Thanks everyone for sending in so many questions I hope this is helpful to you all ^_^
About Nails In General…
How long do acrylics last?
Depending on whether they are professionally done etc they tend to last maybe 3-4 weeks then you will need to get an in fill or a completely new set. This obviously doesn’t include chips or breakages.
How long do stick ons last?
If you use good glue they can last around 3 weeks. I think the average for my nails is around 2 weeks.
What are the options for attaching stick on nails?
Depending on how long you want them to stay on you can use standard nail glue, nail stickers or double sided nail tape.
Are stick on nails as hardy as acrylics/gels?
It depends how gentle you are and the glue you use to attach them. The nails themselves are not as hard a acrylics but they are more flexible so you are less likely to chip a nail.
How do I remove stick ons?
If you used nail tape/double sided tape then soak the nails in warm water, after 10 min gently peel the nails off. If you have used nail glue you will need to to soak your nails in nail polish remover and melt the nails off. Do not peel the nails off or you could damage your natural nails.
Can I re-use stick on nails?
Yes… but it depends how gentle you are at removing them. If you attach them with stickers or tape you can reuse them. If you remove them with nail polish remover you will most likely melt the nails and they will be unusable.
Does all the stuff like the diamantes and 3d parts really stay on? How long do they last?
Yes. One or two might occasionally fall off and need re-gluing but if you stick them on well to begin with and make sure to top coat a couple of times with clear polish any damage should me minimal. To stick them on you can either use clear nail polish or epoxy glue. DO NOT USE EPOXY ON YOUR NATURAL NAILS.
What is the process of sticking the nails on with glue?
First clean your nails and remove any old nail polish.
Then lightly file the flat part of your natural nail. This is to give it some grip so the glue with stick to it. Do not file too much.
Place glue all over the nail in a thin layer.
Place the nail over the top an position it how you like
Press down firmly on the nail. If you have a transparent fake nail you should make sure that all air bubbles in the glue are pressed out.
Apply pressure evenly for around 1min. Do not take the pressure off until you are sure it’s stuck.
When you remove the pressure your nail should be stuck on. Do the rest of the hand then leave it to dry for around 10 min.
If you feel they need more glue you can always add a little more at the cuticle edge or underneath the nail for extra hold.
Special tip: If you’re going to get long nails you should do the 4 fingers on your left hand first, then 4 fingers on your right hand and do the thumbs last so you have as much mobility as possible until the end. Obviously if you’re left handed you should start with your right hand 🙂
What is the easiest way to make french tips?
You can buy special french tips stickers to guide but I’ve never really liked them. I’ve seen people use painters masking tape as guide lines too but I haven’t tried it.The easiest way that I’ve found so far is to use a very long thin nail art brush with a slight curve in it. Use that to make the line you want the curve to follow and then fill in the rest of the tips quickly with a larger brush. You really need to have something to lean your hand on to keep it steady for this though. If I find an easier way I’ll let you all know!
How can I reuse ceramic flowers and charms?
This only works for ceramic parts not acrylic parts… If you don’t mind wrecking the false nail they were previously attached to, the easiest way is to dissolve the nail in polish remover. If you can pull the flowers off your nails then just soak them in some polish remover until you remove any polish or dirt, rinse them in water then they will be as good as new.
How do you paint all the small details?
With a very small paint brush and a lot of patience.
Does having acrylics/stick ons damage your natural nails?
To a point they will damage your nails but it really depends on how you wear them. If you wear false nails all the time for several months straight it can make your nails soft and yucky. This is because nails need air to breathe so when you cover them for ages you deprive them of air. It’s like when you have a bandaid on for a really long time and then take it off and the new skin is all white and smooshy. This is why most nail artists will recommend you take a 1 week break from nails every 3 months. Also you should never peel your false nails off! Only ever remove them following the instructions provided, peeling with damage your nails!BUT!!!That’s not to say that you can’t wear them without damaging your nails. If you properly remove them, take care of them and take appropriate breaks in between you can safely wear nails with no problems. My naturals nails are still the same as they have always been.
