Nail Polish Wars

Nicole by OPI Celeb-Bitties Kardashian Kolor Minis Review

2012-05-30T18:08:00.001-04:00

Hi ladies! Today I have the first half of the new Nicole by OPI Kardashian Kolor Minis:

Celeb-Bitties!

I may not be able to name any of the Kardashians, or tell you anything about them, but I know the polishes by heart!!!

First up is All Kendall-ed Up, a dynamite bright pink creme.

The application for this one was excellent, very smooth and seamless! I did end up needing to use thee coats, as I still had a few streaky areas after the first two. I followed with one cost of SV.

I am krazy about this color! (See what I did there? *smirk*) It's so bright and summery and just screams, "Look at me!!!"

Before taking off All Kendall-ed Up, I decided to go ahead and apply Wear Something Spar-Kylie. It's a clear coat with beautiful pink micro glitter.

These two polishes work really well together! The combination really pops! Wear Something Spar-Kylie is a total glitter bomb, so I only needed one coat, that I followed with one coat of SV.

Next up is Kim-Pletely in Love, a delicate light pink creme, with a subtle light blue shimmer.

The blue shimmer in this one really surprised me! It wasn't too visible in the bottle, and unfortunately it was super difficult to capture in the photos!! I needed to apply three coats of this for a fully opaque finish, and then I followed with one coat of SV. The formula is fantastic ... for a color this light, the coverage and finish is brilliant!

Finally, we have Sealed with a Kris, a fiery red creme.

This one was actually my least favorite in the package, but turned out to be my absolute number one favorite!!! Isn't it funny when that happens!?

If you're thinking this polish looks streaky, you're wrong! This one is so super shiny, that it's actually picking up the reflection of the clouds! LOVE IT!!!

I only needed two coats of Sealed with a Kris, and followed it with one coat of SV. The application for this one was perfect! Great coverage, smooth finish, and mega shine!

Just to give you an idea of what it looks like with no reflections, here is an indoor shot:

While I might not know a thing about the Kardashians, I am over the moon with these polishes! I can't wait to try the second set of the Kardashian Kolor Minis, Sophisti-Cuties!

What are your thoughts on collections like these? Do celebrity collections influence your decision to buy at all? Let me know!

I hope you enjoy!

Happy Painting!

*** These items were sent for the purpose of review ***

OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps Review

2012-05-30T17:22:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone! I hope you're all having a great week so far! Today I have two of the new OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps for you to see!

First up, we have Reptile, from the Cremes Collection of Apps!

When I first saw the design images shown on the Press Release, this one was at the top of my list! I love all things animal print, and this one looked really fun and edgy!

The lacquer apps are great for a quick and high style mani! Application is a breeze: Make sure nails are clean and dry. Align lacquer app to your cuticle line. Press down and then smooth it down your nail, and then outward. Use nail file in a downward motion to remove excess.

I did have a few disappointments with these though. I ran into the issue of size on a couple of my nails. I don't really think my nails are overly wide, but some of the apps just did not cover my entire nail. Also, I would have really like to see a bit more consistency in the designs. The patterns really don't work together - there just seems to not be any rhyme nor reason to where the pattern falls It almost looks like my index and finger fingers have different designs all together.

Next up we have Parisian, from the Shimmers Collection of Apps.

I am much happier with the consistency in design for this one!

I did of course have the same issues with sizing on these.

Another thing I noticed about this particular design was the presence of many noticeable air bubbles.

After wearing these apps for only a few hours, I started to notice that the apps began to pull away from the nail along the edges. I then applied a top coat in an attempt to seal the gap, but unfortunately this only made it worse.

Sadly, I'm not crazy about these ... but I would absolutely recommend them for a mani emergency! Although, I am still interested in trying some of the other designs to see how they might differ from these two!

What are your thoughts on using nail strips? Are they awesome? Are they cheating? Let me know!!

*** These items were sent for the purpose of review ***

Ovarian Cancer Awareness

2012-05-28T12:19:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! My husband stayed the night at the hospital last night. I can't ever seem to sleep very well without him, so I stayed up and did this mani for his mom, and to promote Ovarian Cancer Awareness!

