So when we last looked at my nails, they were shorter than they'd been in some time and coming off two weeks of rehab with OPI Nail Envy. I mentioned that I'd run out of patience for having unadorned nails at that point. I knew they still needed treatment, though, so I compromised and put on one coat of Nail Envy (Sensitive & Peeling formula) under some Sally Hansen strips in the Cut It Out pattern from the core collection.
In putting them on, I realized a good thing about having shorter nails is I'd be able to get a full mani from only one of the two strip packets. It took me a few nails to figure out that cutting the strips in half before applying was the way to go, so I ended up with some wonkiness. I rationalized that since it was such a busy pattern, no one was likely to notice the parts where I'd messed up. I did have to cheat a bit on some of the nails and leave bigger gaps than I'd normally do, but it was worth it to me to be able to leave that second packet "factory sealed" since these strips will dry out and become inflexible once they're out of that packet. I've had some luck slipping leftovers into the plastic sleeve the file in the package comes in and wrapping them up tight with tape. I've been able to use those to replace a strip when I've ruined one on my nails in the same week, but after a few weeks, air does sneak in and dry out the strips. I'm still pondering a better way to seal them up or some way to re-wet them after they've dried, but in this case, I've got a fresh packet of 8 strips ready to go.
Now, I don't know about you, but for me, all those white spaces with black outlines were just begging to be colored in. I lasted four days before I gave into temptation and got out my Sharpies. (A sidenote: cleaning up stray Sharpie marks is harder than cleaning up nail polish slips.)
As with other patterns I've tried, I got great wear out of these; they were still in good shape when I was ready to take them off.
LOVE IT !
ReplyDeletehah i wore this same pattern and idid the same thing with filling it in! was surprised how well these wore
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! It looks like so much fun, a great way to personalize a mani!
ReplyDeleteI love these things. Great for when you don't want clean up, and need something to really last a long time!
ReplyDeleteHee hee! Coloring book nail art!!! I love it! Quite cute.
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic! Hope the sharpie's come off with acetone.....
ReplyDeleteCute! And I love that you filled in the spaces with sharpie! So creative. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's so cute! I love it :) I'd want to color it in, too, haha.
ReplyDeleteIt made me smile to read you colored in the flowers!!
ReplyDeleteI love your nails! Both combinations look great!
ReplyDeleteHaha, this is too cute! I loove the Sharpie idea.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Cute!
ReplyDeletelol I like that you colored it! Must have taken forever! lol.
ReplyDeleteThats exactly what I thought about these strips - begging to be coloured in!
ReplyDeleteThey look great on you either way!
your nails are looking longer :) I still haven't tried any of these..I NEED to :-P great idea using the sharpies!!!remember stay inside the lines hehehehe
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! I'd colour them in, too, haha!
ReplyDeleteThose are so cute colored in!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I have seen this set I think the same thing, I would need to color those in. You did great! My set lasted through my vacation, I love them!
ReplyDeleteHow freakin funny that you colored in the pattern with sharpies!!!! only you KarenD!! Didn't the ink come off in water? It actually looks really great! And I think I am loving your nails at this length-
ReplyDeleteGenius! I love sharpies, and I have a pack of Cut it Outs waiting to be worn. I will definitely be stealing your idea. Or at least I will plan to steal your idea; I'm not sure that I have your patience or ability to color small spaces accurately.
ReplyDeleteThats so very creative!
ReplyDeleteThanks, ladies!
ReplyDeleteLauren, I was a bit worried about that, but the Sharpie ink came off fine. Didn't even bleed through the strips to stain my nail, which was a concern I had as well.
Nail Art Epicness, it went pretty fast--time flies when you're having fun. :)
Finger, the ink held on through water and soap and water and lotion and everything else until I got after the strips with nail polish remover. Gotta love permanent markers.