OPI How Great is your Dane and foil stamping

Hi all,

I can't believe it's been a full two months since I've last posted anything. I've only just checked my blog email account for the first time too.  Even my actual digits are feeling neglected, barely getting re-done every week.

I still have a monster back-log of manicures to post that need editing etc etc, and since moving in with my boyfriend I feel like majority of the photos have been taken on my iPhone so the quality isn't great.

Maybe some time this year when we've moved house, have gotten settled and have a little Frenchie pup I'll manage to catch up with everything and start fresh!

Until then, here's some wintery nails which I think are from September October time, when I had started growing my nails into a long almond shape, but after a bad break after much filing/growing/care I soon went back to the usual, and easy square shape.

Base Coat: CND Stickey

Base Colour: OPI - How Great is your Dane

Stamping Colours: Barry M - Gold Foil, Revlon - Copper Penny

Image Plate: Moyou Bridal number unknown

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails 

And here's a swatch of the lovely How Great is your Dane:

It usually takes a lot for me to love a brown, and this shade ticks every box.

Until next time!

Pink and Green NOPI with Dashica Stamping

Hi all,

Oh, it has been a while indeed!  I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas, and that the lead up to it wasn't too stressful like mine was.  I was still buying the odd gift on Christmas Eve (yes, I was one of those people this year!)

I was sent some Nicole by OPI polishes back in summer from the lovely PR ladies, and I wore a few of these religiously throughout July and August.  The polishes shown below are from the collection Seize the Summer.  I also stamped these using BYS Black Satin, and my Dashica Big SpD-A plate.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colours: Nicole by OPI - Leapink for Joy & Lay it on the Lime

Glitter: Nicole by OPI - Shaved Nice

Stamping Polish: BYS - Black Satin

Image Plate: Dashica Big Spd-A

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

And below is the base before stamping.  Two coats of Leapink for Joy, and Lay it on the Lime with one coat of Shaved Nice.

Not quite a great shot of the glitter, but as you can see it's quite an odd mix.  I however like the overall effect of how the pale white glitter brightens up the base colours.

That's all from me for now, I'm going to try and get my life more organised soon, so I'm hoping I can get back into the routine of doing my nails for fun, and not because my polish is more chips than anything, which is shocking I know!

NYK1 Secrets Glitter Review

Hi all,

Today I have a quick post on some glitters that I've been sent to review.  NYK1 Secrets contacted me to swatch some glitters.  So far I've only tried one glitter, so that's what I have to show you today.

Two coats of Essie - Navigate Her, and a sprinkling of the pale pink iridescent glitter from the glitters I was sent.

And here's a blurry shot to show how pretty this glitter is.

 

So I used a pale pink glitter that sparkled with a green shine, I sprinkled this over the wet second coat, and added a top coat before stamping.  There wasn't any problem with the colour in the glitter bleeding either.

A day later I did some stamping on top as It had been a wee while since I had done any stamping, and halloween was right around the corner (I joke, it was a few weeks away :P) so I decided to do some bat stamping using Bundle Monster BMH08.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Essie - Navigate Her

Glitter: NYK1 Secrets

Stamping Colour: BYS - Black Satin

Image Plate: Bundle Monster - BMH08

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

I think what I love most about this image is that from a distance it actually looks like tiger stripe nails.  Please excuse my nubby thumb, I ripped it right down :( and since have ripped it down again after it had grown.  Bad times.

That's all I have for today.  I should be back soon though as I have brought my laptop to my boyfriends for the week, so I should get some editing done; that is if I don't get too engrossed in my new love Gotham!

**These glitters were sent to me for review**

Green Jelly and Hot Pink Chrome Stamping...

Hi guys, every time I post these days I feel like somewhere in the text is an apology!

I don't want to be one of those people who's full of false promises, or always saying I'm planning to do certain things by a certain time.  I'm doing my best. The truth is, my love for blogging and nail art just isn't the same.  Don't get me wrong, I still love sharing what I've done with my nails, and I've even bought some new stamping plates recently.  However, as life is a mushy haze of work, driving lessons, gym (no matter how short my visit :P) and people I love, the effort I put into my nails comes after that.

At the moment I'm actually letting my nails grow slightly, and they're oval/round rather than the mostly natural square they grow in.  I'm debating going for slightly more of an almond shape in a week or so too.

