AIS: Stamping With Mash Plate 29 Over The One That Got Away from O.P.I.

     Today's challenge in the Facebook group, Adventures In Stamping, was for us to use a french tip image.  I have a hard time using the french tip images because a, they are really hard to place straight, and b, my nails are so short that they take up half of my nail.  I decided to use the star image on the Mash 29 plate because I hadn't used it before and it was a smaller tip design in the fact that it wouldn't take up half of my nail.  I am pretty pleased with the turn out of this mani.  I only had to redo two of the images due to crooked placement.

     The base color for this mani is new to me.  I received it from one of my friends and fell in love with it a few days ago when I wore it by its self.  This color was released in the Katy Perry line from O.P.I. in January of 2011, before I became addicted to polish.  I am surprised to say though that I almost have this entire collection.  I just keep acquiring them through random journeys.  I do have to say that this is my favorite color from the line so far.  The One That Got Away is a BEAUTIFUL raspberry red with a glass fleck finish.  Due to this it can look different in different lights.  That is why I have so many pictures in this post today.  I really want you guys to see how wonderful this color is.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener

Base color: The One That Got Away from O.P.I. - 2 coats

Stamping plate: Mash 29

Stamping color: Silver Sweep from Sally Hansen Insta-Dri

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

This was taken inside under fluorescent lighting without the flash

Taken inside without flash

Taken inside without flash

Taken outside in indirect light

Taken outside in indirect light

Do you guys have problems when it comes to stamping on a tip image?  How have you overcome this battle?

C is for... Cards!

     It's Wednesday again and that means that it is time for another mani in the ABC's of  Nail's Challenge that we are doing in the Facebook group, Llama Nails.  Today's letter is C.  It didn't take me long to decide that I wanted to do cards.  Which is good, because the artwork took forever.  Especially the spades.  This is why I use acrylic paint when I do intense nail art.    If you apply a topcoat to your base color you can then go hog wild with acrylic.  If you screw up you can just dab a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and it will come right off!  Thank you Robin Moses!  (AKA Nail God!)  I used a dotting tool for the clubs and hearts, and a very tiny, tiny brush to do the spades, numbers, and diamonds.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener

Base coat: French White Tip from N.Y.C. - 2 coats

Acrylic: Crimson Red and Lamp Black from Artist's Loft

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

Taken inside  without flash

I  hope you like this! Please check out my co-challengers posts using the links below!

MSMD Monday: Essie Pretty Edgy andO.P.I I Think In Pink

     It is Monday again and that means that it is Monkey See, Monkey Do Mani Day.  In the Facebook group, Crumpet's Nail Tarts. we utilize Monday's to recreate mani's we have seen around the web that we would like to do.  We pay respect to the rightful creator, and pray that our recreations come close to matcing up.  Today's mani comes from Katrina over at Katrina's Nail Blog.  Please click on the link to be directly taken to her blog post for her mani.  Welp, not much else to say so here goes.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener

Base colors: Pretty Edgy from Essie - 2 coats

                     I Think In Pink from O.P.I. - 3 coats

Green stripes: Mint Sorbet from Sally Hansen Hard A Nails Xtreme Wear

Heart: Let's Talk from Sinful Colors

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

Taken inside without flash

I couldn't figure out what my middle finger kept reminding me of.  Well, I figured it out.  Has anyone watched the most annoying children's show called Yo Gabba Gabba?  I don't even have children and this show drives me nuts.  I baby sit, ALOT.  Well, my middle nail is the same color scheme as a character on the show.  

Please check out these other MSMD mani's if you have a few minutes to spare!

Adventures In Stamping: Mash 28 Over Essence Choose Me!

     Today's Sunday Stamping Challenge for the Facebook group, Adventures In Stamping, was to have someone else pick our stamping plate.  Last night I handed my hubs my basket of plates and asked him to pick a design for me to use.  He surprised me by asking me what colors I was going to use, and was really into it.  Such a good hubs.  Don't worry, I return the favor by telling him how much I love his cool car.  ;-)  He chose two flower images and a nautical star.  I laughed and told him to pick just one, because how the hell am I supposed to mix a nautical star in with flowers?

     I used Choose Me! from Essence for the base color.  This is such a pretty duo-chrome.  I included indoor and outdoor pictures so you could see the beautiful shifts in this color.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener

Base color: Choose Me! from Essence -2 coats

Stamping color: Stamp Me White from Essence

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

Taken inside without flash

Taken outside without flash

So, did my husband do a good job picking out the plate?  I think so! 

ABC Nail Challenge: B is for... Book

     Today marks another installment of the ABC Nail Challenge.  If you couldn't tell from the title, today's letter is B!  I have wanted to do a mani based on the cover of the book that I have been reading since I started reading it a few weeks ago, and let me tell you, it was really hard to hold off and wait to do this!  But I used this adult thing called control, which trust me, I fail at all the time, and I patiently waited for the B challenge to arrive.  I am really pleased with how this turned out and I hope that you like it as well!

