Thursday, February 11, 2010

Valentine's Day Mani Inspiration

I am assuming whether you are a V-Day lover or a V-Day hater, you are going to do some sort of theme manicure, right? Even if it is an anti-V-Day mani. Well if you are torn on what to dress your nails in for the big day I put together some ideas I had for Valentine's Day manicures to help inspire!

1) This is a base of Essie - Marshmallow, a jelly white, and a smorgasbord of heart stamps done with China Glaze - Romantiques: Awaken, Adore, Admire, Harmony, Cherish, Passion and Devotion. I used Konad plates M3, M35 and M73.

2) This is a base of Essie - Flirty Fuchsia, stamped with Konad plate M4 and Konad Special Polish in red and white. I topped it all off with a holographic glitter topcoat: Cover Girl - City Lights.

3) I wanted to do a manicure that didn't have the usual red, pink or white base. I chose Naughty Nailz - Left Him Cuffed To The Bed for the base (appropriate for Valentine's!). Then I stamped the little swoops with Konad plate M4 and China Glaze - Devotion. Next, I stamped the "Love" and hearts with Konad plate M2 and China Glaze - Admire and Revlon - Punch Chrome.

4) I went a bit more geometric with this one... for a second. Then I messed it all up! In a good way, of course. I started with a base of Orly - Polo Princess. Next, I painted three vertical stripes with LA Colors Art Deco striper polishes in Red Glitter and White. While still wet, I took a needle and pulled across the stripes from left to right to give a mild marbled effect.

5) Now this is not a "mild" marble. This is wild! I water marbled a red, black and white creme. (you can see my tutorial on water marbling here) Then I topped it with two coats of Cover Girl - Disco Dazzle. You could also add a heart - infused polish like below. I wish I had.

6) This is a base of a reddish pink creme: Perfect Chic - 314 and then topped with Nicole by OPI - Love Your Life. I showed you another mani I did with Love Your Life back in November:

This is Sinful Colors - Sugar Sugar with Love Your Life.

7) This one looks sort of like an anti-V-Day mani but it isn't really. I chose Sinful Colors - Happy Ending for the base since the name sounds lovey-dovey. The yellow rhinestones are heart-shaped, and then I added magenta and black to the ring finger.

8) And this one is obviously a V-Day mani. The base is another one of the new Sinful's I showed you, Easy Going and then I stamped the rose with Konad plate M36 and China Glaze - Cherish and Revlon - Punch Chrome.

What do you think? What is your favorite? What are you doing for your Valentine's Day manicure?

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post which will include my favorite Valentine's Day mani! Hmm... what could it be, what could it be? :cD
-Elaine

15 comments:

  1. =O

    That are a lot of mani's
    One more cute than the other...

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  2. Perfection as usual! My favorite is the first one!

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  3. Your work is divine. I like #2. I'm going traditional for V-Day, I'm going to wear my new "Lolipop" purchase from Essie.

    Glad I found your blog.

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  4. I looove the first one! So cute. I wish I had the patience (and big enough nails for that matter) for that.

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  5. wow are you talented !

    i love the 'drag-thru' technique one but that marble Mani is a-m-a-zing. The glitter adds alot to it and the color combo is perfect..... to set off each color.

    ... also; there is a polish called 'Happy Ending' ? .....

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  6. I LOOOOVE the water marbling one! Tres chic! I need to give this a shot.

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  7. Chinese New Year actually sits on V-day this year so I'm doing a Chinese New Year mani. Just OPI Bling Dynasty. =) BTW, I freaking love the one with all the diff hearts. It's totally like ADHD, but fuuuun.

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  8. I love the marbling effect, I have to try it!!! I'll be working V-day, and the look under it is similar to what I was thinking, but I'll have to put my own twist on it. Thanks again for the ideas :) Great nails

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  9. You are so incredibly talented! I love the Sugar Sugar! I'm boring and just have on a light pink Milani.

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  10. Wow! These are all fantastic. You do some of the best nail art I've ever seen.

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  11. Wow, these really bring V-mani to a whole new level. Beautiful!

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