Saturday, June 30, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 30: Inspired by a Tutorial

Happy Saturday loves. I'm almost at the end of the challenge, one more day! I have no idea what I'm going to do tomorrow for the challenge, but I want to finish off strong. I really enjoyed today's theme. It's inspired by a tutorial. This kind of gave me the opportunity to try something I've pinned or always wanted to do, but never got around to it. The one I did today is from a tutorial by Sarah at Chalkboard Nails and you can watch her video tutorial here. It was pretty easy, mine do not look perfect like hers, but I'm still super happy with how they turned out. I used China Glaze Electric Pineapple, China Glaze Papaya Punch, and Zoya Reagan. I really want to try this one out again!



Friday, June 29, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 29: Inspired by the Supernatural

Good morning pretties! Today's theme is inspired by the supernatural. This challenge is one of my least favorites, both with the theme and how my mani turned out. Maybe I'm just being critical of myself, but it's my first time wearing gray polish ever and I'm not sure how I like it on me. I have stamps with haunted houses and stuff, but I didn't want it to turn into a Halloween mani so I didn't use much for this mani. I decided to stamp on top of a water marble so it wouldn't look plain either. I used a base of China Glaze Recycle and did a quick water marble using China Glaze Recycle and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Black Out. I stamped using BM 223 in Konad White. 



Thursday, June 28, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 28: Inspired by a Flag

Happy Thursday! Today's theme is inspired by a flag. I was going to do an American flag one, but with 4th of  July coming up, I thought I'd hold off on that and do something else. I chose to do the black and white checkered flag of NASCAR. I used Zoya Purity and stamped using MASH 38 in Konad Black. I didn't stamp all the way up with the stamp because honestly, I was not looking forward to cleaning up black Konad polish off of my cuticles.Topcoating this was scary, but luckily I got no smearing.






Wednesday, June 27, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 27: Inspired by Artwork

Good afternoon loves! Today's theme is inspired by artwork. I think this may have been the hardest challenge for me. I don't know much about art and had no inspiration whatsoever. I basically Googled as much art stuff I could until I found something I wanted to do. For this mani I used a base of OPI Ogre the Top Blue and then did a gradient using OPI Jade is the New Black. I added very small brushstrokes of Color Club Chelsea Girl and China Glaze Holly Day, but I don't even think they're visible. I stamped using Konad M70 in Konad Red, MASH Black, and Konad White. I used the red and black very sparingly on the image and only painted parts of it because I wanted the white to be more prominent. The image of the artwork I was inspired by can be found here.






Tuesday, June 26, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 26: Inspired by a Pattern

Good morning! Today's theme is inspired by a pattern. I also have had this one planned out for a lonnng time. When I first saw the new MASH plates, this was the first image that caught my attention and I knew I would do picnic nails using it and a new polish I had just bought. For this picnic table cloth look I used Zoya Purity, stamped using MASH 50 in Konad Red, and added a coat of Nubar Black Polka Dots to look like little ants. I got the ants idea from Sarah at Chalkboard Nails. I think these are so adorable!







Monday, June 25, 2012

Jamberry Nail Shields Giveaway!

Hi ladies! Remember my post last night featuring these Jamberry Nail Shields?

Thanks to Jenni, an independent consultant from Jamberry Nails, now you have the opportunity to win a set of your choice! The giveaway will be open for 2 weeks and is open to US residents only. To enter, fill out the form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 25: Inspired by Fashion

Happy Monday! Today's theme is inspired by fashion and I've had this one planned out for a long time. I had the perfect image to use and I had to use my willpower to not use it before today. I used OPI Suzi Loves Cowboys and stamped using FUN2 in China Glaze Passion. I bought my plate here and I'm so happy I have added this plate to my collection.




Sunday, June 24, 2012

Jamberry Nail Shields--Aloha Flower

Good evening ladies! I have something very cool to show you--Jamberry Nail Shields. Since I love colorful, bright nails, I chose the "Aloha Flower" design to review. Big thanks to Jenni for sending these for review!  The nail design is not made out of nail polish like other nail apps so it is applied a little differently. You can watch a video on how to apply them here or read the directions here. Heat and pressure are what make the nail shields stick to your nails. Let's take a look at how my first attempt turned out!




Now this is my first time using a product like this and that includes even the ones made out of nail polish. Since I can't really compare the 2 types, I'll tell you what I liked and disliked.

Liked:

  • 9 different sizes on each strip to allow use for fingernails or toenails--I'm so doing a pedi next!
  • intricate looking design with very little effort
  • the set can last for a few different manicures and/or pedicures
  • looks shiny so I don't feel the urge to put topcoat or anything on it
  • easy removal
  • can be used as accent nails to get more use out of a set
Disliked:
  • when I would blow dry the strip even on low, it would flap around and stick to my tweezers
  • a couple of my nails seemed to be in between sizes, but it wasn't very noticeable and I can always cut it down to size if I need to, I just decided not to.
So what do you ladies think? Will you be trying Jamberry Nail Shields? You can a set of 18 nail shields here for $15.00. If you buy 3, you get 1 free!


