The Neon Creeper Heel Manicure

Good morning, Dear Reader!

After a few days of no polish change, I was up for a more involved mani this morning, so I did a nail art interpretation of a T.U.K. high-heeled neon creeper.  Why yes, that is incredibly random and out of the blue, but when you see the shoe, you'll see why it inspired a manicure.

The backstory, to mitigate some of the randomness, is that I need a new pair of all-purpose, running out the door shoes.  I've mentioned my taste in clothing is pretty plain, but my taste in shoes is far from it, with the current worn-out pair being red/purple/pink mosaic flats.  I've always loved heels, and being kind of short I wore them just about all the time for years (I'm still a normal height for a woman wearing them, and if there's no good reason not to...).  That era ended when I completely tore an ankle ligament (I was pledging a sorority and fell on the first step of the house's spiral staircase, smashing my ankle on every step on the way down,  while everybody was waiting for me at the bottom - my grandest entrance ever), until I just recently discovered shoes with a platform.  They look impossible to walk in, but they're totally comfortable and nothing at all to walk in, so heels are back on the table for me, and they've been included in the hunt.

That brings us to the inspiration picture,which I mentioned was a pair of T.U.K. neon creeper heels.

My Manicure Inspiration

To make the manicure, I started with three coats of China Glaze Kiwi Cool-ada, stamping plate H9 for the leopard print, which is a larger pattern and let me cover each nail with only one stamp.  I used that XL stamper I tried once before and hated because I've read reviews from a few bloggers with whom I normally have a similar experience who loved it.  That made me think I needed practice, and that proved to be the case.  There is a trick to using it, which is absolutely no pressure picking up or placing the stamp, and then it does a really beautiful job.  Having stamped, I filled in the dots on the leopard print with Misa Dreamy Purple, painted the tip one nail with Dreamy Purple to make it like the top of the shoe, then sealed with top coat.  Here's how it turned out.

My Neon Creeper Heel Manicure

There's not fabulous light today, so Dreamy Purple looks darker in the picture than in real life, although I think I should have hunted down Nubar Pasadena Purple for this one - it would have been more clearly purple.  I'm still really happy with the manicure because it's ridiculously fun.

That's my new weekend manicure and just about all I have to yap about this morning Dear Reader, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!



All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Stamping Plate D20

Good morning, Dear Reader!

For today, I tried out one of the D series stamping plates, D20.  It's got a whole bunch of butterflies and Tinkerbell on it.  I started out with two coats of Misa's Spinning Out of Control, a purple shimmer, and stamped over it in Konad White Pearl.  Here it is on a cloudy day.

Stamping Plate D20 over Misa Spinning Out of Control Nail Polish

That's certainly upbeat!  It's also just about all I have to tell you about, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!

China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle

Good morning, Dear Reader!

About a week or so ago I showed you Nfu Oh 40 over Misa Quirky Smile, but what I didn't show you was that I got an extra day out of it by topping it off with China Glaze Crushed Candy, the Crackle Glaze that's about the same shade as For Audrey.  I really just wasn't particularly excited about removing the flakies, and it didn't occur to me until after I'd added Crushed Candy that I'd succeeded in making the situation a little worse.  Since we know by now that I was able to remove all of it, all's well that ends well, and it was fun while I wore it.

China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle over Nfu Oh 40 and Misa Quirky Smile

On this one, I really like how glowy the flakes are as they peek out of the kind of muted creme shade of Crushed Candy.  I think as long as a base polish and a crackle are pretty dramatically different from one another, I'll like them together.

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

Misa Shake It to the Samba

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I woke up hungry this morning, and you know what I really wanted?

Cantaloupe!

I like to have it for breakfast with cottage cheese in the middle, but I couldn't find any decent pictures like that - they all had gross things added, like a ton of brown sugar (brown sugar's not bad in general, but on this...).  I just did the manicure like plain cantaloupe anyhow because the lack of pictures the way I like it kind of indicates that mine is not a universal preference.

