Butterfly Wing Manicure Nail Art

OK so I know this design has now been done a bazillion times already, and I'm about to make it a bazillion and one.  I hadn't done one of these butterfly mani's before and I always thought they looked really pretty and I fancied giving it a go after seeing pictures of other peoples and admiring them all.  I googled some pics of Monarch butterflies for a few ideas and inspiration and had another drool over other peoples pics of their versions of this, and then I thought what the hell, I have plenty of remover if it turns out to be an epic fail so I got stuck in!

I started with using Virgin Vie Janet as a base colour (over my base coat/ridge filler) and then sponged on a little China Glaze Lighthouse, then gradually added China Glaze Free Love, and finally Finger Paints Chroma Coral, all sponged on to create a gradient effect.  Next I used a cheap 2 way art pen/polish, using the thin brush to add on the black tips and some of the thicker lines, and then finished off the finer lines and touch ins with a nail art pen I had given to me.  It looks just like a felt tip pen, and although trying to get an even flow through the nib without it drying up was tricky, it did the job.  Last part was to add the white spots, I just used the pointy end of an orange stick and Rimmel white nail tip polish.  Once dry I slapped on a couple of coats of top coat to seal it all in, and voila, butterfly wings on my nails.  I love how this has turned out, and I think I will be keeping it on for a few days, its so summery and pretty.  I will be trying it out in different colours too, I think a pink to magenta to purple combination would look lush :) but for now I'm happy with this one.