***This product was sent for review***

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 24: Inspired by a Book

Happy Sunday lacquerheads! Today's theme was such a tough one for me--inspired by a book. I RARELY read. I was so close to doing children's books like so many who have done the challenge before me or even copping out by painting my nails different shades of gray (for the book Fifty Shades of Gray). After surfing the web and going through my plates for some inspiration, I finally landed on Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll. Here's what I used:
  • Index: Zoya Purity stamped using BM 311 in Konad Red, then stamped using BM 302 in MASH Black 
  • Middle: China Glaze Starboard stamped using MASH 32 in China Glaze Passion
  • Ring: China Glaze Happy Go Lucky stamped using Konad M65 in Konad White, then stamped using BM 302 in Konad Red and Konad Green
  • Pinky: China Glaze Dance Baby stamped using MASH 46 in Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Lively Lilac. 


Saturday, June 23, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 23: Inspired by a Movie

Hi beauties! Today's theme is 'inspired by a movie.' I watch tons of movies so I actually didn't have any trouble with inspiration like the other 'inspired' days. Plus my new 2012 Bundle Monster plates arrived yesterday and it had perfect images I could use so that made today even easier. The movie I used as my inspiration is Mean Girls. It's the movie that invented Pink Wednesdays for nails so I'm hoping most of you have seen the movie. Ok so here's what I used: (index) Zoya Shelby stamped with BM 223 in Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Presto Pink, then stamped using BM 307 in Konad Black / (middle) China Glaze Sugar High stamped using BM 303 in Konad Red / (ring) Zoya Shay with rhinestones / (pinky) Zoya Shelby stamped using BM 221 in Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Presto Pink, then stamped using BM 213 in Konad Black. Sorry for the long list, here are the pics!



Friday, June 22, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 22: Inspired by a Song

Happy Friday! Today's theme is inspired by a song. I had to look up a couple videos and lyrics to start getting some inspiration, but I found it! I chose to do my nails inspired by Katy Perry's "California Gurls." I mostly got my inspiration from stuff in the music video. You can watch it here. I used a bunch of stuff. I think the most I've ever used in one mani so I'll just tell you that I stamped using Konad Q1 (cupcakes and icecream), Konad M17 (letters), and Red Angel RA 110 (heart and half moon swirl).









Thursday, June 21, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 21: Inspired by a Color

Hey loves. Today's theme is inspired by a color. I ran into the same problem as a lot of other bloggers who have already done the challenge--lack of inspiration! The theme is left to interpretation and I really am a black and white kinda gal. I decided to use the name of a nail polish color as my inspiration. I went with China Glaze Pink Voltage and did some double lightning bolts using the tutorial here from Jane at Nailside. Get it, pink voltage? Lol. The colors I used are China Glaze Pink Voltage, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Silver Sweep, and OPI Black Onyx. I did have an issue doing this mani. Pink voltage is a neon and dried matte. I must have not used topcoat all the way to the sides and when I removed the tape, polish started coming off on the sides =[ Anyways, lesson learned: don't use a matte polish for this tutorial.



Wednesday, June 20, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 20: Water Marbled

Good afternoon readers! Today's theme is water marbled. Last night as I was thinking about what I was going to do for the challenge, I realized I couldn't find my tape because I recently moved. I ended up making a 10:30 pm run to Target =| To say the least, I was very annoyed lol! Anyways, for this mani I used a base of China Glaze Gothic Lolita and then marbled using China Glaze Gothic Lolita, China Glaze Aquadelic, and China Glaze Fuchsia Fanatic. As I look through my nails for the challenge up until now, I realize I've been using a lot of China Glaze polishes. I like how easy the bottles are to hold for pictures plus they are great polishes in general.





Tuesday, June 19, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 19: Galaxies

Happy Tuesday! Today's theme is galaxies and I was kind of dreading it because I wasn't sure how mine would turn out. I think they turned out pretty well for my first time. I used a bunch of stuff so I'm just going to list them: OPI Black Onyx, China Glaze Champagne Bubbles, China Glaze Happy Go Lucky, China Glaze Riveting, OPI Dim Sum Plum, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Night Flight, China Glaze Man Hunt, Pure Ice Vinyl Remix Platinum Magic Base Coat, and China Glaze Fairy Dust. I also used some white acrylic paint. I finally got some acrylic paints yesterday, so I will start playing with them soon! Not sure how that will turn out, but hopefully I can do some new kinds of nail art with that. What do you ladies think, are these out of this world?



Monday, June 18, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 18: Half Moons

Good morning beauties! Today's theme is half moons. I love the look, but I kind of suck at doing it. I've only done it 3 times including today, but each time I pull off the hole reinforcements I manage to screw something up. Oh well, I think if I practice more I'll get the hang of it. For this mani I used Pure Ice Platinum Magic Base Coat and China Glaze Man Hunt and added red holo hex glitter. I'm determined to get better at doing these!