I started with three coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls, a great white creme with gray undertones. This has definitely become my absolute favorite white polish!

I used my striping tape to create different patterns on my nails, with the exception of my ring fingers. Since the ribbon color for Ovarian Cancer is teal, I decided to use one coat of Hits Hera, a beautiful teal holo. I removed the striping tape immediately after applying Hera.

Next, I used my medium sized dotting tool with A England St. George, a deep teal holo, to create a dotted frame around my ringer finger nail.

Next, I used my striping brush with St. George to create the Awareness ribbon. I finished off with one coat of SV.

Thank you again for the amazing amount of prayers and support for Sean's mother. You have all been so amazing, and your words so uplifting! I hope you enjoy this one!

Happy Painting!

Colors: OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls, Hits Hera, A England St. George

Where There's Smoke

2012-05-26T00:38:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! Sorry for being away for the past couple of days. As many of you know, our family is facing a tough time right now. My husband's mother has been battling stage three ovarian cancer for nearly three years now. It unfortunately seems that her battle is coming close to an end. Thank you so much for all of the prayers and support that many of you have expressed.

I had a few minutes before bed this evening, so I thought I needed a quick new mani.

I started with two coats of Glitter Gal Lizard Belly, a stunning deep green linear holo. The formula is wonderful! I think it really could have been a one coater, but I used two just for kicks. I am in lust with this polish!!!

I used Mash plate 48 with A England Dragon to create the flame design, and followed with one coat of SV.

When stamping with holographic polishes, it may initially look a bit weak and dull. But, when you apply the top coat, it brings out the color brilliantly.

How ironic is that? Everyone says not to use top coats with holos because it can cut down on the strength of the linear. But for stamping, top coats are a must!!!

I really like how this turned out. I can't wait to see it flash in the sunlight tomorrow! If time permits, I'll add some direct sunlight shots!

As promised, here are some early morning sunlight shots!

I seriously love the way the fire stands out against Lizard Belly!

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Glitter Gal Lizard Belly, A England Dragon

Stamping Plate: Mash 48

Orbital

2012-05-22T23:22:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone!!! I thought I'd go for something soft and sweet today!

I started off with two coats of China Glaze Kinetic Candy, a light blue creme.

Next, I added one coat of Models Own Indian Ocean, a beautiful pale blue with a pink shimmer. Let me just say, there is almost nothing that I don't love about this polish. My only wish is that it had an opaque finish on it's own. But I can deal with it!! I followed it with one coat of SV.

I wanted a little something extra that wouldn't take away from the beautiful Indian Ocean.

I used my Mash-50 stamping plate for the circular design with Barry M Silver Foil, followed by one last coat of SV.

I really like how subtle, but noticeable, the end result was. The Silver Foil was a wonderful compliment to Indian Ocean.

I hope you all enjoy this mani that feels both delicate and edgy to me!

Happy Painting!!

Colors: China Glaze Kinetic Candy, Models Own Indian Ocean, Barry M Silver Foil

Stamp Plate: Mash-50

Saran Splotches

2012-05-21T15:32:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!!! I received a lot of messages about last week's Splatteriffic mani, so I thought I'd do something different, but along the same lines stylistically.

I started with three coats of Orly Pixy Stix, a fun bright pastel coral creme. I used three coats because there was still a bit of streakiness left after two coats. I followed with one coat of SV.

In artificial light (above) and natural light (below), this color really pops, but stays feminine and delicate at the same time!

I placed a few dots of Essie Coat Azure, a medium blue creme with a soft silver shimmer, on a flat surface, and then dabbed it with a wadded up piece of saran wrap. Next, I dabbed it onto each of my nails.

I repeated the same step with Milani Orchidia, a medium purple creme with a soft purple shimmer. I finished with one coat of SV.

I chose the two shimmer polishes so that the top coat would pull the shimmer effect across the entire nail to really make it shine in the sunlight.

This was fun, fast, and easy and is very similar to the splatter effect. It can be a bit messy when you work on the edge and cuticle line of your nails, so you might want to use tape on your fingers for a faster clean up.

