Lacey Nails Spotlight [Royal Wedding Inspired]

Yes, its been on the news for months. Yes the anticipation has been building even more over the past few weeks. Yes, Lifetime has committed itself to showing re-runs of royal family documentarys. Yes, my mother (and grandmother) woke up at 4 AM to watch this craziness.

Yes, people are getting really annoyed about it...


but did you see that absolutely stunning dress?!

Kate (who now wants to be known as Catherine) Middleton look absolutely amazing when she stepped out of the automobile on her way to the church. I'm about to turn the wedding on and watch the whole thing right now, but I have obviously been trolling the internet for pictures :) and I really am pleased with what I've see so far. This dress is perfect for her in every way, and the whole processional seems stunning. Her sister's dress was also beautiful and Prince William looked very handsome. SO EXCITED TO WATCH IT.

Oh and in honor of the dress, and the beautiful lace on it, I bring you a lace nail tutorial:

My Favorite Things - Stila Smudge Pots

A hidden jewel in the cosmetics world are these fun, fancy little pots that contain beautiful creme-textured pigment. Normally used with a thin brush to apply as an eyeliner, this gem can also be used to enhance your eyeshadow all over your eye, and provide a vivid color that is truly long lasting.

According to the website,

"Directions: Use Stila Brush #28 Smudge & Line Brush to apply product close to the lash line. Use your brush or finger to buff out color."

Yes, you could do this, or you could go crazy with it. Blue and yellow eyeshadow? Purple and gold? WHY NOT? :)

Warning: Please do not judge the behavior of the following two photos. Colbalt Clutch was used as a base in the first and Purple Pumps was used in the second.

Little Black Dress:

Online, little black dress looks just like a normal  black. Believe me, however, it has very fine purple sparkle that definitely comes out when you put it on. Goes great with purple eyeshadow or as a stand-alone color. I use this color when I'm making wings as well. Probably the most versatile of the set.

Colbalt Clutch:

LOVE LOVE LOVE this color! It works great as a base coat for blue or an eyeliner. Very shimmery and bright. Definitely a truly colbalt blue, which is in this season, so you can match it to your dresses.

Purple Pumps:

I do adore a good purple eyeshadow, and I do love using this as one. The shimmer is great and it really works well as a base for Urban Decay's Ransom (a violet eyeshadow). Happy to have this in my arsenal.

These smudge pots last SO long! When I wore Colbalt Clutch out (see image above), the next morning it looked like I had just applied it! (Ok, maybe not exactly, but it was still as vibrant as ever and when I removed the makeup under my eye, it looked fresh again - another little tidbit of advice if you don't have time to get ready the next morning).

Unfortunately Stila Cosmetics doesn't sell the Barbie ones online anymore, but you can get them from Amazon for about $13 each. You can buy them from Beauty.com for $20 each. I would definitely recommend them. They are awesome, vivid, and one of my favorite things :)

Paper Source Sunday - Hearts!

Hello everyone. Sorry for the delay in posting! This Week's Paper Source Sunday is inspired by Valentines Day! (I had the best Valentines Day EVER thanks to my AMAZING friend Rob ;) )

The pattern can be found here: http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Red-Tear-Heart-on-Cream-Fine-Paper/3102.001/103307.html

Now, how to do it:

Step 1) Apply basecoat (I used Seche Vite Base Coat)

Step 2) Paint nails white. It may take a few layers because white is the hardest color to paint nails and make it smooth without streaks. I used 3 coats of OPI Alpine Snow.

Step 3) Use a large dotter tool to make two dots next to each other to form the top of the heart. I didn't have a large dotter, so I used the back end of a pencil. It worked fine. Erasers work as well.

Step 4) Use a thin, small brush to pull out the red and form the bottom of the heart. You're basically making a triangle and then filling it in.

Step 5) Continue making random red dots next to each other, all over your nail as the tops of the other hearts.

Step 6) Use the same method in step 4 to pull the hearts down and fill in the triangle. Remember to make them all go in different directions like in the pattern.

Step 7) In the empty gaps, add more hearts, or parts of hearts to fill the space.

Step 8) Add topcoat. When the nail polish dries, wash your hands so that the area that got onto your finger comes off. You're done!

Thanks for following my blog! Please spread the word to your friends!

