Smurf Nails!

I picked up the last bottle of nails inc. Baker Street on a recent visit to Sephora.  While I know I should be thinking that this is the polish that Beyonce made hugely popular after the birth of her daughter, all I could think of is Smurfs!  This is what I came up with!

Started with a base of two coats of nails inc. Baker Street; two coats.

And a second pix just because its so gorgeous!

Stamped using white Konad special polish using KD2 (thumb and middle finger), FAB IV/FUN1 (index), SdP 50 (pinky) and SdP 51 (ring).

Stamped on a a couple flowers but for some reason I never jotted down the plate number but it was one of the XL plates, then added a few colourful dots to them.

Added a few more dots using an assortment of CND polishes and topped with SV to finish.

Smurf nails!  Thanks for looking!

Edited to add where to get plates:

SdP's:  http://www.dashicabeautyshop.nl/c-990297/dashica-stamping-nail-art/

FAB IV/FUN 1:  http://thriszha.blogspot.ca/2012/01/hello-cutee.html

KD's:  http://www.ebay.ca/sch/samuelwsk333/m.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A5521&rt=nc&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14.l1581&_pgn=2

 (I got these some time ago; not sure if currently offered for sale but see them offered quite often). HTH's!

Beach Themed Gradient

I had a couple purposes for this mani...first of all, I'm in absolute love with the gradients I've seen from The Nailasaurus' new method of doing sponge gradients....the oh so faint and subtle gradient line is simply amazing!  So I thought I'd try my hand at it.  Unfortunately, while my end result was a gradient, my attempts did fail in that the gradient didn't flow or blend into one another; my colour lines are still too obvious.  THEN I reread the tutorial and seen where I went wrong, so I'll definitely have to try it again.  The second purpose of the mani was my contribution for this weeks Adventure in Stamping FB challenge, to do a mani with a plate that ends in 5.  This is what I came up with.

Started with a base of Sally Hansen Instadri in yellow.  It probably has a number, but I couldn't find a name.  I really liked how bright this colour is and it had great coverage in two coats; but I had bought it to use as a stamping polish and only used it in a pinch as I was away for the weekend and only had a limited number of polishes with me.  Unfortunately, the brush on these polishes really turn me off from using them for any nail polishing, just stamping. 

Then did my sponge gradient using the SH yellow, FingerPaints Original Orange and OPI Red My Fortune Cookie. As far as sponged gradients, I guess this is OK, but was a fail if it as my intention was for it to look like The Nailasaurus' gradual gradient.

Stamped using SdP 15 using Konad black special polish.

Top coated with SV.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend and thanks for looking!

Holo Stars - CH51

Another mani using a plate from the Cheeky Summer Collection that I'm reviewing; this is CH51.

Started with a base of OPI Black Onyx alternating with China Glaze OMG; both two coats.  I was rushed doing this mani as I started after 7 pm and the sun was quickly fading; while it was still sunny, this pix wasn't as good as the ones I took this morning as they are more holo-riffic!

Stamped using Konad black special polish over OMG and using OMG over the black. 

Please excuse the smudge on the thumb near the cuticle...grrr... this was a quick hit of my nail with the cotton as I was cleaning my plate. 

This is the latest plate previewed by Cheeky on their FB page....this will be perfect for Casino Night for an event I volunteer at in July!

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



Preview of New Cheeky Plates!!!

I'm soooo excited.....I've received the 26 piece Cheeky Summer Collection!!!!  This is the first preview of these plates.....there are also a few other bloggers around the world who will be sharing their mani's soon too and I can't wait to see the awesome mani's they come up with!  While there are lots of awesome designs that I can't wait to try, Cheeky asked that only plates that have already been previewed on their Facebook be shared.  Of course the nail fanatic in me had to pick the polish images on CH40....here's the mani I came up with!

Started with a base of two coats of two coats of Essence Ultimate Pink that I had picked up at Shoppers Drug Mart recently.  Deal at $1.49 (and a super deal at $0.99 if you can pick them up in US at Ulta!). 

Stamped using CH40 using Konad black and white special polishes.

Added a few accent stars using CH51, as well as random dots.

Topped with SV.

Here's CH40 swatched on paper.