Sunday, June 17, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 17: Glitter

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there! (Not really sure if any dads will even see this lol) Anyways, today's theme is glitter and to most of you it's probably really easy, but it was kind of hard for me! I usually avoid glitter because of the painstaking removal. I know I can use methods to make it easy, but easy removal to me is not having to use any special methods! I decided to use one of my untrieds today and surprise, it's a glitter. I used 2 coats of China Glaze High Hopes and used one coat of China Glaze Bad Kitty. I stamped using MASH 43 in Konad White. I love this image because hibiscus flowers remind me of Hawaii and I LOVE Hawaii. Also, it's my first time participating in Stamping Sundays for the Adventures in Stamping FB group I'm in because today also happened to be glitter!



Saturday, June 16, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 16: Tribal Print

Hey lacquerheads! Today's theme is tribal print and these have been a very popular trend lately. A lot of tribal manis have a similar style and I tried that out first with one of those Sally Hansen pen/marker things. I didn't like it very much, but when I took it off, the black stained my nails and cuticles so I apologize if my cuticles look like a mess! Anyways, I decided to go with stamping because what can I say, I can't really go wrong with it lol. I used China Glaze Sunshine Pop (yellow) and China Glaze Flyin' High (turquoise) for my base colors and stamped using BM 219 and BM 221 in Konad Black, Sky Pearl, and Yellow. I quite like how these turned out!



Friday, June 15, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 15: Delicate Print

Happy Friday! Today is delicate print nails which is something I rarely do, but I saw a mani here from Radi-D awhile back and I thought it was so beautiful that I decided to recreate it for today's challenge. I used O.P.I. Don't Touch My Tutu, added french tips using striping tape and O.P.I. Black Onyx, and stamped using Konad M57 in Konad Black. It's weird seeing something so delicate on my nails since I'm used to wearing bright colors and bold stamping patterns, but I would definitely do something like this again for a special occasion!



Thursday, June 14, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 14: Flowers

Hi readers! Today's theme is flowers and I wanted to do something much cooler, but when I was sponging different colors over my base, the light green I used turned into a gross color so I just started over and left it plain. I used Orly Flirty and stamped using BM 224 in Konad White. I added orange dots using China Glaze Papaya Punch. Does anyone else love this pink as much as I do?!



Wednesday, June 13, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 13: Animal Print

When I think of animal print, I right away think of leopard or zebra print. As you can see, I tried to stay away from that and decided to do peacock print for my animal print nails today. I have seen so many beautiful peacock inspired nails, but my favorite has been this one by The Polished Perfectionist. I decided to  recreate hers for today's challenge. I still like hers better, but I'm pretty happy with how these turned out! I used a base of China Glaze Holly and then did a gradient using China Glaze Holly, China Glaze First Mate, and China Glaze Grape Pop. I stamped using BM 212 in China Glaze Passion. I added dots in Zoya Ivanka, Zoya Charla, and Zoya Mimi.



Tuesday, June 12, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 12: Stripes

Good afternoon beauties! We FINALLY have internet at our new place! I just set it up... oh about a second ago lol. Today's theme is stripes and I really wanted to recreate this mani from MakeupWithdrawal, but with moving I really would not have any time to do it since it would be more time consuming. I'll have to save it for another day. For stripes today I decided to do a gradient using China Glaze Sweet Hook and China Glaze Aquadelic and then stamp using MASH 40 in Konad White.



Monday, June 11, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 11: Polka Dots

Happy Monday! So I ran out of manis that I did before moving so this one I just did this morning. My nail stuff is all in boxes and I had to find a new spot to take pictures. I feel like none of my pictures were coming out good today so bear with me as I get adjusted to my new place and doing my nails. I tried doing a mani for tomorrow also and I'm not happy with it, but I'm so busy I may just have to post it =/ Anyways here's the mani for today's polka dots theme. I used a base of Zoya Purity and then sponged on China Glaze Hey Sailor, Happy Go Lucky, and Starboard. I stamped using Konad M60 in MASH Nail Art Polish in Black. It's my first time using the new MASH stamping polish. It was really easy to clean up, but my image has some bald spots and I'm not sure if that was the polish or me.




Sunday, June 10, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 10: Gradient

Hi loves! I'm attempting to post this from my phone so let's hope this works. I have to go a few more days without internet =[ So today's theme is gradient so I used a base of China Glaze Lemon Fizz and then used China Glaze Lemon Fizz, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Mellow Yellow, and Sally Hansen Sun Kissed to do the gradient. I used a tutorial from Pinterest where you wet a makeup sponge a little bit and then paint all the colors on the sponge at one time. I love how easy it was to do this! I stamped using Konad M82 in Konad Red. I'm definitely going to have to try this method again!





Saturday, June 9, 2012

31 Day Nail Challenge--Day 9: Rainbow

Happy Friday! So yesterday was moving day and I only had one casualty, but thankfully it's not any of my money makers lol. I took tons of biotin and made sure my nails were painted before moving to prepare for the trauma. I won't have internet until next week so until then I'm gonna bring my laptop with me everywhere and mooch off of family for now haha. For rainbow nails I decided to do a watermarble because it would be easier to incorporate several colors. I used a base if Zoya Purity and marbled with China Glaze Grape Pop and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Cherry Red, Sun Kissed, Mellow Yellow, Green with Envy, and Blue Me Away.