Plants Vs Zombies

This mani I did nearly a year ago. I know it's not the best picture, my cuticles are dry, and there is barely any clean up done, but I am still proud of these nails to this very day. This is perhaps my first successful freehand painting. It was so long ago that I don't remember what polishes I used but I can guess. Sinful Colors "Irish Green", Sally Hansen's "Lightening" and "White On", Pure Ice's "Silver Mercedes", and Wet n Wild's "Ebony Hates Chris". The brown I think was acrylic paint. Most of this was painted with a toothpick and knitting needle. At the time, I was obsessed with the game "Plants Versus Zombies" and I was itching to do a mani with cartoon characters. I'd say if you haven't played the game give it a shot, but after days of nonstop playing you will all hate me. So play at your own risk o.~

Pink Crackle Heart

Another simple Valentine's Day manicure. Here I have Pure Ice's "Shell Pink" a very soft pastel pink with China Glaze's "Haute Metal" crackle from their Crackle Glaze collection. I lucked out on the crackle at my Sally's Beauty Supply Store and got them on clearance for like a buck and a half each I think it was. Got 4 colors that day in crackle. Stamped over that is a heart from Salon Express plate #SE21 in Sally Hansen's "Quick Brick". I had heard that most of the Insta-Dri collection stamped well so I wanted to try it. Not bad but not as well as I thought it would stamp. The whole manicure is nice, but rather subtle. Subtle is fine but I like manicures that stand out a bit. A little "Hey-Look-At-Me!-I'm-Nail-Art!!" is what I go for.

Purple Hearts

I just got back from a convention this weekend, so only making a quick post of what I'm wearing right now before crashing for a nap. I work in a place that's very focused on holidays, so I'll be sporting Valentines mani's for a few more days. Here is the latest. OPI's "Louve Me, Louve Me Not" stamped with Claire's white using the hearts found in Claire's new stamping kit. Topped with Out The Door's "Northern Lights" holographic top coat. I don't think the glitter was a good choice, but the white on the purple was rather stark, so I wanted something to soften it. For some reason I thought glitter would do it. I still like it, but maybe next time I'd stamp in pastel purple instead of white. Stamp lined up really well on index and middle, but then I got impatient and ring and pinky got placed a bit high. Ok, nap time now....

Claire's Stamping Kit

Claire's Nail Stamping Kit.

There aren't too many places in my mall that carry nail polish, but the ones that do I tend to haunt when killing time. I've always thought of Claire's as kinda of a pre-teen little girl place, but they have nail polish so I'll ignore the plastic earrings and locker stickers of what ever teen idol is the flavor of the month to see what is new in the polish section. Good thing I did because look at what I just found!! There are plenty of stamping plates online, but as I don't do much online shopping, finding plates in an actual store is like finding a gold doubloon  in the center court fountain. 

Get a better look at all that comes in this kit after the jump.

Flakie Fun!

Cosmetic Arts, China Glaze "Luxe and Lush",

 and Color Club "Snow-Flakes"

My love of Flakies all started with a missed opportunity that I am still kicking myself over to this day. I was cruising my local Sally's Beauty Supply looking for new polishes to add to my budding collection. There was a display of Finger Paints Special Effects polish. Well I was new to polish and the words "Special Effects" made me think there was some process needed to make your nails like the picture. I had just learned of Gel nails and how UV lamps were needed for them, so I avoided the polish. I figured I'd go home and do some research to figure out what it was before I bought it. Seems like a logical thought, right? So later that week I finally get around to looking it up and OMG it was beautiful and just a glittery topcoat. I go back to Sally's with my next paycheck and they were SOLD OUT! Everywhere it was sold out. I should have bought it that day. I really should have. *sigh* Anyway, still smarting over missing the boat I decided I NEEDED a flakie. 

Silver Blue Leopard

When people hear that I like to paint my nails they always ask if I will do theirs as well. I don't think they realize I am not a nail tech, just an enthusiastic amateur. The only people whose nails I've done so far has been family (and one co-worker's nails done during lunch break). Here is a manicure I did for my sister that I'm actually rather proud of. 

Now these are polishes from her stash so I'm not real sure what the brands or colors are. I started by painting her nails the light, silvery blue color, then sponged on the royal blue on top. It makes a bigger mess to clean up but she wanted the silvery blue at the tips and it just didn't want to sponge well on top of the darker blue. Stamped over that with BundleMonster.com's BM221 in Wet n Wild Fastdry "Ebony Hates Chris". She considered entering this in BundleMonster's contest last year but never got around to it. I'm so jealous  her nail beds are gorgeous  she really should paint them more often.

Holo Love

I have fallen head over heels in love with holographic nail polish. I only own the one so far, but China Glaze will be coming out with a line this summer and I simply can't wait. Fair warning though, I have never found one that could be considered "cheap". The one I'm sporting above was 14-16 dollars a bottle, the most I've ever paid for polish. Well, I had a coupon, but its still expensive. One thing I haven't been able to do yet is find a top coat that will preserve the holo effect. All topcoats I've tried have "muddied" it and made it disappointing.

This is 2 coats of Layla "Mercury Twilight". I had it on my nails for a couple days,just staring at the shifting colors before adding the stamping on the side. I wanted to dress it up a little with out covering the holo. The stamp is BundleMonster.com BM206 in Wet n Wild Fastdry "Ebony Hates Chris". No topcoat so the stamping wears out on the tip fast.