Inspired

I've been really lacking in ideas for nail art this month but finally came up with something decent for today's mani!

And thanks to Cel for helping me choose which colour to use today because I had a really hard time deciding.

Plate: Bundle Monster - BM05

Base Colour: NYC - Prince Street

Stamp Colour: Collection 2000 - Moonlight Shine

BYS Flirty Sparkle applied with a paintbrush for the insides of the flowers

Top Coat of NYC

Even More Halloween Nails

Happy Halloween, Dear Reader!

Well, I didn't get as many Halloween manicures done as I wanted to this year, but I have today's and another to show you today.  The one from last week was done using the Color Club Cast a Spell set of Halloween minis along with some Halloween Art Club rhinestones for Halloween, both of which Color Club sent to me.

The mini set has a black, orange, holo, and dark purple shimmer (the same purple as last year, I think).  The really cool thing it has is some fun decals.  I was just playing around with it and did an orange manicure with a black accent nail, then applied the decals to the orange nails and a line of orange rhinestones to the accent nail.  This is what I came up with.

Halloween Nails Using Color Club Cast a Spell Mini Set

For today, I did a simple manicure, but it's the scariest one for me.  I'll even tell you the little story of why it's the scariest (if you don't care, feel free to skip to the paragraph after the story).  It's spider-related, so if they care you skip it.

Six or seven years ago, I lived in new house on the edge of town, in a neighborhood that was being developed in what used to be corn fields.  Now, I've always been terrified of spiders, and when the construction guys would dig a new lot out of this corn field, the spiders and bugs were everywhere.  So gross and scary... After a few months of panicking at the sight of a spider, I decided I'd be all Zen and not kill them anymore, just ignore them and go about my business in order to get over my fear of them.  Good plan, right?  I soon saw two spider webs in the corner of the bedroom a few feet from my side of the bed, and for a few days was all pleased with myself for ignoring them.  Pleased, that is, until I woke up one morning to zillions of tiny spider dots all over two walls of the room and squished all over the bed.  The two spiders had mated and the eggs had hatched overnight.  I have never again felt compelled to peacefully coexist with an arachnid, and am more freaked out than ever about spiders.

Back to the manicure!  In honor of my scary spider story, I decided to do a spider in a web on my left ring nail.  For the base color, I decided on Chanel Rouge Noir - it's a good dried blood color, and sufficiently Halloween-y on long nails.  For the web and spider, I used stamping plate BM13, white for the web and black for the spider, both Konad Special Polish.  To make my spider even scarier, I added a red dot (Zoya Lisa) to its back to make it a Black Widow.

Black Widow Nails on Chanel Rouge Noir

Black Widow Nails on Chanel Rouge Noir, Closer View

I really like this manicure because it's not overtly a novelty, the accent nail is more like a little surprise if someone looks closely.  And I couldn't handle more than one spider on my nails, lest they become friends and make zillions of tiny spider dots.

So, that's the update on Halloween manicures and your scary Halloween story to start out the day.  I hope you have a great day today, and until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Happy Halloween

The base colour is Jay Jays Ablaze with W7 black for the stamps from Bundle Monster plate BM13.

Also, check out the Frankenstein inspired mani I posted earlier in the week.

Blanket Blue

Konad Plate: M54
Base Colour: Franken
Konad Colour: NYC Glossies - 243B
Top Coat of Essie Matte About You

Dior Aztec Chocolate 886

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I have a swatch of Dior Aztec Chocolate, one of the new holiday colors from Dior.  It's an elegant brown with a visible shimmer.  It applied like a dream and dried quickly, which is typical of Diors for me.  This is two coats.

Dior Aztec Chocolate Nail Polish, Two Coats

I love browns for Fall, and I especially like how understated this one is.  I think it's really gorgeous.

That's what I have for you today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Illamasqua Viridian

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

Today I got to try out Illamasqua Viridian, and it's every bit as good as Scarab.  Viridian is a bluish green shimmer, and it's also really glowy.  These two may have the best application ever.  Two coats was all it took.

Illamasqua Viridian Nail Polish, Two Coats

Ain't she a beauty?  I think it's fantastic.

That's it for today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Pink and Gold

Plate: BM21
Base Colour: Barbara Daly - Cardinal
Stamp Colour: Sally Hansen Chrome - Amber
Top Coat of NYC

No7 Poolside Blue

I always find No7 polishes a bit frustrating. They have some great colours but I hate the tall bottles and the brushes. It's impossible to keep the rim of the bottle clean and the brushes don't spread over the nail as you swipe so you have to swipe at least 3 times to cover the nail.

