Blazing Black Nails

In honor of Halloween, and also because I don't think there are enough different types of black nail polish on he market, I created this look using 2 coast of black nail polish as the base (I used Sinful Colors "Secret Admirer" and 2 coats gold and red glitter nail polish on top (I used Sinful Colors "Pumpkin Spice". 

I know it is hard to tell by the picture, but the color looks different depending on how the light catches it, sort of like a burning fire.

CLAIRE'S - ALL REDLINE ITEMS AN EXTRA 50% OFF AND HUNDREDS OF ITEMS 10 FOR $10

Currently Claire's, a jewelry/accessory store geared more for the under 18 crowd, currently great sales with an extra 50% off all reduced redline itmes originally priced $10 or more and has hundreds of items 10 for $10.

While would be great to stock up on for birthdays, Christmas or even a girly glam sleepover:

They do have many items that would appeal to adults as well:

If you join Ebates or already have an Ebates account, you can earn 2.5% cash back on purchases

Getting Nail Art to Last

See Nail Art and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep\

As commercial nail art/stickers can be a bit pricey, here is how to make it last a bit longer. I did these nails before we went on vacation and it last 10 days (until I took it off) with no touch ups.

The hardest part of this is being patient enough to allow the polish to dry completely between coats.
I posted a picture tutorial at  http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/nail-art-4 here is the quick and dirty version.

1. Clean Nails.  Use nail polish removal to remove any prior nail polish so you will start with a clean nail.
2. Base Coat.    Use clear nail polish/hardener/varnish on nails before applying nail polish to fill in ridges so you will start with an even surface.  Allow to dry completely.
3. Apply Nail Polish.   Depending on the brand you use, use one to two coats.  I use cheaper nail polish and usually use two coats.  Allow to dry completely.
4. Apply Nail Art.   Apply stickers and/or any other decoration (if glued on, such as rhinestones, allow to dry.)
5. Apply 2-3 coats of Top Coat.  Use clear nail polish/hardener/varnish on nails to seal and protect the polish and art on your nail.  Allow to dry completely between each coat.

Horror Nails - Stitched Skin

This was an entry into the "Horror Nails" contest and also my first attempt at any sort of nail art. 
It is an entry into Lacquer File "Horror Nails" contest here http://www.thelacquerfiles.com/2010/08/horror-nail-art-contest-let-voting.html

The inspiration for it was it reminds me of how my ankle looked after I was in an auto accident - pretty darn gross and horrifying.   I also wanted to give it a bit o'glam, like the many diagonal designs that are popular and combined the two concepts to make it sort of  "Zombie Couture".

I used the following polishes:

Base Coat:                                      Sally Hansen Diamond Shine Base and Topcoat

Background Color:                          Sally Hansen Hard As Wraps Polish in "Stone Creme"

Black Lines & Stitches:            Nail Star Two Way Nail Art & Pen Brush in "Black"
Purchased on EBay (http://myworld.ebay.com/b2cpowershop/) for $2.59 (free shipping)

Red Color for "Blood":                     Sinful Colors "Under 18"

I first applied a base coat, then one coat of the background color.  Next I drew on the black diagonal lines free hand - as it was to be sort of mimic an injury I didn't want it to be perfectly straight.  Allow to dry completely.

I dabbed the red polish in between the line to represent blood/wound.  Allow to dry completely.

Next draw horizontal lines lines over the top of the "wound", allow to dry and it is done!

Barbed Heart Necklace

I made this for my niece, Trina's, 17th birthday and I hope she likes it. It is a cross between my Thumbprint Heart Necklace http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/heart_thumb_print_necklace

(as it is made by the same method and same materials as I had plenty left over from that project, except that I did not put a thumbprint in it) and the barb wire heart necklace by Cat Morley at CO+K

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/barb_wire_wrapped_heart_necklace

(added the barbed wire across the center).

I purchased the metal necklace cord with the bale at Walmart for around $3 (as it is for a present and I don't have experience putting together such things, I wanted to get something that would look nice) but attached it with silver elastic cording by tying it in knots (to keep with the barbed wire theme) from the heart then tied about 6 knots, threaded the cord through the bale, tied two more knots then cut off the excess.

I am linking this to