Wings and Things

Evening!

I've been sitting on this blog post all day, I just didn't have the energy to edit pics and put pen to paper (although I have been a lazy cow today, blah to Wednesday). Anyway, this mani should have been epic. It had all the makings of awesomeness (purple, glitter, butterflies, stamping) but somehow it left me just meh. Maybe it was just a bit busy? I don't know. I started with a coat of Models Own Ice Neon Pukka Purple. Purple neon one coater? Yup. Love it, and I actually wore it alone for a day before slapping the rest on. Then I added a coat of Crows Toes VooDoo, so many different shaped glitters, mostly purple and orange. After that I stamped butterfly wings from Nailz Craze plate NC01 - there are two different sizes of butterfly wing on the plate and I used the smaller one apart from for the thumbs. Oh, and I added more Pukka Purple dots at the tops of the wings. Pics show before and after stamping.

I love the stamp, and will definitely use it again, but maybe over a gradient or flakies next time.

Hx

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Adventures in Stamping - Tiger Teal

Hello! Very exciting day here, we got a doggy! Keep reading for a pic of Scooby, but until then, onto the nails!

This week's Sunday Stamping theme was to stamp over a saran wrap/cling film base. I'm a fan of the cling film look, so was looking forward to this challenge. I loved my result so much I've kept it on for three days! A record for me, I must say, two days is usually my max. I started with a base of Sally Hansen Green Tea, and once it was dry added a coat of China Glaze DV8, one nail at a time, before using scrunched up cling film to take some of it away. It looked pretty cool at this point...

And then I stamped over some tiger print from Cheeky CH2 in Barry M Silver Foil.

Pretty, right? Kind of abstract and boho looking, I love it!

And here's Scooby! He's a 15 month old collie cross spaniel and we picked him up from a rescue centre this morning. He's already made himself at home and has got the boys chasing after him with balls and bones! I think I'm a little bit in love already...

Any doggie advice gratefully received!

Hx

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Dandelions on the wind

Hello!

Still feeling summery, so today I opted for a holo. And then it rained. Of course. I got a little bit of sunshine for these pics but you'll have to trust me that the holo is really pretty! This is Depend Denim Blue holo which I purchased a tiny bottle of on Ebay. I wore it before and said I'd wear undies to preserve it next time as it's quite sheer and the bottle is only 5ml, but I forgot. Next time I will wear a light cornflower blue underneath as this was three coats and the fill line on the bottle is low! My pictures show sunlight and shade, because it really is pretty in either light. I'll change it for something non-holo tonight, just watch the sun come back! I stamped a dandelion clock from Nail Craze NC01 in Konad white and made it look like it was blowing across three nails. Very delicate and dainty. Unlike me...

Shade...

And sun...

I feel like this post was a bit rambly, so sorry if I don't make much sense! I'm a little bit overtired and over caffeinated I think - not a great combo! Peppermint tea for the next post I promise...

Hx

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Summer lovin'

Hi all :)

With the weather being kind(ish) to us here in the UK at the moment (it's hotter than the devils greenhouse and I love it!), I'm finding myself reaching for bright polishes that I love instead of going for the ginormouse box of untrieds sitting on my kitchen table like I should be. But I love this polish so much that I just don't care! China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy is such a classic, any neon lover should own it. Seriously. The formula is great, it's eye-searingly bright and is a great pedi colour too. Go forth and purchase... I teamed it with accent nails of white with black heart stamping from Pueen 43 and tied the whole thing together with some small black rhinestones. Please ignore the topcoat smears and bubbles - that's what you get for doing your nails under a fan...

Summer lovin', happened so fast... What's your favourite summer shade?

Hx

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Adventures in Stamping - favourite colour combo!

Hello! Happy Stamping Sunday ;)

This week's theme was to use your favourite colour combo. I couldn't decide between mint and gold and pink and gold, so I got greedy and used both! A girls prerogative, right? It turned out quite nicely, actually. I was pleased with the outcome anyway (and it's not too similar to this pink and gold mani I did a few weeks ago, or this recent mint and lilac mani - reminiscent, but not identical ;) ) I used OPI Elephantastic Pink and Essie Mojito Madness, stamped with Pueen 37 and Barry M Gold Foil, and the glitter gradient was done with Milani Gold Gem FX, W7 Gold Dazzle and Nails Inc Glamour Glitter.

There are so many pretty images in the Pueen Love Elements set, I have a feeling I'm going to be using them rather a lot in the coming weeks! They stamp so perfectly too - happy Helly!

Hx

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My mint mani for Talia Joy Castellano

Hi all

On Monday this week, a much loved member of the online beauty community went to play with the angels. In her memory, it was decided that, as the last photo Talia had posted on Instagram was of a mint coloured mani that to commemorate and celebrate her too short life, we would all wear mint on our nails today. It wasn't a hard decision for me to make as mint is one of my favourite nail colours, and I hope I did Talia justice.

