Purple Crumpet Spring Challenge - Butterflies

Hi everyone! Still here? Good! Only 14 challenges left!

I wanted to try and recreate the admiral butterfly design I've seen lots of people do, and followed Cutepolish's tutorial. I decided to stick to accent nails after the hand cramp that was patchwork day, and I actually like the gradient that I did and didn't want to cover it all over anyway. The gradient was done with 2 coats of Models Own Lemon Meringue (new favourite yellow) and No7 Mojo sponged from the tips. Then I added a coat of Finger Paints Motley for some added shimmer, and drew the wing design in Wet n Wild black creme and a nail art brush. I had hoped that the lines would be a bit more delicate, but I don't really do anything delicately... The white dots were done with a small dotting tool and Collection 2000 French White.

I'd like to do this again, maybe over a blue base. Maybe next time I'll be confident enough to so my whole hand instead of just accent nails!

Hx

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NOTD - Triangular half moons plus stamping

Hi loves

I tried a tape mani a few days ago, and for once didn't get into a mess with sticky tape! They triangles aren't the neatest, but you couldn't really notice apart from close up. I used a coat of Barry M Silver Foil, let it dry completely and then taped off the triangles at the cuticle before using a coat of No 7 Poolside Blue.

I wore it like this for a day and then stamped over it with the foil again.

I smudged the stamp on the little finger but other than that I liked it! Still got smurf hands when I took it off though. Damn you blue polish *shakes fist*

Hx

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31 Day Challenge - Day 26 inspired by a pattern

For my pattern nails I chose this chequered design from one of the SDP plates I won in Sarah-Louise's giveaway (seriously I would have struggled with this challenge without winning this!). The base colour is No 7 Violetta and I stamped with Barry M Lilac Foil Effects on all but the ring finger, which I used the gold one for. They both stamped well, but something strange happened when I added the topcoat. First I'll show you with no top coat...

This is my right hand so it's a bit messier but you can see the polishes stamped ok and looked like the colour they were meant to! Then I added topcoat (Seche) and this happened...

 It's like the base colour 'leaked' through or something? You can't tell the accent nail is gold at all, and the other nails are a lot more muted too.

 Has this ever happened to you? What did I do wrong? I'm tempted to blame the base colour since it's the first time I've experienced it (and I don't like No 7 polishes - they're overpriced and a bit rubbish so  it can be my scapegoat).

Still a pretty manicure though! Tomorrow, nails inspired by artwork and more stamping!

Hx

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Halloween Week 3 - I've got my eye on you...

Boo!

I was so so excited last week, as I won a giveaway hosted by the lovely Joy at Okay Now Joy which included a glow in the dark polish! How exciting! I've not seen any GITD polish here, apart from a rubbish one that I bought in Tesco which doesn't work and washes off in warm water! I never in a million years thought it would arrive in time for Halloween but I was amazed to see it sitting on my doorstep when I got back from taking the boys to playgroup yesterday (which gives me hope that the polishes I sent to Jasmine in our swap will get to her soon!). Anyway, I couldn't wait to get playing with my new pretties and this is what I came up with.

First I used two coats (though it could have used three) of No7 Beautifully Black, a small silver glitter in a black/charcoal base. Pretty enough, but nothing to write home about. I have to say I am disappointed in these polishes, and I would never buy a full price one (thank goodness for £5 off No7 vouchers...). The formula isn't great, the coverage is a bit pants and after painting my nails late last night I had a chip halfway through this morning even though I'd done nothing strenuous. Now they're looking a little tip-weary and even though I love my cute eyeballs I'm itching to take it off. Anyway, after that I added two pairs of eye balls to each nail (3 on the thumb) using a large dotting tool and Wet n Wild French white, before going over each eyeball with a dot of the Glow in the Dark pumpkin polish.  This polish has teeny iridescent glitter in it, which really makes the eyeball stand out! Then the black pupils were done with a smaller dotting tool and Wet n Wild Black creme. Topped with SV to smooth it out and this is the result.

And here it is glowing! Colour me impressed! I got a bit of a shock when I woke up at 4am for a wee...

You would not believe how hard it was to get this pic though...

And here is what I won from Joy - Pumpkin Polish with hex glitter and crescent shapes, Fuchsia Blacklight Pumpkin Polish, Glow in the Dark glitter and Wet n Wild Correction Tape :) Happy Helly :) And look that the post-it with a QR code that links direct to Joy's blog! How super clever is that!

Thank you so much Joy! These polishes will be cherished!

Halloween is just 3 days away, think I might squeeze in 2 more themed manicures, and then start the 31 day challenge (I already have an exciting red polish lined up!)

Fun fact about me - I cannot for the life of me pronounce the word "pumpkin", it always comes out as "pun-kin" no matter what I do! My little boy says it the same way, but he is only 4 so he has an excuse!

Hx

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September favourites!

Helloo!

I missed out on doing an August favourites post because of my computer issues, so I'm catching up! First up, the nail polishes that have been part of my favourite manicures this month.

