20 Christmas Nail Art Ideas

This year I've hardly posted any Christmas nail art and I feel awful for it! In previous years I've been all over that stuff but this month I just haven't been able to put all my nail art ideas down on my actual nails. I know that many of us will be planning out our manicure for the big day this weekend (myself included!) so I've created a nail wheel full of Christmas nail art designs so that I can get all these ideas out before Christmas has been and gone!

There's a good range of designs here from easy glitter gradients to slightly more tricky freehanded stuff. I've tried to make sure there's something for everybody, no matter your personal taste or skill level and I'll be linking up to tutorials where I can find them. Merry Christmas and Happy Painting!!

Festive Roses
The Nailasaurus: Freehanded Rose Tutorial

Snowman
I used two coats of China Glaze Fancy Pants with a coat of W7 Moonlight for the glittery base. The snowman is freehanded using white acrylic paint and various nail polishes for the details.

Santa's Hat
I started with a white base coat and freehanded a red triangle in Rimmel Heart on Fire. Next I painted on the blue background colour and went back in with some white acrylic paint to make the fluffy details.

Christmas Pinstripe
The Nailasaurus: Striping Tape Tutorial
Barry M Gold Foil, Rimmel Heart on Fire and Revlon Emerald City over a base of Barry M White

Polka Dots
Barry M Gold Foil dots over Revlon Emerald City

L♥VE
White acrylic paint over Rimmel Heart on Fire freehanded with a nail art brush

Grold Glitter I combined W7 Cosmic Green and Sinful Colors Call You Later which are both green/gold glitter mixes to get this dimensional glitter look.
Can't Catch Me The base colour here is piCture pOlish Whimsy and I freehanded the gingerbread man with Avon Deluxe Chocolate. The white details are acrylic paint.
Sonnetarium Peppermint Kiss
Available at sonnetarium.net

Candy Canes This was freehanded using a striping brush and Essie Jag-U-Are over a base of China Glaze Dandy Lyin' Around
Rudolph Start by painting on a half moon at the base of the nail, then adding a hump on top. Outline and add antlers using a darker shade then fill in his nose with red glitter! I used Essie Glamour Purse
Snowfall I used a really old blue NYC polish for my base colour and dotted on white acrylic paint using a dotting tool in a gradient pattern. Do this by first doing a layer of dots that are evenly spaced and then adding a second dose of dots just near the cuticle.

Christmas Waterfall The Nailasaurus: Waterfall Nail Art Tutorial
Essie Jag-U-Are, Ulta3 Mermaid Green and NYC Full Metal Jacket over China Glaze Dandy Lyin' Around

Presents!
The base colour here is A-England Rose Bower. I painted on the ribbons with a striping brush and freehanded the bow in Revlon Emerald City.

Gold Glitter
You just can't go wrong with gold glitter at Christmas. This beauty is on coat of Cirque Helios over Nails Inc. Hampstead Gardens.

Snowflakes
The Nailasaurus via Divine Caroline: Snowflake Nail Art Tutorial
These snowflakes were freehanded with white acrylic paint over Essie Bouncer It's Me

Glitter Gradient
I used Barry M Blue Glitter over Maybelline Ceramic Blue. Using a sponge, lightly dab on the glitter from the tip of your nail down towards the cuticle. Repeat, but the second time around, only go half as far down as you did the first time to make sure the glitter is more dense at the very tip of your nail.

Oh Christmas Tree
This base colour is piCture pOlish Whimsy and I created the tree by painting on a long triangle, adding the star on top and finally decorating it with tinsel.

Fair Isle Snowflake
Coewless Polish: Fair Isle Snowflake Picture Tutorial

Christmas Puddings
The Nailasaurus via iVillage: Christmas Pudding Tutorial

Freehand Roses (again!)
The Nailasaurus: Freehanded Rose Tutorial

And that's all folks! Let me know which is your favourite design. At the moment I'm falling hard for the cute little gingerbread man and the L♥VE nail. I think I'll have to work in the Cirque Helios as an accent nail too! Oh heck, we all know I'll end up doing a skittle manicure because I just won't be able to choose!