Try My Two Tone

This mani, like yesterday's, came about when I just got too carried away trying to add a dash of whatever came to mind!

I knew I wanted to use scotch tape and a stamp design so I did the base colour and stamp and left it overnight to dry and to give me time to decide what to do. 'Blue' I thought, but when the blue was on it just looked too clunky so I thought I'd set myself the challenge of trying to line up the stamps to get a two-tone effect on my nails. Turns out I needn't have bothered because the pattern is irregular so you wouldn't even notice if it wasn't matched. I think I'll set myself the mission of trying it with a more uniform pattern to see if I can get it to match up.

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: Barbara Daly - Purplicious
Konad Colour: GOSH - Metallic Purple
Top Coat of NYC
To create the two tone look, I sectioned off the top part of my nail with scotch tape and painted on Barry M Cyan Blue. I removed this tape straight away and let the blue dry. Then I lined up more strips of tape with the blue polish and stamped over it with GOSH Metallic blue, attempting to line up the patterns and added another top coat.

How do you guys feel about me using larger pictures in my blog posts? All the pictures I post are click through's anyway so you can see a bigger version if the mood takes you, but I thought I would go bigger on the main page. Do you like it or do they just take up too much space?

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Bright Purple for a Bright Day

The gorgeous weather we've been having is starting to dwindle but it was still bright outside today so I went out in to the garden to take my pictures. I think they come out much nicer in direct sunlight. Normally I just take them in my bedroom.

I ordered a new mp3 player from Tesco today which will be ready for me to pick up at my local store on Thursday. Now, you may not think this a particularly exciting event but I've been rocking various really old Creative Zens for a few years now and I finally decided it was time to catch up with the rest of the world and get something a bit more modern. Also, my Zen Micro keeps switching off whenever it pleases thanks to some rattly insides and is so old that it's not really even compatible with my computer!

I went for the Sony NWZ-S754 in blue which was a bargain because I took advantage of the double up your Clubcard vouchers offer so I only had to put £20 towards it. Apologies to anyone not in the UK who'll have no idea what I'm talking about. 'Clubcard' a loyalty card scheme for the massive supermarket chain, Tesco, and you can get some amazing rewards from them. I've already had 3 annual magazine subscriptions without a penny coming out of my pocket.

Konad Plate: M57

Base Colour: Barry M Bright Purple

Konad Colour: Stargazer White

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Do You Think I'm Tex-y Too?

It's just a quick one today. I did spend quite a while writing about how I think this shade is similar to OPI's Do You Think I'm Tex-y then realised it didn't really make any sense! I blame it on the cold I've been suffering with since the weekend, my head is all stuffed up and I'm just too tired to make real sentences.

Konad Plate: M57

Base Colour: NYC Glossies 235

Konad Colour: Stargazer White

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BYS Fools Paradise

Tonight I went to see Rango with some friends - it's now in my top 3 animated films ever. Every frame looks so perfect and the humour is just up my alley. I was more in the mood to see Battle: LA but I'm so glad we saw Rango instead.

It seems like when I watch films, I concentrate more on the aesthetic than what's actually happening in the story. I think this is why I love films like Tron: Legacy, The Cell, and Legend of the Guardians which I know plenty of people don't for one reason or another. I just love watching them for the sake of watching them. They don't have to please my brain when I can just drink them up with my eyes.

Konad Plate: M57

Base Colour: BYS - Fools Paradise

Konad Colour: China Glaze - Adore

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Leopard Got The Blues

How do you like my new banner? I'm not too sure about it so I might make another one or go back to the old one soon.

Konad Plate: M57

Base Colour: No7 - Betty Blues

Konad Colour: China Glaze - Adore

Barry M Blue Glitter for the dots

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Fishnet Stockings

Konad Plate: M57

Base Colour: Carla Di Roma - Grape Wine

Konad and Tip Colour: Sally Hansen Chrome - Anemone

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Barry M Dusky Mauve

Here are a few pictures of Barry M Dusky Mauve. This is rumoured to be a dupe for Chanel's Paradoxal. I can't give you a solid opinion on that claim but judging from swatches I've seen of the Chanel, I'd say it is pretty darn close!

I wore this on New Years Eve and lots of my friends commented on it. My bestie (who has never bought a polish in her life!) even said she's going to get some to wear at work because it looks so sophisticated.

I also have Models Own Purple Grey in my collection which you can see here. This polish is a good match for the colour of Dusky Mauve but doesn't have the shimmer - it's just a plain creme.

And of course - I had to put a Konad over it and matte it up.

Konad Plate: M57

Base Colour: Barry M - Dusky Mauve

Konad Colour: Collection 2000 - Moonlight Shine

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Spongey

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: Barry M Berry Ice Cream and BYS Fuschia Flash sponged on
Konad Colour: W7 - Black
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(I'm Definitely in a) Matte Mood

Sorry I have been lagging on posts recently. When I started this blog, I posted every single day and I'm finally running out of ideas so the weekly post count has gone way down. The thing is I have used pretty much every image I own (and like) in every colour combo I can think of, so I really need to get some new plates and polishes suitable for stamping. Hopefully Santa Claus will bring me some soon.

