Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Day 10, Unicorn Magic Day!

So, today comes but every 4 years - a magical day where women can do all sorts of forward thinking stuff like propose to their partners! Fancy that! So the brief for today was to make your mani magical. Magical=sparkly, right? I started off with magnetic polish and bar glitter but that went horribly wrong (Doesn't bar glitter just look a bit hairy to you?) So instead I went for this lilac scattered holo from Claires. Bargain find, even if I do feel a bit like mutton dressed as lamb whenever I go into Claires! It's sooo insanely sparkly and pretty, and it's only £2.50! I applied 3 coats to get it opaque, but you could layer it over a cream or foil and get away with 2, because it did take a while to dry. Although it's a glitter it's not gritty at all.

Then I stamped over it using this sunburst pattern from HB31 and some color club foilds. The stamping didn't come out great...

 It was better on my right hand, where I only used one colour per nail. please excuse the middle finger, it's much better than it was but still a wee bit sore.

So Happy February 29th! Any of my readers only have a birthday every four years? Now THAT's the secret to eternal youth!

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Day 9, Spring Peach

Morning!

Day 9 and the challenge was favourite Spring lilac or peach. I chose peach since I don't have a lot of lilacs and what I do have you've seen already. Plus I got the polish I used in one of my Birthday Club presents from the lovely Ashley and I wanted to wear it! This is two coats of China Glaze Peachy Keen. Yum!

Then I added some fimo flowers to the ring fingers, so I did get the lilac in somewhere!

I'm getting better at slicing the fimo now, but they still don't lie as flat as I'd like them. Better practise some more...

Hx

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We stamp on Sundays! Purple... cabbages?

Helloo!

This week's Adventures in Stamping theme was to use three colours. I decided to use three shades of purple and the rose stamp from BM14. The base colour is 17 Woo Me (which I used for the thumb on my Cherry Blossoms, then loved it so much I wanted a full mani with it), stamping is Nails Inc Belgrave Place and then I dotted in the spaces with OPI Parlez Vous OPI? Little bit underwhelmed.

So, BM14. Roses or cabbages? Discuss.

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Day 8, Cherry Blossoms

Yay! I've wanted to try this for so long! It's pretty easy, and although it didn't come out perfect I got lots of compliments. I did it over a skittle, which you'll see later in the challenge, so I wont bore you with the details here.

What do you think? If I were to do it again, what should I use for my base?

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Day 7, Spring Sunrise

Hi lovelies!

I'm going to be honest and say I had absolutely no inspiration for this whatsoever. Zero. I googled sping sunsrises and most of the images that came up were orangey peach sunrises, so I was going to do a sponged gradient - orange to peach to blue sky at the top with a few fluffy clouds. But when I looked at my oranges they were all too bright, too coral or just neon. BUT when I saw the neon I wanted to use it so I went for a very loose interpretation of a sunrise, with neon orange and gold. To create it I used a base of Barry M Gold Foil on my middle finger, taped it off in a sunburst pattern and went over it with Orly Holla. On the rest of my fingers it was Holla with 1 coat of ELF Golden Goddess.

Yeah, I told you it was loose! I actually loved it (although I only had it on one hand, which was quite distracting...) I now want more neon polish in my life... The striper tape pulled the polish underneath up a little bit, so I filled it in with a little brush, but other than that I think it worked! *LeGasp*

What do you think, sunrise-y enough?

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Day 6 Pink polka Dots

Day 6 and another Pink Wednesday! For this mani I used a base of OPI Skull and Glossbones (gorgeous colour!) and the pink I used was Orly Butterflies (Thanks Alyssa!) I taped off a slanted funky French and painted the tip in the opposite colour to the nail bed, then added dots with a small dotting tool. I liked it...until my youngest was sick in bed and I had to rush up and deal with it before the top coat was dry. If he'd had done it 10 seconds earlier before I topcoated it would have been fine as the actual mani was dry! It was my ring finger which took the worst hit, as you can see. I managed to tidy it up a little, but it bugged me so it only lasted a day. Don't have kids, people...

I liked it before I added the dots too :)

I need to catch up on some sleep now! Sick toddlers are exhausting...

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Day 5, A "Spring Clean"

Hola!