Base coat: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener

Base color: Mellow Yellow from Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear - 2 coats

Top color: Sassy from Revlon

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

Technique: Saran Wrap Method

All these pictures were taken inside without flash

Someday when I'm all grown up I WILL be able to free hand a dragon on to these but for now this will have to do.  I think these match really well, what about you guys?  

If you have a few moments, feel free to check out some other B mani's using the links below.  Have a great day!

Stamping with Mash Plate 27 and Saran Wrap Mani

     Today is Stamping Sunday!  Our challenge today: leafy.  I spent about an hour trying to figure out what I was going to do, stamping on paper and deciding what colors to use.  Oh boy.  My addiction is getting worse.  ;-)  I finially decided on a base colors and a stamp.  Today also marks my first saran wrap mani.  I didn't have any saran wrap so I decided to try using an old plastic bag, you know, since I have a billion of them from all my polish purchasing adventures.  And it worked wonderfully.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener

Base color: Sun Kissed from Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear - 2 coats

Saran wrap color: Red Red from Wet N' Wild Wild Shine - 1 coat

Stamping color: Stamp Me! White from Essence

Stamping plate: Mash plate 27

I am normally not a fan of showing my mani's with the flash, but this option best shows the saran wrap technique.

Taken outside in indirect light

Taken inside without the flash

What do you think of my take on a leafy mani?  I hope that you like it! :-)

ABC Nail Challenge: Anchor Stamping

     Today marks the start of a new challenge.  Our summer challenge has come to an end, (all though I was a TERRIBLE participant) and a new one is beggining.  It is called the ABC's Challenge.  I am excited to do this!  Each Wednesday we will be working on one letter of the alphabet and doing a mani that starts with that letter.  Example: A is for Avon, and using an Avon polish, or B is for Bee and stamping with a Bee, etc, etc.  Hopefully you get the picture because I am terrible at explaining stuff like this.

     I had my whole A mani planned out, even consulted with the hubs about it, and as I was searcing through my plates I found one from Essence with an anchor on it.  The light bulb went off.  A is for anchor!!  So off I went to do an anchor mani.  I REALLY need to work on my patience when it comes to stamping.  I also need to remember that my Sally Hansen top coat is not Seche Vite, and if it is applied in the same manner it WILL bubble!  Ugh.  Oh well.  As much as I want to be perfect, no one is.  Except Chalkboard Nails...

Base coat:Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Hardener

Base colors: White - French White Tip from N.Y.C. - 3 coats

                     Blue - Smooth Sailing from Essie - 2 coats

                     Red - Ruby Slipper from Avon (also used for the half moons)

Stamping colors: Stamp Me! White from Essence

                            Blue - Why Not from Sinful Colors

Stamping plate: not numbered from Essence

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

Taken inside without the flash

Well, what do you think?  If you have some time you should check out these other A mani's...

Alphabet Challenge - A

1. Ana Cris	2. HookedonVarnish	3. Polish My Mind
4. Angie	5. Melina	6. Crazy Nail Lady
7. Enigmatic Rambles	8. Fab.Lush.Luxe	9. Liquid Jelly
10. Cute-icle Chronicles

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MSMD: Shoelace Manicure

     Today's Monkey see, Monkey do (MSMD) manicure is brought to you via Michelle from Mimi's Manicure's.  She posted this manicure in Polish-o-rama, one of the Facebook groups that I am in, and I immediatly fell in love.  She quickly came out with a tutorial and I followed it to the tea.  I love the way that this turned out.  I should have waited a little longer to apply my top coat, as you can see it smeared on my pinky, but what's a manicure without a little smear?!  I also think that this looks more like the back of a  corset then shoes, which makes them even more sexy.  I really encourage you to check out the mani that Michelle did because her nails are sexy long and look way better than mine.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Diamond Strenght Hardener

Base color: Smooth Sailing from Essie - 2 coats

Black: Black cream from Wet N' Wild - applied with a striping brush

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

Taken inside with flash

Taken inside without the flash

Do you think shoes or corset when you see these?  I hope to hear from you all, have a great Monday!  Oh, and don't forget to check out these other lovely ladies who have participated in the MSMD challenge today! :-)

Adventures In Stamping: Stamping With Mash Plate 38

     Our Sunday stamping challenge for the Facebook group, Adventures In Stamping, was to stamp with the theme of something toxic or poisonous.  I was at a standstill with what to do.  I googled poisonous plants and learned that parts of cherries are poisonous.  So I thought that that would at least be a cute mani.  While I was digging through my plates searching for the plate with the cherries on it, I found a plate with a spider on it.  That brought back vivid memories of the four black widows we have killed in the last few years, and what I beleive to be a hobo spider that was on our porch just a few days ago.  My poor husband.  I just stood there freaking out.  I never had a fear of spiders up until we started killing those black widows.  So I figured today would be the best day to use this stamp because I will probablly never use it again.

