Friday 31 August 2012

Paralympics

So today is Friday...I'm sure for a lot of you this is a "Yay, it's almost the weekend!" sort of occasion.  For me, it's a "Argh, only three days til I have to work!", my last day of work being the 22nd June...  Oh well, for those of you who haven't been spending your summer slacking off, happy Friday!

I have some Paralympic nail art for you today.  I would like to say before I show you...it's a little bit messy, and one of the colours is a bit off, but it took me aaaages, so be nice!


I think I need to cut down one of my nail art brushes, they were all too fat to do the little blue stripes on the two!  Anyhoo, the colours I used are Barry M Matt White (you should really be able to guess that one by now) and Blueberry Ice Cream, Max Factor Disco Pink and Bright Orange, and China Glaze Exotic Encounters.

In other news, my sister's just discovered she's going to have her Headteacher for some lessons this year, hahahahahhhhaha.  She's gutted :D

Anyhoo, hope you're all enjoying the Paralympics and the last few days of the summer holidays!

Thursday 30 August 2012

My Favourite Things: Stripes

Happy Thursday!  Today is day six in the My Favourite Things nail art challenge hosted by Kelly at Ooh La La Polish! and the theme is stripes.

I've got a fairly simple mani for this - I just wanted to play around with zebra print a little bit more.


I used Barry M Matt White and Teal, and Max Factor Disco Pink.

Next up is glitter!  I'm hoping I can find some PVA glue to try out using that as a basecoat, as I really don't think I can face removing glitter!







Wednesday 29 August 2012

31 Day Challenge - Day 4: Green

A second post today!  Might as well get a load in before I start my new job, the frequency is seriously going to decrease as of Monday (although after a month I'm going to be in uni for a couple of months, so obviously then painting my nails will take priority over essays).

Today is day 4 of the 31 day challenge being organised by Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner.  We're working our way through the rainbow, and today we're on green.

I'm finding it quite difficult to get inspiration just from a colour, I think I need a bit more guidance than that...Coming up with ideas is always the hardest part of a manicure for me (so keep the suggestions coming on Facebook, in comments or by emailing me).  So, today's manicure is in no way inspired by the colour green, other than being green, but I thought I'd seize the opportunity to try out the cling film technique.


I used China Glaze Exotic Encounters and Zoya Meg.  I really like the effect this technique gives, and it's so quick and easy - perfect if you're in a rush but want something more interesting than just plain nails (which you should, all the time...).  From what I've read on other blogs, you can do this via two methods.  You can either paint the second colour on and then dab it off with some cling film while it's still wet, or you can use the cling film to sponge the second colour on to the nail.  I used the former (I always get former and latter mixed up, but I think I mean former...).  I was going to try both techniques, one on each hand, to see if they produced different results.  But I didn't.  So...yeah, no idea which technique is better.

Anyhoo, next up in the challenge is blue nails on Saturday.  I have a manicure using China Glaze Man Hunt...such a pretty blue.


Check out all the other blue nails:



Diana at Nails By Diana
Meredith at Perfectly Polished
Nicole at The Color Republic
Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
Shelby at Shelby's Swatches
Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful 
Liz and Lisa at Lozlosa 
Mari at Nailista 
Miss L at Beauty by Miss L 
Gini at Sassy Paints 
Pam at Nail-E-Glance 

Birthday Manicure

Today is my boyfriend's birthday :)  He's away working at the moment, and apparently you can't post things to ships.  So instead of getting a card, he's getting a manicure dedicated to him.  I'm sure he'll appreciate it :p


My boyfriend's from Liverpool, so on my index finger there's a liver bird (a bit of a stocky liver bird with a bit of a dragon's head...).  I was going to attempt the Liverpool FC badge, but then I looked at it.  They could've gone for something a bit simpler, I mean really...

Next up is Batman Lego.  My boyfriend made me play this with him one day, and so began the lego game obsession.  Now he has to put his Call of Duty aside and play lego games with me whenever we get our hands on a new one.  The lego at the bottom is purple naturally, because purple studs are worth the most money.  And it's all about the money (as Jessie J wouldn't say).

