Magazine Nail 2.0

Hello! Some of you may remember my post from last year on how to stamp your nails using magazine pictures (HERE). Below is a new and improved method. ENJOY!

Project Time: 30 minutes

What you will need:
-Magazine page
-Scissors
-Clear Polish
-Cup of water
-Tweezers
-Nail File
-Polish Remover
-Q-Tips
1. Cut pattern from magazine into the shape of your nail.

2. Brush a clear coat of polish onto the piece of pattern.

3. Once the pattern is completely dry, drop it into a cup of water. Make sure the pattern side is facing upward. The clear polish creates a barrier that will keep the top dry. Let the pattern sit in the water for 3-5 minutes.

4. Use your tweezers to remove the pattern from the water. Place it downward into the palm of your hand and GENTLY remove the layer of wet paper.  You should now have a thin layer of color and clear polish.

5. Paint a thin coat of clear polish onto the nail that you are placing the pattern on.

6. Place the pattern onto the wet nail and GENTLY slide into place. The pattern can easily tear at this point, so please be gentle.

7. Fold down any access pattern on the tip of the nail and gently file away. Use a Q-tip and polish remover to clean pattern from your skin or cuticles.

8. Brush a coat of clear polish over the nail and WALLAH you're FINITO!

I would LOVE to see your magazine manicure, so please send your pics to davida@oddballdsgn.com or tag me on Instagram: @Graphchic. Enjoy :) 

Upcoming OPI Collections

In conjunction with Sony Picture's re-release of Spiderman (The Amazing Spider-Man), OPI has created an awesome line of  iridescent, vibrant satin and metallic shades.  Including a metallic shatter. I must say, I am definitely OVER the shatter phenomenon. The shades are: Shatter the Scales Your Web or Mine? (frosty warm medium pink), Call Me Gwen-Ever (Orange),  Into the Night (Deep Metallic Blue), My Boyfriend Scales Walls (Not Quite white, but the brightest gray), Number One Nemesis (A deep greenish-grey shimmer) and Just Spotted the Lizard (A metallic mix of golden-green chrome with blue, aqua/teal and pure green duochrome).

This collection is set to release early next Month (May 2012).

OPI is releasing a romantic collection in celebration of Vintage Minnie Mouse. How cute are these. The shades ares:  Nothin’ Mousie ‘bout It (pink sparkle with heart shapes), The Color of Minnie (fuchsia pink), I’m All Ears (Hot Pink), and If You Moust You Moust (pink).

This collection is set to release this Summer (June 1, 2012)

OPI is taking us through a tour of Germany as they set to release this gorgeous array of creamy neutrals and rich jewel tones this Fall. This collection seems like a perfect blend of subtleness, style, and edge. I'm exciting for this collection. The shades are: My Very First Knackwurst, Don't Pretzel My Buttons, Berlin There Done That, Dont Talk Bach to Me, Nein! Nein! Nein! OK Fine!, Schnapps Out of It, Suzi & The 7 Dusseldorfs, Every Month is Oktoberfest, Unfor-greta-bly Blue, Deutsch You Want Me Baby, Danke-Shiny Red, German-icure by OPI.

Which collections and colors are you ready to try?

New Betsey Johnson for OPI

Betsey Johnson teamed up with OPI for one of the cutest and feminine collections I've ever seen. The collection features spring ready hues: Alley Cat, a purple-fuchsia hue; Cartwheels on the Catwalk, a seafoam green hue; XOX Betsey, a sandy nude hue; It’s My Pink!, a hot pink hue; Forever Wild, a black-grape hue; Sparkling Personality, a silver glitter; and Pushing Your Luck, a deep red hue. Bonus: It’s My Pink!, the hot pink color, is also a scented polish.

The collection will be released in Sephora on March 1!

Gold Digger Nails

I took NARS Bad Influence and SEPHORA by OPI Only Gold For Me to create Gold Digging Nails.

1. Start with a base coat.
2. Apply 2 coats of NARS Bad Influence.
3. Once dry, apply a full coat of SEPHORA OPI Only Gold for Me.
4. Once dry, apply another coat of SEPHORA OPI Only Gold for Me on the tips of the nail. Apply enough coats to intensify the glitter on the tips. This gives you the digging for gold effect.
5. Apply a clear top coat.

A dupe color to NARS Bad Influence is OPI You Don't Know Jacques. They are pretty much the exact same color.

Fun & Easy Tattoo Nail Art using Magazine Pages

Save yourself a trip to the salon by doing your own nail art at home using magazine pages.

What you will need:

-Magazine
-Colored Base of choice
-Clear nail base
-50% Rubbing Alchol
-Cotton balls
-Q-tips

-Fingernail Polish Remover

Steps:
1.)Paint nail with a clear base and then coat with your base color.
2.) Allow 3 minutes drying time
3.) Wet your nail with alcohol using a cotton ball
4.) Take a pattern from a magazine page and cover the nail. Wet the page over the nail with alcohol using a cotton ball. Let the alcohol sit over the page and nail for a minute or two.
5.) Peel the page off the nail slowly and coat with a clear base.

6.) Take a Q-tip and polish remover to wipe of any ink that may have gotten on your skin.

I chose to use the pattern of a Balenciaga runway dress

I would love to share your creation with my viewers. Please email an image to davida@oddballdsgn.com.

Pink Sugar Dipped Manicure

 

I like to call this sweet and feminine manicure "Sugar Dipped" because it looks like your tips have been dipped in sugar.

1. Start with a clear base coat

2. Follow with a sheer nude color, I use China Glaze in Love Letters
3. Once that has dried, take a glitter polish and start with light strokes in the middle of your nail. Use a light stroke to create a soft edge, but use a regular heavy stroke towards the top of the nail.

4. Once partially dry, take the nude color and stoke over the middle of the nail where the glitter starts to soften the edges to look faded.
5. Repeat steps and let dry.
6. Cover with a clear top coat.

**Remember to start with light strokes to create a fade.

(left to right: OPI Teenage Dream, China Glaze Love Letters)

I'd love to share your manicure pictures. Please send to davida@oddballdsgn.com

How to Achieve Half Moon Manicures @ Home

With Avery Reinforcement Labels and 2 contrasting nail polish colors, you can easily achieve the trendy half-moon manicure right at home. This look has made it comeback in some of the latest runway shows.

Follow these easy steps to achieve this look:
(I took the labels off a little too soon, so my manicure isn't as precise as it normally is)

1. Start with a clear base, and then a skin-toned color base, allow nails to dry for 20 minutes.
2. Place the labels at the bottom of the nail.
3. Paint over the nail and label with the contrasting color, allow time to dry.
4. Remove labels and then coat with a clear polish.

This look can be achieved with any 2 colors of your choice.
Please send pictures (davida@oddballdsgn.com) for me to share once you have tried this at home.