But, as I said, the colours are amazing and this one's no exception. It's the boldest blue I own and I love it.

In Stitches

Base Colour: Collection 2000 Hot Looks - Spangles
For the stitches I used BYS Glamourpuss and then W77 Black over the top. I used a little paintbrush.
I used a top coat of GOSH and then one of NYC to flatten all the red and black.

Illamasqua Scarab

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I'm wearing a nail polish with a good name for Halloween, Illamasqua Scarab.  It's a dark red shimmer with a hint of brown to it, and the shimmer really glows.  Application of Scarab was exceptionally good - the polish seems a little thick, but I used it as-is and it pretty much applied itself.  This is two coats.

Illamasqua Scarab Nail Polish, Two Coats

From the picture, you can see how easy Scarab was to apply.  I didn't do any cleanup to my nails or to the picture, but the line where the polish ends at the cuticle is really crisp just because that's how it went on.  Good stuff.

That's what I have for you this morning, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

FingerPaints Winter Dreams Collection

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Sally Beauty Supply sent me samples of their FingerPaints Winter Dreams Collection for Holiday 2010 to review, and I have swatches of them for you today.  I'm a fan of FingerPaints in general, particularly the seasonal collections, but the FingerPaints holiday collections are always my favorites with great colors and finishes.  The Winter Dreams Collection does not disappoint, either - every one of these polishes is a winner.

Winter Wishes is an elegant champagne shimmer with very fine gold glitter.  I used two coats of Winter Wishes and topped it with a coat of Seche Vite so you could see how it really looks (the glitter was making it look less than attractive without top coat).

FingerPaints Winter Wishes Nail Polish, Two Coats

Holly Good times is a mixture of gold and red fine glitter in a clear base.  I used two coats to make it opaque, and somehow this one reminds me of apple cider.

FingerPaints Holly Good Times Nail Polish, Two Coats

Just Plum Fun is a rich plum with a subtle shimmer, also a two coater.

FingerPaints Just Plum Fun Nail Polish, Two Coats

Merry Mittens is a rust red shimmer with fine gold glitter.  In two coats, the polish is opaque and the fine glitter shows through very well without being over the top - it's festive without being too much at all.

FingerPaints Merry Mittens Nail Polish, Two Coats

Mistletoe Mischief was the only one of the six that required a third coat for me.  The polish was a bit thin, but for a Christmas green shimmer with tiny flaky bits, I'll do a third coat.

FingerPaints Mistletoe Mischief Nail Polish, Three Coats

Last up, in keeping with the traditional ordering of things, is my favorite of the collection, Mulberry Madness.  This one's a mulberry base with silver and mulberry glitter.  It's gorgeous and it's good in two coats.

FingerPaints Mulberry Madness Nail Polish, Two Coats

So those are the six colors in FingerPaints' Winter Dreams, and I really like every one of them.  As for generalities regarding the collection, I found the shimmers with lots of glitter (Winter Wishes & Mulberry Madness) were quite thick, but after two thin coats and two coats of top coat, they're perfect.  With the other four, when applying them I questioned whether they could be possibly opaque in inly two coats because the first looks really thin, but they're just fine.  No changes have been to the brush or bottle, and I had nary a wonky brush, so I really have nothing at all to complain about.

The FingerPaints Winter Dreams Collection will be available online on Sally Beauty Supply's site and in stores in November.  That's all I have for you today, Dear Reader, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Polka Dot Blues

Plate: Bundle Monster BM19
Base Colour: Glo Baby Glo from Primark - Electric Blue
Stamp Colour: China Glaze - Adore
Top Coat of GOSH

Konad Plate M56

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Konad plate m56 is my favorite tip pattern plate, but I haven't used it in a long time because I haven't been able to find the plate.  After many, many months, I finally bit the bullet last week and got a replacement, so I have two manicures using m56 to show you today.

First up is one using two patterns from m56.  I started with two coats of Nubar Barricade, then stamped the free edge with the swirly pattern on the plate in Konad Pink, then did the little ribbon and bow pattern at the nail line in Konad Black Pearl.