My ring finger is evidently an anchor (hopefully), although I assume the chain's far too slack to actually be of any use.

Prepare yourselves for the beautiful image I'm about to create to explain my little finger.

My boyfriend and I met in this place called the Raz.  Anyone from Liverpool reading this will need no further explanation lol.  Upstairs in the Raz is sort of like an old man pub (but with students instead of old men...) and downstairs is like a little club.  Resembling a cave.  A very wet cave.  There's a liquid that the Raz produces, a juice if you will, that no one really knows the source of.  It's suspected that Fat Frogs (a luminous green alcopop mixture) and other spilled drinks contribute to it, almost definitely some sweat, and perhaps even some urine.  Who knows.  All we do know is that for some reason it's bright orange, it covers the floors and drips from the ceiling.  This nail is my tribute to Raz Juice.  Yum yum.

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Rose Nail Art Tutorial

This is a tutorial for my rose nail art, originally posted here.

To create this look, you will need:



  • Your base colour of choice (Barry M Blueberry Ice Cream)
  • Two shades of green (Barry M Spring Green and Barry M Mint Green)
  • Two shades of your rose colour (Barry M Bright Pink and Max Factor Disco Pink)
  • White polish (Barry M Matt White)
  • A small nail art brush
The colours in brackets are the shades I've used, but play around with different base and rose colours :)

Here's the step-by-step picture tutorial.


  1. Start by prepping your nail as usual (I buff and apply a base coat) and apply your base colour.
  2. Using the brush that comes with the polish, apply about 3 blobs of the lighter rose polish onto each nail.  Do more or less blobs depending on the size of your nails.
  3. Using your nail art brush and the lighter green polish, dab two bits of polish next to each rose to create the leaves.
  4. Using your nail art brush and the darker rose shade, paint two C shapes on to each rose.  You want one large C on the edge of each rose, then a smaller c facing the other way closer to the centre of the rose.
  5. Using your nail art brush and the darker green polish, add a line to one side of each leaf.
  6. Still using your nail art brush, use the white polish to add highlights to your roses.  Do this is the same way as you applied the darker shade, but on the opposite side.
  7. Add white highlights to your leaves, again on the opposite side from the darker green.
Finally, apply your top coat and you're good to go :)

If you decide to give this look a go, I'd love to see your pictures.  You can post them on my Facebook page here.

Also, if you have any tips for how to improve my tutorials or any ideas for tutorials you'd like to see, please post your suggestions in the comment area.



Teal Tuesdays: Funky French

Morning :) Well, afternoon actually. I need to stop sleeping so much...

Today's Teal Tuesdays theme is funky french.  I was going to go with a similar design to the last french tips I posted, seeing as I know I can do those, but I felt that was probably cheating slightly...  So, instead, I decided to have a little go at stamping.  I've got a few Konad plates, but they're very underused, so I've been wanting to get a bit more use out of them.


I used China Glaze Exotic Encounters for the tips, then stamped with Star Gazer 232.  This got a bit messy, so I added the lines of silver glitter with a nail art pen.  This possibly made it messier...

Take a look at all the other teal tips that people have been working on this week :)



Monday 27 August 2012

My Favourite Things: Polka Dots

Evening all :)  This is day 5 in the My Favourite Things challenge hosted by Kelly at Ooh La La Polish!  I'm posting this slightly early so it doesn't clash with my Teal Tuesdays post tomorrow.

The theme or today is polka dots.  I still wasn't ready to take off my Holographic Hero, so I just went for a dotticure on top of it :D  I was aiming for a gradient-type look.  It's  not quite how I envisioned it, but it's alright :)

The dots were done using OPI Roadhouse Blues and a dotting tool.

Next up in the challenge is stripes.  I've prepared two manicures for this, so now I need to decide which one to use...hmm...



Sunday 26 August 2012

31 Day Challenge - Day 3: Yellow

Happy Sunday!  Today is day 3 in the 31 day challenge,  and the theme is yellooooow.  Fortunately, I did these nails a few days in advance, so I'm still happily sporting my holographic polish.

