Here we are, another Monday. And this marks the last 3 days of the nail art challenge. Have no fear, I have something special planned in a couple weeks that I am pretty excited about!
Believe it or not, this is the first time I've done a fishtail braid mani. I'm pretty happy with it, although it is not my favorite nail art...
My camera has been a bit of a pain lately. I really wish I could afford to get a new one. Im not happy with my pictures today. I used Zoya Blu, Wednesday and Rocky (from the new Stunning collection I will be showing you next week). I free-handed everything. I think next time I do this technique, I will use smaller lines!
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
Monday, April 22, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Different Shades of Blue Autism Awareness - Awareness Ribbon
TGIF ladies!! Can someone tell 2013 to slow down?? I feel like it should be February haha!
I kind of rushed today's, so I'm not thrilled... but, alas, no time to redo it lol!
I used Barielle Platinum Ring as the base. I put OPI Gone Gonzo over my pointer, middle and pinky fingers. Then I used my Avon Nail Art Enamel in Blue Vibe to draw the ribbons.
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
I kind of rushed today's, so I'm not thrilled... but, alas, no time to redo it lol!
I used Barielle Platinum Ring as the base. I put OPI Gone Gonzo over my pointer, middle and pinky fingers. Then I used my Avon Nail Art Enamel in Blue Vibe to draw the ribbons.
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
Thursday, April 18, 2013
365 Days of Color One Colorful Year
**This was sent to me for review. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own and are an accurate representation of my experience with the product.**
Can you believe that Sunny has been making her pretty polish babies for a year now?! To celebrate, she created a special limited edition polish that is going to be available in her shop when it opens tomorrow.
I helped her name this polish, so she sent it to me to review... and I got a full size! Woohoo!!!
**This was sent to me for review. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own and are an accurate representation of my experience with the product.**
One Colorful Year is a white base with (direct quote from Sunny) "a little of pretty much every glitter I have used over the last year." It lives up to it's name.... it's SUPER colorful.
This is 3 coats, 2 was safe for looking good while wearing it... but photographing a polish in a lightbox tends to make the nail line more noticeable so I did 3. The formula is a bit thick, but I think that's more because there is so much glitter than anything. I didn't have any problems with application, even with the thicker consistancy.
She opens shop tomorrow (she's in a cram session for school, so she's only opening a couple times a month for a little while).
You can find her shop here (it's in maintenance now, will open tomorrow) and her Facebook here for shop updates. One Colorful Year is very limited edition, with only 60 being made, and it costs $8.00.
**This was sent to me for review. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own and are an accurate representation of my experience with the product.**
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Different Shades of Blue Autism Awareness - Blue Ruffian
Today was a new one to me! I had to google it lol!
I think I have used Zoya Blu every day so far lol!
Blu is the base and Barielle Surf's Up is the dark blue. This is a nerve-racking mani to do. One hiccup and it's ruined lol! I like it thought, it's fun and different.
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
I think I have used Zoya Blu every day so far lol!
Blu is the base and Barielle Surf's Up is the dark blue. This is a nerve-racking mani to do. One hiccup and it's ruined lol! I like it thought, it's fun and different.
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
Monday, April 15, 2013
Different Shades of Blue Autism Awareness - Puzzle Pieces
Happy Monday!!
Today's mani required tape... you all know how I feel about tape lol. It's not perfect, but it's not horrible for one of my tape messes.
Not so bad lol. I used Zoya Blu and Robyn. I used blue painters tape and my large dotting tool to create the art.
Sorry for the super short post. I have a road trip to take with the Canadians on their last full day visiting!!
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
Today's mani required tape... you all know how I feel about tape lol. It's not perfect, but it's not horrible for one of my tape messes.
Not so bad lol. I used Zoya Blu and Robyn. I used blue painters tape and my large dotting tool to create the art.
Sorry for the super short post. I have a road trip to take with the Canadians on their last full day visiting!!
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
Friday, April 12, 2013
Different Shades of Blue Autism Awareness - Blue Gradient
There have been a lot of "eh"s in my house this week. My hubby is even sounding more Canadian with his friends in town. Usually I only get to enjoy his accent when he's mad lmao.
When I grabbed the colors for this mani, I wasn't sure I was going to like it... but I love how it turned out.
LOVE IT!! I used Barielle Blackened Bleu for the base and topped it with Zoya Song from the Diva Collection (solo swatch here) and finished off with Dollish Polish Bad Case of Blue Balls (solo swatch here).
