Bright Summer Nails

The weekly FB Adventures in Stamping challenge was your new favourite plate.  I thought I'd try to incorporate a new favourite plate with some bright, fun, summer nails for the weekend......here's what I came up with.

Started with a base of two coats of Julie 9 to 5.  This is sun pix.

Julie 9 to 5 in the shade.

Sponged using Julie Bikini.  I was oddly fascinated with the sponging on my fingers...this is in the sun...

This is in the shade.  These pix also show me that I'm applying far too much polish on the sponge for the gradient as I think I got more on my skin then the nails! lol!

After cleanup.  In the sun.

In the shade.

Stamped using Milani One Coat Fast Dry in Fast Fuchsia.  I picked up a few of these Milani one coaters on my last cross border shopping trip as they were on sale as I remembered reading that they work well for stamping...and couldn't pass the sale up.  Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure I picked up these Julie nail polishes on the same trip. The stamping plate is XL 33.  I thought this one worked pretty well; I still have to try out the black and white Milani's.

Another pix in the shade.

A couple of my favourite stamping plates are XL 33 and XL 35 right now.  I'm slowly getting more and more into the polishes, layering, different techniques, etc.....but haven't given up my love of stamping.  These plates have a lot of designs that you can see an interesting stamped design, yet still allow lots of the polish to show underneath.  Win-Win!  Here's a mani I did with XL 33 not too long ago.  I've done a few others; just haven't gotten around to posting them. 

XL 33 is available at MyOnlineShop as well as Fab Ur Nails.  (For MyOnline Shop, go to the tab that says About and ordering information is there.)

Hope you had a fantastic weekend...thanks for looking!



Gold Nails

Well, I totally missed the boat on this weeks FB Adventures in Stamping Challenge.  It was suppose to be Precious Stones...either base colour of jewel tones or stamping of precious stones.  So the colours I picked out where gold related....only to realize later that gold is not a gem!  Anywayyyyyy, here's what I came up with.



Started with a base of three coats of OPI Dazzled by Gold.  This is pix taken in the sun.

Shade.

Added a coat of Lynnderella Change.  Not really 'added a coat' but dabbed on here and there in hopes to get the glitter here and there!  Sun.

Shade.

Stamped using SdP 72 using black Konad special polish.  This is in the sun.

This is shade.

Another sun.

This pix was taken right after SV was applied so it looks smooth, but in actual fact, this was a topcoat eater and wasn't that even...definitely would have needed gelous and some more topcoat, but I didn't have it with me, so lived with the bumpy nails.  Its still very blingy though and this may be a good choice  to do again if I ever need some really glamourous looking nails for some function.

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

Konad Basic Kit 2 + Konad Giveway by Nail Polish Canada

This is another mani I came up with using the Konad Basic Kit that was sent to me by Nail Polish Canada. 

Started with a base of Essie Bikini So Teeny.  This is two coats, with no SV.  This has a gorgeous hidden shimmer...too bad its in hiding in these pix...even on the nail, it wasn't that visible.  Just in the bottle, you can see it...maybe that's why they call this 'So Teeny'...the shimmer is so teeny you can't see it? 

Started a gradient on the tips using FingerPaints Sapphire Shimmer.

Further gradient layering using Magic Visage Glamour.  This is another polish that nailXchange was good enough to send me from her travels; unfortunately, I don't see a name.  So I called it Glamour Silver and Blue Glitter.

Bottle pix....I only wish I had have been a little more messy or not so heavy handed with the FingerPaints so the dark gradient line wasn't so obvious. 

Stamped using m36 which is included in the kit.

It's coming up to the weekend which got me to thinking that this kit would be a good for travelling.  The compact size would make it a great travel companion if you wanted to jazz up you mani's while on vacation without taking a lot of supplies. I could easily see myself putting the contents of the kit in a plastic baggie with a small bottle of remover, some cotton rounds and a couple of the small Essence nail polishes for a couple quick mani changes while away!  So I thought I'd put together a little travel kit in a sandwich baggy just to see if the mani basics would fit and it does....this has all the mani supplies you'd need for some polish changes and stamping...in fact, enough room for a few more plates and more polishes if needed! There's enough here for a quick mani change for a weekend away or while on vacation and the small size of the baggy won't take up a lot of suitcase room...or you could carry it in your purse if you wanted.

