The Digit-al Dozen: New and Improved - Spiral Toothpick Marble

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The Digital Dozen: New and Improved

Spiral Toothpick Marble

Yes I called it a toothpick marble. LOL! I've called them that since I started doing them with a toothpick back in 2011. Of course mine have always been the basic side to side kind. So this is both new and improved...new because it's not the design I've always done and improved because I did try this once before with mediocre results.

Black and white again LOL!

For this one I used Salon Perfect Sugar Cube and KBShimmer Eclipse (purchased by me - I did a review of one previously that was sent for review.) And of course a toothpick. I don't remember where I first saw the spiral design but I have since seen Sveta Sanders do a tutorial on her IG I think?

Check out what the other DD gang is doing for New and Improved in the links below!

An InLinkz Link-up

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THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN: Inspired by Pinterest: Black and White Swirl

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The Digit-al Dozen

Inspired by Pinterest

Today I have a mani that was inspired by a pin of a Brian Wu photograph. Abstract black and white swirls.

Not sure why I'm so into black and white lately! My entire week is black and white for some reason. I saw a pin of a black and white swirl photograph by Brian Vu and thought it was cool.

I used KBShimmer Eclipse for the black (press sample) and Salon Perfect Sugar Cube for the white...and a toothpick.

Obviously such a random design can't be "copied" but it did inspire me.

Be sure and check the links below for the other pinterest-inspired manis from the DD gang today!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Nail of the Day: Spiral Nail Art with KBShimmer Swirls Nail Vinyl Decals

Press Sample 

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Just another quick Nail of the Day post with a short review on the KBShimmer Swirls nail vinyls...

For this manicure I used KBShimmer Honeydew List and China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy. On the thumb, ring and pinkie I did a simple toothpick marble. After they were dry, I used the KBShimmer Swirls nail vinyl decals as stencils, making sure to place them with part hanging over the edge of the nail so I would have a way to remove them. I covered with one coat of KBShimmer Eclipse and then removed the swirls with tweezers. One coat of KBShimmer Clearly on Top for the top coat and BAM - cool, easy nail art!

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I had no issues at all with using the vinyl decals - super easy and fool-proof. Protip: Don't try to use them without leaving part hanging off the nail or you won't be able to grab to remove.

For $5, you receive 3 different style spirals and swirls in two sizes, 64 pieces per sheet.

You can purchase these at the KBShimmer shop here. You can also check out the KBShimmer blog here and follow along on Facebook here and Instagram here.

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*Product was sent for my honest opinion by KBShimmer
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The Digit-al Dozen Does Summer: Day Five - Summer Toothpick Marble

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Well, it's Day Five of SUMMER! week. So do I go out with a BANG! or with a whimper?

Summer Toothpick Marble Nail Art

I love toothpick marbles so I want to say bang, but they're so easy I'm going to have to go with whimper. There's no creative story to go with it and I didn't even need a nail art brush. But I did love the colors together because they're bright and fun and I wore this for a full mani for quite a few days, so overall, while it's not going out with a bang, it's a win I think.

For this one I used Milani Yellow Whiz, Kiko 291, Zoya Paz and Nails Inc.Power Pink (from In Style) on bare nails. Just add toothpick!

Be sure and check out the other Digit-al Dozen manis in the links below!

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An InLinkz Link-up

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The Digit-al Dozen Does Summer: Day Two - Nautical Nail Art

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Continuing Day Two of The Digit-al Dozen SUMMER! theme I have some nautical nails for you.

Nautical Nail Art

Where I live here on the Coast, boating is pretty much a year 'round thing, but during the summer you can count the number of days that aren't good for boating on one hand.

For this manicure I used Chanel Dragon for the red, Nails Inc. Tudor Way for the blue and Salon Perfect Sugar Cube for the white.

Be sure and check out the other Digit-al Dozen manis in the links below!

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An InLinkz Link-up

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Nail of the Day: Missoni-esque Toothpick Marble

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I'm working on swatches of a couple of great collections for you, but in the mean time, I did a quick toothpick marble. They're fast and easy and when I have to run out of the house, I prefer not to go out with a mismatched mani. Or one hand done and the other nekkid. LOL! Not that I haven't done it before.

I didn't start out to do a "missoni-esque" mani but when I finished, that's what it reminded me of...in a more abstract sort of way.

For these quick toothpick marbles I start with just bare nails, instead of a base color. Here I've used Salon Perfect Flamingo Flair, Zoya Dove, Nails Inc. Paddington and Wet n Wild WildShine Black Creme.

Of course, you can take more time and care and make it look more orderly, but they're so quick and easy, I tend to just slap them on and go. I sort of like the randomness of it.

If you missed the tutorials I've done you can find the one for the photo below here.

And the one for the one below on Nail It.

Stay tuned for some awesome collection reviews coming soon right here!

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Zoya Naturel Deux (2) Collection - Swatches, Review and Some Nail Art

Press Sample 

*These products are Cruelty Free 

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Remember when I said the Zoya Naturel Collection was one of my favorites Zoya ever did just because they're awesome neutral-ish cremes? Well they've taken it a step further with the release of the Zoya Naturel Deux (2) Collection!

Zoya Naturel 2 Collection

These are a bit darker than the first Naturel Collection and just perfect for my skin tone even though a couple of them are warm shades. These are meant to transition from late summer to early fall.