What you need to remember when you wear false nails is hygiene! You can’t see when the underneath is dirty because they are opaque so please remember to wash your hands and use an orange stick to clean out any gunk. If you ever see any mold or it starts to smell weird that is a good sign you aren’t cleaning them well enough and you should change your nails. Having a good anti bacterial wash is very useful.Also there are many repairing nail treatments that you can buy to solve any damage problems.Follow those tips and you shouldn’t have any problems ^_^
What do you hold the nails on when you paint them?
I’ve tried quite a few things for this but what I’ve settled on is a block of wood with several hooks screwed in. I then blue tac the nails to the hooks. Like this:
Do you have tips on how to do Konads stamps?
I have a billion tips for Konads, they are so awesome but it really takes time to work on the best technique! I think I will dedicate a separate post just to Konad tips as well as posting some of the most useful ones here…
Have everything set out and within arms reach *before* you start. This will save you so much time if something goes wrong!
Have an orange stick with a tiny little bit of cotton wool on the end dipped in nail polish remover handy. You can use it to gently wipe away any Konad mistakes without damaging any of the polishes underneath. This way you don’t have to re-do the entire nail if you make a little mistake.
How can I stop my Konad stamps from running and bleeding?
Running is all about technique. Firstly it might be the polish you’re using, if you’re not using a Konad brand polish then the polish you’re stamping on might not be thick enough. Thicker is better for Konad. Secondly it might be the topcoat. The way you brush a top coat on can mess up the stamp. Again in this area of Konad more is more, rather than using a tiny bit of polish I have found that loading up the brush with a huge amount and very gently pushing it around the nail in around 3 strokes works well. The less you touch the nail the better and the top coat will dry in the same way no matter how thick the coat is.
Why don’t my nails look as good/shiny/awesome as the nails I see in Japanese magazine?
Most of those nails tend to have gel overlays. This makes them suuuuper shiny and bright, you can’t get that effect without gel overlays.
What do I do if one of the charms falls off my nail?
If you have kept the charm you can easily re-attach it with clear nail polish or nail polish glue. Once it is dry you should be able to do a top coat which will protect it.
About *My* Nails Specifically…
Are your nails natural?
No. I have very short natural nails because I’m terrible and I bite them.
How on earth do you do *insert menial household task like dishwashing/cooking/scrubbing the toilet*?!
The same way the rest of you do… with my hands.
You must sit around doing nothing all day to keep nails like that? Clearly you never do any work/are a horrible girlfriend who makes James do all the housework.
Nope. I type all day long for work, then I do just as much cleaning as anyone else in my home life. Nails do not make you an invalid.
What’s the hardest thing to do with nails on?
Picking up small change from a table top.
What kind of glue do you use for stick ons?
I use pretty much whatever glue I happen to have. I don’t buy a specific brand.
Do you wear decorated nails all the time?
No. Between work and everything else I don’t always have time to make myself nails. If I had time to make them I would probably wear them all the time though. When I don’t have time to do fake nails I do try to paint my natural ones but life does tend to get in the way ^_^
Can you make me a set of nails for *insert special reason here* I can’t pay you for your time or materials but could you do it anyway for free?
No. I am more than happy to take commissions but due to my current work load and because it would probably send me broke… I don’t work for free!
That’s it for this time so let me know if you have any other questions! I’m going to be doing a big old Decoden FAQ in a while, let me know if you have any other nail art questions 🙂
Sneaker Sunday is really taking off huh? It’s been fantastic to see all of your posts and photos, keep them coming in ok 😀
If you still don’t know what all the fuss is about check the original post here!
So this week in honor of Sneaker Sunday Valerie and I wanted to talk about foot care. When you’re on your feet all day running around and being busy it’s easy to forget about the little things that are carrying you. We so readily will give ourselves cute manicures and nailart but pedicures are much more rare, so this week I present…
Violet’s Favorite Foot Care Routine With a Cute Summer Nail Art Idea… Which Is Awesome… Ok.
Longest title ever.
Step 1.
Get in your most comfortable pajamas and make sure your feet are clean.
Step 2.
Remove any old and chipped toe nail polish.
Step 3.
