AIS and TCP challenges: very very late!

Hello peardrops!

As I mentioned in my last post my old camera went the way of the dodo with about five manicures on it. At the weekend I got my new camera and managed to salvage some of my photos. One set is for the tri-colour polish challenge for May and one set is for the Adventure In Stamping challenge for 19th May. So I thought I'd combine them in one post so there's double challenge goodness.

First up is the AIS challenge. It was to stamp over a skittles base. My reading of that was to use two different colours in five different designs and then stamp over them with one stamp design. (I know that differed from many other interpretations where each fingernail was a different colour.) I used OPI Don't Talk Bach to Me and Barry M's Bright Purple as my base colours.  I used Barry M's silver foil for stamping with plate CH50. And then the Model's Own silver art pen for additional details.

And I ended up with the below. The thumb is just freehand argyle print.  The forefinger is a scalloped edge half nail design. I used my trusty dotting tools on my middle finger. Striping tape for my ring finger and finally I freehanded the chevron design on my pinkie finger.

I quite liked this design.  I hadn't really thought I would use that colour green but it worked wonders with the deep pink. Of course, as with every other manicure I have it chipped in a day (sadface) but i did enjoy it whilst it lasted.

Up next was my entry for TCP day 2 but I'm so late for that I should probably wait until those colours roll 'round again! But I wanted to show you this one in contrast to my first one. As per the challenge rules I used the same blue (Barry M's Blueberry) and red (Raspberry) as I did for the first one but this time I used them in a gradient with a gold polish OPI's Oy, Another Polish Joke. And look how different they are! (ignore the pink fingers haven't yet figured out the white balance and I took these on the fly)

I only have one more photo of that particular mani but it's a close up and I just fell in love with the shading.  I thought the blue one looked like an opulent lagoon as you could see the shimmer slowly fading away underneath it.

So those are my two challenges that I manage to do but couldn't get uploaded in time.  And now my nails are in such a state I've had to cut them right back and baby them.  Fingers crossed Duri Rejuvacote works!

What have you lovely ladies been up to?

N

We stamp on Sundays, and the other days too: Rimmel, Barry M and Gals plates

Hello cupcakes!

I orginally meant to post this in response to the weekly Adventures in Stamping challenge for Sunday (stamping over lilac). But life in the form of a nasty chest infection for my 10 month old intervened and I just couldn't get it done.

So two days late and hopefully not a dollar short here's my answer to the challenge.  I used Ultra Violet from the Rimmel Salon Pro Range (goes on like a dream and super shiney <3)and stamped with the trusty gold foil from Barry M.  As always a basecoat of GOSH matte topcoate and a two topcoats of SV.  I used a plate from the Gals' Fairies set and just left it as is with no embellishment because I really liked it.

With no further ado!

I orignally did this mani about a five weeks or so ago and looking back on these photos I'm actually really pleased with my progress in photographing my nails, clean up and general presentability.  My photos now are cleaner and better lit.  And I think my clean up is much better now because I can spend 15 minutes doing the one hand now as I get little bit OCD about it.

Even if I don't get any comments or any more followers the one thing to come out of this is my nails are looking more professional with each manicure.

See you next time.

N

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