Tuesday 19 June 2012

Jubilee-icures!


Here in Britain, as of June 5th a few weeks ago our Queen has been atop the throne for 60 years and the whole country has gone mental. You can't walk past a child without having a flag waved in your face, or set foot in a shop without a tower of Diamond Jubilee-themed crap (strike) merchandise topple over on you. Of course, I sported a series of Jubilee themed manicures over Jubilee weekend, because I'm a sucker for a street party... (sorry I'm only just getting to show you now!)


I'm starting off with some simple skittles. My son had a “Jubilee Cafe” at his preschool, where parents could come and have a cup of tea and a cupcake with their child and I wore these then. It was quite sweet really, apart from the life-sized cardboard cutout of Her Maj. Scary.

I used China Glaze Ruby Pumps, Orly Au Champagne and China Glaze Blue years Eve here, for shimmery skittles. I made the mistake of topcoating Puby Pumps First, which meant that I turned Au Champagne pink on my left ring finger...oopsie...

It was looking a little tired after a day so I slapped some red, white and blue crackle over the top – W7 Earthquake Red and Earthquake White and MUA Quiver for the blue. I didn't love it but I still like the crackle effect. My red crackle has completely gone into a blobby mess though. It aint pretty, but at least it still worked.


So that's Jubilee-icure #1!

Jubilee-icure #2! Diamonds are a Queen's best friend...

So, apparently 60 years is a diamond aniversary, we are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and diamonds inspired me for this manicure. It was really simple, I just used M & S Rainbow (the only linear holo available on the high street here) on all nails apart from the ring finger, which I used Barry M Cobalt Blue for. Them I stamped a diamond from the first set of Bundle Monster plates in Barry M silver foil. I don't know if the holo would have stamped, I didn't even think to try it it. Next time...

Of course, Helly decides to wear a holo and the sun runs away, despite it being the hottest week ever when I wore it. But I heard a sneaky trick that if you hold your nails underwater to take the pic, the full spectrum of the polish shows, whether it be holo or duochrome. It kinda worked...


Rainbow isn't the most spectacular holo out there, but until I can get my hands on GOSH holographic (they're re-releasing it soon!) it'll do. It cost £7.50 from Marks and Spencer if you're interested. I didn't think they did it anymore but I checked in store the other day and they had some. I think I better stop wearing holos though, if we want any more summer this year...

Next, I went for some more Jubilee-themed stamping using the first Bundle Monster set again. This time I used a red base by Miss Sporty, and stamped crowns on ring finger and thumb with Barry M Gold Foil. It looked a bit plain so I added dots and ruined it! Never mind...




I think I would quite like a crown. Random but true.

My final Jubilee-icure was a recreation of the mani I sported for the nuptuals of Wills and Kate last year. I really was a Nail Newbie then, and you can tell. This time, I used glitter – Barry M Blue Glitter a white striper and Barry M Red Glitter.

Rule Britannia, and all that!

Hx
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