Nail Art Stencils

I had a very busy weekend so I didn't really have much inclination to do my nails so I pulled out my stencils.  These actually take quite a bit of time and prep work so don't think they're quick.  I'm still needing to work on my scraping off of enough polish to take it off the plate but not so much that it also comes out of the grooves for the design. I also need to work on my placement.  It rarely seems to go where I want it to.  The pinky with the flowers is the best I think.  Here are the end results using OPI Pink Friday as my base.

Easter Water Marble

I used some Easter type colours to work out some designs in water marble.  I'm glad I redid my thumb as it looks so much nicer now.  I still require practice in all aspects of this nail art technique from dropping the polish without making a mess, making the design (although I think I'm showing improvement here), placing the nail in the best position and taking the nail out without making a mess of the design.
The majority of the polish colours came from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear: Sun Kissed 150, Fuchsia Power 320, Blue me Away 130, and Perfect Pear-ing 460.  The "cup" I use is a little hand creme holder from Body Works or something.  It works nicely and is shallow so I don't use too much of my room temperature, distilled water. Here is the finished result.
I forgot to add.  The lady I loaned my stash to for her daughter's birthday party returned my stash with an elastic bracelet made by her daughter.  So sweet.  What a well raised girl to have thought of something like that.

Easter Dotted Nails

My first online purchase came in a little while ago and one of the items I bought was dotting tools (and striping tape and nail wheels).  I did my nails in China Glaze For Audrey 81564 on the thumb and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Sun Kissed 150, Fuchsia Power 320, Blue me Away 130 and Perfect Pear-ing 460.  Then I used my new dotting tools and while acrylic paint and tried out the different sizes of dotting tools.  I'm quite happy with the results.

Kermit the Frog

I cut my nails short and have been keeping them moisturized and naked (most of my stash is still with a friend).  I'm doing this to try to breath new healthy life into my nails since they have been splitting a lot lately.  It hasn't helped very much but hopefully my attempts to eat an improved diet will get them healthy long term.  I decided to do a manicure that keeps my cuticles clear from polish using those 3 ring paper reinforce stickers... you know the ones I mean, right? So I placed those over the half moon of my nail (lunula) and then did my base coat and two layers of a China Glaze I don't know the name of (a gift from my aunt).  Then I did little Kemit collar pattern with an acrylic polish only to discover later that his collar is a lighter shade of green not darker.... whatever.  Here is the end result.