KONADDICT:Konad Nail Art Addict...KONAD TUTORIALS

My American Konadi

2010-07-07T00:34:00.000-07:00

Fellow Konaddicts.....
So after the first few fails, here are the 4th of July Konadi nails I sported. If you read the previous 3 posts...you'll see what the delay in posting was.

I wanted to create both a konadicure that was simple on the one hand, and something remenicent of a waving flag on the other.... So I did each hand different!

Not sure if you can tell, bit with the bottom pic, I just basically used the same thumb from my marble flub and redid the other fingers. then I remembered I wanted to do a plain mani that most people could do: red nails with a few blue and white stars.

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July, we sure did...went to the Angels ball game, and saw fire works afterward.

An adMARBLE attempt

2010-07-07T00:21:00.000-07:00

I'm am calling this my "admarble" attempt...haha get it? Yes, I attempted a water marble for my fourth of July konadicure. i wanted to create a waving flag. Well, big FAIL. Never water marbled before, there MUST be a trick to it that I didn't hear because these are a disaster.

My white was too thick, so I used a clear coat when alternating inbetween the red and "white."

I started with a white base coat. And my ignorance..or was it cockyness caused me to forgo the step where you tape up your nails...big mistake.

Below are pics of the first run, I removed it, taped the second time, and still ended up with a sad konadi ;(

soooo, needless to say, THOSE were NOT my 4th of July mani!

Post vacation a Nails...not pretty!

2010-07-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

This Is a frightening post my fellow konaddicts...
THIS is what my nails looked like AFTER vacation. Keep in mind, I had broken off both thumbs ( of my world cup mani) before leaving, never fixed them before leaving...didn't do a fill either. It was bananas here with the pre-packing saga.

how do you like that painful break in the ring finger? YIIIIKES!

the pther hand is equally jacked! (I'm a picker- so I added to the trouble with my pinky)

I decided to rip them off and start all over- no extensions. I put fresh gel over them and formed out a couple of the nail tips. But generally speking, I wanted to keep them short because we will be doing alot of moving stuff aroung during the construction that is about to happen in the house.

I use Young Nail gel products. I do not use the soak off formulas anymore. I do them myself. On occasion, when I am out of time or motivationi'll cheat and have them done. That's what happened before the trip. I had acrylic put on....eeeewwww. It yellowed and the tips lifted. Just a mess. That is why I ripped them off and started fresh. I think the gel has a cleaner look. I used to do acrylic, and forgot how they wear. There really is a difference (on my nails) with how they feel and wear.

So there you are, I have a new pallet for painting (even though they are short!)

thank god for the internet...finally!

2010-07-06T23:40:00.000-07:00

Hello fello Konaddicts!
well, i hope you all had a wonderful July 4th. I am back from chicago, and let me show you what's been keeping me.

Well, as I mentioned last post, I had a water pipe burst inbetween the walls The DAY BEFORE LEAVING. This is the damage it caused

and mean while I moved my computer into the kitchen...but i moved it today, because the company that came to tear out all the damaged flooring and walls had to unplug the router for my internet while moving the office ( oh did I mention the office, laundryroom and garage were affected?)

so I intended to blog a few days ago, but no cable internet ...that is until this heroic van pulled up!

so- hooray for the cable guy!

Now, real quick, I wanted to show you a few pics from Chicago. ( I typically like to keep my posts strictly Konadicure related...but will make vacation exceptions)

My sister (who lives in nebraska) and her family met us in Chicago. It was great because all the cousins got to hang out. Most of the pictures are of the kids.

me and my big sissy )and her amazing eyes!)

The kids at the Hersheys store. Keith let them do the machine that dumps chocolate by the bucketfull! No kidding.

the Jelly Bean in millenium park ( that's my Alex)

again, my Keith with the sweets, the kids got freshly spun cotton candy

Above Navy Pier Alex is in Purple, the rest of those beauties are my sisters.

a refreshing dip on the walk back to the hotel

and Keith & I took pics at the Museum of Science and Industry with the kids

My Charlie is in pink, and lex is in the aqua leggings.

how cute are they on the bus! COUSINS!

Thanks for reading.

Be back soon.....from the "windy city"

2010-06-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow konaddicts, I'm here on vacation in Chicago IL. Still sporting the world cup nails...minus the thumbs- broke BOTH off while installing a sunscreen shade fabric on my patio cover. Anyhow, I hoped to blog before leaving, but I had a hot water pipe explode in between one of our walls (the day before leaving)...so I had to deal with that before going.

I will fix my nails and blog when in return, just in time for the 1st of July...I love 4th of July inspired nails!!!
Share with you then

Till your next fix,
Konaddict

P.s. I'd post pics, but I'm blogging from the hubs iPad.

World Cup Nails

2010-06-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Konaddicts,
I am not actually "in the know" when it comes to soccer, but my husband is. So, I have seen a bit of World Cup here on the TV. I felt inspired to do something for the occasion.

How to create it. (sorry I forgot to create a supplies list pics, but the plate numbers are listed below in the tag)

Ill be brief tonight, its late, and I want to catch up with the hubbs.

You will need Konad special polishes red, white, blue, & black. Konad image plates m3, m45,m49,m52,m56 or you can use m52 with just the soccer image.

1) paint accent nails and tips, let dry.

2) Stamp in white to act as a guide of where to paint the white dot, I wanted a 2 toned image. After, I stamped over it in the 2nd color, black

3) continue stamping the remaining soccerballs

4) stamp black check over tips, and use stars or "world cup" text here and there!

Thanks for reading..... Till your next fix.....

Night

Konaddict

Double you Image Plates-NOW- FREE!!!

2010-05-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to show you fellow Konaddicts what I mean! I discovered this a little while back, (about a month ago... on my girlfriend) and showed the lovely Esther @ Konad USA. We laughed at how funny it was that no one came up with this idea sooner!

Its pretty basic...ready for it?

DOUBLE YOUR IMAGES BY MAKING A REVERSE OF THE IMAGE!

You will need: 1 image plate, one special polish, 2 stampers, and one scraper.

So basically you need to work quickly with fresh Konad Special Polish, if it is too thick, it may dry to fast before you can transfer it in the 3 steps it takes. start with the usual paint and scrape technique, then.....

1)pick up the image with your one of your stampers

2) instead of transfering it to your nail, transfer it to ANOTHER STAMPER,

3) then roll the image onto your nail.

You now have a reverse image of the original!

This works great on images that are one sided, if you want to create a mirror on your opposite hand.

INSTANT

FREE

You are sooooo welcome!

If you don't already have a second stamper, You can stop by my shop and order one. And if you do....better get stamping ! And please, post it to your blog, or email me pics!!! Feel free to link back to this post for step by step tutorial.

here are some examples of images that would work well (note: the left images are the reverse and then i just did a regular pick up on the right side so you can see how great the reverse looks- I didn't have time to do a bunch of mani's)

My Life has gone to the dogs!

2010-05-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

Fellow Konaddicts,

It has been so long since I have logged on, I almost forgot my id and pass word! Afetr an email I recieved from Evil Angel about an unrelated topic...I finally motivated myself to cut through the "stuff" and just get to it!

I have many excuses/reasons why I have been away....none as darling as what will follow and what inspired this Konadicure.

Meet Fergus & Valen"Tino"

Alex, My Oldest Daughter had a pretty sever and unexplained dog phobia (thats how we could best descibe it.) For 2 years I have tried to help her get over this fear in many ways including viting neighborhood dogs, frequent trips to PetSmart, weekly dog books from the library...you name it-for 2years! Well, her anxiety grew, and spread to cats, and bunnies. We were not typically "dog" people. I joked that I didn't want more poop and hair to clean up after than the two girls I already had! But, it became clear that "full immersion", so to speak, was the only way to cure her. Well, it worked! For the last 2 months Alex has grown so confident and secure around Fergus AND EVEN OTHER DOGS! BIG DOGS! Fergus is her hero! An impulse buy this weekend led us to another Mini Schnauzer. Charlie (my youngest daughter) wanted him so bad, & I loved his demeanor...thought Cesar Milan would approve of him. So, now we have two- and they entertain not just us, but each other as well!

On to the konadicure....

I was trying to copy Fergus's parti coat with the patches.

Here are the supplies you'll need:

Konad Special polishes in black, light gray, and brown, Konad image plates m61 & m10, stamper scraper, white polish for your tips..any brand, and a top coat. I used Konad, but you can use what ever you prefer.

and here are the steps:

Here is a closer look and more detailed instructions on how to create the color blend on the patches I did.

1) polish dots of color OFF TO THE SIDE of the image

2) use a toothpic or dotting tool to swirl the colors to get a little blend

3) crape, you will see how the color graduates and is blended in some parts.

Thanks for taking the time to read this LONG OVERDUE post.

As promised (in an email)....later today I will post a SPECIAL on how t odouble your existing images collection....FREE. Yeah....it will revolutionize your koand kits! So, stay tuned!

Psych Zebra!

2010-03-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late on the Wednessday post...hope I still get some love!

My fellow Konaddicts, i feel as though I have "fallen off the wagon" so to speak. I miss blogging and having my nails pimped out in a fantastic konadicure!

Here is a super fun zebra nail tip. It is so fast and easy...you better try it! Change the colors if you wish. I think Im for this non-traditional look though, because it is still wearable!

I think the tips are a little high, could have covered the smile line better-as my nail is showing through.

Here is the basic supplies to create the look:

Sally Girl mini polish in "pea-body", Konad image plate m69, konad princess polish in psych pink, Konad top coat, and of course a stamper scraper.

Follow these steps to konadiclone this look:

1) Paint tips. I do this free hand, but for shorter nails you can use Konad image plate m19 for tips that dry almost instantly...no waiting before applying the zebra tips.

2) use the LONG side of the image on plate m69 to "hug" your smile line right over the green....if you slightly arch the stap when you roll it, it will make a nice C on the smile rather than a sraight across tip.

