Snowflake Sparkles

We have had quite the accumulation of snow ever since Christmas Eve. It’s been cold and we just keep getting hit with storm after storm. So in honor of the all the snow outside, I decided to do a snowflake manicure. Here’s how . . .

Note: I will be providing instructions on how to achieve this look with plain polish, along with Gel Polish.

Step 1: Prep Nails

View my post on Nail Polish Prep.

Step 2: Paint Color onto Nails

Paint the thumb, index and pinky nails with two coats of blue polish. I used the Shellac color called, Cerulean Sea. Paint the middle finger nail with two coats white polish. I used the Shellac color called, Cream Puff . Paint ONE thin coat of top coat on your ring finger.

Gel Polish: Apply two coats of polish. Cure 2 minutes in the UV light, or 1 minute in an LED light, in between each coat.

Step 3: Glitter Nail

When the ring finger polish is still tacky, but not wet. Sprinkle with fine silver colored craft glitter. I used Martha Stewart craft glitter, called white gold. Push glitter into tacky surface of polish and tap off the excess glitter, just as I did here in my I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus post. Paint with a top coat to seal in the glitter.

Gel Polish: Cure 2 minutes in the UV light, or 1 minute in an LED light.

Step 4: Snowflakes & Polka-Dots

On the middle fingers, I began by painting an asterisk shape using extra thin lines.

I then painted two lines, kind of a right angle, to connect each long line, this created the “star” shape in the center.

In the center of each long line, paint lines that remind me of the back of an arrow (I’m not sure how else to explain these lines). After you do those lines, add a dot of paint on the end of each line.

Note: When hand painting images on your nails use acrylic craft paints, not polish. You will get crisper lines and much more “pop” than you would with polish. Some polishes can sometimes dry almost transparent which makes the image hazy and you won’t get the wow factor you are going for.

Step 5: Rhinestone Jewels & Final Top Coat

Apply a health top coat to all the nails. Make sure the paint is completely dry before adding top coat to help avoid smearing. While top coat is very wet gently push the jewel into the top coat in the center of the snowflakes. This will create the jewel to be sealed into the top coat layer.

Shellac: Apply top coat and jewel. Cure in UV light for 2 minutes. If needed, do another application of top coat and cure in light.

Note: The best way to pick up the little jewel is to use a toothpick. You touch the toothpick to a damp cloth and then to the top of the jewel. Place on to the nail.