31 Day Challenge Day 10 - Gradients

Hey all!

Apparently, my last post was my 100th! I didn't really notice but I like the number 101 better, so let's celebrate with one of my fave manis from this challenge (so far).

This could get a little long, so I'm hiding it under the jump, MWAHAHAH! Here's a collage to whet your appetite before you click 'read more'.

For this gradient I started with 3 coats of Orly Green With Envy, a jelly-ish teal which I hope to god doesn't stain. When that was dry, I applied some striping tape and, because I wanted a sheer look, I used Spoiled Checkin' Into Rehab. Somewhere, I realized I was an idiot for deciding to work with 2 jelly-sheer polishes but I kept on going. To build the purple to opacity, I just brushed the color on 1/3 of my nail, waited until that was semi-dry, and sponged as normal to blur the line and fade both colors into each other. This step wasn't really necessary (and I'll show you why in a minute).

After that, I added Spoiled My Saturn Broke Down, topcoated and called it a day.

This mani is actually inspired by this amazingness from Jeanette over at The Swatchaholic who was also inspired by Mimi at Makeup Withdrawal. I about died when I saw Jeanette's post and I'm so happy to have kinda sorta re-created it.

Here is a macro shot of my test nail (my ring finger on my right hand). For this nail I just brushed the second color on, starting closer to the cuticle, then a little further down, then just brushed it on my tips. You can see it really works to create gradients with sheer polishes. For a better explanation, check this post at Rebecca Likes Nails.

I'm so in love with how this turned out, I'm still wearing it and it's been like 4 days :D.

For more gradient madness, check the links to the other ladies' blogs!

-Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner
-Kat at Hooked On Polish
-Diana at Nails By Diana
-Aly at Wonderland Beauty
-Meredith at Perfectly Polished
-Nicole at The Color Republic
-Kate at The Painted Pony Nails
-Cee at Absolutely Cee
-Sam at Polished Art
-Nail Narcotics
-Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
-Shelby at Shelby's Swatches
-Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful
-Mixed Mama
-Joanna @ Sweet Polish of Mine
-Patty Greenberg
-Liz and Lisa @ Lozlosa 
-Mari at Nailista
-Greta at How Was Your Day?
-Miss L at Beauty by Miss L 
-Gini at Sassy Paints 
-Chameleon Stampede 
-Pam at Nail-E-Glance
-Me, Myself, and Polish 
- Robin Sparkles