I hope to do videos of this soon. ( be patient though, still learning hoe wo edit video)

3) cover and protect with Konad clear top coat.

so go do your own funky zebra!

Poor Unlucky Irish Bastard!

2010-03-16T23:39:00.000-07:00

Yeah...See what I mean?!
Hello My fellow Konaddicts! How to like that for the luck O' the Irish!? Polished up my pretties, forgot to photo them before we gutted the garage of the old cabinetry. Sadly-my nail was a casualty or the garage remodel, and we are't even close to being done.

Wish I could take credit for the "kiss me" I'm irish idea- BUT I CAN"T. My sister did a manicure and told me about it. So I kloned it. I have her Konadicure below, you will see how funny it is that ours are so different!

Lets just tuck that nasty broken one away, shall we? Try to envision the a complete set of painted digits.

See?

Anyhow, here is what you would need for this Konadicure

Pretty straight forward.

A Black base color, Konad image plates m4, m22, and m56. Konad Princess Polish in Apple Green

Simply paint your base color, stamp the tips, and the extra clovers here and there. Pretty basic right?

Let's have a look at the uber darling Irish Konadi my sis is sporting.

How dainty is that!? Yes, I agree- very cute indeed! And VERY wearable I might add.

Here's what you'll need.

Konad image plates m4, m22, m37, & m80. Konad Princess Polish in Apple green, Konad Special Polish in White, and A Konad top coat for good measure;)

Do it like this...

And don't forget the Irish!

So....get a little green this St Patty's Day!

Good luck! (hope you don't end up with an unlucky little stubby like mine!)

'till your next fix...

Fraudulent Marble!!!

2010-03-11T00:19:00.000-08:00

Hello my fellow konaddicts! Here is a quick post with what I am calling a "fraudulent marbling" design. Well I though this looked a little bit like marbeling, So that's where it got the name.

Here is what you will need.

Konad plate m78, Konad Special Polish Dark Purple and 2 different base colors. I used a red and yellow- both from China Glaze.

The steps are pretty basic:

1. Pain base color

2. Paint a stripe on the second color down the middle of your finger, then sponge it in.

3.Stamp image over full nail using the Konad SP in Dark Purple

the ending result...

I hope you all love the new Konadicure. Try it yourself.

(here comes what will soon be the norm) a proud plug to my new website

'Till your next fix...

My New Website!

2010-03-11T00:04:00.000-08:00

Oh how I have missed doing my nails and blogging for fun!!!!

Hello my fellow konaddicts! I have truely missed sahring with you. I have a good excuse though...and here it is!

I have been building my website for store front customers. Some of you may know that in January I got my resalelicence and begun my new business selling konad. I needed to have a vertual catalog for customers who may want to look up products once they have left the salon.

http://www.konaddict.com/

So, pop in check it out. It is a great source for getting all your image plate idas in one place. Also, you can print out the image plate page and then cut out each plate image to file in you clear page holders-if this is the method you use for storing your image plates!

I love feed back on ways to make the site user friendly! youcan enter the contact page and fill out the form with your suggestions!
Thanks for reading, AND your patience.
'till your next fix...

long time no blog!

2010-03-03T23:37:00.000-08:00

Soooooo Sooooo Sorry I have been MIA again! I really have been so busy with a couple BIG projects, I have neglected ost things around here...including my nails! i want to give a sneak peek at what i hope to expand on tomorrow. If you can believe i have had this pic for over a month...waiting to be blogged!

But i haven't had the time toedit the photos...
Good news though, my computer (mac) is back from the "doctors" and i even have the windows partition figured out. So I am officially-finally- onone computer!

Any how, here is the pic I want to share...demo and supplies to come ( i hope!)
but i couldn't put it off any longer!

Gotta go for now....neglecting the hubbs!

night... 'till your next fix!

Winner!!!!

2010-02-17T23:57:00.000-08:00

Phew...just in time...wanted to make sure I got all entires that went to spam...and the last ones up until 2/14. And the lucky winner (random.org) is

Scorpio1312 !

So, email if you are reading this. Hope to hear from you by Feb. 20th...
Congrats, and thank you to all of you who entered, loved hearing about the konad wish list, and what you currently have.
For those of you who don't know, in January I started up a new business, and I am selling Konad products.
I am so excited to hear what plates every one likes, has, craves!
Thanks again for following my blog, your readership means a lot to me.

I look forward to hosting more Give-aways for my lovely readers!

Till your next fix......

Mardi Gras Nails

2010-02-16T23:33:00.000-08:00

Hi fellow Konaddicts! It has been a little bit since I have been able to blog a design of mine. I actually did these a couple weeks ago and thought they would be perrfect for today. I wanted to try to make time to squeeze them in before the close of the day... sorry not a more detailed tutorial. Forgot to take pics of the polishes.

These are the steps, just paint the base coat then sponge off the tips of the second coat. I added a gold stamp from one of the new plates... m81

wish i could blog more....got to go to bed for now. But tomorrow on my mac (I'm on my Dino laptop) I have some pics my sister did of her mardi gras nails...very cool- also using a new plate.

and the polishes she used. You can see she used the greenish color and the plum color on the full nail plate. makes it look like 2 separate color applications, but it's done in one step! Great with this nail plate because of the separation betwen the designs. Great job "Proud Sissy"

Contest Is Over.....

2010-02-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

The contest is over, thank you all for your entires, I appreciated hearing about your collections and which plates you most liked or wanted. I recieved over 100 entries...Yay! I will finish going through the last of the enries, and draw this evening. Hope to post the winner tomorrow! Hope you all had a wondrful long weekend (man we sure did...sleepy eyes still recovering).

Till your next fix (tonigh ill post some really cool Mardi Gras Nails)

Guest blogger, "Proud Sissy"

2010-02-09T21:43:00.000-08:00

My sister, shari...also known as "proud Sissy" is hooked on konad too! She too bought the pro-Salon kit and created these UBER DARLING nails. Shari is a scraper as well (much more efficient and talented than myself!), so it is no surprise she is very gifted and creative with her nail designs. I know you will all just LOVE the valentine inspired nails. She used all Konad image plates, the plate with the zodiac signs had the cupid! sooooo smart!

and a close up up that thumb

these nails are sooo cute and sooo perfect for valentines...I dare you to konadiclone these or a version inspired by these. I lover her full accent nail, and the use of the red under her leopard lace. Such a great design, I'm jealous I didn't think of it my self!

BUT WAIT there's more! Shari isn't so fond of these next ones, but I LOVE them. They LOOk like a brocade fabric. She really did a great job pulling from the original inspiration.

her inspiration....

Great job Shari-or "proud Sissy". You make ME proud...and for more than just the nails!

Love ya sissy!

Wild Cat- Konad Plate m78

2010-02-03T13:31:00.000-08:00

Konaddicts....I have been going through blogging withdrawls! My new Mac has been giving me trouble. I tried installing the new Windows 7, and have had all kinds of trouble with it!!! loooong story-but your here for konadicures!
Its been too long, & i have so many konadicures to blog.

Konad plate m78 is pretty cool. The animal print combines the zebra/tiger print with a leopard print, so it makes it a great match with the leopard print on m57.

Here is what you will need to konadiclone this.

I forgot to photo the bronze color I painted over the yellow.

I used konad plates m78 & m57, Konad special polish black and white. I also used china glaze, and a petit polish in a bronze.

Create this Konadicure in these steps:

1) Paint base color and let dry

2) paint second color and sponge off on the tips.

I read about this technique here

3) Apply animal print from m78 to all fingers, except the ring finger.

4) Stamp your ring finger with the full leopard image from m57 and accent it with the butterflies in white.

Hope you enjoy the design and a peek at konad plate m78.

'til your next fix....

Valentines Vomit

2010-02-03T00:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks for waiting....computer issues!

Yup....pretty much what it sounds like. Like someone vomited hearts and pink things all over my nails! really no tutorial, just do it!

special polishes in : right grey, white, pastel pink, cool red

m3, m6, m35, m73, m59, m72

m79 & m80 (New Konad Plate) Valentine Nails

2010-01-26T22:06:00.000-08:00

Konaddicts! I have another swatch of the new plates Konad is coming out with...
I lovethe new polka dot FUUL NAIL design plate. The other 2 polka dot designs I think can be either too far apart or too close.

Here's what you need

Konad plates m79 & m80. Konad princess polish, sheerblush polish. and any white for the tips.

The Tutorial

1) paint blush color oer nail

2) Apply polka dots over full nail

3) paint tips white or stamp french tips with konad m19 . I just did free hand

4) apply the red hearts tip image over the white.

super cute, super fast, super new design!

untill next your next fix................

Konad Plates m76 & m79- Barbie Girl

2010-01-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

Yes....OMG I do have actual swatches of the NEW KONAD PLATES. A girl friend loaned them to me so I could swatch them for you. These plates are not out yet (in the USA) ..... they are due out in late Feb.....MAYBE? But we were lucky enough to get our hands on these.... hope you enjoy the swatches! Ill try to post one a day this week!

What you will need

Konad plates m76 & m79, Konad Special polish in black, and a base color. (my bottle didnt have a name)

Here is how to create this darling...yet easy look

1) paint your base color

2) Stamp m76 flowers on all nails but the accent nail. Follow with m79 on the accent nail.

I hope you enjoyed an exclusive look and one of the new konad plates coming out. Check back tomorrow for another! These new plates are GREAT!!!

Untill your next fix.........

Konaddict

Kattie Kiddie

2010-01-22T11:20:00.001-08:00

Hey,Fellow Konaddicts! Wanted to post a cute konadicure i did on Alex. Thisis a fast post....going to San Diego for the night- Girls Night Out. I have to catch a train in 2 hours...and havent even done my nails or packed!

and here is a few of the other fingers showing the opposite hand in reverse.

heres what you will need

Koand Special polish in black. pure ice in silver, and a base color. Konad image plates m57 and optional m19 for the strip.

here is how to do this super easy design

1) paint base color

2) using konad image plate m19, stamp a strip in the middle of the nail. you could free hand it too. but it dries instantly with m19...so you dont have to wait for drying time!

