Finger Banging Nails: August 2012

Monday, August 27, 2012

Konad Stamping Kit came in the Mail!

So excited that my Konad stamping kit came in the mail! Stamping... looks like it'd be easy, but it's pretty tough! Nonetheless, it's very fun. I started off with a simple taping manicure. It was inspired by this post from MY AWESOME BEAUTY. I used SC's "Savage" and "Secret Admirer" along with Finger Paints' "Tiffany Imposter." I used taping and a little bit of freehanding in order to create this manicure, followed by stamping! Since it was my first attempt, please be gentle with me! Stars and bows accents!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Credit where credit is due!

Quick post about credit: my "punny" blog name is courtesy of my friend Tim Lee. Master of puns.

It was a tough decision between "Finger Banging" Nails and "Nail Shart."

My Very Own Gel Manicure Set from Christmas 2011...

My boyfriend did great this past Christmas... He bought me my very own gelish manicure kit! I actually swapped out the LED light he had purchased (it was $20 USD) for the $50 USD light that stands on it's own and takes a little less time. The colors were perfect for winter time and certainly did last 2+ weeks!

The only downside to at-home gelish manicures is that those tiny little polish bottles are $10 bucks a pop and don't come in a vast array of colors quite yet.

Hauls of Summer 2012

Pictures from my summer 2012 hauls! Of course, I have no money and should not be spending lots of money on nail polish, but fuck it, right? :)

First picture costed me a whopping $25 USD! That's it! $100 USD worth of nail polish for 25 bucks! Thanks, Sally's Beauty Supply for your wonderful red sticker sales!

The colors in the first image, in the order of which they appear are...

Orly's "Crush on You"
Orly's "After Party"
Finger Paints "Michaeltangelo"
Finger Paints "15 Minutes of Frame"
Finger Paints "Sexy Sundress"
Finger Paints "Tiffany Imposter"
Finger Paints Magnetic Nail Polish in "Steel of the Night"
China Glaze's "Prism"
China Glaze's "Optical Illusion"
Two glitte striping polishes

The second picture costed me a wee bit more... $40 USD. Now, I got many of the polishes on clearance at Ulta's or at Sally's marked down, but I needed to buy Seche's base coat, which costed about $10 USD and Orly's Matte top coat which also costed about $10 USD. So... without those two items, it everything only costed about $20 USD!

The colors in the second image, again, in order of which they appear are...

Orly's "Matte Top" coat
Seche Base coat
Finger Paints "Easel-y Entertained"
Finger Paints "Go Van Gogh!"
Finger Paints "Sketchy Character"
China Glaze's Crackle, "Cracked Medallion"
Red Carpet Manicure's gel polish called "It's a Champagne Night"
Red Carpet Manicure's gel polish called "I Can't Believe It"

These gel polishes were marked down to $2 USD! That's compared to their original price of $10 USD! Steal!

Taylor's Nails: Coffee Gradient

If anyone is reading my blog, expect to see lots of Taylor's creations here. This manicure took my breath away. It reminds me of chocolate and coffee and all things wonderful. Taylor used O.P.I.'s "You Don't Know Jacques," and O.P.I.'s "Tickle My France-y."

Taylor's Nails: Blue Explosion Manicure

This manicure was done by my best friend Taylor. She used Finger Paint's "Inkblot Blue" and China Glaze's "Liquid Crystal" in this taping manicure. I love it! Such pristine lines.

Green and Blue, Left and Right

After a haul at Sally's, I decided to do some colorful, sparkly french's with Finger Paint's "Tiffany Imposter" and "15 Minutes of Frame." I accented my ring fingers with China Glaze's "Prism" and "Optical Illusion." I also used blue and white glitter striping brushes to freehand the tips! Simple, but fun!

Failed Haringbow Manicure

I admit defeat: I attempted haringbow (or fishtail) accents on my ring fingers, but due to being rushed and impatient, I failed! Instead, I did haringbow style tips. This manicure uses Sally Hansen's "Lacey Lilac," China Glaze's "Prism" glitter, Finger Paint's "Tiffany Imposter," and Orly's "Rage." The haringbow accents were freehanded, but I used taping in order to get straight lines on my ring fingers.

Overall, I loved the way it turned out!

Glitter Explosion

This manicure utilizes Sally Hansen's "Pink Satin" and Milani Jewel FX's "Lavender." The glitter did not have excellent coverage and required many coats. However, I loved how it complimented "Pink Satin." This manicure really made my nails sparkle!

Red Red Red Gradient

This manicure was my first attempt at a gradient a couple months ago. I used an eyeshadow sponge brush, which I mentioned using in a different gradient manicure, and got great results. The two colors I used were Zoya's "America" and "Charisma." Separately, these two colors are almost neons--very bright. However, when they mix together, they tone down and compliment each other very well.

