Festive Holiday Nail Stamping

Want to get a festive upgrade for your fingernails for that holiday office party? Try nail stamping! It takes a bit of practice to get the technique now, but once you do the results can be stunning.

What you need:

• Nail stamping plate
• Scraper
• Nail stamper
• Nail polish, various colors
• Clear top coat
• Cotton Swabs
• Acetone nail polish remover
• Adhesive tape

How to do it:

1. Gather your tools. There is nothing more frustrating that trying to find that one thing you need after you’ve just put on a layer of nail polish.
2. Start with a fresh canvas (referring to your fingernails). Wash your hands; remove any old nail polish, trim your nails to a uniform length.
3. Apply your primary base color nail polish and allow to dry completely. Then apply a clear top coat over the base nail color, and allow it to dry completely.
4. Select the nail stamping plate with your preferred design. Apply a thick layer of the accent nail color over the image on the plate. Working quickly to prevent the nail polish from drying on the stamping plate, hold your scraper at a 45-degree angle and drag it across the image. This will remove the excess polish, leaving color only in the design.
5. Press the nail stamper over the image using a rolling motion, to pick up the time.
6. Line up the edges of the image and the nail, then transfer the image from the stamper to the nail by using a rolling motion to firmly press the stamper across your nail.
7. You’ll likely get some of the image onto your fingers. Just clean it up using nail polish remover and a cotton swab.
8. Clean any residue from your stamping plate with the sticky side of a piece of adhesive tape.
9. Once the design has dried, seal it with another coat of clear top coat.