Llama Nails: ABC Challenge! A is for Apples, B is for Balloons

Hello all! I know I have been on a little hiatus but I promise I am back! After doing so many challenges, I needed to take a mini break, as did my nails. (Plus a bunch of crazy family stuff has been going on...) Of course now that I am back, I plan to start a couple more challenges! I know, I know... I have an addiction to doing nail art challenges. I have the most fun doing them and though at times it can be frustrating, I really feel like I am improving on my skills! With that said, let me introduce to you the new challenge I am starting today. It's called the ABC Challenge and it's from one of the awesome groups I belong to on Facebook, called Llama Nails. If you are into nail challenges like I am, check out the group page here.

Normally the challenge posts will be every Wednesday but since this challenge actually started back in September, I have to catch up a little. I only found out about this group a few weeks ago and by then the challenge was well underway but it's never late to join right? Plus why not start from the beginning.

A is for Apples. When I think of the letter A, I generally think of apples. I don't know why but I do. I just bought a giant bag of Red Delicious apples from the store and thought that the dark red color would be perfect for my apples.

I used Sinful Colors Happy Ending as my base color and Orly's Grave Mistake for my apples. The rest was acrylic paint that I applied with a thin tipped nail art brush. 

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B is for Balloons. I'm not sure why I came up with balloons for B but I just love the way they came out! I am definitely going to do this design again, maybe for a birthday mani!

For my base color I used OPI Skull and Glossbones, then I used a fan brush and applied some white polish. For the balloons I used Sally Hansen Pacific Blue,  SH Mellow Yellow and Ulta Non-stop Red. I created the balloons using a large dotting tool and a small one. I placed the small dots right at the base of the larger ones. I then outlined the dots and drew a small line for the tied part of the balloons.

I hope you enjoyed my post for today. Stay tuned for C and D!

Until next time,
Erin

"This is Halloween" Nail Art Challenge! Day 1: Horror Movies

Hello all! I have decided to do another nail art challenge! This one was created by Bec of Lacquer Dreams. It technically started yesterday, but I found out about it last night and figured I should join in! This one has Ghosts and graveyard! How cool is that? So as of now I am currently doing two Halloween nail art challenges and two Halloween nail art contests. I'm also doing the Let's Do the Time Warp Challenge, which ends tomorrow, and on Friday I will be starting another challenge. I am a busy one! Today's objective was to create a design inspired by a horror movie.

I get scared horribly easier so I am not a huge fan of horror movies. I haven't seen many in my life, so my choices were limiting. I decided to go with one of my all time favorite movies, (which might not be considered a horror movie) Sleepy Hollow. When I saw it for the first time it really scared the crap out of me. Christopher Walken as the headless horsemen is pretty frightening!

This is pretty horrifying, right?

I hope this counts as a horror film. I know the story that the movie is based off of is a scary story, so it should count right? I think anything that includes a headless horseman should could has horror. For my nail art design I choose to go Tim Burton style and make it all grey and dark. I hope you all enjoy it!

I just love how the tree on my thumb came out. This is the tree that Ichabod discovers to be the gateway to hell. I'm very happy with all the detail. If you haven't seen the movie, I recommend that you do! 

What I used:

• Base coat: OPI Skull & Glossbones
• Black, white, red, yellow acrylic paint
• Sally Hansen Silver Sweep
• Nail art brushes

As I write this post I can't help but wonder... Is Halloween Johnny Depp's favorite holiday? I really hope it is! I really want to watch this movie now! Well I hope you enjoyed my post!

See you tomorrow!

Erin

The Halloween Challenge! Day 1: Trick or Treats

Hello! I know this is my third post for the day but I'm feeling rather ambitious...I have some fun news to share! So last night I was on the amazing blog Samariums Swatches and I read that Sarah was joining a nail art challenge....a Halloween nail art challenge. It sounded like so much fun that I wanted to join in the fun too! It's being hosted by the Facebook group Crumpet's Nail Tarts. This group was created by Debbie, who has an amazing blog called the Crumpet. Her blog really is amazing, you should check it out. Anyways, I was just accepted in the group this morning! I am so excited to do another challenge. I just completed the 31 Day Challenge and I'm not ready to stop cold turkey. I need to do more nail art! Now this isn't an everyday thing. Which is good because that was a little bit ridiculous. Here is the layout of the challenge:

I think this is going to be so fun! Halloween is my favorite holiday! The first day of the challenge is Trick or Treats. I choose to do one of my favorite Halloween candies, candy corn! I choose to do not only original candy corn but chocolate too! I love the variety bags that have the original, chocolate and pumpkin kinds.

What is your favorite Halloween candy? I am really looking forward to this month. There are some fun contests and challenges going on. I'm really looking forward to getting to know the other challengers.

Also, fun news for the day! I was also featured on the iFabbo blog as a favorite for the week. You can check it out here.

Until next time,
Erin

Let's Do the Time Warp Challenge! Day 1: I should have been born in...

Hello all! First off I would like to say hello to all of my new readers! Hi! I'm so excited to share my nails with you :) If you are new then I need to catch you up with what's going on here on the blog. I am currently involved in 2 nail art challenges, which is turning into 3 since I am starting this one today. Three nail art challenges! AHHH! I am crazy haha This is what happened...I created a challenge that's only once a week back in July, then I started doing the 31 day challenge, THEN I was on the lovely Neverland Nail Blog and saw that she was hosting a new challenge. Lindsey's new challenge sounded like so much fun I just couldn't pass it up. Here's the layout.

