My Nail Journey: 07/01/2012

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Sealed With A Kris from Nicole By OPI Swatches and Stamping With Mash Plate 28

  Todays Adventures In Stamping Challenge was for us to stamp with black and red. When I picked up Khloe Had A Little Lam Lam from the Nicole by OPI collection a few weeks ago I also picked up this pretty red color titled Sealed With A Kris. I figured what better time to try it out then for todays challenge.
  Sealed With A Kris is a beautiful deepish redish jellyish glossy color. It is a thicker jelly which I liked because there was no visible nail line after two coats. I love Nicole by OPI's formula and their brush. It went on amazing, dried quickly and looks beautiful.
  I really need to invest in a stamping black. Using Wet N' Wild's Black Creme is not cutting it for me. It doesn't transfer well AT ALL. That is going next on my wish list.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Hardener

Base color: Sealed With A Kris from Nicole by OPI - 2 coats

Stamping color: Black Creme from Wet N' Wild

Stamping plate: Mash 28

Top coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Taken outside in natural light

Taken inside with flash

Outside in natural light

Taken outside in indirect light

Taken inside without flash

Taken inside with flash

Isn't this such a pretty color! What do you think? I hope that you all had a great weekend! Please feel free to leave comments, I love to read them.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Olympic Nails: Stamping With Mash Plate 43 and British Flag

Yesterdays challenge in the Facebook group, Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge, was for us to do a mani pertaining to the Olympic Opening Ceremony and the flag. My creative juices were not flowing to much because the day before was a terrible mani day! I did three different manicures and couldn't wrap my brain around any of them. They all looked like crap! I hate bad nail days. I didn't get a chance to post this on time yesterday because I went to my best friends daughter's birthday party right afterwords.
Who set a new high score on the Pac Man machine yesterday? That's right, me! Granted it resets every day but I got afruit that I had never seen before! I love Pac Man. That is the one game that I could play for ever and ever. Any other game, like Centipede, lasts for about five minutes.

I did my "olympic rings" in red and blue over white to represent the USA. And I did the British Flag to represent where the Olympics are being help this year, London! I am so jealous! I want to go to London so bad. I'm sure the natives are hating all the traffic there right now though. My two must watches in the Olympics are diving and gymnastics, but seeing as how we have no tv, other than Netflix, I doubt I will get to see any of it this go around. :-(

Base color: French Tip White from NYC - 3 coats Swatches are available here. Please note that if you view this blog post, Rainbow Bright by Polish + Plus is no longer avaiable, as Polish + Plus no longer has her store open.

Stamping color and red in flag: Ruby Slipper from Avon

Stamping color in blue: Textured Teal from Avon

Blue in flag: Hot Spot from Sinful Colors

Stamping plate: Mash 43

Top coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Do you watch the Olympics? What are your must sees?

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Gradient Manicure

Today's challenge in the Facebook group, The Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge was to create a manicure with red, orange, and yellow. I hadn't done a gradient in over a month so I figured today would be a great time to do another one. I just love the way that gradients look. As soon as I was done with this manicure i went to get some dinner. I handed the employee my money and she stated that my nails were freaky. :-| Now, I'm not sure if she just didn't know what to say because she had never seen a gradient manicure before and was just set back at my awesome talent, ;-) or if she generally disliked them. I am hoping she was just in shock and awe mode, but you never know. I will let you guys be the deciding factor to that.

One thing that I struggled with the last time I tried this was parts of the make up spounge staying on the nail. A few other people I know had experienced this issue as well. Someone mentioned that if you got your spounge wet before doing your gradient you would not have this issue, and guess what, they were right!

If you haven't tried a gradient manicure before you can follow this tutorial from The Nailasaurus.

Base coat: Nail Envy from OPI and Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Hardener

Base color: Lightning from Sally Hansen - 1 coat I still LOATH the Insta Dri formula. If you don't know why you can read my blog post on it here.

Orange: Clementine from Sinful Colors

Red: Energetic Red from Sinful Colors

Top coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

I wish I would have chose a darker red so that it showed up more. It is pretty hard to see the three colors in this mani.

So, what do you think of my freaky nails?

If you would like to see some more red, orange, and yellow manicures from the other great ladies in my Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge, you can see their blogs listed below! Feel free to check them out.