I hope you all enjoy this one!

Happy Monday!

Colors: Orly Pixy Stix, Essie Coat Azure, Milani Orchidia

As Sweet As Sugar!

2012-05-18T16:28:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone!! Happy Friday! Was this the longest week ever, or what?!

I wanted to do something super fun and colorful today! (I'm in such a summery mood!!!)

I started off with two coats of Candeo Colors Jellybean.

It's a soft yellow creme with multi color micro and hex glitters.

To be honest, I was a little skeptical on how it's finish would turn out when I opened the bottle. I was worried it might be a little bumpy due to all of the glitters, but I was totally wrong!!!! It went on super smooth and easy, and I didn't have to work to fish out the hexes either!!! It's amazing!

I followed it with a coat of SV, since I would be stamping

To create a multi colored full nail stamp, with a gradient effect, here's what I did:

I used my MLS301 (Fauxnad)plate, which is a dupe of the super hard to find Konad Q1. The only difference is the addition of the little candies on the right.

I applied Konad Special Red to the top half of the image, and Konad Special Blue to the bottom half of the image.

Then, with an orange stick, I swirled the polish around in the center to blend the red with the blue.

Next, I scraped the excess polish off going upward. I then rolled my stamper across the image and applied it. I finished with a coat of SV.

This is the look I was left with!!! It's fun and colorful, but doesn't have an overly obvious color shift.

I really love this one! I have been waiting for the perfect polish to come along to use this image with, and I knew that Jellybean was it!!!

I hope you all enjoy it!! Have an awesome weekend!

Happy Painting!!!

Colors: Candeo Colors Jellybean, Konad Special Red, Konad Special Blue

Stamping Plate: Fauxnad MLS301

A Holo Battle!

2012-05-17T21:30:00.001-04:00

I everyone! These Layla holos have been staring at me for days now! So I finally broke down and tried them, and then had to race to get outside for the last bit of sunshine of the day!

Before we get down to business, let me start off with this ...

The first application was done with four coats, but there was a problem. These polishes go on in very thin coats! I have a few ridges in a couple of my nails, and it was really visible. See? Yeah. We've gotta fix that.

Layla does have a nail buffer that they recommend using before you apply this polish. This would smooth out my ridges, yes. However, I refuse to use anything like that on my nails. While it does make your naked nails look nice and shiny, it can seriously weaken your nails. And honestly, my naked nails are only visible for about a grand total of three minutes per month - so there's no real draw for me there!

I decided to apply two coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls to help smooth out my nails. Then, I applied three coats of Layla Mercury Twilight, and three coats of Layla Jade Groove to my ring fingers for an accent.

One of the first rules of holos is NO TOP COAT!! (This is a rule that I am soooo guilty of breaking!) But, this time, I obeyed! The holo power in this was too strong to risk!

I must say, I was very surprised at how quickly these dried without a top coat, especially since I had two coats of creme underneath!

As you can see, there is only a slight difference in color between these two polishes. But, there's enough of a difference for me to justify needing both -- which is something that severely confuses my husband.

A great silver holo is a polish that everyone needs to have in their arsenal. I really love the holo effect in these. Even though the particles are slightly large, the rainbow effect is still very strong and eye catching.

I simply could not stop taking photos of these!! I started to do some kind of nail art, but I stopped myself. Some things are just too pretty to mess with!

I hope you enjoy!

Happy Painting!!

Colors: Layla Mercury Twilight, Layla Jade Groove

Nicole by OPI Introduces NEW Kardashian Kolor Pretty Petites

2012-05-17T20:44:00.000-04:00

Big Color, Small Bottle!

Nicole by OPI Introduces NEW Kardashian Kolor Pretty Petites Mini Nail Lacquers

Nicole by OPI announces the launch of Kardashian Kolor Pretty Petites, two mini packs each offering four bestselling Kardashian Kolor nail lacquers. The first set Celeb-bities features shiny, sparkly shades in feminine pink and red hues. The second set Sophisti-cuties provides an earth-toned palette of green, brown and gray glitters and crèmes.

