was actually looking forward to this one.  Saw this in the list and instantly knew what I wanted to do.  It had to have flames I thought, and colours of a hot summer.  Summers are generally so hot here in Australia it burns, literally. I don't remember a summer I haven't got sunburnt yet.

Colours I used for this design were Sally Hansen Yellow Kitten (2 coats), OPI's A Roll In The Hague and Revlon Red.  The Image was using Bundle Monster Image Plate BM12 and using Konad Stamping Black Polish.  I always use OPI Base Coat (Nail Envy Matte) and OPI Top Coat.

After my last attempt of a three tone gradient, I needed to improve my technique, think I did something right this time around.

Next time...

Day 13 - Summer Fete

Hope you like and looking forward to seeing your designs.

xx Karen

Summer Challenge Day 10 - Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Another day another challenge.  Yes I may have skipped one, I couldn't think of what to do for street party and I'm so far behind I didn't think missing one day would be so bad.  And I was really looking forward to this particular day.
I had an idea in mind, it had to be shiny and it had to have diamonds and crown jewels.  So I took advantage of my image stamping plates and came up with this little number:

Summer Challenge Day 10 - Queens Diamond Jubilee

What do ya think?

I was rather happy with this little effort.. another first for me, the flag was done using a art line brush.  There's a lot of firsts doing these challenges and that's what I'm really enjoying about them.  That make me think of creative designs and trying new techniques which I normally wouldn't use.

So back to the design...

Union Jack - CHECK
Jewel encrusted royal crown - CHECK
Diamonds in English flag colours - CHECK
English Rose - CHECK :)

I even love the fact that I used a colour that is called Dating a Royal (OPI)


Here are the colours I used:

OPI - Dating a Royal
OPI - Alpine White
Revlon - Red (#680)
Generic Silver
OPI Nail Envy Base & OPI Top Coat

Here is my Union Jack.  I thought it was going to be easy because whenever i see others use striping brushes, they make it look soooo easy.  This too me a while...

Putting all the elements together.  I used Bundle Monster Image plate BM09 for the Diamonds, BM08 for the Crown (sorry it was white on silver base, in hindsight probably not a great idea, I didn't have a gold polish opaque enough) and Konad m54 for the roses. and of course a 1.5mm blue rhinestone sitting on top of the crown.

Opps smudged my middle finer... :P

I had a lot of fun doing this one. Being an Australian I still have a lot of interest in the English Monarchy, and was delighted to be part of this Challenge for this days theme.

Looking forward to the next one...

Next...

Day 11 - Pink + Blue

(came up with two variations for this one, is that cheating?)

Well I hope you enjoyed this and I really like hearing and getting comments, so drop on by say hi below in the comments box.  See you next time.

xx Karen