Today's PCFC was to go Spring cleaning and use an out of season colour. I started with two coats of Technic Curious Violet, which looks like a deep plum in the bottle, a dark indigo swatched on paper and plain black on the nail. meh. Anyway, I decided to try something I'd seen on the Facebook stamping group, Adventures in Stamping. Firstly, I applied matte top coat to the polish, and stamped in the same colour - the idea being that the stamped image would be shiny and the background matte. I really like the outcome, but man was it hard to get on camera!

Sorry this is so washed out! But you can see the stamping best here.

I love the subtleness of this. It looks like flocked wallpaper or something!

Tomorrow's challenge is pink polka dots, and I got a gorgeous pink in one of my birthday club packages this morning so I can't wait to use it. My finger is a little better now, although I'm still only painting one hand and typing like a spaz, so sorry if there are typos!

Hx

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We Stamp on Sundays - BM 203 over China Glaze Atlantis and a crapton of glitter...

Hello!

This week's theme for stamping Sunday was a plate ending in three - so I pretty much took that as an excuse to break out the glitter and go to town with a full nail design. I used three birthday club polishes from the lovely Jebba (Mode Party Girl), Janelle (CG Atlantis) and Kathryn (Pop Rocks Groupie), and added some pretty irredescent glitter by La Femme beauty (the name has rubbed off the bottle). One it was topcoated and dry I stamped with Barry M Silver Foil. I'm planning a big post with all of my birthday club gifts once they're all here!

Before I stamped...or cleaned up...

I was kind of hoping for a fish scales/mermaid tail effect, but it looks more like a chunky jumper! Still like it though :)

I may not be around much for a few days, because I have an infected finger and it's making things difficult :( It is sooooooo sore! You would never think that having a sore finger could make you feel so rotten. The next Purple Crumpet Spring challenge is due on Tuesday, and it's one I really want to do, so hopefully I'll manage it...

If you want to stamp on Sunday, click here!
Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Day 4, Spring water marble

Ok, straight to the point. Water marbling is hard. And messy. Man is it messy, at least when I do it. And I only did one hand since I have an infection in a finger on my right hand and there was no way I was getting polish in it. Anyway, as usual it didn't come out great, but I guess it was ok. I used Barry M Spring Green and Mint Green and dragged the polish into the centre of the cup once I'd got my bulls eye to make petals/leaves, but either my cup was too big or I didn't use enough polish so the gaps in between layers were too wide. I might try this again a bit later, I have another idea...

I think I like the thumb the best. I think I decided water marbling is totally not worth the effort...

Hx

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Guest post - the importance of feeling good

I was contacted recently by Jackie Clark from the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, who asked if they could write a guest post highlighting the importance and benefits that beauty has during cancer treatment. Of course I agreed, and found her post really thought provoking. I paint my nails because it relaxes me, gives me some me time away from the stresses of family life, financial worries, and because it makes me feel pretty! I can have scruffy hair, no make-up on and baby food mashed into my clothes, but if my nails are looking good it doesn't matter as much. If it makes a woman (or man!) undergoing cancer treatment feel the same way, it can only be a good thing!

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Beautiful Nails For Relaxation After Cancer Prognosis

By: Jackie Clark
A diagnosis of any cancer, such as mesothelioma from asbestos exposure, can result in a myriad of emotional reactions. Women who are diagnosed with cancer can start losing confidence, particularly when the harsh treatments from doctors are factored into the equation. Though it can seem difficult to believe after prognosis, women who have cancer are still beautiful and are able to feel confident in their own skin.
Benefits of Painting Nails
Painting nails after a cancer prognosis is about more than simply having beautiful hands, it is about feeling comfortable, beautiful and relaxed throughout the process. Fashion can make a woman feel confident and caring about the small details, like nail polish on fingers, can give the mind a break from the worries of cancer treatment.
Relaxation to reduce stress is a key component of allowing the body to remain as strong and healthy as possible. Getting a manicure can give women confidence while providing a relaxing bonding experience with the person performing the manicure. This has a duel effect of helping improve confidence and comfort while also relaxing the body so that stress levels are as low as possible.
Beyond the simple relaxation element, women who take time for a manicure while undergoing treatment are taking measures to feel beautiful by seeing the stunning results of the manicure. The small reminder that a woman is beautiful regardless of her circumstances can provide a level of comfort and confidence throughout the treatment.
Feeling Beautiful
Comfort and relaxation are only one of the key benefits of getting a manicure. Putting a focus on style and fashion while undergoing cancer treatment can also help a woman feel beautiful. This includes the small details of her beauty regimen like painting nails. Without the small details, it is easy to allow doubts to creep in. Taking time for the little elements of style like makeup and nail polish can add to the feeling of strength and beauty that all women should possess.
Nothing makes a woman feel more beautiful than knowing that she is following the height of fashion with every small facet of her body. With the relaxation of a manicure and the small reminder that beauty is about feeling comfortable in your own skin, women are able to regain lost confidence from their diagnosis.
A cancer prognosis can cause a major hit to confidence, but it does not mean a woman is less beautiful. By turning to the comfort of manicures and fashion, women can regain confidence and remember that they are beautiful in any situation. Challenges simply add to the timelessness of that beauty. Women who undergo cancer treatments are able to become timeless beauties who are stronger for the experience.

