I used I Vant to be A-Lone Star (OPI) as the grey base, Be My Valentine (Sinful Colors nail art brush) for the stems, and Illamasqua's Load for the flowers. Subtle?
Dainty Asian Flowers
Is grey work-appropriate? Where I work, there is no dress code. One of my friends had purple hair for a while! So when I show up everyday with a new, usually bright manicure, no one blinks an eye. I mean, we can bring our pets into the office, no biggie. However, tomorrow we are having some potential clients come in, and I'll be organizing the lunch, so the potential for them to see my nails is large. With that in mind, I wanted a manicure that was appropriate, but I also really wanted to do this manicure, so I risked it. What do you guys think...appropriate? Would a stickler boss strike down these colors?
I used I Vant to be A-Lone Star (OPI) as the grey base, Be My Valentine (Sinful Colors nail art brush) for the stems, and Illamasqua's Load for the flowers. Subtle?
I used I Vant to be A-Lone Star (OPI) as the grey base, Be My Valentine (Sinful Colors nail art brush) for the stems, and Illamasqua's Load for the flowers. Subtle?
Shred the Pool
After a long day of trudging through snow, work and a post-holiday grocery shopping trip, I didn't have much motivation to do some intricate designs or stamping on my nails. Luckily, my Lacquistry was waiting for me to open it at lunch!
I first saw polishes created by Jenna at Lacquistry at Amy's blog, and in particular, this post. Still striking out in getting any Lynderlla polishes, I fell in love with Jenna's Shredded collection. I snagged the black, gold, and aqua versions of the shredded polishes and holy spicoli am I pleased with them! Not only for their reasonable price ($7.50 a bottle), but also for their...well let's just let the pictures speak for themselves.
I needed the black because it's dying to get some serious contrast (which you'll see in a moment). I also grabbed the gold, mostly because I was upset when I applied Essie's As Gold as it Gets only to find out that the gold flakes didn't actually remain gold once they were layered. And of course, the aqua was too unique to pass up. I also picked up a polish she aptly named Potting Soil. You'll see that in the future though.
So, a quick mani later, I got these neon results. I reiterate...holy spicoli!
Slapping the black Shredded on top of China Glaze's Pool Party is probably too much to handle for some, and definitely a driving hazard if nothing else, but it's so beyond effortless-awesome that I think even those of you who don't favor pinks and neons will give it its due credit.
I first saw polishes created by Jenna at Lacquistry at Amy's blog, and in particular, this post. Still striking out in getting any Lynderlla polishes, I fell in love with Jenna's Shredded collection. I snagged the black, gold, and aqua versions of the shredded polishes and holy spicoli am I pleased with them! Not only for their reasonable price ($7.50 a bottle), but also for their...well let's just let the pictures speak for themselves.
I needed the black because it's dying to get some serious contrast (which you'll see in a moment). I also grabbed the gold, mostly because I was upset when I applied Essie's As Gold as it Gets only to find out that the gold flakes didn't actually remain gold once they were layered. And of course, the aqua was too unique to pass up. I also picked up a polish she aptly named Potting Soil. You'll see that in the future though.
So, a quick mani later, I got these neon results. I reiterate...holy spicoli!
Slapping the black Shredded on top of China Glaze's Pool Party is probably too much to handle for some, and definitely a driving hazard if nothing else, but it's so beyond effortless-awesome that I think even those of you who don't favor pinks and neons will give it its due credit.
Vintage Flowers
Beautiful nail art comes from beautiful talent, and beautiful colors. The colors I used for today's manicure are really beautiful, especially when paired together. So thanks to Tzadkiel for her inspirational colors.
I don't have much else to say about it, other than I love it and dotting tools are clearly the best! The base color is Unicorn from Sinful Colors, and the dots are from For Audrey (China Glaze), Get in the Expresso Lane (OPI), Life Preserver (China Glaze), and Pull Over (Sinful Colors).
