Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet - Inspired by Music - La Vie en Rose

Wow. It:s hard to believe that it:s been over a month since I posted here! Well, I'm back from my unexpected hiatus, hopefully for good now, with a post for the Theme Buffet!

The theme for this week was "Inspired by Music," and even though I'm not a pink person, Edith Piaf's "La Vie en Rose" popped into my head. I figured a soft pink-hued look topped with roses would work well. How do you think it turned out?

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #26 - Neon

 So, I actually feel as though I'm cheating a bit in using this for the Theme Buffet this week.  I actually did this manicure almost a month ago and just never got around to posting it to the blog.

When I ran out of time this week between the 4th of July holiday, work and feeling under the weather, I suddenly remembered that I still had these photos floating around on my hard drive waiting for editing! They fit this week's FingerFood's Theme Buffet theme - Neon - perfectly, so I finally hunkered down and cleaned up the images so I could post it.

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #25 - Seasons

I don't know about you, but I really feel like I'm lacking in inspiration for my manicures lately. Some days, I'm just perfectly content to wear a solid color and not do nail art. When I do nail art, it tends to be on the simple side.

The theme for this week's Theme Buffet was one that I suggested: Seasons.  I wanted to do something grand and elaborate.... but just didn't have the motivation or inspiration. Instead, I put together this simple but classy number using colors to represent the different seasons

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #24 - Cartoon/Comic - Dots

When I first saw the topic for this week, I was so excited.  I had so many ideas! Too many ideas!  I actually started planning out a Sailor Moon manicure that I've been wanting to do for forever.

Of course, I didn't expect to come down with some bug that would knock me out for most of the week. Even as I type this, I'm still hacking and coughing.

So I had a dilemma: What sort of manicure could I do that would simple and quick, wouldn't take too much effort or brain power, but would fit the theme?

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #23 - Cocktail Nails - Gin and Tonic

Hello, hello! Yet another week, yet another Theme Buffet!

So, summer is upon us and it's that time of year where it's nice to lounge around and enjoy drinks with friends, enjoying the weather, each other... and a tasty beverage or two or three or....

The theme for this week was "cocktail nails," and I chose to put together a look inspired by my  favorite drink. I have no clue how well it come across.... but my cocktail of choice? The humble Gin and Tonic! <3

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #22 - Under the Sea

Well, look at this! I'm actually posting again! Things have been crazy. I was a bridesmaid in a wedding last weekend, so was running around all week and didn't have time to do a manicure for the Theme Buffet -- and to think I missed my own theme! (You can see the manicure I did for the wedding on Instagram, though!)

This week, though, I managed to grab a few minutes to throw together this manicure. The theme this time was "Under the Sea," and I wasn't quite sure what I should do. See, I did an under-water manicure for my Monochrome manicure back in April, as well as a mermaid-themed manicure last month in May. Well, this is what I came up with..... somewhat simliar, but simple and easy to fit into a suddenly busy schedule

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #20 - Galaxy Nails

First off, I have to say that it's nice to be back and doing nail art and posting. I had to take a week off from the Theme Buffet (Sorry, Scarlett!) but I'm back!

I have to say that this week's manicure features the largest number of polishes that I've ever used in a single manicure. The sad thing is that when you look at it, you would never realize that!

The theme for this week was galaxies, and I hope that you like what I threw together!

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #18 - Oriental (Plum Blossoms)

After getting my manicure done early last week for FingerFood's Theme Buffet, we all knew that wouldn't last for very long. Here I am, down to the last hours of the last day, trying to get my manicure done, photos edited and post, well, posted.

The theme for this week's Theme Buffet was "Oriental" (Although, I have to admit that the term kinda makes me cringe a little bit.  I would have just gone with "Asian."). I have a ridiculous love for Asian aesthetics, particularly Japanese, and just couldn't decide on what design I wanted to do this week.

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #17 - Something New

So, it looks as though I might actually have this week's contribution to FingerFood's Theme Buffet done a little earlier than usual! No last minute flailing about to try to get things in before the InLinkz expires.

The funny thing is that when I started doing this manicure, I hadn't actually intened it to be for the Theme Buffet...Yet somehow it just happened to fit all of the criteria for this week - Something New! New polish, new stamping plate, new nail accessories/accents, first time using said acccents.... Somehow the pieces all fell in place.

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #16 - Gothic

When all of the members of the Theme Buffet were throwing around ideas on the Facebook group for the upcoming months, I was excited to see Sarah of Penny Pinching Polish suggest a gothic theme. I had a whole bunch of ideas that I would have loved to try out.

