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Thursday 25 April 2013

Tri-colour challenge: Day 4

Hello sweeties

I have failed the tri-colour challenge miserably as I didn't have mani ready to go for Tuesday on account of my utter ineptitude and also camera failings.  But I thought if I can't have the one I did for day 3 up (which was beautiful and I'm considering recreating it for next month) then I could soldier on with something simple for day 4.  And this is as simple as it gets.

So, as we know: 3 colours in 4 manis posted on the last two Tuesday and Thursdays in the month.  Black, white, gold, silver and glitter can be used. Go wild!

I used Model's Own Pink Sorbet, Barry M's Turquoise and W7s Flaming Orange with Barry M's Gold Foil for the detail.







So, I did this last night and I wasn't wild about it but didn't have time to redo it but it's growing on me now.  Don't get me wrong I'll do something that's a little more 'me' tonight but I don't hate this.

What this challenge has taught me is 1)I don't have enough orange nail polish and 2) pick your colours with care. I think this and one of the other ones I did would have been more successful if the pink had been a deep creme finish instead of an almost sheer shimmer.

N


Sunday 21 April 2013

Adventures In Stamping Challenge

Hello poppets,
It's Sunday!! And what do we do on Sundays? We stamp on Sundays.

This week it's a mani inspired by Earth Day. I thought of animals and trees when thinking of something to do. So I came up with the below.


For base coat I used Sally Hansen Miracle Cure (I can only hope!).  The colour on my thumb, ring and pinkie finger is a gorgeous copper glitter with hints of red and tan from Barry M (imaginatively entitled Copper), that is opaque in two coats. The photos do not do this justice at all. I used a stamp from GA12 for the bark like effect and it's stamped with Barry M's Lychee.

The colour on my forefinger and middle finger is Barry M's Lychee which is opaque in one coat but I like two coats for luck.  The spots are Barry M's Copper and outlined with Model's Own nail art pen in black.

I am so happy with this manicure.  It's turned out exactly how I wanted it to, which is a first.  I can't stop staring at my nails.  I'm going to be upset when this eventually chips.






Until next time!

N

Thursday 18 April 2013

Tri-Colour Challenge: Day 2

Hello sweetiepies

Day 2 of the Tri-Colour Challenge. Obviously the same nail polishes as last time but this time I've done a spot of stamping which I'm not sure if it's entirely successful.

I used an image from the Prince's set from Gals Cosmetics and I thought it was vaguely mediaeval in appearance but looking at it now it seems a bit tribal.

What do you think?








See below for some truly talented manicures for this challenge.

N


Tuesday 16 April 2013

Tri-Colour Challenge

Hello gorgeousnesses!

This is the first challenge I've ever participated in. Quite excited by it all, to be honest.

The three polishes I've used for this challenge are Model's Own Pink Sorbet, Barry M's Turquoise and W7's Flaming Orange.  So here it is.  I was quite please with it for the first bash at doing proper nail art with a pen and everything.






The focus is a bit dodgy on this one but I still think you get the idea.



Got a couple of nifty ideas for the other three manis, just hope I get the time to do them.

N


Friday 12 April 2013

March Haul: See the extent of my addiction

Hello cupcakes!

I meant to post this more towards the end of March rather than the middle of April but life happens aggressively at times.

March was my first full pay after being on maternity leave for 10 months so I went a smidgen overboard. A once, never-to-be-repeated, splurge (right? right?).



As you can see, I frequented the Model's Own bottleshop more than once and had a whale of a time. I really did enjoy doing some manicures with the pastels. I've not tried the purple ice neon shade yet or the greeny/gold from the Champagne collection. I must say I was v. disappointed with the Winter Wonderland flake polish. The base was very gloopy and no amount of top coat got it to even out :(



And then Nail Polish Direct took a hit when I discovered them. I've not used most of the nail polishes in this picture but I'm just thinking of all of the fun things I can do with them when I finally get time now I'm over the dreaded lurgi.

I think my favourite purchase of the month has to be the stamping plates from Gals Cosmetics. They've got some pretty and unusual designs and I'm hoping to use them in occasional Adventures In Stamping challenges.

So, did you guys have a productive March and what was your favourite purchase/gift?

N

Thursday 11 April 2013

Apologies

My lovelies,

I feel I must apologise, I had set up a schedule of posting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (roughly) but my house has quite literally has become a plague house rife with ear infections and viruses. My little boy has been very sick since the weekend and my husband and I have been very sick for about two weeks and I've just not had the time or energy to even do my nails (and I have had some very drastic nail breakages!)

Hope to get back to posting in the next couple of days or so but I probably won't be taking part in the tri-colour challenge this month which is a blow because I loved the turquoise colour I'd got specifcally for it...

N

Friday 5 April 2013

Glitter Mani: Barry M and NYC

Hello dears!

I fancied doing something a little bit elegant and sparkly that I've seen on numerous nail blogs over the past few months. So with my brand new bottle of Blackberry Hi Jelly Shine from Barry M and an old glitter from NYC that I've never used before but seemed perfect, I did a simple glitter gradient by dabbing on the glitter with a make-up sponge.  This method is truly idiot proof and I think looks so good.  You may be seeing a few more of these from me as I get over my infatuation with them.

The Barry M polish is absolutely divine.  It's coverage is so good that one coat is sufficient but they don't call me Two Coat Tilly for nothing. (Actually no-one calls me Two Coat Tilly, sadly). And so I put another coat on for good measure.  It's a beautiful formulation and colour and I can't wait to try some more in the series.  I do hope Barry M continue to bring new shades out in this line.







Please ignore the cuticles.  A combination of spring cleaning and a dry cold winter means I can't keep my hands moisturised for love nor money.

What's your favourite idiot-proof manicure?

N

Wednesday 3 April 2013

A Song of Ice and Fire inspired mani

Hello dears!

Monday, 1st April saw the premiere of the third season of Game of Thrones.  I thought I'd do a manicure inspired by the series as these books are incredibly dear to my heart.

I just went with the simplest theme of ice and fire (I'll leave the sigils to more talented people than I).


All nails have a base coat of GOSH matt top coat and two coats of China Glaze's fast drying top coat.

On my thumb, middle and pinky finger I have:
1st coat: Model's Own Snow White
Ombre: Model's Own Blueberry Muffin, Barry M's Hi Jelly Shine Blueberry and China Glaze Fancy Pants
Stamping: Art Deco White Stamping polish
Highlight: You're a Star by Nicole by O.P.I.

On my forefinger and ring finger I have:
1st coat: Rimmel's 405 Fantasy Minerals range
Flames: Rimmel's 324 Fever, Unnamed orange colour from Front Cover and a Yellow stamping polish from MoYou

The gradient isn't a new technique to me but the flames are.  This hadn't turned out as well as I'd had hoped but I was quite eager to give the flames technique a go and hopefully I'll get better.



Next year hopefully I'll be able to be more arty.

Have you done a manicure inspired by books or a film or telly series.  I'd love to see them.

N

P.S. As requested a closer close-up of the nails.  (I think they probably look better from a little bit further away :p)