Franken + Food!

Nothing to Disclose

... but not frankenfood, don't worry!

Hello lovelies! I have kind of a special post today. (Well, special to me.) The reason is that the polish I'm showing you today is my very first franken. For those who haven't encountered the term yet, a franken is nail polish lingo for a polish that is mixed up using other polishes, pigments, loose glitter, and whatever else you feel like throwin' in there. I made this one using 6 different polishes and 4 types of loose glitter! In honour of autumn and by popular request over on Instagram, I've named it Bride of Franken-Stein. (Punny.)

Shown are two thick coats of polish plus two thin coats of top coat to smooth out the glitter. There are flakes, and glass fleck, and all sorts of stuff in the base green jelly, so feel free to click the following picture to get a zoomed-up look (can you tell I'm a proud mama?):

On top of the franken, I've put some apples, because this weekend's ABC Challenge prompt is Food! We're well into September now, much as I hate to admit it-- not because I hate autumn, not at all, but because the winters here in Edmonton are brutal-- and apples seemed a season-appropriate foodstuff.

The apples are entirely acrylic paint.

I'm not the happiest with how they turned out, but they aren't bad, either. It's been over a month since I did really detailed acrylic painting like this on my nails, so I'm a little rusty, and it was good to get back into it!

Polishes used:

Bride of Franken-Stein, a franken made by me! ***

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

la couleur couture - 2013 (top coat)

acrylic paint in light red, dark red, yellow, ochre, sap green, and dark brown

tiny detail brush

I'm finally all caught up on the ABC Challenge! Now I get to do whatever I want this week, woohoo! I'm thinking of getting a head start on prepping for next month's Digit-al Dozen week, and I've got a few other ideas kicking around that might be fun. I'm looking forward to it! Just as soon as I can will myself to take this polish off....

xo,

J.

*** While the polishes I used were all mine and purchased separately, some of the suspension base I used and all of the loose glitter I used came from Girly Bits' franken starter kit. They've also recently introduced a deluxe franken starter kit that comes with more glitter samples and three pre-coloured bases, which is pretty awesome!

Summer Strawberries

Nothing to Disclose

LOVELIES. Oh, my lovelies. If only you knew the toil behind this manicure.

"Jolène," you protest, "this is really easy." YES. But it took 4 do-overs! I tried every conceivable strawberry mani before I ended up with this one! What is wrong with me today.

At any rate. I'll keep it brief because it's past midnight and Momma has a serious sleeping problem, in that she needs to do lots of it or else she'll fall apart... like... a joke in terrible taste about leprosy.

This began with a coat of Tempest (ONE COAT!), with strawberries done in An Amorous Disposition (will need to be showcased better in future), greens in Shawn, and little dots in Kalahari Kiss.

Polishes used:

Cult Nails - Tempest

Arcane Lacquer - An Amorous Disposition (only Australia)

Zoya - Shawn

China Glaze - Kalahari Kiss

Nail Pattern Boldness - Glitter A-Peel (base coat), Glitter Food

la couleur couture - 2013 (top coat)

I have a serious request. I've been so low on nail art inspiration lately! I don't know why, but it sucks. Is there anything you, lovely lovelies, would like to see me take a shot at? I'm all ears over here!!

xo,

J.

I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!

... I used to say, back when I could also skip in double ropes. (I can barely single skip with a single rope now. Oh, the halcyon days of youthful coordination.)

No tutorial for these, because the only real process was "screw around with acrylic paints in the general shape of ice cream". From left to right, we have mint chocolate chip, a banana split, some kind of berry sunday, and a peanut chocolate parfait that looks poop-ish because using dark brown tricks my camera into thinking things are solid black!

But the BASE of this manicure, which you can regrettably see little of, is another of the custom Tryst Lacquers I ordered -- Confection (aptly). It's a very pale nude/peach with super-pale green satin hex, purple micro holo, and tiny iridescent glitter. It's lovely and I'm sure you'll be seeing it again. It also applied like a dream in 3 thin coats.

The cups are made with polish, in a page I've taken from @glitterfingers' cupcake manis. From left to right: Jinx, Lil Miss Sunshine, Mermaid's Dream, another (!) custom Tryst Lacquer which is called Calypso and which you'll see more of soon.

Polishes used:

Tryst Lacquers - Confection (custom), Calypso (custom)

OPI - Jinx

CrowsToes - Lil Miss Sunshine

Deborah Lippmann - Mermaid's Dream

Nail Pattern Boldness - Glitter A-Peel (base coat)

la couleur couture - 2013 (top coat)

acrylic paint
detail brush
fine-nibbed pen with watered-down acrylic paint for the outlines

I think I'll be doing a watermarble next, because I bought a GOSH polish today that is SUPERB -- if only my photos will end up doing it justice!

xo,

J.

Candied French

Hello! I thought this one would be easy to knock out both hands in a couple hours, la di da.

FALSE.

This look was inspired by the delightful confectionary nail art of @glitterfingers. Her linework style is so unique, and I love it, and I have obviously not come anywhere near it. But this is still kind of a homage to her work. (I have covered up my free edges in designs because they are irredeemably stained.)

The gummy bear is my favourite.

This began with a coat of ridge filling base coat, followed by a coat of Nail Glow. I then painted everything in acrylics and sealed it all with Seche Vite.

Polishes used:
Essie - Ridge Filling (base coat)
Dior - Nail Glow
acrylic paints in pretty much every colour
detail brush and überdetail brush
Seche Vite (top coat)

What do you think of this one? Worth the effort??


J.