Day Three - Inspired by a Tutorial

This was incredibly difficult for me. I could not find anything I had the time to do. I'm in the middle of second tests and projects at school, and I nearly forgot to do this day in the first place.

 I used the Nailasaurus' Simple Flowers tutorial - I used Girly Bits Cu Blue, Zoya Jancyn, and white stamping polish. I don't have a dotting tool, so I used a bobby pin.

Well...I like my thumb....my ring finger not so much. This is my first ever 'dotting' attempt, so I guess I can't be too upset. I flipping love Cu Blue though - that copper shimmer is to die for!!

Day Two - Polka Dot Nails

Finally - nails I am in love with!
I have issues finding a light purple that looks good on me. China Glaze Sweet Hook is probably the closest I've gotten, so I used it for the base, and used my Konad stamp to do the dots.

 

It is so preppy, and I love that. It's clean and classic. They may get 2 days wear, which is a biggie for me.

Erica's Nail Art Challenge Day 1 - Rainbow

I gone done it again!
Erica at Erica's Nails and More is hosting another challenge!!!

This one takes the whole month, and gives three days to perform the requirement.
For rainbow, I decided to 'try' a tape mani. Now, I don't have striping tape, but I used painters tape cut into little stripes. It's messy, and I added top coat too fast, but I like it.

 The yellow was a disaster, but I like the overall effect.
I used (from L-R) OPI Funky Dunkey, Zoya Robyn, Zoya Pippa, Zoya Jancyn, and OPI Friar, Friar, Pants on Fire. I then put the tape down and used NOPI Razzle Dazzler.

Last Pink Wednesday - Zoya Kimber

Warning - this is a mess
I have been super busy - the aftermath of the hurricane caused a car accident, and I`ve been dealing with insurance and body shops :( I didn`t want to miss the last one!
I used Zoya Kimber, and stamped using white Konad polish and BM 310

I`m a fan of Kimber, and the Zoya Surf Collection as a whole. I shelled out my money to get all of them - that`s something I rarely do.

Erica's Challenge Day 10 - Recreate Your Favourite

Well, here we are! The last day of the challenge :( 
It's bittersweet, because now I can swatch polishes again. However it's nice to participate in a community where we have something in common. Like a decent clip of nail enthusiasts, this hobby has gotten me through some tough times, and because I'm a shy person, I haven't gotten involved like I could have. But this experience has created friends for me, and I'm truly blessed to have met the people involved.
Partly Cloud with a Chance of Lacquer did a braided mani for the favourite season day, and I've been itching to try it ever since. I used A-England St. George on my nails, then did the braided accent of St. George, Princess Sabra and Tristam. I think I actually nailed it!

I love love LOVE these colours together...A-England is so unique! I even think my photos are getting better too! Win-win! I know I've stepped up the game on my clean up - it's still not great but it's getting there.

Erica's Challenge Day 9 - French Tip Variation

Aloha polish people! Today I'm showing you my two favourite polishes from probably my favourite indie maker of all time. Enchanted Polish has awesome holos and multichromes so fabulous it would give you a polishgasm. I ordered Ocean Potion and Awesomeness from Harlow and Co. before they were discontinued. There is no way I will ever part with them.
For my variation on the French Tip I attempted a chevron design. I hate how it turned out. The lines aren't as crisp as I would like. I can only get better right?

My pinkie is a total blob. This was the better hand, my right hand is a disaster.
Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge. I'm rather bummed about it - it was motivating to participate with others. Erica says she'll do more, and I'll be the first to sign up!

Erica's Challenge Day 8 - Galaxy Nails!

I was super worried about trying this for the first time. Since my gradient fail I was worried about sponging again. I'd never tried galaxy nails because it looked so intimidating! For my first attempt, I think it's not bad. I get the feeling my stars look kind of weird, but maybe that's just me?

