First apply your base color (with a basecoat underneath) and let it dry completely. If needed use a fastdrying topcoat to quicken the drying.
I used a fine glitter as my base color to make it more festive, but you can also use a regular cream, a subtle shimmer or a polish with a foil finish etc. Just make sure it's not too dominating, because you want to keep the Christmas tree the center of attention.
I used a fine glitter as my base color to make it more festive, but you can also use a regular cream, a subtle shimmer or a polish with a foil finish etc. Just make sure it's not too dominating, because you want to keep the Christmas tree the center of attention.
Cut off two big tape strips which you'll use in step 3, and a few small ones to make the garland in step 4. The best way for me to cut (fine) tape strips, is by cutting a little piece of tape off the roll first which I then stick on the scissorblade, like shown in the picture. I let it stick out on one side (right in de picture), depending on how big I want the strip to be. This allows me to make very thin but also straight strips with relatively little effort.
Tip: to keep multiple small strips the same size, use the thickness of the scissorblade as reference.
Please note that I only use the colored tape you see for the pictures of this tutorial. Normally I use regular stationery tape. The translucency can be a great advantage in some cases, but it makes the tape difficult to capture in photos.
Please note that I only use the colored tape you see for the pictures of this tutorial. Normally I use regular stationery tape. The translucency can be a great advantage in some cases, but it makes the tape difficult to capture in photos.
When the base color is entirely dry, place the two big tape strips on your nail, forming a chevron shape.
Then place the small strips randomly accross the chevron to form the garland. Important is to remember the order in which you've placed them, so you'll know which strips to remove first later on.
When all strips are in the right position, press them down firmly and apply your layering color.
When all strips are in the right position, press them down firmly and apply your layering color.
Then right away, carefully peel off all the pieces of tape. Try to remove them individually if you can, because this will create crisper lines. When you're done, give your design a little time to dry.
At last, finish your design with a sparkly tree topper and seal your work with a layer of topcoat. Tada!
Polishes I used in this post are China Glaze Mistletoe Kisses and 2030.
You are such an amazing inspiration, i love all your creations! I've got inspired by you before, here's one manicure: http://www.lucysstash.com/search/label/Nail%20Art and here is another one http://www.lucysstash.com/2011/12/stripy-manicure-with-essence-and-colour.html not as good as yours but I'm trying hard :D :D
ReplyDeleteawesome! thank you!
ReplyDeleteLovely! Wanna try a to make a christmas tree-tape-mani for christmas! Sooo nice! =D
ReplyDelete-Daisy
I just recently discovered your blog. I love your nail tutorials. I am always looking for something new to try, and you have provided me with so many different ideas. I can't wait to try the Christmas tree tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! Also, thank you for your tips! ;)
ReplyDeleteamazing, as always :) i would love to spend a day inside your head as you come up with these amazing designs xx
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet :)))
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Love it!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Excellent tutorial!
ReplyDeleteThis is sooo adorable! wish I had a patience to do this. x)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I might try this for christmas eve :)
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant!! You come up with the best ideas!
ReplyDeletethis is incredible!! Too bad my tape mani's don't come out with perfectly crisp lines like yours or id have to try them a lot more. Can I ask what type of camera you are using? I love how it picks up the colors so well and the ultra fine glitter & I am in the market for a new camera =)
ReplyDeleteanother great tutorial, thanks :) x
ReplyDeletethank you! so cute!
ReplyDeletewOOw..echt gaaf
ReplyDeleteWauw, that is so spectacular, amazing..
ReplyDeleteThat's really unique! I'd make a giant mess, lol, but yours is super clean and lovely:)
ReplyDeleteSo cool! I wish I had a green sparkly polish so I could do this exactly since it looks so good!
ReplyDelete-Mar
http://girlinawholenewworld.blogspot.com/
So beautiful!! thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDelete(Portugal)
This is brilliant! So pretty! :-D
ReplyDeleteLove it. I think I want to try this tonight
ReplyDeleteso beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis is even prettier than your last christmas tree tutorial! So amazing! (: I have to try this asap
ReplyDeleteLOVE THAT!
