Today I have my monthly stash additions post to show you guys. I had some fun this week and bought a bunch of nail stuff. But it's easier to show you than to tell you what I got so here it is.
Amazon:
China Glaze: Hook And Line, Mahogany Magic, Goin' My Way?, and Recycle
Mash plates 26-50
Fred Meyer:
Essence - Peel Off Base Coat
Essence stamping plate in 01 Have Fun!
J.C. Penny:
OPI - Peace & Love & OPI
Sally Beauty Supply:
Finger Paints: Peacock Portrait, and Hue Brighten My Day
So as you can see I was a little naughty this month and got lots of pretty polish. Have you guys added any polish to your own collection? If so what did you get? Well that's all I have for you today. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have nail art that is pretty special to me. Free warning this will be a sentimental post. If you don't like that back out now and go no further. Today is an anniversary of sorts. 17 years ago today I was injured pretty badly in a car crash and worst of all lost my mother, because of a drunk driver. It doesn't matter how many years have passed, it doesn't get any easier. It doesn't help that for quite some time I was told not to talk about it (what happened to her and what happened to me) and to push it away. I'm not doing that any more. It's my past, and I can share it with whomever the "F" I want to. So, I am sharing with you, my darling followers. This year I thought I would do some memorial nail art. To memorialize the day I changed forever and the day I lost the person who gave me everything good inside me (Including my artistic ability). I want to take this August 24th and make it about my art and my love for my mother. Make the day a little easier on me by doing something I love. For someone I love. So without further ado. Here is my 17 manicure.
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
What I Used:
China Glaze - Kinetic Candy
China Glaze - Life Is Rosy
China Glaze - Holly-Day
China Glaze - Happy Go Lucky
China Glaze - White On White
Konad - White
Konad - Black
Konad - Red
Stamping Plates:
Mash - Mash-36
Konad - M59 & M79
Shany - SH206
A song that reminds me of my mother:
Beam Me Up by P!nk
I used self made decals, stamping, and free hand nail art to get this look. I chose a rose because she loved them. Let me be clear here, I am probably the only female on the planet who hates roses. Because I have only ever received roses when someone has died and after 4 grandparents, 2 friends, my brother, and my mom...They are irrevocably tainted by death for me and I loath them for that. Creepy little death flowers. But again she loved them. I chose the dove because I have a necklace that belonged to her it's a plain metal dove. We had one put on her grave marker and I have the same bird tattooed on my left shoulder. While I know some see the dove as a religious symbol, it has nothing to do with religion for me. And everything to do with peace. For her. For me. Just peace. The number is pretty self explanatory I think. And the hearts...one big one small. Well, if I have to explain that one to you...you haven't been paying attention.
So there you have it. My 17 year memorial manicure. I hope you guys enjoyed the manicure. And if I may offer a few free bits of advice (from someone who knows). Don't drink and drive. You can scar someone to the core of their being and destroy so many lives. And also, go hug your mom. Tell her you love her. Because you never know when the last time, will be the last time. Until next time stay classy and stay polished.
Today, I have some nail art based on Kick-Ass 2. I absolutely love Kick-Ass1 and I'm going to the squeal tonight. So, I thought how about some nail art. If you haven't seen Kick-Ass you so should. It's awesome. Hit-Girl is a freaking awesome little bad ass super hero. Anyway here's my nail art.
And a song from the Kick-Ass 1 (in a Hit Girl kicking ass sequence) that I just love and that every woman should have on their iPod.
Bad Reputation by Joan Jett
I used several different forms of nail art on this manicure. I used taping, stamping, self made decals, and free hand nail art. This one took forever but had a pretty good payoff I think. I didn't attempt faces because all my faces look just awful. That aside I think it turned out pretty well. Are you guys going to see Kick-Ass 2? Or have you already? As excited as I was for this movie to come out I waited for Tuesdays because my local theater does cheap popcorn on Tuesdays. I can't wait I'm so excited. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this manicure. Until next time, stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have some Flame Nail Art to show you guys. To be fair it was a practice run at small part of a nail art I won't be showing you guys until November. Sorry for the tease, but I have never attempted this type of nail art before. Hence the test run. And how better to learn a specific type of nail art than to practice, practice, practice. Ten practice nails and I am pretty happy with my ability to create flame nails. Anyway, here are my flame nails.
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Outdoor in sunlight.
Outdoor in shade.
What I Used:
China Glaze - Smoke & Ashes
China Glaze - Dandy Lyin' Around
China Glaze - Solar Power
China Glaze - Riveting
OPI - Danke-Shiny Red
and a regular old pin (like you would use for sewing)
And the song that's stuck in my head so I thought I would share:
Wonderland by Natalia Killls
Okay, so I used the pin drag method to create this nail art. I am actually pretty happy with the outcome. For a flame manicure virgin I think I did pretty well. What do you guys think? Do you like it? Ten bonus points to whomever can guess what the theme for manicure in November I'm working on. And Marcie this excludes you because you already know (Sorry, but that's cheating). Actually I think you guys will like November as far as nail art goes. I have two pretty big nail art posts planned for then. But you will have to wait. Don't worry there will be plenty of nail art coming up before that. It's almost fall (my favorite season). Two of my favorite shows start new seasons so I may do something for them...and lets face it the whole month of October is going to be a Halloween nail art spree. It is my favorite holiday after all. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this manicure. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have a swatch of Sally Girl Brainy to show you guys. Brainy is a pale pearlescent blue, with small teal glitter and medium teal hexagonal glitter. It actually reminds be a bit of Deborah Lippmann's Mermaid' Dream which I don't own it (see swatches by Berry Polished here)...yet. But from the pictures I've seen it's pretty close. Here's Brainy.
Swatches:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Outdoor in sunlight.
Outdoor in shade.
Closeup:
Outdoor in sunlight.
I used four coats of Brainy and a layer of top coat. It dried fairly quickly but was a pretty thin formula. Over all I really like it. And for me it looks close enough to D.L.'s Mermaid's Dream. When I acquire Mermaid's Dream you can bet I will be posting a comparison though. I do have a birthday coming up (insert evil grin here). And the Nail Polish Fairy tends to bring me some nail polish for my special day. A girl can hope...right? Anyway, that's all I have for you guys today. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished. XOXO
Today, I have a Jelly Sandwich to show you guys. I bought China Glaze Isle See You Later even thought I had heard (from multiple bloggers) that it was really low in opacity and boy they weren't kidding. This may be the least opaque nail polish I own. It's on par with french manicure jellies. Luckily, I didn't buy it to wear alone, I wanted it for Jelly Sandwiches. But I quickly realized that even for use in a Jelly Sandwich it was going to need some underwear. But enough blathering, here are the pictures of my blue Jelly Sandwich manicure.
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Outdoor in sunlight.
Outdoor in shade.
Closeup:
Indoor no flash.
What I Used:
China Glaze - Sunday Funday
China Glaze - Isle See You Later
Finger Paints - Colorful Collage
I used two coats of Sunday Funday as under wear, one coat of Colorful Collage, and three coats of Isle See You Later. Over all I like how it turned out but I wish Isle See You Later had a bit more pigment in it. It's kind of meh. I'll experiment with it a little more but as of now I can't really see myself using it for anything else but French Manicures and Jelly Sandwiches. Because it really doesn't give you much to work with, pigment wise. That's all I have for you guys today until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