3)stamp leopard lace over the strip, so it is between the lace borders

4) paint the other hand in the revese fashion.

have fun.

untill the next fix...

Taxi Konadiclone!

2010-01-20T02:36:00.000-08:00

Hey, fellow Konaddicts...today I am bringing you a very cleaver nail design. NOT MINE though. It's a total konadiclone i stole the idea from the Daily Nail.

After spending time in the city, surrounded by taxies, I was inspired to do something to commemorate the trip. I remembered an adorable nail idea from the Daily Nail Blog and decided to run with it. I hope if she happenes across this post she is flattered!

These nails differ a little. I used the tip plate design at the middle of the nail. I also wanted to print out Taxi Cab (too bad it smeared before I took a pic)and do an accent nail full of numbers. You know How I love that accent nail!

Originally I did these with out the silver stripe....but in the end, I couldnt leave well enough alone. Thought it reminded me of the bumper on an old taxi cab.

Here's what you will need:

A yellow base color, white polish, Konad Special polish in black, and some cuticle oil is always nice. makes your nails look moisturized!

Here is how to create these nails:

1) paint base color

2)paint a white curved strpe in the middle of most nails, and the tips of your thumbs.

3) Stamp the check pattern over the white stripe.

4) Print TAXI on the thumb and stamp numbers on the accent nail.

Finally, finish with using a stripe polish in silver to freehand the silver borders on each check pattern.

Hope you all love this darling design, inspired by another very talented blogger and nail artist.

Untill your next fix...

Graduated Color- Mixing on the Plate

2010-01-19T11:01:00.000-08:00

Hope you fellow Konaddicts had a fantastic weekend! I did- it was wet, but fun.
So, here is a technique I have yet to do a tutorial on. It creates a graduated color stamp by mixing 2 polishes on the plate.

Too bad I couldn't capture the graduated color better. But see how the color moves from grayish purple to aqua? Here, let me show you how to do it.

First, here is what you will need.

A dark base color, Konad prncess polishes in Light Gray, and Pop Green, and Konad image plate 63.

Here is how you create this Konadicure, step by step. The color graduate will follow.

1) paint your base color

2) Mix your two colors on the Konad plate, and stamp the image over each nail.

To mix a graduated color on the konad plate:

paint two colors on the plate...NOT ON THE IMAGE-BUT OFF TO THE SIDE OF IT, ON THE PLATE.

Usea dotting wand to mix the colors IN THE MIDDLE so you create a blend in the middle. Now when you preform the scrape, the result will be a graduated color- from one color to the next.

So, try this on your next Konadicure, and tell me how it worked out.

I personally love doing this on the full plate patterns. The leopard and fishnet look great!

Untill your next fix.....

Swirly French Tips.

2010-01-15T00:40:00.000-08:00

I am leaving for a weekend trip to San Fransisco ( had so much fun there in October!) This time I'm taking the hubbs.

But I had to do a real conservative mani, here it is real quick....cuz i need to pack!

Here is the VERY cool plate I finally used for the first time. It is a new FAVE!

I wish I had time to do the VERY SIMPLE tutorial...or at the very least take a pic with something OTHER than my iphone! But here it is, Have a wonderful weekend!

'till your next fix.....

Win an ALL NEW RUBY KIT by konad!!! (closes 2-14-2010)

2010-01-13T22:00:00.000-08:00

As a BIG FAT THANK YOU to all my readers I want to host a give away. I would love to give one of you that new Ruby Kit Konad had just come out with. It's pretty amazing, and any one would be lucky to win it!

Here are the imageplates included.

This contest is totally easy too! Here are the rules :

1. This contest is only open to members of my blog. To become a member of my blog, simply click the "follow me button" to the right.
2. Send me an email contaning all these elements
                     a) your member profile name
                     b) make sure you have your return email listed
                     c) city and country you follow from
3. Flip through my old posts, and find a konadicure you like most, or would most like to konadiclone. Include the name and date of this posting
4. Tell me   a) what plate you own.....& b) which plate you wish to own.

That's it!
Tell me watch you got- what you want- and what you like.

email the above info to
give-away@konaddict.com

Contest closes on Feb. 14, 2010. Hope you feel the love!

This Conest Is Closed Now...Thanks for Your Entires

Almost there......300 Followers Celebration

2010-01-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

Hooray!!!!
Thanks Fellow Konaddicts for following and reading!

I am going to host a give away for my followers to thank them for reading and giving me such wonderful feed back. I'll announce the give away when i hit 300!

'till next fix
jennifer

Green Envy

2010-01-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

My fellow Konaddicts...hope the first week of the new year has been good to you. I've been busy with a new little venture of my own. But i have been going through blog withdrawl!

Been a little while since i did these, but looking backk at them, I really like the Konadicure & colors. I hope you do too.

So here is what you will need to create this Konadicure.

You will need konad image plates m34, m44, mCO2. You will also need Konad special polish in black, and a konad compatable color in gold. I used a sheer blush color over the antire nail , and green for the tips.

Here is the step by step tutorial.

1. Paint the sheer color over full nail.

2. Paint your tips with the green, you can free hand this part because the design on konad plate m44 will cover any wiggly lines. (gotta love that)

3. Stamp m44 over tips, lining up the bottom stripe with your smile line.

4. Stamp stars in gold over all fingers, including accent nail. Then follow with the cat from CO2 on the accent nail.

An there it is! Of course always prep with a base coat, and follow with a top coat. Substitute your favorite colors for any I have chosen.

I think you will really like konad image plate m44.

*****Tip*****

Use m44 on your daughters kiddie konadi. It works perfectly for doing a french tip on thier tiny fingers!

Thnks for reading...till your next fix,

Konaddict

POP! Champagne....the Celebration Continues

2010-01-02T23:25:00.000-08:00

Real quick post...loved so much i had to post even before i photo edited all cutesie! (or completed the black tie tutorial!!!! (I resolve to finish this tomorrow!)

Thanks fellow Konaddicts!

and a close up of the thumb before the POP got distorted...

NIght... another late night posting.

Black Tie Celebration Nails...Happy New Year!!!

2009-12-31T01:15:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years Eve fellow Konaddicts! I love this tuxedo inspired new years konadicure! But it's late, I must crash out

Hoping tomorrow I will have time to upload the tutorial.

Till then... stay tuned!

Oh, and how cute are the champagne glasses. Wouldn't be a celebration with out bubbly!

Can you see the other nail with 2010....well there is also an engagement ring there, I'll share the full story later, gotta get some winks in!

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update

Heres What you will need

Konad Image plates m71, m59, m38, konad Special polish in white and black, a silver color for the tips, here i used ICE brand (walmart), and a sheere blush color for the tips.

Here are the steps to this Konadicure:

1. Paint sheer

2. Stamp the m71 ruffle 2 times vertically down the center of each nail.

3. Paint the tips Silver

4. Stamp tie in Konad SP black on the center of each nail at the smile line.

Finally, Add bling buttons to the center of each tuxedo. And stamp wine & bubbles on your black accent nail.

I created an engagement ring because my girlfriend was going to ha surprise engagement party for her soon to be sister in law. So, it was a little inside joke.

Frosted Snow Flake Nails

2009-12-27T17:28:00.000-08:00

Here are the Original Frosted nails I did. I was inspired by all the snow fall in Nebraska! Here I used a couple plates I haven't yet used...turns out, I love them!

I think these nails would be great for New Years and even the rest of winter considdering all the snow the central and east coast has recieved.

I used MULTIPLE images. One i used over the full nail, and the rest over random areas. Heres what you'll need for the look.You will Need plates m63, m20, m59, a sheere blush color, a konad compatible silver color, a konad white special polish, a color for your tips (I made this one here with clear, white, silver, and a china glaze clear, I wanted a frosty light blue) sparkle top coat, and finally a sparkle polish.

Heres How to:

1) Paint sheer blush over the full nail

2) Paint your tips freehand with the light blue ( or other color of your choice)

3) With the silver polish, stamp the swirls from plate m63 over your full nail. Change or rotate the direction on each nail, for interst.

4) in white, stamp the various snowflakes from plates m20 & m59 over each nail. Stamp on the tips and the base of the nail.

***BONUS TIP***

Stamp 1/2 the snow flake on one nail tip (running off the tip) and quickly use the remaining image to stanp on another nail. This comes in handy because it makes the design both interesting, and faster because of the many snowflakes you will be adding.

Finish the nails with a glitter polish painted over the smile line!

My Flakey Christmas Birthday Nails!

2009-12-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays...here are some nails I did for Christmas (my birthday). Actually, I did these in Nebraska (while visiting my sis)...then repainted the tips red, and restamped the tips with partial snowflakes. Yeah, I've been sooo busy, I haven't even filled my gel nails for 3 weeks now! yikes.

The tutorial will follow!

Yes Brooke (gethcha nails did) Rocks!

2009-12-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

So Brooke of Get Your Nails did gave a terrific tutorial on how to make these DARLING cupcake ornaments! She saw the idea on Etsy...and was inspired to create (an even better) version of her own. I followed her tutorial and had my neice and nephews make these for my sister....WHO LOVES CUPCAKES!
It was a great craft project to do with the kids while I was visiting. So thanks Brooke for the idea and instructions! My sister LOVED them! the kids felt special they could create a gift for thier mom.

Nebraska Snow Cones....

2009-12-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from my trip to visit my sister in Omaha Nebraska.

There was snow when we arrived, and Charlie (my youngest daughter) loved it! When we were out in the front yard, Charlie was scooping up the snow and eating it. So, I had a plan.....why not have fun with it? It turns out Shari had snow cone syrup left over from summer. So we dug little holes in clean snow, poured in the flavors....and let the kids have at it with spoons! They had so much fun, Shari decided it could become a snow-day tradition. Made for a great time, great snow cones, and great memories!

