For the Final NAILS NTNA Challenge of Season 7, the Top 3 had to create press-ons for five separate themes. See each theme below as press-on tips and on an actual hand then read the contestant's descriptions.

1. Symbol of Strength

My symbol of strength is my mother. She raised me and my brother all alone and that’s why we call her the “Captain” of our family! As my mother is a true vintage lover, I chose to go with vintage nautical style for this set! The hand painted vintage ship represents our little family and the spinning ship wheel is for all the decisions she made to raise us the best way possible. To emphasize how bonded we all are as a family I created 3-D nautical knots. I completed my design with hand painted vintage map, sculpted anchor, functioning telescope, and a hand painted lighthouse.

2. Beauty Changes Lives

Education is one of the greatest values that can change people’s lives always for the best and BCL is 100% achieving that goal. In my mind BLC takes people that cannot afford to educate and help them bloom like a flower. To celebrate that, I created a colorful set with a 3-D mechanical flower that blossoms to represent both beauty industry and self-growth that is achieved through education. I also sculpted a working 3-D watering can that sprinkles glitter just like BLC is offering knowledge. To complete the set, I created a 3D owl as symbol of the knowledge, and a six-piece puzzle that when assembled it reveals the message “Together we help people BLOSSOM” to celebrate the change that’s possible when beauty professionals come together for good.

3. Dream Client

For me a dream client is a client who could pull-off anything crazy that I have in my mind, someone like Lady Gaga. For this set I was inspired by Lady Gaga’s recent photoshoot where she was half human and half robot. So, I chose to create a set of fully functioning robotic finger gloves for the one hand and a circuit board inspired design with cables for the other hand. This is the hardest creation I have ever made using solely acrylic system. The robotic finger gloves have two extra knuckles that mechanically follow our natural hand movement creating an amazing effect!  

4. Porter Pose

For Billy Porter I wanted to create a unique set that can be worn in two different ways as all the nails bear a hinged part that can open and close transforming the overall design! For the thumbs and ring fingers I created foldable rainbow fans to achieve a dramatic colorful effect. I completed the design with geometric nail art and foldable triangles that can be worn in two different ways depending the mood!

5. The Janicure

For the amazing Jan Arnold I chose to create a darker style set with combination of textures, crystals, hand painting and engineering! I wanted to create a set that is 100% wearable but at the same time draws your attention. I hand painted roses and skulls and created three different textures with crystals, squared cracked and scratched surfaces. For a unique Janicure, I created a moving butterfly ring made only with acrylic and Swarovski crystals. It is one of the most challenging 3-D designs I have ever created but it is definitely my favorite of all time!

Vote for Stella Sampson in the NTNA finals by Friday, June 12.