“Pretty Petites offer the best of the Kardashian Kolor lacquers in a mini size that’s perfect for gifting or using on-the-go,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Whether you like to change your nail lacquer often or want to experiment with an ombré look, these two mini packs offer variety of color at a great price.”

Nicole by OPI/Pretty Petites

The Celeb-bities mini pack includes:

Kim-pletely in Love

Finally! The pink of her dreams has arrived.

All Kendall-ed Up

Powder your nose and get some pink on those toes!

Wear Something Spar-Kylie

Glitter-ly the prettiest pink ever!

Sealed with a Kris

Handle with care: This klassy red is top-of-the-line!

The Sophisti-cuties mini pack includes:

My Empire...My Rules

This take-charge taupe is always on-trend.

Follow Me on Glitter

A glittery deep gray that always has something to say!

Khloé Had a Little Lam-Lam

A deep dark emerald worth falling for.

Hard-Kourt Fashionista

This delicious deep brown is the chicest hue in town!

“The four shades in the Celeb-bities pack lend bright pops of color and glitter to any look,” adds Weiss-Fischmann. “Meanwhile, the four Sophisti-cuties lacquers give nails a classic but edgy feel, thanks to hot neutral hues like taupe, gray and chocolate brown.”
Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquers and Nail Treatments contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality. Pretty Petites will be available July 2012 for $10 each at Duane Reade, H-E-Butt, Fred Meyer, Meijer, Rite Aid, Sears and ULTA. In Canada, each set will be available for $15 at Katz Group, Loblaw, Shoppers Drug Mart, select Sears locations, and Walmart Canada.
For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter HYPERLINK "http://twitter.com/nicolebyopi" @NicoleByOPI and become a HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home" \l "!/NicolebyOPI" Facebook fan!

About Nicole by OPI:

Nicole by OPI offers a salon-quality range of bold, fashion-forward nail lacquers. The brand’s heritage is based in OPI’s well-established foundation of excellence in both color and technology, providing premium products to a broad range of consumers looking for trendsetting nail lacquers.

OPI Announces NEW! Pure Lacquer Nail Apps

2012-05-17T20:39:00.001-04:00

Precut Designs Offer Easy, Instant Nail Art

OPI Announces NEW! Pure Lacquer Nail Apps

OPI launches Pure Lacquer Nail Apps for instantaneous manicures and pedicures created using precut nail strips made of 100% real nail lacquer – providing a high-gloss finish, long-lasting wear and zero dry time. Offered in both cream and shimmer finishes, Nail Apps are available in 14 different styles – ranging in design from edgy snake print and fishnet to feminine gold lace and floral.

“Nail art has become increasingly popular, with both consumers and trained professionals,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Pure Lacquer Nail Apps provide the perfect way to get a one-of-a-kind look that simply cannot be replicated by hand. Each nail strip is made of 100% real nail lacquer for a flawless final look with easy application.”
Combining base and color in one convenient product, Nail Apps adhere to nails in seconds and can be stretched for a perfect fit. Each pack contains 16 strips to ensure perfect sizing for all finger and toe nails. For best results, this product should not be finished with top coat. Simply remove with an acetone polish remover like OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover before trying a new design.
“To make Nail Apps last even longer, upgrade your service by having your manicurist cure the nail strips with a GelColor Top Coat. With this addition, Nail Apps will last up to two weeks,” explains Weiss-Fischmann. “If you chose at-home application, place each Nail App carefully, trimming where necessary. Top coat is not recommended. Within minutes, your nails will be uniquely designed like never before!”

OPI/Pure Lacquer Nail Apps

Pure Lacquer Nail Apps are available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for the suggested retail price of $11.95.
For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit HYPERLINK "http://www.opi.com" www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter HYPERLINK "http://twitter.com/opi_products" @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/home.php?" \l "!/OPIProducts" Facebook fan!

