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

Born Pretty Foil Review

Hi all.

Hope you've all had a good weekend, I've had a pretty decent one so far, and I'm planning on doing a massive spring clean of my clothes and shoes this evening so I'm sure I'll be feeling marvelous when there's less clutter.

Today I have my first ever experience with nail foils. I was contacted recently by the Born Pretty Store and I decided It was time to finally try nail foils. I was sent numbers 76, and 1, and these can be found here, there's so many designs to choose from though, so good luck trying to pick!

Now, I'm not saying I'll never try foils again, but I had such a hard time with the timing of waiting for the polish to be tacky, but not too wet.  Trying to get the holographic part of the foils to show through was also quite a tough task, and although the nails below were my second attempt at using foils (the first attempt at these was so bad I didn't even take pictures), you can still only see the holo part on the ring finger.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Barry M - Blackberry

Foils: Born Pretty Store

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

So although I struggled with these, and really struggled with the other colour I tried I love the effect nail foils can give.

If you're interested in any of these foils, or any other products the Born Pretty Store offer use coupon code DS5X31 for 10% off.

**These nail foils were sent to me for review**

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**

Jacava - Crimson Crush & Models Own - Red Sea

Hi all, so glad it's Friday!

I was actually meant to post this on Wednesday, but all this week I've managed to be in bed ready to snooze at 9.30pm or thereabouts.  So I'm doing it now while I can - before I start baking :]

Simple swatch combination for you today, and then coming up this weekend I have some loooovely NOPI polishes to show you.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Jacava - Crimson Crush

Topper: Models Own - Red Sea

Top coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

And here's the swatches of the lovely Jacava - Crimson Crush gorgeous bright glossy jelly. This is three coats.

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

**Crimson Crush was sent to be for possibility of review**

Nailtopia Nail Stickers

Hi all, happy Monday.

Today I'm showing you some gorgeous nail stickers that Nailtopia kindly sent me. She sent me three different styles of stickers, and my favourites are still to come.

These were really easy to use, and the gold really really pops. Click here to buy the nail stickers i'm showing today.

In this picture you can clearly see the ridge of the sticker, but to the human eye you can't tell at all. The texture of the gold parts looks like metal and they almost glitter.

Thats all from me today, I shall be back with some stamping soon :]

Born Pretty Flocking Powder Review

Hi all - It's Saturday! Yay!

Today I have a review for you that is long long long overdue, just like a lot of reviews I have left to do.

The Born Pretty Store kindly sent my some items for possible review, and first up I have this Flocking Powder.

I'm very late to the party with regards to flocking powder and velvet nails mainly because I thought the texture would really annoy me, but I got used to it after about half an hour. I only wore these for a couple of days, so I can't really say much for how they would have lasted, but I really enjoyed wearing them. They were quite striking.

This powder can be bought by clicking here.

I found it so so easy to use, although I think I was a little slow on the mark to put the powder on my nail, So I have a few spots that don't look so fluffy, but that will be easily remedied next time. Have you tried this trend?

And here's the other goodies:

I've already used the glitters once, but not for a glitter bomb, and I'm dying to try the stamper, as I've been wanting to get a small sided stamper since I started stamping!

That's all for me today, I'll be back on Monday with something more than likely :]

Nails Inc - Porchester Square & Victoria Funky French Argyle

Hi hi all, Wednesday, woop! Half way through the week!

Funky french stamped mani going on today, I never usually like funky french on me as cause I like my nails a little too square for them (personal preference). But after swatching Nails Inc - Victoria it's vampy goodness totally reminded me of Fingers at Fingers Polish Mania. Which is why I chose to stamp with Nails Inc - Porchester Square and finish it off with a little French tip.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Nails Inc - Victoria

Stamping & French Colour: Nails Inc - Porchester

Image Plate: Konad M60

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

And here's two coats of Victoria. A Third coat would've evened this out and made it super dark and sexy, but I wanted to keep it quite red.

