Palm Tree Nails

Here’s another set of summery nails. This design features reaching palm trees over a calm summer background. I like gradients for summer designs, and they’re a great way to put a little more effort into nails, and get a lot back in reward.

I was inspired by this YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpbP5uawf9E&feature=player_embedded

1.  I applied a normal base coat to protect my natural nails from staining. 
2. When the base coat dried, I applied one coat of white polish. This doesn't have to cover evenly because it will be covered up in the next step.
3. Start the gradient at the free edge of the nail with a light blue nail polish. Cut up a kitchen sponge or use a makeup sponge to dab color onto the surface of your nail. Blend the colors up through green into orange.
4. Next I used a small paint brush and brown acrylic paint to create the two curved trunks of the palm trees on each nail. I made sure that their bases were slightly wider than the tops. The palm leaves were a darker green paint than the background polish, and branched off in a stereotypical palm tree pattern from the trunks. 

These nails look like they’re filled with lazy palm trees stretching out in the breeze. The background colors could easily be switched out with sunset colors such as pink and orange. Or they could be switched out for bright blue and yellow for a daytime scene.