I don't have much else to say about it, other than I love it and dotting tools are clearly the best! The base color is Unicorn from Sinful Colors, and the dots are from For Audrey (China Glaze), Get in the Expresso Lane (OPI), Life Preserver (China Glaze), and Pull Over (Sinful Colors).
Dotting Tools...Nailed It.
I'm not sure if you're aware or not, but apparently, I am utterly unoriginal in naming my blog. I really should've done my research before deciding to use "Nailed It." as my blog's title. Let's take a look at the other blogs, also called Nailed It in some form or another. Interestingly, none of us were lucky enough to snag the URL "nailedit.blogspot.com". That goes to someone with a nerdy grudge. Instead, we nail bloggers were forced to choose a less obvious username to accompany our URLs. Here's just a few I've found:
So, to those of you who happened to weed through everyone and at least find me, congrats! Though my blog's title may actually be slightly uninspired, I try not to let my nails and designs be.
Luckily, the internet is chock-full of inspiration, which I'm happy to draw from. Using my spiffy new dotting tools, I made this beautiful pattern my muse.
Gorgeous right? And just dying to be dotted out. This being my first time using the dotting tool, I was unsure how big the dots would wind up being, so in the end, adding the stitching would've made the art a little too busy. I also swapped out the burnt orange color for a hot pink. This is the final result.
I'm pleased as punch with this cute design, and beyond excited to use more dotting tools. It also feels really good to have a complete manicure that matches on all 10 fingers again. With vacation, busy weekends and swatching, my nails haven't matched since...well I think since New Year's Eve! The glimpses you've caught in swatching wasn't consistent across both hands. Take it from a Capricorn...it feels good to have everything in its place.
I used China Glaze's Electric Pineapple and Flip Flop Fantasy for some of the dots, and OPI's Mermaid's Tears for the rest. The base is Movie Star from Essence. I really love Movie Star, but I wish the bottle I had were bigger. It's a shrimpy little 0.16 fluid ounce bottle. Is this how all Essence polishes are?
Everything's topped off with my new Seche Vite, which I honestly don't understand the rage about. It dries quickly, but not too much quicker than China Glaze's Fast Forward top coat, and it smells downright toxic. Fast Forward doesn't give me the same "If I inhale much more of this I'll wind up on A&E's Intervention" feeling that Seche Vite did. It did dry in record time though, so maybe I'll have to do a side-by-side of the two to really get the full benefit of it.
Either way, the nails are dry, protected, and shiny. Not bad for a first timer eh?
UPDATE (1/22/12):
Allie-Bee asked for this tutorial. Enjoy!
- NAILED IT! - A woman from Washington
- Nailed It - Lisa in Florida
- You nailed it! - Renee in the Netherlands
- Totally NAILed It! - Sayra
So, to those of you who happened to weed through everyone and at least find me, congrats! Though my blog's title may actually be slightly uninspired, I try not to let my nails and designs be.
Luckily, the internet is chock-full of inspiration, which I'm happy to draw from. Using my spiffy new dotting tools, I made this beautiful pattern my muse.
Gorgeous right? And just dying to be dotted out. This being my first time using the dotting tool, I was unsure how big the dots would wind up being, so in the end, adding the stitching would've made the art a little too busy. I also swapped out the burnt orange color for a hot pink. This is the final result.
I'm pleased as punch with this cute design, and beyond excited to use more dotting tools. It also feels really good to have a complete manicure that matches on all 10 fingers again. With vacation, busy weekends and swatching, my nails haven't matched since...well I think since New Year's Eve! The glimpses you've caught in swatching wasn't consistent across both hands. Take it from a Capricorn...it feels good to have everything in its place.
I used China Glaze's Electric Pineapple and Flip Flop Fantasy for some of the dots, and OPI's Mermaid's Tears for the rest. The base is Movie Star from Essence. I really love Movie Star, but I wish the bottle I had were bigger. It's a shrimpy little 0.16 fluid ounce bottle. Is this how all Essence polishes are?