Anyhoo... onto the nails rather than the tiny rants.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Barry M - Watermelon#

Stamping Colour: NYC - Foil'er Up

Image Plate: Cheeky Jumbo Viva Mexico

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

So this was a little bit of an odd combination, and I'm not 100% how it came about as this was about two months back now.  I think it may have came from not owning many stamping polishes other than chromes that can stamp over dark colours.   Now, Barry M - Watermelon is not the darkest, but it is a very strong bold colour.  I think NYC - Foil'er Up sort of works.  Sort of.

Here's a swatch shot of Watermelon in case I haven't shown one before.  Lovely Deep Green that's almost muted.

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend. Mine was another lazy one, snugged up in bed or the sofa watching TV. Bliss.

Sally Hansen Ionic Indigo Magnetic Polish With Stamping

Hi all.

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted.  However, in this space I've done a lot of home improvement with three trips to IKEA (including my first ever trip there!), turned 25, gotten a new tattoo, went for many wonderful dinners, and I currently have family up as my brother's wedding was on Friday, so a lot has been happening!

Today I have some really simple, really boring nails from a few months back.  I'm really hoping I start getting back into nails as much as I used to be and find some creativity!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Sally Hansen Magnetic - Ionic Indigo

Stamp Colour: Barry M - Silver Foil

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM422

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

And here's a picture of the base colour.  I always have problems with magnetic polishes drying too quickly and only getting the pattern to show on one part of the nail, so for this I painted half the nail, and used the magnet, and did the same on the other half.  Worked out quite well I think.

And for good measure here's how amazing and cosy, and lovely and clean and tidy my new room is:

I went a little OTT but was so sick of my dark (and unfinished) room something had to change!

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend =]

Stamping over a nude base with flakies

Hi all.

There's already too much Monday feels going on and I'm writing this on Sunday night!

Simple mani from a few months back today. Not 100% what I stamped with, or the number of the flakies I used.

Base Coat: CND  Stickey

Base Colour: Barry M - Vanilla

Flakies: Golden Rose

Stamping Colour (probably!): Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Steal a Base

Image Plate: Dashica Big SpD - A

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Be back soon.

Orange & Purple Gradient with Black Stamping

Hi guys,

Two posts in the same week (sort of) what's going on?! I think I may have slightly gotten back into the swing of editing photos & posting, still not back into the swing of looking at other people blogs and feeling inspired, but it's a start.

Today I have an orange to purple gradient stamped with BYS - Black Satin and Bundle Monster BM404.  I really enjoy doing gradients like this with a creme and a fleck shimmer polish.

Base coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colours: 2true - Mila & Sally Hansen - Pink Force

Stamping Colour: BYS - Black Satin

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM404

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

And here's a pic of the base with a flash:

Hope you're all having a good week so far, hopefully I'll have some more nails for you this coming weekend.

Nude & Navy

Hi all.

It's been quite some time now since I've last posted, been doing a lot a lot of stuff, and haven't had much time for chilling or blogging, nor the energy.  Some of the highlights from the last month of no-posting: I've started to take driving lessons, and I experienced my first ever festival, so no apologies from me!

Today we have some nails I did back in Easter.  These were done using the Holiday Plates from Bundle Monster, and these are actually Easter egg designs, but as my nails are small, and the images quite large it's pretty easy to just see these as a pattern.

I started with two coats of Barry M - Vanilla on the ring and thumb, and two of Barry M - Blackberry. From the few polishes I own from the Gelly line which Blackberry hails from I bloomin' love them, their opacity and formula are really great.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colours: Barry M - Vanilla & Blackberry

Stamping Colours: Barry M - Vanilla & Blackberry

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BMH10

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

The lighting at work really shows the true navy beauty that is Blackberry. Here's the base before stamping:

Hope you've all had a good weekend so far :]

Pink Roses Over Gold

Hi all,

It's been a while, since I've posted and I'm still undecided about keeping up the blog, so here's some more nails from the vault.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Liz Earle - Golden Celebration

Stamping Colour: Konad Psyche Pink

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BMH16

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

That's all from me for now.

Lovehearts

Hi guys,

I know it's been a while, but to tell you the truth I've been doing some thinking recently about maybe just posting things on my instagram account instead of keeping this blog.  I'm doing an exceptionally bad job of being part of the blogging community these days, which is very sad, but it seems to be just how it's happened.  I haven't fully decided, and I still have a huge backlog of photos, and i'm still continuing to do my nails, but these days I'm just not into it as much as I used to be.  I blame the fact I'm a lot more sociable than I used to be, but when I decide what I'm doing I'll post about it.

