GOT polish? Valentines!

Morning!

This weeks Golden Oldie Thursday theme is Valentines, which fits nicely with my theme week! I based my idea on a cute design by Nicole at Nail Polish Wars and busted out the crackle polish! I started with a base of Essie Mojito Madness, then marbled it using the cling film/saran wrap method and Essie Bikini So Teeny (basically paint a coat of the polish over your original colour, then dab some off with scrunched up cling film). Once that was completely dry I painted a coat of Barry M black crackle on my ring finger and cut a stencil out of tape for the heart on my middle finger.

I think I should have used a purple instead of lilac, but otherwise I'm happy. And it was pretty simple too. Win win.

Hx

An InLinkz Link-up

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Keep on cracking! China Glaze Cracked Medallion swatch

Hi!

So, apparently crackle/shatter polishes are now rather passée, hence being able to find OPI and China Glaze shatter polishes in pound shops and discount stores which is where I picked this up. But I still love them, and Cracked Medallion is different to any other shatter polishes in my stash so I had to have it, and for the bargain price of 99p. They're not that different to textures, really, and you get an interesting effect for minimal effort. Here I used one coat of Cracked Medallion over black, and topped with two coats of topcoat to smooth it over.

I don't care if it's soooo 2012, it's a pretty effect in a pretty colour. I think crackle's downfall is that it can look pretty yukky if it isn't applied properly, but when done nicely I think it looks great. So neener neener!

Hx

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Adventures In Stamping - Poisonous or Toxic

Hello!

This week's Adventures in Stamping theme was Toxic or Poisonous - now, I know I have a fair few plates but compared to some in the group (I'm looking at you Sarahpedia) my images are quite limited. But I was surprised to find that I had quite a few different skull-like images, some toxic looking bubbles and some hypnotic patterns that done with the right colours could be classed as toxic. I went for this little skull image (although I think it's ended up kinda cute rather than toxic...) over a green and orange crackle combo. The green is Color Club Twiggie - yummy neon green and the crackle is La Femme Orange crackle, which is a really great crackle polish and super bright. I used a coat of poshe to smooth it out then stamped the image from SdP D18 with Konad special black polish. I had to fill in some of the fine lines with a fine nail art brush because it didn't transfer quite properly, but it didn't matter too much.

Cute or toxic? Bit of both? I couldn't quite bring myself to wear this one out, it was just a bit too garish for me...would you wear it out? I ordered a set of the OPI Ger-mini's and they came yesterday morning while I was wearing this, so that might have had a part to play in the lack of longevity this manicure had too...

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Easter Bunnies

Quick post today, for what was a relatively quick manicure! I used two coats of Julep Alicia, which I got in a lovely swap, and them stamped some cute-ass bunnies using HB38 and Barry M Gold Foil.

Cute, but I wasn't super happy with it, so I ended up doing this.

MUA Nail Quake in Quiver. Still love me some crackle!

Hx

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Purple Crumpet Spring CHallenge - Day 21, Ducklings

Hi loves

Today's challenge was ducklings. I took inspiration from two Youtube tutorials for this, you can find them here and here. I used Color Club Chelsea Girl for the base (I grew up about 10 miles from Chelsea, and they're the football team I support *ducks rocks* so I had to have it!) It's a neon but I didn't want it terribly bright so I didn't use a white base coat, and it's a lovely blue without it, although if you really wanted it to pop I would recommend a white under it. Sort of squishy and it dries matte, I really love it! Then for the chicks I used Rimmel Lasting Finish Fruities Lemon Drop, Nails Inc Candy Orange for the beaks and WnW Black cream for the eyes. The big chick was drawn using the brush from the bottle and everything else was done with dotting tools. Then on the base of the accent nail I did some jagged strokes with W7 Earthquake White (crackle) to make it look like an egg cracking. I hope that's what it looks like anyway!

The edge of my nail isn't really this jagged and uneven, it must be the crackle...could do some damage with that! *evil cackle*

So there you go, my spring chicks/duckilings. I think they're quite cute! I think I would like a pair of knickers with the chick print on them...TMI?

Hx

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NOTD - Next Oh So Nails Metallic Green and Barry M Croc Effects

Hello loves, how are you all? I hope you had a fab Christmas :) Mine was a bit miserable to be honest, and I'm not feeling any better about the New Year :( But at least I have some pretty nails to show you :)

This is a polish I picked up in Next in their January sale. I had some gift cards to spend from Christmas but of course the only think I could find was 2 polishes. It always goes that way though, doesn't it! Metallic Green is a green/gold/bronze duochrome and I lurve it. I haven't really jumped on the duochrome bandwagon, yes they're pretty but they don't excite me. BUT for just £1 (usually £2.50) I had to have it. My pictures show 2 fuss-free coats. For accents I thought that Barry M's croc effect shatter would look good with the green metallic, but I can't get this polish to work. Unlike normal shatter you layer it over tacky polish and it takes a good few minutes for the cracks to appear and I have tried everything, thick coats, thin coats, blobby coats, smooth coats, doing a little dance for the polish Gods. Nothing. It looks awful on me. Plus, it's like wax crayon to remove, smeary and yuck.