List of girls taking part in Summer Challenge - maybe not every day, but definitely participating

Debbie @ The Crumpet - http://thecrumpet.blogspot.co.uk/

Neivys - http://maquiclubgirl.blogspot.com/

arlene @ http://euzefelus27-nailart.blogspot.com/

Helena - http://nailwish.blogspot.com.es/

Cuti-CLUE-les - http://cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/

Katee - http://www.agirlandherpolish.com

Alyssa at Fancy Phalanges - http://fancyphalanges.blogspot.com/

Misha - www.enigmatic-rambles.blogspot.com

Melissa - http://www.misadventuresofawannabemartha.com/

Laurie http://dressedupdigits.blogspot.com/

Lucie @ Lucy's Stash www.lucysstash.com

Jane- http://absolutevarnish.blogspot.com/

Amber www.nevernakednails.blogspot.com

Vic @ Glowstars http://glowstars.net

Jackie- http://memasmanis-jackie.blogspot.com/

Rychelle @ Colorsplash Nails- http://colorsplashnails.blogspot.com/

Stella - http://mywetnails.blogspot.com

Missy @ http://missysmanis.blogspot.co.uk/

Kim @ http://apolishedaddiction.blogspot.com/

Angie @ http://ourpaintedworld.wordpress.com

Bazzia @ http://polishmymind.blogspot.se/

Missy the Manicured Maniac @ http://melissahenderson95.blogspot.com/

Michelle @ http://lacquerorleaveher.blogspot.com/

Nikki @ http://www.lilgreenheart.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth @ http://nailpolishismycrack.blogspot.com/

Ana Cris @ http://www.estacerradaladrogueria.blogspot.com.es/

Shayleen @ http://simplyhandyallyear.blogspot.com/

Dina @ http://secretarysnailart.blogspot.no/

Nayade @ Toxic Vanity http://www.toxicvanity.com

Karen @ http://nailsbykaybel.blogspot.com

Kelly (aka Nail Obsessed) @ http://crazynaillady.blogspot.com

Noniq @ Noniq Diary http://noniq.blogspot.com

Marce7ina - http://marce7ina.blogspot.com

Courtney - http://cute-iclechronicles.com

Chrisie @ http://fingersandtoads.blogspot.com

Emily @ http://emily-nailtailes.blogspot.com

Candace @ http://lifeaskandistar.blogspot.ca/

Charis @ http://xarisc.blogspot.com/

Sunday, July 22, 2012

OPI Black Cherry Chutney Swatches and Stamping With Mash Plate 42

Today's challenge in the Adventures In Stamping group on Facebook was for us to stamp with our favorite stamp.

I only have about thirty stamping plates so I don't really have a "favorite." I have stamped with the Mash 42 plate before and really liked the outcome of it, so I decided to use it again. I think that I like this stamp on the mani that I have linked to rather than on top of Black Cherry Chutney.

Earlier last week someone had mentioned that they had an OPI Elephantasic Pink up for swap so I decided to look up the swatches for it. I stumbled across Scrangie's blog post for the 2008 India Collection and instantly fell in love with Black Cherry Chutney, Royal Rajah Ruby, and Yoga-ta Get This Blue! These colors are so beautiful and I instantly put them on my wish list. On Friday after work I went to check out my local beauty supplies OPI sale and what do you know, I found Black Cherry Chutney. My husband didn't seem as excited as I was though. :-( I decided to wear it right away because I was catering a wedding yesterday and I love dark colors on my nails, so I figured this would be perfect, and I was right.

I loved this color so much that after it got all screwed up from catering, I painted it on again and that is when I realized that it was time for me to do my Sunday stamping challenge.

Base coat: Nail Envy by OPI and Hard as Nails Nail Hardener from Sally Hansen

Base color: Black Cherry Chutney from OPI - 2 coats

Stamping color: Stamp Me! White from Essence

Stamping plate: Mash 42

Top coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Finished product

In direct sunlight. Look at this BEAUTIFUL color!

Another direct sunlight picture, it is just so pretty!

Outside in indirect light

Inside without flash

Inside with flash

Sorry for the copius amounts of pictures, but I am in love and I don't care who knows it!! What do you think about Black Cherry Chutney? Do you like dark, vampy colors as well, or do you prefer lighter ones?

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Buttercup Nails and Stamping With Mash Plate 37

Todays challenge in the Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge on Facebook is buttercups. This is going to be a short and sweet post, even though, it took me a few hours to do this. :-) I really hope that you like it because I am pretty pleased with this mani.

Base coat: Nail Envy from OPI and Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Hardener

Base color: Athens from Sinful Colors - 2 coats

Accent nail: Evvie from Zoya - 2 coats

Buttercups: Acrylic paint

Stamping plate: Mash 37

Stamping color: Olympia from Sinful Colors

Top coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Here is an image of a Buttercup that I got from google images.

