pixie dust comin' out of my finger tips

not a very exciting story here... i read and have seen the tinkerbell movies a few too many times and got it in my head to do a tinkerbell/pixie dust manicure. i used OPI Who the Shrek are You? as a base, did two layers of essie's as gold as it gets (one covering half of the nail, the second covering a third) and then a kind of pressed on the Milani Jewel FX Gold on the tips of the nails. it isn't perfect and it sure doesn't photograph easily, but it is sparkly and to me, entirely tinkerbell-tastic.

One Saturday / Two Easter Inspired Manicures

 so talking about Pippa yesterday got me itching to try it all over again. so two coats later, as the AT&T guys worked on setting up my new internet connection, i applied two coats of Pippa, and then decided that Lola could be a good companion for dear Pippa.i did the Lola with an almost dry brush, working my way to the tip where i pretty much just drew in a french tip in Lola. Lola was sheer enough layer well for this, but i think for wear on it's own it would be a little too sheer for my tastes. the colors truly popped and it was 80's-riffic. until i decided to toss on my gardening gloves an *HOUR* later to finish planting some herbs. i took off my gloves and whomp, whomp...i had wrecked nails. i didn't take pictures, though i was tempted :D so this was my three hour super bright easter manicure

so bear went to bed and i got out my brand new GMA trio and decided to play with my newest creamy periwinkle, Yummy. Can we just laugh for a moment because my first non-school email was ExtraYummy at some horrible old url? anywho. Yummy was a dream to put on, i want to say this is just one thick layer on some fingers, and two thinner layers on the others.  the color was dreamy and soon enough i'll wear it on it's own, but as it dried i started thinking about April showers bringing May flowers, so my manicures represented this. just backwards. okay it's a stretch, shut up. so along that train of slightly warped (i blame sun exposure) i put Pure Pearlfection over top and had a shimmery, delicious cool manicure to counter the super warm and bright one from earlier in the day. actually wore it most of the day today too...

Lantana Inspired Orange Gradient

had to take the day off with my beautiful little bear, since daycare was closed. and the options for the day were: 1), sit inside and watch movies and nap or 2) hit the garden store, rip up a winters worth of weeds, wreck my nails and plant flowers. obviously i made the right decision, because not only did it lead to my now pristine (well, much improved) front beds and butterfly garden, but the wrecked manicure and flower selections inspired today's manicure!

so, as a kid i was obsessed with lantanas. they are gorgeous little flowers that grow in natural gradients. i used to pick them and use them as bouquets for my Jem doll. anywho, as bear laid down for her nap, i searched my polish box for just the right reddish orange and i popped up with Paz. i was super excited to order this a few weeks back and eagerly anticipated it, as orange is one of my favorite spring/summer colors. i was disappointed at how streaky this went on (even compared to Pippa, Zoya's finnicky yellow). two coats in i was still unhappy with at least three nails but decided it was smooth enough at the tips to reverse the gradient from tip to base. that said, the color was much richer than i'd expected. more red tone and much less neon than it looks in the bottle. 

i feathered China Glaze Sun Worshipper from the base of each nail then did a coat of Zoya's Armor top coat and a quick swipe with SV because i was a *little* eager to post the pictures of this mani, well that and i still have one more trip to the garden store to pick up a few more types of basil and another blueberry bush. hmmm...if i plant them tonight i might be able to sneak in another manicure today :D

Inspiration from the garden

Lamp

Shade

Direct (and super hot) Sun