Sponging
is a favorite topic of mine, so it's a nice challenge for this week's Artsy Wednesday!
I use sponging a lot, and for all sorts of things, mostly to create a background for some nail art like in yesterdays post. It’s a pity that many only use it for gradients, because sponging really is a useful tool!
I use sponging a lot, and for all sorts of things, mostly to create a background for some nail art like in yesterdays post. It’s a pity that many only use it for gradients, because sponging really is a useful tool!
I use a
makeup vedge/sponge, very fine pored, and I often only use a corner. When I’m
finished I either rip it of when dry, or clip it, creating lots of new corners
to work with – so one single sponge lasts forever and forever…
The
first I’ll show you is a classic sponged gradient, I used neons. The base color is
Sation Loudest Color, then I sponged the middle area with China Glaze
Sun-kissed, then closer towards the tip I used Pirate Polish Radioactive and
for the very tip I used a mix of Radioactive and China Glaze I’m With The
Lifeguard to make it more lime. Top coat is Seche vite.
01. I
created a mossy ground with Butter London Wallis over Essence Exits on your
right, and then I painted my flowers.
02. Over
Essence Via Airmail I sponged a diagonal belt of lighter blue with Barry M Cyan
Blue and I sponged a border on each side of that with Sinful Hottie (glitter) before I
painted my flowers.
03. On
Essence Destination Sunshine I sponged a mess of other colors – and it looked
terrible, I was like ARRRGHHH, but then I took my black striper, and it turned
out to be quite OK.
04. On
Essence Sending You Kisses I sponged a middle area with Barry M Neon Pink, it’s
difficult to see because of the boring flowers I painted, but it was a quite
subtle effect…
05. On China
Glaze frostbite I sponged one half with Sinful Hottie creating a diagonal line,
that I marked with a silver glitter striper.
Check out what the other girls in Artsy Wednesday did in this weeks challenge:
Michelle - Lab Muffin, Alanna - Pretty Purple Polish, Tif - Polished Genious, Lyndsey - Nails by Ms. Lizard, Melanie - Nail & Polish, Jessica - Beauty Gnome, Emily - An Accent Nail,
Check out what the other girls in Artsy Wednesday did in this weeks challenge:
Michelle - Lab Muffin, Alanna - Pretty Purple Polish, Tif - Polished Genious, Lyndsey - Nails by Ms. Lizard, Melanie - Nail & Polish, Jessica - Beauty Gnome, Emily - An Accent Nail,
The first flower design is so pretty :)
SvarSletThanks a lot BeautyShades, it's my fav too :)
SletI am a habitual sponger (why does that sound dirty? lol) I had to stop because I was worried that people would tire of seeing it... plus I have other looks I wanted to try. But sponging is still my favourite. I appericate you explaining how you do this (because you do it so well)
SvarSletLOL dirty polish talk muahha - I don't use it all the time either, but it's nice for effects i think :)
SletThanks a lot Karen!
I like sponging,well the efect that it gives,I don't know why I don't use it more often :) All the nail art designs are pretty,but the neon gradient stole my heart :)
SvarSletThanks a lot Mimi - it is a very juicy neon gradient LOL, i think so too :)
SletWhat an eye opener this post is! I will try and use sponging creatively like you in future, thank you!! :)
SvarSletAww, thanks a lot Rainbowify Me, what a sweet thing to say!
SletAll of them are so pretty but my favorite is no.1 :)
SvarSletMine too LOL, thanks a lot Irmak!
SletThese are all so gorgeous!!! I especially love the neon ones =) Thanks for the tips on how you do the sponging, I have tried so many times and failed. I am going to have to try again, you have inspired me!
SvarSletThanks a lot Jacqui, I think people often use a too large piece or a very open pored sponge, and call for failure - at least for me...
SletI love using sponges in nail art, I don't know why I don't use them more often..
SvarSletThat first flower design is absolutely beautiful, I love it.
LOL, maybe you need to do them more often, thanks a lot Katie :)
SletLove the yellow one. Reminds me of a butterfy :)
SvarSletYes it kind of does, i thought that at some point too, thanks NailNarcotics :)
SletI love 1, 2 & 5 the most :)
SvarSletThank you so much zebra-nails, It's really fun to hear what you guys prefer :)
SletLove them all, nr 1 and 3 stand out for me! The grass looks so real!
SvarSletPS: thank you for your sweet comments on NailTalk, very sweet!
Those two are my favorites too - and you are welcome, but you also always leave sweet comment here - so thank you so much NailTalk :)
SletI love them all, except the yellow one. Just love your flowers :D
SvarSletbeautiful ideas :) the first one with flowers looks like a real painting!
SvarSletI'm happy you like them, thanks a lot Mari Lumme :)
SletI love to see sponging on others, especially yours! They always look so neat and interesting. I haven't had the courage to try it myself, but I will let you know if/when I do. ;-)
SvarSlet~ Yun
Aww, thanks Yun, that makes me proud. You should try, there really is nothing to it :)
Sletvery true! i need to start using sponging more often. Great tip about clipping the sponge, i kept throwing them away. LOL love the gradient with the neons, beautiful!
SvarSletThank you so much Lydia - and yes, I always use a corner, easy :)
SletThank you for sharing this!!!! I need to work on this technique!
SvarSletI will look forward to seeing it on your lovely blog, Meredith Anne :)
Sletyour technique is really really good Maria, i especially love the neon yellow/green one! It reminds me of something toxic but totally cool :)
SvarSletLOL really toxic, I agree - thanks a lot Mel :)
SletMaria, you are always so creative and amazing at this!
SvarSletAww, thank you so much, GoingtotheShowing :)
SletGreat collection, your flowers are always very delicate!
SvarSletI'm so happy you like it, thanks a lot Manases Andrea :)
SletBig fan of the sponge :) And seriously, you are like the queen of flowers, they're so pretty!
SvarSletAww, now you make me blush, thank you so much Nail Nerd :)
SletJeg kan ikk' gøre for det ;) - tusind tak Christina, det var utrolig sødt sagt :)
SvarSletBeautiful post and beautiful examples! Excellent job! :-)
SvarSletWell, my favourite design is the flower design and then I liked very very much the abstract design on yellow! :-)
Aww, thanks a lot Raggio di Luna, these two are my favorites too!
SletThank you for the sponging tips! Especially about cutting the corner off, to create more areas to sponge with- very helpful! And I love the butterfly themed nail, but my favourite is the neon yellow/green gradient- but maybe I'm biased? ;)
SvarSletI always come up with so many silly and sometimes useful ideas LOL - this was one of them. Nah, I don't *think* you are biased at all LOL Tara ;)
Sletlove sponging too <3
SvarSletyour neon sponged nails are so beautiful, my knees are getting weak from this combo *.*
i'm not objective of this topic, i love everything you do :-D
Awww, such sweet comment, you ar too kind, thanks a lot nail crazy!!
Sletamazing! love the gradient, totally me! and im so jealous of your talent!
SvarSletAww, thanks esmeheredia, you should go right ahead, the first times I sponged, I had more polish on the sponge (pulled of the nail) than on the nail - it's like dotting - it's all in the wrist :)
SletThis is such an awesome post, Maria! I love the different way you use sponging :D
SvarSletI'm so happy you do, thanks a lot drinkcitra!
SletReally nice, Maria! I need to do some sponging now... But it means laying off the glitter! Lol
SvarSletLOL you glitter girl, thanks a lot Nidia :)
SletGreat uses for sponging! :)
SvarSletThanks a lot PrettyPurplePolish :)
Slet