This week, all I've been wearing are blues and 'mattifying' them. I actually painted my nails thrice yesterday with all different blues, once with a stamp design but I didn't feel like it was up to scratch for posting.

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: BYS - Fools Paradise
Konad Colour: Collection 2000 Maxiflex - Moonlight Shine
Top Coat of E.L.F Matte Finisher

K.. K.. Karaoke

The title isn't related in any way to the post or the mani but I'm going to karaoke tonight and I'm just very excited about it!

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: No7 - Poolside Blue
Konad and Tip Colour: Stargazer White
Top Coat of Essie Matte About You

♪♫ If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will

Here are my Dalmatian patterned nails for tonights fancy dress. It's a Disney theme so I'm going as one of the Dalmatians!

I used the leopard print pattern from Konad M57 and used a brush to fill in the holes to make spots.

Konad Plate: M57

Base Colour: Stargazer - White

Konad Colour: W7 - Black

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It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart

I've just taken a 'Personality Type' quiz that Steph from Imperfectly Painted shared on Twitter and found out that I'm an INTP.

Then I found this website called The Personality Page where you can read about all the personality types and how they are in relationships and at work and such. I find it all very interesting and I thought you guys might like to give it a go.

You can take the quiz here.

Konad Plate: M57

Base Colour: Jay Jays - Thrillseeker

Konad Colour: Nails Inc - Victoria

Sequins from Viva La Nails

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What's your personality type?

Hulk Fail

I was going for a Hulk look with this one. Anyone who is familiar with the comics or the films will know Bruce Banner wears his trademark purple shorts whenever he's angry!

The little pink bits you see are some weird tiny foil strips from Viva La Nails. It's hard to come across ideas for using these.
I tried to make a line with them but ended up just making a mess instead!

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: Claire's Mood  - Peaceful/Confident
Konad Colour: L'Oreal LaquiResist - Bebe Blue
Purple: George @ Asda - Hoax
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I'm staying away from home for a few days and trying to travel light which means I won't be packing many nail supplies or my beast of a camera so I won't be able to post anything for a while. I should be back on Friday.

From Today's Haul

To see the other polishes I bought today, go here.

I put an entry in to Polish Hoarder Disorder's challenge this week too. The challenge was 'Just Tips'. Since I don't have much going on in that department, I blinged them up to the max! Go see for yourself.

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: Barry M - Cyan Blue
Konad Colour: NYC Glossies - 243B
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Mish Mash Mosh

Sorry for the crummy picture but I really like this design and wanted to share it with you guys.

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: Unbranded Nude/Greige
Konad Colour: W7 - Black
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I had to thin out my NYC Top Coat and it's gone misty, so a shopping trip is in order. God help my wallet :s

Uuuuuuhh.

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: L'Oreal LaquiResist - Bebé
Konad Colour: BYS - Glittering Purple
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Mint Mesh

Konad Plate: M57 
Base Colour: Barry M - Mint Green
Konad Colour: Sally Hansen Chrome - Amber
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TigerStyle

This is another from Carli's giveaway. I love this one - it dries matte and bright orange but I put a top coat on to preserve the stamping and it turned a slightly darker, blood orange.

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: Jay Jays - Ablaze
Konad Colour: L'Oreal LaquiResist - 198 Black Bean
Top Coat of NYC

Beauty UK or Beauty No-K?

I have a few Beauty UK polishes. They are only cheap - but some if the colours are nice - so they chip easily and are not amazing.

Since I am running out of my beloved NYC Top Coat, I need a new one that's not too expensive since I only ever wear it for a day and get through it really fast.

So, I bought Beauty UK's '2 in 1 Top Coat' which is fine as a base coat but rubbish as a top coat.

Last night, I finished my nails, with top coat, at least 30 minutes before bed but when I woke up, they were all scratched and dented. Since then, I've painted on the blue and added a coat of NYC.

You can see on the thumb where the polish has basically 'stretched' because the top coat didn't do its job and dry the polish underneath :(

So, basically, don't buy Beauty UK top coats :D

Konad Plate: M57
Base Colour: Beauty UK - 36 Neon Blue
Konad Colour: NYC Glossies - 243B
Top Coat of Beauty UK
Blue: NYC Glossies 243B
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Half n Half

It's 8.30pm and I've just woken up. I had an exam this morning so I stayed up revising until 4.30 and had to be up at 6.30, so when I came in I did my nails, watched Arrested Development and went back to bed (check the link for some chickeny goodness, haha. Sorry, I just love this show).

To do this manicure, I had to use guides. Now, I normally avoid these at all costs because they really bug me and I can do a neater job with less fuss free hand but I had to use them for this one to get the Konad to stay in the right place.

When I say guides, I mean hole reinforcers cut in half because they are so much cheaper. :D

Konad Plate: M57

Base Colour: Barbara Daly Make Up - Velour

White: Stargazer 118 - White

Stripes: W7 - Black

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Also, the wonderful KarenD at Frazzle Aniploish has tagged me with the sweet blog award and I will be working on tagging some of my favourite blogs as soon as I have some free time.