NOTD - Nails Inc Victoria + Stamping

Hi loves, I hope you all had a nice weekend! I went out on Friday night and have spent the rest of the weekend recovering. Show's I'm getting old... Actually I have flu, it's not a 2 day hangover...at least that's what I keep telling myself.

Anyway, since I'm pretty sure polish fumes would finish me off I didn't take part in stamping Sunday today :( I may do what I had planned later in the week, but as it's my birthday on Wednesday and have the Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge at the end of the week I already have a couple of manicures planned I may not get time. Instead I'm showing you what I wore when I went out. I was wearing a black dress with a kind of cream and gold flowery pattern on it, so my nails almost matched. I didn't want black nails so I used a deep vampy red, Nails Inc Victoria and stamped with Barry M Gold Foil and BM221.

And this is the outfit I wore it with...and a good excuse to show off my little poser! Honestly as soon as the camera comes out it's like he's on a photo shoot for vogue.

"Don't go out Mummy, look how cute I am! You can't possibly want any time to yourself..."

How do you judge if you had a good night? I woke up on Saturday with no voice, the nail polish rubbed off my toes from dancing so much, my handbag was full of vodka, we ended up in a gay bar and I dropped my phone in the toilet when I got home at 4am...all in all I think it was a good night!

Hx

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NOTD - PCFC Polka Dots

I feel like I've "done" polka dots. When there always seems to be something I want to try with my nails, repeating a design seems like a waste! But polka dots are a classic and I've turned to them in times of need. I created a little twist here, for this weeks Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge, by using some half pearls as an accent. I used Beauty Uk Frozen Kingdom and Color Club Antiquated for the stamping and accent nail, and Born Pretty Fauxnad M71. On the accent nail I stamped just with a white polish to give me a "guide" for where the place the pearls. It's way too "classy" for me, but I love it :)

That's it for today! Short and sweet, like me (!)

Hx

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NOTD - Triangular half moons plus stamping

Hi loves

I tried a tape mani a few days ago, and for once didn't get into a mess with sticky tape! They triangles aren't the neatest, but you couldn't really notice apart from close up. I used a coat of Barry M Silver Foil, let it dry completely and then taped off the triangles at the cuticle before using a coat of No 7 Poolside Blue.

I wore it like this for a day and then stamped over it with the foil again.

I smudged the stamp on the little finger but other than that I liked it! Still got smurf hands when I took it off though. Damn you blue polish *shakes fist*

Hx

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NOTD - Sinful Colors Amethyst with bargain duochrome topcoat!

Hi loves,

I am seriously stony broke at the moment, so there will be no polish buying for a while. I had a little spree last week, on ebay and in cheap shops and picked up this little beauty in Bodycare - a no-frills beauty/pharmacy type shop. I was there looking for Technic polishes as I heard they had a Rainbow Connection dupe and a silver holo for under £2 (post on that soon) and spotted this. I usually avoid sheer pearly shades like this because although I fear I am getting old (30 next week - eeek!) I do not like granny hands, but this had just a hint of duo chrome to it that made me look twice. I actually left it and went back later, and I'm glad I did. It's called Opal and is by Body Collection apparently, although I've never heard of them. I'm sure it was around £1.40 - so quite a bargainous bargain. I tested it over around 10 colours on a nail wheel before I decided to layer it over Sinful Colors Amethyst (which I got in a swap from Jasmine after I saw it on her blog and decided it was my perfect purple) but my darling son (well one of them) snapped them all off so I can't show you that. It looked great over grey, navy blue and bright green too though. Here it is over Amethyst:

The formula was quite thick so it did mute the colour of the base polish down quite a bit, but I enjoyed wearing it - until my middle finger peeled off in a big sheet again. Sigh.

Just a quick note, I have added an RSS feed button and a follow by email widget to my side bar along with the Blog lovin', Facebook, Twitter and GFC ones. I thought with the change coming to GFC in March it would make sense. If you get any problems with them please let me know!

Hx

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NOTD: Stamping Stars

Hi loves,

Over in my Stamping FB group, Adventures in Stamping, this weeks theme was stars. Stars just happen to be one of my favourite things to stamp so I couldn't wait. I was super happy with how this manicure turned out and I got some nice comments on it (and made a new friend because of them!), but I just could not get good pictures. The stars stand out MUCH better in person, and they really look like nail foils. I wanted it to look like those scratchy picture things, where you scratch off the black to reveal rainbow foil underneath, and it kinda does so I love them. I used Wet n Wild Black Creme and then stamped by putting a blob of each of the Color Club foiled polishes (except Antiquated) along the edge of the design, from SdP D07, and then scraping it so that the polish filled the design in stripes - hard to explain, I guess I should have taken a pic! 