Here is a picture of my sisters family, and my mom. we went sledding this day. The snow was a real novelty for Charlie & I....but, then again, we don't have to live in it!

I'm Back...but Not Totally up & Running:(

2009-12-18T19:59:00.000-08:00

Hey, back from Nebraska! Lucky to get back home...it dumped snow the morning we were to fly home and caused flight delays.
My camera is out of commission...so my postings will have pictures i took with my iphone and my mother-in-laws camera. Neither have a good lens for close ups! so that's what I mean by not up and running totally.
I got a beautiful new Mac...but sadly I don't really know how to use it! So , again, I'm surfing from lap top to desk top, camera to phone.

Kiddie Konadi #3 Easy & Cute

2009-12-09T02:02:00.000-08:00

I have to update this later...I am off to Nebraska, brrrrrrrr ( visiting my lovely big sis! Can't wait I misss her & Her Beautiful Kids... Anyhow, its late/early (2:00 am) but I wanted to post images so I could edit once there.

looks like i forgot to add the picture of image plate m39...

might for now...need to get some winks in!

Kiddie Konadi #2

2009-12-04T12:58:00.001-08:00

Seriously...two easy steps to an adorable Kiddie Konadi????? Yeah, really. What a basic konadi, but this swirl design makes quite an impact when used in contrasting colors. As you know Konad dies quickly, so again- you're not investing too much time in a manicure that may get smudged a touch or chipped....ahhhh kids! You can only keep them still for so long!

Here's what you will need:

A base color, I used an NYC in black, Konad SP Polish in white, and Konad Image plate m9

And here is how easy it is!

1. Paint nails with the base color

2. Stamp swirl design on all the little fingers!

Here's a great tip.....

because little fingers have tiny nail beds, SAVE EVEN MORE TIME with your full image. After picking up your image, stamp the first nails, then QUICKLY rotate your stamper and use the remaining image on the next finger! You can get 2 fingers done in one image stamping!

Kiddie Konadi #1

2009-12-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

As promised, I am going to feature a series of kid friendly Konadicures...Kiddie Konadi's. I think we ladies enjoy using Konad products and creating Konadi's for ourselves and friends, but our daughters love them too.

I have a 3 year old and a 6 year old who love having their nails done! I like to make their nails extra special by applying a Konad nail art design to them. Of course you all know how fast and easy it is, so it is no no big deal or waste of time to glam them out.

So, get out your Konad- and spend some good old fashioned girl bonding time with your little one. My girls like to pretend we are in a salon an create an elaborate story for who we are, our names, dolly's names and ages, and the "specials" of the day. They even create names for the specials...very sellable indeed!

Here is what you will need: Base color, plates m57, & m3, Konad special polish in black and white. Glitter polish for tips.

HOW TO CREATE THIS LOOK:

1. Apply base color

2.Stamp first image in white over full nail, then follow with the bows in black. I like to place them diagonally, but you should do them however you find them pleasing.

3. Paint the tips with a sparkle color similar to the base color. But you could create an entirely different look by using a contrasting or even solid tip color.

Readers Rock!

2009-12-01T13:38:00.000-08:00

I thought I would take a Moment to say..... You readers all ROCK!

Thanks for reading my blog, and all your input. I appreciate that you carve out a little morsel of time in your day to take a peek @ my blog. So, thanks!

The Sheer Blush Colors I Use

2009-11-30T00:10:00.000-08:00

I Keep getting requests for the name of the sheer blush color I use for the base color with french tip designs. I have used both store bought colors, and ones I have "frankened" myself.
Here is the China Glaze polish I use...though it has a slight peachy color to it. you can see what I mean in this picture above. Recently I have add a few drops of a china glaze color ( red one...don't have the name off hand) to "blush" it up to my liking.

Here is a picture of the one I have made. It seems really pink in the bottle, but goes on sheer and light pink. Just the perfect color to make your nails look fresh.

Make it yourself. You will need a clear bottle of polish, slightly emptied. Add a few drops at a time of any nude/beige color you have. Then add a couple drops of red to the polish....one drop at a time until you get the desired color. I don't have an exact recipe here (much like my cooking) just work it to your liking...it's not a science. Don't forget to swatch it now and again during to process to check the color.

Good luck, now go franken your own!

m45 Black & White

2009-11-20T10:03:00.000-08:00

I have only ever done this plate design once, but i definitely like it. It could be done 2X in different colors, slightly offset to make it look like plaid. I plan on trying this technique for Christmas.

Here's what you will need: m20, m45, a sheer blush ( I used china glaze here, but i have added more red to it so it has a more blushed color) any white for the french tip, SP in black, and a polish pen stripe brush for the aqua line & dots on flower.

Here's how to do it:

1. Polish your tips white and stamp tip design m45 over the white.

2. Clean the smile line to wipe off any extra white. Paint sheer blush on the bottom 1/2 of your nail.

***** If you have a steady hand, and can paint a french tip freehand WITHOUT having to clean up the smile line, then go ahead and start with the sheer, then paint the tips, and follow with the stamp....actually, because you will be painting the stripe over the smile area, you don't have to be perfect. I originally planned on just doing the tips, that's why I did it in this particular order. The stripe was an afterthought.

4. Stamp m20 flowers on your thumb

5.Finally use the polish pen/skinny brush to paint a line along your smile. finish with dotting the center of your flowers with a co-ordinating color or the same color.

Grey Floral Leopard

2009-11-18T09:12:00.000-08:00

Its been a long time since I have blogged. Believe it or not...I have been doing everyones' nails...gels too, plus my own, so I have been spending waaaay too much free time playing, not blogging. I am putting aside a day to upload pics and design the demos. I may save them so I can post more regularly. Thanks for peeking in to see what I finally posted.
I did these on my mom. Wild for her, I know...but she loved them anyway.
Here are the supplies I used: plates m31 & M57, a base gray color (drugstore find Sally Hansen Gunmetal) Konad SP polish in black & white. you can add crystals to the flower to finsh.

Here's how to create these nails.

1. Apply base color

2. Stamp leopard print over entire nail. Layer white flower over each nail. I used just one of the flowers from the image. to do this, either paint only one flower & scrap away from the other ( avoiding it) or simply just remove the unwanted flower.

3. Bling. Add crystal to flower center. If you don't have any crystals...simply drop a dot of your favorite sparkle/glitter polish.

Super Spiderific!

2009-10-31T10:25:00.000-07:00

I have totally fallen I love with the the spider designs. Pretty much most of the halloween designs have incorporated at least one of the spiders.

This lace design is also one of my favorites.  So I have done atleast 4 halloween Mani's with the lace. The lace below is done the Konad Black Gold color where the spiders are black.

Both designs re pretty basic.

1. Paint blush over full nail

2. Paint tips.

3. Stamp tip design over tip or along the time line.

4. Stamp on little spiders

5. Add a crystal to each big spider!

Super spideriffic!

Blood Dipped Tips

2009-10-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

I'm Finally getting around to blogging the tutorial for these pretty basic and fast nails. I originally found the base nail design (bloody tips) on another nail blog. SADLY.........I cant remember where I originally saw it, though I have searched. SO if any one recognizes this design...
PLEASE COMMENT BELOW WITH LINK, i want the designer to be properly credited.
Any how, when I saw it, I loved the design immediately. So, when Halloween designs were swirling in my head, I remembered the wonderful bloody tips! Here I simply added the skull, and created an accent nail

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EDIT FROM ORIGINAL POST:

Thank you Trinca for finding this picture and web page. Nihrida created this amazing manicure: the original manicure I used for my inspiration.

Very Beautiful, and the red is SO VIVID, way better than mine.. If I had I remembered where I found it in the first place..I'd have read to see what red she used. Please visit her website to see all her amazing work. I'll never forget her website now....because I'm gonna add it to my Blogroll.

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Here's what you'll need:
Black base color, red polish for accent nail, and tips. White & Black SP polish, and plates from the BOO! Kit. m13, m28
here's how to create the look:

1. Polish all nails with 2X base color

2.Stamp images. I do this first because the painted tips take a while to dry. Rather than wait the drying time before konadding, save time, konad first!

3. Polish tips with red in a sloppy bloody pattern, being careful around the skeleton image.

Of course this idea occurred to me AFTER this konadi....on the next Konadi I did for my M-I-L. But, i think it would look great on these nails!

Nails Night Out

2009-10-20T00:26:00.001-07:00

Beauty industry top mavens and cosmetic elite join together to paint the town red and their nails too, for the first stop on the Nails Night Out national beauty event

Nails Night Out kicks off in New York in partnership with today's top lacquer brands including Rescue Beauty Lounge, Rescue Beauty Lounge, Nailtini, Priti NYC, Color Club Nail Polish/Forsythe Cosmetic Group, Barielle, Jesses Girl Cosmetics, Nailtini, OC Nail Art, Carol's Daughter, White Lies l Color Truths and PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics.

New York, New York (PitchEngine.com) - Nails Night Out is a gathering of bloggers, beauty editors, creative directors, lacquer lovers, and beauty/cosmetics junkies for a night filled with polish splendor. Traveling the nation, Nails Night Out will stop in multiple cities to fulfill their mission of spreading color and beauty to the world. Join self - admitted nail polish addicts for their first stop on this national beauty event, Nails Night Out NYC! on October 24, 2009 at the Beauty Bar NY from 7:30pm - 9:30pm.

Nails Night Out has been featured in AllLaqueredUp.com, 52flavors.com and more with top beauty bloggers all abuzz for this first ever lacquer focused series of events. Ji Baek (Founder, Rescue Beauty Lounge), Michelle Olson (Founder, Nailtini), and Kathleen Highland (Owner, OC Nail Art) are the specially invited guest for the inauguration of this colorful affair. Girls will expect a night filled with new color launches, polish swaps, crayola inspired martinis, beauty talk, desserts and gift bags to die for. Supporting women from their expression in color to their well - being, proceeds from Nails Night Out will go to benefit Breast Cancer Research. Tamara Odom (Nails Night Out Organizer) states, "Nails Night Out is for the kind of woman who loves nail polish,makeup, and color. She raves to everyone she knows about the latest in lacquer, she sets trends and takes cues from her favorite celebrities and she knows that nail polish is an ultimate accessory."

