Mint with Orange Dots

This is Wet 'n Wild Megalast Garden Hose as a base.  I used a dotting tool to add three rows of Essie Brazilliant dots.  I wanted it to look like three off set rows of dots.  Instead it looks like half a nail of dots.  That is good too, but not what I was aiming for. 

Mint Green and Lavender Gradient

This is Essie Nice is Nice as the base (Lavender) with a Wet 'n Wild Megalast Garden Hose (mint green) gradient sponged over the top.  Then I added a layer of Pure Ice Mint Dreams which adds a mint green iridescence and helps blend the gradient.  My manicure looks more green from some angles then in the picture. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This is Wet 'n Wild Garden Hose topped with Pure Ice Mint Dreams and Finger Paints Go Van Gogh for the shamrocks.  The garden hose link has a pic of Garden Hose alone at the bottom of the page.  The pic below shows Pure Ice Mint Dreams over Garden Hose.  Mint Dreams adds a green iridescent finish to any polish it is layered over.  This combo reminds me of glow in the dark stickers in daylight, but greener.  Sometimes I like it, sometimes I think it is a bit much. 
I used a dotting tool to make the shamrocks.  The large shamrock on my ring finger was a fail on both hands.  I won't do it next year.  If you want to try one, it is basically four heart shapes joined in the center.  I find the medium size dotting tool makes the best normal sized shamrocks. 

Dot Pyramid

This is Finger Paints Go Van Go with dots of Finger Paints A Tough Art to Follow, Wet 'n Wild Megalast Garden Hose, and Rimmel Rags to Riches.  I think the base color, Go Van Gogh, is pretty close to the Pantone color of the year, emerald.  Pantone predicts (and possibly causes) color trends.  I wouldn't be surprised if you see a lot of emerald polish this fall/winter, maybe even this summer since their emerald is a bright color.  Rags to Riches is the bottom center dot of my manicure.  I should have just used the dark green polish for that dot because Rags to Riches doesn't go with the other colors. Next time.

Watermelon Nails

I did these a few weeks ago when it was still summer.  Every person who does nail art eventually has to do watermelon nails.  It's the law.  I started out with Wet 'n Wild French White Creme.  I applied French manicure guides to the fingers.  Then I sponged Wet 'n Wild Megalast Garden Hose (limited edition color) onto the thumb and tips of the nails with a make-up sponge. The next step was to use a dotting tool to make squiggly lines with Revlon Emerald City on the tips and thumb. I added a coat of Rimmel Speed Dating (very old red polish) to the bottom of the nails.  Then removed the French tip guides.  

Use a  dotting tool and Wet and Wild Black Creme to make the seeds.  Add a top coat to protect your nail art.  When I do this again, I will probably remove the french tip guided and then sponge the green on the tips so the top line is more diffused and less harsh.  Also, the lines on the thumbs should curve slightly inward at the tips and base of the nail to make more of a Watermelon shape.

Daisies Manicure

The base polish for this manicure is Wet 'n Wild Megalast Garden hose, from their 2011 spring collection.  I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Whirlwind White and a Sally Girl polish in light yellow for the daisies.  I used a dotting tool to make the daisies.  I wish I had done the pointer and middle fingers at different angles.  They are meant to look different, but they look pretty similar.  I think it is pretty cool. I was inspired by this manicure on The Nail Newbie.

St. Patrick's Day Manicure/Wet n Wild Megalast Garden Hose

Happy St Patrick's Day (in a few days).  This is Wet n Wild Megalast Garden Hose with Emerald City clovers.  I used a tooth pic to paint the clovers.  I made the dots with a tooth pic.  Making dots can dull the end of the tooth pic.  Make sure to use a sharp end to paint on the stems.  Most of the clovers are three leaf clovers, but there are a few four leaf clovers in there.  Below is a picture of my right hand, painted by my non dominant hand.

Wet n Wild Megalast Garden Hose was limited edition from the 2010 spring collection.  Wet n Wild has changed the formula and bottles since then.  I've read the new formula is similar but better then the old formula.  I haven't tried the new formula, but I'm completely in love with the old formula.  It wears like iron for me.  My newspaper manicure where I used this polish lasted about 13 days with only minor chips.  I could have worn it even longer, but the bottom that was growing out from the cuticles was driving me nuts.  I normally get about 6-7 days wear with this polish.  Not only is the new formula reportedly better then the old formula, it is also in bigger bottles for the same price, 2$.  They also added a big brush, and I love big brushes.  The old formula is one of my top two favorite nail polish formulas, the other being Zoya.

Newspaper Mani with QR Codes (for Cell Phones)

 

This manicure looks complicated, but it is so easy to do.  It is another newspaper manicure.  First you cut out the QR codes from the newspaper, they are the things you scan with your cell phone to get coupons, etc.  Then you paint your nails.  Mine are painted with Wet N Wild Megalast in Garden Hose, three coats.  It is a limited edition color from the 2011 spring collection.  You must choose a color that is light enough for the newsprint to show up.  Then you dip the nail in rubbing alcohol, press the QR code from the newspaper against it for a few seconds, and top with a top coat.  You must use a top coat, or the newsprint will wear off.  I topped mine with Essie Pure Pearlfection from the Luxeffects collection.  This is limited edition, but in stores now.  Pure Pearlfection is a glitter overlay with very fine shimmer.  Here is the youtube tutorial from My Simple Little Pleasures that gave me the inspiration for this manicure.

Edit:  I've read that Essie Pure Pearlfection, along with the other Luxeffects finishes have been added to Essie's core line.