Everything's topped off with my new Seche Vite, which I honestly don't understand the rage about. It dries quickly, but not too much quicker than China Glaze's Fast Forward top coat, and it smells downright toxic. Fast Forward doesn't give me the same "If I inhale much more of this I'll wind up on A&E's Intervention" feeling that Seche Vite did. It did dry in record time though, so maybe I'll have to do a side-by-side of the two to really get the full benefit of it.
Either way, the nails are dry, protected, and shiny. Not bad for a first timer eh?
UPDATE (1/22/12):
Allie-Bee asked for this tutorial. Enjoy!
100 Blogger Follower Giveaway
After four months of blogging, I've reached 100 followers. It's a small milestone to some, but coming in with little experience and few connections, it's major to me. And it can be major to you too if you win! The prize is the Color Club Foiled collection (including a shiny top coat).
I've swatched the collection here.
There are a few rules, so please take the time to read them all so your entry will be counted correctly.
I've swatched the collection here.
There are a few rules, so please take the time to read them all so your entry will be counted correctly.
Rules
- Due to postal rules and regulations, I can only open this giveaway to U.S. addresses. I tried to find a way around this that wouldn't put me in jeopardy with the law, but I haven't had any luck. I'm so sorry to my international followers and friends.
- All entries are due by January 31, 2012 5:00 PM (MST-Colorado time).
- Everyone who follows my blog publicly is welcome to enter, including new followers!
- Extra entries can be obtained by:
- Having already commented on one of the past 5 entries I've made. This is a special thank you to my existing followers who have shown interest in what I've had to say recently! For this, any comments made after January 6th will not be counted as an extra entry (but are always welcome!)
- Posting about the giveaway on your own blog, Tumblr account, or Twitter account! Feel free to use the graphic below for posting on your blog or Tumblr, and the Tweet below for Twitter.
- Tweet: @blognailedit is having a giveaway! Visit http://blognailedit.blogspot.com for a chance to win the Color Club Foiled collection!
- The winner must respond to an email I send them informing them of their win within 48 hours of the email being sent. A new winner will be chosen if a response is not sent.
- I will not choose the winner; random.org will select the winner based on the number of entries.
- Enter by using the form below. Comment entries will not be counted.
- Feel free to email me with any questions you have! blognailedit@gmail.com
Color Club Foiled Collection Swatches
Today's a little unusual for me. Today is just swatches of the Color Club Foiled collection, including a comparison of using the included top coat and not using the top coat with these colors.
You've probably seen it around on other blogs and in stores, so I won't drag out any descriptions. This post is for color comparison, and a bit of stamping testing. Enjoy!
Antiquated
Perfect Mol-Ten
You've probably seen it around on other blogs and in stores, so I won't drag out any descriptions. This post is for color comparison, and a bit of stamping testing. Enjoy!
Hot Like Lava
Foil Me Once
Antiquated
Lumin-Icent
Perfect Mol-Ten
Cold Metal
This is Hot Like Lava, with and without a top coat. My pinky and middle finger have the included top coat, and the ring finger does not.
As you can see, not too much of a difference. These colors do fine without top coats, but for protection of the manicure, I recommend it.
Finally, here's Foiled stamped.
From thumb to pinky, using Konad plate m65:
From thumb to pinky, using Konad plate m65:
- Lumin-Icent on Black Creme (Wet n' Wild)
- Hot Like Lava on Heavenly (Savina)
- Cold Metal on Light Mist (Savina)
- Perfect Mol-Ten on Neon Yellow (Savina)
- Antiquated on Get in the Expresso Lane (OPI)
Birthday, Christmas and New Year Haul
The end of the year is always full of some serious celebration for me. With a birthday right before Christmas, Christmas itself, and all the celebration and hangovers that accompany New Year's Eve, there's a lot to be happy about. In addition, I have gifts and presents to celebrate over that I know you all will also appreciate. Of course, I recieved some lovely non-nail gifts and love from my family and friends that are also reason to celebrate, but since this is a nail blog, I'll just share those with you today.
