Flip Flop #1: Skittle

Hello lovelies :)

Today's the first day of the Flip Flop Challenge created by Jillian at Jilltastic Nail Design.  There are two challenge prompts for each day, the idea being that one's a little easier for beginners and one's a bit more difficult for those wanting to push themselves a bit more :)  We'll see which category I end up falling in to.  

Today's choices were Gradient or Skittle.  I went for a skittle manicure, as that's something I really can't get right!  Not that my gradients are any better, but there we go.

I decided that my problem with skittles is that I have too much going on, so I decided to strip it back a bit.

I had a full on Barry M fest, using Matt White, Teal, Gold Foil, Aqua Glitter and Gold Glitter, with a Saffron glitter on my little finger.

I'm loving the glitter gradient on my middle finger!  What do you think??

31 Day Challenge - Day 19: Galaxies

So I'm just working on my own schedule now.  I hope we're all down with that...  My boyfriend's going away to work on Monday, so I'll get back on track then as I'll have nothing else to do in the evenings than paint my nails (especially since I still don't have TV or proper internet...sob).  So anyhoo, here are my galaxy nails for day 19 of the challenge.

This was my first attempt at galaxy nails, and I LOVE THEM.  I can't take my eyes off them, and I'm totally baffled as to why not every single person I've encountered since I did them has told me how fabulous they are.  There are some very strange people out there.

Sadly, I don't think the picture does them any justice.  But they are beautiful, trust me lol.

I used Barry M Black Multi Glitter for the background, then went to town on the sponging with Barry M Matt White and Mint Green, a Special FX pink, Jessica Ruffled Bottoms and China Glaze Man Hunt.  I topped it off with a coat of Saffron 07 and Seche Vite (at this point I had to rush to get ready to leave the flat, but I only damaged one nail going to the toilet and putting my shoes on...not too bad...).

Take a look at all the other participants in the challenge (I think they're past day 20 now...I don't really know anymore):

Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner

Kat at Hooked On Polish

Diana at Nails By Diana

Aly at Wonderland Beauty

Meredith at Perfectly Polished

Nicole at The Color Republic

Kate at The Painted Pony Nails

Cee at Absolutely Cee

Nail Narcotics

Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed

Shelby at Shelby's Swatches

Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful 

Mixed Mama

Joanna at Sweet Polish of Mine

Patty Greenberg

Liz and Lisa at Lozlosa 

Mari at Nailista 

Greta at How Was Your Day?

Miss L at Beauty by Miss L 

Gini at Sassy Paints 

Chameleon Stampede 

Pam at Nail-E-Glance 

Me, Myself and Polish

On Stranger Clouds

Happy Tuesday!

Today I have for you my first attempt at a cloud manicure.  This also falls into the category of sensible work manicures (er...sort of).

I used a base of OPI Planks A Lot, then drew on the clouds using Barry M Gold Foil and OPI Stranger Tides (gotta love those Pirates of the Caribbean polishes).  I added a little sparkle using Saffron 01 and BeautyUK Gold Digger.

I have to say, from all the cloud manicures I've seen on other people's blogs, I thought it would be easier.  It was flipping difficult.  The brush on the OPI mini was perfect for this though, and I have a much easier time with that than the full size Barry M brush.

I was very pleased with the end result anyway :)  What do you think?  Have you tried a cloud manicure?

31 Day Challenge - Day 5: Blue

Morning ladies (and it's actually morning this time).  Today is the 5th day in the 31 day challenge and the theme is blue.  As promised, I have a manicure using China Glaze Manhunt.  Without further ado...

I attempted to add a glitter gradient in Saffron 07 and then added some flowers using Star Gazer 232 and some more Manhunt.

This is a really simple manicure.  I even recreated it on my mum in black and gold, despite how she likes to wriggle.  She managed to ruin the cushion thing of top of this box thing that we have the other day, when she decided to stick her hand out over the post-it just as I was about to put a blob of polish on it.  Tut tut.

Next up is violet and this'll be posted on Tuesday.

I'm  moving down to Kent tomorrow for this new job, and there's a small possibility I still haven't finished packing, so I suppose I should go get on with that!  After I finish my coffee...  Have a lovely weekend everyone :)

Have a look at all the other blue manicures:

Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner

Kat at Hooked On Polish

Diana at Nails By Diana

Aly at Wonderland Beauty

Meredith at Perfectly Polished

Nicole at The Color Republic

Kate at The Painted Pony Nails

Cee at Absolutely Cee

Nail Narcotics

Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed

Shelby at Shelby's Swatches

Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful 

Mixed Mama

Joanna at Sweet Polish of Mine

Patty Greenberg

Liz and Lisa at Lozlosa 

Mari at Nailista 

Greta at How Was Your Day?

Miss L at Beauty by Miss L 

Gini at Sassy Paints 

Chameleon Stampede 

Pam at Nail-E-Glance 

Me, Myself and Polish

My Collection

People sometimes say to me "You must have so much nail polish!".  I always insist, of course, that I don't.  to be fair, it all used to fit in a shoe box.  It doesn't any more, but it's still far less than a lot of people's (I don't yet have a room devoted to nail polish, although I am working on my boyfriend...).

So anyway, I thought it'd be a good idea to photograph my collection so people could see what I have.  And because I was bored.  So here you go - all polish names are from left to right.

OPI 

Not Like The Movies, Fresh Frog of Bel Air, Teenage Dream, Grape...Set...Match, Over The Taupe, Mermaid's Tears, I Juggle...Men

Grey Glitter Gradient

Yay for alliteration!

Anyhoo, I'm still at my parents with my limited polish supply, so something simple for you today.  I'm still trying to get the hang of this gradient business, so I thought I'd have another go.

I used Beauty UK Soft Grey, with Barry M Grey sponged on the tips.  That's topped with Saffron 07 and a coat of Seche Vite.

I'll attempt a three colour gradient sometime soon, maybe I'll get better blending between the colours then.  I do love how this simple technique makes a mani look so much better though.  Now I just have to do my mum's nails before we go out tonight!

Hope everyone's having a good weekend!

Over The Taupe Stars

Yesterday I discovered that John Lewis sells OPI.  This is very bad news for my bank balance.  They cost £11, so it's much cheaper to buy them online, but I was excited so I bought two anyway.  I think it's the shape of the bottle that makes them so irresistible.

Anyhoo, one of the polishes I picked up was Over The Taupe.  Below is two coats, without any top coat.  Super shiny!

It's like painting melted chocolate on to your nails.  I resisted the urge to lick it off though, probably wouldn't have been pleasant...

Also when I was in town, I went to pick up some reinforcement stickers for half moon manis, but Wilkinsons didn't have any and I couldn't be bothered looking elsewhere, so I bought some star stickers instead.  I decided to use these in today's design.

I added a coat of Saffron 01 to my thumb and ring finger, and added one veeery thick coat of a 17 black polish (that has no name) over my star stickers.  All sealed off with a coat of Seche Vite.

Since everything's so shiny it's a little hard to see, so here's a picture with the flash:

I'm quite pleased with my thumb, but the lines on my ring finger aren't as clean as I'd have liked.  This was the third attempt on that finger though - I kept getting impatient and sticking my star sticker on before everything was dry and messing it up.  Got there in the end though...  I also think maybe it would have been nice if the colours on one of the accent nails was inverted, i.e. a black star on the brown+glitter background.

What do you think?  Have you used any unusual shapes/items as templates in your nail art?