Digit-al Dozen Does Spooky Days; Day 3

With Halloween just a short two days away, I went out and picked up candy for the trick or treaters today.  I went on October 31st last year to buy but had to go to several places to get any as everywhere was sold out.  Not to mention it was so expensive as I had to buy small quantities of whatever was on hand versus the bulk packs of chocolate bars and chips like normal.  I learned my lesson so I'm stocked up and ready for the kids on Friday night!  My daughter also carved two pumpkins last night so we are good to go!  Anyway, here's my Spooky Days Day 3 mani!

Started with a base of two coats of Sally Hansen Insta-dri Pumpkin Queen**.

Added a layer of Sally Hansen Big Crackle Top Coat** for some traditional Halloween colouring.  

I haven't used crackle topcoat in a while so I did my left and right hand a little different.  My left hand, I applied it fairly think on top of polish that was already top coated.  

On my right, I applied it more on the thin side and on top of polish that hadn't been top coated just to see if it would crackle different and if it mattered if topcoat was added to the base or not.  Turns out, topcoat on polish base or not doesn't seem to matter.  The application was good on either base and there was good crackle too.  The heavier handed polish had wider crackles and the thinner one less, but overall, either provided good crackle; the polish wasn't finicky at all.

Top coated.  I really liked how this looked; would be a cool  look for Halloween nails without too much effort. These Sally Hansen products are limited edition and are available at various retailers now.  

But of course, I had to add some stamping. Used images from Sugar Bubbles 008 (pinky) Chez Halloween 002 (ring), MJ JR-22 (middle) and BM-H07 (index and middle) using white Konad special polish and Mundo de Unas 11.

Top coated to finish.  I liked how this turned out; a little creepier (ahem, Spookier!) than the other Halloween nails I've done, lots of colour and interest.  A little on the busy side but that's pretty typical of some of my theme mani's!  I have a feeling this might be pretty cool with matte topcoat (which I might try tonight as it's on my nails right now!)

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

An InLinkz Link-up

Thanks for looking!

**polishes sent for review; please refer to disclosure policy

Catrice Hot or Not?

I'd been eyeing this hot pink for a few mani's now and after my subdued nails, wanted something bright so decided upon this, Catrice Hot or Not?



The next day, I couldn't decided on a colour or image plate to stamp it with (how is that possible? but couldn't), then I had remembered a couple weeks ago I had picked up the OPI silver shatter and hadn't used it, so decided to add it. This was a thin coat but I should have added a thick coat so that the crack would have been greater and more of the hot pink would show through.



And here's the shatter with topcoat. While I actually like it more than the matte version without topcoat, it looks better in real life than these pictures show.



I've wore this mani for four days now and its just starting to show a bit of tip wear. Next time, I'll add a thicker coat for sure so that more colour will peek through.

Edit: I just remembered that my friend over at Frazzle and Aniploish is having a absolutely fantastic one year anniversary giveaway here. Please take a few minutes to check out the giveaway....and the rest of her awesome blog. There's always informative posts about what's available at local stores as well as great polish comparisons!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend...rain rain go away!... here in Southern Ontario....thanks for looking!

Silver Crackle, Anyone?

Haven't used crack in a while...polish that is!!!...so when I was deciding on my next mani and seen p2 crackling silver polish sitting there, I'd thought I'd give it a try. P2 is not available in Canada, but again, I was lucky enough to swap for it. Here's Nubar Belize Coral with one coat of p2 Silver Crackling polish, with topcoat.

This is before topcoat; it has a matte finish, typical of other crackle/shatters on the market. While I was putting on the crackling polish, I seen it had a slight shimmer and it had the same finish of China Glaze OMG (less the holo, of course)...which got me to thinking, wouldn't holo crackle/shatter/crackling polish just be the coolest ever? I guess if you are into crackle it would be...can you just image the combination possibilities? I guess time will tell if it ever materializes...I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed! Here's a closeup of the shimmer; hopefully you cansee what I'm talking about. Here's a rare pix of my right hand...on this hand, I applied the crackling polish a little thicker, and you can see the effect is a bit chunkier. And Nubar Belize Coral by itself...this would be a perfect spring or summer polish...I can't wait to try it with some stamping! You probably know that OPI is coming out with a silver shatter; it will be interesting to see how the two compare! Hope you're having a great weekend and thx for looking!

Picked Up Some China Glaze Island Escape Polishes on the Weekend!!

Warning! Picture overload ahead!!!

On the weekend, dropped by my local beauty supply place and they had a small display of China Glaze Island Escape polishes...to be honest, I was still waiting for Tronica to be released so never thought in a million years the summer 2011 collex would be for sale...but it was...so I picked up a four of them (left the two cremes as I seem to have a plethera of cremes in my collex...and I like sparkles and holo's best....)

Here's a quick swatch of the four colours I picked up:



from left to right: Cha Cha Cha, Blue Iguana, Seniorita Bonita and 108 Degrees (can you tell I like Cha Cha Cha the least...it got no picture lovin'). Cha Cha Cha was two coats and the rest were three...Blue Iguana, Seniority Bonita and 108 Degrees are very sheer and will be good for layering...even with three coats, you can see VNL. (If you click on the image, you can see the polish glitter better.)

Here's some bottle pix so you get an idea of what is coming up:





While I'm loving Seniority Bonita the most, I decided on Blue Iguana for my mani; here's three coats.



