tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17329509113164477432024-03-12T21:48:09.610-07:00Painted PixiesAn eclectic mixture of subjects from gardening to tea to nail polish.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-80730458414328573822013-04-30T18:16:00.000-07:002013-04-30T18:16:05.169-07:00Indie Brand Manicure Contest Entry<a href="http://www.kaylashevonne.com/">Nails by Kayla Shevonne</a> is holding a <a href="http://www.kaylashevonne.com/2013/04/indie-polish-nail-art-contest.html">nail art contest</a> and I, like a ninny, have waited until the very last minute to post my entry even though I finished and photographed it weeks ago. The theme of this contest is Indie brand polishes. Everything, or nearly everything, used has to be a polish made by an independent nail polish brand.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YmjIiZ1vwYY/UYBo5x0jKuI/AAAAAAAAA_s/72HTHJ0V9vc/s1600/indiecontest-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YmjIiZ1vwYY/UYBo5x0jKuI/AAAAAAAAA_s/72HTHJ0V9vc/s320/indiecontest-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In order from pinkie to thumb I used: Chromatological Constructs (CC) Kashmiri Namkeen Chai, CC Chough, Nail Venturous Lacquers Granite, CC Kashmiri Namkeen Chai, CC Chough.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pV7WNDLzNZI/UYBo-u9zfJI/AAAAAAAAA_0/jy3nQe3cQVU/s1600/indiecontest-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pV7WNDLzNZI/UYBo-u9zfJI/AAAAAAAAA_0/jy3nQe3cQVU/s320/indiecontest-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
On the pinkie and index nails I did a gradient using CC Bai Hao (Oriental Beauty). On the middle nails I gradiented with CC Chough. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gnly8xGwVi4/UYBpDDSdBeI/AAAAAAAAA_8/Jrxjpm7sDR0/s1600/indiecontest-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gnly8xGwVi4/UYBpDDSdBeI/AAAAAAAAA_8/Jrxjpm7sDR0/s320/indiecontest-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I then did a glitter gradient on the pinkie and index nails with Sonoma Nail Art Clockwork. I used CC Bai Hao to create the lace patterns and the design on the middle nail as well. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t464Kl_z4rg/UYBpHn1UJTI/AAAAAAAABAE/GwwRGtMw7Zw/s1600/indiecontest-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t464Kl_z4rg/UYBpHn1UJTI/AAAAAAAABAE/GwwRGtMw7Zw/s320/indiecontest-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
With a toothpick I placed individual glitters from Sonoma Clockwork onto the lace patterns. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GdiVETd8WNw/UYBpMJMZJUI/AAAAAAAABAM/9ghai3O0I_M/s1600/indiecontest-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GdiVETd8WNw/UYBpMJMZJUI/AAAAAAAABAM/9ghai3O0I_M/s320/indiecontest-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Chromatological Constructs is a line I have been working on myself over the last six months. Chough is a polish from the Corvus collection. Bai Hao and Kashmiri Namkeen Chai are from the Camelia Sinensis collection. These polishes are not for sale yet but one of my goals this summer is to get the materials I need in bulk to be able to produce these for sale.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-33102437659339525732012-12-01T13:08:00.000-08:002012-12-01T13:08:51.124-08:00I've got the bluesJulie G Dance in the Dark gives me the blues. Why? Because it's blue.<br />
<br />
Now many of you may not think that's such a bad thing. Honestly I wouldn't think it a bad thing either except that I thought I was getting a purple polish when I bought it. Really, it appeared to be a blue-leaning purple in the store but when I started applying it all I got was blue. Blue blue BLUE.<br />
<br />
I suppose it's not a bad blue but it wasn't what I was expecting at all :(<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IN3EV5D-5Cc/ULpu0ObmUXI/AAAAAAAAA-0/FeuM1W9Txpw/s1600/danceinthedark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IN3EV5D-5Cc/ULpu0ObmUXI/AAAAAAAAA-0/FeuM1W9Txpw/s320/danceinthedark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
That isn't my camera turning it blue. It really is a deep, vibrant blue. This is two coats, taken in full sun.<br />
<br />
Obviously I wasn't happy with with the color so I topped it with Essie Shine of the Times.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R8gcmhchr8/ULpw5jmcrEI/AAAAAAAAA-8/RyU0aS4ogiA/s1600/danceinthedark-shineofthetimes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R8gcmhchr8/ULpw5jmcrEI/AAAAAAAAA-8/RyU0aS4ogiA/s320/danceinthedark-shineofthetimes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Sparkles are usually a sure-fire way to cheer up :)Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-4620985782449268592012-11-21T14:07:00.000-08:002012-11-21T14:07:44.736-08:00My First try with Acrylic InksI mentioned with my first Halloween mani post that I had bought some acrylic inks to use for nail art. Well I thought I'd show you my first attempt with them. I started with OPI Berlin There Done That (two coats plus top coat):
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2P4DWywkwuI/UK1Nh-HdqgI/AAAAAAAAA9M/cUz6CH1y6FM/s1600/berlintheredonethat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2P4DWywkwuI/UK1Nh-HdqgI/AAAAAAAAA9M/cUz6CH1y6FM/s320/berlintheredonethat.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I used black, gold, and copper inks for my design. One thing about the shimmery inks like the gold and copper is that they are quite sheer and show up better if used over a darker color. Layering them or using a bit more of the ink works well also though, as you can see I found out the hard way, it takes longer to dry that way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84d_2s5xOh4/UK1P669lNYI/AAAAAAAAA9U/JdtqnWLTmXI/s1600/berlintheredonethat-inks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84d_2s5xOh4/UK1P669lNYI/AAAAAAAAA9U/JdtqnWLTmXI/s320/berlintheredonethat-inks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh well, life is a learning experience. Now I know to let the ink dry thoroughly and have more top coat on the brush.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another note about acrylic inks: you have to wait until your mani is COMPLETELY dry or the calligraphy nib will etch right through or catch on the polish and won't distribute the ink properly. This makes it the perfect way to change up a day or two-day-old mani. </div>
Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-89047861550739449812012-11-08T07:02:00.000-08:002012-11-08T07:02:13.286-08:00NO H8 November 8<div style="text-align: left;">
We've all been there to some degree or other. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The kid on the bus or the playground that pushed you around, the name calling when you had to get glasses or braces, because you were too short or too tall, or just because you didn't look like everyone else. Bullying isn't just something relegated to childhood either, it happens to adults too and especially on the internet where the lack of face to face contact gives people a sense of anonymity and disconnection from the people on the other end of the connection.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Bullying is not funny. It is not cool. It is not right. And more importantly, it is not okay.<br />
<br />
Most of us are, thankfully, residents of countries that support
tolerance and many of our families have settled in these places simply
for that reason. Generations later, it is our responsibility to
perpetuate that message of tolerance across our new social platforms,
including the internet.<br />
<br />
As members of the nail polish blogging community, we all share a
love of beauty, color, and lacquer. Other than that, we are remarkably
different: from our race to our religion to our hair color...even to
our polish application techniques. To marginalize anyone because of
those differences is completely unacceptable and today I take a stand
against that. I refuse to allow other people's view of "normal" dictate
how I behave, believe, and blog. <br />
<br />
In solidarity with a multitude of bloggers linked below, my
purple manicure represents my proud commitment to the No H8 movement.
