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 6 in 33DC - Texture

Day 6 is Texture.

I have only recently purchased my first bottle of textured polish. Barry M, Atlantic Road caught my eye because of the wonderfully fresh blue colour.

I wasn't sure how I was going to use a textured polish to create a design so I kept it simple, framing Atlantic road with a base layer of Models Own, Snow White.

I'm please with how this turned out to be honest/ A glossy white edge and a blue textured middle. I'll be doing this kind of design again because it was quick to do and made my nails look long, some kind of optical illusion going on :)

Day 5 in the 33DC - Mexican

Mexican is the name of the game today.

Another tricky task. Not to much to talk about with theses nails, I don't like them and ran out of time to anything else :(

I've used Models Own Sun Kissed and Collection 2000 Hot looks, Scarlet. both have a lovely shimmer to them. I was hoping to add a bit of interest to the background but I'm not sure it worked.

 

Nacho nails! lol

 

Day 4 in 33DC

Day 4 is Tribal.

I'm a big fan of nail art and I have a huge respect for anyone that can such detail on a small space. when I spotted this prompt on the list before the challenge began I was worried. I'm no were near as neat as I wish I was. If any one has any tips or tricks please feel free to share. I want to get better!

I took inspiration from the internet and found a few simple designs and practised on paper before I went to start on my nails. I used a Simple Pleasures set that I found in TKMaxx, they have no numbers or colour names. I added detail (tried to) with Barry M Nail Art Pens in Black and White.

They aren't very neat or tidy but I'm secretly proud of what I managed to do.

 

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!

Ibiza mix over concrete mixer

With the onset of Autumn on its way, I've not quite said goodbye to summer so I combined two of favourite polishes. Models Own Concrete mixer which is a perfect neutral tone and Models Own, Hedkandi Ibiza mix with its bight and bold mixed glitter. I think they work really well together. The Ibiza mix is a super shinny and glossy topcoat which looks great over the base colour.

I'm on the hunt for a decent topcoat that's as smooth and strong as this but I've not found it. All recommendation very welcome!

Gold and purple

I'm started this blog as a place to share and record the nail art that I've done. Sometimes life and work gets in the way and I'm not posting as much as want. So to compact this I'm going to do another nail challenge as this gave me motivation to post more frequently so keep an eye out, it starts late September :)  

Onto todays short post. I've used Models Own Purple Imperial which is super smooth and reminds me so much of Cadburys chocolate, I had this on my nails with a matte top coat and although it looked great, I did forget to take a photo :(  It needed something extra so I reached for my Models Own Gold Rush, some nail tape and wham!

The combination of the matte purple and the highly sparkly gold looks fab in the sunshine and just love how they turned out.

OPI, What Wizardry Is This?

A friend at work very kindly let me try her OPI What Wizardry Is This? The only catch was that I had to do her nails first!

This is the first time I've used OPI and to be honest I think I need to add some to my collection. The formula is great, the brush is fab, it has lasting power, no chips for 3 days and surprisingly easy and straight forward to remove.

Its textured, but not so much that it feel rough to the touch just slightly grainy ( like sand!) I spent most the day when they were fast painted stroking and running my fingers over the nails, strangely calming and therapeutic! The colour is stunning a deep metal gold with matt finish but because it's textured the sunshine bounces of the little grains and it makes the gold 'dance' and sparkle. just beautiful.

Models Own, Zest A Peal

It's August which should mean its summer but the weather is a bit up and down at the minuet. one day it blistering hot, blue skies, summer time bliss the next day it rain storms, thunder clouds and lightening, 

This Models Own Zest A Peal is perfect to lighten the mode and insert a burst of colour into my day :)

I've used two thin coat and the colour is so pretty. it has a slight shimmer in it so when it the sunlight (when we have any!) it sparkles and looks amazing.

Tiger stripes

You cant beat a bit of animal print to cheer yourself up :)

I've used Models Own Lemon Meringue, Miss Guided orange, Models Own black nail art pen and 17 nail xtras, glitter top coat.

Please ignore the messy edges, I didn't have time to do a decent clean up, had to rush off to work.

 

Splatter nails

I first tried this technique during the laid back 31day challenge and I loved the simplicity and the effect that can be created just by using a straw.

The base is  Models Own, Red Alert and the black and white are stamping polishes. I tried using a normal white but it wasn't pigmented enough and just looked watery and milky. That said I like how it looks altogether, an unintentional bonus :)

How many nail polishes do you own?

I was asked the day, how many nail polishes do you own? I paused, thought about it and then realised it's been a very long time since I last counted so I didn't know and guessed at 40. The person who asked the question looked a little shocked and taken back when I said 40. Is 40 a big number? Not at all but for a non-polish addict, 40 seamed obsessive. oops.

Once home I went straight to the corner where I keep my polish and started to count. The final count was 102 bottles... 50 of this is from one brand, Models Own.

 My initial guess of 40 was seriously out. I can't seam to walk past Boots, Superdrug or even a Poundland without popping in and just having a quick look (it's surprising how many little gems have been found in Poundland) I don't buy a new polish with each visit, I just wish I did! 

Missing from the collection, Splash box set, Ice neon box set and the fruit pastel box set, theses I can confidently say will be added to the collection very shortly!

  

I've been MIA again, work has been getting in the way and to be honest posting on the blog has taken a back step. I'm hoping to get back into regular posting so please bear with me :) x

Quick and simple nails are what I've been wearing recently. I've used my favourite pink from Barielle, Princess. It's a soft pale pink that reminds me of marshmallows! I've then added Barry M, black crackle over the top. The photo's make the pink look really pale but in real life it's bolder and fabulous.