ABOUT OPI

As the world leader in the professional nail care industry, OPI is committed to providing high-quality products and services to both salons and their customers, along with a focus on industry safety and innovation. Known for its exceptional formula, fashionable colors and iconic names, OPI’s heavily-pigmented lacquers are super rich, long-lasting and chip-resistant – offering an affordable luxury to consumers. OPI nail lacquer is available in over 200 shades and contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Each lacquer features OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application. Currently, OPI is available in over 100 countries and retails a full line of professional items, including nail treatments, finishing products, lotions, manicure/pedicure products, files, tools, gels and acrylics.

Glowsticks - My Nemesis

2012-05-17T18:34:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Okay, so this mani kinda goes against everything I stand for.

I started off with two coats of Orly Glowstick. It's a neon polish, so the application can be a little streaky, and will not have any kind of shine without a top coat, so I added a coat of SV to bring out the color a bit more.

Glowstick. And there you have it ... the problem. Before I decided to make my purchase, I stood there, staring at the bottle, thinking to myself, "Why? Why did they have to name it Glowstick?!" (Those who know me personally know that I have a long running deep hatred for all things glowstick related.)

To be honest, there is only one person in existence that I will allow to be anywhere near me with these highly annoying objects: My friend, Chris. I guess I don't mind it too much when he uses them, because if you're going to do something wrong, at least do it right. And he seriously does it right!!!!

So, in keeping with my glowstick theme, I went with two other colors that can frequently be seen in glowstick formation: Wet n Wild How I Met Your Magenta, and Sally Hansen Blue Me Away!

I used all three to create this water marble look. I was amazed to see how the use of Glowstick changed the appearance of the other colors!

Instead of simply having the yellow, pink, and blue, I ended up with yellow, green, blue, pink, and orange!!! I finished with one coat of SV.

I actually had a lot of fun creating this one! (Even if thinking about glowsticks did make my teeth clench!!!) I hope you enjoy!

Happy Painting!!!

Colors: Orly Glowstick, Sally Hansen Blue Me Away!, Wet n Wild How I Met Your Magenta

I was framed I tell ya! Framed!!

2012-05-16T16:23:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! I hope you all are having a great week so far! Today I thought I'd go with the frame/border trend that has been seen out and about lately!

I started with three coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls, from the new Spiderman Collection. It's a really fantastic creme polish, that may appear at first glance to be a basic white, but it actually has undertones of grey. To be frank, I love it!!!!

In both artificial lighting (above) and direct sunlight (below), it has a smooth finish and a lot of shine. I used three coats because I thought the first two coats still had a bit of a streaky finish to it. But the third time was the charm!

For the frame/border look, I placed a piece of scotch tape on my nail, just above the tip line, to achieve a crisp clean line.

I then applied an even coat of OPI Just Spotted the Lizard, which is also from the Spiderman Collection, to the centermost part of my nails. It is almost as if you were going to create a ruffian or crescent moon mani, you just avoid bringing the polish to the edges of your nails.

Just Spotted the Lizard is a fantastic green du chrome with tons of shimmer! It is also a great dupe for the highly sought after, and somewhat pricey, Chanel Peridot. I finished off with one coat of SV.

This was a lot of fun to create! It really let me test the steadiness of my hands! I hope you enjoy it!!!

Happy Painting!

Colors: OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls, OPI Just Spotted the Lizard

Stiff as a Board

2012-05-15T17:27:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! I know what you're thinking ...

"Really Nicole? Another linear leopard mani?"

Yes. Another one. But there's a method to my madness, I swear!

This is another amazing bottle that I grabbed at Overall Beauty!!!

I started with three coats of Glitter Gal Light as a Feather, a white holographic. Say the words "white holographic" and try not to salivate. I know, you simply cannot.

Under artificial light, it almost has a slight grey appearance. But, in the sunlight ... .. .

Linear MAGIC!!

It is such a crisp and clean white! I honestly didn't want to stop taking pictures of it!!!

The application was a breeze and the finish is perfect!

To add a little something extra, I used Cheeky plate CH2 with Konad Special Black for the leopard print. Next, I used a dotting tool with Up Colors Azul Arco-Iris, a light blue linear, to fill in some spaces within the leopard print. At this point, you might be wondering about that whole "method to my madness" thing!