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
When I grabbed the colors for this mani, I wasn't sure I was going to like it... but I love how it turned out.
LOVE IT!! I used Barielle Blackened Bleu for the base and topped it with Zoya Song from the Diva Collection (solo swatch here) and finished off with Dollish Polish Bad Case of Blue Balls (solo swatch here).
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
Thursday, April 11, 2013
China Glaze Hologlam - Strap on Your Moonboots
Hello loves!!
I have a holo polish from the new China Glaze collection for you today. It's time like these that it's good to live in a desert where the sun shines 330 days a year lol!
SOOOOOOOOOOO PRETTY! This is a lovely navy blue holo polish. It took two coats and the formula was an ease to work with.
I also took a pic in my lightbox so you could get a good idea of its true color. It is also super pretty inside, even without the holo the sun adds!
I have a holo polish from the new China Glaze collection for you today. It's time like these that it's good to live in a desert where the sun shines 330 days a year lol!
SOOOOOOOOOOO PRETTY! This is a lovely navy blue holo polish. It took two coats and the formula was an ease to work with.
I also took a pic in my lightbox so you could get a good idea of its true color. It is also super pretty inside, even without the holo the sun adds!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Different Shades of Blue Autism Awareness Challenge - Rainbows
My hubby has friends that came into town from Canada for the next week. So I'm going to be keeping things short and sweet!
I feel like I've done rainbows so many times that I can't think of a new, original design (here, here, here and even here are my previous rainbows.) So I decided to do only a rainbow of blues.
I feel like it could be in the paint aisle at home depot lmao!! I used Zoya Blu, FingerPaints Blue Raspberry Taffy, Zoya Robyn and Barielle Surf's Up. Because I hate tape and decided to free-hand them, I separated them with my silver Stripe Rite.
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
I feel like I've done rainbows so many times that I can't think of a new, original design (here, here, here and even here are my previous rainbows.) So I decided to do only a rainbow of blues.
I feel like it could be in the paint aisle at home depot lmao!! I used Zoya Blu, FingerPaints Blue Raspberry Taffy, Zoya Robyn and Barielle Surf's Up. Because I hate tape and decided to free-hand them, I separated them with my silver Stripe Rite.
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Making My OCD Happy - Swatch Sticks
I am going to start this with a warning... I am a crazy person. I just need this understood lol. My OCD makes a lot more steps for me. You can simplify.
Last month I upcycled an awesome nail polish cabinet (original post here). I LOVE my cabinet and knew immediately upon it's completion that I needed to do swatch sticks. Looking for the perfect nail polish for a nail art vision I have in my head proves tedious with everything in drawers by brand and not color lol.
So, I went on a hunt and found sticks on Ebay. The original sticks I bought are sold out, but I underestimated the number I needed and had to order more. I ordered from this listing. They ship from Hong Kong, so the wait is long, but worth it. It only costs $2.78 for 50 of them, with free shipping.
While I waited for them to arrive, I typed up my labels. I couldn't find a pre-cut label size I liked, so I decided to print on paper and tape them on. In hindsight, Im glad I did because the tape sealed the paper and will keep them from getting dirty. While I typed them up, I labelled the top of the bottles with a number, this number was typed on the label. So, if I want Zoya Song, all I have to do is go in the Zoya drawer and look for the number on the stick (85). I organize the drawers by number, and not color.
I printed and cut them, and put the brand stack in the appropriate drawer, then I waited. And waited. And waited.
I FINALLY got them, and started almost immediately on my project. I labelled all the sticks before I started painting. Here are the tools I used...
I have a small self-healing cutting mat, rotary cutter, tape adhesive and transparent Scotch tape. I used the tape adhesive (bottom right) to put a bit of sticky on the back of the labels in order to keep them where I wanted prior to sealing them in with the scotch tape. (all part of my crazy)
Now, at this point, most sane people (ie - not me) would just wrap the excess tape around the back. But, I'm not sane. My OCD took over and decided it would not only be cleaner to cut it off; but there is also a chance over time of the excess tape lifting on the back and catching on other sticks. No bueno. So, I flipped them upside down and used my rotary cutter to cut it off. If you are sane, you can skip this part and make it easier on youself.
Once all of them were prepped, I started my swatch-a-thon. If you follow me on Instagram, you saw my nightly work lol.
I painted the underside of the sticks. There are two thoughts on this:
1 - the swatch stick acts as a top coat.
2 - the nail swatches are more protected from scratching and chips.
I did them in batches, and let them sit overnight to be sure they were dry. When I finished a stick, I wrote the number of coats on the back of the stick behind the label.