ReplyDeleteLove this! I'm amazed at all the designs you come up with :)
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing tutorial! Thanks Jane! :-)
ReplyDeleteHow do you come up with all these great designs??? They always look so awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you so, SO much everybody! I hadn't expect so much positive feedback! ^^ I hope you all will make beautiful Christmas manis with the tutorials! And don't forget to share it here with everyone :-D
ReplyDelete@Prettyfulz: I sent you a message with more info :)
I looove your blog! I saw a picture of your christmas mani (pink, orange, christmas tree)on tumblr. I clicked the link and I'm so glad that it brought me here!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this manicure! It's adorable & I hope that it's easy enough for a tape newbie like me (:
I love this design, thanks for share your awesome tutorial!! ^.^
ReplyDeleteMade my own version, with use of crackle polish instead of the tape over the tree.
ReplyDeleteImage: http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwlzlplM8D1r19uh7o1_500.jpg
and
http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwlzlplM8D1r19uh7o2_500.jpg
That is just beautiful! I'm so impressed...one of the best holiday nail art i've seen lately. I wish I had the patience for nail art. I'm envious!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thanks for the tutorial :-)
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with your design, so I had to try it. Go check it out, the text is unfortunately in Finnish, but I do have the Google Translate gadget on my site. Plus the pictures are the most important thing. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://janinastar.blogspot.com/2011/12/viimeiset-joulukynnet.html
OH! I gotta attempt this one, especially after my tree art FAIL from the previous one! Thanks for the inspiration and may you enjoy your Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! I'm gonna try this tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteDon't know if you're on AOL, but tonight there's a link to your blog with a story about this nail look. It was on Stylelist and linked back to this post.
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that??? :)
WOW this is really pretty! WOW!!
ReplyDeleteI love all nails you have done! And tutorials are very big plus!:)
ReplyDeleteholy crap that is cool - great job!
ReplyDeleteThis design is awesome, you are so creative.
ReplyDeletecan you post a tutorial for the flame manicure you did
ReplyDeletejust did it today and sucessfuly for once ^_^
ReplyDeletelove it
thank you so much
I put your link on my review
just in case ^_^
ReplyDeletehttp://confessionsdunebeauteholic.blogspot.com/2012/01/manucure-de-noel.html
bonne idée avec le strass sur le sommet
ReplyDeleteOMG! so nice! I am from Czech Republic and love your nails inspirations, literally awesome! :) So keep going with all this :).
ReplyDeleteHello! This is an awesome blog, you are so talented! And this christmas treedesign is so clever! I just wanted to let you know that I totaly copied this design on my blog, (http://fastnaglad.blogg.se/2012/december/andra-advent-med-julgran.html) I hope thats OK, I linked back to your blog, but let me know if you have any preferences on how you would like to be refered to or anything like that... And also I write in swedish, so if you want me to write in english when I refer to your blog or anything, just let me know!
ReplyDeleteHi Sussie, thanks for your sweet comment! ^_^ And what a cute version you've made! I love seeing how other people have made this design in their own way. You already credited me and linked back to my blog, so that's fine. :)
DeleteDid it, too (http://glam-madam.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/china-glaze-winter-berry-xmas-tree.html). And mentioned you! Cheers and thanks for the inspiration!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Today I'm going to do the same!
ReplyDeleteWow! So sweet ;)
ReplyDeleteDid you know Born Pretty is using this manicure to sell one of their products? http://www.bornprettystore.com/fancy-white-stripe-tape-roll-nail-edge-guide-tips-stickers-12cm-width-p-6617.html = It seems you used regular scotch tape where they used whatever tape theyre trying to sell....
ReplyDeleteOMG! I am in love with these! Could you use dental floss for the garland strips instead of tape? Also do you think that I could do a red background with a green tree and still have it look as good as yours? I love all the ideas that you come up with!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :D I think a green tree on a red background would look great actually! However, I wouldn't use dental floss instead of tape, because you really want it to stay put on the nails when you paint over it. Good luck and feel free to share the result here!
Delete