March Nail Art Challenge: Gradient & Aussie Nails Monday: Stripes

I'm late for both of these so I combined them into one mani. I've seen this design doing the rounds on Instagram lately, originally inspired by @sparrownails and @nailsofjessiek. I was planning on doing a different colour combo so as not to completely copy them, but I just love blues so much! So I ended up using OPI It's Totally Fort Worth It for the base, Ulta3 Spring Shower, OPI Fly and China Glaze Man Hunt for the gradient.

Here are the other girls participating in Aussie Nails Monday:

Lissa's Polish Addiction - Nail Gun XS - Marie's Manicure Madhouse - Shatter Me Claire

 A Polished Prance - Shades of Phoenix - The Epitome of Superficiality - Lacquer Dreams

 Nananais Nails - Enamoured with Enamel - Adelle1985 - Kelly's Kolors

Polished Peripherals - Mel My Issta - Walk In My Eyeshadow - JennLojko - Erinzi

Lovessweetas - Jas' Blingtastic Nails - Mckfresh - DamoJess - Lili_Bete

The Reluctant Femme - Jibber Jabber - Messy Mansion - Nailovelogy

In "things I have wasted my money on recently" news, I impulse bought these Black Milk Black Triangle Leggings and Blue Galaxy Swimsuit. I regret nothing. I never actually understood the hype about Black Milk, and leggings in general, until I tried these. The swimsuit is so flattering, and the leggings make my legs look a million miles long. I don't care if people say that leggings are not pants, I will wear these as pants and look kickass!

Aussie Nails Monday - Skittles

Today's Aussie Nails Monday theme is Skittles. I've wanted to do a dotted gradient for ages. It's not perfect but I'm happy with how it turned out! In keeping with the Aussie week theme, I've used Australian nail polishes for this mani. The base is Ulta3 Black Satin, the best one coater black I've ever used, and the Face of Australia pastels. Left to right is Have Your Cupcake & Eat It Too, Once In A Blue Moon, Would You Like Some Orange Sherbert?, and Boys 'n' Berries.

Here are the other girls participating in Aussie Nails Monday:

Lissa's Polish Addiction - Nail Gun XS - Marie's Manicure Madhouse - Shatter Me Claire

 A Polished Prance - Shades of Phoenix - The Epitome of Superficiality - Lacquer Dreams

 Nananais Nails - Enamoured with Enamel - Adelle1985 - Kelly's Kolors

Polished Peripherals - Mel My Issta - Walk In My Eyeshadow - JennLojko - Erinzi

Lovessweetas - Jas' Blingtastic Nails - Mckfresh - DamoJess - Lili_Bete

The Reluctant Femme - Jibber Jabber - Messy Mansion - Nailovelogy

Blue & Gold Gradient

Following in the theme of matching nails to outfits, here is a blue and gold gradient to match with a pair of blue flats with a gold buckle that I wore yesterday.

I used a base of China Glaze Frostbite (the best, brightest blue ever) and sponged A-England Holy Grail (new edition) over the tips. The new version of Holy Grail is a really pretty foily gold with specks of multi coloured shimmer. It's more bronze than the old version, which was very yellow. I love the speckled flake effect it has, rather than the usual smooth transition of gradients.

This is the shoe I was matching it to:

I'm in love with this combo, I think I'm going to have to try it in a couple of other designs soon!

OPI Last Friday Night Gradient

This year I've made a resolution to try and feature more nail art on my blog, and to get more into Instagram. Follow me! @everylittlepolish

I'm a complete nail art newbie so I'm pretty proud of how this turned out! This is a gradient of Essie Bikini So Teeny and China Glaze First Mate, with a top coat of OPI Last Friday Night.

Aussie Nails Monday - Delicate

Today's Aussie Nails Monday theme is Delicate. I chose to do a subtle gradient (possibly a little too subtle!) using two of the most delicate polishes I own - OPI It's Totally Fort Worth It and Cult Nails Princess. First I applied five coats of It's Totally Fort Worth It. Yes, five! And I still had VNL! Then I sponged it in a gradient with Princess over the top.

I totally didn't notice this at the time, but these two polishes have the same delicate pink shimmer running through them. You can sort of see it in this super underexposed photo - isn't it pretty?

Here are the other girls participating in Aussie Nails Monday:

Lissa's Polish Addiction - Nail Gun XS - Marie's Manicure Madhouse - Tales from the Makeup Bag

Shatter Me Claire - A Polished Prance - Tee Bee's Nails - The Epitome of Superficiality

Lacquer Dreams - Nananais Nails - Enamoured with Enamel - Pretty Polish Please - Adelle1985

Kelly's Kolors - Polished Peripherals - Nicki - All Things Charmed - Mel My Issta

Walk In My Eyeshadow - JennLojko - The Polish Haven - Nails In The Desert - Erinzi