I started with two coats of Zoya Ibiza. It's my go to navy blue. Then I sponged (in this order) China Glaze Bahamian Escape, Zoye Fei Fei, and Zoya Laney. I'm actually glad I used Fei Fei - it is hard to see since my photos are lame, but it adds awesome multi-colour sparkle to my galaxy. I then added the dots with Sally Hansen's White On. Not satisfied with the amount of polishes used (eye roll) I added a top coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust.
Also, I just realized I've never address my top/base coats....ever. Those who were(n't) wondering, I used Essie All in One base coat and Essie Good to Go top coat.
Two more days! Then I'll have to think for myself.....

Erica's Challenge Day 7 - Flowers

Ugh, today has been one of those really awful days. I'm sick, and I had to do a presentation at school which turned into a hot mess pretty quickly. So to cheer my up, I did my nails naturally.
I've never been able to find them, but Sally Hansen has nail appliques that are called Morning Glory. They are a white background with purple flowers on them. Since I've never seen them in Canada, I made my own version for today. I started with a base of Essie Blanc, then stamped the flowers from BM 205 with Color Club Wild at Heart.

Also....both my thumbnails are jacked up right now. They keep spitting and tearing in weird spots. That's why I've been using my right hand lately, but that nail destructed this morning. Now, my left hand looks better.
I don't use white as a background often, but I love how this turned out and I plan on recreating it and wearing it longer when this challenge is said and done!

Erica's Challenge Day 6 - Polka Dots!

I love me some spotted nail goodness. For someone who loves dots so much, you'd be surprised to know that I don't own a dotting tool...I'm an embarrassment to a nail art challenge. Don't worry, I will rectify this problem.
I really wanted to wear Zoya Myrta, which I just got half price! This completed my Surf collection! My OCD makes me very keen on finishing collections.
Something that stuck with me from childhood is that orange and blue go together, a la complementary colours. So I decided to Konad stamp polka dots using A-England Tristam. Unfortunately, I anticipated Tristam to be more opaque, but I still think it looks acceptable.

Sorry...my pinkie looks all kinds of jacked up. It looks fine in real life I swear.
Tomorrow's challenge is flowers, and I'm probably going to have to stamp....again. I am truly an abomination!

Erica's Challenge Day Four - Saran Wrap

Quick post today - Saran wrap was the texture of choice today in the Erica's Nails challenge (those of you just joining us, her blog is in my blogroll -->
I went for a subtle look - I didn't want extreme marble city on my nails. I started with Zoya Quinn, a deep berry red, and used China Glaze's Swing Baby over top. I then dabbed the excess Swing Baby off, which left me with this.

It's interesting to look at I must say. It reminds me of velvet for some reason. It also appears I need to invest in some other method of clean up - I use q-tips right now and it's not looking so hot. Any suggestions?

In other EXCITING news, I saw the first promo pics of the Holiday Zoya Collection. It's called Ornate, and it has 6 sparkle-tastic shades!

I think I need Blaze and Aurora....and Logan and Ziv...or maybe all of them. Better start saving those pennies now!

Erica's Challenge Day 2 - Favourite Animal

Now I've been excited for this since I read the challenge list. Why you ask? Because it's not animal print per se, it's your favourite animal. My favourite animal is clearly my cat - so I used his 'colour palette' as inspiration for these nails.

My baby, Indiana Dingus Jones, is completely black. That made for super boring nails - but his collar is a silver glitter extravaganza. So I used NOPI Razzle Dazzler for my black base (the name of that polish is deceiving, no?) and stamped using BM 316 and Zoya Trixie. I realized after I uploaded my pictures that my cleanup was atrocious, so I'm sorry for the people reading this that had to scratch their eyes out after looking at this.

These nails actually got the seal of approval from the boyfriend, so all in all I'm impressed. Now, I must include a bonus photo of my fur-baby! Here he is after adventuring up the fridge and claiming the top of the cupboards for all kitteh kind.

Erica's Nail Challenge - Day 1

Here it goes! Day one - my favourite colour. I love purple - my phone is purple, my notebooks are purple, my pencil case is purple. If my boyfriend would let me paint my car purple, I would. So naturally, I purpled the heck out of my nails. Now I know this is a nail art challenge, but I am completely art-tarded. So until I need to art, I will not. I will stamp! I used Zoya Mimi and NOPI Light my Candle.

