Golden Oldie Thursday - Blue

I thought it was Wednesday yesterday so when I realised that in-fact it was Thursday making today Friday it was a bonus, but it does mean I'm late for Golden Oldie Thursday - because its now Friday :)

This little beauty has been in my collection for such a long time I'd forgotten about it. This is one of the benefits of this challenge because it makes you really think about what's in your polish stash.

I've fallen back in love with stunner from Models Own. Its from their Beetlejuice collection, Aqua Violet. When the sunlight hits, it glistens and sparkles, the blue tones light up and shine through. It has undertones of purple, hence the Violet in the name but to be honest I see more blue than violet or purple.

  

Busy Girl Nails, Winter challenge - White

Busy Girl Nails, Winter challenge - White.

I love White nails but often find them hard to keep them plain. Its like a blank piece of paper waiting to be drawn on. For this reason I opted for nails studs to add interest without distracting from the white.

I've used Manhattan Quick dry, White. This has a super smooth formula and only needed two coats for an all over even finish. The drying time was fast so the clean up was a little tough - only because I waited too long! I used Seventeen nail studs which I found in my local Boots store for 50p.

Please visit instagram and search #busygirlnails 

 

please ignore my weird shaped pointer fingernail. it's starting to flake and peel a little bit at the edge. Not really sure why its starting to do this - I've always had strong straight nails but this little bugger decided to start flake :(

  

Golden Oldie Thursday, Stripes

Thursday 16th January and the prompt today is Stripes. I love stripes but after a long day at work and a few glasses of wine I have no patience left thin nail tape!!

The tape wasn't being helpful at all, it kept curling up, not sticking to my nails and just not laying still. A nightmare.

The polish on the other hand did it's job. Perfect coat in one application. Lovely colour and great coverage. This little bottle of Rimmel 60 seconds, Purple Reign has been in my collection for such a long time - I cant remember when I even got it. I don't have many Rimmel's and I always forget how good they are. The brushes are great, the polish goes on smoothly and the colours are stunning so I might have to add a few more to the collection. any recommendations??

Busy Girl Nails Winter Nail Art Challenge - Teal

I'm joining in with another nail challenge, this one is Busy Girl Nails, Winter Nail Art Challenge.

I have started two new challenges recently but I've not been on time for either! This wasn't my intention, I had planned to have things in place and ready to go but this sadly just didn't work out.

This challenge is mainly on Instagram but I still wanting to post it here. Please follow the group and see all the other people's art. @its_linzi #busygirlnails

 

So here's my last minute entry, I know, I know, I know..... there's no nail art on my nails but there is teal, Totally teal. I had started to do a design but I just wasn't happy with it so I decided to go back to basics and keep it simple. this is two coat of No7 Totally teal. it's just perfect, it doesn't need a topcoat as it's super shinny and glossy without.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Oldie Thursday, pink waterfall

Time for a new challenge? OK. This is Golden Oldie Thursday, GOT for short. This challenge is from Crumpets nail tarts. (only 1 day late)

The rules are simple:
The polish you use should be at least one year old
* if you haven't been a polishaholic that long, you can use the oldest polishes you have
* the polish should be previously used, but if you're stuck, you could free a yearling from Mount Untried
* you can use more than 1 polish as long as it fits the theme and the rules

I've used La Femme Beauty, Misty rose for my base. Its a shimmery pale pink but the camera has made it look really strange, honestly it looks soo much better in real life! I've then used L.A. Colors Art Deco White and Pretty nail art pen in hot pink to add the 'waterfall' effect.

The Hot pink didn't stand out as much as I was hoping,perhaps I should have had a white background and then used different shades of pink to create the waterfall effect. That being said it wouldn't have kept within the rules of GOT! I'll re-create this mani sometime soon and hopeful make an improvement on it :)

 

 



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!

 

 

 

Christmas nail presents

Happy Belated Christmas and Happy and Healthy New year!

I was lucky to be given some great nail polishes this Christmas. I want to try them all now but I'll restrain myself and perhaps try an new one each week :)

An order of 7x stunning polishes from Illamasqua - this is a gift from me to me :) 

Models Own, Headkandi collection, Bora Bora. Models Own, Amerthyst and Models Own, Sardonyx

Ciate Chalkboard manicure set,

Nails inc, Christmas Crackers

 

 

Looking forward to playing with my new gifts, keep an eye out for the reviews and their might even be some more treasure from the January sales!?!

 

 



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 30 in the 33DC - A mani featuring the same pattern, in various colours

Day 30 is here and the prompt was, a mani featuring the same pattern in various colours.

I've taken the name of this challenge literally, I did animal print with bright neons as the base. I used Models Own, Snow White for the base and used a sponge to create an ombre effect with Models Own, Luis Lemon, Models Own, Bubblegum and La Femme Beaut, Ultra Green. Then with a thin nail brush swipe across with black. Sadly the brush wasn't as fine as I thought so it turned out a little lumpy.

Day 29 in the 33DC - My favourite pattern

Day 29 in the 33DC - My favourite pattern

I love animal print but only in small doses. Animal print on my nails is just the perfect size. I'm really pleased on how these nails turned out!!!

I broke my index finger so had to file down the others nails. I wasn't prepared to file them all the way down to match the short stumpy middle finger. I know it looks a little silly but my nails grow soo fast that it wont take too long to be matching again.

I've used Models Own, Snow White for the base and sponged on Revlon Mischievous and Models Own, Sterling Silver and then using a thin brush that comes in the Models own nail art pen added the strips.

Day 28 in the 33DC - Lines

Day 28 is all about lines.

I asked some work mates what I should do for todays prompt as I was struggling to come up with any decent ideas. I was given pinstripes and 'go faster' stripes. I liked the idea of pinstripes but knew I wouldn't be able to get the lines fine enough so I went with Go Faster stripes. Think boy racer cars, the film Fast and Furious and supped up cars with loud base music. awful just awful.

I've used Models Own, Snow White and Models Own, Betty Blue. I love this blue soo much but sadly it stain my nails so I've used three coats of white to hopefully give some protection against staining!

Day 27 in the 33DC - Three patterns

Day 27 is here and we only have 6 more design left. This challenge is keeping me busy, I'm always a day or so late on most prompts but I'm sure no really minds :)

I had no idea what to do for this prompt. How was I supposed to get three designs onto one nail?! I am no way as neat or capable of fine nailark work as others in this challenge. I opted for a skittle effect using three colour and three patterns making them blend better together.

I love the contrast between the high glittered Gold Rush and the clean bold White. The green (Jade stone) is one of my favourite colours but it just work with these colours. I put the bottles together before I started and they looked good so I guess it's down to trail and error as to what works well together in a design and what doesn't.

I've used Models Own, Gold Rush. Models Own, Jade Stone and L.A colours, Art Deco in White.  

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 25 in the 33DC - A new technique for you

Day 25 in the 33DC - a new technique for you

I've been wanting to try sugar spun nails for such a long time. I though about doing them a few previous prompts at the start of this challenge but held off until now. I love how dramatic and sticking they look.

I followed a tutorial done by the amazing The Nailasaurus, this one  Mine have turned out better than I thought, considering this was my first attempt. My middle finger went a bit wrong, don't those blobs look ugly?! My the time I got to my right hand I think I'd got the hang of it a bit more and the white looks thinner but still a few pesky blobs turned up.

All in all I'm chuffed with how they have turned out and I think I'll be doing these again soon.  I've used NYC, Spring Tulip for my base and Models Own, Snow White for the topping.