Base coat:  Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener

Base colors: Pinky and pointer finger - Black Cream from Wet N' Wild - 1 coat

                     Ring finger and thumb - French White Tip from N.Y.C. - 3 coats

                     Middle finger - Sealed With A Kris from Nicole by OPI - 3 coats

Stamping color: Black Cream from Wet N' Wild

Stamping plate: Mash 38

Red on back of spider: Red Red from Wet N' Wild

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

Taken outside in direct light

Taken inside without flash

Taken outside in indirect light

I know these pictures aren't the greatest but I couldn't handle looking at the spiders up close anymore.  Sorry.

Glue Base Coats for Glitter Manicures: How Effective Is It?

     Today's post is my attempt at using Elmer's School Glue as a base for glitter polishes.  If you are thinking, what the hell is this lady talking about, I really think you HAVE to read LabMuffin's blog post.  Did you read it?  Don't lie.  Just do it.  It is fast and easy and you will thank me.

     Ok, now that you have read Lab Muffin's blog post, I feel it is of dire importance that you also check out this blog post from Pretty Purple Polish, where she showed me that I really needed to try this.  She did a 5 day wear test of not only the glue as a peel of base, but also included different base coats and orders of application to show which way worked the best for her.  Now, you may be wondering why, with this wealth of knowledge, I feel the need to share my experience with you.  Let me tell you my story.

     I wash my hands a lot.  And when I say a lot, I mean probablly somewhere close to 100 times a day.  No, I am not a germaphobe, but I work in food service.  My hands are constantly in and out, in and out, in and out of water.  My hands crack, bleed, chap, and hurt.  But at least you know I won't make you sick!  (It takes a lot for me to have my hands picture ready for you guys).  I knew that I would be a perfect test subject for this new phenomenon.  I honestly didn't think that it would work.  I wish that I could tell you guys that it was great and that I will be doing this all the time, but I can not say that.  :-(  With in four hours my polish was gone from three fingers.  Before my shift was over, it was completely gone.  I am so sad that I can't use this method because it really does just peel right off.  I was uber, uber careful like Lab Muffin said to be.  I made sure there was no glue what so ever touching my skin, but it still didn't help.

     I will however say that I may have gotten a little carried away with the amount of glitter and top coats that I used, which could of had a harsher effect on the outcome of my testing.  I may have to try this again with only one or two layers of glitter and a top coat.  I do, however, plan on using this method when I do swatches.  It will be fantastic to remove the polish within a minute rather than 15.

Base coat: Elmer's School Glue

Base color: Black Cream from Wet N Wild - 1 coat

Glitter- in order of application: Green Ocean from Sinful Colors - 1 coat

Shine of the Times from Essie - 1 coat

Party of Five Glitters from Wet N' Wild - 1 coat 

Top coat: Essence Nail Art Special Effect! Topper - 2 coats

As you can read, a lot of layers.

At least I got a beautiful mani out of this experiment.

All of these were taken inside with out the flash.

And here is my nails on my lunch break. :-(  I didn't want to show my thumb but whated you guys to see how it peeled off.  Side note, my cuticles used to all look like my thumb!  I can't believe how much blogging has made me change my terrible cuticle habbits!

So, have you tried using a glue as your base coat?  What about the glittler removal method?  Do you scrub, scrub, scrub it off, or have you just sworn off glitter all together?  I hope you like this post and feel free to comment, comment, comment.  :-)

Blue Me Away! by Sally Hansen and Shine of the TImes Tape Mani

     It is time for another installment of Monkey See, Monkey Do.  If your new to my blog and have never heard of this, it is where a group of us, Crumpet's Nail Tarts, recreate mani's we see around the web, (usually from Pinterest or Facebook,) and post them on to our blogs.  I found the inspiration for today's mani on Victoria's Nails Blog.

     I kinda did something stupid and used Blue Me  Away! from Sally Hansen, which has a glossy finish, instead of just opting to use Phoebe from Zoya, which is already a matte polish!  Ugh.  I didn't think about this until I had to redo my pointer finger for the THIRD time due to being impatient!  Oh well.  Live and learn, right.  When I applied Shine Of The Times, I used to tape to make sure I got straight lines. :-)  I love me some straight lines.

Base coat: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener

Base color: Blue Me Away! from Sally Hansen - 2 coats

Flakie: Shine Of The Times from Essie

Top coat: Nail Art Special Effect! Topper from Essence - I did not apply this over Shine Of The Times

All pictures were taken inside with out the flash

Can you tell that I didn't use tape on my pointer finger?  I pretty much gave up.  :-(  What do you guys think of this?  If you want to see some more Monkey See, Monkey Do mani's, check out these other blogs.

MSMD - September 3, 2012

1. Lacquer Or Leave Her!	2. Rin's Nail Files	3. Cute-icle Chronicles
4. Nail Craze with Dayze	5. Manicured Monkey

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