Konad m56 over Nubar Barricade Nail Polish

I'm not as wild about that one as I'd hoped to be, but I guess I just won't love them all... It's more about how the colors look together than the patterns though.  I'll likely try the same thing again with different colors to see what I think.

The second one, I like a lot.  For this one, I started with four coats of China Glaze Shocking Pink.  Four coats is high maintenance, but Shocking Pink is worth it to me.  I then painted my tips white, gave them a minute to dry, and stamped the white part with the checkerboard tip pattern using Konad Black.  I really like the outcome, and it's what I'm wearing today.

Konad m56 over China Glaze Shocking Pink Nail Polish

The picture here just hints at how truly retina searing Shocking Pink is, and with the black and white checks, it's a little hard on the eyes!

That's what I have for you today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Models Own Purple Grey

I won a giveaway at Forever The Ugly Duckling last week and here is one of the polishes from the beautiful selection.

It's a bit tricky to see the design but I promise it's there!

Plate: Bundle Monster - BM08
Base Colour: Models Own - Purple Grey
Stamp Colour: Sally Hansen Chrome - Anemone
Top Coat of GOSH

Essie Going Incognito

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I just got some (most) of Essie's Winter 2010 Collection this week, and I have Going Incognito to show to you today.  It's the green creme in the collection.  It's a really nice polish - a well pigmented two coater that's easy to control. It's roughly the same tone as Pretty Edgy but Going Incognito is a bluer shade of green.

Essie Going Incognito Nail Polish for Winter 2010, Two Coats

That's what I have for you today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

200th Post!!

Plate: Fauxnad M69

Base Colour: Franken

Konad and Half-Moon Colour: BYS - Glittering Purple

Top Coat of NYC

Barry M Instant Nail Effects Swatch

When I was out shopping today, I remembered that someone had mentioned in my previous post about this new polish that they tried it on in the store. So instead of buying it, I sneakily painted on a layer while in Superdrug. I was wearing BYS Matte Grey at the time, which I realise isn't the best colour to demonstrate a cracking black polish but it was very spur of the moment.

I have only ever tried one other crackling polish from BYS which is no where near as good as this. This one cracks within seconds of touching the nail and continues for a little while so you can actually watch it cracking which is great fun.

You can see that it hasn't cracked as much on my pinky, but I think that's because I painted a thinner coat.

I wouldn't buy this polish myself, although I could be tempted if they were to release other colours, but it is a great effect polish that makes it so easy to get a different look especially if you don't have much time to spend on your nails.

MAC Rain of Flowers

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I was looking for a purple to wear today, and I settled on an untried polish, MAC Rain of Flowers.  It's a deep purple shimmer which is well pigmented, completely opaque in two coats, and easy to control.

MAC Rain of Flowers Nail Polish, Two Coats

Other than that, I don't have a heck of a lot else for you today.  If you're not wearing purple yet today, Google "wear purple 10/20" to see why you might want to, then go slap on something purple.  Until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!  

More Halloween Nails

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I had a few things to choose from to show you today since I've been slacking on posting the past few days, and I picked the one I like the best.  Yesterday's manicure was another Halloween manicure, but a lot less literal and over the top than the last one.

I started out with three coats of SpaRitual Revere, an orange shimmer, then stamped it with a pattern from Konad plate M80 in Konad Black Pearl Special Polish.  I really like it.

SpaRitual Revere Nail Polish, Three Coats, with Konad M80

That's the update for today, Dear Reader, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

300 Follower Giveaway - Now Closed

The Treasure

GOSH Holographic

GOSH Rainbow

Collection 2000 Maxiflex in Moonlight Shine (Amaaazing silver stamping polish)

BYS Pink on the Brink

Allura Nail Guides

Nail Art Kit containing 15 styles of sequins, pearls and gems

The Rules

You Must Be A Follower via GFC

So that's a possible 4 entries for everyone and 5 for the people who were following before this giveaway opened!

This giveaway is open internationally.

It will end on November 28th 2010.

The winner will be picked with this random name picker and will have 3 days to reply to my email before I pick another winner.

Thank you for entering, this giveaway is now closed.

Entries

+1 You get one entry for being a follower of this blog when you leave a comment below

Optional Entries

+1 For being a follower before the giveaway. I know who you all are so there's no need to tell me

+1 For spreading the word about my giveaway on your blog using one of the pictures above and linking it to this post

+1 If you follow me on Twitter

+1 When you tweet about this giveaway (Link: http://bit.ly/dnFGTt)

I would also appreciate if you tell me any ideas you have for how I could improve my blog in any way at all (content, colours, design etc.) although there will be no extra entries for doing so.

