Leopard Print Nail Art

Hi all, hope you all had a great weekend.  I'm back on this sunny Monday with a Leopard Print infused manicure.  I seen this design floating around on Pinterest but there was no watermark on the picture.  The colours aren't the most summery as the Barry M pictured was from their Autumn/Winter Matte Collection but I really like it - I think it works.

Coming up this week is some swatches, 101's and more - so make sure you stay chooned!!

Polishes Used:

Barry M Matte - Crush (Pictured)

Barry M Gelly - Lychee

Barry M - Black

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Gilty Pleasure

Sally Hansen Sugar Coat - Lick-O-Rich

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3 Step Freehand Flower Nail Art Tutorial

Hi guys! Tonight's post is a super quick tutorial on how to do super quick flowers in 3 simple steps!  When I first got into Nail Art, I thought I would never be able to draw flowers on my nails, I couldn't be more wrong, they're so easy so if you are the same as me, then keep on reading; this post is for you.

I'm not saying they're perfect, but for flowers they really don't have to be.  I love how they look!  There are loads of ways to do flowers (more tutorials coming up!), this is just the first way I learned.

Instagram #ManiSwap Nail Art

Hi all, this week I was lucky enough to get involved in a #ManiSwap with @caramellogram on Instagram.  For those of you who don't know what a Mani Swap is, its when 2 Nail Artists team up and choose a manicure of the other persons to re-create.  It can be quite fun to see each others interpretation of the original manicure.

Here is a collage of mine and Melissa's #ManiSwap.  She chose to recreate my Mean Girls Manicure and I chose to re-create her Sugar Spun Nail Art.  All details and individual pictures are after the jump.  I had alot of fun doing this, and would definitely do it again - so thanks to Melissa for getting me involved x

Originals on the left and re-creations on the right.

Then And Now: Great Gatsby Nail Art

Hi all, I'm sure you don't need me to remind you of our Wednesday theme by now but its time for... Then And Now! I first done this weeks design 56 weeks ago, so just over a year!  I seen a lot of people on my Instagram feed doing Bestie Twin Nails - and I felt left out! So I put out a disclaimer and my fabulous pal Tracy took me up on my advertisement.

For those who don't know what Bestie Twin Nails are, its when 2 nail artists decide on a theme or design for some nail art and go and create it! It can be quite fun to see how one persons interpretation of a design differentiates from another.

Tracy and I picked a manicure that was inspired by The Great Gatsby and as usual, our original manicure is after the jump.

Polishes Used:

Barry M - White (Pictured)

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Gilty Pleasure

nails inc (Kate Spade) - New York Noir

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Polka Dot And Flower Nail Art

Hi everyone and Happy Monday.  So I may still have some Disney Nail Art up my sleeve, but for now we must move on :-) I'm back today with this cute Polka dot and Flower combination.  I also mixed my hand pose up a little - do you like it?  I am also planning on stripping things back this week, with more simplified designs, as per the request of one of my followers, I hope you'll stick around!

I'm trying to be super organised this week actually, and I'm currently working on Wednesday's Then And Now nails, plus a tutorial for tomorrow, phew!  Is there anything specific you would like to see this week? Let me know in the comments below.

Without further ado though, here is today's nail art.

Polishes Used:

Barry M Gelly - Coconut (Pictured)

Barry M Gelly - Pink Punch

Sinful Colors - Candy Coated

Barry M Gelly - Kiwi

Barry M Matte - Miami

Barry M - White

Color Club - Unnamed Purple

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Disney Week: {4 Nails, 1 Movie} Day 4 - Beauty And The Beast

Hi everyone & happy Saturday! Its so warm and sticky where I am & that's not sitting well with my polish, believe me.  Hows the weather where you are?  Anyway, my week has been crazy, had I not met my friend for dinner and worked a crazy shift, these would've been posted on Thursday and we would be at Day 6 of my 4 Nails, 1 Movie week BUT alas, such is life.  Today's inspiration comes from the Movie, Beauty And The Beast.

This 22 year old film is one in which I can remember watching and being scared of, believe it or not?!  The Beast can be a pretty frightening character when your little!  I think this is why I have chosen to depict my favourite characters as a child, that would be Chip the cup and Lumiere the candle.

Fun Fact: Disney attempted to write Beauty And The Beast in the 1930s but scrapped it.  They picked it up again and tried to write it in the 1950s and scrapped it for a second time.  They eventually got it to work in the late 1980s for release in 1991.  Imagine if they'd scrapped it altogether, I wouldn't be writing this blog post!