Hope you're all keeping well =]

W7 - Red & Barry M - Pink Sapphire Glitter

Hi All

Just a quickie post today, I'm feeling vile, and the interenet is being hit and miss at the moment, so I'm grabbing it while it's working! Simple red base, and glitter today.

This is a pretty boring combo but it was getting late when I did these and I needed my nails painted for work the next day. While I like the look of bar glitters it always bugs me when I wear them as they just do whatever they please. Maybe I should have used another coat to even things out.

And that's all from me, I'm gonna go get into bed and watch a film while painting my nails.

Sally Hansen - Quick Brick & Yellow Stamping

Hi hi all. Yay Friday!

This will be a scheduled post, but I already have that Friday feeling!

Today's nails start with a base, which is actually one of my favourite red polishes because it's so vibrant, and with all the Inst-Dri polishes I've tried the coverage is just amazing. So after a base of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Quick Brick I then decided to stamp with Konad Special Polish - Yellow, which at the time seemed like a fun move to make, but I'm not certain if it's the cheeky plates, or the special polish, but things just aren't working out!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Quick Brick

Stamping Colour: Konad Special Polish - Yellow

Image Plate: Cheeky CH46

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

I had quite a bit of problems with the stamp smearing or more like stretching I suppose. And not picking up the little bits inside the stars. I've just started to work my way through my cheeky plates testing them on paper, so hopefully this was just a bad attempt on my behalf and not some deep engraving!

And this is a shot of Quick Brick without top coat, with flash. Nomnomnom!

That's all from me today :]

Christmas Pick n Mix

Hey guys!

I think this is my last Christmas mani, so I'm posting it now so It doesn't get neglected until next christmas!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey
Index: Barry M - Red Glitter

Stamp Colour: Konad White

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM 20

Green Striping Tape

Middle & Thumb: Barry M - Gold Foil

W7 - Black

Barry M - Yellow Topaz Glitter

Ring Finger: Essence - Kiss On Top Of The Rock

Nails Inc: Electric Lane

Stamp Colour: Konad White

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM 318

Ohter Colours: Acrylic Paints

Pinky: W7 - Black

Stamp Colour: Barry M - Gold Foil
Image Plate: Konad M57

Other: Barry M - Red Glitter

NOPI - Fell From The Tree

Top Coat: Sally Hansen - Advanced Hard As Nails

I really loved wearing these, the index finger was amazingly bling and pretty. However the flash washed the glitter out a bit, and after a day and a half the striping tape decided it was gonna start coming off. Does anyone have any tips for this?

Hope everyone's had a good Wednesday :]

Red, Green & White Festive Stamping

Hi all! Happy Thursday!

Today we have some nail stamping that was inspired by Colores de Carol I seen these and loved everything about them, so I just had to try it for myself :D

Sadly I didn't pay enough attention to the way I was placing the colours, so mine aren't nearly as pretty as hers!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Rimmel - French White

Stamping Colours: Essence - Kiss On Top Of The Rock & Manhattan - Green Piece

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM306

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Hope you're all having a good day. I'll be in the middle of a mad day at work while this posts - Away day, buffet, and Kerry's mad winter quiz.. Bound to be a good day :D

Fesitve Leopard Print

Hi everyone! Officially a week until Christmas *squee*

I'm still wishing it will snow, but I doubt it :( it would totally make if for me if it did. But still; I'm looking forward to the family, the banter at the dinner table, the food, the drinkies ;] and all the bits in between :D Is anyone else excited?

These nails were inspired by a post I seen about a week and a half back, and I can not remember for the life of me from where :( So if you know where I got this idea please let me know!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Barry M - Gold Foil

Stamping Plate: Konad M57

Image Colour: BYS - Black Satin

Dotted Colours: Barry M - Red Glitter & NOPI - Fell From The Tree

Accent Glitter: Barry M - Yellow Topaz Glitter

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

I took these photos at work, using my coworkers SAD lamp as the light source, I'm still not used to it, and I was leaning all the way over my desk, so next time I'm gonna try and pay more attention so not to get shaky pics.