My pictures really do not do it justice! I even played with the white balance on my camera and it didn't make it any better. Hurry up Spring, I want sunshine for pics again!

Hx

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PCFC - Glittabomb!

This week's PCFC manicure was Glitterbomb, chosen by Abby. What I went for isn't exactly a "bomb" more like a damp firework, but it's pretty blingy and I got to use one of my China Glaze 3d Eye Candy glitters, Loreli's Tiara. ZOMG this is purdy stuff. I painted all my nails with a coat of Barry M Silver Foil Effects, freehanded glitter tips on most nails and did three coats of Loreli's Tiara on ring finger and thumb.

After I'd washed the dishes earlier, I pulled the plug out as you do and when I went to rinse the sink I found this in the plughole!

The thumb peeled right off! I wanted to wear it for a day longer so just painted the thumb again. Then today I went to a friends for the afternoon for the kids to play, looked down at one point to see that the ring and middle fingers on my left hand had done the same. So my friend is going to find two nail shaped pieces of polish somewhere! Maybe I had some grease on my nails when I painted them, but it was really odd! I'm used to my polish chipping but it doesn't often come off in big sheets!

What do you think of Loreli's Tiara? I got three CG 3d Eye Candy Glitters, this, Love Marilyn and Some Like It haute, but I wish I could afford the others too. I could spend so much money at the moment....shame I haven't got any!

Hx

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Suffering with the peelies...

Morning

Since taking off my gel nails I have been suffering. I don't know if it is the fault of the gels or just my nails back to their usual tricks but they are peeling horribly. I am moisturising, moisturising, moisturising, using a hydrating base coat, wearing gloves outside but they're still split to hell. The length that grew while I was wearing the gels is now all but gone and they're almost nubs again :( So I decided to take action and when I saw this deal on buyapowa I jumped straight in. 4 Orly Minis and a large bottle of their nail defence, for as little as £16 if it hits lowest price. Considering Orly Minis are £5 each on Boots I think it's a good deal, and I've read great reviews on the nail defence. Hopefully it will help my poor, split nails! If you'd like in on this offer click here to join the co buy (and help drive the price lower)!

Have you tried Nail Defence? Did it help?

Hx

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Frankenduping...sorta

When I first saw Deborah Lipmann Glitter in the Air I wasn't that impressed. The glitter was sparse, it was sheer and I just wasn't all that keen. But then Revlon starts duping them like a Chinese sweat shop and my interest is perked... I still don't rate the DL but Revlon's version, Whimsical, I want. Have Revlon released it here in the UK? Have you ever seen me in a bikini? The answer to both of these is no. And apparently Whimsical is getting hard to find in the US too. So I thought I'd cut out the middle man and have a go at making Whimsical myself! I wasn't entirely successful, but what I managed is still pretty... I used around a third of a bottle of a pretty glitter I got in Claires - round/hex pink, blue and red glitter and smaller silver glitter in a clear base. I poured about a third of the bottle into an old topcoat bottle and added a glug of a cheap clear polish, then a few drops of Barry M Blueberry Ice Cream and some white. Here's 3 coats of the result:

I also made a pink version, kind of a cross between Revlon Starry Pink (another one they didn't bring to the UK...grrr) and Lipmann's Candy Shop:

Now while I LOVE my Whimsical franken (which I have named Capricious) I still want a real Whimsical. Time to replace Facets of Fuchsia on your concessions PLEASE Revlon!

Have you ever tried to dupe a polish?

Hx

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Under the Sea!

Morning!

This week's Adventures in Stamping challenge was to create an Under the Sea themed mani. I don't have any stamping plates with fish on them (apart from the weird little dead fish on one of the BM plates) so I was at a loss at what to do. I do have a couple of sea-weedy stamps, but that would have meant free handing some fish or something, and I knew that wouldn't turn out well! On Friday I did another nautical themed-manicure using a stripy stamp and some stars anchors and a ships wheel, but thought that was cheating a little. So Sunday night (last minute, moi?) I settled on this. I used Wet n Wild Teal of Fortune as the base, sponged a white creme mixed with a little Collection 2000 Sparkle Top Coat for the waves on the tips and then stamped the dolphins from my Born Pretty Hello Kitty (M71) plate with Wet n Wild Black Creme. Dolphins playing in the surf!