Like it? I'm gutted I ruined it with the crackle. Bad Barry M! Have you man aged to get the croc crackle to work for you? I'm totally meh over it :( I should have stamped instead...

Will have my NYE mani tomorrow, although I have no plans I've gone for a glittah bomb. Even though I have blue fingers atm. Non-acetone remover and blue polish don't mix.

Hx

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31 Day Challenge - day 27 Inspired by artwork

I decided to stamp again and recreate Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe Pop Art Image. The plate I used is Fab IV by FabUrNails Shop. The base colours are 2 coats each of (pinkie to index) Beauty Uk Yellow Peril, Models Own Pink Blush, 17 Lasting Fix Mint Choc Chip and Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours 344. I stamped with Metallic lilac, silver and metallic blue stamping polishes from FabUrNails and Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours 320 on the ring finger. On the thumb I used Yellow Peril again and topped it with W7 Earthquake red.

The plate was so easy to use and there are a lot of fun patterns! Can't wait to use it again :) The Middle pattern would look great in silver over black.

Tomorrow is inspired by a flag. I'll give you a clue - my surname is England... ;)

Hx

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31 Day Challenge - Day 21 Inspired by a colour

Earworm alert!

Since I had a few gold polishes that I hadn't tried yet (namely the Nails Inc Metallic) I decided to be inspired by gold for this challenge, and do a skittles mani of different gold polishes. On my little finger I used I coat of Barry M Gold Foil Effects (yes I caved and got it, not tried it for stamping yet but I may do tonight for the inspired by a song challenge so will keep you updated!) THe on my ring finger is 2 coats of Collection 2000 Hot Looks Parma Violet topped with 2 or 3 coats of ELF Golden Goddess. Middle Finger is Nails Inc Magnetic in Big Ben. Index is Parma Violets again with Beauty UK Disco Nights (gold shatter) and thumb is Barry M Gold Foil with 3 coats of W7 Gold Dazzle.

I really like this, it was easy to do and is quite eye catching. Although more often than not when people notice my nails they don't say anything - so not sure if that's a good thing!

Just wanted to say a few things about the Barry M gold foil. I wasn't sure on getting this as I've seen pics of it on other blogs where it looks streaky and uneven and just plain awful. Now I know my nails aren't the best, far from it in fact, but I found it easy to apply, not streaky or brushstrokey and it does look foil-y. This was one careful coat. Admittedly on my thumbs where I have a little bit of splitting it didn't look quite as perfect, but still pretty decent. So if like me you've been put off by bad swatches then don't let it deter you too much. And if you spend £6 on Barry M in Superdrug at the moment you get the new Lilac Foil Effects polish for free. I didn't spot the croc effects polish yet though...

What do you think of my Goldfingers? Another earworm? Oh, go on then...

Hx

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31 Day Challenge day 7 - Black and White

Howdy!

Today's mani theme is black and white nails, and to start with I had no idea what to do. Polka dots? Zebra stripes? Both of those are covered later on in the challenge, so I thought I'd do some stamping. I looked through my stamping plates and found a keyboard image - perfect for a black and white theme. So, I duly painted all my nails with 1 coat of Wet n Wild Black Creme, except the ring fingers which I did with 2 coats of Wet n Wild French White for accents. Then it all went horribly wrong. Could I get the blasted stamp to work? First time it transferred ok (not perfect but I could have patched it up) but totally wonky, and then every time after that it just wouldn't work. I think I need some pure acetone for cleaning plates inbetween stamps because I'm sure the moisturising ingredients in polish remover play funny with the stamp. Anyway, instead of having crappy stamps or none at all I reached for a trusty fail-mani-saver. Good old crackle. I actually LOVE this look, it got lots of compliments and it's held up through a day of intensive housework with just a little tipwear (which is a good thing because I had a meeting tonight and didn't get time to change it...). I used W7 Earthquake white and MUA Jailbreak crackles, then Seche to shinyfy it. You definitely need topcoat over white crackle or it looks like you've been at the tip-ex.

Excuse the cat hair *shakes fist at fluffy fiend*

This would have been a super fast way to get a  really striking mani if I hadn't faffed around with the stamp. Somehow I can never get WnW Black Creme to stamp well, although I've seen it used successfully on other blogs. Well I ended up loving this anyway, so it seems I'm not over crackle yet. I think it looks great when done properly.

Hx

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Crackle isn't over just yet...

Bored of crackle? Barry M have released a new "Croc Effect" crackle. You apply it over slightly tacky nail polish rather than completely dry, and it takes about 3 minutes for the effect to appear.

It looks quite good, I wont be rushing out for it, but if I happen to see it in the shops I'm sure it might fall into my basket ;)

Have a peek at the video, see what you think:

http://www.barrym.com/make-up-tutorials/video-tutorial.asp?vid=113

Is crackle over for you or will you give this a try?

My 31 day challenge post will be up this evening!