I really wanted to create a mani to match this amazingly adorable handbag that my husband and my little boys got me for Mother's Day!!!! Don't you just love it?!

I had a blast with this mani, both indoors and out! I hope you all enjoy it as well!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Glitter Gal Light as a Feather, Konad Special Black, Up Colors Azul Arco-Iris

Stamping Plate: Cheeky CH2

Hypnotic Ozotic!!

2012-05-15T16:56:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! I opened an epic piece of nail mail yesterday and I was so excited to try them out!

I snagged these little gems from Overall Beauty, one of my favorite places to go polish crazy!

Up first is Ozotic 528! It has a sheer base, so I layered two coats over Revlon Stiletto to make it really stand out. It is loaded with glitter that shifts from teal, to pink, to purple, to blue.

It is nothing short of amazing visually, and the formula was awesome too!!!!

Next is Ozotic 533. The amazing this about this one is that it is a "mish mash"! Not only is it a holo, but it's a multi chrome as well! It gleams purple, blue, and even grey!

I have heard a lot of people complain about the thickness of the "mish mash" formulas, but I didn't think that was a factor at all! The application was smooth and easy! It did, however, require three coats for a completely opaque finish.

Finally, we have Ozotic 534. If you were to look at the bottles of 533 and 534 together, you might think you were looking at two bottles of the same polish, but don't let it's initial appearance fool you!!! This polish has a much stronger blue shift to it, while 533 has a very strong purple shift.

I am so excited to have added these to my collection! They have been lemmings of mine for ages now! I hope you enjoy!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Ozotic 528, 533, 534

Splatteriffic!

2012-05-13T03:18:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mommies out there!!!

It's been rather overcast here for the past couple of days, so I felt like I needed a bit of neon! I started out with two coats of Color Club Almost Famous, a really fun bright yellow creme. The formula was a little streaky, but not too difficult to work with.

Next, I used Color Club Wham! Pow!, Poptastic, Warhol, Pucci-Licious, Twiggie, and Mrs. Robinson for the splatter paint effect.

Before you start a splatter mani, be sure to prep your area to protect your surface, because it's going to get messy! You might even want to tape around your nails to protect your skin.

I cut a piece of straw about the length of my index finger, and dipped it in the first polish bottle. Then, while holding the straw about 4-5 inches away from my finger, I blew through the straw with one quick breath. I repeated this step with each finger, using every color. I finished with one coat of SV.

I had a lot of fun with this mani, because there's no right or wrong answer for it!!! It's super colorful and completely random ... which are two things right up my alley!!!

Happy Painting!!

Colors: Color Club Almost Famous, Wham! Pow!, Poptastic, Warhol, Pucci-Licious, Twiggie, Mrs. Robinson

A Vampy Vee!

2012-05-10T17:14:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!! The week's almost over! Hooray!

Since I went with something soft and simple yesterday, I decided to go with something a little saucier today!!

I started off with two coats of Revlon Stiletto, a super shiny black creme.

Next, I taped off the side sections of my nails, leaving a v-shape down the center, and applied one coat of OPI Simmer & Shimmer.

To add a little something extra, I used three of my dotting tools to create the center dot design, going from largest to smallest.

To complete the mani, I finished with one coat of Cult Nails Wicked Fast.

I really like this one! It's dark and kinda vampy, but fun and sparkly at the same time!! I hope you enjoy!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Revlon Stiletto, OPI Simmer & Shimmer

Simply Subtle

2012-05-09T17:32:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! Happy Pink Wednesday!

Today I wanted to go for something delicate and subtle! I started with two coats of Sensique Indian Rose, a gorgeous dusty pink with a gold shimmer.

The formula was nice, although a little streaky at times.

I wanted something to match the gold shimmer, so I used Barry M Gold Foil with Red Angel stamp RA-111, and finished off the mani with one coat of SV.

I am so happy with the end result! These two polishes work very well together. The stamp image is not obvious, but very flashy at the same time.

The Gold Foil actually gave Indian Rose a bit more of a coral shade, which was a nice surprise!

I hope you enjoy!!

