OPI White to Blue Gradient Mani and Super Bass Shatter.

Gradient manis and tutorials have been popping up everywhere, and as I said in my last post, OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls was like a blank canvas mocking me and daring me to slap something fabulous on it. I spied this tutorial and decided to see how it would look with $OPI Slushied from the Glee collection. 

I think it turned out really great! I am very happy with my first ever attempt. Next time I'll take care to keep the fading further up on the nail. I got so many compliments on this mani, even from folks who usually pay no attention to things like this. A few people even accused me of pulling their leg when I said I did it myself.

Then I decided that I hadn't yet used my OPI Super Bass Shatter from the Nicki Minaj collection, and the purple would probably compliment the blue and white nicely. I was also very happy with what the top coat added.

Zoya Charla and OPI Black Shatter

I indulged in the buy one, get Charla and Ivanka free Zoya offer. I accidentally deleted my pic of Charla before it started chipping (4 days, BTW! Not bad...). I did remember to snap a pic 3 days after I slapped on a coat of OPI Black Shatter. I've seen the first round of China Glaze crackles, and I wasn't impressed. They seem rather... thick? I also tried the Sally Hansen silver crackle, and wasn't a fan either. I think I'll stick with OPI. 

This picture absolutely does not do Charla justice. The one that was accidentally deleted didn't either. I need to make a mini light box. Application was a dream. The base of this one was a bright, teal blue. 2 coats were perfect. I have Ivanka on my toes, and I feel I should have little munchkins singing about the yellow brick road and dancing around my toes. Seriously. In light of my pic fail, please see Scrangie's and ALU's posts about the Sparkle collection, which includes both Charla and Ivanka.

$OPI Glee collection - Slushied + +

Bestie came into town last weekend and happened to bring my much belated (but that's how we roll) birthday gift. Because she knows me so well it's scary, she did SUCH a fabulous job. I got the $OPI Glee collection mini set, OPI Black Shatter, Glee season 1 (The Gleek Edition, natch), and an absolutely gorgeous ball of MadelineTosh Worsted yarn in Duchess, which is a super pretty dark eggplant color. She rocks too hard for me to describe.

So, on to the first polish I tried... Slushied. This one was inspired by Finn Hudson, and is a bright blue creme. Fabulous formula that was opaque with two coats. I got so many compliments on this color, and it's so damn bright and happy, one can't help but be happy when wearing it. Anti-depressants on my nails. :) It was also a featured color in the People Magazine Style Watch section a couple of weeks ago. I've never felt so fashionable. (Sorry for the messy mani, I had to take a pic as soon as I was done.)

But I couldn't just leave it alone with all those other goodies in my bag! After 2 days, I decided to throw Celibacy Club over it. Near impossible to capture accurately on film, but it is a silver holo glitter in a clear base. Below is 2 coats. Dry time was minimal, so I didn't need to use a topcoat at all. Plus, I knew I would be doing something else to this mani and didn't want 14 layers of laquer.

Behold, the addition of OPI Black Shatter! This stuff is awesome! Below is a thinn-ish coat. I've heard thinner coats have finer shatter than thick, and I wanted the sparkle of Celibacy Club to show through. I think it looks great. Nearly every patient I had while wearing this commented on it. I've even got co-workers checking out my nails. Also, notice the fabulous wear. The first coat of Slushied had been on for 4 days at this point. And we are at 8 layers of polish at this point.

I can't wait to try the others in the mini set. I'm thinking Miss Bossy Pants will be next. It's a bright, pearly berry inspired by the very bossy Rachel Berry. Love it!

Are any of you Gleeks? What did you think of the Season Finale? I was a little disappointed in it, but that's okay. Kurt and Rachel doing Wicked on the Wicked stage made it worth waiting for.