Hx

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Halloween Week v.1!

Boo!

So, Halloween is a week away, and I decided to do some Halloween inspired nails. I have a few ideas, so I'm creating a little mini-series! I wont be posting every day, as I don't change my nails every day. Some of the ideas I've come up with myself, and some I've seen on other blogs and shamelessly stolen adapted to suit me!

First up is something simple but that I really love the look of, and it's a classic Halloween colour combo. I started with my green Depression Awareness mani as the base and topped it with a thick coat of this neon orange crackle by La Femme Beauty. I picked this up on a market stall for £3 but you can pick it up easily on ebay and Amazon.

You do need thick coats of the crackle because it isn't completely opaque. And it needs top coat because it's very chalky without it. I love how the glitter peeks through the crackle though! What I didn't love was removing it using the foil method. How is it that every time I remove a glitter this way I discover a sore spot on a cuticle that I didn't know I had? Ouch!

What Halloween designs do you have planned?

Hx

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NOTD - I don't wanna see your Peacock...

Hi!

Today I have a fail of a polish to show you. I swear it wasn't my fault, I wanted to love this polish, I love the colour but it wasn't to be. 17 Fast Finish Peacock is a pretty turquoise metallic. But that is where the "good" points end. Firstly, it was super sheer. 4 coats and there was still VNL under some lights. Secondly, the colour just didn't suit me, not the polishes fault I'll admit, but I think I was expecting more teal and less green. Thirdly, 17 weren't joking when they called it fast finish - it was too bloody fast! After the first coat the polish started drying on the brush before I even got it anywhere near my nail so it was draggy and streaky and a pig to apply. There were even a few lumps in there. Ew. But, I somehow managed to get sheet marks and wrinkles, even though I didn't go to bed until at least 2 hours after I finished painting. Finally, I got a duff brush. I was pretty unhappy with this mani from the word go, but I wore it for a day and didn't have time to change it last night, so to be able to bear it another day I did what I do best and shattered all over it.

A coat of MUA Nail Quake in Broken Arrow and order was restored. I even think it looks kind peacock feathery, doesn't it? And I got lots of positive comments on it at playgroup today. I swear all the other Mums think I'm bonkers. They might have a point...

Hx

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NOTD - New Boots 17 Crackle Topcoat

Hullo!

Just a quick post tonight to show you this new crackle polish from 17 at Boots. They already had a mediocre gold crackle topcoat (which you can see here and here), and now they've released a purple and, most exciting for me, a black with gold glitter! Seriously I nearly wee'd a little bit when I saw it (ahem, I do have a life, kind of...) The purple is pretty, with a kind of golden shimmer to it by the looks of the bottle, so I don't have anything like it and I'm sure I'll be adding it to my extensive crackle collection shortly, but I had to have the black one. Here it is layered over China Glaze Peace on Earth, a yummy golden metalic olive green that I've had for ages and never worn. Shame on me, it's lovely. I left the ring finger plain, coz you know how I love me an accent nail.

Odd texture at the tip of my ring finger here...not visible IRL

I do like this combo, I think it looks kinda snakeskin-esque, and the topcoat crackles well, but I wish I'd put a more visible colour underneath. I bought No 7 Poolside blue (with my £5 off No 7 voucher which is Boots current promotion) and the OH said on the way home I should put the crackle over that. I didn't agree but I wish I had now. Oh well, you live and learn.

Talking of Boot's promotions, thought I'd just mention just some of the ones I saw while I was there. If you buy 2 things costing over £4 from Collection 2000 you get a third free, there's the No 7 £5 voucher when you spend a certain amount (£5 I think?) and with any two purchases of 17 products you get a free Summer Nudes palette, consisting of two eyeshadows, a lip colour and a cream blush. It's actually a nice sturdy little palette, I picked up my polish and a lipstick for £2.29 (also on offer - the original price is about £3) and got the palette free. Bargainous.

Picture credit - boots.com

So, I said this would be a short post but I've rambled on as usual. Happy Sunday everyone, I hope Monday treats you well!

Hx

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NOTD - Beauty UK Mauve Flash + Gold Shatter

Hello! A quick NOTD from me. I wore Beauty UK Mauve Flash yesterday, just with a pretty sticker on accent nail and thumb, but the stickers didn't last long and I didn't get to take a pic before they looked nasty. Today I wasn't doing anything but housework, so instead of a fresh mani I just took the remains of the stickers off and added a coat of Beauty UK Night Fever (their gold shatter) to hide the mess and tipwear! I love this combination, and Mauve Flash is a great colour - I can't wait to wear it in the Autumn. I'll definitely be wearing it again soon, so I'll show you it's lubblyness on it's own then!

Perfect summer nails - please excuse the mess!

With every Beauty UK polish I get I'm more and more impressed. Next to try are Slate and Frozen Kingdom.

Have you tried Beauty UK? You can win a lovely bottle of Smoky Lilac in my giveaway - the link is in the sidebar!

Coming over the next week - July faves, Pink Wednesday a TOTD and that remover review I promised you!

Hx

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