I'm sitting here asking myself what's next? Well, I still haven't won a first place trophy for an art category so I guess I better start practicing that, eh? The next art category that I will compete in is...well there are two actually, French Twist and I think I'm going to enter Mixed Media.

I don't know why but I feel like I have to try everything at least once. You know like when you go to a buffet and you finally make it to the dessert counter and they have everything from Jell-o to crème bruleé and you can't choose just one because when someone asks you how the desserts were at Such and Such Buffet, you want to be able to tell them, “Eat this and not that.” Well that's kind of where I'm at on this. When someone asks me what they should compete in, I want to offer them my educated opinion, so I must try everything right? Right.

I have a question out to the competition director about a French Twist judging category and I certainly don't want to practice something wrong so I'll wait for the answer to that and I'll start by studying the rules for Mixed Media.

The first thing that piques my brain is the complexity of this competition. It involves three styles of art; hand painting, 3-D nail art, and one little design sculptured nail. Now of course the design sculpture is a design sculpt, but the other four nails (Did I mention that this is a one hand competition?) have tip requirements.

At first glance, I thought I had to do a tip and overlay on the remaining nails, but after reading the description a few times, it turns out that you only have to “stick” a full tip over the nail.

Great for time, but for overall looks, I say nay nay.

It's hard to find full tips these days. I have probably 10 boxes of tips, (I don't even use them) and every single one of them has a smile line. I need a full tip that has a natural appearance — not a claw. So what is a competitor to do?

Well, for now I'll just use the tips that I have in stock to practice with and if anyone out there has a suggestion, I'm all ears.

I'll keep you updated on my progress, but for now the theme for this one is “Islands.” I think there is a lot of room for creativity here — lots of color and “stuff” that could be incorporated. It should be a lot of fun and I look forward to seeing the artistic interpretations of others. I know my head is swirling with ideas as I type ;)

— Lynn