Friday, February 28, 2014

DS Original and Infinity 37

This is a mani I did as part of Digit-al Dozen does Vintage Challenge but discovered via googling that OPI DS Original isn't as old as I thought.  It is older in terms of polishes being released compared to today but not 'vintage' as in the definition of what constitutes vintage being 20 years or older so didn't use it.  (I do have some truly 'vintage' polishes; older Cutex and Sally Hansen polishes; however, when looking for polishes to use for the challenge, the ones I could find, I wasn't keen on wearing and the one Cutex polish in particular I was looking for, I couldn't find it.  Murphy's Law is that I found it last night of course; too late for DD Vintage Challenge!)  So didn't share this one at that time, but am now! Here's what I came up with.


Top coated.

Started with a base of three coats of OPI DS Original, no topcoat.  










After waiting a bit for it to dry, stamped using Infinity 37** using Mundo de Unas #14 stamping polish.



I was intrigued how matte this stamped....and loved the effect!



Picture overload!




A closer look at Infinity 37




I few other pix that intrigued me!



Simple things obviously amuse me!


More pix just because I can't get enough!










I was so fascinated that this stamping polish was so matte with the holo underneath!  So cool! I do have an odd need to topcoat all mani's though so added a coat of SV.  While still cool, I like the look of the matte stamping better!







Have a great weekend; thanks for looking!

**product provided for review. Post was live five minutes before I edited to add because I forgot!  See disclosure policy for more information!

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Smitten Polish To Banish the Winter Blah's Away!*

(No, that's not the polish name, but I think it would be a fantastic polish name, don't you agree? lol!)

How about some nice and bright nails on a terribly cold day?  At least it is in my area...seriously, will winter ever end here in Ontario?  I also know it's not only my area....it's cold in most regions in Canada and large parts of the US....and more!  I mean, we are used to snow but it seriously has been oh, so cold!  Enough!! On top of the cold, we also had heavy flurries go through this morning and there was even a 96 car pile up this morning on a major highway about an hour north of our area.....thank goodness recent reports indicate that everyone is OK.





Started with a base of Smitten Polish A Wedding Dress That Isn't Bright Turquoise.  This is 3 coats topped with HKGirl tc. I guess I spent more time oogling pictures and not reading enough about this polish as I thought it would be more opaque in two coats or otherwise, I would have put some undies on this beauty. But I didn't, so three coats and can still see VNL....not too obvious in real life but obvious in the bright lighting for pix. Still stunning though!  Beautiful shimmer!









I'm not a fan of of VNL on me as I've mentioned many times before, so was looking for a full nail image but with enough space through the stamped portion to let this stunner shine through.  Decided upon MoYou Artist Collection-04 stamped using white Konad special polish.



A closer look at MoYou Artist Collection-04.  (I used the cluster of images at the bottom right corner.)






Decided it needed a pop of colour; added dots using yellow Konad special polish (I purposely left one not dotted on each nail...it wasn't like I missed it!  Just for something a little different!)





Topped with SV to finish.





Hope you're having a great week...and staying warm.....thanks for looking!

*corrected typo-thanks to commenter!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Sally Hansen Prize Pack Giveaway!

Just before Christmas, I received a surprise package of Sally Hansen 2014 Spring products.  I was so thrilled to receive sneak peeks of the lines including two Sugar Shimmers, one being this one, Sally Hansen Sugar Plum**.


Sugar Plum is fairly sheer and two coats gave good coverage, but I did three as I'm not a fan of VNL on me and it was quite obvious in the pix. But if I was wearing this as a base for regular use, two coats had sufficient coverage.  I did find that the third coat minimized the texture in the polish.  


I did a Valentine's mani using this polish too!  I know it's late but am going to share anyway as love is timeless, right?


Started with a base of three coats of Sally Hansen Sugar Shimmer Sugar Plum.  Love the golden shimmer in this one!  Since these have been released, I quickly picked up the rest of the Sugar Shimmers; I love texture polishes!


Stamped using white Konad special polish and Mundo de Unas stamping polish in 20 using Pueen 41 on all fingers except accent; ring finger was stamped using BM-412.



Pueen41


BM-412


Topped with SV to finish.  The Sally Hansen products have now been released; I've seen them in several stores including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Rexall PharmaPlus and Target. While I was sent two of these Sugar Shimmers for review, I did pick up the rest recently as I love texture polishes!  I do hope that Sally Hansen continues to release more Sugar Shimmers...and makes them available for sale in Canada as I know past releases never made it here!



Sally Hansen Canada and Veritas Communications have also generously offered to host a giveaway of Sally Hansen products!  The winner of the giveaway will receive10 Salon Effects Nail Polishes and 2 Salon Effects Nails Stripes, with a value of $90!!!  Please note that the products will be mailed by the sponsor, who has asked that shipping be within Canada so please ensure that you have a Canadian mailing address to enter.



 



























Thanks so much again to Sally Hansen Canada and Veritas Communications for sponsoring this giveaway!  Good luck and thanks for looking!



Sunday, February 23, 2014

Olympic Nails...Men's Hockey Takes Gold!

These were the nails I did last night in anticipation of Canada men's team playing in the gold/silver game this morning.  They must have been good luck charms because Canada took the gold medal against Sweden this morning!  Yea, Canada!


Started with a base of two coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls and American Apparel Downtown LA, topped with SV.


Stamped using black and white Konad special polish using Nail Art Diva WB08-4 (middle play and hockey sticks on thumb), LO 06 (go on thumb), fauxnad m56 (Canada on thumb), MJ XVIII (shirt on pinky) and OB-M (ring and index).  Touched up a bit of mistamping on the maple leafs with polish and brush.


Added red polish to the hockey player using a brush as well as a few random maple leafs from Mash26. 


Topped with SV to finish.  While not that noticeable IRL, but enough to bother me, I seen some missing red on the middle finger on the maple leaf as well as minor polish drag.  


Fixed the SV drag with acetone and a brush after it had dried, then added a dot of polish to the missing area. Topped again with SV.


The Olympic games are now over...there were some highs and lows but as usual, they were exciting to watch the last two weeks! Congrats to all Olympians whether or not you medalled...I'm sure it was an amazing experience just being...and getting...there!

Thanks for looking!