Falling Stars Nails

GOOD GRIEF AMANDA IT'S BEEN LIKE THREE WEEKS


...yeah. Between working heaps of overtime and getting sick twice in a row, I and my nails were in pretty ragged shape. I broke two of the ones on my photo hand, so I decided to give them a trim and a little reprieve. But I can't leave them alone forever...

I eased back into nail art with this falling-stars gradient design over black.

You know what to do...

So, the base is just a standard single coat of Wet N' Wild Black Creme. A classic. I then used my beloved L'Oreal The True Diamond, one of their Magic Topcoats, as well as OPI Happy Anniversary! (pictured) to created a shimmery gradient on the tips. I intentionally made this a bit messy, and then used the edge of the brush  to draw some lines falling down the nail towards the cuticle.

The little star stones are from the same wheel as the flower-shaped ones I used recently, from Born Pretty Store.

And! Possibly the best part... I used a relatively new-to-me topcoat, Sun Envy Gel Effect topcoat by UNT. And OMG, it's amazing. It doesn't need an LED light to cure--it just cures in natural light. I go outside in the sun so it dries faster. It's so shiny, and it doesn't damage stones, even these plastic-ish ones. Fantastic! GET IT.

So, I know these aren't my best work, but I do like them :)

I've had these on for days, and I have no chipping or anything--it's even still really shiny! Seche Vite is still going to be my go-to most of the time, but this will be my choice for going over stones from now on. Or if I need a mani to last a while :D

Thanks so much for reading today. Anyone who stuck around after that little unplanned hiatus is awesome and gets digital hugs from me <3 <3 <3

See you soon (HOPEFULLY) for more! xoxo

BPS Review | Thermal Polish & Clear Stamper

Hiya! I'm back with more Born Pretty Store goodies. The one I am most excited about is the CLEAR STAMPER! I combined that with the green thermal polish they sent me to create this look:

Birthday Neon Cupcake Nails!! I'M OLD AF NOW U GAIS

Hello! This past weekend was my birthday! I'm freaking 30 NOW WTF

So I did pretty, bright, fun nails to celebrate!

(click to enlarge DO IT NAO)

Click the jump!

Picture Polish Teal Gradient

Hello! Today I have a simple but pretty gradient design with two Picture Polish collab shades:

(click to enlarge)

As you can see, the gradient is with Dragonfly and Tail Feather. These are both lovely shimmery polishes, with PP's signature "bijou holo" going on. This only took two sponged coats to look opaque, although I did three to make sure the pics looked perfect.

The fimo flowers are from some canes I got ages ago from Born Pretty Store. And of course, it's topped with Seche Vite.

Anybody else getting a Twilight-book-cover vibe from this?

These polishes are fab! And both are still available on the Picture Polish website, although Tail Feather is being discontinued soon, so grab it while you can--it's discounted!

Thanks for reading today. See you next time! xoxo

Sparkly Neon Zebra Leopard Gradient Awesomeness

Hiya!

I love these nails SO MUCH. The title of this post comes from the ridiculously long file name I gave these when saving to my computer :D

I did a variation of this on a nail wheel a long time ago, but wanted to stick with a more similar colour scheme. I am sorry to report that these photos don't do this justice at all--the neon is so bright in real life. But click the jump to see more!

Better Late Than Never...! Valentine Holo Gradient

So, I'm like three days late on this, but... here are my Valentine's Day nails for this year!

I'm actually kind of sad about these! I used two holo polishes, but it decided to be rainy and grey when I was taking the photos, so I didn't get to show off their brilliance. However, I do like the pretty colours. I used Color Club Cosmic Fate, the bottle shown here, which is actually their peachy-orange Halo Hue. The red is one I made myself--LA Colors Aztec Orange (it is not orange) with a pinch of SpectraFlair added. I like how it made the other shade look more pink somehow. I swear it really is the one in the bottle pictured!

Blurry flash shot inside, since it was the only way I could make the rainbows come out

The heart glitters are from a Nicole by OPI polish called Love Your Life, and I pretty much ever only use it around this time of year, haha.

Topped with Seche Vite, of course.

