Abstract: A finger nail is decorated with an image printed on a piece of glossy coated paper, such as from a magazine, by applying a film-forming substance over the image to the piece, the substance including a resin and a solvent that is capable upon drying of forming a film that is sufficiently flexible and extensible to permit it to conform to the surface of the nail. After allowing the substance to dry and form the film, the paper under the film is wetted with water and the paper is removed to leave a film/image/paper-coating sandwich that is substantially free of paper fibers. The sandwich is cut to form a blank of a size and shape to fit the margins of the cuticle bordering the finger nail. The sized and shaped blank is applied to the finger nail, and a settable nail top coat substance in liquid form is applied over the blank and allowed to dry.