And here are my nails. These next two pictures were taken outside in indirect sunlight

And these two were taken outside with out flash

So, what do you think of me recreation of the buttercup? I hope that you like it.

http://www.inlinkz.com/script.php?id=168998&nojump=1&key=ILDP/O092G6Q

Check out the other ladies blogs that are involved in the challenge.
Debbie @ The Crumpet - http://thecrumpet.blogspot.co.uk/
Neivys - http://maquiclubgirl.blogspot.com/
Jo @ Northern Nails - http://therockchicksrambles.blogspot.co.uk/
arlene @ http://euzefelus27-nailart.blogspot.com/
Helena -
Cuti-CLUE-les - http://cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/
Katee - http://www.agirlandherpolish.com
Alyssa at Fancy Phalanges - http://fancyphalanges.blogspot.com/
Sarah - http://www.ynails.blogspot.co.uk/
bec - http://lacquerdreams.blogspot.com.au/
Misha - www.enigmatic-rambles.blogspot.com
Sharon - http://whatcolorismycoat.blogspot.com/http://nailwish.blogspot.com.es/
Melissa - http://www.misadventuresofawannabemartha.com/
Laurie http://dressedupdigits.blogspot.com/
Lucie @ Lucy's Stash www.lucysstash.com
Emma @ http://manicurity.blogspot.com/
Caitlin - www.caitlinscreativecorner.blogspot.com
Jane- http://absolutevarnish.blogspot.com/
Amber www.nevernakednails.blogspot.com
Vic @ Glowstars http://glowstars.net
Jackie- http://memasmanis-jackie.blogspot.com/
Rychelle @ Colorsplash Nails- http://colorsplashnails.blogspot.com/
Stella - http://mywetnails.blogspot.com
Missy @ http://missysmanis.blogspot.co.uk/
Kim @ http://apolishedaddiction.blogspot.com/
Christine @ http://lost-in-my-reverie.blogspot.com
Angie @ http://ourpaintedworld.wordpress.com
Bazzia @ http://polishmymind.blogspot.se/
Missy the Manicured Maniac @ http://melissahenderson95.blogspot.com/
Michelle @ http://lacquerorleaveher.blogspot.com/
Nikki @ http://www.lilgreenheart.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth @ http://nailpolishismycrack.blogspot.com/
Ana Cris @ http://www.estacerradaladrogueria.blogspot.com.es/
Shayleen @ http://simplyhandyallyear.blogspot.com/
Dina @ http://secretarysnailart.blogspot.no/
Nayade @ Toxic Vanity http://www.toxicvanity.com
Karen @ http://nailsbykaybel.blogspot.com
Kelly (aka Nail Obsessed) @ http://crazynaillady.blogspot.com
Noniq @ Noniq Diary http://noniq.blogspot.com
Marce7ina - http://marce7ina.blogspot.com
Courtney - http://cute-iclechronicles.com
Chrisie @ http://fingersandtoads.blogspot.com
Emily @ http://emily-nailtailes.blogspot.com
Candace @ http://lifeaskandistar.blogspot.ca/

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Nicole by OPI Khloe Had a Little Lam Lam Swatches and Stamping With Konad M65 and

In a few of the nail polish groups that I am in on Facebook, I heard that Target was having a polish sale. My husbands allergies were killing him the other day and he had ran out of Allegra, so I generously offered to run to the store and pick some more up for him. ;-) I always wanted to try the Nicole by OPI polishes because OPI is one of my favorite brands, but I felt that seven dollars a bottle was kind of a rip off for a "drug store" brand of polish. I know it isn't a drug store brand but they designed it to be sold in stores like WalMart, Target, CVS, Fred Meyers, etc etc. I picked up three of the Kardashian Kolor's, (can I say how much it bugs me when companies spell things wrong on purpose, Kolor, I mean really? Normally I won't even use a product or company that does this. I know, I have issues.)
I didn't think that I really like Khloe Had a Little Lam-Lam but I fell in LOVE! It is such a beautiful dark green cream color. The application was perfect! I could have done it with one layer of polish had I done it a tad thicker, but I went pretty thin with my layers. I loved it so much that I wore it for two days. It is so stinking pretty. I will let the pictures speak for it self.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Hardener and Chip Skip from OPI

Base color: Khole Had a Little Lam-Lam from Nicole by OPI

Stamping color: Jade from Avon

Stamping plate: Konad plate 65

Top coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Here is the finished product

Taken outside in direct light

Outside in indirect light

Inside without flash

Inside with flash

My original idea was to put a matte top coat on over Khloe Had a Little Lam-Lam and then stamp with the same color but it didn't show up like I wanted it to so that is when I switched to the Jade polish. I wish that it would of worked out but it didn't. :-(

Have you guys tried any of the Nicole by OPI polishes. Do you think they are over priced or just right?

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Sinful Colors Flutter Swatches and The Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge: Pink and Purple Nails

I had such high hopes for this mani, but it turns out that I suck at anything other than using a stamper. So freaking frustrating. Sometimes I even suck at that. I really wanted to take this mani off but I am running low on time and I am commited to showing the good, bad, and the ugly. So, here is one of my most hated manis ever. I hope you enjoy. :-)

Base coat: Chip Skip from OPI and Avon Smooth Beginnings

Base color: Flutter from Sinful Colors - 3 coats

Purple: Let's Talk from Sinful Colors

Top coat: Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

And here is my crappy mani!