Blue Roses

Hi guys! So the weather here is just not letting up, the rain just keeps coming! It is so dark and grey and I'm still feeling pretty lousy since being poorly for the last couple of weeks. Well I thought I need something bright and cheery on my nails to get through these dark days. Now I am still trying to perfect the one stroke technique. I am not an expert but I like doing it and I feel I have improved since my first attempt so that's the main thing.

Petals on the side

Roses

For those of you that are not familiar with the one stroke technique I will try and break it 

down for you so I hope I can explain it well enough for you to get the idea!

1. I started off with OPI Base Coat

2. Maybeline Forever Strong Pro Blue Midnight

3. You need a flat squared brush, some water and acrylic paint.

4. Then you want to work the paint into the brush for a few strokes to make sure 

it is loaded on your brush.  You want to dip one corner in white and the other in blue.

I usually use this pallet and just printer paper underneath to get the 

paint going and maybe just try out the stroke a couple of 

times before going on my nails.

5. You need to do each petal separately and use the brush in a up 

and down movement 3 or 4 times and then rounding each petal

off.

One petal

Petal two

The third petal

6. Now I know there is a gap but when you go back over it a second time it 

brings it all together and also brings a more vibrant colour.

Second coat

7. Now with the roses on my thumbs you do exactly the same just place the petals 

in a circle with a gap in the middle instead of having the petals in a row.

1st petal

2nd petal

3rd petal

4th petal

5th Petal

8. Now go over each petal again to bring out a stronger colour and perfect any petal 

you are not as happy with.

Second Coat

9. You need to create the center petals in a slightly different way.  

You need to use the brush to create an 'n' and a 'u' to create a circle.  

You have to push down on the brush as you move it round rather than 

wiggle it up and down.

The 'n'. (oops sorry it's blurred)

The 'u' This is the center petal.

10. Now you need to frame it.

One side

And then the other.

11. Now you could just leave it there if you wanted to but I like 

to embellish it a bit more.

Some Leaves

The thumb

12. Next Rhinestones

13. OPI Top Coat

Now I am not an expert and there are lots of ways to do the one stroke but this is just how I do it.  When I feel more confident and posses a better camera I may do a video for you but for now these pictures will have to suffice.  I hope for those of you that have never seen it done before I have explained it well enough for you.  If you would like to see it in action just check out YouTube and type in One Stroke and there will be plenty of videos to show you more precisely. 

I am still really nervous about showing my nails so please bear that in mind if you wish to comment.  I am still practising this art form. So I know that it isn't perfect so please be kind.  I want to use this blog to also show my progress in all my attempts however I am open to suggestions.  I will do more free hand painting on my nails as I go. However I want to make sure it is good enough to show you before I do.

Bites of information:

So, so proud of my son Joshua.  He has had an

excellent school report.  Even though he has another

year left before he has to choose his subjects, he is

already working at GCSE level C and is predicted to get 

A's.

Joshua also got 5 awards from school last night, Drama, Geograpy,

History, Citizenship and Attendance. Excellent!!!

He also since turning 13 has started a Paper Round and

has been getting himself up and out the door before

we are out of bed.  So I can't say it anymore just

a proud Mummy right now!!!!

Rebecca also had a really good report and is trying very hard 

at school. Well done sweetheart!!!

Arrgghh, annoying.  Still got this horrible barking cough that 

just won't go away.  I blame the rain.  So rain, rain please go 

away and don't come back till next year. (Well a girl can hope!)

So this is my nails and my news, I hope you liked what you saw.  Do you have a reason to be proud today? I would love to hear from you with your news!  Do you have other ways of doing One Stroke let me know, email me a picture or two!

Ok, Bye for now!

Michele x

Aztec and Butterflies

Hi Guys!  I am having one of nights where it doesn't make sense but that's kind of the point.  I am just doing what I do having fun.  This was not planned, you might say it was a happy accident because I think it looks kind of neat but just my opinion.  I was just playing with my brushes and acrylic paint, practising 'one stroke' technique.  Then I just went from doodling on paper to on my nails. And with the help of Bundle Monster it turned out quite good.

I think the fact that they are so different from each other that somehow

it works together.  I like the contrast and it's almost like they 

contradict each other!

This is just the pallette I work with.

So I had already prepared my nails and had OPI Nail Envy on them.

Flat Edge Brush

I just pushed the brush back and forth up the nail like one big petal.

I did this twice letting it dry in between coats to give a more

 vivid colour.

I use this over the acrylic paint before stamping.

Bundle Monster 315

Using Konad Moss Green

Then on the left hand

I used white and purple and swiped it up my nail.

Then without cleaning the brush I used white and blue. 

So it had a stripy effect and I just smeared the colours

together.

A bit like marbling

I think it looks pretty!

Again over the acrylic before stamping.

Bundle Monster 307

Konad Royal Purple

So it may be weird but I think kind of wonderful also.  I really like the background under the stamping on both hands.  However I am partial to purple and blues and of course those lovely butterflies. So for me my left hand is my favourite.  But the the design on the right hand is still pretty awesome.  I have really enjoyed playing with my nails tonight.

Some bites of information:

OMG how bad has that Kleancolor Metallic Pink stained my nails. They still have a shade of pink to them.  I have cleaned them off with nail polish remover.  I have also used a nail brush with some lemon and bicarbonate of soda.  I have buffed my nails and it is still not coming off.  I swear I used two coats of OPI Nail Envy before starting and it has still seeped through.  If any of you have any tips on how to get rid of it please let me know. It is such a shame because I liked the colour but please go away now.

We are all still pretty sick.  We have all got barking coughs and my daughter has been sent home from school now because she now has it also.  Poor poorly princess!!

I re-tried those Bundle Monster plates I told you about that don't work for me and they still do not work so I will be contacting Amazon and Bundle Monster and I will let you know the out come.

What do you think of the colours and the designs?  It is so distracting having two totally different nails on  each hand but it's kind of cool also.  I hope you have liked my nails tonight.  Let me know what you think of them.   Do you have contrasting hands on occasion, and do you get a good response when you are out and about?

Ok, that's it from me. Bye for now!

Michele x