Doesn't this sound like so much fun?! I am very excited because not only is this challenge going to be fun, I could potentially win a prize! Wahoo! Lindsey is going to be posting every Monday and Wednesday. I'm thinking I will join her on those days, I just had to post today due to yesterday's traveling and pampering my injured ankle.

Day 1: I should have been born in... The idea was to pick a  decade we wish we could have lived in. I choose the 1970s. This was the time of peace, love and happiness. There were go go dancers and hippies, and the beginning of disco! Though I love Disco, I choose to channel the hippy/tye dye part of the 70s. I used a sponge for my thumb and pinky. For the rest of my nails, I did water marbling. It actually came out good! I was amazed haha. 

What I used:

• Base color: Sally Hansen Coral Reef
• Thumb and pinky: 
• SH Coral reef, SH Sun kissed, SH Mellow yellow
• Makeup sponge
• White stamping polish. 
• BM 322, BM 320, BM203.
• Index, middle, ring fingers: 
• Sally Hansen Coral reef, SH Sun kissed, SH Mellow Yellow, SH Blue me Away, and essence Lime up! 
• Water, dixie cup, toothpick. 
• White stamping polish, 
• BM 304, BM 07, BM 205.
• Various sized nail art brushes. 

I think my nails came out pretty groovy man. Stay tuned for Day 2 of this challenge and Day 12 of the 31 Day Challenge tomorrow. 

See you then!
Erin

Blog Update!

Hello all! Today's post is an update explaining what I've been up to and what I have planned for the month of September! 

I have been making some changes to the blog, in order to make it easier to navigate and prettier to look at. The biggest change has to do with my pictures! I finally was able to get everything I needed to make a light box! It's relatively inexpensive to buy the materials to make one but being unemployed and broke was getting me nowhere. Thanks to my wonderful and supportive boyfriend, I was able to get the materials. He spoils me!  So expect to see new and improved pictures and some new polishes soon. 

Here's a preview of what's to come!

Now on to the plans! As you may or may not know, I have been posting at least three times a week. My tasty treat posts every Tuesday, my challenge posts every Friday and my stamping posts on Sundays. Right when I am getting the hang of a schedule, I'm going to mess it up! For the month of September, I will be taking part in another challenge.  Polished Criminails is going to be doing a 30 day nail art challenge along with 30 days of "untrieds." This means everyday she will do a new nail art design using a polish she hasn't tried out before. You can read more on her post here. 

I snagged this picture from her site:

I was thinking of doing the 31 Day Challenge in October but this seems like as good a time as any! Since there is only 30 days in September, day 31 is being left out. I may decide to do it on October 1st, since it's to "recreate your favorite challenge" and I am thinking of doing a recap of the whole month anyways. As for the second part of this challenge, 30 days of "untrieds," I’m not sure if I have 30 polishes I haven’t tried yet but I figured this is the perfect time to bring out the yet to be used polishes! I will still continue to do my 2012 Summertime Challenge that ends on September 21st. Unfortunately I will have to hold off on any more regular tasty treats until the challenge is over. Same goes for my stamping Sundays.

I am overly excited about this challenge since it was Cristina's 31 Day Challenge that was the final inspiration for me to write a blog. I hope you will come back each day to see what all of us come up with! The new challenge starts Saturday, see you there!

Until next time,

Erin

2012 Summertime Challenge, who wants in?

Hello all! As we all know, it's summertime and boy is it hot! To celebrate summertime, I have decided to create a fun summer-themed manicure challenge.

I've been wanting to create my own challenge ever since last year’s 31 day challenge. However, I can’t see myself committing to a daily challenge, so I wanted to create my own challenge with different guidelines. So here it is:

Click on me to make be bigger!

This challenge will last for 9 weeks, starting this Friday, July 27th and ending on Friday September 21st. (Google says this is the last day of summer.) The goal of the challenge is to post at least once a week. I plan to post every Friday but feel free to post on whatever day is most convenient for you.

UPDATE: Since this Friday is the beginning of the challenge, Friday will begin the "week." For example, Olympic nails should be posted anytime from Friday July 27th until Thursday August 2nd! Week 2 will then begin on Friday August 3rd and so on. I hope that makes sense! Please contact me if you have any questions!

Breakdown of the Challenge:
Week 1: Olympics—The summer Olympics are starting soon! Let’s show our love for the Olympics and our countries!

Week 2: Grill it up!--- Eating outdoors is a big part of summertime. Grilling and having picnics are essential for a good summer. Create a design with food in mind.

Week 3: Inspired by a bathing suit--- Pick your favorite swim suit and create a design based on it. Make sure to include a photo of the suit!

Week 4: Sea, Sand and Surf--- Pick 1,2 or a combo of as many of the listed categories as you would like and create a manicure that will make you wish you were at the beach!

Week 5: Feelin’ HOT HOT HOT--- It’s scorching outside. Show it on your nails!

Week 6: Favorite summer snack--- What is something you love to eat during the summer? Think treats that cool you off or things only available during the summer months.

Week 7: Inspired by a movie that takes place during the summer--- Pick your favorite movie that has summer fun in it!

Week 8: Inspired by a summer song--- What song paints the picture of summertime to you? Be creative!

Week 9: Water you doing? Create a summer-themed water marble--- This can be anything that makes you think of summer; water, sand, bright colors, neon, etc.

I’m inviting anyone and everyone to join in! If you wish to participate, please let me know as soon as possible by leaving a comment below! ^You can also send me an email at handyfeats@gmail.com! I would like to link up our blogs so our readers can enjoy all of the participants designs!

If you don’t have a blog, no biggy! I would love for you to share your designs with me on my Facebook page.

I hope you join and I look forward to everyone’s creations!

Until next time,
Erin