Paper Source Sunday - White on Red Dots

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I was examining some red designs. I love short red nails, but spicing them up with white dots just adds to the effect and makes them even cuter. This week's Paper Source inspired look comes from a vellum gift wrap:

http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/White-Swirls-Red-Vellum-Gift-Wrap/3104.080/10162850.html

The design is so easy to make! I promise! All you really need is a dotter, and if you don't have that, you can use a toothpick (cut a little) or the tip of a pencil.

Step 1) Apply base coat (I used: Seche Vite Base Coat)

Step 2) Paint your nails red (I used a red by OPI - sorry I don't remember the name). Also, Don't worry about it getting onto your nail because that will wash off easily after they dry.

Step 3) Blot some white (I used Orly Pointe Blanche) onto a piece of scrap paper and blot with a blotter (or any other tool listed above).

Step 4) Dot a white circle in the lower left corner of your nail to a little bit past the center.

Step 5) Create a square of four dots at the end of the previous circle and start a new one on the upper left corner of your nail with those two dots as the base.

Step 6) Fill in reach circle with more dots arranged as smaller, inner circles.

Step 7) Finish filling in the circles all the way.

Step 8) Add two dots in the middle of the empty space on the upper left and lower right of the nail.

Step 9) Continue doing this with the rest of your nails.

Step 10) You're finished!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! It's a lot easier to do than it looks when finished :)

Paper Source Sunday - Octopus Nails!

Hi everyone! I wanted to let you know about a NEW WEEKLY SEGMENT i'll be doing!! :) I have been super inspired by paper source patterns lately. I absolutely love this store (and not because it's on the way to Georgetown Cupcake). Their patterns are gorgeous and look way better in person and really make me want to buy them all! But instead, I'm going to do my nails based on them. The first one i'm doing is inspired by one of their wrapping paper patterns: Octopuses! (or octopodes.. if you will :P)

You can see it here:
http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Octopus-Wrapping-Paper/3106.001/44364150.html

Step 1) Apply a base coat - (I used Seche Vite base coat)

Step 2) Paint your nails white with 2 to 3 coats of white nail polish. (I used a white by OPI). P.s. I messed up the pinky a bit (hit it on something), but its okay because we'll cover that up later.

Step 3) Pick out the colors you want to use. The pattern had orange, red, and green, but I thought a pink would look good.

Step 4) Blot a color onto a piece of scrap paper and use a large dotter tool to apply random dots on the nail. Being a broke college student, I didn't have a large dotter with me, so I decided to be resourceful and use the bottom of a pencil.

Step 5) Use a small paintbrush to begin painting out the tentacles, beginning from the bottom center of the circle-blob, and curling out.

Step 6) Continue adding tentacles - use other colors and the pencil-dotting technique to create random octopuses. 

Step 7) Use a small dotter tool (or the sharp tip of your pencil) to add two white dots for eyes.

Step 8) Look at your nails and the wrapping paper and smile :) 

Have a good week!

American University Nails

When I first came to college, I painted my nails with the American University logo. This attracted attention from a lot of people. In fact, quickly became known as "the girl with the AU nails". When people would notice, they would remark to me "Oh! You're the girl with the AU nails! Someone told me about you!". Yes, I was that girl during orientation and welcome week, and now you can be that girl (or guy - I don't judge) too. Today I'll share with you the secret of how to put that logo on your very own nails.

Step 1) Apply a base coat. (I used Seche Vite)

Step 2) Cover the right half of your nail with a red polish. (I used OPI Red Hot Ayers Rock)

Step 3) Fill the other half of your nail with a navy blue nail polish. (I used Funky Fingernails Jewel tone Blue - which I bought from Five Below - 3 for $5!)

Step 4) Using a white striper nail polish or striper brush dipped in white nail polish, start from the center and make a line outward to begin shaping the letter "A".

Step 5) Repeat this on the other side.

Step 6) Following that center line where the red and blue intersect, create a white line from the center of the "A" toward the bottom of your nail.

Step 7) On the right side of the design, make a line parallel to the one on the divider line.

Step 8) Connect the two parallel lines to make a "U".

Step 9) Connect the U and the A with a line right above the middle line.

Step 10) Create another line at the other tip of the "U" on the same plane and with the same width.

Step 11) Add "feet" to the "A" like you did with the "U"

Step 12) Add topcoat

And you're done! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and extend your school spirit all the way down to your nails!