Get ready...it's picture heavy!
First up, these are the gifts my sister gave me. She understands nail polish more than anyone I personally know, so you can only imagine my joy opening her gifts. She gave me tools:
...dotting tools
...striping brushes
...and a glass nail file.
She gave me the Butter London Dressing Table duo, Black Knight and Tart with a Heart. Unfortunately, the dressing table suffered a fatility during the 17-hour car ride, so it won't be making an appearance in today's shots.
She gave me some amazing nail art brushes I've never heard of, but definitely want more of. The formula on all of these is great, and only requires one coat. That's practically unheard of with brighter striping shades. All of these are from a company called Color Madric. They're all sort of metallic, not matte as their bottles seem to indicate.
Shown here is Design Yellow, Green, Ocean Blue, and Hologram Glitter.
Hologram Glitter really is holographic, as I tried to capture here.
Shown here are the metallics from the Metal-licious collection of Color Madric brushes. These colors are Am-Ore, Platinum Rush, Lead to Riches, Metal-Licious, Iron I Lovely, and Gold Digger.
These all appear metallic, as their collection's name suggests.
She gave me part of L.A. Girl Glitter Addict collection, including the elusive Uninhibited I've been craving since I saw Rie from Nails and Noms use it.
Shown here are Uninhibited, Jostle, Animate, and Celebrate.
A few days after getting these, we stopped by a random Rite Aid to get Andy some contact solution, and I saw a glittering display of five more colors from the collection!
I added Eutopia, Nostalgic, Purge (a new nail polish name favorite in my book), Synergy, and Provocative to my infant collection.
Now it's a glittering grand collection!
She gave me some polishes we had talked about over the phone. These are randoms I mentioned liking that she had cheap access to out there in So-Cal.
Shown here is Sea Gurl from ORLY, Good Witch? from China Glaze, Cleopatra also from China Glaze, Glass Slipper from Sally Hansen Diamond Strength (one I actually snagged for myself), Lady Luck from Sally Hansen Gem Crush and January from Julep. She didn't like that color on her, so I took it off her hands. To top this load of polishes off is the amazing Load from Illamasqua. Look at it back there. Beautifully raunchy.
Rounding out my sister's amazing gifts is my first bottle...or bottles rather...of Seche Vite.
Look at this monstrosity! It's so much top coat, I don't even know what to do with it! 4 ounces!
So that's it from her...but fear not, my haul has not ended! She did an unbelievable job of making my Christmas gifts a thrill to open. Thanks Sisser, I love you!
I mentioned in Sapphire that Andy's mom's trainer, Robbie really hooked me up with some amazing CND products. Here they are!
She included in my bag of goodies some nail care items including some tasty CND Solar Oil (a cuticle conditioner), Scentsations lotion minis in Sparkling Champagne and Clementine & Mistletoe. They smell awesome! There are also several samples of CND's Spamanicure hand lotions, in Citrus Soothing Creme and Almond Hydrating Lotion. I absolutely love the smell of the almond lotion. Finally, there are a few nail buffers, showing their support for breast cancer research with the words "Nail Community Cares" written on them.
She also included some amazing colors, including Smoochie (#518), Sapphire Sparkle (#561), Plum Truffle Sparkle Effect (#586), and Plum Truffle Colour (#585). You've seen Sapphire Sparkle already in Sapphire.
Thank you again Robbie, I love everything!
Last but not least! We have the polishes I bought myself.
You've already seen the Urban Outfitters collection I picked up here, but here's a few more shots of those beautiful bottles.
I also snagged the entire Finger Paints Special Effects collection today at Sally's!
Not much to look at when they're in the bottles, but I'm sure you've seen them used by other ladies. My favorite shots are from Jen at The PolishAholic, from this post showing each on its own, and this post showing them all layered together. Oh many these are going to be fun to play with!
