Combo challenge today. Nail Challenge Collaborative skittles and Never Ending Pile untried art supply.
My untried art supply is the nail wraps. There was a packet of five random wrap samples in a Nails magazine last summer.
 |
| With Flash |
 |
| Artificial Light |
I started with four coats of Deborah Lippmann Girls Just Want To Have Fun. I won this mini bottle along with some other beauty products in a giveaway. It is only the second DL I own, but this one did not preform quite as well as the last. It is a crelly, so it is a bit thin, but despite that, it wasn't a flooder. Two coats would have been good if you don't mind VNL. Three is good for full coverage. I added a fourth for the DMPs.
I threw away the packaging for the wraps, so I couldn't tell you what brand they are. I used only half of one on my thumb because it wasn't wide enough to cover my whole nail. Gotta work with what you have, right? Added some rhinestones, micro beads and a star sequin.
I had another wrap on the tip of my finger (the other half of the thumb wrap), but when I added top coat, it melted! Didn't to that on the thumb! Who knows.
Thanks for looking and commenting!
When I started my polish obsession, the shatter effect was long over. There were tons of them out there in clearance baskets and I picked a few up since they were so cheap. There was only one, however, that I had to hunt down to obtain, Barry M 323 Croc Effects. After hunting it down, however, I never wore it. After all, the trend had died. Now is the perfect time to bust it out!
The reason I wanted this is because it does not shatter in just one direction. It really does give a bit of a croc effect!
I started with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Snappy Sorbet, another untried. Sorry Sally, this one is a bust. It was a huge cuticle flooder, and because it is an insta-dri, it is very hard to clean from the cuticles. Coral colored cuticles? UGH! Straight to my "blog sale/giveaway" pile.
Was it worth it to hunt this down? Although I didn't do anything fancy for a base, I can see this over a gradient or water color....maybe ever a water marble? It will be staying in my stash! One last look.
Thanks for looking and commenting!
Today you get to see Bria's purdy nails! It has been awhile since she has graced the blog. I have just been doing what she wants and not worrying if it coordinates with a challenge. She is graduating high school next week! How did it sneak up on me? She will be going to Focus Beyond next year, a continuing education program for special needs....ADULTS. It seems so weird calling her an adult, but that is what she is! She will always be my little girl!
This was another one for the Nail Challenge Collaborative's skittle theme. For some reason we didn't get the pictures taken right away. This is after about one weeks growth! I wish my nails grew that quickly!
We used the following polishes:
- Pinkie - OPI Planks A Lot
- Ring - Orly Harmonious Mess
- Middle - Essie Navigate Her
- Index - Cult Nails New Day
- Thumb - Barielle Pillow Talk
One last look before you see the other skittles!
Thanks for looking and commenting!
I have been totally geeking out this weekend. Between all my other little projects, I have been bingeing on Supernatural and classic Star Treks. So many mani ideas :)! But today is about The Never Ending Pile Challenge. The prompt is "untried stamping plates" What do you want to see first? the plate or the art? Okay, the art.
And here is the plate.
I just realized, that although this plate was untried when I used it, I posted a mani earlier that I used after this one. So confusing!
 |
| With Flash |
 |
| Artificial Light |
I started with two coats of Finger Paints Gorgeous Graffiti. This is a most interesting polish. A neon fuchsia filled to the brim with blue micro flakes. It applies very well and dries to a matte finish.
Next I stamped randomly with Mentality Tough. I have swatched this polish before, but have never used it in nail art. It stamps brilliantly, as you can see. I planned on stamping over it again, but just in case it didn't turn out, I top coated it so that I could use these pics. Boy Scout code, "Always be prepared". Tee hee.
Next I stamped with Finger Paints Black Expressionism. I love how this turned out! Don't know why I didn't get a shot with my mood rock!
This flash shot shows how the polish under the black sparkles.
What do you think of this "lazy man" water spotting? Since I have never been successful with traditional water spotting, this will just have to do.
Thanks again for looking and commenting! See you tomorrow!
Been a bit quiet around here this week. Dealing with some health issues. I back though. Thank goodness for long weekends! Hopefully I will be catching up on some of my challenges soon. In the meantime, I have Finger Foods Buffet's prompt "nature".
Not crazy about these. Nice idea, but not wild about the execution. Trying to use two different colors on the stamping plate made for difficult stamping.
 |
| With Flash |
 |
| Artificial Light |
I started with three coats of Orly Pretty Ugly. Such a gorgeous polish, but the formula isn't all that good. Didn't like to self level, so even after three coats there was still some balding. Can't see it in IRL but shows in the DMP.
Next I stamped with Vivid Lacquer VL 019. I used Konad Special Green for the stems, then dotted white on the flowers. Problem was that to get it scraped in such a way that the colors didn't blend, the scraper kept pulling polish out of the stems. Don't know if that makes sense, but that is what happened.
I tried filling in the stems with a green that was close, but obviously my detail brush was not detailed enough.
I went back over with a dotting tool and more white polish. Again, not my best.
I added some grass with my crummy detail brush, trying to get it to look a bit better. Nope.
This was one of those that looked a whole lot better IRL. All the little inconsistencies didn't show. Oh well. It is done and posted. Thanks for looking!
Today's post is for The Crumpet's Nail Tarts Golden Oldie challenge. The prompt is "with bling".
Blingy enough for you?
I started with four coats of Maybelline Downtown Brown. I really love this polish, but hate having to use so many layers, especially for a such a small bottle of a limited edition shade. You could get away with two layers, if you don't mind a bit of VNL, or three if you aren't taking DMPs. This is a gorgeous chocolate brown filled with a shimmer that shifts from green to blue. The blue does not show up often, but when it does! No wonder why I am willing to use so many coats!
I then sponged on one of my all time favorite glitter polishes, Glitzology Sherwood Forest. Another beauty that has been discontinued :(.
Finally I added some ellipse gold studs from Born Pretty Store. These come from my all time favorite stud wheel. You can find it HERE. Feel free to use my code, MNQX31, for 10% off.
I ended up really liking this combination! the brown and green, the shimmer and the glitz. So purdy!
Don't forget to all the bling-bling done by the other girls! Thanks for looking and commenting!
The prompt for today's Never Ending Pile challenge is "skittles". How perfect that it coincides with The Nail Challenge Collaborative's theme. So today is a twofer.
This started with the polish on my ring finger, Milani Sugar Rim, a clear polish filled with micro matte glitters in turquoises, bronze, brown and red. Here I used three coats for full coverage. It went on smoothly with good coverage, except at the tip. I just daubed some on the tips to complete the coverage.
I then chose polish that matched the glitter.
- Index is Milani Chocolate Sprinkles.
- Middle is Julep Kai, one of their Sea Salt Finishes. It has a sparse texture, but is a gorgeous color. You can currently find it on the Julep site for just $2.99! I dotted with Milani Chocolate Sprinkles and Essie Good As Gold.
- Ring is Milani Sugar Rim.
- Pinkie is Loreal Good As Gold.
- Thumb is Julep Bess.
Next I stamped my thumb with PUEEN06/Mentality Foxy and BM-412/Essie Good As Gold.
Out of my comfort zone? Yes. Do I like it? Yes!
And it all started with Sugar Rim! Thanks for looking and commenting! Check the skittles done by all the other lovely ladies!