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To find out more about the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance pop along to http://www.mesothelioma.com/ 

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - day 3, small flowers

Morning!

The third challenge of spring is upon us, and this time it was small flowers/flower bed. Well one of my favourite flowers are daisies, and you can't get much smaller! So I turned my nails into daisy chains :) For the base I used 3 coats of Barry M Mint Green, then the middle of the flowers are Miss Sporty Taxi and the petals are Wet n Wild French white. Done with a teeny dotting tool, I first dotted the centres in random lines across all my nails but the ring finger, which I covered in daisies for an accent. Then I dotted the petals around the middles and voila! You don't have to be too accurate, which in my case is definitely a good thing... but it still looks effective. I was pretty pleased with it :)

I used to love making daisy chains as a little girl :) Can't wait to make them with my boys, put them in pretty dresses with a daisy chain crown...er ok, think their father might have something to say about that...

Check out the tab at the top of the page to see the challenge list and my fellow challengers!

Hx

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NOTD - 17 Supreme Shine Moon Dust

Morning bloggy peeps!

Today I have to show you a polish from 17's Supreme Shine range. I only had one polish from the range as the colours don't usually grab me (and they're £1 more than the two other 17 polish ranges, which have more on-trend colours, not that I'm tight or anything...). In Boots the other day I had picked up two of their Lasting Fix polishes and everything on the 17 stand was 3 for 2. Mr NN was hassling me to hurry up because the car park ticket was about to run out or something equally unimportant, so I grabbed this one. It's a pretty dark taupe cream, and unlike anything else I have. This was two coats, no topcoat - so you can see it lives up to it's shiny name!

You can also see I got sheet marks. My own fault completely. So I topped it with OPI Gold Shatter the next day. Not great, but bearable.

I didn't wear it for long... Love Moon Dust though, what do you think? I was hoping for a You don't know Jaques/A taupe the space needle/Over the taupe dupe, but I think this is a shade darker. It'll do me though!

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Day 2, Spring Pink

Morning loves

Day two of the challenge and I have my spring pink to show you. Most of my pinks seem to be brights, not pastels (must rectify) so I modified an old favourite. I used 3 coats of Barry M Strawberry Ice Cream and topped it with a Sally Hansen Diamond Strength polish I picked up in Poundland. They seem to be popping up more and more, so keep your eyes peeled! This one is called Love in Bloom and it's a sheer pink with teeny tiny flakies. Definitely a layering polish. Pics don't do it justice, especially with no sun.

Unfortunately I'm out of quick dry top coat and this would not dry. I wrecked it two hours later doing the washing up. What a glamorous life I lead...

Hx

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And so it begins - Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Day 1, Valentines

Morning loves, happy Valentines Day!

I am embarking on another challenge over with the Purple Crumpet Fairy ladies - this one for spring. 40 manicures in 2 months...I think it's do-able! Today we started off with our Valentines manicures. After my tacky Valentine and stamping Valentine, I went for something pastel and pretty. 2 coats of Revlon Starry Pink (thanks to the Birthday club and Janelle! She also got me Whimsical!) over one of Barry M Strawberry Ice Cream. For the accent nail I used 2 coats of barry M Blue Moon and covered it with pretty irridescent heart embellishments. Quelle surprise, the bf doesn't like it. But I say, tough! In his mind the only thing my nails are good for is scratching his back and undoing his shoelaces when they get in a knot. When will they learn?

So, there it is. Happy Valentines, I hope your day is filled with hearts and flowers and chocolate genitals...

If you want to join the challenge head to the facebook page. I'm adding a tab at the top with the challenge list in too, if you'd like to check it out.