Happy Pink Wednesday!!!

Colors: Sensique Indian Rose, Barry M Gold Foil

Stamping Plate: Red Angel RA-111

Fun Forced Mimicry

2012-05-08T14:03:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! I hope you're all having a great week so far!

I wanted to wear a color that was a little out of the ordinary, but I couldn't narrow it down. So I went with one that shifts to several colors!

This is three coats of HITS Dreamer, an absolutely amazing multi-chrome that shifts from deep blue to purple to burgundy to orange. It reminds me of fire!! I love it! The formula is pretty good, but took three coats to achieve the desired look. (And, as I've said before, the HITS brushes from the Mari Moon series left a lot to be desired, but don't really cause too much of an issue.)

I wanted to add some sparkle to this without taking away from the polish itself. I wanted to add some sparkle that would mimic the shifting effect. But I didn't have any glitter polishes that would do this.

What's a girl to do?!

I decided to force some glitters to do what I needed them to do!

I used Elixir Lacquers Dakota with Funky Fingers Paparazzi and sponged them down the sides of my nails for a gradient effect, and finished with a coat of SV.

So now, when I move my hand to see the color shift, it looks like the glitter has made the shift as well!

This is actually supremely eye catching and fun to wear! I love wearing so much glitter that doesn't take away from an amazing polish!

I hope you all enjoy!

Happy Painting!!

Colors: HITS Dreamer, Elixir Lacquers Dakota, Funky Fingers Paparazzi

A Little Lace

2012-05-07T16:47:00.000-04:00

Hey!! I hope everyone had a great weekend!

I opened an epic piece of nail mail today!!! Monroe by Picture Polish!!! I snagged mine from Overall Beauty!

Monroe is a beautiful deep red jelly, loaded with micro holographic sparkles. It has an amazing formula that went on so smoothly and evenly, and has crazy amounts of shine without a top coat!

Next, I used Barry M Silver Foil with Shany stamping plate SH21 for the lace design.

For a little extra pop of color - and really just for kicks - I placed a line of blue prismatic striping tape along the lace line. I finished with one coat of SV.

This was a quick and fun mani to create while I had a few spare minutes!

I hope you enjoy!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Picture Polish Monroe, Barry M Silver Foil

Stamping Plate: Shany SH21

Flutterby

2012-05-05T17:49:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I wanted something fun and breezy to wear for the weekend, so here's what I came up with!

I started with two coats of Zoya Wednesday, a great soft teal creme.

Next, I sponged on OPI Planks a Lot, a medium light purple creme, for a gradient effect, followed by one coat of SV.

I used Konad Special Blue with Bundle Monster plate BM-205 for the butterfly pattern.

I wanted a little bit of a flash in there, so I used the same stamp image with Up Colors Azul Arco-Iris, a gorgeous light blue holo.

The holo came out just as I hoped it would, subtle with a flash here and there.

It really gave the butterflies a bit more depth. I finished it all off with one more coat of SV.

Here is a macro shot so you can see how the holo looks over the Konad Special Blue!

I had a lot of fun with this one, even if it was a tiny bit time consuming! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Zoya Wednesday, OPI Planks a Lot, Konad Special Blue, Up Colors Azul Arco-Iris

Stamping Plate: Bundle Monster BM-205

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away

2012-05-04T17:26:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! Since I have heard people say, "May the fourth be with you", about a hundred times today, it seemed fitting to rock a galaxy mani!!

I started with two coats of Barielle Blackened Bleu, a dark smokey jelly with a strong blue shimmer.

Next, I used Sally Hansen White On with a bit of Hard Candy Beetle and sponged on the galactic sections. Beetle ended up giving White On a blueish grey appearance, with a shifting bronze shimmer.

I then applied two coats of Soflajo Dew Drop, a beautiful clear coat with silver shimmer and prismatic hexagon glitters. It has a great formula, smooth application, and really tied the look together.

I was hoping that the hexagons would work for the appearance of larger stars, but they were a bit reluctant to come out of the bottle.

So I then used my small dotting tools with White On to create a few randomly placed stars, and finished with one coat of SV.

