Metallic Gradient with a Stamped accent

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     Have you even be perusing Pinterest and stumbled across a pin that made you want to whip out your nail art supplies right then are there? Well, that's exactly what happened to me when I can across this pin. I loved the vintage look and feel of this manicure and the muted color scheme. Sadly it was the late hours of the night and my nail art would have to wait.  But as I lay there in bed supposed to be sleeping my brain just kept coming back to the manicure I was thinking of completely inspired by that pin. 

     I lay there for over an hour working out my color scheme, which plate I might want to use, and I knew that sleep would be impossible. Until I wrote my idea down that is. Which is exactly what I did. I ran to my desk, grabbed a pen and paper and jotted down the rough ideas I had, went back to bed and instantly fell asleep knowing my idea was safe from being lost to the hidden corners of my mom brain.  So what was this important manicure idea that caused my a restless night? Let's take a look

    While I knew I didn't want to recreate that inspiration manicure completely I still wanted that muted earthy feel of the color scheme. I tossed around the idea of using 3 colors in the gradient, with blue adding a little pop of color but quickly discarded that thought. And I think I made the right decision. I like the way that Penny Talk and Good as Gold from the Essie Mirror Metallic's collection makes a subtle gradient allowing the blue in my accent nail to really pop.

      I should also mention that these metallic polish work best in a gradient if they are layered over a white base. I used Finger Paints Paper Mache as my base color. One thin layer was all I needed under the gradient but I used 2 on my accent nail for a completely solid base. And speaking of accent nails... here's a close up of mine!

    I just love how this whole manicure turned out, but I'm mostly proud of the accent nail. I tried my hand at making my own decal again and it was so much easier using my Simply Neat Miracle Mat  (affiliate link) instead of just my stamper. Seriously this mat has made a huge improvement to my nail art process.  I feel like I have space to create looks and not worry about making a mess.  I'm getting a bit off track so I'll get back to how I created this look but seriously if you're looking at getting a mat for nail art I would highly recommend this one. 

   Ok so now that that shameless plug has been put in, back to the manicure. For my accent nail, I used MoYou London plate 03 from the Paradise Collection and Finger Paint Black Expressionism to create the outline. I then filled in the image with Penny Talk and Good As Gold trying to mimic the gradient effect in the petals. To get a small pop of color Blue Rhapsody also from the Mirror Metallics collection added the perfect touch. I topped it all off with Sally Hansen Double Duty which is the only top coat I've found that dries in a reasonable amount of time but is still pliable so that I can apply the decal to my nail without cracking. If you've been having the same issue with your decals give Double Duty a shot and I promise your frustrations will be over. Tuck that little tidbit away as my own little tip from me to you. You can thank me in the comments ;)

    I loved this manicure, I love the colors, the way the accent nail turned out but mostly I loved how proud of myself I was while wearing it. Because it was finally a manicure that turned out exactly how I pictured it in my head. And we all know that doesn't happen often for me. Now the only question I have for you is.... was my accent nail technique considered reverse stamping or just making a decal? I'm a little fuzzy on what the difference is and would love some clarification. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!