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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Before & After: Garden of orchid delights

Hello!

Today I'm taking a second stab at perfecting a look I've been working at for a while now. I'm trying to get a stained-glass sort of look with a gorgeous lily stamp from last year's MASH set. This time I decided to try it via the decal technique.

I started out with a base of the glowing-from-within Julep Faye, a medium caramel brown with a luminous golden shimmer; this is two coats:

Julep Faye, artificial light




To create my flower pattern, I stamped the image four times with Konad Black onto pre-swatched squares of topcoat that had dried atop a ziploc bag. Then I painted them in with acrylic paints; when I was done, I cut out the design. Then, I put a think coat of topcoat on each nail, positioned the decal where I wanted it, and painted over it with another layer of topcoat. Here is the result:




This is my first attempt using cut-out decals rather than covering the whole nail nail-wrap style; I got a little bit of air trapped here and there, so I'm still working on perfecting that techique, lol. Also, I think this might have looked better with a background image stamped under it...I'm going to try that next time. :)

Thanks for taking a look! Wish me better luck next time, lol!! :)

Hugs and love,
M.
at

10 comments:

  1. BatmomoSeptember 18, 2013 at 12:04 AM

    It is really amazing! I never tried this technique before, but I think I'll use it, since you got such a good result.

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    Replies
    1. M.M. ChouinardSeptember 18, 2013 at 9:17 PM

      It's so easy. And you can do nail art ahead of time, and then just slap it on when you're ready to go!!

      Delete
  2. purple_rainSeptember 18, 2013 at 1:23 AM

    Oh come on, don't be so modest, this is gorgeous! :)

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    Replies
    1. M.M. ChouinardSeptember 18, 2013 at 9:18 PM

      Thank you! I think it's one of those 'image in my head' things--I know whatI want my endpoint to be, and I'm still not quite getting it! But yes, if someone else posted this, I would think it was very nice. :)

      Delete
  3. Inky WhiskersSeptember 18, 2013 at 11:57 AM

    Very well done, especially for a 1st attempt! Like most things, a lil practice helps. <3

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    Replies
    1. M.M. ChouinardSeptember 18, 2013 at 9:18 PM

      Absolutely. It's funny, I thought it would be way easier than the full-nail version. NOT!

      Delete
    2. Inky WhiskersSeptember 19, 2013 at 2:12 PM

      Reverse grip tweezers help, but those things are so dang tiny & fiddly. LOL

      Delete
    3. M.M. ChouinardSeptember 20, 2013 at 3:05 PM

      Hmm, I might have to try those. I also was just reading that using a squishy stamper to do over them and get the bubbles out is a good trick too--I'm going to try that one next time!

      Delete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 18, 2013 at 5:57 PM

    I think this combo of colours and design is wonderful! I am still too chicken to try out any of the decal methods. Would love to see a step by step of your technique! You do great tutorials!

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    Replies
    1. M.M. ChouinardSeptember 18, 2013 at 9:21 PM

      Thank you, that's so sweet! The basic steps are the same as this tutorial here: http://lacquerorleaveher.blogspot.com/2013/06/tutorial-home-made-decal-nail-wraps.html ; the only difference is you cut out around the decal because it's smaller and then just place it where you want it. The main problem I made was I didn't take into account that my decals were a little warped, and I should have applied them more carefully to get out the air bubbles before I put on the upper layer of topcoat...>.<

      Delete

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