The Tadashi Shoji Nail Art Challenge - Final Clutch Design and Matching Nail Art (+ Giveaway)

Press Sample

Some of you may recall back in October when I posted about The Tadashi Shoji Nail Art Challenge. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Tadashi Shoji invited eight nail artists (myself included) to create a nail design inspired by their spring collection. We submitted our looks, and then the brand's fans were invited to vote on the design they liked best. The winning design was used as inspiration for a limited edition clutch.

I was incredibly humbled to have my design selected as the winner, and I'm so proud to be sharing the finished product with you today.

This is a very long, picture heavy post, so I've put the rest of it under the cut!

A few small details were changed between my initial design and the finished product, so I redid my nail art to match the final clutch. Fashion... inspiring nails... inspiring fashion... inspiring nails! Gotta love that.

I used four OPI shades in this design.

The gradient base was sponged on with a triangle makeup wedge using OPI My Vampire is Buff, OPI In My Back Pocket, and OPI Dutch Ya Just Love OPI.

The lace shapes over the top were painted freehand in OPI My Very First Knockwurst.

I created two accent nails by adding studs and rhinestones to my middle and ring fingers, mimicking the embellishments on the clutch.

I know that 3D nail art isn't for everyone, and truth be told, sometimes I prefer something a little simpler, too! Here is the design sans embellishments. Which way do you prefer it?

I love the clutch's mix of gradient, delicate lace, and tough studs. It also has a detachable chain strap, which I chose to keep hidden for my photos.

I can't stress enough how lovely it was working with Jenny from Tadashi Shoji on this project, and I'm so completely in love with the finished product. This limited edition clutch is available now in the Tadashi Shoji shop, where it retails for $135.

Tadashi Shoji has also generously offered a clutch for me to giveaway as a thank you to my readers. If you're feeling lucky, please enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.

Must be a follower of Chalkboard Nails to win. Must be 18 years of age or older, or you must have your parent's permission to enter. This giveaway is open internationally, and closes on 04/03/2013. The winner will have 48 hours after being contacted to claim their prize, after which a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

Ivory and Turquoise Antiqued Baroque

Good afternoon you fine folks! I have some nail art today for you, hooray! Here is my ivory and turquoise baroque patterned nail art.

Originally, I planned to do a design based on the curtains that Maria used to make the kids' clothes in The Sound of Music. After a few moments of patting myself on the back for being so original, I googled it and found that Debbie had beat me to the punch! D'oh.

That was okay though, I had received butter LONDON Two Fingered Salute in the mail yesterday afternoon and was itching to use it anyway. It's a bit too turquoise to pass for the curtains in the movie, so I used it to make a pretty baroque design over my base color of Lime Crime Milky Ways.

I freehanded this design using my trusty medium length striper brush (I know, you're shocked). Two Fingered Salute was a bit sheer for nail art, so I did have to go over my embellishments twice, but I am enamored with this color and didn't mind at all. As for the actual patterns, I just made them up as I went. I did have to re-do a nail or two because I wasn't pleased with the way the pattern had come out.

I love the copper sparks in the turquoise base, and layering it over an ivory shade really just made for a nice vintage look.

What do you think? Are you feeling the vintage vibes?

butter LONDON Two Fingered Salute is a Nordstrom's exclusive and can only be found in Nordstrom stores, on Nordstrom.com, and on butterlondon.com.
Lime Crime nail polish can be found on the Lime Crime website and on Harlow & Co.

Post contains affiliate links. 

Read More