Today we have my nails I wore for Valentines Day.  I've never been one to really celebrate Valentines Day, always just using it as an excuse to definitely do something with the person I care about.  Last year was a solo one for me, and although this year I had a partner for it, it was considerably worse than being alone haha; but that's another story!

Less ranting, more photos:

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Liz Earle - Knockout

Stamping Colour: Konad Special White

Image Plate: Bundle Monster Holiday Collection BMH16

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Matte: Rimmel - Matte Effect

This lovely polish was actually part of a present that I received at Christmas from one of the Psychologists that I work with, so thank you Dorothy =]

This was my first time trying any Liz Earle products, and was very pleasantly surprised at the formula on this very creamy polish, two coats and it was perfect coverage, which for some reds (and my nails) is hard to come by as I have a slight dip in my nails where the free edge begins, and reds tend to make that obvious for some reason.

I'll be posting more soon. Hope you all have a good weekend :]

Red & Gold Aztec Using Bundle Monster

Hi all,

I thought I was going to have a load of time this weekend to blog, but as it turns out, loads of plans occurred, and I've only just had time to do my nails/blog tonight (Monday).

These are some nails I did quite a while ago, as are most of my mani's so far this year.  These were some quickie nails midweek at some point back in January.  Orly - Naughty is a really lovely super dark red polish, it dried really well, but after stamping with Barry M - Gold Foil and adding a top coat, it pulled through some of the colour and made some of the stamping look pink-ish.  I had heard of this before, but never actually experienced it.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Orly - Naughty

Stamping Colour: Barry M - Gold Foil

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM410

Top Coat: Sally Hansen - Advanced Hard As Nails

Interview Nails, Barry M Vanilla & White Stamping

Hi all,

Yay Wednesday. I say yay as It's a four day week for me, with a four day weekend, followed by another short week, and yet another long weekend! Thank eff for Bank Holidays!

I'm still working through a backlog of manicures I've done over the last four months, and today is the turn of the nails I wore for my interview at the end of January. Interviews are one of those lovely times I do a nude or peach base with subtle stamping. This isn't because I don't like the combo, but I'm such a fan of bold manis. Oddly enough as I already knew the people I was being interviewed by, and they both love nail art themselves (now!) I still chose to do a nude to go with my outfit.

On to the pics:

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Barry M - Vanilla

Glitter: Nails Inc - Electric Lane

Stamping Colour: Konad Special White

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM419

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Everytime I look at this particular stamp all I want to do is stamp it in a blue over white and have china nails!

Please excuse the dry hands, Winter was taking it's toll on me! Hope you've all had a good week so far :]

Loop the Loop, Gold and Black Stamping

Hi all,

Sorry for being MIA so long, you know how it happens, life and all the fun stuff that prevents me sitting in front of a laptop. Also all the non-fun stuff like work, and gym!

Today I have one little piccah, from way back when (at least a few months) some really simple stamping, trying out a few new polishes.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colours: Ciaté - Loop the Loop, & an unknown Nails Inc Gold

Stamping Colour: BYS - Black Satin

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM406

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

That's all for me, I'll try to post again next week :] Hope you're all keeping well!

Ciaté - Loop the Loop & Bronze Stamping

Hi all,

Today I have a really simple mani, really simple stamping, that as always looked better in person.  This was actually my first ever Ciaté polish and I really loved the formula, though as it's a mini, I disliked the brush.  A thank you goes out to one of my managers for getting this for me for a little christmas pressie :] I also got a Ciaté christmas mix glitter (can't remember the name now).

On to the mani:

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Ciaté - Loop the Loop

Stamping Colour: Revlon - Cooper Chrome

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM410

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Sadly I forgot to take any swatch shots, but it's a gorgeous creamy pastel yellow. I'll definitely be using this again soon as the Spring weather is making me excited for sunny days!

I really love this image too, I think I may use it next time over a tie-dye type base so it shows through the "arrow head" like space.

That's all from me today, hope you've all had a good weekend :]

Miss Sporty - Pop Fiction, Glitter & Dogtooth Stamping

Hi all.