And here I am, two hours before this week's deadline, trying to throw together a mani really quick - one which was none of the things I really had in mind. This was one of the weeks I was most looking forward too...and of course it would turn out to be the one where I had little to no free time.

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #15 - Fishtail

The prompt for this week's Theme Buffet was "fishtail," and I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive when I first saw the theme. If you're not aware, "fishtail" refers to the technique/design that creates a braid-like effect on the nail. (well, I guess you could have gone with LITERAL fish tails, too, as some clever people did!)

This was my first time trying to do the fishtail braid technique,  and overall, I suppose it didn't come out that bad! Read more to see how I put this look together.

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #14 - Delicious - Apples

The theme for this week's FingerFood's Theme Buffet was "Delicious,"  and I was stuck all week on what I should do. The problem really wasn't a lack of ideas.... but too many! There's so many ways you can fulfill the "delicious" theme. I had started off thinking I might do a coffee-inspired theme....but the beautiful, warm weather here inspired me to do something a bit more "fresh" feeling.

I hope you enjoy the crisp and refreshing look of this apple-themed manicure!

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #13 - Monochrome - Deep Blue Sea

So, March ended and we reached the end of our first set of Theme Buffet themes. The group put together a new list of themes to last us through the end of June, and the first of those themes begins today!

There was actually a bit of a mixup and we wound up with TWO themes - Monochrome and Mother's Day (apparently it's Mother's Day earlier in the UK. Never knew that!). Since Mother's Day here in the US isn't until May, I decided to go with the monochrome theme.

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #12 - Freestyle (Triangles)

There's something about the effect you get when you combine flakie polishes and black that I absolutely love. It gives you such a dramatic - and somewhat dark - look. It just seems to fit my personality more than a whole lot of the manicures I do.

This week's theme for FingerFood's Theme Buffet was "Freestyle." I took this to mean that we were free to do whatever we wanted, so this is what my mind came up with. Simple, but I love it!

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #11 - Super Sparkly Green and Gold...St. Patrick's Day

I think today's manicure might be the glitteriest, shiniest one that I've done to date.

This started off as a bit of an experiment for St. Patrick's day nail art for FingerFood's Theme Buffet. I knew I was going to miss getting this done for the holiday, so I wanted to throw something together that didn't scream "St. Paddy's" but still fit the theme.

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #10 - Dots and Stripes

Sometimes when I participate in nail art challenges, I have no idea what to do. I'll hem and haw and finally decide to just do SOMETHING. A lot of times, I'm not necessarily happy with the results, but I did it <3

The theme for this week's FingerFood Theme Buffet was "Dots and Stripes"  and of course I had TONS of ideas. The problem wasn't lack of inspiration, this time, but instead a complete lack of time.  There are only a few more hours left to submit this week's designs, so I threw something together really quick.

Nail Art: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #9 - Flowers

 The theme for this week's installment of FingerFood's Theme Buffet was "Flowers." There's a million different directions you could go, in a million different styles. Something dark and broody? Something cute? Roses? Daisies?

I tend to gravitate towards bolder, darker colors and jewel tones with graphic nail art elements. This week, however, I decided I wanted to try and do something a bit more subdued and subtle.

NOTD: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #8 - Cute - Doraemon Nail Art

Let me introduce you to Doraemon. Doraemon (ドラえもん) is a character beloved by generations of Japanese children and a Japanese cultural icon. He's a time-traveling, earless robot cat and the main character for the manga and anime series of the same name. He has a fourth-dimensional pocket on his stomach and possesses a door that can take you anywhere. He loves dorayaki and has all kinds of adventures with fifth-grader Nobita.

He's also star of the nail art I decided to do for this week's FingerFood Theme Buffet challenge.

NOTD: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #7 - Abstract

 Welcome to the seventh installment of Finger Food's Theme Buffet. The challenge theme for this week was "Abstract," which leaves us nail artists with all kinds of avenues to explore.

Some people made their own abstract works of art or abstract designs. Others recreated famous paintings by abstract artists like Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg.

 I was one of those that decided to recreate an abstract painting. In my case, I chose one of the Homage to the Square series of paintings by Josef Albers.

NOTD: FingerFood's Theme Buffet #6 - Hearts

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, so all of our blog and Instagram feeds are full of pink and red nail art. Our fingers are full of hearts and "I Love You"s and all manner of Valentine's Day themes goodness.

 This week's subject for Finger Food's theme buffet fits in perfectly for the holiday: hearts!