I did these nails initially trying to replace what has been missing in my life this summer...


He's got his hat on as well, you just can't see it.  The sun's actually out today though, woohooo!  I don't remember what to do with sun though...do I go sit in it?

I used Barry M Blueberry Ice Cream and Lemon Ice Cream (mmm...ice cream), Max Factor Bright Orange and 17 Nightshade.  Oh, there's also a layer of Barry M Matt White underneath it all (yellow polish isn't allowed near my actual nail surface since...an incident).

Next up is green nails on Wednesday.


Take a look at all the other yellow manicures today :)


Diana at Nails By Diana
Meredith at Perfectly Polished
Nicole at The Color Republic
Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
Shelby at Shelby's Swatches
Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful 
Liz and Lisa at Lozlosa 
Mari at Nailista 
Miss L at Beauty by Miss L 
Gini at Sassy Paints 
Pam at Nail-E-Glance 

Best of British

This week I joined a group of fellow British bloggers, who are all teaming up to support each other and possibly cry to each other about all the beautiful, cheap polishes Americans get that we can't...sob.  Each week there'll be a round up of what everyone's been up to on their blogs this week, so please do take a look if anything takes your fancy :)

British Nail Bloggers

The weather in the UK may have improved a little but not enough for Vic to justify running off to Cornwall to catch the surf. Instead she's made do with her Surfin' USA mani.

It's been KBShimmer Week this week at The Crumpet.  5 polishes, but which was her favourite ?

Laura has been trying out stamping for the first time this week and was particularly fond of her classy black and silver floral design.

PrettyKittyClaws has been making the most of the sunshine by copying The Crumpet with a Red Holo Dotticure featuring Ozotics 518.

Helly at the Nail Newbie got her holo on with a purple holo gradient featuring OPI DS Original!

Charlotte at Charlottes-nails has been catching up with the lazy days of summer challenge with a ruffle accent nail.

Alexis at Glitter Tips managed to overcome a nasty case of nail art block with a Black and Gold NOTD inspired by her jewellery collection.

Claire at nuthin' but a nail thing managed to get hold of some OPI Black Spotted and gave it a go over some bright NEONS.

Seeing as the British weather has been seasonably rainy, there has been a lack of barbaques this year. Unless it is in the form of nail art from Enigmatic Rambles.

Lou entered the Golden Jungle over at Painted Nails & Baking Scales, finding some new polish species to describe.

This week at Northern Nails there are Turtles in a Guest Post.  Also Jo has started a new series of posts called Mashups!

Emma's been busy swatching the new Barry M Burgundy Croc Effects over different colours on Imagination In Colour!

It's texture time in the BFF Challenge and Kerrie from PishPosh and Polish made great use of Heart-Shaped beads, but was it a success?

Ruth had some fun with pastel colours and created some colourful zebra nails using her new stampers!

Steph is showing off Peacock feathers in the (rare) sunshine.

It's been a special week for Allie and in celebration she's been wearing some Sea Green Glitter Birthday Nails.

Dimpal is absolutely loving these Fish Egg Nails.  She also did Nicole's Me+Blue Mani

Sarah Louise reviews LeaLaC's Stamping Plate XL - A. See the post for swatches and a manicure using her first Bettina Nail Polish.

Kerry starts the first of Nail Inc Sprinkle swatches with Sweets Way.

Saturday 25 August 2012

GOSH Holographic Hero

You may never see any nail art from me again.  I don't think I can bear to take this off.  I don't have much to say (other than I'm in love) but I do have an unnecessarily large number of almost identical pictures for you.

These are all two coats of Holographic Hero with a coat of Seche Vite.  There was no attempt at clean up here - sorry - I was far too excited for such things.

These pictures are in natural light (I wouldn't go so far as to say sunlight...).




And these are with the flash.







