Making Your Own Nail Art Brushes

 Most of the time even the smallest brushes I can find are typically to big for me. I know you can get some fairly small ones online but I hate ordering things and having to wait for them to arrive, it drives me insane. I ordered a sable brush from Sally Beauty Supply online, used it for one stripe dipped it in acetone to clean it like I do all of my brushes and when I took it out all of the bristles were gone, I kid you not. Needless to say I was fairly disappointed. I also think part of the reason I hate ordering online is our mail isn't delivered to the house we have to pick it up at the post office but that is another story.
 Anyways what I tend to do is check out the art sections of most stores or any craft store I come across to see what brushes they have. I usually find them for a dollar or two. If you can't find one that is small enough you can make your own, and it is pretty simple. All you need is a brush, a pair of small scissors or what I prefer to use, cuticle clippers.

 After I find a cheap brush I like I take my cuticle clippers and go around the edge near the base of the handle and clip small sections out going towards the middle of the bristles. I like to keep the edges somewhat even so that when I get it to the thinness I want all of the bristles are in the middle of the brush and not to one side.

 Continue cutting small sections all the way around evenly until you feel the brush is thin enough for you.

 In the picture below are a few of my brushes, you can see how thin some of them are. Also, you might notice out of the five pictured, I have two of each of the black handle brushes. The only difference being that one I have cut more bristles off.

 

 So when I find a nice cheap brush I usually buy a few to make several different sizes, to have as backups in case one gets very used and I end up trashing it or lost.

How to Make simple Hearts

 I thought I would just do a quick post on how I make my hearts. They are super simple, all you need is a small brush or dotting tool. If you don't have a dotting tool they are easy to find online like ebay or BornPrettyStore.com or at you local craft store, or you can simple use a toothpick, pencil or pen. I find for me it is easier to use the dotting tools as I seem to have more control  making the hearts with that than a brush but you can use anything you like.

 To make the hearts I start by placing a dot and dragging it down slightly.

 Then I start with the top of the other side of the heart, doing the same step. Make a dot and drag down until you reach the bottom of the first line.

Removing Glitter: The foil Method

 Love glitter polish but hate the removal? What if you could wear glitter and remove it in less than 20 minutes with no scrubbing, scraping or frustration. There is a way, it is the foil method.
 It surprises me that not many people know about this. Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE glitter or anything that sparkles or shines so its no secret that I am a sucker for glitter. It never fails though anytime I wear it someone asks "well don't you hate taking it off?" and the answer is no, it is really easy.
 There is something that you will need though and it is 100% acetone. Not nail polish remover with acetone, they are not the same! You should also have small strips of foil, they don't have to be huge just enough to cover and wrap around the tip of your nail and cotton balls, toilet paper or something to soak in acetone to put in the nail.
 First I like to have everything near me and ready to go, I prefer toilet paper over cotton balls, your acetone, strips of foil and you need your awesome glitter covered nails. I also like to start a tv show, movie or have a book handy while I do this.

 I do this with my hand resting on something flat. Start by laying your strip of foil down with you finger in the center.

 Now take you cotton balls or whatever you choose soaked in acetone and place on top of you nail.

 Tightly start wrapping the foil around you finger. The easiest way for me is to start wrapping both pinkys then ring fingers and so until I get to my thumbs but you can do them in any order you like.

 I wrap on the side closest to me first, then the opposite side, try to keep the foil tight and the acetone as close to the nail as possible. 

 Then all I do is flip the remaining edge up over the top of my nail like this.

 Right about now people that you live with will look at you like you are trying to contact the mother ship but it's ok, trust me.

 Once you have waited about five minutes it is time to check if you are ready. Apply light pressure to the top of the first nail you covered, miking sure to begin by the cuticle. I usually start by rubbing the foil side to side on my nail as I pull the foil off.

 Presto, glitter gone! Well most of it. I usually have a little bit around the edge from not being able to get down between my nail and skin when taking the foil off, but at this point it just wipes off. If much glitter is still on you nail when you remove the foil I suggest leaving it on for one to two more minutes. Super easy glitter removal. If you haven't tried this and love glitter polish I suggest you try it at least once.

 The last step is to wash you hands well and apply a good hand lotion or cream. As a word of warning acetone is very drying to the hands and nails and can make your nails more brittle and prone to breaking, please moisturize your hands after!