Illamasqua Speckled Nail Polish DIY

Another springtime nail tutorial! 

I recently went to Sephora and saw the Illamasqua Speckled Nail Polish line. These polishes are supposed to look like speckled eggs, perfect for the spring.

These polishes are $16 each. So, I naturally looked for a DIY version.

All that's needed is black glitter, nail polish and clear coat. So simple!

Let's get started.

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed is a bottle of pastel nail polish and top coat, nail polish remover, black superfine glitter and black chunkier glitter. The glitter I had was square-cut, but if you want the total look use circle-cut glitter for the chunky glitter. Also, my chunky glitter here is a weird silvery color: be sure to use black to get the real Illamasaqua look.

Step 2: I started with a base coat of my mint green. Then, I poured a little of the nail polish out onto a plastic tupperware lid, mixed in a large pinch of the black superfine glitter. 

Step 3: I painted a coat of this onto my nails. Once this is dry, if you don't feel like there is enough glitter paint another coat.

Next, I took a pinch of the chunkier glitter, poured some clear nail gloss, and a touch of the mint green and mixed them together. This is to get that glossy look of the Illamasqua with a touch of color from the mint polish to mute the glitter and cut the shine. The glitter shouldn't look like glitter, it should look like speckles.

Mix this polish and glitter and apply over your fine glitter coat. Let this dry. I finished off with another top coat.

Let all your nails dry! See, you didn't have to spend anywhere near $16!

Use all different pastel colors for different looks!

Images/text copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not use my photos without crediting me, and if using this tutorial please link back!

Color Monday: Greek to Me Palette

Coming from a Greek family, Ouzo is always in order. I am not old enough to drink, and wouldn't drink it if I was as it surely smells STRONG... but as an artist, I can certainly use the colors! Bright mixes of reds, Greek flag blues and yellows make for a popping palette!

Feel free to use these colors in any one of your art projects!

Easy Spring Floral Nails

It's finally spring! However, it hasn't really felt like it.

Even with all the cold still in the air, a bright manicure can help cheer up the day!

This manicure requires basically no skills, and comes together really quick.

Feel free to make this in any color combination you'd like, but keep a light background so you can see the design the best!

Even better, florals are totally on-trend for spring.

I used a color combination from Tabitha Simmons for Peter Som heels (shown on the first picture) with a pale pink and blue combination with a touch of metallic gold.

The floral pattern is really splotches of colors! Easy to paint with your non-dominant hand!

Let's get started.

Step 1: Gather materials. You will need nail art brushes, and an array of nail polishes in your color combination. 

Step 2: Start with a base of white, you probably will need 2 coats. I then painted one coat of Ulta Baby Doll for a pale pink look. Like I said, keep the background nice and light. Now, get your paint colors for the floral design. I used an array of greens and blues.

Step 3: Start with your dark color. Start to paint small splotches onto one side of your nails, make some look like flower shapes and others more abstract. It helps to get a plastic tupperware container's lid and put a couple drops of nail polish on it and paint from there.

Step 4: Continue to add layers of your color, and vary the size of splotches; make them look like leaves, petals as well as mini flowers if you can. Nothing too detailed is needed. Make sure you only paint one side of the nail so it looks like the bouquet trails up the nails.

Repeat with the other side, except make the bouquet on the opposite side of the nail.

On the bigger flowers, I used white and made a small dot for the center, so it looks like a real flower.

I finished off with bright pink dots around and within the florals for a pop of color and more detail.

To finish, if you want a metallic shine, I painted the side without the design with a fan brush and translucent metallic gold, giving a slight texture and shine to the plain background. This adds just a little extra!

Your finished nails! Feel free to finish with top coat so they don't chip.

All images and text copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not use my photos without crediting me, and if using this tutorial please link back!

Color Monday: Just Picked Palette

A blend of berry colors! Perfect for spring!

Feel free to use this palette for any of your art projects!