Before I swatched them though I had to play around with them a bit! So I did a toothpick marble. Naturally.

I used Emilia, Spencer and Aubrey with a coat of top coat.

Swatches and Review after the jump...

Nail of the Day with piCture pOlish Nail Art

Press Sample 

*These products are Cruelty Free 

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Good Morning!!! Today I have a quick Nail of the Day for you featuring some quick nail art I did with a couple of the newer shades from piCture pOlish: Eerie and Blue Dog.

piCture pOlish

Eerie and Blue Dog Nail Art

I thought they went so well together so I did a quick toothpick marble on the middle and ring fingers. And each of them is so pretty alone that I did Blue Dog on the index and Eerie on the pinkie.

I will have full swatches of each of these shades for you tonight!

Indirect natural lighting...

Just wait until you see these beauties on their own!

These shades are available directly from piCture pOlish and through their Network. The Network brings piCture pOlish to you through their network of members worldwide. By clicking on The Network on their site, you will be given a list of Network Members all around the world who carry piCture pOlish shades. The Network Members for the US are Leah Ann at Llarowe and Color4Nails and for Canada it's Katie at Harlow and Company.  

You can go to the piCture pOlish site here and be sure and visit them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. 

And be sure and join me right back here tonight for full swatches and review of Eerie and Blue Dog!

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Nail of the Day: Yep - Another Toothpick Marble!

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I posted on IG last night that people were going to start thinking I got a deal on bulk toothpicks! But I posted with no top coat or clean-up so here's the final look for today.

Toothpick Marble Nail Art

I'm wearing camel capris and a navy blouse so I'm being all matchy-matchy today.

I used Nails Inc. Southwark and Nails Inc. Caramel on top of bare nails with one coat of top coat. Smeared the pinkie a bit, but you can't really tell at arm's length.

Have you tried this technique yet?

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Poptastic Toothpick Marble Nail Art Photo Tutorial

Tutorial

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Warning! Danger, Will Robinson! I don't typically do a lot of tutorials, but I've had so many requests for a tutorial on the Poptastic Toothpick Marble I did yesterday that I couldn't refuse. Just be warned. Tutorials aren't my forté.

This is the mani...

So I've put together a quick photo tutorial for you. This one is similar to the one I did for Nail It Magazine but also different.

With that one, you just use 3 shades and drag the toothpick back and forth across the nail.

With this one, there are 6 shades, concentrated to one side of the nail and you only drag the toothpick in one direction.

Here's what I used - the Color Club Poptastic Summer 2014 Collection...

It looks a bit messy but as it dries it settles in nicely and then you top coat it (once it's fairly dry) and it's smooth! Well it's smooth if you don't get too much polish on like I did in the example.

EDITED TO ADD: I don't actually touch the brush to the polish below it. I sort of "hover" and let it flow. I think once I accidentally touched and I just wiped the brush off quickly on a paper towel.

That's my right hand in the last photo and it turned out better on that one than on my left. And I'm right-handed! Lots of times with nail art, I'll do my left hand and then on my right use the same base color and only do a matching accent nail. The exceptions are the toothpick marble and the gradient. Because those are so easy!

Have you tried this method yet?

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Color Club Poptastic Nail Art - Summer 2014 Collection

Press Sample 

*These products are Cruelty Free 

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Happy Sunday! Today I have a fun mani for you using the Color Club Poptastic Summer 2014 Collection - it's a neon toothpick marble!

Neon Toothpick Marble Nail Art

I will have full collection swatches for you soon but I had to have a little fun first!

I can tell you that overall, they are fantastic formula-wise. I used 2 coats of each one with no top coat of all but one of them. The "highlighter yellow" (Not So Mellow Yellow) wasn't as self-leveling as the others so 3 thin coats worked great for that one.

Top L-R: Not So Mellow Yellow, Peace Love & Polish and Right On
Bottom L-R: Bell Bottom Blue, Foxy Mama and Kapow!

I'm so happy to have a great neon summer collection of polishes with great formulas. There are some neons that I will battle formula on for the payoff but these remove the frustration-factor. So STAY TUNED for swatches!

Indirect natural lighting

What do you think? Have you picked any of these up yet? 

Color Club polishes can be purchased at local retailers nationwide and online at various e-tailers or on the Color Club site - prices range from $5.00 to $8.00 per bottle. If you order from Color Club's site, you can get free shipping on purchases of $30 or more. You can also follow Color Club on Facebook for more swatches, previews of upcoming collections and other information.

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The Digit-al Dozen Does Metals: Day 5 - Metallic Toothpick Marble

Nothing to Disclose

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The Digit-al Dozen

Does METALS

Good Morning, it's FRIDAY! That's good and bad. good because, well...it's Friday, and bad because this is the last day of Digit-al Dozen week.

Today I have one of my stand-by techniques - the toothpick marble.

I used Pure Ice Magic for the middle and Silver Mercedes on one side with Borghese Lira on the other. Then while they were still wet, I just used a toothpick to drag the colors back and forth across the nail starting at the cuticle and ending at the tip. Of course you have to do them one nail at a time so they don't dry. This is one of the quickest and easiest nail art techniques I know how to do.

Since this is the last day, I thought I'd show you a couple of Metals Week manis that didn't make the cut.

A scroll-y one...

And a splotchy one...

Have a great weekend!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

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