Subtle metallic gradient with silver holo tips

I actually wasn't going to do anything to the tips but I had some tiny smudges that were bugging me. I ended up liking it a lot though, it did feel like it was missing something before I added the funky french holo tips. The blue and silver seem to fade in very nicely with each other, too, which is something I haven't gotten with the few gradient designs I've done. (The blue was also metallic but not as obvious since I sponged it i guess.)

Am I the only one whos cuticles and hands are suffering with this hot weather? I don't remember this happening last year, and I haven't changed my moisturizing routine at all. Weird.

The colors I used was a blue metallic Pure Ice color (can't think of the names gah i really should take pictures of them.) and a Revlon silver. I'm absolutely fricken thrilled I found a use for Pure Ice's metallics because their formula seems to be a bit off. It's pretty streaky as a base.

 

Barbie gradient nails

I finally done a gradient without glitter that I ended up liking. I was using a very shimmery yellow to attempt it and it did not work out at all, apparently shimmers aren't good for sponging. Stick to the creams.

The pink is Revlon's Oh My Magenta, the purple is from Pure Ice. (Can't think of the exact name off the top of my head.) I thought the colors complimented each other as Revlon's polish had slight blue/purple undertones. I had some sponges I bought from Michael's, they didn't work too well. I hoard dish sponges for various uses (yay for recycling), and cut one up (after washing it mind you) to use for my nails--worked much better.

Ended up not using a base coat as I was experimenting. I do wish I hadn't of gone so far up with the purple, but I did an OK job and I didn't immediately hate it.

HMMMM. I can't stand my cursive writing lol.

Cropped + a little color enhancement.

First attempt at gradient + acrylic paint

I went to Michael's and bought some various acylic paints. One of them being a black paint that had glitter in it. I wanted to experiment. I ended up randomly deciding to try doing a gradient for the first time. Basically experimented with that, too. I didn't get pictures of both hands, but one hands nails ended up being much lighter than the other one. I did two different methods.

The first one, I used a sponge and put the polish directly on a white frosty polish I have (that I hate, mind you, but it makes good polish underwear.) Dabbed it up and down for the gradient effect. The effect was much more subtle than the pictures I'm posting. Can't say I cared for that hand much, but it wasn't a terrible attempt for a beginner.

The second, as seen in the following photos, I put semi thick lines of the different colors I wanted to use. (Purple, teal, pink.) Then I took the sponge and gently dabbed up and down. The colors ended up being 1000x more vivid. I liked that much better. I just kind of wish I didn't put the acrylic paint glitter on them. This mani ended up growing on me though, I was sad to remove it. The other acrylic paint I tested was a pink glitter. The base looked to be a lavender color, with fine pinkish purple glitter.

My first experiment was attempting to put the lavender based pink glitter on the tips of my gradient manicure. Didn't turn out too well, the lavender base color quickly faded. The pink glitter was much less noticeable, though you can still some what see it in the pictures.

Over all a REALLY funky design. After I was done experimenting, the design ended up reminding me of Lisa Frank. So I guess you could say this is my own version of Lisa Frank nails! It also looks vaguely water-color-ish. I really hate that white frosty pearl color I used under it. I LOATHE it, but I wanted to use it since I haven't touched it in the year I've had it. Heh. (It's "Pure Ice" brand, I hope to do swatches sometime as well not just designs.)