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!

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.

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 :]

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 :]

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**

NOPI - Cinna-man of my dreams & Nude Stamping

Hi all. Yay Saturday. Thank god it's the weekend. I feel like I've been non-stop this week!

Today I have a couple swatch shots of the lovely Cinna-man of My Dreams by NOPI.  It's a reallllly dreamy bronze matte glitter that tends to lead on the rosey side. I wore this quite a bit when I first got it back in November/December it was just perfect with the weather, neutral but warm in a way.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Nicole by OPI - Cinna-Man of My Dreams

This was two coats, really lovely and opaque.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Nicole by OPI - Cinna-Man of My Dreams

Stamping Colour: Barry M - Lychee

Image Plate: Bundle Monster - BMH12

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

My manager loved this polish so much, along with A-Nise Treat when I first wore them she actually went out and bought a few polishes from the collection.

That's it from me today :] Hope you're all having a good weekend, I'm pooped from the gym this morning so I think I might have a nap and then hibernate from the world!

**Cinna-Man of My Dreams was sent to me for consideration of review**

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!

Matte Glitter Tape Mani

Hi all!

I can't believe It's been so long since my last post! Happy New Year! I don't have any real excuses for lack of blogging other than being a bad blogger! :( Apologies.

This is a mani from the back end of November. I wanted something quick and simple for a night out, and as I was (still am) obsessed with Nicole by OPI - A-Nise Treat I really wanted to use it in conjunction with a nudienudie creme. So I reached for another favourite, Barry M - Lychee.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Barry M - Lychee
Base V-Moon: W7 - Night Suede

V-Moon Colour: Nicole by NOPI - A-Nise Treat

I started by painting two coats of Lychee, and then after a shower (to avoid the tape pulling up the base) I cut triangles into the tape and placed it on the nail; painting over with W7 - Night Suede. I did this to try and establish what kind of shape I would be left with so I could then go in with striping tape and NOPI - A-Nise Treat to even out the length of the triangles, and add that loooovely matte glitter.

Here's before adding the glitter and making things much more even, and this pic shows the colours better where there's light, and my hands aren't freezing as I was waiting for a Metro for 25 minutes!

iPhone pics definitely do not do this manicure justice. I really loved wearing these as they were so bold.

Hope you've all had a good start to the year :]

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**

Glitter Bomb Holo Birthday Nails

Hi all,

Still powering through photos of past nails ( I can't wait to get back to posting what is on my nails!) So today I have some nails to show you that I wore for my birthday - so exactly three months ago - eek!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colours: Jade Holographic - Mystic Gold & Energy

Stamping Colour: Barry M - Gold Foil & Rimmel - Out Of The Blue

Image Plate: Cheeky CH46

Glitter

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

 

Hope you're all having a good Wednesday!

Birthstone - Peridot - We Stamp On Sundays

Hi all.

I would say happy Monday but this means I will be back at work when this posts and that means I'll be melting as the aircon is broken, and i'm almost certain the heating is actually on.

This is my first time in a long while taking part in Adventures In Stamping We Stamp On Sundays, so although I didn't have any amazing ideas I wanted to give it a shot.

This challenge was for Birthstones, and mine is Peridot, so I reached for the first green I thought of and had a think of what I could do.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Models Own - Golden Green

Flakies: Golden Rose Scale Effects - 04

Stamping Colour: Barry M - Gold Foil

Image Plate: Faunad M28 (Konad M33, and Bundle Monster BM318

Glitter

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Had As Nails

I'm a little bummed the gold kind of gets lost, and if you were to see these from a distance you probably wouldn't even think there was any nail art on!

Here's what I used:

The fauxnad plate M38 is actually the copy of Konad M33 so I'm not too certain why it's named differently. But a big thank you to Susana for sending this to me in one of our swaps! And here is the base before stamping:

Green, Purple And Gold Animal Print

Hi all. Happy Sunday.

Not taking part in Adventures In Stamping this weekend as I haven't got a clue what to do for it!

These were meant to post yesterday but after having a lush little trip to Seahouses (clicky here) on the Friday  & Saturday and seeing Despicable Me 2 as soon as I got back into Newcastle there was no way I had the energy to do anything but be lazy and snug.

I did these the start of May which is crazy! I loved wearing these though, and they were were definitely more interesting to look at in real life as the stripe of flakies shifting colour broke up the nail completely.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colours: W7 - Mauve Suede & Cutex - Sweet Pea

Flakies: Golden Rose Scale Effects - 13

Stamping Colour: Barry M - Gold Foil

Image Plate: Konad M60

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

Better representation of the colours here.

Before Stamping

Above is two coats of the gorgeous Mauve Suede, I could have got away with just the one if I was more careful about coverage. Below is two coats that has a little of hand lotion on so it's not as matte as it normally is.

And for good measure he's a couple pictures from Friday night when myself and Amy were running along the beach like loons trying to catch the sunset!

Hope you've all had a great weekend like I have!

Bright Gradient & Golden Bolts

Hi again my pretties!

I hope you're all well, today I have a mani I did about a month back now, the sun had just started coming out and it made me really fancy sporting a pink toned gradient.

I would try and make out like I didn't want to do the gradient super-smooth and seamless, but the truth is I did these in bad lighting, and pretty much was falling asleep. That being said, I do love what a bit of stamping hides!

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colours: W7 - Pink, P2 - Passion, Models Own - Raspberry Crush

Stamping Colour: Barry M - Gold Foil

Image Plate: Cheeky CH48

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails

And here's a shot of the base:

Hope you're all having a good Tuesday. I'll be at work when this posts, then afterwards I'll be on my way to see Man Of Steel. Henry Cavill in a tight fitting Superman get up; uh yes please!

Fake Tattoos Nail Tattoo Review

Happy Wednesday guys :]

Today I have a post reviewing some nail tattoos that I was kindly sent to try out a while back now. I've yet to do more than this one mani with them, but I will definitely be trying out the others from the packet when I get a chance.

These nail tattoos are from a company called Fake Tattoos and like the large selection of tattoos they offer on their site, these can be used on the body too.

On to the mani I created with some of these fake tattoos, and I will show you what else they sent, and wht you can expect to see in the future.

Base Coat: CND - Stickey

Base Colour: Barry M - Lychee

Two Coats Of: Sally Hansen - Pink Rose Diamond

Polka Dots: Kiko - Jewel Pink

Tattoos: Fake Tattoos

Top Coat: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails

With Flash

As you can see the holographic sparkle shines through the bow a little which I really like.

Here's what they sent me:

I think next I'll try the moustaches, or the owls! There's so much detail in those owls!

And here's the nude holographic base I created using Barry M - Lychee & and two coats of Sally Hansen - Pink Rose Diamond. I've always wanted a holographic nude so I'm quite happy with this!

The tattoos were really easy to use. I messed up the first one on a thumb by soaking the paper before it was on the nail (don't ask me why I decided to go about things backwards!) but after trimming the paper around the image pressing it to the nail (the tattoos like all other temporary tattoos are a little tacky) then soaking the paper these work an absolute dream! So easy to use, and like water decals and stickers pretty much dry instantaneously.

Have you ever tried using these kind of nail tattoos?


**These were sent to me for consideration of reivew**