Hello lovelies!
Can you believe that we're already to the middle of week? I move back to Albany and into my new apartment, I'm finally living off campus this year, in exactly a week! And like every year, I haven't started packing yet....whoops...it'll get done...eventually...
Anywho, onto the nails!
Brownie points to whoever can guess what these nails are supposed to be? Haha!
Here's what I used:
For my Holiday/Vacation nails, I wanted to show travel and I decided to show this by creating passport nails! This was also my first attempt at making my own decals. I didn't follow a tutorial but I made them based off of what I remembered reading from other peoples' blogs.
The decals started with me applying a few "swatches" of topcoat to a plastic baggy. I then painted on the little passport stamps on with acrylic paint. I let the decals dry for a night, mostly because it was late and I had to go to bed. When I was ready to use the decals, I peeled them off the baggy and cut around the designs.
For the actual nails, I started with 2 coats of Did You Ear About Van Gogh? and a layer of topcoat. I then dabbed the other brown polishes on my nail and spread the colors around with a brush dipped in acetone (or the watercolor technique). I added another layer of topcoat and while it was wet, I placed the decals into it. When the decals were *finally* laid down flat, I applied another layer of topcoat.
I like the idea of these nails but I wish that I hadn't of gone down the decal route. Freehanding the stamps on probably would have been easier for me. If anyone has any tips for making and/or applying decals, I'd love to hear them!
Thanks for reading guys!
-Marisa! (:
These are cute! Its a very busy design but it kind of works.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of travel stamps and stickers on a travel chest - so I was close! I've never tried this technique and I'll be honest - I'm not sure I want to! haha! :)
ReplyDeleteDecals are definitely tough. I've only done them once, little rainbows.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to venture down the "make my own decals" road. They look cool but I don't have a steady enough hand I guess. Maybe if I did something abstract it would work. I have to admit that I didn't know what the exact design was supposed to be but I don't travel so I don't see those stamps. I thought it was for a beach in Australia.
ReplyDeleteI think these look really cute and I totally guessed what they were! I've tried to make decals before and it was a total fail because I could never get them to lay flat on my nail. I think yours look great (although, obviously frustrating to apply! LOL!)
ReplyDeleteI did decals today too! It is much harder than it seems!
ReplyDeleteClose enough for me! And yeah, I don't recommend it haha,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't think I'll be trying them again anytime soon...
ReplyDeleteI honestly found it harder to paint the design onto the baggie then it is to just paint directly on my nail. So I'll probably be sticking to freehand nail art from now on. The stamps are made up haha, the IE stands for Ireland and the AU does stand for Australia though!
ReplyDeleteThank you! That was my problem too! They were so hard to get flat so I just put topcoat over it, you can't see in the photos how thick these nails actually were. They came off as soon as the photos were taken!
ReplyDeleteI saw your decals, they were so cute! They're such a pain though haha!
ReplyDeletegood idea. I've never done decals before - maybe I'll give it a shot!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! Makes me itchy for a new passprt stamp!
ReplyDeleteThank you and good luck haha!
ReplyDeleteThanks! When I first read this, I thought you were talking about stamping plates but I'm thinking you meant a new stamp in your passport? Haha nail addict problems?
ReplyDelete