This was the nautical mani I'd come up with before - Wet n Wild French White base, striped stamped with 2ture Colour Quick Fast Dry Shade 10 and anchors/wheel/stars stamped with Barry M Gold Foil.

I'm sorry all my photos are absolutely awful at the moment, they make me cringe. I don't know what I'm doing wrong...

Anyway, next week's AiS challenge is either Stars, Zebras on Acid or Butterflies. Looking forward to it already :)

Hx

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I've been tagged...

The gorgeous Grace from Oooooh Pretty tagged me in a post a few days ago, so here are my answers!


The Rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things yourself.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about ‘you are tagged if you are reading this.’ Blah blah blah, you legiti­mately have to tag 11 peeps!

Random facts about me:

1. Since I was 18 I have lived in 7 different houses. That means on average I've moved every 20 months.
2. I grew up in South London but have lived in Plymouth, St Austell (Cornwall) and Bedfordshire where I live now.
3. I can only wink with my right eye.
4. I can't say the word "pumpkin", it always comes out "punkin"!
5. I love my kitchen gadgets! I have a breadmaker, food processor with eleventy billion attachments, blender, juicer, coffee machine...now I just need someone to do the cooking for me too...
6. I am very emotional and often get teary eyed at soaps, documentaries, adverts, cartoons...anything really!
7. When I was 17 I spent a summer decorating classrooms in my school with a group of my friends. We did them all in funky colours and patterns, were featured in my local paper and got paid for it! 
8. After not doing very well in my A-levels I completely changed the course I was doing at university to Drama Studies with English Literature. It was the best thing I have ever done.
9. I am a qualified Primary teacher, although I haven't taught in more than 5 years.
10. I have a scar in my right eyebrow from where my other half shut my head in a window. Accidentally, apparently...
11. The most fun I ever had at work was working as a telesales agent for a double glazing company! Seriously, it's a rubbish job but we played games, had great incentives for doing well and I made friends for life. Just one of the things that still makes me smile now is the memory of me wearing a hard hat (we were having a funny hat day one Easter Monday) and everyone throwing Cadbury creme eggs at my head...

My Questions from Grace:
1. What is your earliest memory

     Going into play school aged about 3 and my best friend running up to me and shaking her pigtails in my face!

2. Where is your favourite place you have been on holiday

     I haven't been to many places but my in-laws live in Spain and it's lovely there. Other than that I love Cornwall.

3. Whats your favourite nail varnish (name and range)

     Barry M Indigo

4. Who is your celebrity crush

     Dermot O'Leary! Or Harry Judd, but he's waaay too young for me...

5. Whats your can't live with out beauty product

     I don't have anything that I must have and my products switch quite regularly, but my desert island product would be a good mascara.

6. Where would you go on the holiday of your dreams

     A warm sunny beach where I can swim in the sea and make sandcastles with my boys.

7. Bad boys or Nice boys

     Nice boys. Romance, breakfast in bed, flowers....I can dream!

8. Whats the most outrageous colour you have ever dyed your hair

     It was neon orange for about 8 hours after a dying disaster last year...but it's been red, black, purple...my hair colour doesn't stay the same for long.

9. Twitter or Facebook

     Both!

10.First make up item you ever bought

     Really not sure. It was either nail polish, eyeshadow or lipgloss.

11.Favourite Cocktail

     Anything with cranberry juice

My questions for everyone else:

1. What is your favourite item of clothing?
2. Do you have any new years resolutions this year, and how are they going?
3. Favourite food?
4. Dream product - what's the number one money-no-object item in your beauty wishlist?
5. What is your dream job?
6. What is the thing that makes you the most happy?
7. If you could change anything you've done in the past what would you change?
8. How much is that doggy in the window?
9. If you had to chose between losing an arm or a leg which would you chose?
10. Do you have/want children?
11. Tell me an embarrassing secret!

I tag:

Ash-Lilly's Lacquer Lust

Cute-tickle Nails

Emily's Nail Files

Enigmatic Rambles

Fab-La-Icious Nails

Nails and Nonsense

Happy Nails

Purple Fairy Dust

Spellbinding Nails

The Crumpet 

The Nailasaurus

And of course everyone else who wants to do it!

If I've tagged you and not told you - I ran out of time but I will be back later to tell everyone they've been tagged!

I also got a lovely blog award from Charlotte at Charlotte's Nails. Thank you!