Polished Used:

Barry M - Gold (Pictured)

Colour Club - Unnamed Cream

China Glaze - Kalahari Kiss

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Onyx

nails inc - Belvedere Road

Barry M - White

nails inc - Carnaby Street

nails inc - Hanover Square

nails inc - Porchester Square

Revlon - Diva

Revlon - Emerald

Disney Week: {4 Nails, 1 Movie} Day 3 - The Lady And The Tramp

Hi all!  Wow - day 3 already of my Disney week, where I am covering 1 movie over 4 nails.  Would it be wrong of me for wanting to carry this into next week? I'm enjoying it so much! Instead of doing 7, I might do 10 - why don't you let me know, would you want to see that?  Anyway, onto today's Movie - Lady And The Tramp!  

When I sat down to do my nails today, I actually didn't know which movie I was doing - I was playing around with a couple of ideas but hadn't actually settled on one - then I got talking to my Instagram friend Debbie aka @ladyandthe_stamp and her username obviously got the wheels in my head turning even more!  So then she set me a challenge of Lady and The Tramp nails and I'm so glad she pushed me as I really got to see what I was capable of, so thanks for the wee push I needed Mrs - I'm so happy with how these turned out.

Believe it or not, Lady and The Tramp is going to be 59 years old to the day on Sunday (22/06)! That's older than my Mum & Dad! Its a classic movie though, my Boyfriend and I have been wandering around the house singing "We Are Siamese, if you please" all afternoon lol! :-)

Fun Fact: The famous Spaghetti Scene in the movie and the one I have chosen to depict on my nails was nearly cut as Walt Disney didn't like it when he first saw it! Thankfully he changed his mind or I wouldn't be writing this blog post lol.

Polishes Used:

Barry M Gelly - Olive (Pictured)

Essie - All Tied Up

Barry M - White

Ciate - Shooting Star

nails inc - Fenchurch Street

Rimmel - Beige Babe

Rimmel - Style Hunter

Rimmel - Man Overboard

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Bocha Mocha

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Wet Cement

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Onyx

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Then And Now: Glitter with Flower Nail Art

Hi everyone! I hope all my fellow UK readers and enjoying the weather we're having - I think we can quite safely say we're now into British Summer Time.  I don't know about you, but I'm desperate for a wee bit of rain to give my body and my fan (which I'm convinced was sent from God, himself) a break!  Without further ado, onto this weeks Then And Now instalment.  I found a picture on my Instagram and was originally posted 63 weeks ago and knew it would be perfect for this week.  I also seen a fellow nail artist on Instagram doing a manicure similar to this and my original 63 week old picture, so I have decided to incorporate everything.  

This week is a little different as I haven't replicated the colours exactly.  When I looked at the original picture, you can really tell that the colours don't go - but I'm pretty sure when I done the manicure all that time ago that I didn't have as much polish choice as I do now so that's probably the reason for the mis-matching.  However, I've still kept the basis of the design which is the 2 middle flower fingers and outside glitter. As usual, you'll find the "Then" picture after the jump - and I know I say this every week but; BRACE YOURSELF... You were warned...

Polishes Used:

nails inc - Selfridge's Food Hall (Pictured)

Sinful Colors - Orange Creame

Ciate - Loop The Loop 

Barry M Matte - Malibu

w7 - Blue Diamonds

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Disney Week: {4 Nails, 1 Movie} Day 2 - The Little Mermaid

Hi everyone to what I think might be the hottest day of the year - wow... I am actually melting.  Anyway, trying to channel the thought of cooling down with day 2 of my Disney; 4 Nails, 1 Movie theme which is The Little Mermaid.

Released in 1989, this makes the classic tale of Ariel only 1 year older than me.  It is one of the Disney movies that I have to admit to knowing least about, but I am aware (obviously) of the plot, songs, characters and story.  There's a funny meme that I've seen floating round the Nail Art Community based on the famous song "Part of Your World."  You will find it after the jump.

Fun Fact: Ariel is only occasionally drawn with fingernails - throughout the movie sometimes she has them and sometimes she doesn't! (Look closer next time you watch!) poor soul will never experience nail polish.

