Inspiration Mani: Roses Tutorial

Today I've got a Fundamentally Flawless first for you! I've done a tutorial! (Which is something I never thought I'd say when I started blogging about my nails). Since it's my first one I'd be super grateful for any suggestions you have as to how I can improve tutorial efforts in future (cuticle care is probably something I can work on too)...

I came across my washbag in the bathroom the other day (good story, right?) anyway, it's got a cute Cath Kidston-esq rose and polka dot pattern on it and I figured it might be a pretty nail design... and I'm actually really chuffed with how it turned out.

I used all Models Own polishes (again! Potentially I have a small addiction - and there are still so many gorgeous ones I don't own) for this mani - base coat was Apple Pie (baby green), rose was Strawberry Tart (baby pink) and Vintage Pink (darker pink), leaves were Top Turquoise, white spots were Snow White and white lines on rose were the white nail art pen.  [Models Own is a UK brand - available in some Boots stores, at the Westfield White City Bottleshop and on their website].

Without further ado, here are the snaps.  Scroll down to the bottom for the tutorial (apologies for being photo-heavy...):

 Pre-top coat (I was too worried I'd smudge it all)

My favourite rose

My right hand! Doesn't often get featured because I'm right handed, but it didn't turn out too badly.

The How-To:
You will need (I feel so Blue Peter!):
- Background colour (baby green)
- Light and dark of the same colour for the rose (pink)
- White
- Green for the leaves
- Dotting tool (here on Amazon)
- Striper brush (mine was a shortish one) (I got a set from eBay for minimal cost)
- A little bit of patience

Snow White, Strawberry Tart, Vintage Pink, Apple Pie, Top Turquoise

1.  Start with a pale base coat (here: Apple Pie).  Make sure it's dry.
2.  Put a couple of blobs of your rose colour (here: Strawberry Tart) - it doesn't have to be a perfect circle.  Make sure they're dry.
3.  Use a striper brush to draw darker lines on the rose (here: Vintage Pink) - draw a little u shape, then draw another opposite slightly bigger - then keep interlocking them.  Make sure they're dry!
4a.  Use a striper brush (or nail art pen/I used the Models Own white nail art pen striper brush) to draw a few white lines to accent the roses.
4b.  Use a striper brush to draw some leaves around the edges of the roses (here: Top Turquoise) (I tried to draw some stalks too...!)
5.  Use a striper brush and a slightly darker green to add detail to the leaves.
6.  Use a dotting tool to put dots in the blank bit of nail (here: Snow White).
7.  Finish it all off with a nice glossy top coat (my favourite is Butter London PD Quick as it doesn't have the same shrink-factor that I find Seche Vite does).

(This manicure and tutorial was aided by Nail Art 101's very helpful post on floral nail art).

So, there's the tutorial! I would love to know what you think of it. And if you try it out, let me know! Pop a link in the comments below, Tweet me (@fundaflawless) or tag me on Instagram (@fundaflawless) - it's honestly not too hard, but it does require a bit of patience and a little bit of a steady hand (practice makes perfect, apparently!)

I'm linking up with this week's Nail Files over at Fabulous But Evil...