New Year's Sparkle

New Design, New Year, New Resolutions 

Stamp Nail Art

This was my first attempt at using stamp nail art designs.  It's a little difficult to figure out the technique (without watching a couple videos), but with trial and error, stamping is so fun and easy! 

And we're back!

So I took a break for a few weeks, but now the blog is back up and will be filled with lots of updates soon. =)  Unfortunately, I only used my phone camera to take pictures, so please excuse the poor quality.    

Finally tried newspaper print nails and they were soo easy to do! 

Another easy design which I loved after doing it...

Tabla Nails and Black & Silver Tips

It's been a while since I've posted, but I haven't stopped doing my nails!  Here are the designs I had over the last couple weeks.  (Some of the pics are from my phone camera)

Black and Silver Tips - I saw this on tv and then I saw online again, so then I tried it out.  

 Harmonium Nails - This was for a performance where I was playing the harmonium. 

 Tabla Nails - For my first real tabla performance! It looks white, but the other nails were actually yellow.  

Pink 26

I did these nails in honor of my friend's 26th birthday.  She loves pink and the design is a play on the numbers 2 and 6.   

Tabla Covers

So this isn't nail related, but it's another one of my projects.  Since I'm having my first real tabla performance this weekend, I wanted to redecorate the rings that the tabla sit in.      

This was so easy to make and I was really happy with the result.  Next project, updating my brother's tabla rings to a Spongebob design! 

French Manicure

A couple weeks ago, I did my 13 year old cousin's nails.  I discovered it's a lot harder to do someone else's nails than it is to do my own.  After a few attempts, we were happy with this...

  

Blue Jewels

I had an exam on Friday...so on Thursday I painted my nails as a way to relax.  I started out with just a few dots on the ring finger, but my brother said it looked like a 'J' and that I did the design for Justin Bieber's birthday.  That definitely was not true.  So I just filled in the whole nail since I finally got a dotting tool! (and a little sparkle)  

BMW Nail Art

I love BMWs.  I have yet to own one, but I do dream of having a BMW M6.  I don't know if it'll ever happen, but I can still wish, right? 

http://bmwden.com/bmw-m6/

So in honor of that beautiful car...

I'll admit that this is probably my least favorite creation because of how many things that are wrong with it - from the misshapen '6' to the wrong shade of blue.  Gotta keep trying til I get better at it though!    

Maha Shivratri Nails

Yesterday my parents jokingly said I should do my nails to celebrate Maha Shivratri, which is on Monday...so I did!  

Each nail is a symbol of Shiva: bull (nandi), drum, snake, tiger print, trident.  I'm not a fan of animal print in general, but after seeing how this turned out, I kinda like it.  Maybe I should have tried snake print instead of that odd looking shape..maybe next time...

Mardi Gras Nails

Yesterday I bought a bunch of jewels and I was so excited to start using them in my designs.  Perfect way to incorporate them into a Mardi Gras theme!

Not the neatest design again and picture is slightly blurry, but still loving this new hobby. This might be my favorite design so far =) 

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

I was in a good mood on this post-valentine's cloudy day and this song came to mind...

So here's a design based on it...

B) 

The Big Bang Theory

One of my favorite shows is The Big Bang Theory.  I laugh along every time the laugh track plays and will watch every rerun on tv...so here are my TBBT themed nails! 

I don't think my work is getting any neater, but it's still so much fun.  In case you couldn't tell...

Yellow background - In honor of Penny's blonde hair

Bazinga! - Sheldon

Glasses - Leonard 

Hat - Raj

Plaid - Howard

Atom - The Big Bang Theory! 

Valentine's Day Nail Art - Gold Hearts

Yet another one for Valentine's Day...

I was in a rush and impatient so it didn't dry properly and of course got messed up.  Lesson learned! 

Valentine's Day Nail Art - Hearts

Another one for Valentine's Day...hearts <3  

This is another free hand one, but ended up not quite as neat as I would like.  I'm still trying to learn! 

Valentine's Day Nail Art - Puppy Love

Puppy love for Valentine's Day! I tired a free hand design for this and it ended up being easier than I thought it would be.    

Still working on how to take better pictures, suggestions welcome! 

My Dismal Nail Polish Collection

This is it...

No, really, it's a terrible collection - if it can even be called that.  But it's a start.  And thanks to my full collection of acrylic paints, I can make any color I need.  I am working on expanding it, so hopefully I'll have more variety soon! 

First Attempts at Nail Art

My first attempt was so lackluster that I didn't even take a picture of it.  Orange nails, ring finger glittery gold with a 50 in orange to celebrate my uncle's 50th birthday at his surprise party.   

So then I thought I would be ambitious and try something for the Superbowl (even though I strongly dislike football) and came up with this...

The picture isn't very good quality and the work is sloppy, but I was proud of my first attempt and surprisingly received positive feedback about it.    

And now I took on a real challenge and wanted a design of something I loved for filler until I did a Valentine's Day look.  So I thought I would do a Google theme (because I love everything about Google) and I found an incredible design at http://foryournailsonly.net/2010/09/what-are-you-searching-for.html. (Thanks for the design!)  I knew I couldn't come up with a simpler or better design than that, so I just replicated it and added a bit for the other hand.

    

Since my color collection is limited, the colors are all acrylic paints and white is Pure Ice Super Star. 

So It Begins

I am starting this blog to organize and share my new found love for nails and nail art.  I never explored the world of nail art until a friend shared this wonderful site with me: http://fuckyeahnailart.tumblr.com.  I was SO impressed and amazed with how people could create such detailed work on a nail.

My Nail Experience:
- Never have had a professional manicure 
- No nail art/technique training
- Limited set of colors and tools (acrylic paint and toothpicks for now)

Also, I like to play Tabla, which is an Indian drum, and because of how the left hand is used to play, I have to keep those nails shorter.  I am determined to succeed at both nails and tabla without letting either interfere with the other!  

Finally, the name of the blog - Tappin' Tips - comes from the balance I want to keep between these two hobbies because I love both!