Halloween is my favorite time of year and I love decorating my house inside and out for the holiday. In fact, I begin on October first by wearing Halloween colors (yes, some think this is a bit strange). I also paint my nails in Halloween fashion every week during October. So, instead of showing you just one design, I thought…why not paint 5 different “ghouls” so we can mix and match? They may take a bit longer to paint, but just take your time because they are worth it. So, let’s get started!

Supplies:

Nail Polish Remover                                       
Green Nail Polish
Polish Remover Pads                                     
Yellow Striping Nail Polish
Clear Base Coat                                                
Black Striping Nail Polish
White Nail Polish                                             
White Striping Polish
Orange Nail Polish                                          
Clear Top Coat
Black Nail Polish                                              
Pre-Painted Black Artificial Nails (optional)
Red Striping Polish                          

 Remove your old polish, file and buff your nails. Apply a clear basecoat and let dry.

For all the “ghouls”, I began with two coats of black polish and let dry for at least 15 minutes. If you are using artificial nail tips, you can buy them in black and save this step. We will be painting “Eyes of the Cat”, “I Luv Mummy”, “Grinning  Jack”, “Frankie Baby”, and “Skully Dear.

Step 1:

Eyes of the Cat-Paint white “lemon” shapes for the eyes and let dry. Then fill in the white with green and paint a black crescent shape for the center of the eyes. You’re done…that was easy!

Step 2:

I Luv Mummy-Paint white diagonal swatches across your nail, leaving about an eighth inch black diagonal stripe. Paint black diagonal lines across your nail in different directions to indicate “wrapping” and let dry. Paint two red “eyes” in the center of the black stripe and let dry.

Step 3:

Grinning Jack-Paint two rounded shapes in white at the top third of your nail and fill in toward the tip. Paint orange over the white “pumpkin” shape and let dry. Using the yellow striping polish, paint 3 or 4 curved lines down the pumpkin to give some dimension. Paint a green “stem” and using black striping polish, paint a triangle for the nose and two for the eyes. Then paint a crooked smile and this nail is finished.

Step 4:

Frankie Baby-Paint a white zigzag line across the top third of your nail and fill in toward the tip, then overpaint the white with green polish. Using black striping polish, paint Frankie’s “scar” across his forehead, paint lines for his brows, eyes and crinkled mouth.

Step 5:

Skully Dear-Paint a white, roundish circle, off-center about half way down your nail. Paint a large black circle and a smaller black circle for eyes. Paint two small black “dots” for a nose and a “zipper” mouth to give this little guy some character.

Let all nails dry for about 15 minutes and apply two coats of clear top coat.

And there you have it…a handful of “ghouls” who just want to have fun! I hope you will try one or all of these fun designs, and have a Happy Halloween.

Until next time…..keep those nails covered.