Today, November 8, I dedicate my post to ending bullying of any kind
and to encouraging diversity and imperfection among our colorful
community.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For today's mani I chose Illamasqua Prosperity, one of the new Rubber Brights polishes. My decision to use an Illamasqua polish was influenced by their work with the <a href="http://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/">Sophie Lancaster Foundation</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fnudjzq1Q4/UJvG3etAkpI/AAAAAAAAA8o/Bl73B11jhIE/s1600/prosperity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fnudjzq1Q4/UJvG3etAkpI/AAAAAAAAA8o/Bl73B11jhIE/s320/prosperity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Our lives are like threads on a giant loom, what happens to one person can influence many people, and so I used one of my hand-mixed polishes, Ancient Pu'erh, to represent this connection in my nail design.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A7r0FSJwiiA/UJvH2byyBGI/AAAAAAAAA8w/5QZE-HHxmEo/s1600/prosperity-ancientpuerh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A7r0FSJwiiA/UJvH2byyBGI/AAAAAAAAA8w/5QZE-HHxmEo/s320/prosperity-ancientpuerh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Remember, just because someone is different or doesn't have the same skills to the same degree as you it doesn't give anyone the right to put them down or bully them for those differences.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src=http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=209435&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');</script>
<!-- end InLinkz script -->
Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-1086733839298447232012-10-31T12:06:00.000-07:002012-10-31T12:06:42.450-07:00Queen of HeartsI am starting this post off by stating just how much I love the Alice in Wonderland directed by Tim Burton. In fact I just got done watching it again <3<br />
<br />
For this mani I started off with one of OPI's newest Designer Series polishes, DS Indulgence. I absolutely love the golden sparkle in this polish. It is so unbelievably jewel-like and pictures do not do it any justice whatsoever.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KIaJ5n9Ff2Q/UJFyOXxjpWI/AAAAAAAAA8A/v8N3bsnMx2g/s1600/DSindulgence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KIaJ5n9Ff2Q/UJFyOXxjpWI/AAAAAAAAA8A/v8N3bsnMx2g/s320/DSindulgence.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
If you are wondering why you cannot see my pinky nail here it is because I stamped on it and then realized that I hadn't taken swatch photos yet. Silly me. Here is a photo of the first layer of stamping on my nails done with Wet'n'Wild Black Creme and Mash plate 12.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46nYmaeXVoM/UJFzJi_ekjI/AAAAAAAAA8I/3aAMTFNvWVI/s1600/DSindulgence-stamping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46nYmaeXVoM/UJFzJi_ekjI/AAAAAAAAA8I/3aAMTFNvWVI/s320/DSindulgence-stamping.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I then stamped with Cheeky plate CH3 in Black Creme on my ring finger and my franken Sugar & Spice on my index and middle fingers as well as my thumb. I then used Sugar & Spice and Mash plate 19 on my pinkies and used Sally Hansen XtremeWear White On and a striping brush to put a line delineating the stamped/non-stamped portions of the three nails with partial stamping.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aitL9iiL-GI/UJF1WSnAf7I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/KGNl9DWOdWs/s1600/DSindulgence-queenofhearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aitL9iiL-GI/UJF1WSnAf7I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/KGNl9DWOdWs/s320/DSindulgence-queenofhearts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I had the hardest time getting my extra-large stamper to pick up those blasted hearts. I ended up having to go back to my original stamper in order to get the polish to transfer.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-1788664734640676052012-10-31T08:03:00.001-07:002012-10-31T18:24:08.585-07:00Nurse! I need a Doctor!I had a LOT of fun with this manicure. I also got to test the school-glue-as-peel-off-basecoat method since I knew I was going to be using glitter. Huzzah for planning!<br />
<br />
I used one coat of glue on my nails and let it dry completely before applying my regular base coat and two coats of Essie Skirting the Issue. Which, I might mention is THE perfect blood red jelly for Halloween manicures. I am so glad I bought this!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gonb4t_ZfM/UJE3ZEIlWLI/AAAAAAAAA6w/_A2HXp6ZOqg/s1600/skirtingtheissue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gonb4t_ZfM/UJE3ZEIlWLI/AAAAAAAAA6w/_A2HXp6ZOqg/s320/skirtingtheissue.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I used Orly Right Amount of Evil and topped with another coat of Skirting the Issue and top-coated with OTD top coat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09IfjFL_b9s/UJE36alnaZI/AAAAAAAAA64/e5923HOtzHc/s1600/skirtingtheissue-rightamountofevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09IfjFL_b9s/UJE36alnaZI/AAAAAAAAA64/e5923HOtzHc/s320/skirtingtheissue-rightamountofevil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I waited about twelve hours before moving on to the next part of the manicure just to make sure everything was dry and set. With a toothpick and a cuticle pusher I then went to work peeling of the polish on my ring finger nails. I know, I know, I could have made everything simpler if I'd just skipped over those nails in the first place but I hadn't thought about the next little touch until I was already started. And besides, it gave me an excuse to test the glue-as-base-coat without ruining the entire mani.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-02NACZYF-Uc/UJE5gOehWcI/AAAAAAAAA7A/6MnmSJeMkUM/s1600/skirtingtheissue-glitterremoval1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-02NACZYF-Uc/UJE5gOehWcI/AAAAAAAAA7A/6MnmSJeMkUM/s320/skirtingtheissue-glitterremoval1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No nail damage!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8GKElKWLK7I/UJE5g-U2PVI/AAAAAAAAA7I/difjyVLYmug/s1600/skirtingtheissue-glitterremoval2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8GKElKWLK7I/UJE5g-U2PVI/AAAAAAAAA7I/difjyVLYmug/s320/skirtingtheissue-glitterremoval2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All peeled off!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Peeling it off did take nearly as long as if I had just stuck my finger in acetone to soak the stuff off but it certainly resulted in less nail damage! Perhaps it would have been easier if I'd used two coats of glue.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After cleaning off the residual polish with remover I used my regular base coat and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Green Tea on my newly-bare nails. I decided to try out another glue tip and covered the area of my finger around my nails with glue in preparation for a bit of splatter. I did mention that Skirting the Issue is THE perfect blood red, right?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qb5t-Ns6cFE/UJE7FpUwsuI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/xTG1pPzDKHY/s1600/skirtingtheissue-greentea-prep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qb5t-Ns6cFE/UJE7FpUwsuI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/xTG1pPzDKHY/s320/skirtingtheissue-greentea-prep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Prepped for splatter</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gpW4FsNIUpg/UJE7WjWe4mI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/iJgrhRQja10/s1600/skirtingtheissue-greentea-splatter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gpW4FsNIUpg/UJE7WjWe4mI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/iJgrhRQja10/s320/skirtingtheissue-greentea-splatter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Messy messy messy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uFKR4EYsvxw/UJE7m5iKKqI/AAAAAAAAA7g/fmalfvIXh8g/s1600/skirtingtheissue-art-left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uFKR4EYsvxw/UJE7m5iKKqI/AAAAAAAAA7g/fmalfvIXh8g/s320/skirtingtheissue-art-left.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Left hand</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H-O8kMjqoP0/UJE7npjn9AI/AAAAAAAAA7o/nFoHHNRDT-U/s1600/skirtingtheissue-art-right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H-O8kMjqoP0/UJE7npjn9AI/AAAAAAAAA7o/nFoHHNRDT-U/s320/skirtingtheissue-art-right.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Right hand</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So now that my family officially thinks I'm strange . . . Oh who am I kidding, they already knew it! LOL! And yes, that is a syringe pen. I picked it up for a dollar at the Spirit Halloween store. I kind of smudged the red splatter on my left hand with the top coat but I think I like it better that way honestly. It makes it look more real.</div>
Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-57800483667485281302012-10-31T06:23:00.000-07:002012-10-31T06:23:09.411-07:00Spiderweb FrenchI think I might like creating spiderwebs a bit too much! LOL! I got the idea for this mani from a post on <a href="http://miniblog.create-magical-nails.com/2011/10/halloween-nail-art-2-spiders.html">Mini Nail Blog</a>. My nails aren't as long as hers but they are nearly the same shape so I thought I'd give it a try. I started with two coats of Sally Hansen InstaDry Orange Splash.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KCzWigef0fg/UJEjg9rj3AI/AAAAAAAAA6A/QOgoWWmwyZg/s1600/orangesplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KCzWigef0fg/UJEjg9rj3AI/AAAAAAAAA6A/QOgoWWmwyZg/s320/orangesplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I then used Cult nails Deal With It to create an uneven french tip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJOayt8NFWs/UJEj937uksI/AAAAAAAAA6I/mzrR7AloXDg/s1600/orangesplash-dealwithit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJOayt8NFWs/UJEj937uksI/AAAAAAAAA6I/mzrR7AloXDg/s320/orangesplash-dealwithit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And with a striper brush I used China Glaze Urban Night to create the spider webs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxXkbkjG1ow/UJElNcUJmVI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/iVpvvrop9TU/s1600/orangesplash-spiderweb-left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxXkbkjG1ow/UJElNcUJmVI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/iVpvvrop9TU/s320/orangesplash-spiderweb-left.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Right hand.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YjUYlRdyFQ/UJElOCEmjdI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/YO6L-qd091A/s1600/orangesplash-spiderweb-right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YjUYlRdyFQ/UJElOCEmjdI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/YO6L-qd091A/s320/orangesplash-spiderweb-right.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Left hand.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-82332658498006523312012-10-29T11:13:00.000-07:002012-10-31T06:03:53.863-07:00Caught in the SpiderwebsOk, it's about time I kick my butt back into gear when it comes to updating this blog. I've been sitting around since my work season ended enjoying the feeling of not having to do a darn thing other than take care of my kids. I have also been enjoying being able to finally do nail art without worrying about having it completely wrecked the next day. Whoohooo! So I've been busy with that and now I need to post what I've been playing around with.<br />
<br />
First up I decided to celebrate my freedom by using a neon I bought in the middle of the summer but couldn't wear to work. Orly Hot Shot is a coral neon. It's about halfway between magenta and orange. I used two coats of Hot Shot and one of OTD top coat for the following photos:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPVjGf9g5gQ/UI7EktyvqNI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/A27gjZtgop8/s1600/hotshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPVjGf9g5gQ/UI7EktyvqNI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/A27gjZtgop8/s320/hotshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I then used one of my frankens, a dark brown with holo glitter called Stage Whisper, to do a funky french and then sketched spiderwebs with white acrylic ink:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J1oY8PSv9z4/UI7FVe9wBlI/AAAAAAAAA5g/0uJKt6u8HB0/s1600/hotshot-stagewhisper-art-left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J1oY8PSv9z4/UI7FVe9wBlI/AAAAAAAAA5g/0uJKt6u8HB0/s320/hotshot-stagewhisper-art-left.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Right hand.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WjPEsYDMVrI/UI7FV4yoR9I/AAAAAAAAA5o/VwIMB_hizBw/s1600/hotshot-stagewhisper-art-right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WjPEsYDMVrI/UI7FV4yoR9I/AAAAAAAAA5o/VwIMB_hizBw/s320/hotshot-stagewhisper-art-right.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Left hand.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I love how these spiderwebs turned out and I give major kudos to the lovely writer of <a href="http://www.nailingthis.com/how-to-do-nail-art-using-acrylic-inks/">Nailing This</a> who came up with this technique <3 I've played around with the inks a bit since I discovered this video and will try to post those experiments later, after Halloween. Before then I still have three more Halloween looks to post about so stay tuned!</div>
Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-64801968594789209802012-09-09T10:35:00.000-07:002012-09-09T10:36:09.250-07:00Fashion's Night Out NailsHow many of you attended Fashion's Night Out? Did you know that the event isn't only located in NYC? That's right! There are 16+ countries with cities and towns that hold FNO events all over the world! And I'm lucky enough to live in one of those towns! Ok, so it wasn't anything near the extravaganza of NYC but it was still fun and who doesn't love an excuse to dress up?<br />
<br />
And of course I had to do something special with my nails! Luckily I had gotten my BOGO promo order from Zoya the week before so I had some new pretties to play around with. I chose Zoya Dakota as a base color. I love how glossy this polish is even without topcoat! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yoo9KOoKyj0/UEzJMJyCdDI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/eDMgA_apitU/s1600/dakota.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yoo9KOoKyj0/UEzJMJyCdDI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/eDMgA_apitU/s320/dakota.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Taken indoors, no flash. 2 coats of polish, no topcoat.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nFKU4fircq8/UEzJoR6Si5I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/BVq93za7SlU/s1600/dakota-out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nFKU4fircq8/UEzJoR6Si5I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/BVq93za7SlU/s320/dakota-out.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Taken outdoors, 2 coats of polish with topcoat.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then I used Essie As Good as Gold for a funky french tip:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B517inQGJ8A/UEzLkDHPbCI/AAAAAAAAA3g/TCNLdFmwJ-Y/s1600/dakota-goodasgold-tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B517inQGJ8A/UEzLkDHPbCI/AAAAAAAAA3g/TCNLdFmwJ-Y/s320/dakota-goodasgold-tips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Taken indoors with flash</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And stamped with the same using Cheeky Jumbo Plate H:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x2JQI0MJDqw/UEzMOyO3VbI/AAAAAAAAA3o/8M0skWnk95w/s1600/dakota-goodasgold-stamp1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x2JQI0MJDqw/UEzMOyO3VbI/AAAAAAAAA3o/8M0skWnk95w/s320/dakota-goodasgold-stamp1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Taken indoors with flash.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsAcH6UUa7c/UEzMP--3XKI/AAAAAAAAA3w/-FKNEQr8lH0/s1600/dakota-goodasgold-stamp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsAcH6UUa7c/UEzMP--3XKI/AAAAAAAAA3w/-FKNEQr8lH0/s320/dakota-goodasgold-stamp2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Taken in full sun</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I kind of wish I had stopped there but I had really wanted to use Zoya Katherine also since, you know NYFW 2012 collection, it was FNO, yada yada yada. Oh well, here's what my nails looked like layered with one coat of Katherine:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QYIb2QhBHgc/UEzPfFnmuGI/AAAAAAAAA4M/vH5Bh7xr2L8/s1600/dakota-goodasgold-katherine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QYIb2QhBHgc/UEzPfFnmuGI/AAAAAAAAA4M/vH5Bh7xr2L8/s320/dakota-goodasgold-katherine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Still pretty, but not as blingy as before. So when you make a boo boo what do you do? Add glitter! I used Sonoma Polish Clockwork on the tips to bring that bling feel back:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WcWF8LZqllk/UEzQH-tWDXI/AAAAAAAAA4U/sY-PwbENK1Y/s1600/FNOnails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WcWF8LZqllk/UEzQH-tWDXI/AAAAAAAAA4U/sY-PwbENK1Y/s320/FNOnails.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ahhhhh! Much better! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And what is FNO without some swag? There were no freebies in town but I did find a store with butter London polishes and 20% off everything in the store!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0U0-6cBZTwM/UEzRgvBMOaI/AAAAAAAAA4c/k_rgNQTKQuk/s1600/FNObuy-evergreenpottery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0U0-6cBZTwM/UEzRgvBMOaI/AAAAAAAAA4c/k_rgNQTKQuk/s320/FNObuy-evergreenpottery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evergreen-Pottery-of-Bar-Harbor/136516171949">Evergreen Pottery</a><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIFontbVTF4/UEzRhAaJlMI/AAAAAAAAA4k/z5-fvcI1Vdw/s1600/FNObuy-maceys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIFontbVTF4/UEzRhAaJlMI/AAAAAAAAA4k/z5-fvcI1Vdw/s320/FNObuy-maceys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tramp Stamp and Dodgy Barnett from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/maceysboutique">Macey's</a><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ3aOIs6FEY/UEzRiInxhPI/AAAAAAAAA4s/56MoMvMNehE/s1600/FNObuy-villageemporium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ3aOIs6FEY/UEzRiInxhPI/AAAAAAAAA4s/56MoMvMNehE/s320/FNObuy-villageemporium.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Facinator, scarf and a back-up tin of Smith's Rosebud Salve from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheVillageEmporium">The Village Emporium</a><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So how about you? Did any of you have fun during FNO? Tell me all about it!</div>
Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-14029120681569459962012-08-30T16:21:00.000-07:002012-08-30T16:22:08.659-07:00Where holo you been all my life?So you know how I mentioned the Jade holos in my last post? Yeah, well, I kinda went and bought two of them not long after. LOL! I bought Magia Negra and Vermehlo Surreal from the lovely ladies at <a href="http://ninjapolish.com/home.php">Ninja Polish</a> and let me tell you, these two polishes are GORGEOUS! Better yet, I'll even SHOW you!<br />
<br />
First up is Vermehlo Surreal, two coats with top coat, in full sun:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILSURc7vdaI/UD_xtYAQvUI/AAAAAAAAA1w/SzS30hn3RTo/s1600/vermehlosurreal1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILSURc7vdaI/UD_xtYAQvUI/AAAAAAAAA1w/SzS30hn3RTo/s320/vermehlosurreal1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QG1Mu-ytxRg/UD_xuMFPeQI/AAAAAAAAA14/wf5QrPaq8bI/s1600/vermehlosurreal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QG1Mu-ytxRg/UD_xuMFPeQI/AAAAAAAAA14/wf5QrPaq8bI/s320/vermehlosurreal2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And with a gradient of OPI DS Extravagance on the tips, also full sun:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awSdZP_q28I/UD_yCKq3KkI/AAAAAAAAA2A/6Aq6iWde65E/s1600/vermehlosurreal-dsextravagance-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awSdZP_q28I/UD_yCKq3KkI/AAAAAAAAA2A/6Aq6iWde65E/s320/vermehlosurreal-dsextravagance-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mYT7F-jYvBw/UD_yCxmWsjI/AAAAAAAAA2I/SDtM3YBFr6s/s1600/vermehlosurreal-dsextravagance-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mYT7F-jYvBw/UD_yCxmWsjI/AAAAAAAAA2I/SDtM3YBFr6s/s320/vermehlosurreal-dsextravagance-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And Magia Negra, two coats with top coat, taken indoors in full sun:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6DTF8WgRqg/UD_y-ChJN9I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/86w7cKCJ81I/s1600/magianegra-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6DTF8WgRqg/UD_y-ChJN9I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/86w7cKCJ81I/s320/magianegra-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HixCudcekQA/UD_y-3hRi1I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/QduU814Uh8o/s1600/magianegra-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HixCudcekQA/UD_y-3hRi1I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/QduU814Uh8o/s320/magianegra-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Some people have said the Jade holos don't play well with base coat or top coat but I had no issues applying them over my usual base of OPI Nail Envy nor any loss of the holographic effect when I put Out the Door top coat over it.<br />
<br />
You might be wondering what I did for my second day wearing Magia Negra since, if you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know I can never leave a mani alone for the second day.<br />
<br />
I decided to layer the two Jades.<br />
<br />
That's right, I layered a coat of Vermehlo Surreal over my existing mani of Magia Negra. Then I stamped a small design with Wet'n'Wild Black Creme. Is it as spectacular as it sounds? I'll let you be the judge ;)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PCCdzCe4FkI/UD_0fpjYZMI/AAAAAAAAA2g/00DWWSznmZs/s1600/magianegra-vermehlosurreal-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PCCdzCe4FkI/UD_0fpjYZMI/AAAAAAAAA2g/00DWWSznmZs/s320/magianegra-vermehlosurreal-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SS0-P2oEY4c/UD_0gb3saqI/AAAAAAAAA2o/sOWts3aJWHk/s1600/magianegra-vermehlosurreal-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SS0-P2oEY4c/UD_0gb3saqI/AAAAAAAAA2o/sOWts3aJWHk/s320/magianegra-vermehlosurreal-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SN0r13yKQ4U/UD_0g1Xw8EI/AAAAAAAAA2w/n4sVGfHjgDU/s1600/magianegra-vermehlosurreal-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SN0r13yKQ4U/UD_0g1Xw8EI/AAAAAAAAA2w/n4sVGfHjgDU/s320/magianegra-vermehlosurreal-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ALl9sYFobb0/UD_0hUjH-iI/AAAAAAAAA24/7T4vijVeOYA/s1600/magianegra-vermehlosurreal-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ALl9sYFobb0/UD_0hUjH-iI/AAAAAAAAA24/7T4vijVeOYA/s320/magianegra-vermehlosurreal-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And it even matched the dress I wore that day! What a stroke of luck!Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-61707404994520842752012-07-10T18:00:00.000-07:002012-07-10T18:04:41.597-07:00Rock HardToday I am going to show you my favorite polish for the year 2012. Yes, I know the year isn't anywhere near over yet. But even if the entire Jade holographic collection showed up in my mail box tomorrow this would STILL be my favorite polish of the year. What polish could possibly be that awesome? Answer: Nail-Venturous Lacquers Granite!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcASu1hSVPE/T_zIhT6igEI/AAAAAAAAA1A/yS08D7KbhIk/s1600/granite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcASu1hSVPE/T_zIhT6igEI/AAAAAAAAA1A/yS08D7KbhIk/s320/granite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is a white jelly base with white and copper hex glitters and micro black glitters. It applies like butter and I hardly had to do any special glitter placement to get the larger hexes distributed. I put this on and immediately fell in love.<br />
<br />
Actually, I fell in love all over again. See, there's a bit of a story about this polish and me. <br />
<br />
It started on Facebook.<br />
<br />
Amy and I were talking and she showed me and a few other people a photo of one of her newest creations, a white jelly with copper and white hex glitters and micro-fine teal glitter. I said, and I quote, "<span class="fcg">OMGosh, you need to do this with black glitter instead of the teal! It would look exactly like <span class="highlight">granite</span>!" She thought it was such a great idea she immediately made and swatched it and showed me the photo. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="fcg">Love. At. First. Sight.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fcg">Of course I had to get a bottle! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="fcg">And then I HAD to wear it when it got to me! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="fcg">And then I had another brilliant idea: matte top coat! If my nails resembled a polished counter-top with a glossy top coat then they would look like a water-rounded stone with the matte coat.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-raYefwNiVZQ/T_zMhfKMbMI/AAAAAAAAA1M/rGOzto9PRVI/s1600/granite-matte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-raYefwNiVZQ/T_zMhfKMbMI/AAAAAAAAA1M/rGOzto9PRVI/s320/granite-matte.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="fcg">Oh. My. Gosh. Fantastic! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="fcg">And then: nail art!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4wXawFh-zhI/T_zNHb7fYZI/AAAAAAAAA1U/u-JgizttOZU/s1600/granite-matte-cogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4wXawFh-zhI/T_zNHb7fYZI/AAAAAAAAA1U/u-JgizttOZU/s320/granite-matte-cogs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="fcg">I'm a bit of a nut for steampunk and I saw someone else do free handed cogs in a manicure so I said to myself, "if she can do it so can I!" And so I did. And I LOVE IT! <3</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fcg">And of course after seeing these photos all I want to do is use Granite again! </span>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-33426230111690924842012-06-21T19:05:00.001-07:002012-06-21T19:05:54.736-07:00Franken SweetsOk, this has taken a bit longer to post than I had planned, sorry about that!<br />
<br />
So, in my last post you got to see two of my newest frankens stamped over white. In this post you get to see both of them as full manis! First up I have Rooibos (See my <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Avy7xWwGNYZKdFI2QVhHQ0VXd0l1YUFzTk5QRG4ydWc">Franken List</a> for the polishes I used to create it). I meant this to be a bit more of a burnt orange than it turned out but I think I like it just the way it is. I know my clients the day I wore it loved it. One of them even basically said that she'd buy it off me if I had my bottle with me!<br />
<br />
Anyway, without further ado, I give you Rooibos (two coats plus top coat):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HO1-xes1Ng/T-O9C6okRyI/AAAAAAAAA0M/GwPoM83afMc/s1600/rooibos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HO1-xes1Ng/T-O9C6okRyI/AAAAAAAAA0M/GwPoM83afMc/s320/rooibos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
There's an obvious copper/gold shimmer but if you click the photo to see it larger there are also glimmers of pink and green.<br />
<br />
<br />
Next up is Sugar & Spice, a lovely frosted gold with subtle copper shimmer (two coats plus top coat):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CA_fR_hqrwU/T-PK5RLo8sI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/eu6wDz_3VFM/s1600/sugarspice1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CA_fR_hqrwU/T-PK5RLo8sI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/eu6wDz_3VFM/s320/sugarspice1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jKS1vhIIhRc/T-PK7oy-cqI/AAAAAAAAA0g/IVf9vQN9vwA/s1600/sugarspice2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jKS1vhIIhRc/T-PK7oy-cqI/AAAAAAAAA0g/IVf9vQN9vwA/s320/sugarspice2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I absolutely love how this one came out, although I might consider adding more of the burning leave reflects from TKB to it for more copper tones. As you saw in my previous post is is an excellent stamping polish.<br />
