31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Day 1: Red

I've done it again! I've decided to go over to the deep side and attempt another nail art challenge... I really like these things, I think they push your creativity to its max and forces the challenged to think outside the box. However, sometimes I'm just not in the mood to do nails so making a commitment to do nail art every day is so hard for me. So I'm thinking maybe I can skip days in between? Of course the challenge will take longer than 31 days but at least I'll keep my sanity dammit!
So anyway, the nail challenge is from Chalkboard Nails! She's already on Day 27 but you can see all of her nail art from Day 1 on her blog. Her nail art is simply amazing.
Seriously. Check it out.
So Day 1's challenge is Red and I decided to go with an apple design. Fall is my favorite season and "red" translates to "apple" when I'm in an autumn state of mind. I didn't want to do the traditional apple nail art, so I went with a design inspired by the apple peel. It came out way better than I expected and it was super easy.
I used Wet n Wild's Red Red as a base and Sinful Colors Innocent on top of that. To create the apple peel's marbling I used the saran wrap technique. After that I used a toothpick to create tiny little white dots and then top coat. Voila! Fresh Picked Apple Nails!
Scroll to the bottom to see the 31 Nail Art Challenge.

See y'all tomorrow! (Hopefully),
Raquel N.

Royal Houndstooth

Hi, My name is Raquel and I have a nail polish addiction.
Seriously.

I think I must have purchased at least 15 bottles of nail polish in the last week! What can I say? I love Fall and this years nail polish trends are amaze-balls! Deep, rich blues, greens and burgundy's paired with pale nudes and golds, not to mention the abundant shades of grey that are now gracing the shelves (thank you E.L. James). So yeah, I'm in heaven, and that's without even acknowledging nail art, but I won't go there... yet.

So some time during that week long haul I FINALLY picked up Revlon's Royal. It's a beautiful cobalt blue jelly polish and I have been itching to pick it up. The color is darker in person than in pictures and although the bottle claims it dries at "top speed" it took longer than I expected. Other than that - Love! I paired it with black and white houndstooth, stripes and gold studs. Check it out below!

On another note, I made my first Etsy sale yesterday! Gah! I'm so excited. Check out my store here!
I'm currently working on my Halloween line (because what costume is complete without some fierce claws to match?) and I'm also taking custom orders. Hopefully I can stop buying polish long enough to save up for my own costume... or not!

XOXO
Raquel N.

Henna Inspired Nail Art

So I've been reading "Life of Pi" at the recommendation of my bestie and her boo. I'm really enjoying it so far and after two days of reading it I have the strongest desire to get henna'd! I googled some designs and fell in love! I wish I could capture how intricate and whimsical henna designs really are in my nail art, but I think I need more practice. Anyway, I used OPI's Don't Pretzel My Buttons from their German Collection and a dark brown acrylic paint mixed with a dab of black. I'll probably be doing a lot more henna designs in the future. The art is beautiful and each nail ends up different, which I love.
Also, my Etsy shop is up and running! You can check it out here. I'm working on my Fall/Halloween line now so expect to see those in the shop within the next week. Also, custom orders are always welcome!

Mani Faceted Nails

Some nail art designs I've done recently :)

Mayan Tribal Print Nails: 

I used Essie Meet Me at Sunset, Essie Big Spender and acrylic paint

Lace Trim Nails:

I used Essie Big Spender, Sinful Colors Rain Storm and acrylic paint

Girly Mash Up Mani:

Nails I did for my friend Tracy. 

I don't remember all the colors I used :-/ Sowwy!

African Tribal Print Nails:

I used Color Club Psychedelic Scene, Color Club Orange Revenge, Sinful Colors White & Black Polish, and Acrylic paint

Boricua Pride Nails:

I used Wet n Wild Red Red, Sinful Colors Paradise, Sinful Colors Snow White & Acrylic Paint

Gold Caviar too!

Black & White Shatter Nails with Gold Cross:

Inspired by my wallet from Target :)

I used Sinful Colors Snow White, Opi Black Shatter, Sinful Colors Innocent for the underside & Gold studs

Patriotic Sailor Girl Nails:

I used Sinful Colors Snow White & Acrylic Paint

Patriotic Luxe Nails:

I used Wet n Wild Red Red, Essie Mesmerize, Sinful Colors Snow White, Gold Glitter & Gold Studs

Nana Inspired Splatter Nails:

This mani was inspired by a restaurant in Park Slope called Nana :)

I blended a white & black polish for the slate gray base. The splatter colors are Sinful Colors Innocent and China Glaze Japanese Koi w/some white added.

Fierce Feline Nails:

Rawr!

I used Color Club Psychedelic Scene, Sinful Colors Black and Acrylic paint

Unicorn Talons:

I used 

Baroque Style

I'm so in love with baroque print right now. It's fashionable, classy and timeless. 

And perfect for Fall 2012!

 I first saw this design on Ami Vega from El Salonsito. You can see her design on her Instagram page.

The light plum/pink color is Essie's Big Spender, the gold is Orly Luxe (my favorite gold ever!!) and the black is acrylic paint.

XOXO

Raquel