Challenge Accepted - Part 9

It's a lazy Sunday for us.  Mason, the 1-year-old, woke up at 4:45 (!) this morning because he went to bed super early yesterday.  Luckily, all he needed was a bottle and diaper change and he was good to go for a little more crib time.  Nate, the 4-year-old, got up at 6:20.  The hubs had a feeling he'd get up early, so he pre-set the TV so when he turned it on, it would already be set to the Disney Channel.  Good thinking!  The hubs and I rolled out of bed around 7:30.  After we had breakfast (pancakes and bacon - yum!), we headed to the park.  Can I say that I am tired of the summer already?  Today it's supposed to get to 92* and it's already hot.  We have a chance of thunderstorms tonight, so I'm really, really hoping that comes true because it cools the air temp down a little.

Today I bring you my 9th submission to PHD's weekly challenge.  This week's theme: Just Tips.  The instruction for this week is to create a design using just the tips of your nail.  This was *perfect* because late last week I was wanting to do a French-type mani!  The submission deadlines have changed a bit, so she won't be posting the gallery until Monday, but when she does, I'll post a link to the gallery so you can check out all the cool entries.  You can link to the challenge gallery HERE.  On to the pictures, shall we?

Here's what I used: Orly Blue Collar, ChG Spontaneous, Orly Fifty-Four and white acrylic paint with a dotting tool.  I've used Blue Collar before (see the post HERE) and it's a great bright blue creme.  Almost Smurf-like.  I've used ChG Spontaneous before also, but only as a French mani (coincidence?) - there's something about this color that I just don't love.  It's a medium purple creme but it's lacking something that makes me wear it by itself.  Needs a Konad, perhaps?  Orly Fifty-Four is a very subtle pink/purple shimmer top coat.  I used this on top of the finished look to give it just a *hint* of shimmer.  I really wish the shimmer showed up more because it's so pretty in the bottle.

This is my submission photo.  I am really happy the way this one turned out.  I looked through quite a few pics online before I came up with this design.  I had different colors in mind, but when I went digging through my collection, these two colors popped out at me.

Another view.  You see what looks like a gash out of the side of my thumb nail?  That's a little tear that's been hanging out for a couple weeks.  Usually I just cut off the nail once I get a tear, but this one started below the quick so I let it grow out a bit before cutting it off.  I ended up trimming it on Friday - I feel like I'm missing half my thumb!

Another view.  I think you can just *barely* see the shimmer of Fifty-Four on some of those nails (if you click on the image to make it bigger, of course).  My nails are kinda stained, but I don't think it was as noticeable to other people as it is/was to me.  I love doing French-type manis.  I don't like the run-of-the-mill white tips, but I love funky French tips!  I asked the hubs if he liked French manis and he said "What's the point of having all the white just at the tips?  It looks horrible."  He was pretty surprised when I showed him this after I told him it was a "just tips" challenge.

Before I leave you today, I wanted to let you know that my mom started a blog a couple weeks ago and she's already hosting her first giveaway.  You can check it out HERE.  AND...my current giveaway ($40 CSN gift card) is still open.  You have until August 20th to enter.  You can check my giveaway out HERE.  I've reached 100 followers (thank you to everyone who follows me) and I'll be hosting a 100 follower giveaway sometime soon after my current giveaway closes.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, dear Kitschies.  It'll be over before you know it!

Listening to: N8 playing StarWars Legos
Mood: lazy