Quick Heart Tutorial

Today will be a quick post on how to create hearts. You can do this with regular nail polish or gel nail polish. In the photos below I was using regular polish.

I used a dotting tool. I got a package of them on amazon for very cheap but they shipped from over seas so they took some time to get to me. You can use a tack, safety pin, or a toothpick as well.

**Update** One of my readers (thanks Mom!) pointed out that using the foil helps while doing this. Don't try dipping the dotting tool directly into the bottle of polish. It is hard to see how much you are getting on the tool. Use a piece of foil or plastic wrap. This also helps when using a thin brush tool as well!

                                                                 Happy Hearting!

Ripped Jean Tutorial #2

I had posted recently a ripped jean lace tutorial. When I was doing the fix and adding the lace I completely spaced taking pictures.

This is another jean tutorial to add accents and cover those holes. This time I actually remembered to take pictures. Hopefully this will be a little more helpful than the last one!

This tutorial is really good for those jeans that you bought that were already cut with holes or distressing. After a few washes or from wearing, the hole gets too big and you want to cover it up.

First things first; grab your jeans that you want to fix.

 

Now, cut a piece of fabric, lace, or whatever you want to use. Just make sure whatever you choose has the same washing capabilities as your jeans. I chose a fun green because the hole I am covering is small, so this will give a fun pop of color. Cut the fabric just a little bit bigger than the size of the hole, and it's easiest to cut a square shape.

 Now turn your jean inside out. For those novice sewers, you almost always sew on the inside of the clothing. 

Next, pin your fabric to cover the hole on the inside of the jean. 

Start sewing the first corner of your square fabric color. Make sure to use a thread that matches the color of your jeans. Unless you want to see the thread and use a fun color. For this tutorial I used a blue to match my jean. You can do this using a sewing machine or by hand sewing. I chose to use my sewing machine because it's faster.

Turn the fabric to sew each corner. Sew all the way around the fabric and try to keep a straight line as possible  It can be a little tough to moosh all the fabric around the sewing machine, just take your time. 

Lastly, cut all the loose threads and turn your jean right side in. 

Matte About You Nail Polish Review

I have been addicted to the matte nail polish! It's so cute and fun, and since my recent encounter with the matte-like liquid sand nail polish; I have been obsessed with the Matte Polishes.

Unfortunately I am cheap, and do not want to buy all new polishes just to get the Matte effect, SO... I tried the Matte About You Top Coat from Essie. I have to say that I have tried Matte Top Coats before, the last one I got was from Sephora (I don't remember the brand) but it did not look right and I was highly disappointed. Needless to say, I was skeptical to try the Essie top coat. I should save my skepticism for bad movies and dark alley ways because this top coat did exactly what it said it was supposed to do!


First, I applied a base coat.

Then two coats of China Glaze 'Spontaneous'. Make sure to let each coat dry really well so it's not too thick.

Next, I applied one top coat of the Essie Matte About You. Be careful not to put too thick of a coat. It kind of dries fast so you want to make sure you cover the whole nail. One coat was more than enough for me. It dried pretty quickly to the touch.


My recommendation? APPROVED! I am excited to try using the top coat on half and keeping it glossy on the other half.

Best way to save your old polish and get that Matte look without having to spend a ton of money! Go get yoself some of this. I got mine on amazon for about $7!

Before Matte Top Coat

After Essie Matte About you Top Coat

Liquid Sand Nail Polish Review

I happened to be at Ulta today (BTW it was my first time in there, and OMG! I love this place! How have I not been here before?) Anyway, I saw the O.P.I. Liquid Sand Nail Polish. They had a little fake fingernail display and it looked neat. So I decided to purchase the mini sampler pack because I couldn't decide which color I wanted. Also, Mariah Carey was on the box looking all hott and I thought maybe if I get this nail polish I can look hott like Mariah (fat chance!).

Mini bottles of O.P.I Liquid Sand

I decided that since it's so close to Valentines day that I would try "The Impossible" which is the pink/reddish color.

The directions say to use a base coat and then apply two coats of the color. Do not use a top coat. Sweet! Even better - I don't have to wait for a top coat to dry. SOLD!

O.P.I. Liquids Sand in "The Impossible"

I was so impressed! The color didn't take long to try and it looked as cool as it looked on the fake fingernail thingy in the store. That rarely happens!

The color is really pretty, it's a pink with some red undertones. There is a lot of glitter in it, but it's not super sparkly. The coolest thing about the liquid sand polish is that it really looks like sand. It's matte, not shiny like other glitters. It has a cool texture and looks awesome in natural light. I am hoping the color lasts longer than regular polish.

My recommendation is to try it. Get the mini pack - it seems like a little bit of this polish will go a long way. Also the large bottles were $8 a piece at Ulta and the mini pack was only $12. I am cheap.. and I wanted to try multiple colors. Mini pack it is!

I can't wait to try some fun designs with the sand texture using regular polish and this polish! I will have to do another post when I have time to play.

Until next time.. ta ta my nail art addicts :)




Am I all sexy like Mariah Carey now?
Oh yeah, still rocking the sling from
my surgery.. that's hot!

OK fine, here's another more serious pic of what the polish looks like

Heart Mani/Pedi



Cute little hears and dots. Awe, now that's better than a
Valentines Day card!

I am not a huge fan of the big Hallmark Holiday we all know as Valentines Day. However, I do love an excuse to have cute pink fingers and toes!

This called for a heart mani/pedi.

Please excuse the condition of my toes (in the pic below), I got surgery done on my arm which resulted in me being in a sling, and I have not had the mobility to properly take care of my feetsies at the moment. I am ashamed!


I messed up the lower right of this heart, but you get the point.
Use a dotting tool to create two large dots, then blend them
down to a "V" to create the bottom of the heart.

Either way, the manicure is still really cute and easy.

The dots - easy, use a dotting tool.

The hearts, use a dotting tool (large one works better) dot two dots right next to each other. Next, put another dot below the two large dots. Then use a smaller dotting tool (or a toothpick) to blend them together in a heart shape.

Try dotting all the way around with accents, or using different colors. Be creative!

Below is my attempt at some photo instructions. I hope it makes sense, it really is easy so it's hard to show how to do it!





 

Step 1: Use large dotting tool and dot
two right next to each other

Step 2: Put a smaller dot just below the
two larger dots

Step 3: Using a smaller dotting tool
(or toothpick) blend the
dots to look like a heart.