Design Sampler

Shellac & Gelish Design Sampler

Roses, leopard spots, and stripes -- oh my!  This was a fun way to try out each of these techniques.

Colors used:
Gelish - Sleek White
Gelish - You're Such a Sweet Tart
CND Shellac - Pretty Poison
CND Shellac - Rose Bud

All designs were created using a dotting tool, rather than a brush.

This tutorial was helpful in creating the roses:
http://i.imgur.com/lDRPZj4.jpg

Snow Leopard Nails

Shellac Snow Leopard Manicure

This manicure is way easier than it looks.  The entire design is done freehand with a dotting tool.  The irregularity of leopard print makes this a very forgiving pattern -- any mistakes look like they are supposed to be there!

After applying and curing base coat, I started with 3 coats of Harmony Gelish in Sleek White.  Then used a large dotting tool to make the centers of the spots with CND Shellac in Cityscape.

After that, I used a smaller dotting tool to make the outer edges of the spots with CND Shellac in Asphalt.  To do this part, you simply make oblong marks on three sides along the edges of the center spots.  I added some tiny dots with the Shellac Asphalt as well.

The last step is to finish with a coat of CND Shellac Top Coat.

Hotski to Tchotchke with Glitter

Hotski to Tchotchke with Confetti Glitter.

This was a very simple manicure that was done for a peacock-themed wedding.

Used 3 coats of CND Shellac Hotski to Tchotchke, topped with purple and blue confetti glitter and CND Shellac Top Coat.

The ring finger is 3 coats of Harmony Gelish Sleek White topped with 1 coat of CND Shellac Negligee and multi-colored rhinestone accents set in CND Shellac Top Coat.

St. Patrick's Day Nails

Custom Gelish Avocado Green with Sleek White accents.

The Avocado Green color used in this manicure was a custom mixture of Gelish "You're Such a Sweet Tart", Shellac "Pretty Poison" and Gelish "Sweet Chocolate" in a ratio of 9:2:1.

Used striping tape and Gelish "Sleek White" (2 coats) on ring fingers and then dotted with custom color.

Finished up by dotting all other nails with Sleek White at the outside corners.

Rose Bud and Tumberline Violet

Shellac Rose Bud and Gelish Tumberline Violet.

This was a super simple, sweet looking manicure.  1 coat of Harmony Gelish in Tumberline Violet over 2 coats of CND Shellac Rose Bud.

Shellac Water Marble

Shellac Cocoa with water marble accent nail.

The trick to water marbling with gel nail polish is not to use it for the actual marbling!

For this manicure, I painted 2 coats of CND Shellac Cocoa over all nails, then wiped with acetone. After that I used regular nail polish for the marbling (ChloesNails.blogspot.com has a great photo tutorial on the water marbling process).  Dried the nail polish in the UV lamp for about 6 minutes -- this will probably vary depending on the polish used. After the nail polish dried, painted 2 coats of CND Shellac Top Coat over the regular polish.

Water Marbled Nail.

Since I have never had any luck water marbling with CND Shellac or Harmony Gelish gel nail polishes, this seems to be a great alternative.  Having Shellac color underneath the regular polish and Shellac Top Coat on top -- this manicure will wear just like any other gel nail manicure.

Dotted accents on nails are in Harmony Gelish Sleek White and Sweet Chocolate.

Valentine's Nails

Valentine's Nails using Shellac & Gelish.

Used a dotting tool to make the designs, then sponge painted the pink gradient at the tips.

Colors Used:

• Harmony Gelish Sleek White
• CND Shellac Rose Bud
• Harmony Gelish Queen of Hearts

White with Gold Glitter Fade

Gelish Sleek White with gold glitter fade

This is a very simple manicure but gives very striking results!  I used three different gold glitters in different hues and textures over Harmony Gelish Sleek White.  I've found that using multiple types of glitter gives much more depth to the look than using only a single type.