I did this manicure in the ruffian style on all ten nails, having built a bit of confidence with that technique yesterday.  For the outer rind I used OPI San Tan-tonio and for the green I used OPI Don't Mess with OPI, both from the OPI Texas Collection.  I don't really count them in this manicure since you can't get a good look at them.  I really just wanted to see how opaque the OPI's are, and they're more pigmented than most recent OPI collections have been.  I used one coat of each, and they were opaque enough close to the cuticle that no more was needed.  It looks like either would need two coats for a regular manicure, but we'll find that out for sure soon.  To complete my cantaloupe nails, I used two coats of Misa Shake It to the Samba.

Misa Shake It to the Samba Cantaloupe Manicure

I like it but for the fact that the tan section blends in with my skin so well - it shows up in the picture alright, but is really hard to see in person.  I don't think I could have done better though - the tan is about as dark as I could go for the rind color, I'm just kind of pale to wear this one as well as someone else could.  Looking at it, I think this would work much better against dark brown skin, where the tan would show well and the cantaloupe color would really pop.  But I'm stuck with zero pigment in my skin and I don't expect that to change today, so I'll just have to wear it as well as I can.

I don't have any fabulous stories starring the cantaloupe.  I did grow some gorgeous ones in that garden I told you about yesterday, but harvesting them was a little anticlimactic after several months of answering the daily whine of "When can we pick some cantaloupe?" from my then-stepson.  It would have been cute had he been eight, but he was nineteen, and his use of the word "we" followed by any verb generally meant "you," so that sort of sucked the fun out of it over time.  Ahhh, fond memories...

That's today's Produce I Wish I Had manicure, and just about all I know at this hour.  I'm still hungry, but have come to acceptance of the fact that cantaloupe and cottage cheese isn't in the cards for me this morning, so I'll go find something else.  Until tomorrow, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!  

Misa What I Like About You Collection

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I was just checking my email, and found a press release I got from Misa last night.  It's for their What I Like About You Collection for Fall 2010.

Here are the bottle pictures.

Misa's What I Like About You Collection for Fall 2010

Here's the promo picture.

Misa's What I Like About You Promo Picture

And there's the text of the press release, with the bold being mine so it's s little easier to read:

Fall in Love This Fall With Misa Cosmetics’ What I Like About You Collection

July 19, 2010 – Philadelphia, PA. Sometimes it’s easy to know just what you want, but

you’ll immediately know what you need when you lay your eyes on the Misa Cosmetics

What I Like About You Collection, six new shades for fall that plumb the depths of

color intensity. You’ve explored the dark side of romance with the Poisoned Passion

Collection; now fall in love with the ecstasy that love can provide through these dare-

you-to-look-away glimmering hues. Just like a budding affair, these colors will spark

inexplicable emotions and near-obsessive thoughts. Go ahead—indulge your deepest

desires!

Fall 2010: What I Like About You Collection

Quirky Smile: Something about his lilted smile lets you know he’s interested…and

this shimmering Prussian blue is no less attention-grabbing. However, this rich shade

invites you into deeper territory—what’s lurking beneath? In this case, you’ll discover a

polish that evokes stormy skies and churning seas, a perfect metaphor for love’s mixed

emotions.

Like It Like That: You can’t avoid feeling upbeat when a relationship is going just right,

or when gazing at nails that are the perfect shade. Just try to block this candy apple

green out of your mind; when you like it like that, why deny yourself the pleasure?

Spinning Out of Control: Sometimes you just can’t control yourself—and you

wouldn’t have it any other way. Embrace that euphoric feeling with a brooding

cobalt blue-violet that says, “Don’t stop this merry-go-round; I’m enjoying the ride!”

It’s You!: Searching for the perfect mate is like searching for the perfect nail polish

shade: When you find it, you know right away. Like a perfect-match partner, this

multilayered iridescent hue offers the best of both worlds: a smoldering forest green shot

through with copper ribbons that glimmer and twinkle perfectly in candlelight.

