Citrus Looking Marble

I should preface this mani by saying a couple things; this was one of the first mani's I did after my recent episode of swelling hands when they finally didn't look like little fat sausages and I could finally hold a polish brush...somewhat.  After the swelling went down, I then had subsequent skin peeling around my nails so the skin is all funny and pretty red from the shedding.  Also, during the time I wasn't able to do my nails, I guess my daughter visited my nail room and adjusted all the lighting so it's just not as I had it.  While I know my lighting system has never been perfect, I do know it was better than portrayed in these pix!  So I'll slowly have to work on my hands and lighting, but in the meanwhile, I was just so happy to finally be able to do my nails again that none of that matters to me right now!  Because I still don't have a whole lot of strength in my hands as they still aren't 100% and because they are still sore from swelling and peeling, I'm sticking pretty much with cremes and holos to make sure I have somewhat easy removal, but all in all, I was pretty happy how this mani turned out all things considering!

Started with a base of China Glaze Lemon Fizz (no pix as have shown before).  Then sponged on Nubar Green Tea and Revlon Alluring Amber randomly.  

I have to admit, I wasn't too thrilled with the results of this colour combination even though it was one I had in my mind for a while now.  But I thought I would carry on and worse case if I didn't like the end result, it's just a little remover and a new canvas!  Decided to add OPI Don't Speak which is from the Gwen Stefani Holiday 2014 collex for some interest.

Still not terribly impressed; it wasn't looking good lol!

For stamping, used an image from Pet'la Aloha on all fingers except accent which is Apipila P.2 , using FunkyFingers Gesso.



Pet'la Aloha




Topped with KBShimmer Clearly on Top to finish.


Oddly enough, I really was happy how the mani came all together although I really wasn't too sure it would!

Just before I removed it, added a coat of OPI matte; liked the look of this too!



Thanks for looking!

Darling Diva Polish Landslide

Here is another one of those mani's that can be done quickly; a coat of holo and easy, full size stamping and voila, a mani change in no time at all!  Here's what I came up with!

Started with one coat (yes, you read it right!) of Darling Diva Landslide, no topcoat.

Different lighting; can see holo better!

Stamped using Mundo de Unas #54 with an image from BP-11.  This is one of those unforgiving images that have to be placed just so (which I try to avoid like the plague) but didn't do too bad of a line up job.  Not perfect, but not bad!  BUT, it doesn't help when the image you are stamping from isn't centered either.  I see this so often on image plates; does no one think of how these images are used or placed on the nail before they are manufactured?  It's one of my little stamping pet peeves!

Finished with KBShimmer Clearly on top.

BP-11

This is the plate I had initially wanted to use, an image from hehe005 but when I stamped my test hand, it just didn't see to be bold enough for the holo. 

See?  This is my right hand; much prefer the other!

Thanks for looking!

Pahlish Bespoke Batch Over the Rhone

I'm still featuring archived mani's; I've only done my nails once in the last 10 days....and it was one coat of a holo with minimal stamping....as still having some issues preventing me from doing my nails.  I guess there is some benefit of having so many archived mani's as it is handy for times like this!

I had decided early in the New Year to try to use some untried polishes; this time, I went with Pahlish Bespoke Batch Over the Rhone.

Started with two coats of Pahlish Bespoke Batch Over the Rhone, two coats, no topcoat.  Application was a breeze, as was clean up!  This navy jelly polish has blue and silver flakies added.  As Over the Rhone was a Bespoke Batch, it's no longer available via Pahlish's e-store, but hopefully you will be able to snag a bottle via a swap or sale board - if anyone is foolish enough to give up their bottle, that is!

Over the Rhone really comes to life with a layer of topcoat; this is with a coat of KBShimmer Clearly on Top.

Different lighting.

For stamping, went with stamping that hopefully would allow the base shine through; stamped with an image from VL04 using CND Silver Chrome.

Topped with KBShimmer Clearly on Top to finish.

Thanks for looking!

Girly Bits Get Weaponized + A New 'Stamping' Polish

While I've had Girly Bits Get Weaponized for quite some time, it was still an untried.  I know, I don't know what is wrong with me either!  So shortly after New Years, it came out of untrieds and after I used it, I was disappointed in myself for not using it earlier!  It's gorgeous!  Definitely up there as one of my favourite polishes!

For base polishes, used two coats of Girly Bits Get Weaponized with an accent of Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Grey Matters, no topcoat.  I see a sea foam green tint in Grey Matters, not grey at all, and thought it would be a nice accent to Get Weaponized.

You can see the holo from Girly Bits Get Weaponized better!

Top coated with KBShimmer Clearly on Top before stamping on all fingers except the accent; I used the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat on it.

New Pet'la plates arrived just before Christmas but I hadn't had a chance to use them because was heavily into holiday and New Year's themed nails.  But thought I would try them out now that the holidays were over.  So picked an image from Pet'la Golden Russian. 