It's a shame I didn't get to show off the holo to its fullest extent--it was lovely!--but, dat gradient. The red one is just a wee bit sheer, enough to make a beautiful, seamless blend.

I hope you liked these! See you next time :) xoxo

Jacaranda-Inspired Textured Gradient

Good day, my dear readers! Spring has come on strongly here in sunny Queensland, and the weather is already starting to feel like summer. I have a massive Jacaranda tree in my back yard, and it's beginning to bloom beautifully. I was inspired by the lovely purple colour and created this manicure!

(click to enlarge!)

Metallic Crackle Gradient

Hello!
I sometimes find it hard to leave trends in the past. I bought these crackle polishes when they were cool, and dangit Bobby, I will continue to use them, at least occasionally.

Attempting to come up with different ways to use them, I painted this stripe/gradient sort of look over silver :)

Super easy to create, and nice to look at!

The base is Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in #220 Celeb City. Your standard silver foily polish. Over top of that, three OPI crackles--Red Shatter, Black Shatter, and Turquoise Shatter. I presume you won't need my usual parenthetical explanations of which is which. I just swiped these on side to side, trying to vary the heights of each line (most noticeably on the thumb). Easy-peasy! It's topped with two coats of Seche Vite for smoothness and shine.

I think one could make some pretty cool designs to represent their country, sports team, etc if you had the right crackle colours :D

Thanks for stopping by today! Enjoy the rest of your week xoxo

Sheer Tints & Glitter Gradient

Hello! Wow, another busy week. I've barely had any time to do my nails at all--but I have prepared one mani for you today, as well as two scheduled to go out while I'm away in Perth :) I can't wait to watch my beautiful friend get married, and to do nails for her and her bridesmaids. I'll have pics when I return!

About a month ago, I saw something at my local OPI supplier that I've been waiting on for a year--the Sheer Tints! They finally made their way to Australia. I immediately snatched them up, and this is the first design I did with them!

Neon Gradient with BPS Star Decals

Hullo! I'm so excited about today's mani! It's rainbowy and sparkly and starry and awesome!

This design Lisa Frank would be proud of is done with some bright Orly polishes, a little glitter, and some water decals from Born Pretty Store. Let's get on with it! :D

Snowflakes on Silver Tips

Hello, my dear readers! Happy Wednesday! Work is about to get hectic as balls for the next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas. I'm going to do my best to make sure my nails stay in good condition, dressed for the season, and photographed for you!

Snowflakes are one of my favourite things in nature. So orderly, beautiful, and delicate... I have about five snowflake necklaces, two pairs of earrings, and of course a nail stamping plate. So for today's mani, I have a soft white/silver gradient with some stamped snowflakes and silver microbeads :)

Ocean Stamping: Born Pretty Store Plate Review

Good day, my beautiful readers :) I'm going to the beach tomorrow! It's been a while, and I'm glad I get the opportunity to go again. I just love lying in the sun and swimming in the ocean!

It was the perfect time to try out my new Born Pretty Store ocean-themed stamping plate!

Outdoors in sun

Click for more!!

A Rosy Review: Born Pretty Store Water Decals

Hello! The other day I received three lovely items from Born Pretty Store to review for you! The first one I wanted to try are these gorgeous floral water decals. I've never used water decals before, but it was so easy and they're beautiful!

Please click the jump to see more!

Neon Lavish Bash

Hi everyone!

I feel like a broken record, but again, so sorry for long delays between posts! I went away to see a friend for a few days, and then came back and Halloween parties were in full swing :) I dressed as a vampire for one of them, and got a little carried away with the fake blood. My fingertips and cuticles are stained red! I have scrubbed with soap & water, acetone, oil... it's just going to take time to get them pretty again, and I can't take nice photos with them this way. (I did receive some more Born Pretty Store goodies, which I can't wait to share with you. It'll happen as soon as my hands don't look gross!)

In the meantime, I do have a simple mani for you--a neon + glitter-gradient combo that's been hanging out in the vault for just such an occasion :)

This is Indie Polish Neon Pink (my swatch is featured on her shop--yay!) with a gradient tip of Orly Lavish Bash. This gorgeous gold glitter lends itself perfectly to a gradient--building up gently with just the brush, not getting thick or lumpy at all. I love the holo hexes and bars!