Perfect Kiss: Don’t blush! When you recognize a good moment, grab what’s yours: the

perfect kiss. A well-planted smooch can provide material for days of daydreaming, and

this vibrant fuchsia is equally fantasy-inspiring. An eye-catching color like this one will

have any man’s lips quivering uncontrollably.

When U Say My Name: Chances are, your man has plenty to say, but nothing is sweeter

than when he whispers your name while in a sweet embrace. Blissfully sink into the

moment while donning this sultry rust, and don’t be afraid to demand, “Say it again!”

No release date is specified.  I received the press release after 5 on Friday, so I don't know if July 19 is just the official date of the press release or if it's the collection release date.

That's what I know today.  Until tomorrow, love and nail polish to you!  

Misa Black Out Collection

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

Earlier this week, three Misa collections popped up on Head2Toe without warning: Black Out, Mardi Gras, and Bare Necessities.  I got all three of the Black Out colors, five of the six Mardi Gras (I didn't want another red creme), and none of the three Bare Necessities, which are all described as sheer.

Mine arrived, and I swatched the Black Out colors for you since I haven't seen anything of them online.  All three are cremes and two coaters.  The pictures are with srtificial light - it keeps raining here, with the sun coming and going.

Total Eclipse of the Heart is a slightly muted, slightly blue medium purple.  I had to have this one for the name.

Misa Total Eclipse of the Heart from Misa's Black Out Collection

It's Electric is a pretty medium blue creme.

Misa It's Electric from Misa's Black Out Collection

Finally, Black Out, a black creme.  Misa seems to be very proud of their black creme, because they keep re-releasing it under different names.  It's almost good in one coat, certainly good enough for layering, but I did two to be consistent.  This one is a bit dry, as I used it as my post-swatching manicure, layering something over it I'll show you another time.

Misa Black Out from Misa's Black Out Collection

So that's Misa's Black Out Collection.  I have no complaints about them, they all applied well, and I like the colors quite a bit.  Truthfully, Misa Where's the Soiree, the last release of Misa's black creme, was my go-to black for layering for a while, but I don't know where it is... I'm glad to have a replacement.  

I'll show you the Mardi Gras less the red soon, but you're on your own for Bare necessities!

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

Misa I'm Only Human Collection for Fall 2009

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I told you I'd break themes for good reason, and here I am doing it again! This time, it's for Misa's I'm Only Human Collection. I'll get straight to the pictures and do my yapping about them at the end. For the record, I had to name the pictures with the polish numbers - these are some of the longest friggin' names in the history of nail polish!

First is Forgive, Forget, For Me I Will, a terracotta creme.

Next is That's My Little Secret, a berry creme.

Third is I'm Going to Love Myself (please keep your comments to yourselves!), a pale pinky purple creme.

Can't Nobody Take Me Down is next is line - nothing like improper grammar in a name! This is an almost chocolate brown creme.

That bring us to Today is My Birthday, a brighter and redder version of That's My Little Secret, also a creme.

Finally, there is Sorry Just Can't Help It, a purple creme, which is my top pick simply because it's purple.

This are all good in two thick coats, the only kind I could apply with this polish. It's pretty thick. They're solid, wearable colors, but nothing jumps out at me as impressive or edgy at all, and would a little shimmer here or there kill anyone? I'll leave the critique of the advertising materials to Scrangie... That couldn't get any funnier.

So overall, nothing really bad to be said, but nothing really good either. They're colors. Huh.

That's all for today. Until tomorrow, love and (more festive and sparkling) nail polish to you!

Women Without Boundaries

Good evening, Dear Reader!

After a hard day of work, I did a nice manicure to unwind, and thought I'd show you some pictures. I used Misa's Women Without Boundaries, which may or may not be chock full o' old school chemicals. I was too tired to peel the label and find out - I just used it!

Here she is, three coats.

That's all for today, Dear Reader. Until tomorrow, love and nail polish to you!

Savina Black Mist & One for Indi500Fan

Good morning, Dear Reader! I'm up and around and loaded up on coffee early today!