How to do it yourself:

1. Paint nails with CND Shellac base coat, cure in UV lamp 10 seconds.
2. Paint nails with 3 coats Harmony Gelish Sleek White (2 coats will be fine if you are using a darker color instead), cure in lamp 2 minutes for each coat.
3. Dip a small angled brush in CND Shellac Top Coat and then dip in very fine or ultra fine glitter of your choice. Brush on to nails starting at the tip making quick light strokes inward about 2/3 down the length of each nail.  Cure in lamp 2 minutes.
4. Repeat step 3 using your largest glitter, making sure that the glitter is sparse enough that you can still clearly see the first glitter.
5. Dip a small angled brush in CND Shellac Top Coat and then dip in fine or medium fine glitter of your choice. Keep this last glitter coat more towards the tip of the nail, going only about 1/3 down the length of each nail.  Cure in lamp 2 minutes.
6. Paint nails with CND Shellac Top Coat and cure in lamp 2 minutes.  
7. Wipe nails with pure acetone.

Star Trek Nails

Star Trek Science Officer Nails

Star Trek The Next Generation, to be precise.  Think Counselor Deanna Troi, on the few occasions where she was actually in uniform.

Below I've outlined a step-by-step guide for this manicure:

1. Paint the nails with CND Shellac Base Coat and cure in UV lamp for 10 seconds.
2. Paint entire nail with 1 coat of Harmony Gelish Ooba Ooba Blue and cure in UV lamp for 2 minutes.
3. Mix Harmony Gelish Ooba Ooba Blue and CND Shellac Hotski To Tchotchke in a 6 to 1 ratio.  Use this to paint 2 coats over the entire nail. Cure each coat in lamp for 2 minutes.
4. Use nail tape to make an angled line at the tip of each nail.
5. Paint the tips with one coat of CND Shellac Shellac Asphalt (a black color would have been ideal for this, but I don't have one!), using a small angled brush, being careful not to go too far over the tape line.  Before you paint each nail, be certain that the tape is firmly against the nail, especially at the edges.  Cure for 2 minutes in the lamp.
6. Use a dotting tool or nail pen to make the gold dots for the rank insignia.  Dip the end into CND Shellac Bronzed and then dip into gold glitter, picking up a small amount of each.  Then place the dots on the nail appropriately.  Complete step 7 before curing in lamp.
7. Using the nail pen or a fine brush use the same combination of CND Shellac Bronzed and gold glitter to draw the oval shape for the communicator badge on the ring finger.  Cure in lamp for 2 minutes.
8. Use a fine brush to draw the upside down "V" shape for the communicator badge on top of the gold oval, using Harmony Gelish Sleek White.  Cure in lamp for 2 minutes.
9. Overlay the white with CND Shellac Top Coat mixed with silver glitter.  Cure in lamp for 2 minutes.
10. Paint all nails with CND Shellac Top Coat and cure in lamp for 2 minutes.
11. Wipe nails with acetone and apply cuticle oil.

Products used are shown below.

Pink "High Voltage" Tips

Gelish "You're So Sweet You're Giving Me
a Toothache" and "High Voltage".

Started off with CND Shellac Base Coat followed by 3 coats of Gelish in "You're So Sweet You're Giving Me a Toothache".

Then painted 2 coats of Gelish "High Voltage" on the tips with a narrow angled brush.

Finished off with pink nail tape at the base of the tip color on all except ring finger which has rhinestone accents instead.

Used 2 coats of CND Shellac Top Coat to really make sure the edges of the tape stayed down.

Hotski to Tchotchke and Sweet Chocolate

Shellac Hotski to Tchotchke and Gelish Sweet Chocolate.

Started with 2 coats of CND Shellac Hotski to Tchotchke on all except ring finger.  Then sponge painted 2 coats of Harmony Gelish Sweet Chocolate on the tips fading inward.

Ring finger is 2 coats of Sweet Chocolate and then a diagonal 2 coats of Hotski to Tchotchke on top with rhinestones down the center.

Although in the photo it looks like there isn't quite enough coverage of the Hotski to Tchotchke on top, in person it does not look that way.  Just the same, if I did this again I would use 3 coats on top.