 Clockwise from top: Miss Sporty Electric Beige, (my go-to goldy-y stamping colour), Boots 17 Magentised Polish in Green, Revlon Facets of Fuchsia, OPI Nail Envy, Revlon Galaxy, Models Own Grace Green, Collection 2000 Hot Looks Milkshake, No7 Milan, OPI I Lily Love You

Click the links to the posts to see the manicure's I've done with these polishes!

As part of Operation Fit and Fabulous I've been trialling these supplements which contain Biotin for hair and nails. My nails peel like crazy, so I'm trying to keep them pretty short and square to try and combat them, and trying a supplement can't hurt. I've heard reviews saying Biotin gives people spots, and I have got one at the moment. I NEVER ever get spots on my face - I could probably count on my fingers the amount I've had in my entire life, so I hope this is just a coincidence and I'll stick with them. I have 2 months supply so you'll get a proper review once the two months is up!

Vivo cosmetics eye monos in Dusky Pink, Pale Gold and Mink, and Primer 25ml.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these products. The eye shadows are soft and well pigmented and I've worn at least one of them most days since I got them. great for an everyday eye as they're shimmery but not full on glitterball, which I like. And the primer is the first face primer I've used (after swatching lots and putting them back because they're too expensive, I still want Benefits Porefessional though...) It just evens out my skintone, so I can slap it on with some concealer and be out the door for the school run, or use it under foundation to make it glide on and last longer. I really love how it feels on my skin, silky and soft. My only negative is that there's only 25ml in the bottle, and it's quite a big bottle so after a few uses it feels a bit empty and is hard to get out. But that could be solved by depotting it if I can get some wee jars or something.

ELF Srudio Stipple Brush and Avon Angled Blush Brush

I'd only ever used a flat foundation brush before, but found myself always needing to blend with my fingers afterwards. As I said I've got good skin so when I wear foundation I only need a light touch and the ELF Stipple Brush is great for that. I've read some bad reviews on it, but figured if it was no good it's only £3.50 and I could use it for powder, but for me it's perfect for foundation and it washes well without shedding or bleading. And the Avon brush is a good multi-purpose blush brush, and I use it for blush, contouring and highlighting. And it's super soft!

Sleek Santorino Blush and Sunset palette

I had been looking for a super-bright pink blush for a while when the lovely Liloo held a wee giveaway for this blush - and I was lucky enough to win! It's mega bright and very pigmented, so the lightest touch is needed, but now the summer is over and my tan is fading it's a perfect colour for wind-chilled cheeks! I picked up the sunset palette from a blogsale and love it. Its the first Sleek palette I own, and it's a very considered purchase - I couldn't decide which palette I would get the most use from as I already have a lot of neutrals and better suit warm tones. The golden shimmer in this palette makes the colours really warm and I've even managed to use the blue, which is quite frankly amazing because despite having very blue eyes blue eyeshadow usually makes me look like a drag queen. I shit you not.

And finally my nail wheels! I got these from ebay for a few pounds and have had great fun playing with them (despite getting a headache from the stench of polish everytime I do...) There is a little poll in the sidebar asking which you'd like to see first - if you wouldn't mind voting I'd be ever so grateful!

Things I've not been loving this month:

• Frogs. My cat has become an expert frog hunter and every morning for the last few weeks I've had to rescue at least one frog from the confines of my conservatory...
• My nails. They split, they break, they're stained. Ah the life of a nail blogger...
• Dieting. 3 months or so in and I'm starting to hate it. I've lost 26 pounds, which is great, but I just want biscuits for breakfast, bread for lunch and chips for tea. Porridge, soup and salad is wearing a bit thin.
• Spiders. Seriously, what is it with all the Arnold Schwarzespiders at the moment? I saw one run across the floor from the corner of my eye and thought it was the cat!

What have you been loving (and hating) this month? If you've done a favourites post, send me your links!

Hx

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Notd-I've been matching my nails to my shoes again...

Well, sort of matching. This is 2 costs of No 7 Poolside Blue. Great formula, same silly brush. Then I added some star stickers to my ring fingers and thumbs and noticed they sort of matched my new shoes...

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Yesterdays Pink Wednesday - So Fetch!

Helloo! I've not done a pink Wednesday for a few weeks but since I have a fair few (8 ahem) untried pinks I thought I'd join in again. This is No7 Milan, a nice pink foil. 2 coats, then stamped with concentric circles from BM 206 with MissSporty New Black. Stamping went a bit blurry but considering I did it at 6.30 this morning it wasn't bad.

I do like these No7 polishes, with the Boots vouchers I now have 4 (and have my eyes on another) but one thing I'm not keen on is the brush. The brush itself is nice, one of the wider flat ones, but they feel like they're not attached to the lid of the bottle properly, so they bend a bit when you apply the polish. I thought I just got a bad bottle with my first one but they're all like it. Annoying.

Counting down the days until I get my computer back-should be no more than 7...

Hx

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