To get this look I started out with a base of Finger Paints Paper Mache and then layered 2 coats of  China Glaze Seeing Red over the top. I wanted a simple manicure, so I left only half of my ring finger white and ready for my spots.

     Once everything dried I took my smallest dotting tool and began adding random splotches of Orly Luxe. Currently, my favorite gold nail polish to use, even though it leaves brush strokes on the nail. To make sure I had control over the outlining I used green acrylic paint as my finishing touch.


     At this point, I debated adding a few leopard spots to another nail to try and tie the whole thing together. But less is more they say so a coat of Seche Vite was the only thing I added. I might go in and add some spots before I take it off just to see how it would look, I haven't decided yet. I don't want to be disappointed that I didn't add them earlier if it turns out to look great. lol

     So now that you have seen my final look, why not check out the other manicure people came up with for today. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

     I started with 2 coats of Lost Without my Blogger. A glitter packed clear based polish with flashes of white, green and, gold. Then I matted it. After that dried, I doodled some ribbons and bows with a gold and white stripers and matted it again.

     I'm so sad that because I'm behind in my posting that I have to take this off as soon as I'm done writing this post to work on another manicure. Hopefully, I like it as much as this one. In the meantime why not check out some more ugly sweaters. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

     Right now Born Pretty store is running a sale where you can get up to 80% off select items. The same runs through Dec 17th, 2014 and you can use code MERRYXMASB10 for an additional 15% off your order. If you've had your eye on a few items I'd say now is the time to stock up!

     And now I think it's time to take a look at the designs everyone else came up with for today. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

     I started with a base of Sinful Colors Snow Me White.  Then I hand painted the swirls with Zoya Rekha and Wet~n~Wild Poison Ivy. My middle finger was the last one I painted and I think it turned out the best. It's a bit busy for an entire manicure, but I still like it. Not because it looks great, but because it shows a sort of progression with my brush strokes.



     Poison Ivy turned out to be darker than I remembered and looks almost black in some lighting. Which is kind of a bummer, but when the light hits it just right there's a flash of green shimmer. I almost added a lighter shade of green over the top to lighten it up a bit but didn't want to risk not being able to follow the original lines. I still might try it before I remove this manicure just to see how it looks.

     Now let's check out the looks everyone else came up with. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

     The streaking really made me sad because up until then my Santa looked pretty cute and jolly.  So lesson learned, wait more than 20 minutes to apply top coat when working with red and white polish.  Although I still think he looks kind of cute.

     Now let's see what the others have come up with for today. As always thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

      Trying to stick with my nontraditional color scheme for this challenge I started off with 2 coats of Carpe Noctem Literary Lady plus top coat. While that dried I tried to come up with the kind of snowman design I wanted to do and which colors I wanted to do it in. That's where I got stuck. Nothing I pulled out of my helmers seemed like the right polish to use and I was running out of time.


     And then I remembered I had these cute little snowmen decals that I picked up from Sally's last year on clearance. If you're looking for cute seasonal decals and stickers at a cheap price always go after the holiday has passed. You might not get the best selection, but the prices are pretty darn good! I don't know about you but I am all about saving those pennies.

     So there you have it my quick and easy snowman manicure for today's prompt. I'll see you back here on Sunday with my Santa/elves manicure but in the meantime make sure to check out the other snowmen manicures from today. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

     I'm actually pretty proud of how this turned out considering how frustrated I was when I started it. And for some reason, I can freehand a French tip in my sleep, but I can't paint lines to make a tree to save my life. Funny how that works.

     Enough of my nail art skill ponderings, back to the manicure. I started off with a layer of Simply Smooth. I wanted even color for the "nude" part of the nail along with a smooth surface to work with. The French tips are Ho Ho Holly from Color Club and a sparkly red striping polish I picked up at Sally's. I stamped with Finger Paints Paper Mache and Konad plate M12. Add in some gold accents with Orly Luxe and viola my manicure is completed!


     I wish the Merry Christmas was a little easier to read, but I still think it looks cute. Festive but not over the top  I guess. The next prompt is snowmen and I hope I don't have as many issues coming up with a manicure for that one. While I'm off thinking up ideas why don't you check out the other manicures in the challenge.  Or check out what I did for last years Christmas Tree prompt. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

     I started with 2 coats of KBShimmer Hexy Bikini for my base. After it was dry I dabbed on the OPI sheer tints to random spots on my nails and added a layer of top coat. I really liked how it looked and really didn't want to mess it up so I waited a full hour before moving on to the next step.


     For my snowflakes, I used Finger Paints Black Expressionism and image plates from Bundle Monster and Shandy. ( BM-319, BM-323, and SH-202.) I have realized that in addition to needing better image plates for Halloween I also need ones for Christmas. Although I did like the variety I had with snowflake images to choose from.

     I liked the look of this glossy but it was hard to photograph. I kept getting glare and losing the detail in the snowflakes. So I did what every polish loving person would do, I mattified it!


     I'm having a hard time deciding if I like it glossy or matte better. The Glossy version had much more sparkle, but the matte version shows much more detail. Which way do you like better?

    Before you go, make sure you check out the other participant's manicures. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

     It's Christmas Eve and Also the last day of the 12 days of X-mas Mani's Challenge. The theme is freestyle Christmas.

      It's the second to last day of the 12 days of X-mas Mani's and today's theme is Christmas Trees.

     Not my best work but considering the rush I was in to get this done I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. I'll be back in a few days with the last manicure of the Challenge but in the meantime, why not check out what the others came up with for today.



     It's the 12 days of X-mas Mani's time again. It's day 10 of the challenge and today's theme is Santa. That's right, the jolly old man himself is making an appearance. Or his suit is anyway.

      It's that time again!  It's day 9 of the 12 days of X-mas Mani's challenge and today's theme is Snowmen.

     Hello again.  We are 2/3's of the way through the challenge! It's day 8 of the 12 Days of X-mas Mani's and today's theme is Holly.

      It's day 7 of the 12 Days of X-mas Mani's Challenge and today's theme is Christmas animals.

     We are officially halfway through the 12 Days of X-mas Mani's challenge and today's theme is Decorations.

      Well, It's days 5 of the 12 days of X-mas Mani's Challenge and today's theme is bells.