Use some cuticle oil around your toe nails. Please don’t use the same one that you use on your finger nails, that’s unhygienic. I have a second one for my feet so they feel nice and soft!
Nail art time!
Gather together toe separators, pink, purple and clear polish and a white dotting tool. You will also need some Fimo fruit slices.
Step 4.
Paint your toe nails alternating in pink and purple.
You might need two coats.
Step 5.
Use the dotting tool to place small white polka dots all over the nails.
Fimo fruit slice time! The lovely Jin sent me these slices, how cute is the container?
Step 6.
Using the clear polish as glue, set 3 of your favorite fruit pieces in a u shape on your big toe. Once it’s dry give it a clear coat over the top too.
Step 7.
Once your polish is nice and dry use your favorite moisturizer and give yourself a foot rub!
Even better, find someone willing to do it for you 😀 Thanks James!
Step 8.
Put on your favorite pair of cotton socks and sleep in them. This will keep all the moisture in but still give your feet breathing room.
And there you have it, you’re on your way to feet that love you a little bit more 😀
Thought all my Gum Leaf Mafia Australian/NZ nail polish girls would be interested in this: Sally Hansen Nail Art Pens! ^_^
Over here in Aus the range of Sally Hansen has up until now been rather scarce. Even though they’re stocked by a billion major chains the range usually only consist of a few nail treatments and maybe 2 of the light pink polishes. Imagine my surprise when I walked into Priceline to a whole new display of them *_*
There was a whole shelf of the Insta-dri’s in some pretty weird colours. They didn’t have the fluros which lovely Brooke sent me from the US but if these ones are anything like them I would definitely grab some if I had the money.
More interestingly they had some really pretty looking HD colours…
There was also a deal where if you bought anything from the lip/nail collection you could get one of the treatment pens for free… So I bought a light pink nail art pen for $13 and got a Corrector pen (which cost $16) for free…
While it looked like a good deal at the time here’s my review…
So nail art pen first. The best way I can describe this is it’s like a paint pen. It comes with a clear tip to begin with…
To get the colour out you have to press up and down on some paper a few times.
Colour of the tip:
I put a falsie on and did a base coat of and Opi white so I could see how opaque it was. Because the tip is super pointy and thin I thought I would be able to get a nice detailed stroke.
Not so much.
It’s more like trying to paint using the wrong end of a paint brush. When colouring with a normal felt pen you press the pen to the surface and it leaves a trail of pigment, when colouring with this it basically puts out a watery blob that you can sort of move around with the tip.
It did nice even dots very easily and the colour was very opaque straight out of the pen.
Unfortunately because it puts out such a huge amount of polish the drying time is a bit much. If you smudge it you end up with this:
Verdict: I don’t think it’s great for doing detailed work but for basics like dots and little designs it would be good. The drying time might be a turn off if you’re working on your natural nails. I think it’s not so great for the price though.
Ok now on to the corrector pen. The idea of it is just say you’d done a fantastic nail art design and then go to finish with a French tip and make a huuuuge mistake *o* rather than starting again you can just wipe away the mistake by drawing on it with the corrector pen. It comes with 3 different tips depending on the size of the mistake.
*Edit* A couple of you lovely readers have pointed out that the corrector pen is actually used for removing polish from the skin and cuticles if you make a mistake rather than polish mistakes on the nail. Firstly the pen was actually recommended to me by the clerk at Priceline with the nail art pen saying that it was great to use and clean up mistakes in nail art, so firstly fail on the clerk for not knowing what she was talking about and fail on me for not reading the package properly. I did actually test it out on the skin too but apparently when I was posting half asleep this morning I forgot to include that part of review, double fail on me!
Anyway on the skin/cuticles I found it to be a little bit pointless as it took quite a bit of effort to remove any polish rather than just mushing it into my skin and turning it purple. For a highly pigmented polish you would have to stop and clean the tip several times if you needed to clean more than one finger which I found frustrating and time consuming. I think for the price (assuming I hadn’t gotten it on sale) I would rather just use an orange stick with a little cotton and polish remover >_< */Edit*
Oh noes I made a huge mistake with dark purple nail polish what ever am I to do?!
