Tuesday, February 19, 2013

ABC Challenge - "G" is for geometric

Hello, hello!!  I'm cheating a little bit with this post - I am "drafted" and ready to go here on Sunday, but holding off the PUBLISH button until Wednesday, make that Tuesday; I didn't want to wait.  I am in a mood, and can't seem to want to keep a manicure for more than a couple of days, no matter how long it takes me to do, or how much I like it.  I'll probably have my "H" post done before the weekend!

Anyway - focus, focus.  This week in Kimber's hosted ABC Challenge, is the letter G.  Last week's manicure was an issue for me - every day I woke up wanting to like the colors, and every day, it did not happen.  I figured I would go to the other end of the spectrum in colors this week, and I did....sort of. 

I got a little inspiration from Jenni at I Relish Nail Polish and her Fish braid mani last week.  I also commented on FB about walking by a display at a local store that was packed full with ESSIE dark colors.  I picked up my first 3 from the brand, and planned on using them this week also.  The detour I took was in the base coat.  With three dark colors I planned to use, I had no choice but to use a very light base.  I remember Kimber using a taupy base color back in week E, so I went that route.  Yes, you women are inspiring me - giving credit where credit is due.

So...I painted three coats each of my Essie colors onto a sheet protector, and let them dry overnight.  I peeled them off and decided to cut them into squares/rectangles and triangles.  Easy, right?  Not so much (for me, anyway).  These suckers seemed pretty strong, until I got a TINY little nick in one, and tore it almost in half.  OOPS!  Also, the scissors I was using to cut the shapes created JUST enough static electricity that I couldn't get the little pieces of polish to let go.  It was pretty comical - and it got the attention of one of my kitties.  Bad got worse really fast. 

I ended up, for sanity's sake, making the shapes quite a bit bigger than I had originally planned.  1)saved time, and 2) saved my sanity.  I was going to do circles with a dotting tool, but with the size of these cutouts, it just would have been too much.

On to the pictures...I'm doing my camera research too, but these seem to be a little better than usual.  Maybe because it turns out there really is a sun out there - haven't seen it in what seems like forever.  The down side?  It's like 15 degrees outside, so the photos are taken inside near a sunny window.

The colors:
OPI Skull and Glossbones (light grey) LOVE this - I already know I will be using again at least one time in this challenge
ESSIE Stylenomics (green)
ESSIE No More Film (blue)
ESSIE Carry On (burgundy/wine?)




I have to say, so far in this challenge, this is my favorite that I have done.  The top coat I used made the colors bleed (until I figured out a way around it, at the end, of course), and the shapes did morph a little out of proportion, but all in all, I am happy.  The photos magnify every "flaw", real or imagined.  IRL, this looks good - because I say so. (And no one will tell me different - ha!)  Now, it I could get all my nails the same length, life would be good.
 





Thanks for stopping by...please stop and look at all the other amazing ladies that are participating in this challenge below.

SEE YA!

21 comments:

  1. Cool mani, I love Skull & Glossbones too :D

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  2. This is fun...great idea for "G"!

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  3. The color combination is really amazing. I really like the big shapes, very abstract and pretty :)

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  4. Such a cool idea :) Looks great! I gotta try this too sometime. Thanks for the idea :)

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  5. Awesome use for the nail polish sheets!!! I thought about using die cast hole punches for the sheets too. I haven't tried it yet. I have to say I had painted some squares on the plastic protector and I left them to dry for two weeks, not on purpose I just couldn't get back to them. When I went to peel them off they were so brittle they just crumbled to pieces. So I think they need to be kind of fresh... overnight shouldn't be too bad though. Maybe in the spring and summer the air won't be so dry with static it will be easier. What a unique mani, I totally love it!!!

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  6. Love this!!! I never would have thought of using the plastic to create this. And I love your color combination!!

    Hope it warms up soon!!

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    1. Me too! Windchill was -10 yesterday. It's 14 today - heat wave! Winter in Chicago.

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  7. The idea is super cool and the result is, too. It somehow reminds me of those "designs" made in the windows of old cathedrals (within the windows' glass). Does that make sense?
    I'd love to try the plastic trick a go sometimes but I don't think it's that easy either :(

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  8. I agree with everyone else, this is such a great idea!! I'm going to have to try it for sure!! Your mani came out great!

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  9. Hahaha, wow, bad luck got in your way... But the result is really cool :D This way of painting beforehand (and let dry and cut) seems quite easy. Your experience is a little different though, but maybe you just had a bad day? :p

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  10. This is pure awesomesauce! I really need to try this technique...way less mess!

    I love these colors. Skull and Glossbones is my fave neutral in my stash. Such a great base color for nail art! And Despite Essie being a hit or miss kind of polish, it's still one of my fave brands. :)

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  11. Very pretty! I really love Skull and Glossbones.... I really need to get a backup of it

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  12. I have done this and know how hard it is, but I totally agree that its worth it!! These colors look awesome together, great ideas.

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  13. Neat!!! I love geometric designs. You did a great job! :)

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  14. Very cool! I really need to see of I can find skull and glossbones.

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    1. Didn't think I would like it so much, but it's great! White is too unforgiving this time of year, and I'm not crazy about nude either. This is perfect.

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