Nail Challenge 2013: Day 21, A Colour

These were a pain to photograph, but I'm proud of my first free-hand striping. The colour I chose is purple, which is one of my favorites.

These are a base of Greige Gardesn by Sally Hansen, followed by a saran technique using L.A. Colours Nuclear Energy and China Glaze Rendezvous For You. This was also my first saran and I need more practice. Then I used my Quo by Orly Black Striper.

Voila!

This first picture is slightly out of focus, but I gave it to you as an extra because it shows the contrast in colours slightly better.

I had to try light box, window, back door, outside and two cameras and these are the best pics I could get. In person there was much more contrast between the purple and black...but alas, my cameras didn't agree.

Next post is a Song, and may be a day late due to a very busy weekend. We'll see how it goes!

Cheers folks.

1000 Page Views!

I'm so excited to be getting some traction daily with the blog. Yesterday I reached 1000 page views! Lately I have had about 50 people a day visiting my work, and I'm very happy.

Feel free to join via friend connect, or follow by email. Tabs are on the right side of the blog. My next goal is to get my followers up. Cheers and thanks everyone for your support.

Nail Challenge 2013: Day 20, Water Marble

So this is the most disappointing post of the challenge! Water Marble is a full failure for me so far. I thought about ‎not posting, but maybe you want to see the failures and the success.

Every polish I tried worked first drop, but every drop after just balled up and refused to spread. I tried twelve polish combos. Same results, and this is my fourth attempt. I also tried colder and warmer water temperatures as suggested to me by helpful ladies on Instagram. The only advice I haven't tried is filtered water. Which I have heard can sometimes work. Here is a couple cup shots of my epic fail!



 
 

Here is my second attempt a long time ago. I got one finger to work...sort of!

My town has super hard water, so I'm blaming that. I will not let this beat me, so after the challenge is wrapped up I will try again. I really love the results that can be achieved. 

Nail Challenge 2013: Day 19, Galaxies

So here goes the fun! My first ever Galaxy Manicure. I love these, and they were not difficult at all. Somehow I feel like maybe it's a build up to the epic failure that's coming next with Water Marble. I've been practicing...the polish is refusing to participate. A.K.A won't spread! One time...at band camp I got one finger to work. No seriously, that's as far as I've ever gotten in multiple attempts. 

I hope a failure could be equally entertaining!!!

On to the manicure. The base is China Glaze Liquid Leather followed by Orly Androgynie which was  like made for Galaxy Nails. Then I dabbed on little bits of  the new China Glaze Goldie But Goodie and Rendezvous With You as well as a lilac glitter Franken I made with a cream base. I used Sally Hansen White On to dot in some stars. Then I smudged in a teensiest bit of Color Club Snow Flakes in some empty spaces.

It's a lot of polish, but look how it looks with Topcoat.

Here it is in sunlight and matte!

Now I can't decide matte or not, I think glossy? Guess that's the question.
Tune in for the big one next...da da da (cue doom-like music) -Water Marble!

Nail Challenge 2013: Day 18, Half Moons

So here's half moon day. Almost at the two thirds point of the challenge! Got some more difficult posts coming up. Should be...well challenging. Just a hint, but Water Marble is my arch nemesis. The kryptonite to my nail art. ‎I've even been practicing, but can't get the polish to spread in the water yet. 

Anywho, these are lovely. I could see myself in these for a date night or wedding or maybe Easter. I could also see these in many colour combos.

The base is Sally Hansen Berry Juicy with the half moons drawn ‎on slowly with Kiss Nail Art Striper in Pink Glitter. Then I top coated it and carefully smooshed on the pearls which are from NPW Nail Decorations Rock Chic. The kit contains the pearls, some rhinestones, studs and micro beads. It was $5.50.  Here's something that may blow your mind, these kits are from Chapters! They now carry a ton of Nail Art supplies! Crazy! 

Well that's all for today. I'm going off to stare at my nails now!

Nail Challenge 2013: Day 17, Glitter

Today is glitter and my inspiration was the song Silver and Gold from the old Rudolph Christmas special. When I think glitter I think silver first and the song popped into my head. 

The polishes used are China Glaze Glistening Snow and ‎the stripes were made with Kiss Nail Art in Gold Glitter. 

This last photo is in sunlight.

These were super simple, top coat hungry and very glitter-rific‎!

Nail Challenge 2013: Day 16, Tribal Print

These tribal nails were fun and easy. I made decals on wax paper for the two accent fingers with an Orly Nail Art Striper in Black as well as Sinful Colors Hazard and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in White On and China Glaze Ingrid which is also my base colour. I allowed these to dry over night them trimmed them to fit. 

When I first applied them they rippled a bit, but after topcoat and a bit of time they smoothed down. 

Last two are taken in sunlight.

I like these a lot as well as the decal technique. I'm sure I will continue to use this technique for further manicures.