Last week, I was looking for a polish and instead ran into Savina Black Mist, which I'd forgotten about. It's a nifty sparkly black. Here's three coats with a top coat.

And one for Indi500Fan! Indi's able to post links to pictures of cars that match nail polish colors, so when I placed my last H2T order, I had to get Misa Chrysler Red. I wore it right away, and here it is.

So how did Misa do, Indi? Does the nail polish match the car?

I might have more for you later, Dear Reader. Today I needed a ittle pick-me-up, and my mani to do so is nothing shy of spectacular! Until then, love and nail polish to you!

A Trio of Konadicures

Good morning, Dear Reader!

After all the swatches and plain colors I've shown you lately, I thought I'd show you the Konadicures I've done after my swatchfests.

For the first, I used two coats of Nubar Sphinx Purple as a base, then added a floral pattern from Konad plate M37, using FingerPaints Papier Mache for the stamping.  This is a picture of the finished manicure in the sun.

 

 

Next up is my Seahorse Konadicure, which made me giggle all day Friday.  It's two coats of Nubar Cayman Coral with the seahorse patterns from fauxnad plate C04, also using FingerPaints Papier Mache.

 

 

The last one really pleased me too, because it's the first time I've had the nerve to use this pattern.  It looked hard to center, which it was, but the Konadicure didn't turn out bad at all!  I started with Misa Blue over a Boy, and the pattern is from Konad plate M64.  I used blue Konad polish which I'd thinned for the pattern - I've found the thinning puts an end to smudging the pattern with top coat.

 

 

That's what I have for you today, Dear Reader.  

Don't forget - Nubar loves you, too!  Until March 31st, they have a coupon code that's good for 20% off orders of $50 or more on www.bynubar.com, and they have free shipping over $75 (after the coupon).  The code is nlphle2050, and it's here just in time for the release of their Coral and Cleopatra Collections, which became available last night.  Have a good haul, enjoy a good break on the price, and until tomorrow, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

On the Prowl for Roses

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I was in the mood for a Funky French, and did what is for me the funkiest of Funky Frenches!

I started with a base of MAC On the Prowl, then added the rose pattern from Konad plate M65 to it, using the pink Konad polish.  Rather that use plate M19 for the tips to just fill in the gap between the edge of the pattern and the ends of my tips, I used white Konad polish to place the line where the white part of my nails actually starts.  That still left a gap between the stamp and the ends of my tips, so I freehanded over the tips pattern using Misa Heaven White, using the line from the stamp as my guide.  I now habe a very Funky French, and not only does Hello Kitty appeal to the nine-year-old in me, but the combination of pink, grey, and white does as well.  This is a childhood fantasy mani for me!

 

 

That's what I have for you for now, Dear Reader.  If the stars align properly and my energy holds up, I hope to have something really cool for you tonight.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Misa Living on the Fast Lane

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I have the swatches I did for you yesterday.  They're not brand-spankin'-new news, but they're news for me, so I'm posting them!

Living on the Fast Lane (yes, "on") is Misa's Spring 2009 collection.  It consists of six cremes, and some fantastically unique colors.  I'm excited about them, so I'll get straight to the pics.  Each is two coats over a base under artificial light.  I'll show them to you in reverse alphabetical order to save the best for last.

Stop Rewinding, Just Fast Forward is an orange red creme.

 

Speed of Life is a punpkin orange creme.

 

Right Here, Right Now, No More Later is a beautiful bright sky blue creme, in addition to having one of the longest nail polish names of all time.

 

Push Upon It is a slightly dusty deep berry creme.

 

On the Edge is a true blue creme.

 

That brings us to to the last one, my favorite because it's such a unique color: Dirty, Sexy, Money.  It's a dusty, slightly turquoise green creme, and will be the base for today's KOTD.

 

That's Misa's Living on the Fast Lane Collection for you, Dear Reader, and it's all I have for you for now.  Until later, love and nail polish to you!