Distressed/Grungy Nail Technique

So today I decided to try out a new technique I spotted on Instagram and many wonderful blogs like Brit Nails, and she linked to this tutorial which explained it perfectly! So thank you to Chalkboard Nails for that :)

As it was my first try, I was pretty unoriginal and raided my nail polish box for colours similar to the ones used in the video, and here was the finished look (before I cleaned up the edges):

You'll have to excuse the uber dry cuticles :( I've got a horrible icky cold and all beauty regimes have been replaced my sniffling and feeling sorry for myself... I will try and get them beautiful again soon, promise!

Polishes used:
White - Collection 2000 5 Day Wear in French White
Pink - 17 Lasting Fix in Pink Grapefruit
Green - Barry M Gelly in Green Berry
Purple - Unidentified!
Black - Gosh in Nero
Top Coat - Seche Vite

Polka Dot Nails

I've got a major love of polka dots, and this is the first time I've got to play with my new dotting tools! There were five in the set that I got from ebay, you can find them anywhere these days though and they are surprisingly cheap.

For my first try, I decided on a simple monochrome look:

My poor hands look way more sore when they are photographed :( but I really like how this mani turned out! Definitely one to be repeated...

Polishes used:
Black - Gosh in Nero
White - Collection 2000 5 Day Wear in French White

Jubilee Nails

Who doesn't love a good celebration?

The Diamond Jubilee marked 60 years of the Queen being on the throne, and we had a right royal knees up in my house! .... alright, we had a mini afternoon tea. Wasn't it cute?

Anyway, nails...
I decided to go with a different design on each nail for this look, as I had too many different ideas! For the thumb, I used two different types of rhinestone to form a crown. The index finger was a diamond stamp from one of my Fauxnad plates, and more rhinestones for the middle and little finger.

I drew a Union Jack on my ring finger, and it's really easy once you give it a go! Paint your base colour and let dry, and then using your usual nail polish brush paint thick white lines in a + and a x across the nail. Once dry paint thinner red lines on top using a striper brush, et voila! One Union Jack :)

I know they're a little messy, but I like them anyway :) I hope everyone had lovely garden parties and enjoyed the sunshine!