31 Day Challenge: Black and White

Today's challenge was super fun, and I love it as much as the black and white nails I did LAST time I took the challenge. This was also a litmus test of sorts to see who was old enough to remember the movie Beetlejuice. I'm happy to say most of my coworkers passed.

It's the Sand Snake! I painted my nails with a sheer polish (Revlon Barely Peach) first, then hand painted french tips with Sinful Colors Snow Me White. It's okay if they aren't perfect, because it lends to the Tim Burton feel. I used acrylic paints for the rest of the details, including the end of the tail on my pinkie, and the two headed Sand Snake on my thumb. 

Again, if you want to see what I did for the black and white challenge in 2011, click here.

This is my 160th post on sonomanailart.com. Every twenty posts I make a donation to Women's Recovery Services. They help women and their children transition out of addiction and into healthy lifestyles. If you would like to donate or learn more about their organization, click here. 

31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Animal Print Nails

For Day 13 of the 31 Day Nail Art Challenge, I decided to do a snakeskin print (of sorts). This lovely little orange and black snake (my creative license version of a coral snake) is inching across all of my nails on my left hand. Ssssso pretty!

I used a holographic polish just on his little eyes, and it is so small you may not notice, but it really added some fun bling to his eyeballs. 

I started with a chartreuse color from China Glaze. This was three coats, which is ok, but I am so impatient I would have preferred 2 coats. 

The snake first took shape in black acrylic paint. The middle finger sort of looks like the ribbon that so many people wear for breast cancer awareness and other awareness ribbons. Some of my coworkers who cannot see as well thought this was a breast cancer awareness manicure at first. Ah well...

And here I have added most of the details. I started with a lighter orange, then topped it with a bright orange to make it really pop. Also, I like the little white dots for highlights. It almost makes it look aboriginal. 

I didn't want to make another snake on my right hand, since it was already taking me a long time to do this manicure. So I asked my hubby what I should paint on my right hand. He said, "A rat!" That was a great idea, so I made this stylized rat on my right hand. 

Here is the finished product. I topcoated this with Cult Nails Wicked Fast and I am noticing that it is slightly pulling at my art work leaving little streaks. I may have to switch back to Seche Vite topcoat for nail art. Too bad, because the top coat from Cult Nails really lasts well. 

Here's the right hand with the little rat. It had better watch its back, 'cause I think that snake is hungry!

Polishes I used in this manicure: Cult Nails Get It On basecoat, Cult Nails Wicked Fast topcoat, China Glaze Electric Pineapple, China Glaze 2NITE (for the eyeballs), and L.A. Colors Art Deco Red Glitter (to highlight the snake tongue). 

Tomorrow it is flowers! Halloween flowers.... moohoohahaha!