Join Nails Night Out as they kick off Nail Night Out NYC! on October 24, 2009 at the Beauty Bar NY from 7:30pm - 9:30pm. For more information on how to attend and tour schedule visit http://event.pingg.com/NailsNightOutNYC and join the conversation at www.twitter.com/nailsnightout

And The Winner Is...............

2009-10-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for emailing me some of the most unique and beautiful KONADicures out there. I have selected the konadicures which really caught my eye. Because some people just have beautiful nails...no matter what they paint them like, it was hard to decide on my favorite konadi.
Here were my top three favorite.

Reader Joan S of BC, winner of the Boo Kit found my Favorite Konadicure, one posted on the polish or perish website.

The following 2 are the winners of the Tatoo Ta-boo OPI kits

Reader Paige Kennedy found this image on Kroniclesof a Konad-er blog. Awesome job -error>powerliftchick.

Bonni Yang Of Canada found this beautiful image at wow wow nails.

Thank you so much for all of you rewsearching the variouse Konadicures out there and sharingthem with me. I hope the search cultivated some inspiration for your konadi's as well. Please- send me your photos f YOUR konadicures....I'd love to feature them on my blog!

This post was longer...I couldnt stop raing about all the previous konadicures....but my blogger CRAPPED OUT ON ME.......NICE! didn't save much but the images.....running out of time....so I have to post it as brief as it is ;(

Please click all pictures to link back to the VERY TALANTED artists who created these konadicures!

This Give-Away has been GENEROUSLY Sponsored by OCNailart. So, that awesome Boo! Kit Joan just won.....it's available exclusively @ OCnailart!

Halloween Happy Nails!

2009-10-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

Cant help it...I just think these nails are happy!that's why I called them Halloween Happy nails. I used elements from the new Boo! Kit and the Coraline kit. I think any of the Coraline kits are great for Halloween too.

Here's what you need:

1. Plates m28, m13, & co6
2. you will also need a sheer base pink/blush

3. A konadable black polish, and any orange color for the tips and accent nail. Again I used a color from the tattoo taboo OPI kit

1. Paint sheer blush over all nails

2. Paint orange on the tips and over entire accent nail. I used 2X coats.

3. Stamp black Coraline tips. I used 2 different tip designs and alternated them every other tip ( not including the accent nail)

Follow with a spider stamp on each nail. I added two for the thumb so it would cover more. It make for an interesting design if each spider is in a different angle.

4. Use the Jack-o-Lanteren for the accent nail.

This is a pretty fast design if you freehand the orage tips over the blush. If you are not as fluent with painting your tips...you could do that FIRST, then clean the smile line with an acetone soaked brush, then pain blush on bottom 1/2 of nail. But I think here the Coreline tips help cover any small imperfections,
and it is a very forgiving design because of the space inbetween each graphic. Some of the other tips HAVE TO BE PERFECT and can be trickier.

Dr. Franken-Skull Glow Nails

2009-10-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Just love image plate m7 for the little skull. It's a tad goofy & a tad sweet. So here are some Halloween inspired nails. I used a combo of plates, including one from the new Boo! Kit. The polishes I used are the new OPI mini's. This purple glows in the dark! SPOOOKY!
Here is what you will need:
1. purpleish base color I used OPI mini from the kit below.
2. black color for tips.
3. konad black SP
Plates m1, m7, & m13

Here's how to do it.
1.Paint base coat.
2. Paint tips black. I first attempted to konad the tip (this glow polish has some adhesion issues...so if you plan to konad the tips, I recommend you apply a clear coat first over the glow base to help the konad image transfer) but has some issues. I usually freehand tips because it is always easier & faster for me. It is also more predictable. As much as I love Konad...the french tip plateis useless to me!
3. Apply the little skull to all fingers except the pinki (unless you have a wide nail, it probably will not fit) I skipped my ring finger because it too is too small.
4. Stamp the shoelace design (one i thought i'd never use!) abstractly around the skull, to give it a Frankenstein look. Add small spider from m1 where ever you can or to fill "bald" areas.

There you have it! Your very own freaky, franken-skull nails. the bonus is that they glow in the dark!

Konad Boo! Kit GIVE-AWAY.....Enter Today! ENDS 10/19

2009-10-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

This is one of the easiest give-aways you will enter!

No trick here...just the coolest Halloween Treat for your nails. Enter to win the OCNailArt Exclusive Boo! Kit. Like the B Kit, it comes with 2 plates, 3 polishes, a stamper & scraper (there is a bonus pack of crystals!) However, this kit was especially designed for the Halloween Season.

This is how it is packaged, in your own little Konad mini-bag

And here is what is inside. There are also clear crystals in this goodie bag of nail treats!

Additionally I have 2 OPI Tatoo Ta-boo Kits to give away for the runners up!It includes 4 mini polishes (including a GLOW IN THE DARK!) that work beautifully with any of the Halloween Konad designs.

Grand prize winner will receive one BOO! Kit. 2 lucky runners up will receive 1 of the OPI Tatoo Ta-boo kits each.

How to Enter

1. Comb the Internet for YOUR favorite Konadicure.

2. Email me a picture AND AN INTERNET LINK to the picture. Please please make sure you don't just email the link i need you to CUT & PASTE the picture into the body of the email. I don't have time to open ALL links in the email to GET to the pic entry.

jdrunchkin@aol.com

3. Include your zip code in the email. If you are selected as the winning entry, your prize WILL ONLY BE MAILED TO AN ADDRESS with that matching zip code. Last time I had a heck of a time with multiple entries under fake profiles! (lame I know)

4. Only one entry per person PLEASE?! There will be three winners....& this is going to be a FAST contest turn around (so your chances will be good).

This contest IS TOTALLY SUBJECTIVE! I will decide the winner based on which Konadicure Design I fancy most. I am looking for layered designs with attractive colors, interesting base nail techniques. See what I mean...you have NO idea what I'm talking about. It's totally subjective. Every one has different taste. What I mean by "attractive," may totally different than your definition. So.....ENLIGHTEN ME! Show me YOUR favorites. You know as well as I do, sometimes it is hard to articulate just WHAT makes that mani so special! But we know a great one when we see it!

THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED Monday October 19th. I want you to have time to play with your spooktacular kit!

And let's give a BIG FAT thank you to Kathleen @OCNAilArt for sponsoring this give-away!!!!!

THANK YOU!

Oh, & a shameless plug for myself....check out her website-she was kind enough to trust me with designing some graphics and logo for her new web layout.

WIN A FREE Coraline Set!!!

2009-09-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

If you are DIEING to have these nails......... You better hurry up and get over to Sasse's 'nad Stamping Stampede with your Halloween Inspired Nails. You can create a nail design with almost any stamp...but make it ghoulish!!! For official rules and a list of her runner up prizes, click on the Coraline Kit image below to take you to her blog for more information. And spread the word....Let's all get our creative BLOOD running! Muahhhh haa haaa haaa haaa!!!!!
Here is a picture of the Coraline kit YOU COULD WIN!!!! On the nails above, I used plates from both Coraline Kits...and a couple stars from my BIG pro-plate. Finally, I had a reason to use the letters to spell BOO!

So go check out her contest........and get inspired by her many other designs and polish list!

San Frani Mani....& A Tranny

2009-09-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

Went to San Fransisco CA this weekend for a girls getaway.Beause we were going to a few more dressy functions...I opted for a more "conservative mani."
Since Konading, I have slowly began to push the line of what i consider "wearable." So, I used to opt for NO COLOR ( i know...BORING) and a french mani, the shorter the better. Now I am more open to color ( I still prefere color on the tips over a full nail.) So, Even though I went french...I had to Konad SOMETHING a little more special but still on the conservative. Here it is!
And here is the Tranny. I LOVED the head dress!!! Wanted to dream up a few CRAZY Konads and slap it all over thier nails! How fun would that be?!

Blue Petal Tips

2009-09-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

I did these a while back...early this summer. Just now getting around to posting it. I wanted to try out a Konadicure with china glaze. Sassy is always using it to come up wit new designs.

I have to say that while I like this manicure, and the style of the "water mark" konad looks good on this mani.... I am not impressed with he strength of the imprint. The design isn't strong enough to qualify this as a "truly konad compatible" color. So, do experiment with China Glaze, but don't expect it to reveal a dark design.

And don't forget the toes! Actually I used a different plate for the toes, but using the same colors can make the two look cohesive. Because of my skin tone...I don't prefer the blue on my toes, not very flattering. But, perhaps it would look better on a lighter peachier complexion?

What you need: Plate M24, base color, I used China Glaze for Audry here. A nail art polish w/skinny brush, stamping color (china glaze) and a sheer blush (my franken)

The Steps:

1. Paint tips free hand from left to right in a horizontal motion

2. Stamp on image onto tips. Here you can choose a tip design, OR any design with a dense pattern.

3. Clean the smile line to remove extra polish & overlapping design.

4. paint sheer blush on the bottom 1/2 of nail.

5. cover smile line with a purple nail art polish, making a thin line

Frosted Fairy Fingertips......as my daughter called them.

2009-09-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

These sparkly beauties elicited smiles & pure excitement from Alex (6). She said they were fairy nails, kind of like tinkerbell! I used a holographic glitter polish from Sally Hansen to bluff the smile line and add a touch of "sweetness" to this Konadicure. So you don't have to have a steady hand for this mani, or flat brush to clean your tips to a beautiful sharp smile line....just fake it & glitter it!!!

Not bad for a drug store find. Both the green and the holo sparkle are from Sally Hansen line found @CVS drugstore. I show it in a blurred picture above so you can see just how enchanting all that sparkle is! Oh and see the fairy on the thumb.

