Dotting Tool-torial

After a week of inspiration, I think you are probably ready for a wrap up, and some more ideas for what to do with your dotting tool.

First, if you don't have a dotting tool yet, might I recommend this set from Born Pretty Store:

This set has different sizes, which can be used to create even more designs.  Here are some other designs you can make with your dotting tools:

A heart is just two dots side by side and then dragged together to a point.  Cherries are similar, we just put two dots side by side and then using an alternate color, you can use your tool to draw the stems.  Using three dots, you can make a little mickey mouse, or teddy bear.  Dotting tool is also great for making eyes.  With the tool set above, you can use the big end of the tool for the white of the eye, and then the small end for the little black pupils. 

For even more dotting tool inspiration, check out some of my favorite manicures from the past:

Hope you've enjoyed this week of dotting tool nails.  I hope you've gotten some inspiration and courage to try a dotting tool out if you haven't gotten one yet, or maybe try some new designs with the one you have! 

Yellow Monarch Nail Art

I've seen this design all over the blogisphere, and I just felt so tempted to do it myself!  And it goes with dotting tool week because the design has dots!

Isn't this just a fun manicure?  I LOVE it in yellow!!!!  But, if you don't, I've also seen this manicure in orange and pink.  I thought it was pretty easy to do.  All you need is a black striping polish to draw your lines, and then use your dotting tool and a white polish for the dots.  The base color here is Sally Hansen Insta Dri in Lightning. 

Pink Leopard Nail Art

Dotting tools aren't just for creating nail art, they are also great for embellishing stamping. I love to use mine to apply rhinestones and add some color to stamped designs. Case in point: today's pink Wednesday manicure!

I started this manicure with Zoya Raven.  Then stamped the leopard print (Konad M57) with a white stamping polish.  Then, using my dotting tool, I filled in the holes of the leopard print with Zoya Mod Matte Lolly.

Don't have a dotting tool yet?  Here's the set I have from Born Pretty Store.

Cheery Cherry Nail Art

Next step with using our dotting tool, is creating art with it! On the manicure today, I decided to use my dotting tool to create some cute cherries! I actually got the idea for this manicure from a YouTube video by CutePolish. Creating cherries with your dotting tool is really easy. You just need two red dots next to each other, and then you can use your dotting tool to draw three little lines for the stem and leaf. I couldn't decide if I liked the white "shine dots" on my cherries or not, so I did one hand with each ;)

Base color for this manicure was a Sally Hansen Whirlwind White. The red in the cherries is Zoya Sookie, and the green is Four Leaf Clover by China Glaze.

Don't have a dotting tool yet?  Here is the set I use all the time from Born Pretty Store.

Light Purple Polka Dot Nails

Lately, I have been working on a lot of nail looks with my dotting tools, and I thought it would be a good idea to do a week of dotting tool looks, and a dotting tool-torial at the end of the week to help expand your skills! :)

I think to get comfortable and good with your dotting tool, the first look you should master, is an all over polka dot look, like the manicure I'm showing you today. My tip for manicures like this is to start with a center line of dots, and then do lines of dots in the alternating lines beside the center line, trying to keep the spacing as even as possible.
 

The base color for this cute manicure is Revlon Lily.  This was such a sweet little manicure :)

Flip Flop Friday: Houndstooth Toes

Went to 5 Below recently and found some Jinx Nail Polish Strips, and I thought they would be perfect for my toes. I tend to change my nail color about 5 times a week, so these nail polish strips are kind of wasted on my fingers, but on my toes, I only change them out about once a week, so I these would be a great way to spice up my standard pedicure.

I think houndstooth is sooo cute! Have you tried nail polish strips on your toes yet? Did you know they sell nail stuff at 5 Below? I scored some major steals last time I was there including some Art Club stripers, some Funky finger glitters and Sally Hansen Chrome polishes!

Coral/Pink Nails for Wednesday

So, not sure if this color counts as pink. It's a bit coral, but I really love it. I don't have anything else like it in my collection. It doesn't have a name, but I got it from Ross and it is by the Cosmetic Arts company, who also make Color Club. It was a dream to apply, and I got full coverage in two coats. I decided to stamp this gorgeous color with one of my favorite stamps from Bundle Montster, BM204.

I know this is kind of springy and we are now entering into fall, but let's just consider this an end of summer mani!  How cute is the BM204 stamp?  I love these little flowers!  So, can I still sit with you guys if my nails are coral, not pink?

Zoya Petra with Tribal Tips

When I saw Zoya's fall collections, one of my must have colors was Petra. She is just GORGEOUS! Check this beauty out:

I decided to stamp Petra with BM219 in black on the tips.

The end result was a cute fall work-appropriate look.  What do you think?  Are you digging on any tribal nail looks lately?  If you've posted one lately, feel free to share the link in the comments! :)

Black and White Flowers on Red Nails

I got the inspiration for this manicure after watching nail art tutorials on Youtube.  I really love the work by IndigoNova1.  She originally did these nails with a green background, but I decided to use Zoya Kylie2 as my base which is a really bright corally red. 

My manicure didn't come out nearly as cute as Indigo's, but I found the tutorial really easy to follow, and it turned out as a pretty cute manicure.  Hope you like and it, and try it soon!  I've been finding some great nails on YouTube lately, if you are on there, or have a favorite youtuber I should check out, please let me know in the comments!

Hot Pink Zebra Nails

I must start out by saying that I am so sorry for my absence. I have just been sooooooooooooooo busy and I hate that I've neglected my little bloggy. I promise to make more time for you in the future! Ok, so now to today's Pink Wednesday manicure, holy hotness! I know this look has been done a zillion times before, but I don't care, these nails were SO MUCH FUN!  Srsly, if you have never done anything this bright and fierce on your nails before, DO IT!!!! DO IT NOW!!!! Here's the look:

 

Here's how to achieve this look:

1. Start out with a base of China Glaze Shocking Pink (neon) - a color very true to it's name ;)  I used 3 coats.
2. Then add a diagonal french using your favorite white, you may need 2 coats for full coverage.  You could tape this off for a clean line like I did in this manicure, but I didn't because I knew I would be going over the line with black.
3. Using a black striper (mine is from Art Club) draw a line where the white meets the pink.
4. Still using the black striper you can draw your zebra lines OR you can tape off your pink side and stamp the zebra print like I had on my zebra kisses konadicure.  I know konad, born pretty and bundle monster all have at least one zebra print design on their plates.
5. Let your design dry really good, and then top coat.  I used Seche Vite because it does a good job of not smearing the design.
6. (Optional) Before the top coat dries, add your rhinestones on the black line. 

Hope this tutorial helps you get some super fierce zebra print nails!  Holler if you are wearing pink nails today!  And Let me know in the comments if you'd rock this very bold look!
XOXO!
-Jen