So that's it. Can you feel my excitement through the screen? It's radiating!
Get ready...it's picture heavy!
First up, these are the gifts my sister gave me. She understands nail polish more than anyone I personally know, so you can only imagine my joy opening her gifts. She gave me tools:
...dotting tools
...striping brushes
...and a glass nail file.
She gave me the Butter London Dressing Table duo, Black Knight and Tart with a Heart. Unfortunately, the dressing table suffered a fatility during the 17-hour car ride, so it won't be making an appearance in today's shots.
She gave me some amazing nail art brushes I've never heard of, but definitely want more of. The formula on all of these is great, and only requires one coat. That's practically unheard of with brighter striping shades. All of these are from a company called Color Madric. They're all sort of metallic, not matte as their bottles seem to indicate.
Shown here is Design Yellow, Green, Ocean Blue, and Hologram Glitter.
Hologram Glitter really is holographic, as I tried to capture here.
Shown here are the metallics from the Metal-licious collection of Color Madric brushes. These colors are Am-Ore, Platinum Rush, Lead to Riches, Metal-Licious, Iron I Lovely, and Gold Digger.
These all appear metallic, as their collection's name suggests.
She gave me part of L.A. Girl Glitter Addict collection, including the elusive Uninhibited I've been craving since I saw Rie from Nails and Noms use it.
Shown here are Uninhibited, Jostle, Animate, and Celebrate.
A few days after getting these, we stopped by a random Rite Aid to get Andy some contact solution, and I saw a glittering display of five more colors from the collection!
I added Eutopia, Nostalgic, Purge (a new nail polish name favorite in my book), Synergy, and Provocative to my infant collection.
Now it's a glittering grand collection!
She gave me some polishes we had talked about over the phone. These are randoms I mentioned liking that she had cheap access to out there in So-Cal.
Shown here is Sea Gurl from ORLY, Good Witch? from China Glaze, Cleopatra also from China Glaze, Glass Slipper from Sally Hansen Diamond Strength (one I actually snagged for myself), Lady Luck from Sally Hansen Gem Crush and January from Julep. She didn't like that color on her, so I took it off her hands. To top this load of polishes off is the amazing Load from Illamasqua. Look at it back there. Beautifully raunchy.
Rounding out my sister's amazing gifts is my first bottle...or bottles rather...of Seche Vite.
Look at this monstrosity! It's so much top coat, I don't even know what to do with it! 4 ounces!
So that's it from her...but fear not, my haul has not ended! She did an unbelievable job of making my Christmas gifts a thrill to open. Thanks Sisser, I love you!
I mentioned in Sapphire that Andy's mom's trainer, Robbie really hooked me up with some amazing CND products. Here they are!
She included in my bag of goodies some nail care items including some tasty CND Solar Oil (a cuticle conditioner), Scentsations lotion minis in Sparkling Champagne and Clementine & Mistletoe. They smell awesome! There are also several samples of CND's Spamanicure hand lotions, in Citrus Soothing Creme and Almond Hydrating Lotion. I absolutely love the smell of the almond lotion. Finally, there are a few nail buffers, showing their support for breast cancer research with the words "Nail Community Cares" written on them.
She also included some amazing colors, including Smoochie (#518), Sapphire Sparkle (#561), Plum Truffle Sparkle Effect (#586), and Plum Truffle Colour (#585). You've seen Sapphire Sparkle already in Sapphire.
Thank you again Robbie, I love everything!
Last but not least! We have the polishes I bought myself.
You've already seen the Urban Outfitters collection I picked up here, but here's a few more shots of those beautiful bottles.
I also snagged the entire Finger Paints Special Effects collection today at Sally's!
Not much to look at when they're in the bottles, but I'm sure you've seen them used by other ladies. My favorite shots are from Jen at The PolishAholic, from this post showing each on its own, and this post showing them all layered together. Oh many these are going to be fun to play with!
So that's it. Can you feel my excitement through the screen? It's radiating!
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