You will need image plate m35, a sheer blush, lime lights (opalescent green) & strobe light (sparkle) both from Salley Hansen, and finally a silver for the design.

How to:

1. Paint sheer blush over entire nail

2. paint your tips with 2 coats of green Lime Lights

3. Paint the sparkles horizontally over the smile line, this will fog the line and make the colors look like one graduates into the other.

4. stamp petal clusters on fingers 2-5 and stamp the fairy on your thumb.

OOOOOH just frosted fairy precious

AND FINALLY I FOUND THE SITE WHERE I COPIED THE BASE NAIL....HERES MY INSPIRATION

Little Leopard Rockstar Nails

2009-09-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken a couple days after SHE CHIPPED THE TIPS ;(Last week was the first week of 1st grade!!!! HOORAY for Alex. After selecting her outfit, she wanted me to design some matching nails. She actually selected the gray color as the base. She wanted them to match her skirt. She also selected the fleur de lies to match the one on her shirt.
Here's her outfit. And a close up of her thumb nail with the matching fleur de lies.
I realized I never took a photo of the supplies, so I didn't design a page for that. I can try to to so later and edit this post.
This is a basic design.
1. Paint base coat
2. Apply stamp leopard print
3. Paint Tips. I used a nail art pen, they work THE BEST for little fingers french tips!
4. Stamp thumbs with Fleur
5. Add crystal to thumb, cenetr of fleur.

Your little diva has rock star nails!!!!

Behold...The Birthday Nails!

2009-09-08T12:19:00.001-07:00

The birthday nails. By birthday, I mean my mother in law came by to have me paint her nails for her birthday....not really a birthday design. She had me REMOVE the fish design, and redo some nails for the evening. I decided to hide a 66 in there since it was her 66th. She looked at me funny when I suggested it, but decided to go with it in her usual light hearted manner! She wanted something"happy". Nothing happier than polka dots and pink! Do you see the hidden 66?!
So, Here is what I used. A pink Essie color, Konad SP in black metalic & white. Plates m6 & m29.1. Apply Base coat
2.Apply Polks dote to outter tipson a diagonal
3. Layer double flower design over the polks dots, on a diagonal closer to the cuticle
4. Finally, add crystals to the center of flowers on an accent nail.

Something's Fishy Here!!!

2009-09-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Here are the fish nails I did after Hawaii. Never got the chance to upload them before leaving again. I was not in love with this look. I mean it was interesting to try, but not something that i would wear, or that stayed on my M-I-L very long.

I do like the coral colored seahorse though.

What I used was: M16, M27 Konad SP in white, metalic black, and pastel orange...which really is a coral color

1. Paint base color

2. Stamp bubles 2X on each nail, one @ the cuticle & one at the tips.

3. Alternate variose designs as you wish on each nail. Using the bubbles on each nail as a base brings unity to the design, allowing it to all "match" even while using different colors & designs.

I didn't photo each step when I did her nails, so....no step by step demo. But really, its all just layering freestyle, so you get the point?

FINALLY already.....geesh!

2009-09-07T23:08:00.000-07:00

OK...So, I lied waaay back when, that I was back. I came home long enough to unpack, wash clothes, & repack to head off to Sedona Arizona with my girls. So Before I upload those fishy nails & B Day nails...wanna see some vacation pics!? From red dirt in Kauai to the red dirt in Sedona AZ. Ill start with the most recent. Last week

Sedona AZ

In Sedona we Went on Helicopter ride to see the Red Rock from the skies..It was the girls first time!

Charlie working the head gear Alex in heaven!!!!

Slide Rock. Natural water slide.WEEEEE! Grasshopper Point,good jumping

Red Rock Crossing Check out the rock in back! Beautiful!

These are our Kauai picturesKauai, Poi pu Beach. Beach House Restaurant. Every year we take a family photo here. Every year Charlie falls asleep, then wakes up in time for a picture. My girls ready to swim. Toooo damn cute haw?! The Hyatt Luau. Charlie is asleep again! But, on the bright side, made dinner easier...& she woke up for most of the show. YUP!!! I did...I went sky diving for the first time. Figured I couldn't do it in a more beautiful place than Kauai!

Mike my sky dive tandem instructor

Thanks for looking. My apologies for not blogging sooner!

I'm back!!!

2009-08-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

Im back...briefly that is. I did the plate m27 with fish designs. Not sure I like it too well, but I'll post later today. & today is my M-I-L birthday, so she's letting me do some Bday nails for her. Sorry I have'nt posted yet.
I still have not yet uploaded my pics from my camera from vacation!

Aloha from Kauai

2009-08-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

Aloooooha! This is gonnna be brief....I'm on vacation. Just had enough time to upload the nails I did before leaving! They are all broken now thugh....the rigours of travel! I'll post when I return Friday!

And the Lucky Winner Is.......

2009-08-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

With the help of my 2 "LOVELY" assistants....I have selected a winner. The lucky winner is....

Here is a link to the "very official" drawing. My girls were very excited to help select a winner.
Thank you to all of you who entered and did a wonderful job on both blog postings, and emails. I really appreciate you helping me get the word out about my new blog.

BIG thanks to Kathleen of OCnailart.com for generously sponsoring this giveaway! Kathleen did this as a wonderful favor to me and I just can't thank her enough...other than to continue to praise her awesome company & customer service!
On that note...I couldn't think of a more fitting winner for the give away...Julie AKA "Jollyo" in blogger has been following my blog, it seems, from the beginning. Also, she knows first hand how terrific OCNAILART is. So, after drawing and searching my saved folder in aol for her entry....I squealed with delight, cuz I was so happy for her.

Here is her entry:
Hi,

My name is Julie, aka "jollyo". I have been using my Konad for about 2 weeks now. I just LOVE it!! I was trying to do nail

art with fine, tiny brushes. Let's just say that my hand is not the steadiest. But using the Konad has fixed that. I get compliments on my nails all the time now!! I LOVE that fact that it's pretty easy, and super fun!! It really takes the hard work out of doing nail art!!

Now, why I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!! I'm soooo glad that I found you. How I found you??? Well, I just did a google search for Konad blogs. It was that simple!! I have also noticed that other blogs have a link to you on their sites as well. I should just go ahead and make you my home page I guess!! Cause I really do check your blog about 20 times a day!! I love your step-by-step tutorials!! They make it easy for a beginner like me to make wonderful designs!! I also like the fact that you use "OTC"(over the counter) polishes!! It's nice to know that I don't have to use a "special" polish everytime, to get a great look!! And I like the fact that you deal with OCNail!! Like I said on your blog, I WILL NEVER BUY MY KONADS anywhere else!!! Their customer service ROCKS!! Now for my pic. I just want to let you know that my camera is well....SORRY!! This mani looks MUCH BETTER in person!!

I took your "Killer Swirl" and changed the colors. I used Finger Piants, they seem to work well with the Konad!Thanks for all the hard work that you put into your blog!!

Julie

So, CONGRADULATIONS again....and thank you to all of you contestants who contributed your time and energy to this Give Away. I really hope to do it AGAIN soon!

Tick Tock....Goes the Konad Clock!

2009-08-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Sooo, the contest is winding down, but there are still about 6.5 hours left. I am actually pretty excited about the whole thing..so are my girls. They are going to help me draw. I COULD do the whole random.org thing, but that's too easy. My girls want to help, one will mix, one will draw. I think we will make a ceremony of it- you know drumroll, audience (dad) fancy dress up clothes. Yup. The girls will be all over it!

Good luck to all of you who have entered, or who will slam your entry in right before the midnight deadline (PST)!

Chinese Take-Out

2009-08-04T01:02:00.000-07:00

My mother in law , Loiscame for her weekly mani. I have been wanting to do a sponge art nail for a while...but my fingers were full of other konadicures I had already drempt up! Any how, Lois was very generous in letting me wing it. Now when she comes over for a paint job, she knows to just throw her hands over, and let me do my thing. Very trusting of her indeed. So here is what I'm Calling Chinese Take Out. Maybe I should had dubbed it China Town Because take out really would be a white nail with red Konad on it? Anyway...

Here is what you will need. Sally Hansen intsa dry in Lightening, Petites in Mango, Konad red, any black that works with konad. For a VERY complete list, see sasse's stamping stampede.

You will also need the Konad sponge art set. But really, you can use any dense foam like material-not a regular sponge! I think the gray art brushes from the craft store would work (it appears to be the same material). Then you would need a plate/flat surface to put polish on, maybe a magazine page...so you can just toss it later?

1. Paint base coat

2. Sponge nail tips and graduate color to tips.

The picture below shows how you apply a "blob" to the plate, then pick up a small amount of color on the sponge.

3. Stamp image from plate24 in red, then again in black.

4. Finish with dragon flies on thumb, or any other finger there is extra room.

FREE Konad B Kit! Enter to Win it HERE!

2009-07-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

So, last week I posted A contest for the Konad B Kit Collection. I'm thinking my post got burried by all the other blogs post you subscribe to? But I really wanted you to know about it...so I thought I would do another post to tag your reading list. CLICK HERE for full details & to ENTER TO WIN

As you can see, the B kit is pretty awesome. It would be a great starter kit for those of you who don't already have Konad, and a super addition to your current collection if you already have Konad.

Anyone can enter! Just follow the simple steps....& goodluck!

BTW...this SHOULD go with out saying-but sadly not so: Only ONE entry per person....& non-bloggers, USE YOUR OWN IMAGES! It's really uncool of you to STEAL someone elses work. Really?...REALLY!

Oh yeah, & your entry won't count anyway...as I will delete it :0)

Lace Leopard Trim

2009-07-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

This was ACTUALLY "the first" konadicure I took a photo of. My girlfriend came over one night to watch the Bachelorette, I begged her to let me do her nails. We laughed about how Keith-my hubby- has an aversion to crazy nail colors. So, as I selected the colors for my konadi...we both laughed. Laughed louder- no actually quiteER with each following selected color....the kind of laugh where your mouth is open, but nothing comes out...my nostrils flair when I do this! (NOT prettyyyyy) But anyway- we laughed knowing Keith would think the colors were QUESTIONABLE!