 Pretty pretty holo...  It's probably worth mentioning the application.  It wasn't too bad, although I did end up with a few bald spots on the first coat, and so after two coats there were some thinner patches.  But who cares, look at it...  I only have one other holo polish (Nubar Reclaim), which is stunning when it's in direct sunlight, but the rest of the time it just looks like a normal polish.  Holographic Hero is holo ALL THE TIME.

It gets a thumbs up from me.  In case that wasn't obvious.

Friday 24 August 2012

My Favourite Things: Favourite Food

I'm a little late with this one!  This is the fourth instalment in the My Favourite Things challenge hosted by Kelly over at Ooh La La Polish!

Once again I struggled.  I considered something chocolatey.  Then I decided on something Mexican.  I was originally going to do a fajita, but I couldn't figure out how to make to chicken strips look realistic...  So anyhoo, I settled on a Mexican-inspired manicure, and pinched this idea from Nicole at The Color Republic.

So here you go, my favourite food inspired manicure.


I used all Barry M polishes here - Spring Green, Bright Red, Lemon Ice Cream and Matt White. I should've used an extra coat of the red and green, I can only apologise for the VNL.  Yuck.  But the chillis are cute at least :)

Next up in the challenge (and I will actually post this one on time!) is polka dots!







Thursday 23 August 2012

31 Day Challenge - Day 2: Orange

Morning lovelies (it's just about still morning...and I haven't just woken up. Ahem...). Today is day 2 of the 31 day challenge, and the theme is orange. Orange is not a colour that I love. A little while ago I bought W7 Orange Dazzle, so I thought I'd just whack that on and go from there. It's very VERY bright. It gloooows. My camera freaked out a bit, but I managed to capture it okay after it decided to stop looking pink.


It was intended to be zebra print, and I was quite pleased with how it turned out.  But then it occurred to me that it looks more like tiger print because it's on orange...  Oh well, I like it either way :)

Next up in the challenge is yellow nails, and that'll be posted on Sunday.  I have a very cute manicure lined up for you :)

Check out everyone else's orange nails:

Diana at Nails By Diana
Meredith at Perfectly Polished
Nicole at The Color Republic
Sam at Polished Art
Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
Shelby at Shelby's Swatches
Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful 
Liz and Lisa at Lozlosa 
Mari at Nailista 
Miss L at Beauty by Miss L 
Gini at Sassy Paints 
Pam at Nail-E-Glance 

Tuesday 21 August 2012

My Favourite Things: Favourite Animal

I totally forgot today was Tuesday.  To the extent that I saw people had posted their challenge manicures and I was thinking 'why are they posting a day early..?'.  Never mind, I've had a cup of coffee now and I'm fully aware of what day it is, so here's my post!

I'm a very indecisive person.  I genuinely cannot choose a favourite animal (or colour, polish, food...).  When I was first starting this challenge, I asked my boyfriend what my favourite animal is.  He suggested a tiger.  I do love tigers...having a pet tiger would be AMAZING, but people tell me I can't.

LOOK AT IT!!!  Awwwwwwwww.


Anyway, I didn't actually go with tigers in the end, so no more baby tiger pictures.  I actually decided to do a mani inspired my dog - technically my favourite animal ever :D


 I sponged on some Bailey-type colours; I used Barry M Matt White and Gold Foil, OPI Over The Taupe and 17 Nightshade.  Then I added some little doggy paw prints with a dotting tool.

And here's my inspiration :)


Here's the schedule for the rest of the challenge.  The next post will be favourite food on Thursday - still no idea what I'm going to do for this, I love all food!




Monday 20 August 2012

31 Day Challenge - Day 1: Red

Morning ladies :)  Today I'm starting another challenge!  This is the 31 Day Challenge, and it's all been organised by Kimber over at Kimber's Lacquer Korner.  To make it a little easier, we'll be posting every three days rather than every day - might as well have a few days to enjoy each manicure!

OK, so here's my first manicure of the challenge.


I used China Glaze Kalahari Kiss, OPI Warm and Fozzie and a black nail art pen for the leopard print, and the red is a reeeaaally old OPI that I discovered in my bedroom, that I forgot to look at the name of.