Polishes Used:

Barry M Matte - Malibu (Pictured)

Barry M Gelly - Damson

Barry M Gelly - Kiwi

Konad - White

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Good To Grape

Barry M - White

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Onyx

nails inc - Hyde Park Crescent

nails inc - Charing Cross

Color Club - Unnamed Purple

Sinful Colors - Sweet Tooth

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Lagoon

Sally Hansen HD - Hi-Def

Sally Hansen HD - Spectrum

Barry M Gelly - Lychee

Sinful Colors - Sugar Rush

Color Club - Alomost Famous

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Disney Week: {4 Nails, 1 Movie} Day 1 - Peter Pan

Hi all :-) Welcome to another exciting week of content at Spangley Nails.  This week, its all about DISNEY.  I have yet to meet one person who doesn't like Disney, and if you're reading that thinking that sounds like you, quite frankly go look at a website about wet mops or something! ;-) The challenge I've got this week is, I have 4 nails to tell a story of a film, getting in the Heros, Villians, Significant plot twists and more.  Have I set myself up for a fall before we even begin?! 

I thought I'd start off with my favourite Disney movie of all time, and that is Peter Pan.  First released in 1953, this classic tale warms the cockles of my heart even now at my ripe old age of 23.  I love watching the story of Peter Pan fighting and defeating old Captain Hook.  I also really love the Peter Pan spin off movie Hook that was released in 1991 - with Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman, a real life spectacular.

Fun Fact: J M Barrie (who wrote the Peter Pan story) was Scottish (like me - incase you didnt know!)

Polishes Used:

Barry M Matte - Damson (Pictured)

nails inc - Kensington Place

nails inc - Pimlico

Revlon - Emerald

Barry M - White

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Wet Cement

nails inc - South Kensington

Sinful Colors - Last Chance

Revlon - Espresso 

nails inc - Chelsea Bridge Road

Color Club - Twiggie

nails inc - Electric Lane

Barry M Gelly - Lychee

nails inc - Trafalgar Crescent 

Barry M - Black

Barry M Gelly - Blue Grape

Revlon - Sassy

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Happy Fathers Day Nail Art

As promised, here is my Nail Art dedicated to my fabulous Dad on this special day.  It is a rather personal design, so I would appreciate if you liked it for what it is, this dedication to my father :-) Going through the design, I done a tie as he is a business man and a pint of John Smiths - his favourite.  I also stamped Mickey Mouse from MoYou London Pro Plate 10 as if you know my Dad you'll know he's forever drawing Mickey Mouse lol - CONSTANTLY and number 17 is his lucky number :-)

Polishes Used:

Barry M Gelly - Damson (Pictured)

Barry M - White

Rimmel Space Dust - Shooting Star

Konad - White

Barry M - Black

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Blue My Mind

nails inc - Charing Cross

Barry M Matte - Crush

Sally Hansen Sugar Coat - Sugar Fix

Sally Hansen Sugar Coat - Razzle Berry

Barry M Gelly - Pink Punch

Barry M Gelly - Kiwi

Barry M Gelly - Elderberry

Barry M Gelly - Lychee

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Colour Blocking Tape Mani Nail Art

Hi everyone! Happy Fathers Day too! I hope all the Dad's out there are having a real special day - I know mines is! ;-) He doesnt know this yet, but I have Fathers Days nails that I will post later for a special surprise to him - so make sure you check back for that.  Without further ado though, I will move onto today's nail art.

As you may know, I done a tutorial on the dreaded "Tape Mani" about 10 days ago and it was very well received both on here and on all my social media outlets, if you missed it you can check it out here. So I decided to re-create it as I was feeling pink! :-)

Polishes Used:

Barry M Gelly - Rose Hip (Pictured)

nails inc - Leonard Street

Barry M Matte - Rhossili

Sally Hansen Sugar Coat - Treat-Heart

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World Cup Brasil 2014 Nail Art

Hi everyone! Today, 12th of June 2014 marks the start of The World Cup! To commemorate this 4 yearly occasion, I have Fifa Nail Art to share with you.  To be honest, I know more about the Quidditch World Cup than I do Fifa, but this year I'm channelling Football nail art to keep it exciting for all the girls who have lost their partner to Fifa ;) 

Polishes Used:

Barry M - White (Pictured)

Revlon - Emerald

Revlon - Royal

Revlon - Diva

Revlon - Sorbet

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Just In Lime

Color Club - Unnamed Yellow

Barry M - Malibu

Sinful Colors - Pistache

Revlon - Electric

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Then And Now: Colourful Swirl Nail Art

Hi everyone! As you know, Wednesday's are Then And Now days and what difficulty I had picking an old manicure this week.  For some reason, I found it really difficult... This is maybe because last weeks "Then" picture was so bad haha! If you haven't seen it, you can take a peek here.

