Golden Oldie Thursday - Ruffle Mani

It's only a week late, Shhhh don't tell anyone. here is my Golden Oldie Thursday - Ruffle Mani. I've had a few breakages recently so I've had to file and shorten my nails down. They feel so tiny but I'm warming towards the more rounder shape.

I've used my old faithful Model Own, Snow White for the base. I like blank white nails and I love a detailed accent nail. This is the third time I've done a ruffle design. The first two attempt where massive fails they didn't even get to the photo stage they where that bad! Third time is the charm.

The Blue is Sally Hansen, Navy Baby. Its stunning and has a little shimmer which makes is so much more than just a deep navy. Plus the bottle is square and looks fab.

Golden Oldie Thursday - Valentines

Golden Oldie Thursday (on a Saturday!) Valentines

St Valentines day was on Friday, and the name on this challenge is Golden Oldie Thursday, so I am a little late in posting this, bit life just got in way :)

This week I've been working the late shift at work which means finishing at 10pm so fitting in time to do new nails, taking photos and drafting a post can get a little tricky. I managed this on, only two days late :) lol

I've used Sally Hansen, Diamond Strength, unnamed red. Super glossy and applies great. Only two coats needed for this lovely bold red. The flash makes it seam a little thin in places but you cant see this in 'real life'  I've added a tiny pink hearts to each nail, this is my 'nod' to the valentines theme. I'm not keen on the valentines but I was surprised by given a lovely bunch of flowers, with one glittery rose in it. sounds strange but looks nice.

An InLinkz Link-up

Blue stained nails

The down side of my favourite deep blue, Sally Hansen Navy baby is that it stains, and boy is it's hard to get rid of!

I did a comparison to show you the aftermath left behind. On my left hand I used two coats No7 So Strong and one coat on my right hand, Boots No7 So Strong is a great base coat because as it's name suggest it's strong which adds a tough layer of protection over my nails. Whenever I get the money of No7 make-up vouchers I do tend to get another one or two to add to my stash :)

My right hand (one base coat)

 

My left hand had two layers of base coats and there is considerably lower staining compared to the other hand which had one base coat.

side-by-side shot to show the levels of staining.

 

This is after 10 minuets of scrubbing using my white block - so much better!

 

The lesson in this story is when using a polish that stains double up on the base coat!

 

 

 

Night-time sky

It's the 3rd January and I've just got around to posting my new year eve nails!

I've used Sally Hansen, Navy Baby which is hands down my most favourite deep blue. It's just perfect for an evening night sky. I didn't want to use black because the sky where I live isn't black due to all the street lighting :(  To add the sparkly stars I've used 17 Nail Xtras, glitter top coat which I think really works. I had planned on added fireworks over the top but decided not to do so, I'm glad I didn't because I love how these nails turned out. Simple understated but very clearly the nights sky.

Christmas nailart

I've been seriously slacking on the blogging front. Work has well and truly got in the way of blogging and painting nails. Booo :(

Here is a quick post of my Christmas nails that I did, they looked so much better in real life, but for some reason all my photos came out shit.

For the presents I've used Sally Hansen, Diamond Strength in Red.  I've used a striper brush and carefully created the cross and bow using Models Owns White nail art pen and then added a small silver gem in the centre. For the Christmas tree I used tape to mask of the shape and used Models Own, Green tea. I then added small dots of white and yellow using a dotting tool for the fairy lights and added another gem on top of tree. Finished of with a top coat of 17 Nail Xtras, glitter top coat.

Day 26 in the 33DC - Inspired by Pinterest pin

Day 26 in the 33DC - Inspired by Pinterest pin.

I have so many pins and boards on Pinterest this was tricky to pick one. I decided to try something new, a Jelly sandwich. I was looking in my collection for a big chunky glitter in one colour. I have a few multi colours and lots of tiny single coloured glitters but then I remembered about my L'Oreal top coat confettis it's not one colour but it's close enough. The following pin was perfect  This one which came from Here which is a featured post from Lindsey http://www.wondrouslypolished.com

I've used Sally Hansen, Forever Lilac and L'Oreal, Confettis

Day 16 in the 33DC - South America

Day 16 is South America in the 33DC.

I had no idea where to start when I sore todays prompt. I had images of white sand beaches, lost Aztec villages, carnivals and vibrant colours. This got me scared, how was I supposed to apply this to my nails!? I headed hesitantly to Google image search and typed in 'simple south American design' a few pages down I spotted this.

"Each quilt is a unique, one-of-a-kind work of art with visually arresting patterns ranging from traditional to original designs, from patchwork quilts, to story quilts and strip quilts, each distinguished by a lively improvisation that juxtaposes bright or subdued colors with bold design"

 

That paragraph says it all, bright or subdued colours with bold design. this to me sums up south American design and I love the design of the quilt.