As you can see, I've used Mimi a fair bit in the year that I've had her. The only polish I've used more is Zoya Dannii. Here is the most colour accurate photo I could get today of Mimi on her own.

She's so pretty! I used my old camera today because I lacked batteries for the new one.
Then I stamped using BM 314 and Light my Candle.

It's not my best, but it will do I suppose. I'm super excited for tomorrow so I'm impatient I guess. I'm also mad I couldn't get a colour accurate photo....grrr. Maybe on day 10 I'll revisit purple.

Quick Update!

Hey guys....I'm going to start blogging again I promise! I've been schooling and moving and not really painting my nails much. That will change! I got a new camera, new polishes to show you and I'm starting hardcore on Saturday with a new nail challenge!

I'm participating in Erica from Erica's Nails and More's 10 day nail art challenge! I figured it's a good way to get going again. It also has lots of tutorials I'd like to try, like galaxy nails!

I also got my first Catrice polishes and plan on doing a Catrice week once the challenge is done. Thanks for being patient!

Sally Hansen Salon Effect 'Fur'ocious Vocals

Hey! This is my first attempt at using these strips, and I must say I am impressed. I saw the display for the Avril Lavigne inspired strips and snatched 'Fur-ocious Vocals' - teal and black leopard spots on a silver background. I forgot to take a photo of them in the box, and do you think I can find one on the interweb? Not of just the box, no. I did find pictures of Avril herself applying them - which I find hard to believe. She probably has people to do that stuff for her. Anyway - here is my first attempt with these strips.

See? Not too bad. They weren't as hard to apply as I thought they would be, and they look great. I'm definitely going to grab some more of these Avril ones before they sell out. They are handy for nail art I don't want to do.....

The only problem that I may have is the fact that I like to change my nails daily. If I was going on a vacation and didn't have the time, I think they would work great. I've seen wear tests that last over 10 days without major chipping or tip wear. Anyone out there used them? If so, what did you think?

Purple Nail Stamping!

Man, it's been too long! I've been busy with finals, acquiring a new cat, and moving my boyfriend into my apartment. I have some stuff to post, finally, so bear with me while it get back to this. I do still love my polish, don't you worry about that!

A week ago, I decided I'd use a polish I hadn't used since it was released - OPI's Grape, Set Match! I love it, but it needed a certain something to make it over the top. So I stamped it with my Bundle Monster plate with leopard spots using Julep Maria!

I got lots of compliments on it. It's probably my best stamping to date.

I love animal print in funky colours. I wish I could freehand it better - I'm completely artistically challenged. Thank goodness for stamping!

For a bonus - here's my baby Indy. I had him at home and he just got to live with me. He's such a suck too!

Day 7 - Black and White

Hello! For the black and white day, I went with two Orly's from the Holiday Soiree collection of last winter - Au Champagne and Androgynie.

My momma came to visit me - she's a piano player. So I stamped my white accent nail with Konad plate m73 for her. She loved it!

Androgynie let me down - not a lot of the hex glitter made it to the nail. I love Au Champagne though! The perfect pearly white. It reminds me of melted marshmellow.

I'm weird when I stamp - I stamp so it looks right to me. I look at my hands a lot. I'm stamping selfish I guess!

Nail Stamping with Orly Sea Gurl

Yeah, I stamp. I'm not very good at it, but I'm in love with this. I got the idea from the konadlicious blog and did my own spin using other colours.
I started with a base of Orly Sea Gurl, which I neglected to photograph before I stamped over it. I used my usual silver stamping polish (CND Silver Chrome) and Bundle Monster Plate 206

 

This is actually the closest I've been able to match my thumb, so I'm pretty impressed about it. It's still messy but I wanted to photo it before I chipped or wore it down.

I love to stamp - I'm not very good at it, but I think it looks great and I get a lot of complements. What's not to love?