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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Land of the free, home of the brave...

Yes, this is a british Blog, but today we are celebrating Independence Day! Actually, the theme for Adventures in Stamping this past Sunday was the 4th of July, but I wasn't able to take part because my little one was hospitalised unexpectedly (he's fine now, little monkey), so I thought I'd do it on the day instead.

It's quite a simple mani, but I think quite effective (on my little nubs again...). I started with two coats of Barry M Matt White, the sponged on Nails Inc Baker Street and Barry M Blood Orange Gelly. I then smoothed it out with a fine glitter topper before stamping stars from a Cheeky plate with Konad special white.

Happy 4th if you're celebrating! Stay safe!

Hx

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British Nail Bloggers Giveaway WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!

Helloooo!

We had an amazeballs response to the British Nail Bloggers Giveaway! I'm absolutely thrilled with how well it went and a huge Howdy to all my new followers! I hope you'll stick around ;)

Anyway, without further ado, the winners are:

$50 gift cards go to-

• Nina Wilson
• Courtney Beck
• Kris Wilson

And winner of the grand prize, a $100 gift card to the nail polish etailer of your choice is

• Lena Payne

If you haven't already, please contact Debbie at crumpet@the-crumpet.com to organise your prize! Congratulations!

If you didn't win, don't worry, keep your eyes peeled for more giveaways in the not-so-distant future ;)

Hx

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