This could've been a little neater if I'd used tape to do the red bit of my nails, but I always seem to make such a mess with tape that it didn't seem worth it.

Here's the full schedule for the challenge.  The next post will be on Thursday, and it's orange nails.


Take a look at the manicures every one else participating in this challenge has produced.


Diana at Nails By Diana
Meredith at Perfectly Polished
Nicole at The Color Republic
Sam at Polished Art
Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
Shelby at Shelby's Swatches
Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful 
Liz and Lisa at Lozlosa 
Mari at Nailista 
Miss L at Beauty by Miss L 

Sunday 19 August 2012

Nail Night

Happy Sunday lovely people.

As I said yesterday, last night I went to my auntie's house and drank lots of wine, ate lots of nibbles and painted some nails :)

Here are photos of everyone's nails - sorry they're not great quality, they're all taken with a flash.

These are my auntie's nails; she wanted a purple leopard print design :)


My mum was feeling a little indecisive, but eventually settled on a recreation of my rose nail art.


My little sister got no say in what she had, other than choosing the colours.  She was also the last person's nails I painted, and therefore I'd consumed the most wine by this point...


 From thumb to little finger, I did zebra print, leopard print, a lightning bolt, glitter and what's supposed to be a gradient...  This is the first time I've tried doing leopard print with a dotting tool - sooo much easier with a nail art pen!

If you want to know what any of the particular polishes are, just ask in the comments.  Also, I'm thinking of doing a few photo tutorials, including ones for the leopard and rose print.  Let me know if this is something you'd be interested in seeing!

Saturday 18 August 2012

I won a giveaway!

I was very excited to find out the other day that I won the giveaway over at Never mind Suzi!  I received my prize yesterday, and here it is:


The prizes were W7 Diamond Top Coat, NYC Lights Camera Glitter, Nails Inc Hans Road and MUA matt purple eyeshadow.  She also threw in a little compact mirror and some sweets :) (which my sister is quite happily tucking into...).

Thank you so much!

I'm going over my auntie's house tonight for a bit of a nail session, so hopefully I'll have lots of photos for you all tomorrow :)

Thursday 16 August 2012

My Favourite Things: Favourite Nail Polish

Today is day two in the My Favourite Things challenge hosted by Kelly over at Ooh La La Polish.  Today's theme is our favourite nail polish.

I couldn't do it.  I just couldn't choose one.  I love them all dearly.  So, instead, I have my favourite polish that I've bought this month.


This is OPI Gouda Gouda Two Shoes, and I looove it.  It's a sort of dark dusty rose pink, with a gold shimmer running through it (which you can't see at all in these photos, but it's there I promise!).  In some lights it looks more of a terracotta shade.  It's lovely :) and it's actually a unique colour in my collection!

I added what's supposed to be roses for my accent nails using Barry M Gold Foil.  I'm not too pleased with my ring finger, but I think my thumb turned out pretty well.

Next up is my favourite animal, which I'll be posting on Monday (to avoid having multiple posts on a Tuesday!)



Take a look at everyone else's favourite polish manicures!



Tuesday 14 August 2012

Teal Tuesdays: Copycat

This week's teal challenge was to copy a manicure of somebody else's, but, of course, involving teal!


I saw this adorable tutorial over at Chalkboard Nails the other week, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give it a go.  If you haven't visited Chalkboard Nails before, go look now!  She has some fantastic nail art, and some really clear tutorials.

Anyhoo, on to the tealy goodness.


Aren't they just the cutest little things...

I had to change my mani a little from the tutorial, because I just couldn't seem to fit all the detail on!

For my base I used OPI Mermaid's Tears.  For the detail I used Barry M Teal, Bright Pink and Lemon Ice Cream, and a black nail art pen.  The glitter on my thumb is one coat of Barry M Aqua Glitter.  Lots and lots of Barry M...

Have a look what the other lovely ladies have come up with for this week's challenge:




My Favourite Things: Favourite Colour

Good morning :)  Today is the first day in the My Favourite Things nail art challenge hosted by Kelly over at Ooh La La Polish!