For those who may be wondering about the size of the full designs, the width is 1/8" wider than their last series of plates; the length is the same to the top of the curve.  The full size image is smaller than the full size SdP, A, T and H series, but bigger than Konad, Red Angel and either of the Bundle Monster sets.

In case you' haven't heard about this, Cheeky is doing a Carnival that gives you an opportunity to win $250 in nail art supplies including plates, dotting tools, brushes.....basically everything you need to do more cool nails! Please go to Cheeky's Facebook page for further details.  (Edited to add it has already started and will end on June 7, 2012.)

So what do you think about Cheeky's new designs?  I can't wait to be able to share more of their designs!  I think there's a little bit of something for everyone...lots of full size designs and lots that can be worked around various themes!  According to Cheeky's FB site, they should be available for sale the end of May-early June.

Thanks for looking! 

Cats!

I did this tribute mani for a nail gal pal who recently lost her beloved pet recently.  Her cat was black; her favourite colour green...this is what I came up with.

Started with two coats of Butter London Dosh.  I had bought this colour not terribly long ago as I thought it would be a great base for a Halloween mani...but decided to try it for this mani instead. 

Stamped!  All using black Konad special polish using DRK-A (thumb and index), XXL Big SdP-1 (cat in middle finger), HB37 (paw prints on pinky and middle), Konad m2 (heart on middle) and BM206 (ring).

Topped with coat of SV.  The pix above is without SV; the one below...topcoat just makes the stamping pop so much more!

Hope you're having a great weekend...right now I'm in the midst of doing my nails for the FB Adventures in Stamping mani...waiting for the base to dry before I stamp it so I thought I'd quickly type a post while waiting!

Thanks for looking!

Cheeky Beauty is Releasing New Plates!

I received an email this morning from Cheeky-Beauty that they are releasing a new series of image plates.....

They will be teasing us with a plate preview on a daily basis on their Facebook Page if you want to check them out!

http://www.facebook.com/Cheekybeauty

I have other exciting news.....I was asked by Cheeky to test out these new designs.... as one of several lucky bloggers around the world who will be testing them before they are released....so I'm sure I'll be showing you the designs here soon!

So what do you think....excited for them?  Judging by this image plate, I can't wait!!!!

The Balm Hot Ticket Nail Polish

Some of my favourite colours right now are coral, orange and peach along with brights and neons in any shade....so when I seen The Balm Hot Ticket recently at PharmaPlus/Rexall, it caught my eye and I couldn't help but pick up a bottle.  Here's the mani I came up with. 

Started with a base of two coats of The Balm Hot Ticket Pink or Swim.  Not sure why its call "Pink" or Swim....I guess it sounds better than Coral or Swim.....

Stamped french tips using white Konad special stamping polish using QA13; also added additional stamping accent on ring ringer using Big SdP F.

For some colour contrast, added dots using Catrice Purposely Purple.....looking back at these pix, it seems I missed dotting the centre of one of the flowers on the accent finger.  Oops!  I wouldn't normally pair coral and orange, but didn't mind this combination.  Topped with SV.

  

The next night, I had every intention of taking this mani off, but I got sidetracked looking up my Essence plates after seeing a post about all the various ones over Adventures in Stamping on FB.  This took a little bit longer as my polish area is in a bit of disarray as I'm in the midst of moving it from one area to another and it's still being set up and organized.  Before I knew it, I there wasn't time to do whole new mani so I decided to just add a bit of stamping to extend it for another day by adding floral accent using QA16.

I isolated the single flower image and stamped it on my nails...any polish that I picked up in excess of the flower when I was stamping, I just removed before applying it to the nail.

  

Decided to add a few more random dots again using Catrice Purposely Purple.  Topped with SV.

  

Here's a bottle shot of The Balm Hot Ticket polishes....they retail for around $9 if I remember right.

 A few others that came home with me. 

Notice the peach in the centre?  Sooo into peach, coral, and orange lately....I've not wearing them everyday but they certainly are a seasonal favourite right now.  These are (l to r) Call Me Iridescent, Coral Reef-ined, and You're So Hot and Gold.  I'm not sure why the peach one is called coral...and the coral one is called pink...?

  

Thanks for looking!