Hx

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My ever growing stash...

It's hard to believe that this time last year I had a mere 15 or so polishes. I hadn't even started thinking about blogging yet, but I was slowly getting into polish again, watching tutorials and reading blogs. Now I have over 300 polishes (probably closer to 350) and paint my nails almost every day. I can't stand chipped polish anymore! My nails are slowly getting better and I've made some great friends :) Anyway, here is my stash currently (well about a month ago, so more have been added since...).

I store my polish in an understairs unit, and it takes up 3 out of 7 drawers - two large and one small, lined with rubber mats. In the small drawer I store my glitters, crackles, striper polishes, stamping polishes, a small tray of files and my current top and base coats, and remover.

Top left-crackles, middle-remover, top right-glitter, bottom-tray containing files and topcoat, bottom left-stripers and stamping polish.

In the next drawer is the majority of my polishes, arranged by brand. I think the brand  have the most of is Barry M, top left.

 Then the bottom drawer - the newest addition. It is considerably more full now than it was a month ago when I took this picture! In here I have all my polishes that came in sets-on the left,my China Glaze polishes next to that (I had to move one group out of the other drawer and since I'm growing my CG's I chose those!), then a bag with nail wheels in, a few random falsies for swatching and below that my stamping plates etc. Then there are three boxes - one with nail art stuff in, like stickers, rhinestones, brushes, dotting tools etc, one with all the polishes that I only have one of each brand in, and another that has empty or gloopy top coats and any polishes I have doubles of for swaps etc. I also now have my Orly's in there, but they were added after I took the pic! I am going to need to move another brand from the other drawer into this one, which will be a tight squeeze but I can't fit one more polish in the top! Maybe my few OPIs will get moved in with the China Glaze.

So that was my stash! I love reading posts like these and being nosey, so I hope you've enjoyed it too :) My next project - cataloguing them all in a spreadsheet....

Hx

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NOTD - Valentines stamping

This week's We Stamp on Sundays mani theme of course was Valentines. I decided to try stamping over a gradient...I actually loved the gradient I created and wish I took a pic before I stamped on it because that wasn't quite as great. For the gradient I started with two coats of Essie Luscious Lips, then sponged on Barry M Strawberry IceCream, MeMeMe Playful, Models Own Pink Blush, and a little China Glaze Mrs Clause to the tips. I stamped with Color Club Hot Like Lava and SdP-C02.  Because of the length of my nails and the colour of the tips under the stamp you can only see the hearts on the design, but there are actually wiggly lines top and bottom that you can only just see. I should have stamped over a lighter base, but I still like it. One thing about the Color Club foils - they stamp great but are a pain in the behind to clean up!

There are so many hearts and valentine images on the few plates I have, I just wont get time to use them all! I have one more valentine mani planned, but as it's the one I'll actually be wearing on valentines it'll be a little bit less garish! Just a little bit, mind...

Hx

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Max Factor Fantasy Fire - Clarins 230's identical twin? Wanna swap?

Hi loves

I have a polish to show you that has been setting the polish world alight recently, because it is allegedly a dupe for the hard-to-find-and-stupidly-expensive-when-you-do Clarins 230, aka Unicorn Pee. I can't confirm it because I don't have Unicorn Pee to directly compare them, being just a commoner. I don't usually look at the Max Factor polishes because at £3.99 for a stingy 4.5ml bottle, I think they're expensive. But believe me this beauty is worth it! As always, my pictures suck hairy balls, but if I can make it look pretty, you know it's pretty. This one one coat over Barry M Indigo - it's sheer as a sheer thing and being as the bottle is teeny, you'll want to layer it.

How pretty? This is a new release for spring here in the UK...yes, it's a UK polish for once! It seems to be making it's way into Boots and Superdrug fairly slowly, although the Max Factor stand at my local Tesco doesn't have it yet. That being said, I got my bottle from my lovely Birthday Club friend Zoe, so I have a couple brand new bottles spare and would love to swap them for some pretties that aren't available here in the UK. SO, if you would like a bottle take a look at my wishlist and hopefully we can arrange a swap! I'm particularly interested in Finger Paints flakies, but anything on the list is fair game. Make me an offer! My contact details are in the contact tab :)

If anyone knows of a post comparing these directly to Clarins 230, I'd love to see it too so leave a link in the comments!

What do you think, dupe or no dupe?

Hx

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