Guest Post: Key to My Heart design by Manic Talons

Hi everyone!  I’m Michelle from www.manictalons.com.  When Andrea invited me to write this post, I may have squealed just a little.  Or a lot.  Ok, it was a lot.  I spent the next few days trying to decide what I could possibly show you that Andrea hasn’t already covered.  Then it hit me.  I am a glitter fanatic.  I have over 200 different loose glitters in my stash, so it only makes sense to show you something with glitter.

I recently posted a video tutorial on my blog showing how I manipulated loose glitter to create a glitter ruffian manicure.  I used that same technique to create this Key to My Heart design.  After applying and curing my base of Couture Dance til Dawn, I removed the tacky layer and used a thin nail art brush to sketch the key with Couture Gilded and the heart with Couture Red Carpet.  Once I was happy with the sketch, I cured again to lock the design in place.

I then poured a small amount of ArtsyFartsy Crafts Ultrafine Dark Gold Holographic glitter into a paint pallet and added a few drops of top coat (image 1).  When mixed together, it should take on a thick, globby consistency (image 2).  Using a thin nail art brush, I lightly spread the glitter mixture over the design, gently tapping it into place so that it didn’t appear too thick on the nail but covered the sketch of the key (images 3 and 4).  I then took a stiff brush dipped in isoprophyl alcohol and gently pushed any stray glitter into place to straighten the lines (image 5).  Once I was happy with the glitter placement (image 6), I cured for 30 seconds in my LED lamp to lock the glitter into place.  I repeated this process with ArstyFartsy Crafts Ultrafine Red Holographic glitter for the heart.

Finally, I added a layer of top coat over each nail.

I hope you have enjoyed this design and tutorial.  Loose glitter is one of my favorite additions to my gel polish stash, simply because it is so affordable and versatile.  The possibilities using loose glitter are endless!
~Michelle