When I first got married, one of the things I didn't realize was how much I would come to love playing hostess! I absolutely love a party, and I love it even more if I get to plan and host it! The artist in me comes out full-force, and I plan every detail from the favors down to my coordinating outfit {yes, I'm a nerd...don't judge}. I haven't had the opportunity to throw a good party since Little Crafter's Lego birthday last August, so when I was selected to host a Sally Hansen "I Heart Nail Art" party, I jumped at the chance to have a Girls' Night In with some gal pals and pamper ourselves a little.
The first step was to go shopping! My trusty helper and I hit Walgreens with a mission. Being the Queen of Indecisiveness, I was a little overwhelmed with all the fun and fabulous choices, but Little Crafter helped me narrow things down and we ended up with a cart full of goodies. {He insisted on yellow polish; we'll see what my guests think of it!} Polishes, nail art pens, files, base coats, top coats, nail polish strips, snacks, and more! I was so glad I had my Balance Rewards card app ready for checkout so I'd get the reward points for our purchases!
You can read and see all about our shopping adventure in my Google+ Album...it'll give you a little taste of what it's like to shop with the Artsy Family, bribery and all!
Here's a little peek at some of what we got for my guests to play with...ooooh, all those pretty colors!!
The next step was to start creating favors! I used "Cammie," my trusty Silhouette Cameo to cut out these adorable little favor boxes. I decided to go with a pink/purple/turquoise color theme for the party since it's feminine and perfect for Spring! Each favor was personalized with the guest's name and filled with goodies: a bottle of nail polish, a file, and an assortment of candy. I asked each guest ahead of time what her favorite nail colors were and tried to get a polish that would go with her preferences.
The day of the party, I set up a manicure station for each guest, including a washcloth, a container of soapy water, Q-tips, cotton balls, a file, and a polish removal wipe. I also provided each person with a list of the different products on the table. To help inspire their creative designs, I placed photos and magazine pages featuring fun nail ideas and current fashions in sheet protectors and spread them out.
Some of them were using it as a night out away from the responsibilities of being a mommy, but my friend Jess was excited to bring her daughter along for some Mommy-Daughter girl time.
My friend Jenni is like me in her love for sparkles! And we're not alone! Some of the stars have been shining brightly on the red carpet lately with all kinds of gorgeous glittery glamour. When Jenni saw the pink glitter Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips, she was excited to try them. First, she polished her nails with a light neutral color, then followed the simple instructions for the strips. She opted to do a full strip on each ring finger nail, then she cut the rest to create custom French manicure tips for the other fingers! I would never have thought to cut them, but I love the look she created!
Jenni finished her manicure with a top coat to seal it and give it even more shine. After using the Salon Effects strips she said, "I wouldn't have just bought these in the store, but now that I've tried them I probably will."
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My friend Kristen is one of the most artistic people I know {in fact, she's an elementary school art teacher}, as well as one of the most stylish, so I couldn't wait to see what kind of nail design she would create. She started out by combining a light blue base coat with a mint green reverse french manicure. The product she was most excited about trying was the Nail Art Pens, which she used to create a fun design on her ring finger...to go along with that gorgeous engagement ring of hers! Her manicure reflects the current fashion trend of colorblocking within the same color family, as seen in this inspiration magazine photo.
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Sweet five-year-old Rose was beyond excited when she saw all the choices on the table! She picked the flowered Salon Effects strips for her pointer finger, then for the rest, she opted to try the Coral Crackle Effect polish over a dark rose base color. Even at such a young age, Rose is on board with this spring's trend of adding some flair to your look with a funky pattern!
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My friend Sara chose to follow one of this season's hottest trends by painting her nails a gorgeous shade of coral! She accented it by painting her ring finger nails white and putting tiny turquoise polka dots on them with one of the Nail Art pens {which are super easy to use}!
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Jess confessed that she rarely paints her nails...in part because with a five-year-old and an 18-month-old at home, it's hard to find time to give herself a manicure and let it dry. She was anxious to try the Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips because there's no dry time required! You just adhere them and go, which is great for a busy mom and church secretary like Jess. She used a light blush color, which is very on-trend, for her base coat, then borrowed Jenni's technique of cutting the strips to create a funky twist on the classic French manicure.
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These hands are extra special to me since they belong to my mom, Sherl. Normally, she chooses pink/rose/neutral shades of polish, so I was really proud when she stepped out of her comfort zone and tried this pretty purple! She also took it a step further and added tiny teal polka dots with the Nail Art Pen. Polka dots are everywhere this spring...a timeless look.
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Then, of course, there's me, Amy. Although my current favorite color of the season is the coral Sara used, I decided to go with teal since this particular shade of Insta-Dri polish exactly matches my Easter dress. I also was really curious to try out the French Manicure tip pen, so I decided to do a teal base coat with the white tip. The pen worked really well and was a lot easier than trying to give yourself a French mani with a regular brush! While I was at it, I used the pen to add some playful polka dots. They're larger than the ones my mom and Sara got since the tip of the pen is larger than the Nail Art Pens, which makes them an even bolder look.
Of course, I had to play with the products to "quality test" them before the party, and I also still have them for more fun after the fact too...here are two other looks I created with the Sally Hansen polishes, strips, and pens!
Which one is your favorite?
You can also follow Sally Hansen on Twitter, Walgreens on Twitter, and find all kinds of manicure inspiration on the I Heart Nail Art Facebook page!
Hugs and Glitter,