I topped it with two thin coats of Seche Vite, for shine and smoothness.

Indoors with flash

Outdoors in overcast conditions

Outdoors after the sun peeked out ;)

I said it before, but the photos do not do this pink justice. It's SO bright and beautiful, and unlike a lot of neon polishes, it does not need a white base, and it dries shiny instead of matte and streaky like many neons! Such a unique formula.

Check out what Indie Polish is cooking up lately, and check back here soon! xoxo

The Lacquer Legion: #LLAfterDark

Hello, boys and ghouls (oh, that never gets old)! Time for a spooky Halloween-themed mani! The Lacquer Legion prompt this month was "after dark"... and I don't know about where you live, but after dark here is when the bats come around to nom all the mosquitos. I love bats! Some people are afraid of them, but I think they're cute--and I appreciate anything that eats up all the bugs :) So I decided to do a mani representing that brief moment at night when the moon is out, the last bit of sun is disappearing, and the bats start emerging :D

Click the jump to see more!

#31DC2014 - Day 5 - BLUE nails

Hello hello :) Day 5 of the challenge--blue nails!

I went for a blue ombre, plus glitter and flowers :) From index to small finger, I did a sponged vertical gradient with Revlon Royal, Soulstice Spa Monterey, Orly Blue Collar, Revlon #170 Coastal Surf, and Orly Snowcone. On top of that, the glitter you see in the photos--Sinful Colors Hottie. And finally, some blue flower stickers from a craft store. They actually glow in the dark, but I forgot to get a picture of that!

Topcoated with Seche Vite.

Indoors with flash

Outdoors in sun

On the thumb, I added OPI DS Magic -- the most beautiful blue polish evar. It fit in nicely with the gradient look to boot.

The worst part about this challenge is taking these off so quickly! This is the kind of mani I'd wear a few days, if I could. Oh well... tomorrow I'll be rocking some purple nails, so stay tuned for that! xoxo

Acid Zebra Vacation Nails

Hello, beautiful!

I just spent an incredible weekend in Melbourne! I hadn't been there before, but I'm absolutely addicted to travelling and seeing new places. It was great! I saw Little Penguins, and went to the top of the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, and went to cute little bars and cafes to my heart's content. I might move there next! It's brilliant.

Naturally, I wanted some cute nails for my trip.

You guys know I love rainbows :D so here's my take on the Acid Zebra look!

Skittle with Cult Nails: It's A New Day Collection

Hello my dears!

Back in April, I pre-ordered the It's A New Day collection from Cult Nails. It's a beautiful spring-themed set of three creme/jelly polishes, plus a special stamping plate co-designed with Marta from ChitChatNails. How cool is that? Marta is the reason I know of Cult Nails, and I know I'm not the only one! Her love for this brand has created lots of new Culties, so I think it's only fitting she got to collaborate with Maria on this.

Why am I only just reviewing these? Well, long story. Basically I had the polishes shipped to my best friend in the US, because it was much cheaper, and he was sending a box here to Australia for my birthday anyway, so we decided he could just pop this in as well. But he got really sick and was in the hospital and wasn't able to send me the package for a while. It finally arrived the other day, just in time for spring down under! (And he's doing just fine now--way better news!) Thank you, Jeff :)

Anyway, without further ado, my It's A New Day manicure:

Spider-Man Nails -- The Lacquer Legion Does Fandom!

G'day, boys and girls! It's time for another Lacquer Legion themed collaboration! This month, we celebrate the things in life we geek out for! TV shows, movies, sports teams, celebrities, comic books, you name it! Whatever you pay to go see, whatever you get excited about, whatever you have posters and T-shirts and collectible tributes to--put it on your nails!

I actually had to think a bit for this. I don't really watch TV, and I've already done manis celebrating my favourite sports teams, movie, book... what to do? Oh, comic books! My two favourites are Iron Man and the Amazing Spider-Man. As you cleverly ascertained from the title of this post, I went with the latter :D

Pink with Tinsley'd Tips

Hello, my beauties!

You know what's awesome about moving to a new country? Catching all their new and different germs. :P I've had about ten colds since January, it seems!! But it won't stop me painting my nails...