Next Step Crystals

Moving on from yesterday’s attempt, the nail on the left is the next go at the design yesterday. This time the crystals are next to each other and look much better.

I also like the caviar beads at the bottom – but I’d try something different for the top ones. Maybe bigger beads, or maybe a full coverage, like the bottom, but definitely something other than this.

Nail number 2 is a daisy. It’s got a golden shadow crystal in the middle. Next time I’d surround this with caviar beads as it looks a bit naked. I think I’d also put more caviar beads around the gaps between and around the smaller crystals in between the petals. The base for this has been ombre’d using Temu patting gel on a sponge. Dip the sponge, then press the sponge onto the palette to remove excess gel, then lightly patted to create the ombre effect and matte top coat added to complete the look. I’ve used pink and purple gels here for this nail.

For this one I used the rhinestone gel – the solid one, and sort of patted it all over the nail to make the whole nail sticky. But I am still not quite the best with this kind of rhinestone glue as it makes the surface quite uneven, and is really, really hard to set.

The gems are set, but the stuff is still sticky to the touch and can be manipulated, so still needs to be figured out properly.

For the 3rd nail I used a whole gem piece at the top and added a circle of round rhinestones with caviar beads underneath. I was planning to add chrome to the sides to tie it up to the single piece and then chrome this part to make it look like jewellery, but the nail was sticky and I was unsure of how to clean it to just get the chrome to stick on the parts I wanted it to, so I didn’t.

I’ve found this amazing instagrammer snails128 who creates these amazing looking jewellery nails – hopefully I’ll practice some of her stuff at a later date as it looks amazing.

For the final nail I wanted to use one of these larger, showcase, stunning crystals I have. They are so sparkly and lovely, but have pointed bottoms, which as yet, I struggle to use. So this was an opportunity to use a lump of the rhinestone gel. I did that, but it overlapped at the sides. For next time – don’t have it overlapping as then the surface is uneven.

I decided to add large caviar beads surrounding the gem to cover the gap, but the clear gel was uneven and it looked really odd. I tried flash curing the beads in place but the torch must be a bit weak and it wouldn’t set them properly. I managed fine and then the final set of beads – at the bottom – moved and then cured wonky. Gutted.

I decided to finish the design off anyway and surrounded the caviar beads with size SS5 light peach crystals from Temu. It’s a very eye catching, sparkly design, but obvs this one is no good as it’s all wonky.

My fave is the daisy. I said to K – look – this is the level of crystal I want on my nails and he replied with way over the top? Yes, absolutely, that’s the look for me.

TTFN!