Stained Glass Nails: A Tutorial

Although this is titled a Stained Glass tutorial, this technique is actually also called Reverse Stamping.  You can follow these directions using any opaque polishes to make a wide variety of designs and decals.

• Chose your design.  For these nails I used the Mo-You London Gothic plate 09.  When starting out it's best to look for designs that are less detailed.
• Using a good black polish, I used Black Out from Just Rica (my HG, go to stamping polishes), stamp the design in black, leaving it on the pad of your stamper instead of applying it to your nail.

• Let it sit a moment so it doesn't smear and seal it with a fast dry top coat, keeping the layer thin and even.  Carefully remove the pad from the stamper so you can lay it flat on your work space.

• While it's drying, set yourself up a palette of the sheer jellies you'll be using.  I prefer Just Rica's Squishies, they are the same as OPI's Tints (although a lot nicer) as well as the sheers from companies like Polish Pusher, etc.

• When the top coat is dry you can fill in/paint the design using the Squishies, mixing colours as needed. 

• Apply another thin layer of top coat to seal it all and create a decal.

• While that dries, prep your nails by applying a white polish to them and let dry until just a very bit tacky.

• Very carefully peel the design off the stamp pad, making sure you keep it in one piece.  It shouldn't be too thick or impliable.  I think I just made up that word.

• Carefully place it over your nail as desired, centering the design, good side up!  Since the base is still tacky, you can't really play with it too much, but the tack will hold the design in place once you're settled.  Using the pad of your thumb press it into place without rubbing it, the heat will help it mold into the curves of your nail.

• Trim the edges off using a cuticle pusher, folding the top over and pressing them clean.  Some people file the tops off, but I find that leaves a small gap of the design.
• Once it's trimmed, apply a quick dry top coat.
• Tidy up, if required!

If you're inspired to try any of my tutorials, please tag them with #00Inspired on Instagram!

PS - I'm so buggered that it smeared!