<br />
And then I decided to add an accent nail so I used Rooibos on my ring fingers:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0qwOhDatlU/T-PNcX27fII/AAAAAAAAA0s/ni6FnQ-GGTI/s1600/sugarspice-rooibos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0qwOhDatlU/T-PNcX27fII/AAAAAAAAA0s/ni6FnQ-GGTI/s320/sugarspice-rooibos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And just in time! My bottle of Clockwork from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SonomaBento">Sonoma Nail Art</a>'s sale arrived so I added a coat of that on the accent nail as well and another layer of top coat:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hB3wJd9Q5Q/T-PPPw_tggI/AAAAAAAAA00/7t0kDdO1BcM/s1600/sugarspice-rooibos-clockwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hB3wJd9Q5Q/T-PPPw_tggI/AAAAAAAAA00/7t0kDdO1BcM/s320/sugarspice-rooibos-clockwork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
What a perfect combo <3Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-78298584359397663222012-06-10T14:29:00.000-07:002012-06-10T14:29:43.010-07:00Bridal WhiteSummer is just around the corner and we are smack dab in the middle of wedding season! In fact my own wedding anniversary is in just a few days! This mani I'm showing you today is also inspired by one of my spa clients last week who requested white polish for both her fingernails and her toenails. It looked so fabulous with her skin tone also!<br />
<br />
I started with the only white I have, NYC French Tip White. Nothing fancy but I got full coverage with two coats.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIgq8CooHQk/T9UMkfvZXgI/AAAAAAAAAzs/U84jLDUa690/s1600/nycwhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIgq8CooHQk/T9UMkfvZXgI/AAAAAAAAAzs/U84jLDUa690/s320/nycwhite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I stamped with two frankens I had just made: Rooibos, a delicious orange-red, and Sugar & Spice, a frosty gold with hidden flecks of copper. With Sugar & Spice I stamped a lacy curve at the base of my nails using Cheeky plate CH23 and then used Mash-25 for the ring finger. Using Rooibos I stamped a key on my ring finger and a lock on my thumb using <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280860081743&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:US:3160">this plate</a>, and two tiny roses, also on my thumb, from Cheeky CH14.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YGiK_GcAwEY/T9UQaOh_GjI/AAAAAAAAAz4/XKGv3TC200A/s1600/nycwhite-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YGiK_GcAwEY/T9UQaOh_GjI/AAAAAAAAAz4/XKGv3TC200A/s320/nycwhite-art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yt49uWvYmj4/T9URcWSvKlI/AAAAAAAAA0A/OeePqOgx-UY/s1600/nycwhite-art2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yt49uWvYmj4/T9URcWSvKlI/AAAAAAAAA0A/OeePqOgx-UY/s320/nycwhite-art2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />And if you think these two frankens look good stamped just wait until my next post when I show you swatches!<br />
<br />
<br />Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-63996200833203214902012-06-05T19:27:00.000-07:002012-06-05T19:27:12.754-07:00I Have a Posting ProblemOk, so my title is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek play on the name of my featured polish today as well as a rather embarrassed admittance that I really don't post often enough. Sorry about that ^^; <br />
<br />
So the polish being featured in this post is OPI I Have a Herring Problem from the Holland collection. The more I see each of these colors the more I like them it seems. I absolutely fell in love with A Roll in the Hague the moment I saw it but the rest are growing on me, slowly but surely. I'm sure you've seen tons of swatches but here's another one to refresh your memory:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-410WbZfUk/T86zPNorkVI/AAAAAAAAAzM/dMkJqFsLknQ/s1600/herringproblem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-410WbZfUk/T86zPNorkVI/AAAAAAAAAzM/dMkJqFsLknQ/s320/herringproblem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two coats, top coat, full sun</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course any good polish deserves great nail art and this was certainly no exception! I did this mani in early spring so I was thinking something floral but not quite . . . if that even makes sense. Then I remembered a fluffy little blossom that often appears in winter floral arrangements, branches bare but for small, white fluff balls reminiscent of cotton swabs: pussy willow!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Even better, this is some very simple nail art that just about anyone can do! I chose Zoya Angelina for the branches and OPI Skull & Glossbones for the flowers. With a striping brush I made smooth, curving lines across my nails in a variety of directions for the branches. I then created the catkins with a slightly larger art brush, making little ovaloid shapes alternating along the branches. Then I went back with my branch color and a very small brush and used little smudges of color to create the "sheath" the catkins emerged from.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On96Co-B978/T86-8wb7MgI/AAAAAAAAAzY/JuI3Gf0VLmg/s1600/herringproblem-pwill-left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On96Co-B978/T86-8wb7MgI/AAAAAAAAAzY/JuI3Gf0VLmg/s320/herringproblem-pwill-left.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHHNBz8BhR8/T86--x_eGbI/AAAAAAAAAzg/4wvT9vq9F44/s1600/herringproblem-pwill-right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHHNBz8BhR8/T86--x_eGbI/AAAAAAAAAzg/4wvT9vq9F44/s320/herringproblem-pwill-right.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The "sheath" is very important because otherwise your catkins will look like little white or grey blobs on brown lines instead of fluffy catkins emerging from their buds.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If any of you do try out this design I'd love to see your results! Fell free to post pics on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paintedpixies">facebook page</a>!</div>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-47627968715791146952012-05-25T12:22:00.000-07:002012-05-25T12:22:19.898-07:00Just Spotted a GradientLast year so many people were going gaga over Chanel Peridot that my anti-popularity filter went into overdrive. I hate feeling like part of a mob when something gets popular, thus my dislike of Brittany Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and why it took me so many years before I finally broke down and read the Harry Potter books. The price tag was a big contributor to my antipathy towards the color as well. I mean, really, $26?<br />
<br />
Fortunately there are a few companies now that have come out with duplicates, the latest of these being OPI with Just Spotted the Lizard from the company's newly released Spiderman collection. Obviously I don't own Chanel Peridot myself but I've seen some rather convincing comparison photos.<br />
<br />
I think you've probably figured out by now that my mani for today's post has to do with OPI Just Spotted the Lizard. I was fortunate enough to snag a bottle this weekend before the OPI booth sold out of it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPErGX0HJBs/T7_PGRXVyTI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/nWfdkpHAne4/s1600/justspottedlizard-sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPErGX0HJBs/T7_PGRXVyTI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/nWfdkpHAne4/s320/justspottedlizard-sun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two coats, full sun</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSl-68W6VCQ/T7_PI31qm9I/AAAAAAAAAyY/8Hi3pnK_Rvc/s1600/justspottedlizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSl-68W6VCQ/T7_PI31qm9I/AAAAAAAAAyY/8Hi3pnK_Rvc/s320/justspottedlizard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two coats, shade</div>
<br />
It really is a lovely duochrome. I'm just glad I didn't have to spend anywhere near $26 for it! Rather wishing I hadn't filed my nails quite so far down for work however. Oh well, they'll grow back. Now at some point with this mani I knew I wanted to add a gradient but I decided to do a little stamping first to add a bit more visual interest.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XA4ZPef2QKA/T7_YwPSHSoI/AAAAAAAAAyk/z-IV87-xoa8/s1600/justspotted-waltzstamp-flash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XA4ZPef2QKA/T7_YwPSHSoI/AAAAAAAAAyk/z-IV87-xoa8/s320/justspotted-waltzstamp-flash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stamping with Chameleon Waltz, artificial light and flash</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qGU9Ne0OJTo/T7_Yy5u0quI/AAAAAAAAAys/AUrQ42Ds8q4/s1600/justspotted-waltzstamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qGU9Ne0OJTo/T7_Yy5u0quI/AAAAAAAAAys/AUrQ42Ds8q4/s320/justspotted-waltzstamp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Indirect lighting</div>
<br />
