Day 1 of 33DC - Dotticure

Hello cupcakes!

Oh my, I think I've bitten off more than I can chew. I've decided to try to take part in the 33DC from The Crumpet. There will be three manis a week posted on Monday, Tuesday and Friday from now until 6th December (eek!) So day one is a simple dot manicure.

I used Rimmel's Cranberry Zest and OPI's French Quarter for your Thoughts finished of with the usual Seche Vite. To produce a Dotty skittle mani.

I really, really liked how the flowers turned out. I don't think I've done a flower with dotting tools like this before and the others were just me playing around with the tools that I had to hand.

Have a look see below at how the talented Crumpet's tarts got on with day 1

N

My Enchantmint skittle

Hello Cupcakes,

Whilst my nails were in a horrendous state I still bought nail polishes and one of those was the most gorgeous mint green holo from Lilypadlaquer called My Enchantmint from Sally Magpies (run don't walk she has all manner of indie goodies). Now that I have lush long (fake) nails I busted this out last night to do a skittle that I'd had in mind for a while now.

In addition to my new love I also used Emily de Molly's Copper fields, Rimmel's Sky High and Kiko 381. Top and tailed by Rejuvicote base coat and Seche Vite quick dry top coat.

Lookie what came out:

I used dotting tools, striping tape and scotch tape cut with craft scissors for the thumb, index and pinkie finger.  The middle finger is free handed using a tutorial by the inestimable Crumpet which can be found here. Mine aren't as good as hers (obviously) but I hopefully will get better with practice.

And I just wanted to draw your attention to my ring finger:

This was simply My Enchantmint topped with a coat of Copper Fields from Emily de Molly. Which is my absolute favourite glitter topper of all time - it's the one that got me into glitters in a big way.  Just look at those gorgeous ladies together.  This photo whilst pretty does not do them justice at all - you should see them in the sunlight or even in person.

I also made a decal last night so that might feature in my next post.

See you soon!

N

An InLinkz Link-up

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

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)

China Glaze: Avant Garden

Needed to get a couple from the new Avant Garden collection from China Glaze as they are so very stunning.  I bought Life is Rosy (a deep rose crème) and Fancy Pants (a deep blue with pink and gold shimmery bits). 

First up I tried Life is Rosy.  The coverage is really very good.  It goes on well in one coat and doesn't need a second unless (like me) you feel naked without one. I love the colour, I really do but something just doesn't work with my skin tone, I think.  So I slapped on Disco Gold from Rimmel from their Rock your Colour line. Still not sure about Life is Rosy which is disappointing because it really is a pretty pink.  I'm going to keep persevering with it in nail art, though to see if just being a highlight colour works.

Anyway, the proof of the pudding and all that:

and in slightly better light:

What do you think? Yay or nay?

Thanks for stopping by.

N

Up next: A manicure inspired by A Song of Ice and Fire in honour of the premier of the third season on Sky on 1st April.