Super topical post heading your way! Most of the UK has been blanketed with snow over the last week, and yesterday morning all the trains to and from my little (apparently unimportant) town were cancelled and/or delayed indefinitely, so I had a snow day! I was glad, because I didn't think I was going to get time to do a nail tutorial for you this week. Since it's the 1st of December now, I thought I'd start churning out a few wintery/Christmassy designs for you, and what could possibly be more apt right now than snowflake nails? :D I even braved the blizzard to nip outside and take a couple of photos when I was done, check them out at the bottom of the post :)
I promise you this is mega easy. Start off with a dark blue base colour (or any colour you want, really). I used OPI Russian Navy - I think this is the only time I've used it in the whole of 2010 which is crazy, I forgot how pretty it is and it's really easy to work with. Anyway, once your base colour is mostly dry, sponge a little sheer silver onto the tips. You can use a clean foundation sponge, or eyeshadow applicator; whatever you have lying around. Try not to sponge further than about halfway down the nail - I went a little too far down on my middle one.
I actually have a Konad plate (and a BundleMonster Fauxnad plate come to think of it) with snowflakes on, but freehand is always much more fun so I just drew in some snowflakes with a white nail art pen. I varied their placement and size to make it more interesting, and although they look a bit intricate they're ridiculously easy. Look, here's a rubbish MS paint diagram I drew for you! :)
I decided to add in some silver dots after that, but you don't have to if you don't want to.
All that remains is to finish with a topcoat and clean up the edges (you will inevitably have a bit of cleanup to do from the sponging earlier on). I decided to use China Glaze Wireless Holographic topcoat to add just a touch more frosty magic :D
Really hope you enjoyed this festive nail tutorial and please show me if you give it a try yourselves! I always love to see :)
Hope you're all okay and keeping toasty despite the snow showers!
P.S: What do you think of the new wintry theme? Spent ages making a pretty new background and not sure how I feel about it!
Fabulous. Maybe I will try this but I'd have to be feeling brave. I've been trying freehand snowflakes on Christmas decs and the result was NOT good.
ReplyDeleteah, they look SO great! I wish I could do that and have them turn out that good! haha
ReplyDeleteHow did your left hand go!? (or if you are left-handed, your right hand--haha)
This is so cute, I love it :-)
ReplyDeletedo you live in yorkshire?
ReplyDeleteThat's so pretty :) Think I might give this a go when I get home :D Although I'll probably only be able to manage doing my left hand, I'll have to go flake free on the right lol!
ReplyDeleteWould it be possible to do a post about what you think the basic tools for nail art are and also what are some great basic konad and faux-nad plates? :)
Kelly x
i love the nails, just perfect for the Christmas countdown and current weather! PS I quite like your wintry theme. :)
ReplyDeleteOh that looks just lovely! I love your nail tutorials x
ReplyDeleteGaaawjus honeypie!! Really magical *__* especially with the fab silver sponging parts, oooh if i had a silver i'd totally do this! luuurving the blogski layout leelee, very apt for this nippy noodle season ;) your nails are always SO beautiful! xxxx
ReplyDeleteThese are soo cute! Must try them hehe :) You're soo good at nail art Missy!
ReplyDeleteKaushal xx
This is amazing! Thank youuu :) Was planning on doing something snow related myself so will be great to have a guide! x
ReplyDeleteI hate snow because where I live, if it snows, that means you're "condamned" to stay at house till they clean the streets!and trains and busses..well, they aren't so much reliable even if the weather is fine -.-'
ReplyDeletebut I guess a snowy manicure could be a funny way to try to think positive an just enjoy the christmas atmosphere ^^
You make it sound so simple! I'm hoping to buy some nail art pens soon so I may try this. :)
ReplyDeletexo
makes me wish i didnt bite my nails! i think im going to grow them over christmas just to do this :) p.s lovely background, very festive!
ReplyDeleteOh I love it, guess what I will do tonight in front of the TV, curse you! I wonder if that would look funky with gosh holographic as base ...uhm ....I'll be back.
ReplyDeleteAdorable, I can always appreciate a great tutorial!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I can't wait to do some Christmas nails.
ReplyDelete@Jen: Oh thank you! :D Definitely give it a go, practice makes perfect right?
ReplyDelete@Pearls&Politics: Thank you :) I'm sure you could do it! My right hand went nearly as well as the left since I'm pretty much ambidextrous with nail art ;P haha!
@Lucy: Thank you :)
@Savi: No, I don't o.O why?
@Kelly: Haha it's not too hard don't worry :) ooh yeah that sounds like a good post, I'll definitely try and do that this month or just after the new year! Thanks for the idea :)
@CameronPoe: Every time you comment I get a ridiculous urge to watch Con Air. Haha :) thank you!
@The Postcolonial Rabbit: Thank you so much :D
@Jules: Thaaank you cherrypie! You should try it :) you could always use a sheer-ish white instead of silver if you don't have one?
@Kaushal: Daww thank you :) definitely blog them if you try it!
@Rachel: You're welcome, thank YOU! Haha :)
@Vi: Oh, snow in the UK is ridiculous. We really don't get that much of it, especially here in the South East but the whole bloody country comes to a standstill, transport is messed up, schools are closed etc. How do they think countries like Russia and Canada etc bloody well deal with it? Haha.
@Jess: It is simple, I promise :D
@Rosie: You would feel so good if you did! I've had a few people say they've stopped biting to try out my tutorials, it's great :)
@Poke the Rock: Haha, sorry! ;P Wow I bet it would look awesome with Gosh Holographic. Let me know how it went!
@Freshie: Thank you! :)
@Lauren: Thanks :)
This is gorgeous!!!! *Orders a white nail pen*
ReplyDeleteLoving the new wintery layout xxx
SO CUTE! xx
ReplyDeleteThis is beyond cute!! I really want to try this out now. The new layout is great!
ReplyDeleteI love this and after reading your instructions it doensn't sound mega difficult! Definitely giving this a try! :)
ReplyDeletex
Oooh, I love this. Easy but elegant... I may have to give this a try.
ReplyDelete@Kim: DOOO IT! Thanks ;D
ReplyDelete@Emma: Thanks! :)
@Brittany: Thank you :)
@Ms Wedgie: Thanks - please show me if you do try it!
@Original Wacky: Thank you :) would love to see!
This design looks amazing and your tutorial is so easy to follow! x
ReplyDeleteYour freehand design looks great!
ReplyDeleteThis has been my FAVOURITE holiday nail so far. I love it. I'm going to have to use Konad as I'm rubbish freehand.
ReplyDeletexxx
This looks gorgeous!! I wish I had nails now :( Hopefully my new crystal nail file will stop my nails from splitting and peeling so much so I can have nails again!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so awesome, I thought you had them professionally done! Don't think I'll have the skill or patience to even attempt to draw snowflakes on mine though ):
ReplyDeletewwwwaaaa..... i keep messing up.
ReplyDeletei suck at this.
i need more practice.
i can't make it look like yours.XD
@Fei: Thanks! Glad you like :)
ReplyDelete@Kitty: Thank you!
@Sian: Daww thank you! Yeah I did consider using the Konad plates for it (would have probably looked better to be honest haha) but I like to practise freehand wherever I can!
@Nikki: Thank you! I've never actually used a crytal file, I get on fine with normal emery boards but I hear they are fantastic! Good luck with growing them :)
@Desiree: Daww, thank you so much!
@Buy WoW Priest: Daww, trust me practice is all it takes! Practice makes perfect :) I was terrible at it when I first started!
xo