And then I added the gradient with the same polish as the stamping, Chameleon Waltz.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT7s-15sjZg/T7_ZsgsLvxI/AAAAAAAAAy0/4nqg9bvGPxY/s1600/justspotted-waltzgradient-flash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT7s-15sjZg/T7_ZsgsLvxI/AAAAAAAAAy0/4nqg9bvGPxY/s320/justspotted-waltzgradient-flash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With flash</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-st8ZTR73KKs/T7_ZvGN0aCI/AAAAAAAAAy8/b82J_XaULnY/s1600/justspotted-waltzgradient.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-st8ZTR73KKs/T7_ZvGN0aCI/AAAAAAAAAy8/b82J_XaULnY/s320/justspotted-waltzgradient.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Indirect lighting</div>
<br />
Such a pity there's no sun today, I'd love to get a better photo of the lovely blue-purple duochrome of Waltz. Unfortunately it just doesn't seem to photograph well in indirect lighting.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-89926758095543990832012-05-24T16:48:00.000-07:002012-05-24T16:50:42.024-07:00Spring Cherry BlossomsWow! I really thought that I'd be able to get up a blog post before I left for the Future Pro Expo trade show/competition on Saturday but I kinda procrastinated on packing and the Friday just flew by. Well I've finally recovered, mostly, from the crazy-fun-awesome weekend. Enough to write a blog post anyway. I think this will make up for my absence . . . and if it doesn't I'll just have to come up with something else.<br />
<br />
I had been considering cherry blossoms for a couple weeks before I finally did this manicure. I was thinking it had been a while since I'd last done them, then I saw a couple posts on Facebook about cherry blossom nail art, then my husband did a couple paintings of cherry trees in full blossom. I officially had cherry blossoms on the brain.<br />
<br />
This time I decided to go with a more traditional background color and picked Sinful Colors Cinderella as my base color.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaPVzJF7C6w/T76b9hEoIrI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/UUNm4s9wpps/s1600/cinderella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaPVzJF7C6w/T76b9hEoIrI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/UUNm4s9wpps/s320/cinderella.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I then used Zoya Angelina and a small brush to create branches.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5q3WN1Ehi8/T76fXzHFzhI/AAAAAAAAAxc/MKobLiRXTCQ/s1600/cinderella-angelinabranches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5q3WN1Ehi8/T76fXzHFzhI/AAAAAAAAAxc/MKobLiRXTCQ/s320/cinderella-angelinabranches.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I then layered L'Oreal How Romantic, Revlon Just Tinted Desire, and Rimmel London Burgundy Flirt to create the flowers. For the leaves I used Zoya Yara.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wys8u2ElcsQ/T76pd5gp9LI/AAAAAAAAAxo/qMe7Pt6wMKM/s1600/cinderella-artinprogress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wys8u2ElcsQ/T76pd5gp9LI/AAAAAAAAAxo/qMe7Pt6wMKM/s320/cinderella-artinprogress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RxBKYkfrtL4/T76wQ9-lQ7I/AAAAAAAAAx0/TPwpo93q4T0/s1600/cinderella-artleft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RxBKYkfrtL4/T76wQ9-lQ7I/AAAAAAAAAx0/TPwpo93q4T0/s320/cinderella-artleft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Right hand</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5iYa1AWozg/T76wY7mOvPI/AAAAAAAAAyE/Y7zGCF_jupY/s1600/cinderella-artright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5iYa1AWozg/T76wY7mOvPI/AAAAAAAAAyE/Y7zGCF_jupY/s320/cinderella-artright.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Left hand</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xr1yo2xxKY/T76wVkvzm3I/AAAAAAAAAx8/iZny4TFHCIE/s1600/cinderella-artpocky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xr1yo2xxKY/T76wVkvzm3I/AAAAAAAAAx8/iZny4TFHCIE/s320/cinderella-artpocky.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This mani took me two and a half hours just for the nail art and after all that I think I still like my first cherry blossoms from last year better. I got lots of compliments though.<br />
<br />
<br />
And don't forget to enter my <a href="http://paintedpixies.blogspot.com/2012/05/its-been-1-year-already.html">1 year anniversary giveaway</a>! </div>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-7249317507950831062012-05-11T19:23:00.000-07:002012-05-11T19:23:15.524-07:00It's been 1 year already!I can hardly believe it's been one year since I started my little blog here. I admit, when I first started I hadn't meant for this to turn into polish, polish and more polish. I'd meant to post more about my gardening and jam-making but then I started cosmetology school and had hardly any time for anything else, I was lucky to be able to squeeze blog posts in on the weekends and at least I could take photos of my nails at school. So everything else got bumped out of the picture last year, perhaps it'll make a debut this year instead.<br />
<br />
But for now I have a nice little giveaway to celebrate the occasion! Yeah, I thought you'd like that ;) The current prizes available are: Sinful Colors Cinderella, Milani Neon Awesome Orange, Rimmel London 60 Seconds Magnetise, Maybelline Express Finish Coral Glaze, Wet n Wild For-Bitten Love, Sally Girl 812112, and Sally Girl 812054.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qCnwcnLxio/T63AvpeD91I/AAAAAAAAAv8/zAOX-pjbajc/s1600/1year-giveaway-polishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qCnwcnLxio/T63AvpeD91I/AAAAAAAAAv8/zAOX-pjbajc/s320/1year-giveaway-polishes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I will also include a bottle of my newest Pixie Paints franken: Dragonfly. I loved this so much I made two bottles, one to keep for myself and one just for the winner of this giveaway.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-nM8xYy5-4/T63BDMohohI/AAAAAAAAAwE/Kdhq3z4vBs8/s1600/1year-giveaway-polishes-dragonfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-nM8xYy5-4/T63BDMohohI/AAAAAAAAAwE/Kdhq3z4vBs8/s320/1year-giveaway-polishes-dragonfly.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
All together that's six full-sized bottles of polish and two minis! All of this is going to one lucky winner! Will it be you? Why don't you enter and find out!<br />
<br />
<b>Rules:</b> Open to residents of the US 18 years and older. Any information provided
by the entrant will only be used to contact them in the case that they
are the winner. This giveaway ends 12:01am EST June 1st. Winner will be contacted by email after the giveaway
ends and must reply within 48 hours or a new winner will be drawn.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a id="rc-014cb40" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-28133393627719225332012-05-10T15:14:00.000-07:002012-05-10T15:14:23.297-07:00Plaid in PurpleRecently one of my friends was asking me for advice on what nail polishes I would recommend for her to start her collection with. I asked her a bunch of questions about what look she was going for, what her budget and preferred shopping manner was, and other related stuff. Based on her answers I gave her a few brand recommendations and set her loose on the world of polish. Bwahahahaha! Ahem. Anyway, she later came back and told me she'd bought L'Oreal Butterfly Kisses, a light, shimmery purple. I told her "Great choice!" and then looked guiltily at my own, untried, bottle of Butterfly Kisses. Ok, so I had to come up with a mani using the neglected bottle of polish, even if only to assuage my guilt at the size of my pile of untrieds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fw7X6Bn71ws/T6wqSddZMeI/AAAAAAAAAvU/hnT3uxK047c/s1600/butterflykisses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fw7X6Bn71ws/T6wqSddZMeI/AAAAAAAAAvU/hnT3uxK047c/s320/butterflykisses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two coats with top coat, full sun</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Coverage was very good though there were still a few visible brush strokes after the polish had dried. A great color choice for spring too! I knew right off that I wanted something more though so I grabbed Essie Barefoot in Blue and Power Clutch as well as OPI DS Classic and set to creating some plaid nail art.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l74kSrPjuuk/T6w7hYoehMI/AAAAAAAAAvg/uV03TqkQgUg/s1600/butterflykisses-plaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l74kSrPjuuk/T6w7hYoehMI/AAAAAAAAAvg/uV03TqkQgUg/s320/butterflykisses-plaid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My daughter was absolutely enchanted by the blue stripes so I asked her if she wanted some too. Of course she did, so I painted four little blue stripes on one of her finger nails. Then she said "'nother finger, Mommy!" and pointed to the next finger so I did that one as well. Then she wanted the next, and the next, and pretty soon she had a full mani of tiny blue stripes:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rEut7THLz8/T6w8Sa-k9iI/AAAAAAAAAvo/lWM2dDW-770/s1600/barefootinblue-katje.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rEut7THLz8/T6w8Sa-k9iI/AAAAAAAAAvo/lWM2dDW-770/s320/barefootinblue-katje.