I used Barry M Mint Green, and stamped with Pueen 47 in Konad White and Nails Craze NC01 in Barry M Gold Foil.

Sweet dreams, Talia. Hx

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Totally tropical...

Well it seems that finally here in the UK summer has arrived. And by summer I mean it is hotter than the devils asscrack. Nice bit of imagery there, yes? Anyhoo, I'm not complaining, and in fact I decided to celebrate the heatwave with some totally tropical nails! I'd been wanting to do this for a while, and when my lovely friend Ashley from One Nail To Another posted her version it was immediately bumped up the to-do list!

I started out with a gradient comprising of 4 different texture polishes. The base was one coat of Beauty UK's new Grit Effects in Kensington - a sparkly champagne nude. I then sponged on 3 Kiko Sugar Mats - imaginatively named 639, 640 and 641 - a pale peach, pink and corally-orange. Who knew texture polishes were so good for gradients> Because of the texture they kind of blend themselves, easy peasy. Cleanup wasn't so easy though, especially as all the polishes I used were sparkly. But what's a bit of glitter herpes between friends, right?

Once the gradient was dry (didn't take long) I stamped on a palm tree and painted a little island underneath. No topcoat, obviously, or I would have lost the texture. Still insanely sparkly and summery though. I am in love!

Now I just need a lurid-coloured cocktail, a beach to drink it on and a hot man to serve it to me... Dream on, dreamer...

Hx

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Adventures in Stamping - As he faced the sun he cast no shadow...

Evening lovelies!

This week's Sunday Stamping prompt was shadow/double stamping. I chose to do a shadow stamping design - using the same stamp in two (or more!) different colours to make it look like it has a shadow. I think I was out of my depth with this one! I used one of my new Pueen plates, on top of Barry M Greenberry, with Konad Special Black and White polishes. You're getting pictures of my right hand today, because the stamping came out slightly better - so excuse the messy cuticles! I'd also been baking like a mad thing, in a kitchen hotter than the devils greenhouse, so there is a bit of wear, sorry!

So, yeah. Not my best stamping effort, but it still looked kinda cool. At a distance. If you squinted a bit...

Anyway, it's my baby's 3rd birthday tomorrow so they're coming off to be replaced by Mickey Mouse! Once I've wrapped this mountain of presents and blown up about 11tymillion balloons...

Hx

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I Want Candy!!

Hello!

If you're a facebook friend of The Nail Newbie (click it, go on...) you'll know I recently made my first UK indie polish purchase! There have been a few UK indies popping up recently, and this one in particular caught my eye. Pocket Money Polishes are created by the lovely Charlie, and when she restocked this week I just had to have one of her Glitter Babies - I Want Candy! When it arrived (super quickly too!) I was in love! It's so cute! A tiny bottle stuffed to the gills with multicoloured matte neon glitter in all different shapes and sizes. I had to wear it immediately and paired it with some squishy summer skittles in the colours of the glitter. Yum!

Thumb to pinky - Barry M Summer Ltd Edition 2013 Green, Astor Fuchsia Craze, Color Club Chelsea Girl, Barry M Matte White with two coats PMP I Want Candy, Nails Inc Notting Hill Carnival.

I just love this squishy, summer fun! I'm still wearing it and even after a days wear it's so shiny and squishy (especially the green and the blue) - I got asked if they were gels yesterday too :)

Have you ever bought any UK indies? What should I be keeping a look out for?

Pocket Money Polishes are available from http://www.pocketmoneypolishes.co.uk/ for just £4 each! A lot are sold out at the mo, but keep an eye on the Facebook page for restock announcements.

Hx

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Sunday Stamping - Birthstones

Morning! I hope it's as sunny where you are as it is here, gorgeous. But of course we can't get to enjoy it because the plague is still going around! The baby had it last weekend, then the older one got it Friday, and now I think Mr NN has it... So not long before I succumb too I'm expecting! No sleep for Helly! I feel like I've not had a full nights sleep in about 6 years...that'd be right before son number one came along then...

Anyway, I have still managed to participate in this week's Adventures in Stamping theme - and on time this week! The theme was to be inspired by your birthstone, and since I was a February baby that's amethyst. Not complaining that I get to play with purple! I have a couple of polishes in my collection named amethyst, so I chose this pale lilac foil by budget brand La Femme as my base, and then stamped with Color Club Wild At Heart (never lets me down for stamping). The plate used was Gals Fairy GA38. I really love the outcome. Not particularly summery for this gorgeous weather, but then February isn't exactly a summer month...

I hope you like them! What's your birthstone?

Hx

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