St. Patrick's Day: Pot 'O Gold Earring Tutorial

Top 'o the morning!

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, I have created an easy earring tutorial!

These Pot 'O Gold Earrings feature metallic microbeads and gems for sparkle. Microbeads are tiny little hole-less beads that are used for scrapbooking and nail art, but why not use them in jewelry? I actually found these at the dollar store, but you can also find them at craft stores or online even. Martha Stewart Crafts also makes them.

This color scheme is especially for St. Patty's Day, but you can change up the colors to fit any outfit you need. 

Let's get started on the tutorial!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are earring posts, Sculpey Polymer Clay , heavy-duty glue like E-6000, Triple Thick Gloss Glaze, Glass Microbeads, and acrylic nail gems (like 3-4mm).

Step 2: Get your clay and make two small marbles. Flatten both marbles down so they have a flat front/back but still have some height, see picture above.

Step 3: take a pen cap or a tool (here I used the end of an X-acto knife) and press an indentation in the middle, making sure not to totally distort your disc shape. Repeat with the other marble.

Bake these two discs; I use a toaster oven for about 15 minutes at like 125 degrees.

The time may vary depending on the brand of clay you use and the oven. I use Sculpey.

Now, once your clay is baked and cooled, put a small dollop of your glue in the indentation; pour your microbeads over to cover the glue, press in gently.

Step 4: Repeat with the other disc. Brush off excess microbeads, to keep them confined just to the indentation you made. While the glue is still somewhat tacky, glue down 3 more crystal flatbacks over the microbeads and press in gently. 

Step 5: Once your front of the earrings are dry, then use the glue and glue earring posts in the middle of the backs. Wait 'till fully dry. 

Now, paint the outside rim of the earrings and the backs with clear glaze (I here used a coat of sheer green glitter nail polish as well as clear glaze to give more sparkle. Feel free to do that with whatever color you have, just make sure the nail polish color is close to your base clay color for consistency.)

DO NOT paint over your microbeads and gems because this will make the gems lose sparkle and make them appear glassy, not what we want here. 

Let them dry.

Cute and clever.

These are very original! Your friends will definitely want you to make them a pair!

All images and text copyright Allison Beth Cooling for Quiet Lion Creations.

Please link back to this tutorial if posting it elsewhere!

Painted Leather Bracelets

Again, another very easy tutorial that comes together in minutes!

These bracelets were made from a vintage leather skirt, which I cut up into strips to use in jewelry.

Everything else that's needed is what any crafter already has on-hand: paint and glue, and a clasp.

There are no limits to the patterns you can put on these bracelets, or the colors.

I only had gold and silver paint, both Folk Art brand which worked really well. 

I want to go out and buy all the other colors! The mix of the matte, deep dark leather and the light metallic paint is very eye-catching and original.

Go crazy!

Let's get started.

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are paintbrushes (really fine ones work the best), superglue, a clasp and jumprings, metallic paing, and leather fabric. You can use faux leather as well.

Step 2: Cut a length of leather that's about 1" longer than your wrist to accommodate for the finishing. The width can be any size, make varying widths for multiple bracelets! Taper the ends off for finishing (second picture).

Step 3: Start painting...paint a cool pattern. Let the paint fully dry. Mix the metals for a more interesting look.

Step 4: Take the tapered end, put a dot of superglue on the unpainted side, and fold over to create a pocket. Let fully dry. Now, add your jumprings and clasp; it helps to have oblong links to accomodate for the thicker pocket. I got ones made by Blue Moon Beads from Michael's. You are all set!

They look cool with varying patterns and widths.

I suppose these could be for men too......if they are more open to accessorizing!

If you are in need of inspiration for patterns, click here. Very cool!

All images and text copyright Allison Beth Cooling. If you share/use/post this tutorial, please link back to me. 

It is much appreciated!

Color Monday: Fire it up!

A super-bright mix of hot reds, oranges and yellows. Very eye-catching and intense!

Feel free to use this palette in an one of your art projects!