I was over at Nail Polish Canada checking out what polishes they have available, and when I was browsing the site, I also seen they are offering another awesome giveaway regarding Konad products.  If you are interested, please go here and click on the giveaway box.  Open to residents of Canada. 

Have a great weekend....and thanks for looking!

Konad Basic Kit + CND Shellac Giveaway

I was contacted by Nail Polish Canada and asked if I'd be interested in doing a review on the Konad Basic Stamping Kit.  I haven't been using Konad image plates too much as there are so many plate options out there now...unlike when I first got into stamping a few years ago.  But it was nice to get back to my stamping 'roots' as Konad products are what originally turned me onto stamping.  I still remember the amazement I had the first time I seen a Konad display at a local home show....I thought it was one of those home show products that work at the show, but won't when you get them home, if you know what I mean. While I was fascinated, I wouldn't even consider it until I did my own nails at the booth.  But I did, and before I knew it, I had a cool butterfly design on my nails!  Then I hung around the display for around an hour (not kidding...with DH in the car waiting for me!) and watched how easy it was for the gals in the booth to put it on nails.  I was fascinated, but heming and hawing about whether I trusted the product and whether or not I wanted to spend so much money for something I wasn't even sure I would use on a regular basis...and especially cautious because the prices of the plates and polishes were between $10-$15. Yes...not like the prices we see nowadays!  I seen salon owners pick up kits and talking amoungst themselves how the nail art will increase their sales as well as seen a lot of ladies of all ages who were just like me.....wanted to add a little decoration to their nails!  But I did buy the products...and the rest is history!  I was hooked on stamping!

If you are like I was and can't decide if stamping is for you and don't want to invest in a big kit, the Konad Basic Kit is great to get you started.  This is the mani I came up with using it.

Started with a base of Icing Rosie Posies, two coats.  This has no topcoat.

Added a coat of Icing Rave Royalty. 

Stamped with m36 using white Konad special polish, both of which are included in the kit.

Unfortunately, didn't line up the thumb image terribly well, so added a second image to cover the bare spot!

I thought it would be cool to matte the flaky so added a coat of Essie Matte About You...which I thought was kinda cool!

This is the Konad Stamping kit as it was sent to me. 

 

This is a great kit if you are considering stamping as it has all the supplies you'll need to determine if stamping is something you're into...or not!  But I can tell you now that in no time, you'll be hooked!  I know I was...and still am! 

I did another mani using this plate too...I'll show you how it turned out in my next post!

For all of you how aren't into changing your polish everyday (lalalalala....I can't hear you!! lol!), Nail Polish Canada is also offering a giveaway for a lifetime supply of CND Shellac......all you have to do is say why winning will change your life!  Open to residents of Canada and US....if you'd like to check it out, please go here!

 Thanks for looking!

Layering with Max Factor Fantasy Fire

I was lucky enough to swap for Max Factor Fantasy Fire a while ago.  But I'm late to the party as usual because even though I've had it for quite some time...I'm just getting around to swatching it now....here's what I came up with.

Started with a base of three coats of Bourjous Bleu Violet. 

. 

Added one coat of Max Factor Fantasy Fire.  Thank goodness one coat is all that's needed for some cool topcoat interest...because if I needed to do two or three, the bottle would be gone in no time as it so small!

Another pix...just because I can never pick one sometimes!

Stamped using white Konad special polish using XL 33 then topped with SV.  I thought I'd have two issues with this mani...one, I thought the white Konad stamping polish would change colour as sometimes happens when topped with SV; in fact, had it happen not too long ago...but it was fine.  I also thought I'd have Smurf nails with this blue polish...but I didn't either so was happy on both accounts!!

XL 33 is available at MyOnlineShop as well as Fab Ur Nails.  (For MyOnline Shop, go to the tab that says About and ordering information is there.)  While this is the first mani I've posted using the plate, I've done a few now and all the images I've tried so far stamp well. 