Here it is! And as I promised Sweet Little Angel , I posted my version of this same image-that we BOTH independently decided to stamp on the diag! (click the link above to see her version) Great minds...right?
What you will need. One base color, an accent color, a color for the stamp & image plate m57.

The steps:
1. Paint Base coat. Here I used China Glaze in Watermelon Rind
2. Paint accent color on a diagonal...paint the line just as thick as the brush-not too wide! You want it to fit INSIDE the lace "track" Here I used Savvy in Deep Amethyst

3. Stamp image from plate m57 OVER the accent stripe. Run it over the stripe like a track? Does that make sense? It is easier to do than to explain!

Oh...don't forget the toes! here I used the same colors...just a different image.

For my toes, I used plate m50. I first paintedthe base coat. Then, I painted an X in the middle of each toe in the accent color. Stamp the butterfly over the X. I used the big butterfly one on the big toe, and the smaller butterfly on the other toes.

Konad "B" Kit Give Away Contest

2009-07-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

How lucky are you?! Today is the official kick off of my Konad "B" Kit Give-Away Contest!
The contest starts today, and will continue for 2 weeks. If you are reading this...you can enter to win (yes, even the BIG blog owners)! You have until Wednesday August 5th to enter. The winner will be randomly drawn "from a hat" and announced Friday August 7th right here! The winner will receive the full Konad "B" Kit compliments of Kathleen & ocnailart.com
Contestant entry rules to follow......but first, let me show you what the lucky winner will get!
Image from Konad website.

The B Kit includes

* 4 Image Plates
* 3 Special Polishes (11 mL / 0.35 Fl.Oz)
* 1 Stamp
* 1 Scraper

Image Plates: M4, M8, M15, M21

Special Polish: White, Red, Green

Here is a closer look at the plates included. Here are some examples of Konadicures I have done with image plate m4So, this is how to enter to win:

1. Create a NEW POST ON YOUR OWN BLOG.Tell your readers a little bit about Konad Stamping Nail Art & what YOU like (or LOVE) about using it. If you don't have Konad or have never used Konad, then tell your readers why you want to try it! If possible, include a picture of a konadicure you have done.

2. Create a LINK TO MY BLOG.Introduce your readers to my new blog. How did you find my blog? What do you think about my blog? (I'll take the good & the "otherwise")

3. Comment at the bottom of this posting "this is my entry" (AFTER completing steps 1&2 ) so I know you have entered, and I can check out YOUR blog too!

4. Subscribe to my blog. If you are not already a follower, just click the "follow" link @ the top right of this page

If you do not have a blog then

FIRST) send me an email jdrunchkin@aol.com with your response to 1, & 2 (concerning my blog & what you think) ALONG WITH A PICTURE of a manicure/konadicure you have done. Ths means YOUR WORK, no stealing images! Really. Non-blog owners must include a picture (only 1 please) in your email to qualify. Be sure that you reference your "posting" nickname in your email so I know who you are (in the next step)

THEN) post a comment below " this is my non-blogger entry"....

FINALLY) Sunscribe to my blog. If you are not already a follower, just click the "follow" button @ the top right.

Your official entry IS your post below, whether you have a blogger or no-blogger entry. THIS is the list I will use for the drawing....so make sure your name is on it....& and that you have either posted to your blog or emailed me.

Good luck...& enjoy reading my blog in the meantime. Hey, you may even "become an addict" see link on right to become a follower.

Killer Swirl-m63

2009-07-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

3.jpg"> I have been seing this image on nails ALL OVER THE NAIL blogs. It is a pretty cool plate, but I've only ever seen it done in the fantastic black pearl & silver combo. In the "basic blue rocks" blog I considdered doinga konadicure where the image was more muted. So, I did this konadi with colors in the same family. The image would have been more subtle, but the Nicole polish has some real FIRE to it. I have always loved this Nicole color...have 3X the bottles becaise it used to be my standard toe color. Anyhow, here's how to do it.
You will need m63 & two polishes. A darker base, I used NYC Canal street. Then for the stamp use a dichronich polish...(China glaze has many that work with Konad...see sassy's blog, link right) in a similar color family. If it flashes in the light, even better! 1. Paint base coat.

2. Konad over base with image from m63 in your 2nd color.

FAST...Amazing!

Pimped Out Purple!

2009-07-18T00:31:00.000-07:00

I Love the way this konadicure turned out. I originally did this back in June for the ocnailart.com contest (sorry no step by step pics). Typically, I would have never even HAD this image plate in my collection...and I didn't. I borrowed it from a friend just to have something from the Konad "B kit." To my surprise, I loved this plate! There are a lot of designs I wonder about, seeing them on the computer is very different from seeing them on your nail...in a practical ,approachable, and "do-able" konadicure. So, my point is...many designs I have snubbed-actually work well on the nail. If you are ever wondering about an image...search the Internet blogs for a konadicure featuring that image plate. Or, you could always just request one from me. Hey, it would give me the opportunity to work with a design I haven't yet!
How to create this Konadi
You will need two base colors (an extra for the accent nail). I used Savvy Deep Amethyst & Orley Dazzle. You will also need two stamping colors ( here, black & silver) and image plate m4.
1. Base coat & color all nails, paint the 4th nail an accent color.
2. Apply the first image to the top 1/3 of nail, I used silver on all but the accent nail. Black for the ring finger.

3. Apply the flower just below the first image on all nails in the same stamp color as the first image. Make sure they are parallel to the first design.
4. Apply crystal to the center of each flower.

Done & done!

Doesn't take much longer than a regular mani, but I think it looks awesome! Totally pimped out!

Gotta Have It!

2009-07-16T23:28:00.000-07:00

I want to address the questions I have had regarding some key image plates I think you "gotta have!" There are a few plates in the Konad series that appeal to me the most because they have MORE THAN ONE design on the plate I would use. There are many plates I have purchased just for ONE DESIGN ALONE....but I wanted to share with you the plates I have used over & over again, and done so in different ways. I think the plates above also include many tip designs, whether used for a stamped tip, french tip, or tip with a stamped smile line. I have highlighted in green those designs I think work great on tips.

m9) the swirl design ALONE is reson enough to buy this image plate. The star shaped flowers look great too. I like the design highlighted in green, as it works great on tips.

m36) You have to have this because of the arched design I love to use on the smile line ( highlighted green.) But I aslo love the center design & the butterflies!

m57) The entire thing rocks! Who doesn't love animal print! I love the two designs that can be used on tips too....gotta have this one!

m71) I just love the lacy veiled look. The fishnet flower one is amazing too, you'll recognize that from a previous post. Finally all the lace scalloped edges work amazing on tips, or when stampe on white over a shher pink nail , can substitute for a french manicure...much fast too!
So give my picks a look...you might decide you gotta have 'em too! Pair these discs with some basic colors of special konad polish like white, black, silver, black pearl, or even gold.

And don't forget to take advantage of the ocnailart.com coupon!

Basic Blue Rocks!

2009-07-16T22:07:00.000-07:00

Ladies you can do this! Pick your favorite color of polish....& Konadicure it. A tip for images that POP is to pick colors and finishes that contrast, your design will appear more sharp. This Konadicure is done with just a simple stamp..embellished on the thumb with crystals. here's how to do it.

You will need a base color, (I used Claire's.. no color name!) white konad SP. & image plate m4.

1. Apply base coat and color.

2. Stamp flower image from m4 on all fingers. & finish with crystals.

See, not too hard! Again the overall look will be different based on your color choices. I usually try to do konadicures where the image stands out. But, recently I have contemplated trying designs where the design doesn't contrast as much...making more of a watermark design. Look for future postings with this technique.

Another Basic Layered Design...That Looks Anthying BUT Basic!

2009-07-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a mani I did a while back. I think it is the second one i took a photo of....I was quite proud of it & decided I should take a picture before all my hard work chipped off! O.K. it may look complicated, does it? Well it's pretty easy, if you can do one stamp...why cant you do a second stamp?
You will need a base coat and gold & black polishes for the Konadding.
1. Apply your base coat, I used Orly Minds Eye for this mani
2. Using gold, stamp the fancy scalloped design on m57 along the bottom of nail, close to the cuticle. When I saw this design, I felt a little left out. My nails are so short, I thought it wouldn't work at the tips, but here's a great alternative!
3. On your thumb, use the butterfly on m25. It looks good centered on small nails because it covers a pretty big area.
4. then for nails 2-4, use the larger butterfly on m36. I stamped it on at an angle on the outside of each tip. This butterfly is too big for my pinkie, so I decided to use just the mini butterfly for the pinkie.

to pick up only one butterfly at a time, just paint that image on the plate, & scrape AWAY from the other butterfly. If you accidentally pick up some of another image, wipe it off the stamp before transferring to nail.

In 4 steps, your done with a layered konadicure. Very fancy...and easy...shhhh, no one will ever know!

2009-07-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

OMG...Totally not the nails I would normally wear, but after doing them on Lois (mo-in-law)...I decided I LOVE them & I have to do them! Believe it of not... this SPARKLY pink polish is from Claire's Boutique.

Here I used the sparkle pink, a sheer pink, Konad SP in white & black, and ONLY ONE PLATE...m39. I think it is very versatile and really has what is now, my favorite butterfly. It is even small enough to fit on my 6 year old's nail.

So here's the steps to create this...our your own style tips.
1. Paint tips & accent nail (2 coats) with sparkle polish. Hooray you don't even have to clean the line, because the stamp on smile is wide enough to cover a sloppy smile (ha ha) Notice how the middle finger isn't perfect?
2. Paint bottom 1/2 of nail with the sheer pink.