Following the instructions I wiped over the mistake. The pen didn’t specify if the polish should be wet or dry when I used it. When removing wet polish it just kind of moved it around. To be honest you might as well use an orange stick covered in a tissue because it really just smudged everything. You can see the results below:
I let the remaining polish dry and then tried the pen again. All it seemed to do was scrape off polish layers and mush them around together. Results:
Verdict: I wouldn’t buy it. I tested it in several different situations and with different polishes etc and all it didn’t do anything different. I don’t think it would be useful for removing small mistakes without destroying the rest of the design. It’s a pity though because it’s such a good idea 🙁
Next post is going to be a circle lens review 😀
Have any of you had good results with a Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen?
I’m here to distract you with nail art but I’m sure you’ve all noticed a few of the changes I’m making around the blog by now ^_^
I’ve been quite busy over the weekend and fixed a lot of the issues we were talking about last post, there is still more to come so when I’m finished (probably in the next few days) I’ll do a round up post of what has changed. Please keep in mind that I’ll be tinkering so if something doesn’t work, don’t stress just wait a little bit and try again 🙂
So it would seem that my heart shaped measuring bowls and spoons are a bit of a hit! I was inundated with emails and comments asking where you could all get one. So here are two websites that apparently sell them or very similar to them. These sites both stock the spoons and other cute things as well.
Now onto what you all really want to see: NAIL ART!
Because I’m going to be spending the day making a heap of sets of nail art for my Etsy store I though I’d treat you to some eye candy 😉 I know a lot of you have only just started reading my blog recently so I wanted to show you some nail art I did quite a while ago, most likely before you all started reading ^_^ If you’ve been reading for over a year feel free to skip this one 😛 Apologies for the size of the photos, these were all edited back when my blog was even tinier on blogspot.
These ones are all done with a Konad stamper for a competition, there are non-konad ones at the end.
Omg back when I had red hair 😀
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Hope you enjoyed and look forward to the nail art designs I’m doing today, some of them are pretty spectacular ^_^
The way we get to the end of this story is a little long and rambling but it ends in Alice in Wonderland nail art so I’m sure you won’t mind 😉
A few months ago my Mum went on holiday to the Gold Coast and discovered a shop called “Del Sol” which makes products that change colour in the sun. Very 1990’s right? Well that was my attitude until she mentioned that they made nail polished that change colour in the sun! 😀
She brought me home 4 of their polishes to try out. I was a bit skeptical at first but they actually change surprisingly well!
These are the colours in normal inside light: Red with silver glitter Blue with a pearly finish Clear with silver glitter Pink with a pearly finish
In outside light they change to: Purple pearl finish Red glitter Purple glitter Green pearl finish
I couldn’t remember the order I had them in while I was taking the outside photos so here are the photos matched up to their outside colours!
How freaking cool is that?
So back to the nail art story, I’ve been wanting to do some Alice in Wonderland themed nail art for years now but I’ve never been able to think of a design that would do it justice. Now that everyone is talking about Alice again I thought it was high time to try it out and the first thing that came to mind was colour change. You can’t get more Alice than that!
This is them inside:
This was also my first attempt at doing 3D acrylic. To be honest I’m not really happy with how these turned out, the idea was so much cooler in my head. Also I think that if I had spent more time practicing my skills I would like the end result better. I’m all out of the acrylic liquid now but I’m going to get some more and try again! Practice, practice, practice! The 3D parts are the Heart and Club card suits, the playing card and the White Rabbit on the thumb. I didn’t have coloured acrylic so I used clear and painted them after.
And outside:
I really loved the idea of the colour change polish but I don’t think I used as well as I could have. It works great on the index nail that says “Alice” because it looks plain until it’s in the sun but the other little details like the Cheshire Cat turning red-purple weren’t as obvious.
Another problem I had when taking the photos
Comparison between the two:
A close up of the hat and rabbit on the thumbs. The hat band changes from red-purple but because it was over the black it’s hard to see. The background of the rabbit also goes from silver glitter-red 🙁 I am really proud of my White Rabbit though! My first 3D thing that actually looks like it’s supposed to 😀
So conclusions: -I currently suck at 3D acrylics but I will practice and get much better! -These Alice nails weren’t great but I now have ideas for even more spectacular ones. -Colour change polish is completely pointless but also very cool.