Please number your entries in one comment like this...

1. Your GFC Name and email address

2. The URL where you blogged about this giveaway

3. Your Twitter Username

4. The URL of your tweet

Thank you for entering, this giveaway is now closed.

Roses are black, Violets are blue...

299 Followers!!! Thanks everyone and hello to all the new followers. 

To all my new followers and anyone who didn't know, I am opening my second giveaway when I hit 300 followers so get your friends over here!

Plate: BM14
Base Colour: E.L.F. - Innocence
Stamp Colour: W7 - Black
Top Coat of Collection 2000

Manhattan 610K

Sorry it's taken me so long, but here is the Manhattan 610K that is making its way round the globe thanks to Kesha from Nail Polish Obsession. Keep reading to see who this polish will be visiting next.

I love this colour and obviously would love to keep it for myself but that's against the rules of the game. It's a great formula and goes on in two coats and dries quickly to give a bold, regal purple. There's no top coat in the picture, it's also uber shiny!

Konad Plate: M64
Base Colour: Manhattan - 610K
Konad Colour: Sally Hansen Chrome - Amber

Since the formula is very opaque, I decided to see how it would work as a stamping polish on my accent finger. I used Collection 2000 Hot Looks in Dynasty as a base. I would rate it as 4/5 for its opacity as a stamping polish.

Jenny at Polishology in the US is the lucky lady that will be receiving the polish next. Sorry to the other ladies who put their name in but be sure to follow the chase and I'm sure you will get it at some point on its journey.

I think this was a great idea from Kesha and I hope the polish makes its way back to Europe at some point too.

Two from China Glaze 'Tis the Season

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I got some of China Glaze's Holiday 2010 polishes this week, and I have pictures of the first two manicures I've done with them for you.

The first is Jolly Holly, a really nice pine green with a subtle shimmer.  I found this one to be quite thick, so I applied two really thin coats and it worked out fine.

China Glaze Jolly Holly Nail Polish, Two Coats

Next up, I wanted to use Party Hearty, gold and green glitter with red hex glitter in a clear base.  I decided to layer it over Mrs. Claus, the pinkish red glitter from this collection, and I used two coats of each.  After about a zillion coats of top coat to smooth it out, I'm happy with the result - I like how well the glitter from Party Hearty, even the red, shows up well on the pink red of Mrs. Claus.

China Glaze Party Hearty & Mrs. Claus, Two Coats Each

That's what I've used from 'Tis the Season so far.  I especially love both Mrs. Claus and Party Hearty - I'm really glad that I picked them up.  I don't have anything else for you today, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

E.L.F Matte Finisher Review

Here are a few pictures of E.L.F.'s Matte Finisher which recently became available in the UK online store.

I haven't seen any matte top coats in stores here, but when I took place in a swap with another nail blogger in Canada, I got hold of Essie's Matte About You. 

So... when I saw that E.L.F.'s Matte Finisher was now available in the UK I had to buy it!

I have tested this out this a few times before now, so I can tell you guys my thoughts on day-to-day wear. But first, the pictures...

This colour is Barbara Daly Cardinal - a slightly metallic, fuchsia pink. I chose to swatch with this colour because the change from glossy to matte is nice and obvious.

And here it is with E.L.F's Matte Finisher.

Please note that I used Essie Matte About You on my thumb nail for comparison.

As you can see - the resulting matte finish is great.

Click here for a gif animation of the two pictures.

My Verdict

I think this is a great polish for the price - considering the prices of other similar top coats that are out there.

If you're wearing this for more than a day, you may need to add a fresh coat each day as it begins to go more glossy with wear. It's almost as if it gets buffed back to a shine.

The results are not always consistent - when I wore this finisher over E.L.F's Innocence last week, it did not 'mattify' every nail. You can see below that my forefinger is still sort of glossy.

AND, it has cracked on my little finger which has also happened again since. I think it's just because was a new bottle at the time because it seems to be working fine now.

So if you are looking for a Matte Top Coat on a budget - this is for you. 

It gives a good matte finish and compares well next to Essie Matte About You. Just be sure to shake the bottle well and give it a chance to warm up before you give up on it for cracking or not doing it's job properly!