The first challenge is favourite colour.  Considering how many things I own that are purple, I only actually have one purple nail polish (I'll have two when my Jessica Ruffled Bottoms arrives!).  I struggled a bit thinking of what to do other than just paint my nails purple.  I think purple's quite a luxurious colour, and it reminds me of royalty, so I went with a royalty inspired manicure.


I used OPI Grape...Set...Match and Barry M Gold Foil.  The crown and heart are decals that I made myself.  I saw this technique here a little while ago.  If you haven't tried this, basically you paint your design on to a sheet of plastic or parchment paper , and then you can peel it off and stick it on to your nail with some top coat.  However...I have these (I like to think brief and rare) moments of stupidity, so I decided cling film would do the job just as well.  It didn't.  There was no way that polish was coming off that cling film.  So I ended up cutting the designs out and sticking them on cling film and all.  Oh well...I still quite like the idea and I might give it ago again, minus the cling film.

Here's what's to come in the challenge:


My next post will be on Thursday, although at the moment I'm really struggling to pick one nail polish that's my favourite!  I don't want to hurt all the others' feelings...

And here you can have a look at all the other lovely ladies manicures for this first challenge :)


Monday 13 August 2012

First Water Marble

I have for you today a little nail fail to start the week.

I finally got round to trying out water marbling with, er, interesting results.  I shall let the photo do the talking.


I used a base of Barry M Matte White, then for the marbling I used 17 Nightshade, Barry M Grey and Collection 2000 Star Dust.

Guess which nail was my first attempt...  I'm quite pleased with my index finger though!  And I quite like my little finger, even if it is wobblier than was intended.  As for the mess on my hands, that's because I decided to ignore the countless blogs I've read that said to tape or vaseline your fingers to make clean up easier.  I am a fool.

Are you a fan of water marbling?  Have you had more success than me with this technique?

I'll have two posts for you tomorrow - the first of the My Favourite Things challenge hosted by Kelly at Ooh La La Polish! and my favourite Teal Tuesday manicure so far!

I was trying to work out how to add a suggestions box to this blog, but that was another fail.  I'd still love some suggestions for what nail art I should try though, so if you've got any ideas then post a comment on here or on my Facebook page :)  It'd be great to get a regular feature going of readers' suggestions.

Saturday 11 August 2012

Nail Art Challenge

Afternoon :)  Just a quick post today, and no nails for you sorry.  I'm moving out of my flat in a couple of days so it's all been a bit hectic.

However, next week I'll be starting another nail challenge.  It's called My Favourite Things, and it's hosted by Kelly over at Ohh La La Polish!  Click here to see the details of the challenge and to get in touch with Kelly if you want to join in.

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Team GB

I was going to save this post for tomorrow, but I got excited.

Here's some more Team GB love for you today :)  My boyfriend doubted me when I said I was going to attempt this, but I think it turned out pretty well.


It's a little bumpy because this is before top coat.  When I added the topcoat, the red bled everywhere and made my nails look neon orange, which is very peculiar.  I was brave though and didn't cry.

By the way, don't you love how all the female Olympians have their nails painted? :)

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Polish Days: Olympics

Today I'm taking part in Polish Days for the first time.  This month, the theme is Olympics!


Obviously I'm loving all things Olympics at the moment, so what a perfect theme :)  

I'm sure you've all noticed that we British have a pretty epic cycling team.  The track cycling is one of my favourite events to watch in the games as well - I like to think because it's fast-paced and exciting, but it's probably more to do with the fact I like watching us win lots of medals.  So anyhoo, for these reasons, I decided to have a go at some velodrome nails.


There's Team GB out for a little cycle.  Probably winning a gold medal.  For the track I used China Glaze Kalahari Kiss.  The light blue is Barry M Blueberry Ice Cream and the darker one is 17 Seabreeze.  If you want to know what any of the other colours are just ask in the comments :)

Have a look at all the other amazing ladies nails: