I am loving this nail design that I did to welcome in the Christmas season. I love red, white and gold together and to me the color combo just screamed Christmas. I ended up using white vinyl that I cut into thin strips and then just sealed in the vinyl with a top coat. Anyone can do this, no craft cutting machine required! Here is what I did . . .

Note: I will be providing instructions on how to achieve this look with plain polish, along with Gel Polish.I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

 

Step 1: Prep Nails

View my post on Nail Polish Prep.

 

Step 2: Paint Color onto Nails

Paint all of the nails, except the middle and ring fingers, with two coats of red polish. I used the Shellac color called, Wild Fire. Paint the middle and ring fingers with two coats of gold polish. I used the Shellac color called, Locket Love.

Gel Polish: Apply two coats of polish. Cure 2 minutes in the UV light, or 1 minute in an LED light.I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

 

Step 3: Glitter

While the second coat of polish is tacky, not wet, gently dust a fine layer of gold glitter onto the polish, just as I did for my Simply in Love nails. I used Martha Stewart craft glitter, color florentine gold. Then gently press the glitter into the tacky polish. This will create a different look than applying the glitter when the polish is wet. Now apply a top coat to seal in the glitter so that as you adjust your vinyl it won’t remove the glitter.

Gel Polish: Apply gold glitter after the second coat of gold polish is cured, but still has that tacky residue on the surface. Now apply a top coat over the glitter and cure 2 minutes in the UV light, or 1 minute in an LED light.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Glitter Nails

 

Step 4: Apply Vinyl

Take a small piece of white vinyl (with the backing still on) and cut into thin strips. I used my paper cutter, but scissors would work as well. Note: You could buy this Assorted Vinyl pack so you could apply different colors of vinyl strips through out the year.I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

 

Now apply the vinyl strips by removing the paper backing. Cut the edges of the vinyl with small scissors or with cuticle nippers, like I did.I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

 

Step 5: Hearts

Pick up some red polish on a toothpick and paint a heart on the white striped nail (picture below shows the easiest, best way to paint a polish heart.) You may need two coats of red polish to hide the white vinyl stripe behind the heart. Or you could use red acrylic paint like I did for my Spring Has Sprung nail design.

Heart Tutorial

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Gel Polish: I actually used the red gel polish and painted a heart, cured in the light for 30 seconds and then painted another coat over the top of that. The white vinyl was showing through the heart, but once I did a second coat over the heart it looked just like I wanted it to. After the second coat on the heart cure again for 30 seconds.

 

Step 6: Apply Final Top Coat

Now apply your top coat. Make sure the paint is completely dry before adding top coat to help avoid smearing. Seal the vinyl strips in well. I ended up doing two applications of top coat on my ring finger nails.

Gel Polish: Apply top coat and cure in UV light for 2 minutes. If needed, do another application of top coat and cure in light.

 

Step 7: Allow to Dry and Apply Cuticle Oil

Allow your polish to dry completely. Apply a cuticle oil just around your nails on the cuticle and rub into the skin.

Gel Polish: Remove sticky residue on top of nails with a little alcohol or polish remover and apply cuticle oil.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

 

 

Remove gel polish after 2-3 weeks, check out Gel Polish Removal for the quickest, easiest and best way to remove gels.