Crackle Polish Challenge #2: Emoticon Mani

2015 Crackle Polish Challenge Manicure #2

Featured crackle application: Taping/Masking

Featured crackle polish: OPI 'Silver Shatter'

Grey and Silver Emoticon Mani

Polishes Used:
OPI 'Silver Shatter'
NCLA 'Rock Solid'
Sally Hansen 'Silver Sweep'

Plates Used:
Moyou London Geek Collection plates 2 and 3

Polishes Used

Today's instalment of the '2015 Crackle Polish Challenge' incorporates the technique of taping/masking. I applied a piece of tape to my completely dried base colour prior to the crackle polish application, and then removed it while the crackle polish was still wet. This leaves a protected area in the shape of the applied tape, that does not received the crackle topcoat. It remains solid base-colour.

I used a triangle-shaped pieced of tape, but because of a missing area of crackle polish in the centre of the nail, the triangle looks like an arrow. Sometimes when I use shatter polishes, I'll use haphazard brush strokes that don't fully cover the nail. This leaves larger gaps so more of the base colour can show through. I did that with this application of 'Silver Shatter' polish because I find that it doesn't crack as dramatically as some of my other shatter polishes. Here's a closer look at the thumbnail (unfortunately, the best picture available was one that I took prior to cleaning up around the edges of the nail, so please disregard the excess polish on my cuticles!):

Close-Up of Shatter Thumbnail

Overall, I like how this manicure turned out. It was a very casual, understated manicure, perfect for a 'jeans and sweatshirt' day!