Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Fireflies in the Field at Sunset

Fireflies in the Field at Sunset by @chalkboardnails

We don't have fireflies where I live, and I've always been fascinated by them. I've spotted them off the side of the road on a couple of family vacations, but nothing more! There's something so romantic about them, isn't there? I attempted to recreate a bit of their firefly magic in today's gradient nail art for the 31 Day Challenge.

Fireflies in the Field at Sunset by @chalkboardnails

Nail polishes used:
Misa Loveliest of Lilacs (purple)
Misa Lovely Lychee (pink)
Seche Wild One (coral)
China Glaze Happy Go Lucky (yellow)
American Apparel Hassid (black)
OPI Matte Topcoat
Yellow acrylic paint (firefly halos)

This nail art started with the sponged gradient. I painted on my purple base, and then used a triangle makeup wedge to sponge on a gradient of purple, pink, and coral, with the coral at the tips to mimic a setting sun. After that was finished, I used a small nail art brush to paint on the grass/rushes with black polish.

I used the bubble technique and yellow acrylic paint to make the firefly halos. Be sure to check out my quick tutorial for this technique if you've never tried it before! I added a dot of yellow polish in the center of the halos for the little fireflies themselves, and finished the manicure with a layer of glossy and then matte topcoat.

Fireflies in the Field at Sunset by @chalkboardnails

This manicure has quite a few steps, but none of them were particularly hard! It's all about layering techniques and styles for good effect. I'm so pleased how these turned out and I think they really read as fireflies in a field.

Check out my gradient manicures from past challenge years:
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45 comments

  1. This is lovely! I used to catch fireflies when I was a little girl - there is something magical about them

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  2. This is so pretty! I love fireflies!

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  3. Wow this is just amazing 💜💜💜💚

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  4. This is brilliant! You do such an amazing job of combining relatively simple techniques to create absolutely breathtaking looks!

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  5. Amazing inspiration and great realization. You are my nail art heroine! :-)

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  6. This is simply gorgeous, you combined a couple of techniques and executed them into perfection! <3

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  7. This is stunning! I love the colors you used.

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  8. This is stunning, I love it! The halos really make it special :)

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  9. Ok well this is gorgeous!

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  10. This is amazing!!! Your nail art is so unique :)

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  11. Why do you do a layer of glossy topcoat before a layer of matte? Just to test out both looks, or does it affect the outcome of the matte in some important way?

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  12. Great question! I always put glossy topcoat first because it helps smooth out any bumps in the nail art and protects the nail art from smearing from the matte topcoat.

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  13. I adore this! It reminds me of my childhood, chasing fireflies!

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  14. OMG Sarah! Titakky blown away you did an amazing job!

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  15. Soooo lovely! I saw fireflies in Arizona once when I was camping in a small canyon. It was so unexpected, I didn't think you could find them there!

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  16. I love this nail art so so so much! Just gorgeous!

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  17. Unspeakably fantastic. ^^

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  18. Sooo amazing - as everything that you do! :D

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  19. These are so lovely :)


    Ioanna | www.hearting.co.uk

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  20. This is amazing! Does the gloss top coat help keep the matte from chipping? My matte top coat chips pretty badly.

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  21. Yes it can - I mainly use it to smooth out the nail art before matting and prevent smears.

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  22. this is absolutely spectacular! Wonderful job!

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  23. This is gorgeous! I love the detail.
    longhairprettynails.com

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  24. Fireflies used to be so prevalent in my area but not so much anymore. Your beautiful mani brings them back to memory!

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  25. this looks amazing! the fireflies really light up the manicure :) xx

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  26. this looks amazing!

    polishandpea.co.uk

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  27. Jacky Andrews BridgewaterSeptember 11, 2014 at 8:25 PM

    That's so beautiful! We do have fireflies, and when I looked at that I was transported right out into my backyard at sunset. LOVE it!!

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  28. The Dalai Lama's NailsSeptember 11, 2014 at 9:18 PM

    damn shazam, gal pal.

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  29. Love the halo's you created around the fireflies, makes it that much more perfect!

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  30. Picking that technique for the halos is just a stroke of genius! LOVE this nail art!

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  31. Is very lovely...Is the first time that I read you and I thik that your designs are very beatuful. You make them seems very easy, but I know that isn't very easy to make. I'm trying to make nice and lovely designs but I know that I have to improve a lot. I'm spanish so my english is not very good. Lot of kisses and I'm very happy to meet you :

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  32. this looks AMAAZINGGGGG. but i do have to say when it was smaller in my reader I thought it was a concert with a bunch of hands up (and the fireflies were the lights) I think that could be a fun twist on this manicure with just a few adjustments! Either way I love this and the colors and technique are flawless.

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  33. This is by far a little piece of artwork on nails, and there is nothing else for it. The firefly effect has worked wonderfully, and it just. Too much amazingness to process it all.

    http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/09/carpe-diem-dead-poets-society-15.html

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  34. Ugh! Total perfection. I need to create a place where I can see all your designs, they inspire me so much!

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  35. My Pinterest might be a good place to start, I have all my posts organized there! pinterest.com/chalkboardnails

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  36. Love love love! Am definitely going to try this!

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