Too bad I went camping the next day and ruined them!

Tiffany Imposter Swatch

This is a swatch for Finger Paint's "Tiffany Imposter." I absolutely adore this color. I've used it in a majority of my manicures since picking it up! Coverage is great. Definitely a favorite from Finger Paints.

The Dark Knight Rises Freehand

In honor of the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises a month or so ago, I decided to do a Batmani! :)

I used Sinful Color's "Secret Admirer" and a white striping brush. I freehanded the bat symbol and "DKR." This mani was a lot of fun! It was a little rushed, or I would have made it more detailed.

Taste the Rainbow

Decided to go bright and colorful with this mani! I used Finger Paint's "Michaeltangelo," Sinful Color's "Savage" and "Unicorn," Orly's "Crush on You," and Sally Hansen's "Mint Sorbet." I did freehand french tips with a glitter striping polish.

I had to use a white base coat on Orly's "Crush on You," (orange) as the color is not very opaque.

Moon Candy

I was dying to try out Revlon's new Moon Candy line, so I picked up "Supernova." In the bottle, the flakies look very pink. Application is a little disappointing, though. The flakies give very little coverage and require 3-4 coats. However, I think the finished product is very pretty.

I also tried the flakies over Orly's "Snowcone" (light blue) and really loved the cotton-candy feel it gave off. However, I don't have a picture!

Matte about Sparkles!

Hello! This manicure is Finger Paint's "Easel-y Entertained"with a matte topcoat by Orly. I absolutely love the look of matte glitter!

The "Easel-y Entertained" looks very rich and thick in the bottle, but has a clear or very light base color and applies as only glitter. This coverage took about 4 coats.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Finally DIY'd my own Foam Board Rack!

Finally got around to making a nail polish shelf last week. I was so sick of my babies smashing each other in my night stand drawer!

Anywho, I followed this video but unfortunately didn't go to a dollar store like this lacquerista suggested because I don't live near one! The project costed me about $30 USD . It should've costed $15-$20 but I kept fucking up and buying, for example, the wrong size glue sticks, etc. because I'm new to this "crafty" thing! All made from foam board and a shit ton of hot glue. The decoration on the shelves are a couple different types of ribbons glued on!

Words of advice: if you follow this video, but don't watch all of it before going and buying supplies, you'll need

3 20x30 foam boards (run from about 2-5 USD, depending on if you get plain white or pretty/colored boards). I thought I only needed 2 and had to run out mid-craft to grab another. It was annoying.
Hot glue and an hot glue gun. Lots of hot glue. Obviously, this rack will be holding up lots of nail polish that cannot fall. Glue the fuck out of it. I used, like, 15 mini glue sticks.
Yardstick
Pencil
Exacto knife or cutting board

I also purchased some fun ribbons to hot glue to the front of the shelves for a little extra flair.

Be wary, though: Even after all of the hot glue I used to create my rack, and all 5 nails I used to nail it into the wall, I am not 100% comfortable with how sturdy it turned out. My nail polishes have been fine for about a week and I've been assured I have nothing to worry about, but I just can't wait for my wooden rack. Remember: lots of glue!

I will soon be enlisting my wonderful boyfriend to help me make a wooden nail polish rack. I will be sure to post pictures!

Geometric

I used Zoya's "Charisma," O.P.I.'s "Shorts Story," and Orly's "Rage" in this taped manicure. This manicure was inspired by this post from MY AWESOME BEAUTY's blog.

Excuse the chip on my thumb nail. I'm an idiot.

Also, please enjoy 3-month old Bruiser lounging in the background. He's my soulmate.

I Just Blue Myself

I used SC "Savage" and Finger Paints' "Tiffany Imposter." The glitter border accents were used with some glittery striping polish I got from Sally's.

I've found that gradients turn out the best if you use an eyeshadow sponge brush instead of a makeup sponge. These sponge brushes are just a little smaller than a nail (if you have shorter nails, that is) and thus, leave less mess around the edges.

Prim Polish

This is another simple twist on a french. I used Orly's "Snowcone" on the base and Nubar's "Treasure" on the tips. Used a white striping brush to freehand the separating line. "Treasure" is very shimmery and I thought it contrasted well with the very pale pastel-ness of "Snowcone."

4th Of July Nails

I used Orly Snowcone, Maybelline ForeverStrong Eternal Red, SC's Hottie, Mia Secret Blue Crackle, and SC's Snow Me White! Please ignore the fingernail covering the toenail on the toe's picture... I ate shit in a pair of wedges on a crooked sidewalk and ripped half my toenail off!

This took basically forever to complete. Lots of taping and freehanding white stripes and dots with my striping polish. Very fun, though. And, my middle finger was the American flag!

One last note: 'Murica.

Finger Banging Nails