Also on a side note the adorable Momoberi gave me a mention on her blog too and I didn’t find out until I’d already written that last post! She was inspired by one of my hair tutorials ^_^
Have a great weekend everyone! And I’d love to see some photos if you’ve done any Alice in Wonderland Nail Art!
Today I wanted to give you guys first pick of my new nail art for sale ^_^
This is all going up on the Etsy store soon but I want my blog readers to have first preference. I’ve also made a few of those bow and heart rings that you all loved so much on Twitter. All the information on ordering is down the bottom, I hope you enjoy!
Set 1. Strawberry Fields
Description:
Yum yum strawberries, it’s that time of year again 😀 Alternating in red and pink these nails will catch some attention! Each small gold ball has been hand placed to represent strawberry seeds and they shine in the sun like crazy! Good enough to eat, though I don’t suggest trying to…
Measurements:
Included in each set sold are 20 individual nails in 10 different sizes. These are fairly long nails with a rounded tip. Please note that these particular nails have been hand filed to shape, as such they are not completely even. Please examine the photos carefully before ordering. The largest size is 1.9cm wide and 2.7cm long. The smallest size is 0.9cm wide and 1.8cm long. They will arrive on cardboard backing wrapped in pink fabric with ribbon details as pictured below. Gift wrapping is available upon request.
Price:US$25
Set 2. Ribbons and Bows
Description:
These beautiful pastel nails have so much detail going on they are really eye catching! Alternating between pastel pink and blue each has silver glitter and then white candy stripes. Painstakingly hand painted on top in each corner is a big red ribbon bow. Perfect to wear for a tea party or just to look adorable every day!
Measurements:
Included in each set sold are 20 individual nails in 10 different sizes. These are fairly long nails with a rounded tip. Please note that these particular nails have been hand filed to shape, as such they are not completely even. Please examine the photos carefully before ordering. The largest size is 1.9cm wide and 2.7cm long. The smallest size is 0.9cm wide and 1.8cm long. They will arrive on cardboard backing wrapped in pink fabric with ribbon details as pictured below. Gift wrapping is available upon request.
Price: US$25
Set 3. Purple Passion
Description:
These nails are a beautiful dark satin purple. They are very different to most nails you would come across, the only thing that shines on these babies are the silver glitter half moons at the bottom. Pair them with a slinky dress and you’re ready for a night on the town!
Measurements:
Included in each set sold are 20 individual nails in 10 different sizes. These are fairly long nails with a rounded tip. Please note that these particular nails have been hand filed to shape, as such they are not completely even. Please examine the photos carefully before ordering. The largest size is 1.9cm wide and 2.7cm long. The smallest size is 0.9cm wide and 1.8cm long. They will arrive on cardboard backing wrapped in pink fabric with ribbon details as pictured below. Gift wrapping is available upon request.
Price:US$15
Set 4. Loving the Leopard
Description:
This set has been so popular I’ve made another one!
There is no hiding from these nails, you won’t need to camouflage! With a bright purple base and fluro pink leopard spots these nails sure make a splash! The tips have been dipped in bright pink glitter and a matching pink diamante has been added to polish off. These are guaranteed to grab attention!
Measurements:
Included in each set sold are 20 individual nails in 10 different sizes. These are fairly short nails with a square tip.The largest size is 1.8cm wide and 1.9cm long. The smallest size is 0.8cm wide and 1.2cm long. They will arrive on cardboard backing wrapped in pink fabric with ribbon details as pictured below. Gift wrapping is available upon request.
Price: US$15
Set 5. Burn Baby Burn
Description:
Fire is ultimately cool but who has the time or effort to set their own fingers on fire everyday? Now you can have the look without the third degree burns! With an orange/red base and flames of red, yellow and orange people might be fooled into calling the Fire Department, wear at your own risk!
Measurements:
Included in each set sold are 20 individual nails in 10 different sizes. These are fairly short nails with a square tip.The largest size is 1.8cm wide and 1.9cm long. The smallest size is 0.8cm wide and 1.2cm long. They will arrive on cardboard backing wrapped in pink fabric with ribbon details as pictured below. Gift wrapping is available upon request.
