Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Today deco-fanatics, we'll be making an easy diamond encrusted/decked out container. You can use this tutorial on anything, but for now we'll be using a container. (Cr: Deco&Deco)

What you will need:


(From left to right: tweezers, rhinestones, stranded rhinestones, deco glue/super glue, (not shown)pliers/scissors)

Step 1: Start by gathering all your decorating items, place them on a steady surface near you, for quick reach (the glue dries quickly, depending on what you use), also make sure your base in prepped (mn: your item should be clean, this can be accomplished with rubbing alcohol and a cleaning cloth.). Now take the strand of rhinestone (or stranded rhinestones) and measure them around your container (or item).

Step 2: Once you've measured your item, take your pliers or scissors and cut it to your desired length.


Step 3: Take your glue and glue the strand around your item. Now, start selecting large rhinestones and place it on the side of the item, until you get to the center, then glue.


Step 4: Begin adding/gluing the largest rhinestones on the side of the item, leaving room for smaller rhinestones on the center.


Step 5: Begin adding/gluing the med/smaller sized stones around the large stones. Like the picture.


Step 6: Being very careful (you may need tweezers). Add/glue the smaller gems.



Step 7: Repeat step 6, make sure you scatter them, for a strewn/messy but organized look.



Step 8: Start by taking the smallest gems and adding a few to the large gems for the conglomerate/stone look. And you're done!

* How's that for a first deco-tutorial?

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Red, White, Blue Diamondites

Today deco-fanatics, we'll be making a simple diamond pattern cellphone case. You can use this tutorial on anything, but for now we'll be using a cellphone case. (Cr: Deco&Deco)

What you will need:


(From left to right: tweezers, rhinestones (3 colors), cellphone, deco glue/super glue)

Step 1: Start by gathering all your decorating items, make sure your base is prepped (mn: your item should be clean, this can be accomplished with rubbing alcohol and a cleaning cloth.). Now take your cellphone or a cellphone case and select your three colors of choice.


Step 2: I'm going to use the colors (red/white/blue). Begin adding your rhinestones like the photo. The line up is: 1-2-1-2. Pretending that each color is a letter: Red-R, Blue-B, and White-W. The pattern for the first row should be: 1-R, 2-B, 1-R, 2-W. Red is the background color and is use alternatively.


Step 3: When you get to the end, add a tiny rhinestone (smaller than one you are using). So if you're using 6-8mm then use a 5mm sized rhinestone for the ending/enclosure.


Step 4: 2nd row- 1-R, 1-B, 2-R, 1-W, and so on.
3rd row- 1sm-R, All (R).


Step 5: 4th row- Switch colors from the first row. Ex: 1-R, 1-W, 2-R, 1-B, 2-R, 1-W, 2-R, 1-B, 2-R, etc.
5th row- 1sm-R, 2-W, 1-R, 2-B, 1-R, 2-W, etc.


Step 6: 6th row- 3-W, 3-B, 3-W, 3-B, 3-W, etc.
7th row- Repeat rows 5,6,3,4*,5*,6*.

*Use alternate colors like the steps 1&2 (deco corner picture for example).

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New feature: Nail Templates

A new feature on this site is...[flourish]. Nail templates! Nail templates are kind of like knitting or crocheting patterns except for nails. Hopefully, this is a simple enough way for nail artists to understand a design more.

There are three types of nail templates, one is the simple edition. Like below, it just consists of two pictures display the left and the right hand.



The second type, is more in dept, it explains what techniques and skills one needs to do in order to achieve a certain design. These will probably be made later for harder/advance nail tutorials.

And lastly, the third type- which is not really related so much to the nails themselves but to the acrylic pieces for nails, such as 3d parts and items.

You can thank me...now.

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Slow but steady wins the race

I was just wondering, what do you use to hold your nail in place? Do you use a hand/finger mannequin or do you take the resourceful route and use silly putty or thumb tack?
Well, when I first began nail art which was about a year ago, I used tape at first- I would tape the back of the nail, test for steadiness or movement and just begin painting the nail. It was a hard process but it worked nonetheless. Now, I'm older- a bit wiser and now I use a hand mannequin, at the time I didn't even now the thing even existed until a few months into it.
But while that story is kind of embarrassing, what did you use at first to steady your nails? Did you use any of those things? And by the way, the those other methods do work, so just in case you do get tired of using a mannequin or just do not have enough of money for one, you can use one of those ideas. Nothing's wrong that~!

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What the heck is Japanese nail art?

Japanese nail art can essentially be summed up into one word- dramatic! The more dramatic the nail is the more vibrant and pretty is it compared to usual, plain and boring french manicure which is can be seen on any ID wearing student of your local high school.
But you're probably asking you're yourself what is Japanese nail art?

The first question can be answered simply with this:

Behold, the very essence of nail art, even though this is isn't as elaborate as one would think, this is a low-key/grade example of Japanese nail art.

And what is this wonderful creation?

- It started back probably in the early 90's when Japanese nail art began to take form in Japan, with it's main endorsements coming from celebrities (such as Koda Kumi and Ayumi Hamasaki- who are two popular 'nail queens' and musicians). Nail art has become a huge trend in Japan with over 2,000 shops specializing in this trade. There are about 40 nail shops nationwide that know how to do this type of nail work (most shops reside in California- where it is increasingly popular there).
This is a trend that is still growing strong.

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