Happy November! It feels like it was just summer, and now it’s dangerously close to Christmas – craziness! This month, the Nail Challenge Collaborative theme is “Manicures Inspired by Books.” For my first look, I’ve chosen as inspiration one of my all-time favorite books by my favorite author, Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut.
If you aren’t familiar with the book or Vonnegut in general, he writes satirical science fiction as a vessel for social and political criticism of the late 1900s. I adore all his books, and Cat’s Cradle is easily in my top three. It’s loosely about a mad scientist’s creation, “ice-nine,” which is capable of freezing the world and ending it all. But it really is so much more than that, so I highly recommend reading it!
But anyways you’re here to see manicures not hear me geek out over my favorite author, so here it is:
My ring finger was inspired by the book cover, and the other nails are modeled after the frozen look of ice-nine.
Here’s what the book cover looks like:
How I did this manicure:
- Ring finger:
- Base color: Polish My Life Pink Sandals… a perfect pastel baby pink creme
- Taped off the V and used A England Saint George… an amazing almost forest green holo
- Freehanded the horizontal stripes with Julep Cleopatra… a matte/satin black (PS – it’s difficult using matte polishes in nail art. If it’s not perfect on the first swipe, going over it looks messy!)
- Other nails:
- Base color: Sephora Formula X White Matter… a decent white polish but far from my favorite. I feel like I need to keep all my white polishes in rotation though, so I used it π
- Used saran wrap to dab on:
- Barry M Damson… a goooorgeous cornflower blue creme
- Barry M Blueberry… a pretty pastel blue creme that’s very similar in color to Essie Bikini So Teeny without the shimmer but with a formula that’s a million times better!
- A light layer of China Glaze Fairy Dust
So what do you think of this mani? I actually really like the geometric look of my ring finger. Maybe I’ll do that using different colors sometime! Have you read Cat’s Cradle or other Vonnegut books?
Check out more manis inspired by books by the NCC ladies:
Love the saran wrap nails!!
Thank you! Using saran wrap is one of my favorite techniques – easy and the end result is always pretty!
I love Kurt Vonnegut, but I haven’t read this one – you’ve added it to my list π
Yay for Vonnegut lovers! Oh yes – you have to read it! My other faves are Slaughterhouse-Five & Sirens of Titan. How about you?
These look great!
Thanks so much!! π
Thanks for the explanation! I admit I wondered what the heck the accent nail was while opening the blog! Haha π Now I got it! Anyway, I loooove the saran wrap icy nails!
Haha I figured if the book wasn’t familiar, people wouldn’t have any idea what was going on with my accent nail π
Thanks – I love using saran wrap! Definitely one of my favorite techniques!
I love your interpretation and you have me wanting to do another saran wrap mani!!! I’ve heard of Kurt Vonnegut but haven’t checked out any of his books. I really need to make more time to read more, I’m still halfway through The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest!!
Ooh that series is really good too. If I had the time, I’d read constantly! You should really check out some Vonnegut – especially if you like Catch 22, 1984, or books like that π
Thanks! I really adore saran wrap manis!
I love the look of your saran wrap nails! So soft and pillowy while also looking chilly and cold.
Thank you so much! I need to do saran wrap manis more often – I always love how they turn out!
I really love this, especially the icy nails!
Thank you! I like those too π
I’ve never had the gumption to try a Kurt book. I hear good things though lol
Very nice mani! That accent nail is great π
Thanks so much! Oh, you really should try his books – he’s great!
Very pretty mani! Love the saran wrap nails
Thank you π
Love the nail art inspired by the cover! Fabulous inspiration mani for sure!
Thank you so much! π
Don’t know the author or the book, but love the mani π
Thanks so much! I’m glad you like it even if you’re not familiar with the inspiration π
These look awesome! I’ve only read Slaughterhouse-Five but maybe I should pick this book up!
Thanks! Slaughterhouse-Five is amazing (another top 3 Vonnegut for me), and if you liked his writing style at all you’d love this one too!