Nail Stamping Tips & Tutorials 2 - How to Make Decals

As I promised on my previous post here, I am posting a tutorial on how to make decals!

Here is another design I did using decals!

How to make a decal 

1. Transfer a design on a stamper as usual. 

2. Let it dry for a bit. Use a dotting tool to add colors to the design. If you are using multiple colors, make sure you dry each additions to avoid mixing colors. 

3. Let it dry completely. Then put a top coat over the design. Dry completely. 

4. When dry, using a dotting tool or tweezer, ply it off the stamper. 

5. Place it on nail and press it down gently. 

6. Apply top coat and clean up excess with acetone dipped brush. 

That's it! Pretty simple. Here are some tips. 

1. It is better to use firm stampers rather than using soft squishy ones. The firm stampers tend to transfer images very clear and not distorted. Also, when you ply the decal off, you don't have to worry too much about damaging the surface of the stamper. 

2. When you add colors, you don't have to worry too much about being precise. The lines of the image will show through even you color over it because you will be turning the decals over when you place them on your nails. The first layer (the stamped lines) will show when you flip the decal over. 

3. Timing is important. You have to wait long enough to dry the decal on stamper but if you wait too long, the decal will harden too much and it will be a bit difficult to place on nails. It might not stick to your nail when placed. If that happens, put a thin top coat on your nail and just wait till tacky stage, then place the decal very carefully. 

For this look, I first made the bird decals using a bird image from Messy Mansion plate MM14. While decals are drying, I painted my nails with Essie Borrowed & Blue and OPI It's Frosty Outside (silver glitter). I used birds on wire image from Messy Mansion plate MM14 for stamping with Konad Black Pearl stamping polish. I placed the decals on my nails and finished up with HK Girl top coat. 

I decided to do the bird design because I've seen a lot of birds lately. They are swarming on trees, sky, everywhere!!! 

I hope you try making decals if you have never done so. It takes some time but it's fun to do!

Love,

Little Dot

Forest Friends!

I was in a mood for some fun nails this week! 

I wanted to use this Messy Mansion plate MM19 for some time. I got it a few months ago in summer but it felt like fall season design at that time. Now is the great time to have fun with it!!

My favorite design from this plate is the birch tree! I happen to have a big birch tree in my backyard. It is a very pretty tree in any season! I also wanted to use the cute little forest friends, the fox and the hedgehog. I noticed the fox design is fine-lined and to show the orange color, I ended up making decals. I will do a tutorial on decal making on my next post. So, stay tuned! 

For this look, first I made the fox decals (directions to follow on my next post!). While the decals are drying, I painted my nails with Essie Urban Jungle (off white cream) and Essie Sew Psyched (sage green). I stamped the birch tree design from Messy Mansion plate MM19 with Konad White stamping polish. I used leaf design from the same plate to stamp colorful leaves by mixing Essie Sew Psyched, Essie Roarrrrange, and Ceramic Glaze Pinapple Breeze. I stamped a hedgehog with Mundo de Unas stamping polish. When the decals are dry, I placed them on nails. Then I topped with HK Girl Top Coat. 

It is a lot more elaborate and labour intensive look but I had a lot of fun creating it!

I hope you enjoyed the forest friends!

Love,

Little Dot

Animal Prints - Giraffe!

I am not usually an animal print kind of person. I own a few animal print clothing of course (who doesn't!) but I don't wear them that often... So why animal prints this time? Well, I think it's all because of the name of the polish! I just picked up 3 shades of Essie summer 2014 collection from Target at half price. I wasn't too interested in this collection when it came out. The colors didn't look so summery to me. But now getting into cooler weather, these colors would be great for fall season. 

Names of the polish from this collection are definitely animal theme. Names like Urban Jungle, Roarrrrange, Fierce, No Fear, etc. make me think of animal print...

For this look, I first painted my nails with Essie Urban Jungle (off white), Essie Fierce, No Fear (brown), and OPI Love. Angel. Music. Baby (gold). I stamped a design from Bundle Monster plate BM-313, using Konad white stamping polish. I also added a couple of gold dots as an accent on one of white nails. 

I really like the combination of the colors. Somewhat muted but chic. 

Do you like animal prints? How often do you wear them?

Love,

Little Dot

Green and ... 2 Looks

I had green and pink polish bottles side by side on my table and I thought they look cute together.

For this look, I first painted my nails with Essie Navigate Her (light green) and Essie I Am Strong (pink). For stamping, I used a design from MoYou London Pro Collection 08 with Mundo de Unas stamping polish 25. After that, I felt like a little gold, so placed a few gold dots on design with OPI Love. Angel. Music. Baby. 

I wore like this for a few days and the pink started to bother me a little... Maybe a bit too pink? Too cute?? Mmm... I guess when I saw the bottle of this polish, I thought the color was more deeper... Not quite this pink... Well, I decided to repaint the pink nails with different color!

Here comes Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Expresso! In the pictures, it looks red but it definitely has pink in it. It is deep dusty mauvey color. Quite unique. 

I like this look! So I enjoyed wearing this look for the rest of the week. :)

Which look do you like better? Do you switch up some colors to change the look of your manicure?

Love,

Little Dot

School of Fish!

I played with OPI Sheer Tints once before here. I haven't had much chance then but here is another look I created for this week!

For this look, I first painted my nails with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Floaties (peach), OPI Alcatraz Rock (dark purple liquid sand), and OPI My Vampire Is Buff (creamy white). I stamped over white nails with fish design from MoYou London Sailor Collection 04. I used Konad Black Pearl stamping polish. Then I used OPI Sheer Tints to swipe little colors on fish for colorful look!

I really like how it came out. The fish in various colors are so cute! 

I also like the combination of Alcatraz Rock and Floaties together. I should use them togheter again sometime. 

Have you experimented with OPI Sheer Tints? 

Love,

Little Dot

Dragonflies with Lily Anna 03!

I am still excited about my Lily Anna plates! This time I used dragonfly design from plate 03.

For this look, I first painted my nails with Essie Mint Candy Apple (light blue), Essie Bobbing For Baubles (navy) and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Pearl Up (white jelly). I stamped the dragonfly image from Lily Anna plate 03 with Color Club Harp On It (holographic) on navy nails and used Essie Bobbing For Baubles on white nails. I also wanted to try jelly sandwich method, so I painted light coat of jelly polish on top of stamping for white nails. It gives softer grey on white look instead of stark black and white. 

The holographic stamping is so pretty but it's very hard to picture it. It gives rainbows of colors! 

I wish I can capture the holo effect better...

Do you like holographic stamping? Have you tried jelly sandwich method?

Love,

Little Dot

Lily Anna Plates Review!

I finally got my first Lily Anna plates! I was eyeing on these plates for some time now but getting them all the way from Australia prevented me from ordering for a while. 

I bought Lily Anna 03 & 08. 

I actually bought these from Nail Polish Canada as they had great sale price recently for Bundle Monster and Pueen plates, which I posted here. It was a pleasant surprise to find out Nail Polish Canada carries Lily Anna and Messy Mansion plates! No more waiting for weeks and no shipping cost!

For this look, I first painted my nails with OPI My Vampire Is Buff, Ceramic Glaze Skinny Jeans, and Essie Sunday Funday. I stamped a couple of designs from Lily Anna plate 08 using Ceramic Glaze Skinny Jeans as stamping polish. 

My right hand with slight variation. 

Lily Anna plates are well etched and I can get great transfers of images everytime. The designs are beautiful and I think they are a little more grown up!

Do you have any Lily Anna plates? What is your opinion on them?

Love,

Little Dot