 

I own a few blue polishes but strangely I don't have a clean bold blue like the one in the quilt so I used Sally Hansen, Xtreme wear, Navy blue because it has this wonderful subtle shimmer that is almost the right shade of blue :)  I've also used a Barry M nail pen, in white to draw on the line freehand (not very neatly though!) and used an un named red.

 

Looking back I guess I could have used tape to do the lines but that would have lost a bit of the charm.

 

Day 14 in the 33DC - Abstract

Day 14 is Abstract

I've used Sally Hansen Instra dry, Coco a-go-go and Models Own, Blue Moon for the base. the added the black a white lines using Barry M Nail pens.

This designed worked so much better in my head. It turned out a bit dull and unexciting and I'm not overly happy with my index finger with the bulls eye/target turning into a messy splodge but I do like the patterns and criss-cross lines this designed brings.

Please check out the other people joining in with the 33DC.

Day 12 in the 33DC - A pattern in your home

Day 12 in the 33DC - A pattern in your home

I've wanted to re-create this vase pattern for some time. The cream colour dripping down over the deep red is just gorgeous don't you think?

I've used Sally Hansen Berry Sweet which is a truly stunning deep red. The camera has made the red look more pink but in true life the colour is rich and almost an autumn berry. I've used a thin brush to sweep No7 So Simple over the top. It's a neutral cream colour that looks a little lost on it's own but perfect when paired with a bold colour,

I'm happy with how these nails have turned out but I'd love to know what you think!

 

Day 8 in the 33DC - Chevrons

Day 8 in the 33DC is Chevrons.

Wow this was harder than I thought it would be! My initial plan was to tape every nail and do a gradient over the top. well that didn't work, not one little bit. So bad was the result I didn't finish doing the other nails and reached straight for the remover!

In the end I managed to do one nail with a simple layer of Models Own Sterling Silver over Sally Hansen, Forever Lilac Diamond Strength. I'm not entirely happy but that's all your gonna get.

*note to self must practise chevrons*

Day 7 in 33DC - Art with your oldest untried.

Day 7 is here and so far I'm keeping up with the pace, I'm quite chuffed with myself to be honest!

Three post each week for 11 weeks and with the build up to Christmas I'm going to have to plan and use my spare time productively!

So on with todays nail. I've used W7 Silver for my base. this polish was given to me as a birthday gift from my friends at work (back in may) it came with another bottle full of teeny tiny beads. I've used the beads before but not the polish until now. The silver is shimmery and metallic it so reflective I've had issues when taken the photos because it just kept bouncing the light back.

I've used Sally Hansen, Salon, Navy Baby and WOW this is just gorgeous! I can't wait to use this again the colour is super deep and stunning and applied really well.

The gradient isn't perfect and I need more practise but I love how bold the Navy baby looks against the metallic silver.

Day 3 in the 33DC

Day 3 is all about the tape mani. This means fiddly tape, messy fingers and frustration. I've used stripping tape several times before and always find it tricky, hard to get inspired or creative with tape.

I kept it simple and went for the classic colour combo of red and gold.

What I've used:
Models Own Gold Rush is jam packed full of teeny tiny sparkly gold dust. Its fab and when the light hits it, its truly stunning.
Sally Hansens Diamond Strength in an un-named blood red colour.

 

Day two in the 33 Day challenge

Day two is your most used polish.

This was a tricky task, I don't practically have a most used polish nor a most used colour of polish. I'm always chopping and changing my favourites and can never decide on a definite answer.

I though for a while and realised there is one polish that I use all the time, every time. My Sally Hansen Maximum Growth which I use as a base coat every single time I change my polish.

This isn't a colour as such, it has a pale creamy colour which evens the colour of my nails and hides any stains that I may have. it goes on well and somehow smooth's out the little rides I have on a few nails.

As you can see from the photo this bottle is half used, I've not yet got it's replacement, it'll either be another Maximum growth or something similar.

 

 

Day one in the 33 Day Challenge

Day one in the 33 Day Challenge, an 11 week challenge with 3 posts each week.

I wasn't to sure where to start with this challenge. the prompt was dots, I'm not a big fan of dot, spots or polka dots so I tried to keep it simple and subtle.

I've used Models Own Green tea, Sally Hansen Diamond strength topcoat and Rimmel Matte Finish and dotting tool. The contrast between the high gloss finish and the matte muted effect is the right level for impact that I was looking for. 

I'd love to hear what you think, please don't forget to check everyone else's nails out!