Yay Sunday, the day of lazing :]

Today I have a manicure that I did back in November (for November 5th).  I only have the one photo, but I really liked this mani, I love stamping over chunky glitter.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Miss Sporty - Pop Fiction

Glitter: Models Own - Disco Inferno

Stamping Colour: BYS - Black Satin

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM322 (ring) & Konad M63

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Shot and sweet from me today, I have loads of other stuff to be getting on with even though I really should just be lazing about!

Hope you've all had a good weekend!

Gradient and Aztec stamping with Cheeky Viva Mexico

Hi guys, hope you've all had a good weekend, I've not had the most productive but I thought that after a very stressful two weeks worrying about the interview I mentioned in last post I thought a long chilled weekend was the best call.  Especially as I've been in a particularly good mood as I totally nailed the interview =D so after I write this post I'm going to watch a film and maybe colour in, carry on the chilling.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colours: Cliché - Opala, Alessandro international - Pomegranate

Glitter: Essence - Space Queen

Stamping Colour: Konad White

Image Plate: Cheeky Viva Mexico

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

 

Not the best quality pics as these were taken on my phone, but you get the idea :] Here's a picture of the base pre-stamp:

A Few Manis From November

Hi all.

I've spent a few hours today editing through some old photos (most of which were taken on my iPhone, so aren't the best quality) so I have a few mani's to show you today, and hopefully will get some more set up to post so I can start posting regularly again!

Base coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: NOPI - Pretty In Plum

Stamping Colour: Barry M - Silver Foil

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM417

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Please excuse the tip wear in the next one, and the not so great stamping. I actually think that this purple and yellow combo was from mid October!

Base Coat CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Sinful Colors - Amethyst

Stamping Colour: Konad Yellow

Image Plate: BM423

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Revlon - Emerald City

Stamping Colour: Revlon - Copper Chrome

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM415

Image Plate: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Not the best pictures, but the first mani I especially loved. The base is Nicole by OPI - Pretty In Plum very lovely shade, and it looks quite different in different lighting.

Other than that there's not much more to say! Hope you've had a lovely weekend, mine has been a let down; as per. But at least I have a busy three days before I have an interview on Thursday, and then I'm not back in work until Monday!

A Few Christmas Manicures

Hi all.

I've been lagging in posting all of the Christmas-type manicures I've been doing recently so I thought I'd throw three in one post!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Essie - Muchi Muchi

Gradient with NOPI - Gumdrops Blueberry Sweet On You

Stamping Colour: Konad White

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BMH02

Top coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

 

The next manicure is one that I wore for a week solid with only minimal tip wear (see pic) I loved wearing these. I honestly Just adore My Cherry Amour so much, iPhone pics do not do it justice at all!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: NOPI - Gumdrops My Chery Amour

Stamping Colour: Barry M - Gold Foil

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BMH03

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

This purple manicure only stayed on for a couple of days as it just bored me to high heaven!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Sinful Colors - Amethyst ( I think!)

Stamping Colour: NYC - Niagara Foils

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BMH03

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

My favourite has to be the first snowflake manicure. It reminds me of some nails I did back in 2011. I was going to link to them but man I used to keep my nails so long back then I'd rather not!

So do you have a favourite from these three?

**Nicole by OPI Gumdrop polishes mentioned were sent to me for consideration of review**

Christmas Pick & Mix

Hi all, happy Friday!

This week has been a loooooong week, but I'm hoping that this weekend will help me recover further from my cold/cough and a night out with the bestie will get me into the festive mood further!

I've been sporting these nail since Sunday, and while they are currently chipped on a few corners, they're holding up quite well!

The white base on most of the nails is Rimmel - French White, and the glitter on those nails is Nails Inc - Electric Lane. Not sure why I love white with glitter like this, but I do! I really still need to buy a new white as this one has been thinned so much it smells more like thinner than polish!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Coats: Rimmel - French White, NOPI - My Cherry Amour & W7 - Night Suede (pinky)

Image Plates: Bundle Monster BMH01 BMH03

Glitter: Ciaté - Sequin Mistletoe Magic (thank you Debbie-dumpling for this :D)

Stamping Colours: W7 - Suede, Konad White, Rimmel Black, Revlon - Emerald City

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

 And for funsies here's the stamping without dotting or a top coat. Rudolph freaked me out so much at this point with his zombie eyes!

Hope you's like these :] I'm hoping to post more festive-themed nails soon when I do some more peoples nails!