Yummy Treats - China Glaze 'Rich & Famous'

Hi Everyone,

Today I have my stamped manicure for Adventures in Stamping. The challenge this week was stamping over a saran wrap base. You can see how I did my base at this post here from yesterday.

Some of you may know that I am trying to be good and eat less of the deliciously bad processed foodstuffs. Lollipops, candy, cupcakes and muffins, toffees and icecream. All a big no no! So... why not put them on my nails instead?

Materials I have used:
Saran wrap base materials you can find here
Konad special stamping polish in black
Topcoat - Seche Vite
Plates Used - CH10 (lollipop and icecream), CH16 (cupcake), PUEEN03 (toffee) and BM306 (candy)

And here are some close up shots of my two favourite designs. The cupcake is so cute! My original plan was to use the full nail design on all my nails but I couldn't resit an accent nail (as usual) and the different sweet treats.

As you can probably tell, I had a little dragging with my topcoat and it has smudged some of the designs. This is what happens when I do my nails at 2am in the morning because it is stormy outside *eep* Other than the slight dragging I am very impressed with my Cheeky and Pueen plates that are now part of my collection.

What is your favourite sweet treat?

Happy polishing!

Glittery White and Pink Saran Wrap - China Glaze 'White Cap'

Hi everyone,

Today I have a manicure I am in love with! This will be my base for an upcoming stamping challenge, but I love it so much that I needed to leave it alone before stamping over the top. Just for a couple of days :)

These are the materials I used:

Base coat - OPI Original Nail Envy
Two coats of China Glaze 'White Out'
One coat of China Glaze 'White Cap'
One coat of China Glaze 'Rich & Famous'
Top coat - Seche Vite
saran wrap
acetone and brush for clean up

This is a glittery white and pink saran wrap manicure. The method involves taking a piece of saran wrap (glad wrap/cling film for the Aussie's out there) and scrunching it into a ball. You then paint over the nail with a colour and whilst still wet dab away the excess colour. This was a very easy effect to achieve, although the results look like more effort went into it. Deceptive and sneaky!

This is two coats of 'White Out' with one coat of 'White Cap.' I could easily wear this look as is. You could skip on the glittery topper but I wanted some depth to my base... See those beautiful gold flecks?

This is the finished product with one coat of 'Rich & Famous' dabbed off. The below photo is intentionally slightly blurry so you can see the combination of pink and gold.

I love this technique and its effect. I already have a few colour combinations in mind for future manicures. What do you think would look nice together, matching tone on tone colours or complete opposites?

Stay tuned for my stamping on Sunday. Happy polishing!

Silver French - China Glaze 'Secret Peri-Wink-Le'

Hi everyone,

Today I have my take on the French tip manicure for Adventures In Stamping. We could do any variation on the french manicure. I decided I wanted some very subtle stamping, so decided on a soft periwinkle blue and silver theme.

I'm very happy with how this turned out. I used my XL Sticky Stamper as well as striping tape and french tip guides for the very first time. They all work great! I am now in love with the XL Stamper, I wish I had of bought one ages ago. I did have to put some Glad Wrap (saran wrap) around the base so that the surface doesn't fall out each time I use it, but that was an easy fix.

I have used;

Basecoat - Seche Clear
Colour on ring finger - two coats of China Glaze 'Secret Peri-Wink-Le'
Top coat - Seche Vite
Stamping - Revlon 'Silver Dollar'
Plate Used - m79
Pale Blue striping tape

I'm also very happy with my recent purchase of acetone. My clean up is now looking more crisp. I just have to remember to moisturise!

Do you like French tips? Do you prefer the traditional colour scheme of pink and white?  

Happy polishing!

Grease The Movie Inspired Nails - China Glaze 'Sugar Rush'

Hi everyone,

I've been a very bad blogger and challenge participant! On the 17th of June over at Adventures In Stamping I was a day late in uploading my 70's Inspired design and now I'm posting 5 days later than I should be. I've been alot busier than I thought...

Well, better late than never I say! I didn't want to go down the traditional route of neon, tie dye, peace signs ect. because I figured that everyone would do that. Instead, I looked at movies that were released in the 70's, and voila, Grease Is The Word!

I have used;
Basecoat - Seche Clear
Colour on ring finger - two coats of China Glaze 'Liquid Leather'
Colour on remaining fingers - two coats of China Glaze 'Sugar Rush'
Top coat - Seche Vite
Stamping - Konad Special Polish in white and black
Plates Used - m73 (music notes), MM03 (couple silhouette), BM317 (hearts), m71 (girl), m18 (letter T), BM315 (bird), BM305 (lightening)

I am so happy with this design! I recently received my Messy Mansion and Bundle Monster plates, so it was great having a selection of images to choose from. And between you and me... I have another 6 parcels arriving :)

I have had many comments on how cute my thumb looks, it's my favourite finger for this design. Just in case you are wondering what my inspiration actually translates too:

Thumb - We Go Together (song)

Index - Hopelessly Devoted To You (song)

Middle - The Pink Ladies

Ring - The T-Birds

Pinky - Greased Lighnin' (song)

Hopefully my next update is sooner rather than later.

Happy Polishing!

Winter Knitted Sweater - China Glaze 'Lemon Fizz'

Hi everyone,

Today's manicure came about from our challenge of "complimentary colours off a colour wheel" over at Adventures In Stamping. After looking at the colour wheel, nothing appealed to me at all! Red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow. Purple and yellow? That sounds interesting...

When I looked at my available polishes, I then thought of a traditional winter knitted sweater. This is what I came up with;

I have used:
Basecoat - Seche Clear
Colour on ring finger - two coats of China Glaze 'Spontaneous'
Colour on remaining fingers - three coats of China Glaze 'Lemon Fizz'
Top coat - Seche Vite
Stamping and sponging- China Glaze 'Spontaneous'
Plate - NC03 from Nailz Craze

I'm putting it out in the universe, I do not like this manicure at all. I strongly dislike complimentary colours. If I ever did this design again, I would not try a gradient with colours that do not blend well. What was I thinking?

Yet... I love my purple 'Spontaneous' polish and I'm glad I got to wear it. I love my new Nailz Craze plate and I'm happy that I tried something completely out of my comfort zone.

Have you ever done a manicure that you really haven't liked, yet still found elements that make you keep it on your nails?

Happy polishing!