Price: US$15
There are still a few sets left in my Etsy store of the last batch, click here to see ^_^
Bow and Heart Rings
Please note that I can custom make these in any colour and size combination. If there is something you want that is not here just comment or send me an email ^_^
Pink Crochet Bow Ring.
Hand crocheted from pink cotton yarn, it is very comfortable to wear and is attached to a matching crochet ring.
Price: US$6 including shipping.
The inside of a bow ring. The ring section is crochet as well, its quite stretchy and very comfortable.
Pink Crochet Heart Ring.
Hand crocheted from pink cotton yarn. It is attached to a matching crochet ring which is quite stretchy and very comfortable.
Price: US$6 including shipping.
Pink Crochet Bow Ring with Pearls.
Hand crocheted from pink cotton yarn and beaded with plastic pearls to keep it light weight. It is attached to a matching crochet ring which is quite stretchy and very comfortable.
Price: US$6 including shipping.
Blue Crochet Bow Ring.
Hand crocheted from blue acrylic yarn. It is attached to a matching crochet ring which is quite stretchy and very comfortable.
Price: US$5 including shipping.
Red Crochet Heart Ring.
Hand crocheted from red acrylic yarn. It is attached to a matching crochet ring which is quite stretchy and very comfortable.
Price:US$5 including shipping.
Red Crochet Bow Ring.
Hand crocheted from red acrylic yarn. It is attached to a matching crochet ring which is quite stretchy and very comfortable.
Price: US$5 including shipping.
Black Crochet Heart Ring.
Hand crocheted from black cotton yarn. It is attached to a matching crochet ring which is quite stretchy and very comfortable.
Price: US$6 including shipping.
Blue Crochet Heart Ring.
Hand crocheted from blue acrylic yarn. It is attached to a matching crochet ring which is quite stretchy and very comfortable.
Price: US$5 including shipping.
Black Crochet Bow Ring.
Hand crocheted from black cotton yarn. It is attached to a matching crochet ring which is quite stretchy and very comfortable.
Price: US$6 including shipping.
Ordering Information!
Custom Orders:
I will take custom orders, please comment or email me ([email protected]) with what you are interested for a quote 🙂
Ordering:
Before you order please take the time to read all of the information.
You can order by either commenting here or by emailing me using my Contact Page to let me know which set you would like to buy and your email address so I can send you a Paypal Invoice. Please note that the email address you put in the comment form can only be seen by me so if you are uncomfortable publishing your email either put it there or order via the Contact Page. Anything that doesn’t sell here is going to be put up in my Etsy shop, if you would prefer to buy via Etsy let me know and I will create a listing for you 🙂
Payment:
Payment must be made via Paypal. All prices are in US Dollars.
Australian buyers have the option of doing a direct bank transfer in Australian Dollars but must contact me for details.
Postage:
Shipping fees are included in the listed prices. Shipping is via Australia Post. International shipping will be by standard Airmail (unless you want to pay extra for express).
Insurance is not included in the price, if you would like to buy insurance please contact me. If you do not opt to buy insurance I cannot be held responsible for lost packages.
Notes:
Please note that these nails are all hand painted and as such they are all unique. They are not mass produced and therefore they have small irregularities. Please view the pictures carefully to be sure before you place your order as I will not accept refunds if you just change your mind. Larger photos are available upon request.
As a lot of you would already know James and I will be moving cities soon, it’s very exciting! We’ll be living in an apartment so we’re trying to compress all of the things we have into as small a space as possible… what this leads to is us having a big clean out sale ^_^ I’m not going to constantly spam you about the sale here so I’ll just post the link and tell you that I’m updating it with new stuff pretty much every day so check back often! There are all kinds of things there including clothes, jewelery and other bits and pieces.
Illustrator. Strong tea, knitting, watercolours, and making a video game called Moonlight in Garland. Living with her adorable husband Jimmy, fluffy puppy Miss Lottie and Bergamot Bunny in Melbourne, Australia.