I first done this weeks "Then" picture 55 weeks ago! Wow thats over a year! But I can remember doing the design like it was yesterday, I'm sure it was Sunday and I was watching Lethal Weapon - don't judge me okay haha!  As usual, you'll find the "Then" picture after the jump.

Polishes Used:

nails inc - South Kensington (Pictured)

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Grass Slipper

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Good To Grape

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Blue - Ming Fast

Sally Hansen Diamond Shine - Hide n' Pink

Revlon - Vintage

Revlon - Emerald

Revlon - Grape

Revlon - Royal

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Spangley's Simple Steps: {Gradient vs Ombre Tutorial} Part 2 - Gradient

Hi everyone! Yesterday I covered part 1 of my 2 part Gradient vs Ombre tutorials, if you missed it, you can read it here.  Today I will conclude with part 2 - gradients.

Ombre - When one colour fades into a another shade from the same colour family.
To you and me - When baby blue fades into royal blue or lime green into dark green; again, the possibilities are endless!

Gradient - When one colour fades into another colour.
To you and me - When blue fades into green, pink to blue, purple to orange; the possibilities are endless!

I have to admit that out of the 2, I prefer Gradients.  You can experiment with loads of different colours and polishes, see what works and what doesn't.  You can also build up the amount of colours your using, for example, in this tutorial I have used 2 colours but you can use 3 and 4 sometimes depending on the size of your nail.

Spangley's Simple Steps: {Gradient vs Ombre Tutorial} Part 1 - Ombre

Hi everyone! So, one question I often get asked is, whats the difference between Gradients & Ombre's, or are they the same thing?  Well! To answer this question, I have come up with a 2 - part tutorial series for everyone who has wondered the very same!

Gradient - When one colour fades into another colour.
To you and me - When blue fades into green, pink to blue, purple to orange; the possibilities are endless!

Ombre - When one colour fades into a another shade from the same colour family.
To you and me - When baby blue fades into royal blue or lime green into dark green; again, the possibilities are endless!

We're starting off with Ombre.  I learnt this technique just over a year ago and have been experimenting with colours and techniques ever since.  The process I have outlined below is the process I learnt and use it still, to this day.

Spangley's Simple Steps: {Tutorial Week} Minion Nail Art

Hi everyone! Hope your having a great Saturday night and all my fellow UK girls are enjoying the final of Britain's Got Talent! Who are you rooting for? ;-) Anyway, back tonight with another Tutorial and this time its Minion nails, which one of my followers requested.  I know there is loads of minion tutorials floating around, which is why I put a girlie spin on it with the yellow & blue glitter gradient nail.

Spangley's Simple Steps: {Tutorial Week} Rain Rain Go Away Nail Art

Hi everyone! You asked for it, so you're getting it! :-) Aside from the Paint Splatter nails, this was the other of my designs that a tutorial was highly requested for. I will show you how to paint the umbrella and the how to paint the rain drops.

Spangley's Simple Steps: {Tutorial Week & Then And Now} "The Tape Mani" Nail Art

Hi everyone.  Back today with my third Tutorial and second Then And Now - combined! It is the "dreaded" Tape Mani! I was clearing out an old phone and found a picture of my very first attempt at nail art that I done for New Year 2012 into 2013.  I can remember being sooo proud of them and showed them off to anyone that would listen. Oh, I cringe even now... Obviously my execution has improved with time, because during that time I have learnt a few tips and tricks that you really need to use whilst working with tape.  You'll find these, along with my "Then" picture after the tutorial.

Spangley's Simple Steps: {Tutorial Week} Paint Splatter Nail ART!

Hi everyone.  So I often get asked  by family and friends, which one of my nail photos got the most likes, and by far, this was the Nail Art Art that I done for the MoYou Challenge.  One of my followers asked me how to do this, but without having that particular stamping plate, I thought it was nearly impossible - WRONG! In today's tutorial, I am going to show you how to create Paint Spatter Nail Art without even thinking about touching a stamper! Read on friend....

Spangley's Simple Steps: {Tutorial Week} Pink Bow Nail Art

Hi everyone! To start filling up my Tutorial page, I have decided to have a tutorial week! I'm going to do Simple designs that can be achieved easily whatever stage of nail art you are at.  I'm starting off with this cute girlie manicure with a pink bow, glitter and polka dots.