my matte floss pik nails for All You magazine

I was recently featured in the March issue of All You magazine where they  showcased simple nail art made with household items.  In true Craftynail style I designed a dotticure using regular old bobby pins. If you view the slideshow here I am slide #8.  The web article is cool, but the print version of the March issue is what I will cherish.  Craftynail got published!  Here’s a screen shot of the web-version of their Mani Mania article…

Also, when I was reading the print issue I noticed that they have a nail art contest!  They want you to take your own spin on one of the designs from the issue and submit it to their fb.  You can’t find too much about it online other than their fb app, but the magazine says you should copy one of three manis from their march article.    I copied the ombre dental floss nail art design created by NYC nail artist Jin Soon Choi.  She came up with a gorgeous design using a blue cream base, matte over top, then gold polish dabbed on with floss string.  I did my own version but I used a flosspik instead of string.. so I got a slightly different effect.  Here it is!

I’m wearing Sally Hansen Maximum Growth as my basecoat.  Then I applied 2 coats of OPI’s AmazON…AmazOFF.  Then I mattified the teal with Butter London Matte Finish Topcoat.  Wow this butter london works great and dries so fast!  Then I dabbed on some blue/silver AVON polish called Platinum from their Brushed Metals collection.  I dabbed it on using a flosspik.  So basically I brushed some Platinum onto the short piece of floss that’s attached to the pick.  Then I placed the floss strand on my nails and rolled it back and forth so some of the AVON polish would transfer.  No topcoat needed for this design.

I really love how this came out.. the matte effect gives it a little something extra.  I hope you like it too!  It was fun doing a nail art inspired by a famous manicurist.  Have you seen Jin Soon Choi’s website?  She has a load of lovely tutorials that will blow you away.  I love that the majority of them are simple… but the results are stunning.  Here’s her nail art tutorial page: JIN SOON CHOI

My OPI Brazil Collection

I’m not the type of girl to run out and buy a new nail polish collection when it first gets released.  But there was something about the OPI Brazil collection that really called to me.  I couldn’t stop thinking about those bright tropical colors until I finally broke down and drove to the beauty supply store!  Good thing that store is a half hour out of my way.  If it was right in my town I would be penniless and drowning in OPI!

Even though I got a great deal on these, I’m not a big spender- so I only picked my four favorites from the collection.  All swatches are with no base coat, two coats of OPI, and no topcoat.  They are all shiny even without topcoat.

First is AmazON…AmazOFF.  This a deep dark teal with a slight shimmer running through it.  I was surprised how good this one looks on me.  Might be my favorite of the bunch.  However, I did get a bum brush.  I swear, if there’s a bad brush in the lot, it will find it’s way to me every time! I snipped the stray bristle with small scissors and now it works okay.

Next up is a neutral shade called Don’t Bossa Nova Me Around.  For some reason I want to call it Don’t Bossa Me Nova, but oh well!  It’s a nice opaque shade for nail art, I’m sure I’ll be using this one a lot.  It’s similar to My Vampire is Buff, only a little darker.  However, Don’t Bossa is a two-coater, so I might start using it in place of My Vampire from now on!

This yellow shade is the one I was lemming after-  I Just Can’t Cope-acabana. What a crazy name, and considering that I’ve been a ball of stress lately … this one is fun for me!  Plus, I love to sample yellows out.  It’s like my personal mission to try out all the yellows to find the best ones, preferably two-coaters.  Hmmm I wonder if there are any one-coaters out there?  Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Jacqui!  But…. I Just Can’t Cope has quickly moved to the top of my yellow favorites list.  It’s a vibrant and creamy two-coater with a good formula.

Last but not least is a super bright coral called Live.Love.Carnaval.  The formula on this one seemed a little chalkier than the others.. maybe because it’s borderline neon.  I actually messed one finger up and had to do it again.  Not sure what happened with that.  But still, I love how eye-catching it is…. it’s almost red, almost pink, but mostly coral, and very sexy!

Those are my fave four!  Do you have a favorite from the Brazil collection?

If you read my blog you probably saw my floral Brazil nail art from the other day.  But if you missed it, here it is!

OPI Brazilian Floral Nail Art

I recently picked up 4 polishes from the new OPI Brazil Collection.  Swatches coming soon!  But first, I’m super excited to show you some floral nail art that combines all four of my new brazils!

Here’s what I’m wearing:

♥ I Just Can’t Cope-acabana

♥ Live.Love.Carnaval

♥ AmazON…AmazOFF

♥ Don’t Bossa Nova Me Around

To complete the look I also used some rhinestones, OPI Black Onyx for the dots, and a light blue striper polish.

This manicure is pure love to me.  It’s tropical, bright and feel-good! Plus, I’m psyched that I finally got my greedy little hands on the Brazil collection. 😀

See you soon with my Brazil swatches!