I also used 3 layers of top coat over the rhinestones to make sure they really stay in place.

Pink Gradient

Shellac Rosebud, Gelish You're So Sweet You're
Giving Me a Toothache,  Gelish Tumberline Violet.

Started off with 2 coats of Harmony Gelish in You're So Sweet You're Giving Me a Toothache. Then sponge painted two coats of CND Shellac Rosebud at the tips with the gradient toward the base of the nail.  Topped it off with one coat of Harmony Gelish in Tumberline Violet.

Snowy Nails

Gelish "Up In The Blue" and "Sleek White".

This was my first attempt at sponge painting!  The blending is pretty rough, but I think that actually adds to the snowy effect.

Painted 2 coats of Harmony Gelish in Sleek White over entire nail, then used a sponge to make the gradient with Gelish "Up In The Blue".  I did 3 rounds of sponge painting on each nail to get enough coverage with the blue.

Holiday Nails

Gelish Queen of Hearts with gold glitter.

Unfortunately I waited over a week to take a picture of this one, so there is definitely some visible wear and growth in the photo!

The red is Harmony Gelish in Queen of Hearts and the green rogue nail is Harmony Gelish in Bronzed mixed with green glitter (3 coats).  Tipped each nail with CND Shellac Top Coat mixed with gold glitter.

Gelish Queen of Hearts with Grand Jewels

Harmony Gelish Queen of Hearts with Grand Jewels.

Harmony Gelish Queen of Hearts is a great color for the holidays!

I used 1 layer of Gelish Grand Jewels on top to give a little bit of gold sparkle.  Rogue finger is 1 coat of CND Shellac Cocoa followed by 2 coats of Gelish Bronzed with gold glitter mixed in, and then 2 coats of CND Shellac Top Coat with red glitter mixed in for the red glitter fade effect.

Gelish Elegant Wish

Gelish Elegant Wish with Bronzed, gold glitter, and decals.

After applying CND Shellac base coat, applied 2 coats of Harmony Gelish Elegant Wish, and on top of that 1 coat of Harmony Gelish Bronzed.  Next, I used CND Shellac top coat and dipped the brush into gold craft glitter to paint the tips (using quick strokes away from the tip of the nail to create a slight fade effect).  I applied the decals next, and after that more CND Shellac top coat.

Gelish Bronzed

Gelish Bronzed over Shellac Cocoa. 

Harmony Gelish Bronzed is somewhat translucent, so I began by painting a single coat of CND Shellac in Cocoa over the nails (after the base coat). Then 2 coats of Bronzed, and added the leaf decals.  The red-brown accents are Harmony Gelish in Elegant Wish.

Gelish - Up In The Blue

Gelish Up In The Blue with Sleek White rogue finger.

Harmony Gelish Up In The Blue.  Rogue finger is Harmony Gelish Sleek White with spots in Up In The Blue and CND Shellac Cityscape. Used nail pens pictured below for the spots.

CND Shellac Cityscape with Accents

Shellac Cityscape with Asphalt and Gelish Coba Coba Blue accents.

This stunning look is actually quite easy to do if you have the right brushes. Base is CND Shellac in Cityscape and accents are Harmony Gelish Coba Coba Blue and CND Shellac Asphalt. I used a small flat brush to swipe the blue across the corner of each nail tip. The Shellac Asphalt was applied using the smallest, narrowest brush I had. Although the photo doesn't reflect this, the blue looks like a very bright neon blue when viewed in direct sunlight, but appears as a deeper blue indoors.

CND Shellac Asphalt with Cityscape Tips

CND Shellac Asphalt with Cityscape tips.

This was a little tricky to do on my own nails, but the color scheme is nice despite the imperfections.

I used 2 coats of CND Shellac in Asphalt over the entire nail, then 2 coats of Shellac in Cityscape for the tips.  The red line is "My Forbidden Love" by Harmony Gelish, painted on with a very fine brush.