The Gold/Holographic glitter is one of the new ones I've recently purchased from Barry M - I'll have a post up tomorrow showing the four I recently bought on some sort of glitter binge :D It's a really lovely mix though. Micro holo glitter, small gold and holo glitter, and medium gold and holo glitter, very sparkly in real life.

I hope everyone's having a good Tuesday so far!

Winter - We Stamp On Sundays

Hi all!

I hope everyone's had a good weekend! This week's challenge over at Adventures In Stamping was for winter themed nails. Originally I was going to attempt the "winter jumper" look done with a lacey print, and a stag like these lovely nails by So long, kitty. But I had a bit of a fail with the first nail I did, so I picked a different stamp, and just got on with it as I'm feeling pretty horrific (fell down some stairs on Friday) so all I want to do is get this post done, and get back into bed :P

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Models Own - Raspberry Crush

Stamping Colour: Konad Special Polish White

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM 315

Top Coat: Rimmel - 60 Seconds Clear

And here's what I used:

 

I really need a new white, not much left! Also the Models Own Polish I got free in a copy of More this week :]

Happy Sunday!

Halloween Blood Splatter

Hi all!

I know I've been slacking lately, and even forgot to add the polish picture to my giveaway, but I promise in the next week I'll try to get back to normal posting, or at least try to keep up with my reading list, which is really really huge right now lol.

Tomorrow I'm not going to be doing a stamping challenge, as I'll be chilling with my favourite girl post Halloween night out. However you might get some gore-tastic Halloween snaps :]

These are not the nails i'll be wearing, these were done a week or so back. I tried to do a straw splatter mani, but after getting frustrated, and even trying to splat with a brush handle I reached for the rough side of a kitchen sponge and went to town. I will do a straw splatter mani some day!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Elf - Desert Haze

Reds: Beauty UK - Purple

Essence Nail Colour3  - Kiss On Top Of The Rock

Rimmel - Celebrity Bash

Top Coat: Sally Hansen - Advanced Hard As Nails

Hope everyone's having a good Saturday! When this posts i'll be covering my face in latex and tissue getting my zombie onnnn!

Halloween - We Stamp On Sundays

Hi all! Things may be a little quiet on the blog front in the coming weeks. I have quite a bit on my mind at the minute, and quite a bit of change coming up; and I'm finding it hard to stay focused on pretty much anything.

This weeks' challenge for Adventures In Stamping was Halloween! Now when I started painting my nails for these I didn't really have a plan, and this is why they turned out so pants in the end lol. I should have left them with just the barbed wire.

Pumpkin: Konad M13

Konad Special White, Essie - Orange You Glad

I used white first, scraped; added orange over the white, scraped and stamped

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colours: Gosh - Holographic Hero

Rimmel - Celebrity Bash

Rimmel - Black Satin

Stamp Colour: Miss Sporty - Electric Beige

Image Plate: Bundle Monster BM323

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

 

Here's the sponged base.

 

So hopefully I'll have the giveaway up tomorrow, so there's one good thing to tell yous :]

W7 - Lava Flow & Another Swap With Susana

Hi all! Happy Thursday!

I have a quick swatch of W7 - Lava flow today, I was intending to stamp over it, but when I had it on I really didn't know what I could do with it. I also have new swap goodies from Susana to show you!

W7 - Lava Flow & Rimmel - Matte Finish

This is two coats of Lava Flow, an off white, almost lilacy base with matte black glitter, and regular red glitter floating around. When I first seen this polish many months back (I bought this back in July!) I loved it, but I just didn't like it on me, and I wished the red glitter was also matte. Which is why I added a matte top coat too, and it helped a bit.  In all honesty I liked this a lot better in person, at arms length than I do in these photos.

And onto my lovely goodies from my most recent swap with the lovely Susana, loads of new goodies to try! I got these a couple of weeks back now, but I'm yet to try anything still! I'm so bad!

 Very excited to try Violet Microglitter that's not even half the sparkle you can see in real life!

She also sent me some green tea, which is the nicest I've ever tried. I was going to wait to take a photo before trying it, but I really couldn't wait :P Thank you Susana!

What do you guys think of Lava Flow?