Deck of Cards

• Use a basic deck of cards as your inspiration for your nails. Use red, black and white nail polish as your palette. If you'd like a more versatile palette that won't clash with a variety of outfit colors, stick to black and white. Paint your nails white and allow them to dry. Dip a toothpick in red or black polish and outline the symbols of one of the four card suits: heart, spade, club or diamond. Using the toothpick, fill in the shape with the same polish color. Alternate the polish colors if desired. For example, use red polish on the ring finger's nail if you used black on the middle finger's nail. Alternate the suit symbol for each nail, repeating the pattern as necessary until all nails are covered.
  
  

Iridescence

• There are different kinds of polish on the market, such as primers, shiny coats, basic opaque polishes and those that have a semi-translucent, mother-of-pearl quality. The latter has a texture and a definitive look, but allows for a base coat to shine through in limited but noticeable amounts. For an iridescent look, couple a primer or basic opaque polish with a polish that has a semi-translucent look. Choose both polishes by how well the two tones will go together. For example, choose a sky blue opaque polish and match it with a semi-translucent purple or green polish. Or, you can try an orange opaque polish with a yellow or crimson semi-translucent polish. In doing so, your polish will be color coordinated and feature a textured appeal. For more shine, add a clear top coat.
  
  

Words

• Add letters to your nails so that they spell out certain words. Choose a color palette that works for you and paint one of those polish tones on your nails as a base coat. Once dry, take your other polish and, using the polish's included brush, write a letter on each nail. These letters should spell out a word. Fit the word on your fingers as needed. For example, choose a 10-letter word so that all nails feature a letter, or choose two five-letter words. If not, choose a phrase that has 10 or fewer letters, placing each letter on a nail and putting a design, such as a dot or heart, on the nails that don't have a letter. If your polish's brush is too thick or makes the letters vague, use a toothpick.
  
  

Abstract Designs

• Abstract designs can feature as many colors and designs as you'd like. Lay down a base coat on your nails, using a different base color for each nail if desired. Once dry, apply a design. For example, with a toothpick or your polish's brush, lay on top of a nail's base coat one zig-zag, circle or swirl, or multiple zig-zags, dots or swirls. You can feature the same design on all nails, or create a pattern of designs, such as polka dots on one nail, zig-zags on another ad swirls on another, repeating the pattern as necessary. Apply colors in any abstract or repetitious manner you'd like.