 

Hope you had a fantastic weekend.  Thanks for looking!

'Fugly' from the China Glaze On Safari Collex

This is the mani I did using a few colours from the China Glaze On Safari collex that I picked up last week.

Started with a base of China Glaze Kalahari Kiss, two coats.  This pix has SV.

I can't believe I have this colour on my nails!  Of all the colours in the collection, I chose this one? I blame one of my nail blog friends and her love of fugly!  I don't want to say who this is, but I'm sure she'll know I'm referencing her as its a little joke we have between us!  I'm slowly turning to the 'fugly' side!  And as not to insult her or anyone else who may like this polish colour, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and while this is what I'd consider *fugly*, I appreciate and respect that it may not necessarily be the opinion of others. (And to be honest, I don't even know if my nail friend is a fan of this colour.  Maybe not? I'll have to wait and see for her comments if/when she posts about the collex.)  Each to their own.....whatever floats your boat.....I know not every one's a fan of nail art and stamping as I've seen my nails out there posted on boards with less than favourable comments.  Some blogger on QVC once linked one of my manis...and most of the comments were "not loving them/ not a fan/too busy/not for me" and the like...OK with me, everyone has their own likes and dislikes, their own style and opinion.   And trust me, I encourage my nail friend's love of fugly, as she knows!  I try to send her fuglies, er, I mean pretties....along with our swaps! lol!  It's our running joke!  (Well, my joke anyways!) And even a 'fugly' like this has a need to be in my stash as I can see it as a base for some fall and Halloween stamped mani's so I'm not disappointed I have it at all.  Embracing all the fuglies!!!!!!

Stamped using m57 using black Konad special polish.

Filled in a few random spots using China Glaze Desert Sun.  (Another 'fugly' but interestingly enough, I found myself liking this colour even more than some of the more traditional colours in the collex.)



Filled in a few more dots using China Glaze I Herd That. (Love this glitter!!)

Are you a fan of *fugly* colours?  I'd love to know your thoughts!  And nail friend, I hope I didn't offend you...it's not my intention at all.  :)


Thanks for looking!



Canada Day Nails

Happy Belated Canada Day to all my Canadian nail pals!  Here and abroad...as I know I frequently get messages from gals who are Canadian and for one reason or another, reside in another country.  Here's the nails I was wearing on Canada Day.

Started with a base of OPI Red My Fortune Cookie, two coats.

Added a coat of Glitter Gal Red.  I don't see any other name on my bottle other than red, sorry if I missed it.

Another pix of this gorgeous holo.  Hard to believe its just one coat.

Stamped using fauxnad m56 with white Konad special polish.  To be honest, I'm lucky I had a plate to do Canada Day nails with me at all.  I had another mani in mind for Canada Day using the maple leaf french tip image from the new Mash plates.  But for some reason, when I was getting a few plates together to use for the weekend, I thought the plate I wanted was in the new Bundle Monster set and only grabbed this plate to take in case I wanted to add the Canada Flag image.  Well, thank goodness I did because the only other plates I had with me were Bundle Monster...and the image I wanted was on the Mash set.  I was kinda ticked off at myself but I guess there's always next year! lol!  I was telling my husband how I brought the wrong plates with me and how ticked I was at myself and his response was...believe it or not....why don't you just buy two sets of everything and just keep a set here so you have them on the weekend so you don't forget anything! 

A couple other views, this one in slightly less sunny skies.  The single maple leaf images are the middle of the flag alone polished and scrapped than randomly placed. 

This pix was taken in the shade.

I thought I'd share some pix of part of the Canada Day festivities I attended.  After singing the National Anthem, there's the release of red and white balloons.

Up....

...up.....

...and away!!!

Sorry I didn't get around to posting this earlier but unfortunately, I don't have reliable internet connection on the weekends and didn't get home until late last night.  I probably should get my stuff together and have a mani ready in advance or have schedule posts or something like this when I have unreliable internet service....one of these days I'll get it together!

Hope you had a great weekend....and thanks for looking!