love, LAURA JANE

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Love,
LAURA JANE

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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor

 

TAPE MANI Okay before you get your panties in a twist about cutting out the tape perfectly, let me explain how simple this is.  Instead of trying to cut out a jagged pattern on one piece of tape, I cut out three pieces of tape and layered them to get the jagged look.  Two of the pieces were cut straight across to create a right angle, and one of the pieces was cut at a deeper angle to get that big spike.  Breaking it down into multiple pieces is so much easier than trying to cut out a crazy pattern.  By the way, I can’t get enough of Butler Please!  How gorgeous is that bright blue?!  A girl can never have too many royal blue, cream polishes. Love,LAURA JANE Polishes Used: Essie - Butler Please, Mango Bango & No Place Like Chrome

TAPE MANI

Okay before you get your panties in a twist about cutting out the tape perfectly, let me explain how simple this is.  Instead of trying to cut out a jagged pattern on one piece of tape, I cut out three pieces of tape and layered them to get the jagged look.  Two of the pieces were cut straight across to create a right angle, and one of the pieces was cut at a deeper angle to get that big spike.  Breaking it down into multiple pieces is so much easier than trying to cut out a crazy pattern.  By the way, I can’t get enough of Butler Please!  How gorgeous is that bright blue?!  A girl can never have too many royal blue, cream polishes.

Love,
LAURA JANE

Polishes Used: Essie - Butler Please, Mango Bango & No Place Like Chrome

PEARLSI bought these fantastic pearls at Michael’s craft store.  They had little sticky backs to them and didn’t budge a bit after applying a top coat!  I love 3D nail art, but sometimes I find the urge to pick at it.  Fortunately these small pearls were small and smooth enough that I wasn’t too terribly tempted!  What do you think of 3D nail art?  Yay or nay? Love,LAURA JANE Polishes Used: Essie - Chinchilly

PEARLS

I bought these fantastic pearls at Michael’s craft store.  They had little sticky backs to them and didn’t budge a bit after applying a top coat!  I love 3D nail art, but sometimes I find the urge to pick at it.  Fortunately these small pearls were small and smooth enough that I wasn’t too terribly tempted!  What do you think of 3D nail art?  Yay or nay?

Love,
LAURA JANE

Polishes Used: Essie - Chinchilly

RAINBOW POLKA DOTS Who doesn’t love rainbows and polka dots?!  After applying a white base coat, I used a dotting tool to create the various different polka dots.  If you don’t have any dotting tools, toothpicks and bobby pins work just as well. Love,LAURA JANE Polishes Used: Essie - Instant Hot, Lollipop, Vermillionaire, Shorty Pants, Mojito Madness, Shelter Island & Playdate

RAINBOW POLKA DOTS

Who doesn’t love rainbows and polka dots?!  After applying a white base coat, I used a dotting tool to create the various different polka dots.  If you don’t have any dotting tools, toothpicks and bobby pins work just as well.

Love,
LAURA JANE

Polishes Used: Essie - Instant Hot, Lollipop, Vermillionaire, Shorty Pants, Mojito Madness, Shelter Island & Playdate

60’s WALLPAPER I saw this design on Polish You Pretty’s website and had to give it a try.  One of my favorite things about being a part of the nail art community is being inspired by the work of my peers and friends who come up with such fabulous ideas.  Stumbling across Polish You Pretty back in May of 2012 was what first got me interested in nail art and, to this day, I am continually in awe of their talent and creativity.  What or who first got you interested in nail art?  Let me know!  I’d love to hear y’alls stories. Love,LAURA JANE Polishes Used: Essie - Knockout Pout, Merino Cool & Funky Limelight

60’s WALLPAPER

I saw this design on Polish You Pretty’s website and had to give it a try.  One of my favorite things about being a part of the nail art community is being inspired by the work of my peers and friends who come up with such fabulous ideas.  Stumbling across Polish You Pretty back in May of 2012 was what first got me interested in nail art and, to this day, I am continually in awe of their talent and creativity.  What or who first got you interested in nail art?  Let me know!  I’d love to hear y’alls stories.

Love,
LAURA JANE

Polishes Used: Essie - Knockout Pout, Merino Cool & Funky Limelight

OMBRÉA lot of people confuse gradient manicures for ombré manicures and it drives me absolutely crazy!  So here’s a little lesson on ombré and gradient manicures.  A gradient manicure is one in which the polishes are blended together so that there is a gradual shift in color.  Now this gradual shift can be within the same color family or it be comprised of completely different colors (example: purple that fades into pink for example).  Now, an ombré manicure exclusively uses colors from the same family and there is usually a clear separation of colors (example: different nails get a different color or tape is involved to show clean lines).  The manicure in this picture is a blue ombré manicure.  I hope I was able to clarify the difference for you today… as always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask! Love,LAURA JANE Polishes Used: Essie - Midnight Cami, Aruba Blue, Beach Bum Blu & Barbados Blue

OMBRÉ

A lot of people confuse gradient manicures for ombré manicures and it drives me absolutely crazy!  So here’s a little lesson on ombré and gradient manicures.  A gradient manicure is one in which the polishes are blended together so that there is a gradual shift in color.  Now this gradual shift can be within the same color family or it be comprised of completely different colors (example: purple that fades into pink for example).  Now, an ombré manicure exclusively uses colors from the same family and there is usually a clear separation of colors (example: different nails get a different color or tape is involved to show clean lines).  The manicure in this picture is a blue ombré manicure.  I hope I was able to clarify the difference for you today… as always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask!

