So, I love water marbling but it is a serious undertaking for time and cleanup.
My nail friends and I do weekly challenges. We did a decal
challenge where we had to apply store bought or homemade decals. We also did
a water marbling challenge and after the messy process of the water marbling, I decided I
should try to make decals to make this process cleaner and hopefully less time
consuming.
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I have also started doing home gel manis and love how long they last, except they last too long, I like to change it up before they "go bad"! I thought I would try a gel backdrop (blank canvas) that I could apply art to with regular polish. This way I can do my art then remove it and still have a blank canvas to work with!
First you have to make the water marble decals.
What you'll need to make the decals:
Start by painting a clear base coat on parchment paper in rectangles (about 1X2 inches). Let them dry for a couple of hours or over night. Next you want to cut into smaller rectangles and add a toothpick to the back of each.
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It's time to do the water marbling! Here are some videos I used to learn how to do the water marble technique. Wait for it to dry well, then you can add a topcoat or leave it be, it's up to you. Save them for later or use them now if you can't wait!
What you'll need to apply your decals:
Start with a base mani, I chose to do a white gel mani so I can remove this when I'm ready to do new art on the same blank canvas. Then decide what part of your decal you want on your nail and trim it, large enough to cover your nail with a little extra for wiggle room. Apply your clear base coat and immediately put your decal on face down. This is the side of the decal you didn't put the top coat on, if you did put a top coat it doesn't matter which side is up. Now use your finger to press the decal onto the nail, once in place crease the edges into the cuticles (don't use too much pressure or you risk tearing your decal), and push it down over the free edge of your nail. Now you are ready for some clean up, clean the edges with your brush and acetone. Now top it off with your favorite top coat and voila, low mess water marble!!
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My homemade water marble decals.
I have also started doing home gel manis and love how long they last, except they last too long, I like to change it up before they "go bad"! I thought I would try a gel backdrop (blank canvas) that I could apply art to with regular polish. This way I can do my art then remove it and still have a blank canvas to work with!
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| Here is my blank canvas I started with for this water marble mani. |
First you have to make the water marble decals.
What you'll need to make the decals:
- Water marbling tools (bowl of water, polish, toothpicks, etc.)
- Parchment paper (wax paper might work too, but I used parchment)
- Tape (any tape that will stick to the parchment paper, I used masking tape)
- Base coat
- Toothpicks
Start by painting a clear base coat on parchment paper in rectangles (about 1X2 inches). Let them dry for a couple of hours or over night. Next you want to cut into smaller rectangles and add a toothpick to the back of each.
It's time to do the water marbling! Here are some videos I used to learn how to do the water marble technique. Wait for it to dry well, then you can add a topcoat or leave it be, it's up to you. Save them for later or use them now if you can't wait!
What you'll need to apply your decals:
- a base coat (anything clear will do)
- a top coat (I like a quick dry)
- tweezers
- a means to clean up your cuticles (Qtips, brush etc.)
- acetone for clean up
- and your decals of course
Start with a base mani, I chose to do a white gel mani so I can remove this when I'm ready to do new art on the same blank canvas. Then decide what part of your decal you want on your nail and trim it, large enough to cover your nail with a little extra for wiggle room. Apply your clear base coat and immediately put your decal on face down. This is the side of the decal you didn't put the top coat on, if you did put a top coat it doesn't matter which side is up. Now use your finger to press the decal onto the nail, once in place crease the edges into the cuticles (don't use too much pressure or you risk tearing your decal), and push it down over the free edge of your nail. Now you are ready for some clean up, clean the edges with your brush and acetone. Now top it off with your favorite top coat and voila, low mess water marble!!
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