Here are the rules you have to follow when receiving this award:

1. Link back to the person who gave you this award

2. Complete the form below

3. Award 10 other blogs and let them know in a comment or email

4. Share 7 random things about yourself

FORM:

1. Name your favorite song.

This is such a hard question! One that brings back lots of happy memories is Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis

2. Name your favorite dessert.

Rice pudding, yum!

3. What ticks me off.

Bad manners, bad grammar and bad breath!

4.When I'm upset I...

Bottle it all in and cry in private :(

5. What's your favorite pet.

I heart my cat George.

6.Black or white?

Black.

7. Biggest fear.

My Mum dying.

8. Every day attitude.

Procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate!

9. What is perfection?

My children :)

10. Guilty pleasure?

Silly internet games and of course nail polish!

For my 7 random facts you can see above! And I tag everyone above and anyone else who wants to do it!

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge - Inspired by Jewellery

Morning loves

This week's PCFC was to base your mani on your favourite item of jewellery. I don't think I have a favourite item, and the only thing I wear daily is my engagement ring (and since the Mr and I aren't getting along so well at the moment I wasn't basing it on that LOL) so I chose this pretty charm bracelet. It's only a cheap bit of tat, but it's pretty and I love the coral colours. To recreate it I used an old shimmery coral-orange by Collection 2000, followed by a coat of Nubar 2010. Once that was dry I added some random butterfly stamps with Barry M Gold Foil. I also rounded out my nails a little...what do you think?

I hope you like it :)

Hx

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NOTD - Nails Inc Basil Street and OPI Gold Shatter

Nope, I'm not bored of it yet! And OPI's Gold Shatter is the best gold shatter I've tried (and I have a few...). It's so easy to apply, gives just the right amount of cracks and sparkly! Even though this was a pretty simply manicure I couldn't stop looking at my nails. Shame it only lasted a day :( It's a combo I will DEFINITELY wear again, and I very rarely if ever wear the same combo twice.

Firstly, Basil Street on it's own. This in itself is a great nude, if it didn't give me such bad lobster hands.

Simple sparkly goodness :) Going to slap it on over my current mani to hide the chips ;)

Is shatter still doing it for you?

Hx

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NOTD - Subtle Stamping

Hello!

I was lucky enough to find a Color Club Molten Metals Foil set for £7.99 at TK Maxx the other day (go, run, grab one, you can read this later!), and I'd heard the colours are good for stamping so had to try it out :) I wanted something subtle, chintzy and swirly so went for a pale blue (Accessorize Baby Blue) and stamped with BM 225 and Color Club Lumin-icecent and Cold Metal. I also used the top coat that came in the set, which smudged it a little. Sigh.

Right hand without smudging. Or Clean up. Or camera focus, apparently...

I'll definitely be trying out more stamping with these polishes :)

Hx

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We Stamp on Sundays!

Another polish group I've joined on FB, Adventures in Stamping, decided to do some Sunday stamping challenges. This week's challenge was to use green in your design, whether as the base or the stamp colour. I saw this design on LaqueredMe and decided to recreate it. My nails aren't too bad after taking the gels off, so I am pretty pleased, and they have a bit of length, although I'm not expeting that to last long. The base colour is an apple green shimmer by MNY and I stamped with China Glaze Holly-Day and BM19 before adding the lady bird with BM13 and 17 Risky Red, filling in the spots with a dotting tool and adding some eyes.

With flash, before I added the eyes

Natural light, right hand

Natural light, left hand

What do you think? I quite like them, and was looking forward to doing them which made taking off the gels less of a chore.

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge - Animal Print

Hi all!

I joined a couple of polish related Facebook groups, and am taking part in some challenges to keep me occupied! The Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge takes place every Friday (you can do your mani any day you like but post it on a Friday IYSWIM) and this week's theme was animal print. What I went with isn't strictly print so I cheated a little... but I hope no-one minded!

To give the base some texture I used Nails Inc Magnetic Houses of Parliament, a cheap market stall striper for the feathers, OPI Designer...De Better for the gold, an un-named pearly blue and the striper again for the "eyes". I really liked it, and peacock nails, freehand like this or stamped, are becoming one of my favourites. Next week's PCFC challenge is a manicure based on your favourite piece of jewellery, and I already know what I'm going to do :) Hopefully it comes out as good as this did.

The gel nails are coming off tonight, so my next post will be on my nubs. Boo.

Hx

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