Hi everybunny! I missed you guys yesterday, sorry I didn't post anything - I was camping all weekend and camping and nail painting just don't mix haha! But I'm BACK today with some delicate fall floral nails to show you guys.
These nails are based off this image from Shutterstock:
I have a whole lightbox on Shutterstock full of nail inspo photos (I've mentioned that before) and last week I was going through it and came across this image. I really wanted to do it and I even got all the colors out and ready but once I got my base coat on I decided it'd be too time-consuming. I do this a lot because I'm lazy and awful. So instead I painted those vine nails I showed y'all last Thursday. I thought the vines would be faster/easier but these actually took me less time than those did! SERVES ME RIGHT.
The base color for these is China Glaze Kalahari Kiss, which is definitely my favorite neutral right now. It's less skin-toned and more khaki which I think makes it a great neutral for fall. Although my weird skin makes it look pretty skin toned. Seriously WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY SKIN.
The orange is China Glaze Desert Sun, the green is Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Green with Envy, the brown is OPI Wooden Shoe Like to Know, and the turquoise is China Glaze For Audrey. I didn't have a pinkish red that was washed-out looking enough to satisfy me for matching it to the original inspiration image, so to make that color I mixed China Glaze Heli-yum with some Kalahari Kiss. I would like to note that this is the second time I've used KK as a mix-in and it's the ONLY polish I've ever done that with. No idea why.
I painted these using a few different tools. Of course for most of the line work I used my mid-length striper brush. For most of the dots I used small dotting tools, but I also made a couple of them with the end of my brush (because why get out a different tool when you can be lazy and just keep using the same one?). For the really fine lines (like the ones on the paisley-looking things on my pointer finger) I busted out my cut-down long striping brush, which is very skinny but surprisingly easy to work with.
I started on the thumb nail with Desert Sun and sort of just went along on each nail with one color at a time, pulling different pieces from the image for each nail. I really like how all the nails are cohesive and use the same color palette but they don't all look the same. This is probably my favorite way to do floral patterns! I also love using an image for inspiration because it takes all the work (and TEARS) out of trying to pick colors.
What do y'all think of these nails? I wasn't sure at first if I liked them but once I topcoated and looked at them for a while I fell in love with them. I'm also really proud of the fact that I'm getting a lot better at super delicate line work with a brush. No nail art pens for this girl!!!
I am soo into florals lately so you'll probably be seeing a lot of those from me in the near future. Conversely, I will be tired of them as soon as I take this mani off and go immediately back to geometric prints. Or maybe I'll go CRAZY and combine the two!!! LOOK OUT GUYS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT I MIGHT DO NEXT.






LOVE how fun and colourful the pattern is. It looks like there's a lot going on, but everything JUST WORKS. I can't believe these took less time than your vines lol!
ReplyDeletethank you! i know right? i think it's just that the pattern was less precise or the colors were more opaque or something but i was surprised it took less time too!
DeleteThese are so awesome and I love the color scheme.. totally reminiscent of the 70s or something!
ReplyDeletethank you! i didn't even think about that but i can totally see it!
DeleteI sorta want a dress with this pattern. And the talent to do my nails with it, too. It looks really awesome.
ReplyDeleteoh man now i want a dress with this pattern too!! thank you :)
DeleteSo amazing!! Love all the colours, love the patterns and i love how cheerful this manicure looks! :D
ReplyDeletethank you so much! :D
DeleteThese nails are so great and fun!!!! You did such an amazing job!!!!
ReplyDeletethank you!!
DeleteOMG, I'm speechless.
ReplyDeleteomg girl stop you're making me blush!
DeleteThis is gorgeous!I love the image as well. So retro.
ReplyDeletethank you! i know, i didn't even think of it being retro but a couple other people said that too and i can totally see it now!
DeleteWow, these are amazing! I just can't get that fine detail, even with the skinniest brush!
ReplyDeletethank you so much! it has taken me a lottt of practice to be able to get to where i can get this much detail haha.
DeleteI die! You are SO talented!
ReplyDeleteomg stop! thank you so much!
DeleteThese look so great. I hate when you get completely ready to do a mani and then change your mind. I do it all the time. :-) I'm lazy too so I feel ya there.
ReplyDeletethank you! haha i'm glad it's not just me. i do it seriously all the time!
DeleteAw super cute! I love this design - you've done so well!
ReplyDeletethank you! :)
DeleteHahah you and your skin. This is really pretty! Love it. Your using Kalahari Kiss just reminded me of a design I wanted to. Ohh.. mysterious.
ReplyDeleteDON'T LAUGH AT MY FREAK SKIN!!! ;__; haha just kidding. thank you! i can't wait to see this MYSTERIOUS MANICURE you've got in store!
DeleteInsane and off the hook like always!!! GURL...I know that lazy feeling all too well haha
ReplyDeletethank you sooo much! haha i'm glad i'm not alone :)
DeleteThat is simply stunning!
ReplyDeletethank you so much!
DeleteThese. Are. BEAUTIFUL!! I'm so rubbish with a fine art brush, and these are making me super envious. Love the pattern and the colours, and you did an amazing job. :D
ReplyDeletethank you!! i pretty much only use a tiny brush for nail art so i've had a lot of practice, it's taken me a long long time to get to where i'm mostly satisfied but i still have a lot of room for improvement :)
ReplyDeleteI just love this mani! You really do some great stuff!
ReplyDelete