When all 296 of them were done, I grouped them in their specific groups and wrote down how many in hopes to figure out how to organize them on the 6 bolts I had, but no luck. I will be running to Ace Hardware to buy some additional ones, but for now I have loops.
Then I had to organize them within their color groups. Here's how they turned out.
And the labels turned out so lovely... I used the transparent tape because the other tape is milky and can be seen from the side. This tape is more invisible and makes my OCD much happier.
And they sit so happy in their drawer (please excuse the pic quality, I used my cell phone because my camera hates low light).
My OCD is at peace... For now.
Last month I upcycled an awesome nail polish cabinet (original post here). I LOVE my cabinet and knew immediately upon it's completion that I needed to do swatch sticks. Looking for the perfect nail polish for a nail art vision I have in my head proves tedious with everything in drawers by brand and not color lol.
So, I went on a hunt and found sticks on Ebay. The original sticks I bought are sold out, but I underestimated the number I needed and had to order more. I ordered from this listing. They ship from Hong Kong, so the wait is long, but worth it. It only costs $2.78 for 50 of them, with free shipping.
While I waited for them to arrive, I typed up my labels. I couldn't find a pre-cut label size I liked, so I decided to print on paper and tape them on. In hindsight, Im glad I did because the tape sealed the paper and will keep them from getting dirty. While I typed them up, I labelled the top of the bottles with a number, this number was typed on the label. So, if I want Zoya Song, all I have to do is go in the Zoya drawer and look for the number on the stick (85). I organize the drawers by number, and not color.
I printed and cut them, and put the brand stack in the appropriate drawer, then I waited. And waited. And waited.
I FINALLY got them, and started almost immediately on my project. I labelled all the sticks before I started painting. Here are the tools I used...
I have a small self-healing cutting mat, rotary cutter, tape adhesive and transparent Scotch tape. I used the tape adhesive (bottom right) to put a bit of sticky on the back of the labels in order to keep them where I wanted prior to sealing them in with the scotch tape. (all part of my crazy)
Now, at this point, most sane people (ie - not me) would just wrap the excess tape around the back. But, I'm not sane. My OCD took over and decided it would not only be cleaner to cut it off; but there is also a chance over time of the excess tape lifting on the back and catching on other sticks. No bueno. So, I flipped them upside down and used my rotary cutter to cut it off. If you are sane, you can skip this part and make it easier on youself.
Once all of them were prepped, I started my swatch-a-thon. If you follow me on Instagram, you saw my nightly work lol.
Via Instragram |
I painted the underside of the sticks. There are two thoughts on this:
1 - the swatch stick acts as a top coat.
2 - the nail swatches are more protected from scratching and chips.
Via Instgram |
I did them in batches, and let them sit overnight to be sure they were dry. When I finished a stick, I wrote the number of coats on the back of the stick behind the label.
When all 296 of them were done, I grouped them in their specific groups and wrote down how many in hopes to figure out how to organize them on the 6 bolts I had, but no luck. I will be running to Ace Hardware to buy some additional ones, but for now I have loops.
Then I had to organize them within their color groups. Here's how they turned out.
Blue |
Coral - Orange - Yellow |
Toppers |
Green |
Metallic - Grey |
Pink |
Purple |
Red - Maroon |
White - Black - Brown |
Mint - Teal |
And the labels turned out so lovely... I used the transparent tape because the other tape is milky and can be seen from the side. This tape is more invisible and makes my OCD much happier.
And they sit so happy in their drawer (please excuse the pic quality, I used my cell phone because my camera hates low light).
My OCD is at peace... For now.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Different Shades of Blue Autism Awareness Challenge - Blue Flowers
As many of you know, April is Autism Awareness Month. In honor of that some fellow bloggers and I decided to do a challenge. A big thanks to Cordia over at Seriously Swatch for hosting.
Today's challenge is flowers, so I opted for a simple dot flower.
I used Zoya Natty from the Designer Collection (solo swatches here) and Blu from the Lovely Collection (solo swatches here). Then used Revlon Downtown as the flower center. I thought that was too boring, so I used my smallest dotting tip and added dots around.
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
Today's challenge is flowers, so I opted for a simple dot flower.
I used Zoya Natty from the Designer Collection (solo swatches here) and Blu from the Lovely Collection (solo swatches here). Then used Revlon Downtown as the flower center. I thought that was too boring, so I used my smallest dotting tip and added dots around.
Be sure to check out the other ladies participating...
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