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Kids love painted nails.  Whether it be for a special occasion, Halloween, or a Tuesday, it’s always a big hit.

The Problem is…

…convincing kids to sit still long enough for the paint to dry.  It’s also pretty awful to have to chase them around the house, making sure they aren’t smearing paint all over the walls or the furniture.  I have three girls… let’s talk about a headache x3!  Needless to say, with young kids, this activity is not for the faint of heart.

The Solution

After some (actually, a lot) of experimentation, I’ve found an awesome solution!  I have been creating nail stickers for my girls.  It cuts out all of the mess and fuss, creating happy girls with painted nails in a fraction of the time.  Here’s how to make this miracle happen:

Materials:

• Nail polish (We love this brand, it’s a good compromise of price, color selection, and less toxic than conventional brands)
• nail polish remover (or acetone, whatever your comfortable using with your kids)
• small paintbrush or Q-Tip for clean up
• a nail stick
• clear polish
• parchment paper

The Process:

1. Use the nail polish to paint a strip of paint onto the parchment paper.  With little fingers, it doesn’t need to be very long or tall, a 4″x1.5″ strip is plenty for a single little kid manicure.
   
2. Let dry
3. Add additional layer of polish or embellishment if desired
   
4. Dry (again)
5. Peel the polish strip off of the parchment paper.  Use scissors to cut the strip into the approximate size of each nail.
   
6. Paint a thin layer of clear nail polish on your child’s hand (this is the first step they need to be involved in, by the way)
7. While the clear polish is still tacky, apply the nail stickers.  Use the nail stick to press them down firmly onto the nail.
   
8. Use the nail stick and small paintbrush (or Q-Tip) to clean up around the edges if necessary.
   
9. You are done!!  Let your child run free!!!!

This method will not last nearly as long as painting the nail directly, but it does get the job done while looking really good!

Painting on parchment paper is a great alternative for kids fingers, but it works just as well for adults too.  Paint strips can be made way ahead of time (or in bulk!) and saved in a little sandwich bag.  That way you can be ready for the next time someone asks, “Mommy, will you paint my nails?”

If you want to get really artsy and make small decals (like hearts or stars) paint a layer of clear polish on the parchment, then paint your shape (decal) over it. Once it dries you can cut it out to create a perfect little shape to apply to your clear or painted nails.

Happy Painting, Momma!