Love,
LAURA JANE

Polishes Used: Essie - Midnight Cami, Aruba Blue, Beach Bum Blu & Barbados Blue

FEATHER ACCENT NAILFeathers are such a simple way to jazz up a plain manicure.  Apply a crafting feather onto your your nail while it’s still wet, dab the feather lightly to secure it in place, cut off the edges with scissors or cuticle cutters, apply a top coat, and BAM you’re finished!  Black and white feathers are my favorite because they allow the polish to peek through, but really any color feather would look great with the right polish. Love,LAURA JANE Polishes Used: Essie - Boxer Shorts

FEATHER ACCENT NAIL

Feathers are such a simple way to jazz up a plain manicure.  Apply a crafting feather onto your your nail while it’s still wet, dab the feather lightly to secure it in place, cut off the edges with scissors or cuticle cutters, apply a top coat, and BAM you’re finished!  Black and white feathers are my favorite because they allow the polish to peek through, but really any color feather would look great with the right polish.

Love,
LAURA JANE

Polishes Used: Essie - Boxer Shorts

JELLY SANDWICH Some of my favorite glitter polishes are made by Deborah Lippmann: the way that the glitter is combined in a sheer jelly base is just genius.  Unfortunately, coughing up $18+ for a bottle of polish is a luxury I can’t always afford so I settle by making jelly sandwiches to get the same look!  If you’re wondering what a jelly sandwich is, it’s a manicure that involves layering a jelly polish over and under a glitter polish (FYI: jelly polishes tend to be those sheer colors that make your nails almost look squishy).  This sandwich ended up turning out looking a bit like that new China Glaze polish It’s a Trapeze.  There are countless combinations you can come up with, so give it a try! Love,LAURA JANE Polishes Used: Essie - Waltz, Nicole by OPI - Rainbow in the S-Kylie

JELLY SANDWICH

Some of my favorite glitter polishes are made by Deborah Lippmann: the way that the glitter is combined in a sheer jelly base is just genius.  Unfortunately, coughing up $18+ for a bottle of polish is a luxury I can’t always afford so I settle by making jelly sandwiches to get the same look!  If you’re wondering what a jelly sandwich is, it’s a manicure that involves layering a jelly polish over and under a glitter polish (FYI: jelly polishes tend to be those sheer colors that make your nails almost look squishy).  This sandwich ended up turning out looking a bit like that new China Glaze polish It’s a Trapeze.  There are countless combinations you can come up with, so give it a try!

Love,
LAURA JANE

Polishes Used: Essie - Waltz, Nicole by OPI - Rainbow in the S-Kylie

FISHTAIL BRAID The fishtail braid has become not only a trend for your hair, but also for your nails!  There are a ton of different ways to get the look on your nails, but I find the cleanest and easiest way to do it is with nail guide stickers (a tip I picked up from The Beauty Department).  I painted those little guide stickers that come in french manicure packets and simply layered them in a brick like pattern.  The nice thing about using these stickers is that they can easily be peeled off if you put them in a spot you don’t like AND you get clean crisp lines! Love,LAURA JANEPolishes Used: Butter LONDON - Slapper & Snog, Essie - Penny Talk

FISHTAIL BRAID

The fishtail braid has become not only a trend for your hair, but also for your nails!  There are a ton of different ways to get the look on your nails, but I find the cleanest and easiest way to do it is with nail guide stickers (a tip I picked up from The Beauty Department).  I painted those little guide stickers that come in french manicure packets and simply layered them in a brick like pattern.  The nice thing about using these stickers is that they can easily be peeled off if you put them in a spot you don’t like AND you get clean crisp lines!

Love,
LAURA JANE

Polishes Used: Butter LONDON - Slapper & Snog, Essie - Penny Talk

GLITTER BORDER One of my all time favorite nail art techniques is glitter placement.  There are countless different designs you can create and most importantly (for me at least) it’s incredibly easy to do.  All you need is some tinfoil, glitter polish, a toothpick, and a ton of patience. Love,LAURA JANE Polishes Used: Essie - Bikini So Teeny & Stroke of Brilliance

GLITTER BORDER

One of my all time favorite nail art techniques is glitter placement.  There are countless different designs you can create and most importantly (for me at least) it’s incredibly easy to do.  All you need is some tinfoil, glitter polish, a toothpick, and a ton of patience.

Love,
LAURA JANE

Polishes Used: Essie - Bikini So Teeny & Stroke of Brilliance

DOTTICUREAre you sick of the Euro Centrale collection yet?  Because I’m not in the least bit!  I used OPI… Eurso Euro, My Paprika’s Hotter Than Yours, Suzi’s Hungary Again!, Can’t Find My Czechbook, and You’re Such a Budapest for this manicure.

DOTTICURE

Are you sick of the Euro Centrale collection yet?  Because I’m not in the least bit!  I used OPI… Eurso Euro, My Paprika’s Hotter Than Yours, Suzi’s Hungary Again!, Can’t Find My Czechbook, and You’re Such a Budapest for this manicure.