I had picked up FunkyFingers Gesso and Black Knight for a friend when I was in the US last.  When I was there, thought I would pick them up to try out as well.  I hadn't used either one even thought I've had them for a while but she kept on telling me how well Gesso (the white one) stamps.  So I dug out the bottle I bought for myself and have to say, I was thoroughly impressed how well it stamps!  Especially for $1.67US a bottle!  I've since used FunkyFingers Gesso a few times for stamping and have had great results every time!

Pet'la Golden Russian (no names on the plates; I hope this changed in the future!)

For the accent finger, it was looking mighty bare but I didn't want to do the same stamping.  So decided to add a couple stones to it for interest.  After I had placed them, top coated all fingers with KBShimmer Clearly on Top.  But the Sally Hansen Gel Polish did not like this at all, it freaked out and went all stringy as you can see.  Way to wreak a mani!  I was so bummed!

So again added a coat of the Miracle Gel Topcoat on accent and it seemed to like it better.  This pix, you can see the holo a little better and the stringy lines behaved a little better.

Overall, I loved how this turned out! It seems that no matter what lighting I used, I had lobster hands; good thing I never let this bother me!

Thanks for looking!

Holo Gradient

My apologies for not finishing up on the Digit-al Dozen challenge week.  Unfortunately, I only had three of the five mani's done with the intention of doing the remainder during the challenge week but haven't been able to do my nails since last Monday due to swelling. So rather than my blog sit idle, will be sharing some archived mani's and again, sure do hope I can do the last two days of the Fairy Tale challenge as they have been so much fun to do this week!  Hopefully you've had a chance to check out all the ladies mani's; they have been amazing!

For this mani, I decided upon a sponged holo gradient. My friend from Fab Ur Nails had kind enough to sent me a bottle of her glue that she uses around her skin for easy removal with my last order, so I applied it along the edges and waited for it to dry.

Started with a base of Smitten Polish Sunny Side Up; two coats, no top coat.

Did a gradient using Different Dimensions HO3 and Different Dimensions Werewolves of London.

Peeled off the glue once the gradient was sponged on.  In hindsight, I should have waited until I stamped but didn't figure this out until after lol!

After glue removal and clean up.

Top coated before stamping.

Stamped using black FUN stamping polish using H27.

Top coated to finish.

This pix was the best I could do to see the holo but it was still faint.

Hope you're having a great weekend; thanks for looking!

Digit-al Dozen Does Fairytales; Day 3

Here were are at Day 3 of the Digit-al Dozen Does Fairytales challenge.  Today, I did a modern Disney adaptation of a classic fairytale; Beauty and the Beast.  

Started with a base of two coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls on all fingers but middle, which was China Glaze Lemon Fizz; all two coats.  Did a gradient on middle using Ulta Fuchsiamania and Spoiled 2 Weeks Sober; topped with KBShimmer Clearly on Top.

Using black Konad special polish, stamped using various plates; Nailways Darker Period-Fairytales NW00013 (middle), MJ Special Edition (pinky and thumb) and Sugar Bubbles SB012 (ring and index).

I top coated the ring and index finger; once dry, did direct lead light onto the nails using the OPI Sheers. Added dots to the other fingers using same polishes used for middle gradient.  I had intention of filling in Belle and the Beast as well as adding yellow dots but it was late so left as is.

Top coated to finish.

Nailways Darker Period-Fairy Tales NW00013

Sugar Bubbles SB 012

Here's the other ladies fantastic Day 3 mani's!

An InLinkz Link-up

Thanks for looking!

Digit-al Dozen Does Fairytales; Day 2

Today is Day 2 of Digit-al Dozen Fairytale challenge; this time, I'm featuring Jack and the Beanstalk!  Don't worry, today you won't have to read through the adapted story!

Started with a base of two coats each of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls and Nubar Green Tea, topped with KBShimmer Clearly on Top.

Stamped using assortment of images from the following plates; Chez Floral 002 (index), Sugar Bubbles SB018 (pinky), Sugar Bubbles SB022 (middle), Dash 6 (cow on ring), and MoYou Fairytale Collection-14 (beans on ring and thumb).  Stamping polishes used where black Konad special polish and Mundo de Unas  7 (green) and 22 (brown). 

Added words on middle (not very well!) with a brush, as well as filled in some of Jack on the thumb with sheer jellies.  Brushed on a little grass on thumb and ring using CND Green Scene.  

Before I went any further, remembered that lead lighting directly onto the nails goes on better and has less smears/blobs on the outline if the outline is dry or has been top coated first, so added another layer of top coat.

Continued with filling in on thumb and ring using sheer polishes.  Stamped on a few leaves on the middle finger.

Top coated to finish.

MoYou Fairytale Collection-14.





Please check out the other ladies Day 2 Fairytale mani's!

An InLinkz Link-up

Thanks for looking!