Cute as a cupcake nail tutorial

Cupcakes have become a staple of the modern American bakery, and for good reason. According to a Washington Post article, cupcakes remind people of their childhood, and eating one can feel like getting a warm hug.

While most people can't run to the cupcake shop every time they're feeling down, they can take steps to brighten their moods calorie-free. This cute, easy-to-replicate cupcake manicure is sweet enough to make you smile on even your darkest day.

-Elite99 white gel polish in 1433 mixed with Fairyglo yellow gel polish in 6713 (base)
-Young Nails Mission Control Gel in Solar
-Elite99 Color Gel in 5603 and 5604
-Gelish Mini gel polish in Go Girl
-Canni Nail Art Gel in 611
-Cheri Non-Wipe Top Gel
-Short round brush
-Liner brush
-Lumcrissy gel lamp

1. Start by mixing Elite99 white gel polish 1433 with Fairyglo yellow gel polish 6713 to create a pastel yellow. Use this as a base shade to paint your nails.

2. Using a round brush, draw a four-sided figure resembling the bottom of a cupcake on the nail using Young Nails Mission Control Gel in Solar. The bottom part of the cupcake, near the nail tip, should be slightly narrower than the top, near the nail bed.

3. Insert your nails into the Lumcrissy gel lamp until they're dry.

4. Paint over the narrow part of the cupcake using Elite99 Color Gel in 5603. This should resemble a cupcake paper liner. Brush more white paint on the top of the cupcake.

5. Clean the brush and then paint over the white top section of the cake with Gelish Mini gel polish in Go Girl. This should resemble frosting.

6. Repeat step 5 with Canni Nail Art Gel in 611, drawing the blue color out toward the base of the nail.

7. Insert your nails into the Lumcrissy gel lamp until they're dry.

8. Using a liner brush, draw around the outer edges of the white part of the cupcake -- the paper -- using Elite99 Color Gel in 5604. Add a few faint vertical lines on the paper.

9. Use the liner brush to outline the top part of the cupcake, representing the frosting. Then line the yellow sponge part of the cupcake.

10. Insert your nails into the Lumcrissy gel lamp until they're dry.

11. Use the liner brush to draw short lines of Elite99 Color Gel in 5603 atop the frosting. Then add additional lines of Gelish Mini gel polish in Go Girl and Canni Nail Art Gel in 611.

12. Insert your nails into the Lumcrissy gel lamp until they're dry.

13. Using the liner brush, draw a heart near the tip of the nail using Gelish Mini gel polish in Go Girl. The pointed part of the heart should face the nail tip.

14. Insert your nails into the Lumcrissy gel lamp until they're dry.

15. Cover the nails with a coat of Cheri Non-Wipe Top Gel.

16. Insert your nails into the Lumcrissy gel lamp until they're dry.

17. Check out our other tutorials to learn how to create more nail designs featured in this video.