This was such a fun mani to create! It was kind of full of surprises, but thankfully in a good way!

I hope you enjoy ... and may the fourth be with you!!!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Barielle Blackened Bleu, Sally Hansen White On, Hard Candy Beetle, Soflajo Dew Drop

Linear Leopard!

2012-05-02T15:01:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! Happy Pink Wednesday!!!

Since it's such a pretty day here in Atlanta, I thought today's mani was in dire need of a little linear!

I started with two coats of Up Colors Brilho Rosa, a beautiful rose pink linear holographic.

It's a great polish with an easy application. The linear was definitely present in indoor lighting, but not as strong as a lot of other linear polishes.

Outdoors in direct sunlight was much better, but still did not have the super strong rainbows that are so coveted.

For my accent nail, I applied two coats of Sally Hansen White On, and followed it with one coat of HITS Hefesto, a linear holographic top coat.

Again, while awesome, I still wasn't getting the bright rainbows.

I then used Bundle Monster plate BM221 with Konad Special Black for the leopard print.

With my dotting tool, I placed some small spots within the leopard design with Brilho Rosa to tie the accent nail in with the rest.

I finished with one coat of SV.

While I didn't really get the supreme linear look, I really adore this mani! It's simple, fast, and fun at the same time!

I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Painting!!!

Colors: Up Colors Brilho Rosa, Sally Hansen White On, HITS Hefesto, Konad Special Black

Stamping Plate: Bundle Monster BM-221

Rock-a-Billy

2012-04-27T22:56:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! Welcome to the end of the week! Hooray!!!

As most of you know, I love to match my nails to my outfits, and I have a new black dress to rock tomorrow night! It has small white polka dots, and has a bit of a vintage rock-a-billy flair to it!

I started with two coats of Hard Candy The End, a black creme. I know ... "Ooooh! Aaaaah!", right?!

I would have stopped there, but it didn't have that extra pop that I was after. I decided to add one coat of Finger Paints Motley, a great top coat loaded with blue & green flakes.

I originally planned on using one of my stamping plates for the polka dot design. But, after pouring through my book of plates, I realized that I didn't have the perfect polka dot design!!

Are you kidding me?? How did I let that happen?!

So, I used my small dotting tool with Konad Special White to create my polka dot design. I then used it with my Konad Q1 stamp for the swallows on my accent nails. I finished with one coat of SV.

So, to sum up, what was supposed to be a quick mani turned into a slightly not so quick mani - but these things happen, and I'm happy with it! I'm so psyched to rock these with my dress! I hope everyone has a fun weekend!

Happy Painting!

P.S. - On a side note, my husband HATES polka dots. So, if you're on my side, leave a comment telling him why polka dots are awesome and let's see if we can change his mind!!!!

Colors: Hard Candy The End, Finger Paints Motley

Jewel Tone Jubilee

2012-04-24T13:42:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to go with something really jewel toned and fun that pops!

I started off with two coats of Deborah Lippmann Dream a Little Dream of Me, a really pretty sheer pink with s shimmer that shifts from blue-green to purple.

Next, I taped off the half moon sections at the top and applied one coat of Sensique Jewel of the Orient, a beautiful "blurple" with a nice pink to purple shimmer. I adore this color, but it still didn't have that pop effect I was going for.

With my striping brush, I applied some vertical stripes of Hard Candy Frenzy, a really fun bright teal creme.

For a final bit of color, I went for one of my ultimate jewel tones, and, with my small dotting tool, I lined dots of Zoya Carly along the half moon.

I finished it all off with one coat of SV.

I really enjoyed creating this one! All of my favorite elements were there! I hope you all enjoy it too!!!

Happy Painting!

Colors: Deborah Lippmann Dream a Little Dream of Me, Sensique Jewel of the Orient, Hard Candy Frenzy, Zoya Carly

Bad Kitty is BACK!!!

2012-04-23T22:33:00.000-04:00

That's right - I said it!!!!

A set of 25 bottles of Elixir Lacquers' Bad Kitty LE will be available tomorrow,

Tuesday, April 24th, at 8:00pm EST!