3. Apply the arched stamp across the smile line so that the stamp "straddles" both the pink sparkle & the sheer pink. Notice above I highlighted the thumb. You may need to stamp your thumb twice. The design is so forgiving, any small overlap or gap shouldn't be too noticable.

4. Stamp one white butterfly on the tipped nails, and two white on the accent nail. I like to stagger them and stamp at a slight angle. Perfect for those of you who have a hard time lining the stamp up!

Finally, add one black butterfly to each nail, again I like to position them @ an angle. Finish with a top coat, careful mot to smear! If you like bling...the stamp on the smile line is PERFECT for adding a little crystal on it.

Now it's your turn, go try it & send me your pic's (to my email please) I'd love to see & share them!

Full Nail Design, M71

2009-07-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

This full nail design is super fast and super easy! Because this image is quite detailed, even though you are using only one stamp, it looks more complicated. If your going to polish your nails, why not Konad them if it takes LITERALLY 3 minutes longer?! this image looks great even on short stubbies like mine.

You only need a base coat, a color, and a stamp in Konad SP.

here I used Sally Hansen Grape Idea, image plate m71, and a black SP for design.

Here's how you do it:

1. Base coat & polish entire nail with your fave color ( visit my links for blogs that have excellent color reviews!)

2. Stamp entire nail using m71. On your thumb you'll need to stamp 2X.

Because this image has such FINE LINED detail...you need to work FAST FAST FAST, otherwise your image might not pick up all the way. The step you need to do fast is the image pick up after scraping. If you don't pick up your image RIGHT after scraping, it will dry on the plate. Then, when you pick it up, you'll notice that not all of the image is there. I always give a quick peek @ the stamper to make sure all the image IS there..if not, I wipe it off & try again.

4 Steps to an Easy Stamped Tip Design.

2009-07-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Here is and easy stamped tip design, because there really isn't a lot of drying time involved. Use the same techniques as the other tip manies. This only takes ONE plate & ONE SP color, but you can still layer.

I used plate m4 for this design. Again, this image was taken for the OCNAIL Art contest, so I didn't take a step by step photo story...but refer to the "french tip" design post dated July 12th for step by step detail.

1.Polish tips. Don't worry about perfection, you'll clean the smile line later.

2. Stamp tip. How cool is this, you don't need a full nail image....just one that is dense enough to show on the tip only.

3. Clean the smile line (with a flat brush dipped in acetone)...because you are not covering this with a stamp or polish pen, take your time to create a nice smile line.
4. Stamp flower on bottom 1/2 of nail. Finish with a clear coat. Easy peasy!

Green Tip...Full Nail Design

2009-07-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my favorite french mani's. These nails are my mother-in-laws. I love this mani because it is so different from others I have done in the past. I designed this one as one of the entries for the OCNailart.com contest. I wanted to use several plates & techniques. I had also seen on another website, the "accent nail" idea (that's not really what it was called, but what shall we call it?) so love the ring finger being the whole nail, rather than just tips. This tip design is created the same way as the posting below. The only difference in steps is that instead of sing a glitter pen on the smile, I use a stamp to finish the smile line.
I really like doing this, because it can cover a less than perfect smile. So, as the mani before, the main steps are:
base coat on tips
color tips (and full accent nail)
stamp over color
clean tip smile
apply blush to bottom 1/2 of french
stamp lower nail design
stamp smile line

So here are the plates I used. Of course, you can use the plates you have. If you don't have a full nail design, use one that can be duplicates to cover full nail and tip.
I used plates m25, m36,m57. I really like the m36 curly arch like design, it works great on the smile line. There are a few others I recommend too, ill post them separate.

Because I already took photos of these LONG before the birth of my blog, I don't have a step by step photo story. So, here I numbered the steps on the nail and below are the corresponding plate images.
Hope it's understandable.
1. Paint tips & accent nail. Cover with full nail stamp m57. On tips, use 1/2 of the image. ( if you work FAST you can use 1/2 on tip, then RUSH to the next tip & use the other 1/2). Cover entire "accent nail."
2. Clean smile line and polish bottom 1/2 of nail with a clear blush (see previous post on how to make your own)
3. Stamp flowers from plate m25 on lower 1/2 of nail.
4. Use m36 to stamp over smile line. It is easier if you line up, then roll from one side to the other while peeking to make sure your lined up. It takes practice, so do that a few times before attempting this mani. Sucks to spend all that drying time to muff it up on on stamp!
5. Apply butterfly from plate m25 to the accent nail.
6. Finish nail with a black nail pen, dotting centers of flowers. I like using the same color as the smile design because I think it ties the colors together. Don't forget to finish with a clear coat! (careful not to smear your hard work!)

Try this mani and let me know how it goes. If you have any questions...post them, I'm happy to help....because I'm SUCH a Konaddict!

French Tips...Using a Full Nail Plate Design

2009-07-12T23:19:00.000-07:00

So, the gunmetal mani lasted exactly two days before I took the polish remover to them....date night warranted a more "conservative" mani. This pleased my husband-plenty. Here I want to show you how you can use a full nail design for your tips only. You don't have to purchase the fancy tip plates for a tip design. Plus, this way you can use any full design or design that is dense enough to cover the tip. You can try this same technique with any tip color & any stamp color. I'm using my NEW s9 image plate...THANK YOU KATHLEEN from OCnailart.com!

What you'll need:

1. Tip color

2. Sheer pink for bottom 1/2 of nail

3. Silver polish for image designs

4. Glitter pen polish for smile line detail. i used silver here

5. Gems

Prep nails by base coating THE TIPS ONLY. you will have to clean off extra image from smile...so base over entire nail is not needed.

1. Paint tips free hand using a horizontal motion, inside edge to outside edge of nail. It doesn't have to be perfect, as you will wipe this clean on the smile with a flat brush dipped in acetone.

2. Apply stamp to tip of nails. Some of the image will cross the tip, and cover your bottom 1/2. OK you'll clean that next. :0)

3. Clean tip, remove overlapping image from bottom 1/2 of nail....make a nice arch @ smile. Don't work too hard, this too will be covered by the glitter polish later. Follow by painting the bottom 1/2 with a sheer blush pink color. I make mine. to make your own, start with a clear polish, dump some polish out, add a few drops @ a time of burgundy and an opaque peach/light tan. Mix, and add more till desired color is reached.

(below see a review of steps 1-4 on each nail)

5. After the pink sheer has dried, apply flower stamp to bottom 1/2 of nail. I used silver here.

6. Finally, add a little gem to the center of the flower....I did the thumb...but heck do them all, that would look cute too! After all you just spent a few minutes doing your nails...go crazy.

Some of you may be wondering if these mani's take a while....the only thing that makes the process longer is the drying time of base polishes.

So try some tip, & layered designs using the same process.

Layered Gunmetal Mani

2009-07-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

My Husband will be so happy when I take the nail polish remover to these nails! He is more of a fan of the “main stream” French tip. But let me tell you how I created this nail design. Use any base color you’d like.

For this look I used plates m32, m39, & m51 and a variety of colors.

Gunmetal by Sally Hansen

Silver, black, & Konad black pearl (though I think its really difficult to tell the difference between black & black pearl?)

Paint base coat
using a silver polish, apply plate m39 design to tips. On your thumb, you will need to apply the design 2X. If you don’t line it up perfectly, don’t worry- you'll cover this with the m51 leaf swirl.
Apply m32 design in black at bottom of nail, close to cuticle
Top the outside corners with m51, using it to cover any imperfections

It goes without saying, always prep with a base coat, & finish with a top coat.

Tada !!! Hope you like this layered design.

2009-07-08T23:35:00.000-07:00

I have used the very cleaver idea ( I read on sassy’s blog?) of using a wallet picture holder for my extra discs. I went to the Konad webpage, and printed the discs I hace, cut them out, & slipped them into the front of the picture sleeve.

On the back side, I put the disc. I think it is easier to see the image & image plate # on paper- rather than the disc. Here is how it looks.

I have Most discs m1-66 and discs 71,73, s9. I also have many of the "special polishes" in basic rainbow colors, some pastel & pearls too. I dont have any Princess Special Polishes. But thanks to Sassy's blog, i can test out other non-Konad polishes. Please see her blog link to the right.

This is My Collection

2009-07-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

Over the years I had collected a few plates, and colors, just the basics. It wasn’t until recently that my addiction came to the forefront. I have 2 daughters, and now that they are old enough to tolerate me polishing & designing their nails, I do it all the time. I have a standing mani’s & pedi’s appointment with them every week. I just love doing their nails….oddly enough, I find it relaxing?!

My wonderful husband has been more than patient with my revived Kon-addiction. In fact he is an ENABLER! He surprised me 2 weeks ago with the ENTIRE Professional Salon Kit! OC Nail Art (wwwocnailart.com) was having a contest…I did nails everyday to create enough designs for the entries, hoping I might be lucky enough to win the grand prize of the Pro-Salon Kit. Sadly ;0( I did not win. He felt so bad for me, as he new I was anticipating the results and hoping I may get lucky. He collaborated with Kathleen @ oc nail art to surprise me with my own salon case! Aren’t they awesome? Kathleen did her best to help make sure I didn’t have any duplicates. I now have a VERY complete kit. I’m a very lucky girl.

My Blog is Born! Kinda?

2009-06-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

I have been tossing around the idea of starting a nail blog.....Blogging is totally new to me. i follow a few blogs now & then. But mostly, i have found them when searching for answers on "how to" questions. When I came across nail art blogs...I wondered if I should start one so i had a place to post all my photos & tips on the Konadicures I've been doing.

Earlier this week, my AWESOME husband surprised me with the Konad Salon Kit...my wheels have been turning ever since about all the fun things in that box I can play with . Yippee

So Behold...the birth of my blog. I created it a little while back, but never made an entry..this is my first. A little abrupt, as i hear my girls in the background being entertained by the grandparents. Thought id sneak away & try my hand at this blogging bit. I plan to upload some pictures Later this weekend? Maybe?