10 Fun Nail Art Designs to Try Out

I'm not the world's biggest jewelry fan. While most girls can't leave the house without arm parties (a term coined by one of my favorite bloggers, The Man Repeller, to refer to stacks and stacks of bracelets, bangles, and the like--thus, a party on your arm) and piled-on rings, I'd much rather stick to my classic black leather watch. Not that this has always been the case. I used to love slipping as many rings as my fingers can handle but, since starting a job that requires me to sit in front of a computer and type one article after another, I've pretty much ditched my favorite rings for the practicality and freedom of bare fingers.

But while accessorizing with rings and bracelets is not my strongest point, I do make up for it by choosing another kind of hand ornamentation: nail polish. One of my favorite ways to pamper myself is to head to a nail salon to get my nails done. There's just something about picking the right shade to suit my mood that makes me so happy (although it may be another story for the manicurist, who has to patiently deal with my indecisiveness and fussiness over which color looks better).

One thing I have yet to regularly try, however, is nail art. Not that I don't want to. Crazy prints, jolts of color, your nails masquerading as fruits, animals, or even articles of clothing—what's not to love? Unfortunately, the steep prices at salons do me in; I just can't justify the cost, knowing the varnish would chip off in a week's time. My saving grace, then? The enticing world of DIY. I may not be particularly handy with a brush (back in high school, art class was always a nightmare), but decorating my nails seems like such a fun task that I'm willing to dive right in. And if that doesn't work? Then maybe it's time I shell out the money to get the pros to do it for me.

Below are 10 nail art tutorials I'm loving right now. Though some look too intimidating to attempt, some (like the modern french tip and the ombre nails) are right up my DIY alley. Click on each title to be taken to the video tutorial. Have fun, and let me know if you've successfuly tried any of these!

For more A Spoonful of Style entries, check out these links:

• 5 Ways to Spruce Up Your Jeans-and-Shirt Combo
• 5 Date Dresses Worn by TV and Film Femmes
• 10 Fashion Bloggers to Follow

(Photo by jronaldlee via Flickr Creative Commons)