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Well of course my son had to get into the act as well, but he wanted red so we went with NOPI Ready to Runaway Love and did the stripes on his toenails:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Thu6OABbZc/T6w9MJ67fPI/AAAAAAAAAvw/KWHYkUj8SY8/s1600/readytorunawaylove-richard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Thu6OABbZc/T6w9MJ67fPI/AAAAAAAAAvw/KWHYkUj8SY8/s320/readytorunawaylove-richard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My kids love doing stuff with mommy XD</div>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-32234933242249771202012-05-03T19:16:00.001-07:002012-05-03T19:16:41.232-07:00What I Wore to my Friend's WeddingA couple weeks ago a very good friend of mine from school got married and asked me to do her nails for the big day. I was still in school at the time and got to give her a mani/pedi (and get credit for it too, bwahahaha!) For her toes she chose Wet n Wild Blue Wants to be a Millionaire. On her fingers she went with a variation of a manicure she'd seen online. The original was a pale gold with a champagne-colored glitter gradient on the tips, her variation was a pale blue with a silver glitter gradient. We used Maybelline Wet Shine Diamond Gems in Sparkling Opal as the base color and Nicole by OPI Make U Smile for the gradient.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fZJfu0YQpig/T6M4_K_EYHI/AAAAAAAAAu4/Jl3CJ34izuQ/s1600/alainawedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fZJfu0YQpig/T6M4_K_EYHI/AAAAAAAAAu4/Jl3CJ34izuQ/s320/alainawedding.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Of course I still had to get my own nails done once I got home! For a base I chose Pure Ice Jaguar and layered a coat of L'Oreal Silver Sparkle over it and a coat of a self-made flakie polish (Angel's Breath, made from TKB's flakies) over that. Of course it was cloudy and I was under time constraints so I wasn't able to get any photos of my base color alone but here's a photo of the polishes I used, and one of the finished mani:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mp0oRwyeURA/T6M608k2y-I/AAAAAAAAAvA/aowbkaMkrGc/s1600/weddingnails-polishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mp0oRwyeURA/T6M608k2y-I/AAAAAAAAAvA/aowbkaMkrGc/s320/weddingnails-polishes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMyzWrl5saI/T6M65VMvnAI/AAAAAAAAAvI/M_T1Jl-z4GY/s1600/weddingnails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMyzWrl5saI/T6M65VMvnAI/AAAAAAAAAvI/M_T1Jl-z4GY/s320/weddingnails.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm so happy for my friend. I hope her and her husband have a long and happy relationship together <3Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-88193954254501962742012-04-30T18:19:00.000-07:002012-04-30T18:19:53.140-07:00Graduation NailsWhooohoooooooo! I did it! I made it through cosmetology school! And what better way to celebrate than with some awesome nails? And what is more awesome than a super bright and sparkly ORANGE polish? And if you didn't see that one coming you should stop right here and go read the rest of my blog LOL!<br />
<br />
So what awesome orange polish did I choose? Well, I wanted to check something off my untried list as well so I grabbed Color Club Sparkle and Soar from the new Take Wing Collection. I love this polish, it's bright and sparkly and best of all it's orange <3 The picture below was taken with two coats of polish and one of OTD top coat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80AjJ8IFzuo/T582YkK_B6I/AAAAAAAAAuc/c-2ezT07JoU/s1600/sparkleandsoar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80AjJ8IFzuo/T582YkK_B6I/AAAAAAAAAuc/c-2ezT07JoU/s320/sparkleandsoar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Of course I had to put this on earlier in the week knowing I'd have no time later for a full manicure change before my graduation day so I had planned out my layering in advance. The next day I added a coat of Nail-Venturous Lacquers Humble Bee and another of OTD. I absolutely love this combo:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PVsniM4LYGY/T583kmXhHCI/AAAAAAAAAuk/WdNxd5_9dck/s1600/sparkleandsoar-humblebee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PVsniM4LYGY/T583kmXhHCI/AAAAAAAAAuk/WdNxd5_9dck/s320/sparkleandsoar-humblebee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For the actual day of my graduation I decided to add just a touch more shimmer and layered another Nail-Venturous polish on top, my beloved Rustic Remains:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5UJvWCGoCz4/T585WfuZWPI/AAAAAAAAAus/RguM5RdpF3w/s1600/sparkleandsoar-humblebee-rr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5UJvWCGoCz4/T585WfuZWPI/AAAAAAAAAus/RguM5RdpF3w/s320/sparkleandsoar-humblebee-rr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Beeeeee-eautiful, if I do say so myself!Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-6372104355178959302012-04-08T17:20:00.000-07:002012-04-08T18:37:12.174-07:00Berry SweetWow, life sure got busy for a bit there! BUT, I am back and ready for some more posting! I have also realized something that makes me very excited: the OPI Nail Envy I have been using has really been working! What used to be nubbins on my index and middle fingers have now finally grown past my fingertips and beyond! I now promise to do my best to keep all my nails to the same length unless a) I break a nail - I refuse to sacrifice hard won length for an accident, and b) with the exception of my pinky nail which I have always preferred to keep longer than my other nails anyway.<br />
<br />
So, now that we have that established on to something a bit more fun for the rest of you: nail art! A couple weeks ago <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BerryPolished">BerryPolished</a> had a nail art contest over on her facebook page with a theme of, what else, berries. I had a couple ideas that ended up not working out due to malfunctioning stamping plates but I really like the idea I ended up going with (that I totally cam up with on the fly the day before the end of the contest).<br />
<br />
I started with two coats of L'Oreal How Romantic:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6jSwGuhXQE/T4InWbDAz-I/AAAAAAAAAt4/oHR_FZQf_20/s1600/greytexpectations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6jSwGuhXQE/T4InWbDAz-I/AAAAAAAAAt4/oHR_FZQf_20/s320/greytexpectations.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I then stamped over that with Zoya Kate using Cheeky plate CH3. And yes, the unfinished look is deliberate . . . mostly.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVMDwDt1Hx8/T4InwdkYh-I/AAAAAAAAAuA/12bQSNfrty8/s1600/greytexpect-kate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVMDwDt1Hx8/T4InwdkYh-I/AAAAAAAAAuA/12bQSNfrty8/s320/greytexpect-kate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I used L'Oreal Haute Couture Red and Cheeky plate CH13 to add strawberries, and Zoya Yara with CH26 to add a bit of contrast while keeping with the country garden look.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kTmTL7qEQY/T4IpIL787GI/AAAAAAAAAuI/SAdj5DRgiVM/s1600/greytexpect-kate-stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kTmTL7qEQY/T4IpIL787GI/AAAAAAAAAuI/SAdj5DRgiVM/s320/greytexpect-kate-stamp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And that is what I was GOING to submit to the contest until the second day of wearing the design. You should know me well enough by now, if you've been following along for a bit, that I can't leave anything alone. Almost any design can be improved upon and this was no exception. Well I went and added a coat of Wet n Wild Hallucinate over top of it all and loved it so much that I just had to submit that version instead.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jdV-1BoTbGs/T4Iqf3RdAzI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/R1ehkB2tCeQ/s1600/berrycontest+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jdV-1BoTbGs/T4Iqf3RdAzI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/R1ehkB2tCeQ/s320/berrycontest+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Isn't it just so cute! I absolutely love how this turned out and I also love that my nails are now long enough to really show off cute designs like this <3Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-75131528970531080722012-03-18T15:10:00.000-07:002012-03-18T15:10:03.023-07:00Layering FunI can't believe I still haven't posted this one yet! This is one of the new Sally Hansen Diamond Strength polishes, Black Tie (two coats w/ top coat, full sun):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hS--0xfWzBg/T2ZXej5dD3I/AAAAAAAAAs4/OKQy9lYWWEw/s1600/blacktie-p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hS--0xfWzBg/T2ZXej5dD3I/AAAAAAAAAs4/OKQy9lYWWEw/s320/blacktie-p1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9AEovHX-Xo/T2ZXh6kVkyI/AAAAAAAAAtA/EZxDIKswbHY/s1600/blacktie-p2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9AEovHX-Xo/T2ZXh6kVkyI/AAAAAAAAAtA/EZxDIKswbHY/s320/blacktie-p2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xdDA-6gXwE/T2ZXlbW-fnI/AAAAAAAAAtI/Su9rJWA_jko/s1600/blacktie-t1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xdDA-6gXwE/T2ZXlbW-fnI/AAAAAAAAAtI/Su9rJWA_jko/s320/blacktie-t1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dfS1QtYvciM/T2ZXpsKQ_yI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/is7FSR8mJ2g/s1600/blacktie-t2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dfS1QtYvciM/T2ZXpsKQ_yI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/is7FSR8mJ2g/s320/blacktie-t2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I topped this with one coat each of Sally Hansen Princess Cut, another new Diamond Strength polish, and Finger Paints Motley and another layer of top coat:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TXtANcpEeo/T2Za1aC2_NI/AAAAAAAAAtY/vX_4EdXSm7g/s1600/blacktie-flakies-p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TXtANcpEeo/T2Za1aC2_NI/AAAAAAAAAtY/vX_4EdXSm7g/s320/blacktie-flakies-p1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jko3Qt-VC6I/T2Za4RWvWmI/AAAAAAAAAtg/_JdOfElPk80/s1600/blacktie-flakies-p2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jko3Qt-VC6I/T2Za4RWvWmI/AAAAAAAAAtg/_JdOfElPk80/s320/blacktie-flakies-p2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-459GqjcDG9Q/T2Za7mH_A4I/AAAAAAAAAto/dmaFzFBafds/s1600/blacktie-flakies-t1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-459GqjcDG9Q/T2Za7mH_A4I/AAAAAAAAAto/dmaFzFBafds/s320/blacktie-flakies-t1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3OI3iJd_r2s/T2Za-hyRSmI/AAAAAAAAAtw/AmPNTWFBuus/s1600/blacktie-flakies-t2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3OI3iJd_r2s/T2Za-hyRSmI/AAAAAAAAAtw/AmPNTWFBuus/s320/blacktie-flakies-t2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There is nothing I won't put flakies over XDJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-68869729032056556052012-03-11T18:39:00.001-07:002012-03-11T18:40:24.947-07:00Expect Greytness or From Drab to FabYeah, I'm on a roll with the cheesy titles XD<br />