And above pix was in the sun.

As I do most of my manis in the very wee hours of the morning, I was just too tired to stamp it, so last night, I sat down to stamp over Blue Iguana but low and behold, I couldn't find a stamp colour to really do the polish justice and still complete with all that glitter bling even though I did try green, yellow and silver (silver was cool but second last mani was silver and wanted something different), so I seen the Katy Perry collex sitting out on my table so decided to add one layer of Last Friday Night.




This was pretty cool!

And I did only my thumb on my right hand with OPI black shatter just to see what it looked like...



Thx for looking!

China Glaze Crackle!

As soon as I picked up the bottle of China Glaze Crackle in Fault Line, I was planning my mani in my head..


I wanted white underneath topped with CND Amethyst Sparkle so that the purple shimmer could show thru. Below is two coats of Amethyst Sparkle over top of CND Brilliant White.

Big hopes....Or so I thought. Unfortunately, Fault Line cracks in big chunky pieces so you don't see much of the base colour. Total waste of the expensive CND sparkle effect.

This is nail fail for me...not liking it at all. I mean, I guess it is OK but certainly wasn't close to what I was looking or hoping for. Took this off less than 24 hours later but not before fooling around with it a bit...

Here's my right hand stamped...there haven't been too many images out in the blogesphere with shatter/crackle stamped (at least not that I've come across) plus I wanted to try it for myself. The good thing is that crackle with a topcoat of SV is smooth enough to stamp over. This is stamped using Beautiful Scratchers white polish, fauxnad IP XL E.

And on my left hand, I added a coat of OPI Black Shatter. I was just fooling around ....but in some ways, I like it even better! I think the layering of crackles/shatters could have lots of possibility if the colours underneath are visible if the polishe crackles enough. I may try this again when OPI releases their new crackle shades as their polishes seem to shatter more!

I guess they all can't be successful...but none the less, a great opportunity to experiment so not all of a fail!

Thx for looking!

Another Leopard Konad....

Konad image plates have been around for a while so we'll probably all seen the leopard IP 100's of times...but when I applied Zoya Richelle recently, it seemed appropriate to use...plus I wanted to practise my tip stamping skills! I so love stamped french tips on others but they never seem to suit my nails!

Zoya Richelle, stamped with Konad black special polish, Konad IP's m44 and m57.

Here's Richelle all my herself:

I don't know why I keep on buying these bronze/goldy colours, but I do!

And just to be a little different, I shattered my right hand, using OPI Black Shatter.

I love crackle polish-it is so cool!

Please look away from the terrible cleanup-I'm right handed! Its almost embarrassing to show these right handed pictures but it is what it is! LOL!!

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

OPI Shatter!

I think the crackle of OPI Shatter is so cool! I felt very fortunate that I was able to swap for Barry M and P2 crackle in the fall and right after they arrived, it was announced that the Katy Perry for OPI collex (and Serena Williams) would have a crackle polish in them!


Above pix has been top coated with SV.

This pix is no topcoat; matte finish.

Used Color Club Pink Lust, Tangerine Scream and Volt of Light.

Here's my right hand...as I'm right handed, I knew I'd never be able to paint three colours even somewhat decent so just stuck to one colour....CC Pink Lust, then one thin coat of OPI shatter, then first pix is with one coat of SV.

Tip: If you are looking for lots of thin crackle like my mani shows (mainly), apply a thin coat. If you want a crackle with bigger chunkier pieces, apply a thicker coat. Only one coat is needed...it cracks fast and is very neat to watch before your eyes! One coat of SV made the mani smooth; but if you are doing a thicker crackle, two coats of topcoat may be needed (but beware of SV shrinkage... :( Be sure to apply on dry polish only!

Got this at my local Trade Secrets...the shatter seems to be selling fast so if you are looking for it, be quick!

And this is the final reminder that my first giveaway ends at midnight on January 22nd! Please enter here for details!

So what's your thoughts on shatter? Cool or not so much....

Thanks for looking!

FINALLY Get To Try My Isadora Crackle Polish+And Another Halloween Mani!

With Halloween only days away, I'm trying to get in as many Halloween mani's as possible!

This is NYX Red Red, stamped with Konad black special polish, fauxnad IP T23. (Edit: btw: red red isn't a typo-thats truly the name!! Here's a new pix - slightly better image so you see the stamping a little better...)




The pix aren't the greatest here but if you click on them-you'll see stamping and crackle better!

I was lucky enough to acquire Isadora crackle polish via a swap a few months ago, but wasn't able to use as my fellow swapper didn't receive their end of until recently (almost 2 months in transit!!) and good swapper etiquette calls that you don't use polishes until all received in good condition.



I thought the crackle would add an eery touch to this Halloween mani so added it to a couple of accent nails...I also think it would look awesome for a full mani for a vampy look for any Halloween costume! When applying the crackle, you need to apply it fast. A thin coat produces fine lines and a thicker coat creates a wider gap. It crackles almost instantly and dries matte-what you are seeing has a coat of SV on top.

While I was lucky enough to get this via a European swapper, it seems OPI is coming out with some crackle polish via the Serena Williams set, and I know I'll be stocking up ..... I'm sure my DD can't wait to use this either-the colour combos will be endless!

Oh, and before I forget, just before I removed yesterday's green Halloween mani, I applied a coat of Essie Matte About You....just another variation of the same mani-it was kinda cool!



Thanks for looking!