Did you know you can use stencil vinyl and your Cricut Explore to make DIY nail decals? Read this post to find out how easy it is to create nail stencils and make your own nail art. 
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This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I receive a small commission from your purchase. Thank you for your support.
I love DIY nail art just like the next person but I had never tried to create my own DIY nail decals before. I grabbed some stencil vinyl from Expressions Vinyl and cut it with my Cricut Explore and it turned out perfect. Next time I attempt it, I will use brighter colors but I'm not a bright nail person.
I already own a mini OPI light so I'm able to do my own gel polish at home and that's just what I'm going to have to do from now on. You can find a similar system here but I got my OPI kit at Sephora and it came with all the basics. You certainly don't need a light to do this and this can be done with regular nail polish. Just allow it to dry for quite a while before painting on your decal.
Supplies:
- Chrome Nails Kit or nail polish of your choice
- Top Coat
- Cricut Explore or Silhouette
- Cricut Unicorn File (or Silhouette Unicorn shape)
- Oramask Stencil or just any scrap of vinyl you have
I painted my nails with the gel base coat and allowed it to set in the light for 20 seconds each hand. I then painted one coat of black and I had them set under the UV light for another 20 seconds. Next, I topped it off with the no wipe top coat and let that set under the light for at least 30 seconds. I did wipe them with alcohol before I put that chrome powder on so that I would have a clean nail and I'd get a good shine. Don't use too much of the powder, a little goes a long way. Rub the powder into your nail until you see the shine that you want. You can use an eyeshadow applicator or a makeup sponge wedge.
Next, you'll apply your Unicorn decal that we've cut with our Cricut or any other cutting machine you have and then apply the black paint. Allow it to set with the light for 20-30 seconds to be sure that the decal won't go anywhere. Place another top coat on and set it under the light for an additional 30 seconds. Here is a great tutorial on how to cut vinyl with your Cricut and here is one on how to cut with your Silhouette. Because these are so small you won't really need transfer tape. I just used a weeder tool and removed it straight from the backing and put it straight onto my nail.
Here is a great youtube tutorial on using it with the Sally Hansen gel polish where you don't need a UV light. To get a kit of all the colors and applicators without the UV light, click here. Again, you don't need to use the chrome powder or fancy polish. This is your own, go for it!
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