<br />
Ahem. Anyway, today I've got a bit of layering fun to show you. I started off with two coats of L'Oreal Greyt Expectations, a mauve-ish grey creme:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drMYjuDfQtc/T11OW2m8EFI/AAAAAAAAAsE/AY7knJNsm2Q/s1600/greytexpectations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drMYjuDfQtc/T11OW2m8EFI/AAAAAAAAAsE/AY7knJNsm2Q/s320/greytexpectations.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I used a makeup sponge to create a gradient with Milani Hi-Tech:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FiqUXFS5vBU/T11OrM4GjlI/AAAAAAAAAsM/eO04Yp_hwwc/s1600/greytexpect-hitech.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FiqUXFS5vBU/T11OrM4GjlI/AAAAAAAAAsM/eO04Yp_hwwc/s320/greytexpect-hitech.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And topped with two coats of Nail-Venturous Rustic Remains:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0juB_8UN3oY/T11O918CtmI/AAAAAAAAAsU/13YWjxiH_9w/s1600/greytexpect-hitech-rr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0juB_8UN3oY/T11O918CtmI/AAAAAAAAAsU/13YWjxiH_9w/s320/greytexpect-hitech-rr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I really wasn't feeling the balance of this though as I felt I had brought the gradient a bit too far up my nails. I needed something else to complement the middle-warm tones of Greyt Expectations but I wanted to keep with the texture of the holo/flakie polishes on top. So I freehanded a line along the edge of my nails with OPI DS Opulence:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AiyEQ_vQTzM/T11Qylp2boI/AAAAAAAAAsc/g6e4P_jLOoA/s1600/greytexpect-hitech-rr-art1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AiyEQ_vQTzM/T11Qylp2boI/AAAAAAAAAsc/g6e4P_jLOoA/s320/greytexpect-hitech-rr-art1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlR4_lWVOIc/T11Q2YJelMI/AAAAAAAAAsk/h49wSt75LMY/s1600/greytexpect-hitech-rr-art2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlR4_lWVOIc/T11Q2YJelMI/AAAAAAAAAsk/h49wSt75LMY/s320/greytexpect-hitech-rr-art2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NT5DWN4tp7s/T11Q6UuTH8I/AAAAAAAAAss/3T0lbU0oZBM/s1600/greytexpect-hitech-rr-art3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NT5DWN4tp7s/T11Q6UuTH8I/AAAAAAAAAss/3T0lbU0oZBM/s320/greytexpect-hitech-rr-art3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The last photo comes closest to capturing the incredible sparkle of this combination but even it fall far short of reality. I think I'm going to try Rustic Remains over DS Opulence next since we have a few sunny days in the forecast this week!Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-83531564411918487792012-03-10T12:06:00.000-08:002012-03-10T12:06:40.006-08:00Blue, Bronze, and Read all OverFor some reason I've been really attracted to dusty blues and greens this season, so when I saw Zoya Bevin I just knew I had to get her. Such a lovely shade of dusty turquoise <3 And of course application was a breeze as I've come to expect from Zoya. The photo below is two coats with top coat and taken in indirect lighting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9a0XH23o00/T1ulXKiQ9wI/AAAAAAAAArk/ZYutBEtGA38/s1600/bevin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9a0XH23o00/T1ulXKiQ9wI/AAAAAAAAArk/ZYutBEtGA38/s320/bevin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Just a couple weeks ago I realized that I had never posted a newsprint mani on my blog, nor had I worn one in quite some time so I decided that was just what I was going to do with Bevin. Now you might be thinking that this color is too dark for a newsprint mani, and to be honest I was a little nervous about that myself, but it turns out that Bevin is perfect! I also decided to put a different twist on the usual newsprint mani and applied the newspaper to my nails so the the words went down the length of them rather than across.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYV7ce6H06w/T1unt46tb3I/AAAAAAAAArs/GErOoIOZdp4/s1600/bevin-newsprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYV7ce6H06w/T1unt46tb3I/AAAAAAAAArs/GErOoIOZdp4/s320/bevin-newsprint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I used Mash plate 09 with Borghese Riviera Sunset. I wanted to put the stamp right up next to my cuticle but it didn't work out very well so I decided to just go crazy and put the stamp everywhere and anywhere all over my nails. I rather like how it turned out actually.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxVjVseTjKg/T1upofJ5aRI/AAAAAAAAAr0/-_905nc5x3o/s1600/bevin-np-rivierasunset1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxVjVseTjKg/T1upofJ5aRI/AAAAAAAAAr0/-_905nc5x3o/s320/bevin-np-rivierasunset1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before cleanup</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fXMA6Rm1O_I/T1upsJaVoqI/AAAAAAAAAr8/jpIbGjJEs4Q/s1600/bevin-np-rivierasunset2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fXMA6Rm1O_I/T1upsJaVoqI/AAAAAAAAAr8/jpIbGjJEs4Q/s320/bevin-np-rivierasunset2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If you've never done a newsprint mani before I recommend trying one, they're super easy! All you need is newspaper (I used an article about chocolate deserts, you can see the word "chocolate" on one of my nails above), a shallow dish with alcohol (rubbing alcohol works just fine but some people like using vodka), and fingernails with a medium to light creme-finish polish.<br />
<br />
Cut the newspaper into pieces just larger than your nails. Then dip the paper into the alcohol, position it on a nail, and press evenly across the paper for 10-30 seconds. Peel the paper off and voila! Remember to put a top coat on or the ink will rub right off.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732950911316447743.post-56190148975597374732012-03-03T19:20:00.000-08:002012-03-03T19:21:11.931-08:00Treasure Box NailsHere's a post I've been sitting on for a while. And guess what, it features yet another franken! I hope you aren't getting sick of the franken posts quite yet, I'm just starting to discover how much fun frankening can be with pigments, not just polishes. But this particular franken was made just from other polishes (nameless blue-grey, WnW red creme, CG Nailslicks Dark Denim). I call it Look East at Sunset.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgI90Ookkjg/T1LUFFzgWWI/AAAAAAAAArE/2ggabN0wMWk/s1600/lookeastatsunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgI90Ookkjg/T1LUFFzgWWI/AAAAAAAAArE/2ggabN0wMWk/s320/lookeastatsunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two coats and top coat, full sun</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Apologies for the lack of clean up here but I was intending on stamping immediately after and didn't want to waste time and energy doing clean up twice. I chose Zoya Trixie for stamping and let me tell you, that is an EXCELLENT stamping polish! Since all I have for stamping plates is the MASH set I didn't have any true full-coverage designs so I chose to double stamp. I used Mash-02 for the upper part of the nail and Mash-08 for the rest.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xkGGcUdDMQ/T1LWLkjNTXI/AAAAAAAAArM/qkVrZhy_BT0/s1600/lookeastatsunset-trixie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xkGGcUdDMQ/T1LWLkjNTXI/AAAAAAAAArM/qkVrZhy_BT0/s320/lookeastatsunset-trixie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
I then layered two coats of Finger Paints Twisted over the top:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49le4GzO3qs/T1LeRnlmmxI/AAAAAAAAArU/4nMQLzAMr4M/s1600/lookeastatsunset-trixie-twisted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49le4GzO3qs/T1LeRnlmmxI/AAAAAAAAArU/4nMQLzAMr4M/s320/lookeastatsunset-trixie-twisted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EU_0EL4M_eY/T1LeU2WjrpI/AAAAAAAAArc/LRem6O-8yUA/s1600/lookeastatsunset-trixie-twisted2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EU_0EL4M_eY/T1LeU2WjrpI/AAAAAAAAArc/LRem6O-8yUA/s320/lookeastatsunset-trixie-twisted2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Wow! Look at that sparkle! I absolutely loved this combination. My only regret is that I couldn't have kept this on longer!Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340581500470443211noreply@blogger.com0