Punkin's!

Hello dolls!

I have a quick and easy mani to share with you today... falling pumpkins!  I don't know what my obsession is with painting small things on my nails right now lol.  First acorns, then eyeballs, then skulls and now some pumpkins inspired by @clairelofthouse...

 Colors Used:  L'Oreal - The Queen's Ambition, Orly - Mayhem Mentality, Revlon - Lime Basil

I used all polishes for a change in this mani :)  I started with my black/silver glitter base, with 2 coats for coverage.

 I then took a medium sized dotting tool and started to place my pumpkins.  With a detail brush, I applied the stems and then I top coated.  Simple, right?

Me likey :)

I'm sorry I've been MIA for the last couple of days.  After that epic KBShimmer post, my brain needed a bit of a break.  I've got one more simple Halloween mani to share with you on Friday a long with some more swatch posts...

Until next time!

Stef <3

Painting the Roses Red

Hello dolls!

I have a quick post for you this evening (I have to go start dinner for the hubs haha).  I bought a set of cheap acrylic paints at Wal-Mart last week in the hopes of advancing my nail art skills because I feel like it's time for me to challenge myself a little bit more.  I need to step out of my cutesy comfort zone ;)  So, I decided to try a floral design over french tips...

 Colors Used: Daisy Nail Lacquer - White Diamond, Orly - Beverly Hills Plum, Acrylic Paint

I started with a basic french tip (white tips, pink base).  I then took a thin nail art striper and painted black branches.  After the paint set I continued with that same thin striper and painted the green leaves; first with the darker green, then the light.

For the roses, I took out a detail brush and painted dark red blobs.  I tried my hand and definition with red orange and pink.  I top coated and was done.

Ta-da!

I think what I love most about acrylic paint is that it dries incredibly fast!  I can wait to continue my education in actual art hahaha :P  Oh and thank you all for the lovely comments on my bubble mani!  I haven't had a chance to reply but it seriously made my week.  Love to you all!!

Until next time!

Stef <3

Blue... You've Stolen My Heart!

 Hiya lovelies!

I've got a quick post for you today.  It features a skittle mani that I did using my new fave polish color, blue :D

 Colors Used:  Sinful Colors- Midnight Blue, Orly - Dazzle, Sephora by OPI - Meet Me At The Disco, Kleancolor - Pastel teal, Sally Hansen - Laughie Taffy

You see, what had happened was... I needed an excuse to try out my newest SH Sugar Coat (Laughie Taffy).  I just love textured polishes and I'm trying my best to get one in each color of the rainbow lol.  Well, one thing led to another and I got a little carried away ;)  The cross-stitch is a new technique for me.  I haven't quite mastered it yet by I definitely plan to!  Haha...

Happy Monday!

I took time this weekend to just hang out with my hubby but I haven't forgotten about the Eiffel Tower tut.  I'll work on it tonight when I get home and have it up for you soon :)

Until next time!

Stef <3

Gilded Zebra

Hello, dolls!

Soooooo I kinda sorta got bit by the animal print bug...

Colors Used: Orly -Royal Navy, Daisy Nail Lacquer - White Diamond, Rimmel - Black Satin

Royal Navy is a new favorite blue (2 coats shown).  I think it's gorgeous!  I used a striping brush for the zebra print on my ring finger and then painstakingly applied the crystals and microbeads using clear coats as my adhesive.  Overall I really like this mani :)

A short a sweet post hahaha.

Until next time!

Stef <3

Born Pretty Drop Studs

Good evening, lovelies!

As promised, here is my second product review of the day!

 Colors Used: Julep - Blakely, Kylie, Sephora by OPI - Spark-tacular!, Orly - Dazzle

I was contacted by a rep from the Born Pretty Store about a month ago and it was an OMG moment.  A lot of the major nail blogger that I admire have done a plethora of reviews for Born Pretty and I was definitely taken aback.  I decided to start with something simple to review...

I applied these studs the same way I do any other stud, with clear/top coat.  I put a dot of top coat down with my dotting tool, apply the stud and then top it with a coat of top coat.  Once it's dry, it is stuck.  Like really stuck!  I have not lost a stud yet using this method.  And I have no fear of ruining my natural nails with nail glue :)

  As you can see above, these studs are pretty flat.  No pointy edges to snag on anything.  This is a plus for me, because I'm totally a weirdo when it comes to textures and if something sticks up on my nail too much, I freak out lol.  These studs have a lot of potential when it comes to nail art.  I kept this mani simple to showcase the stud, but I definitely see art deco in it's future ;)

 Name: Drop Stud Rhinestone Acrylic UV Gel Nail Art Decoration #2

Item #: 6880

Quantity: Approx. 150 pcs

Cost: $4.99 USD

These studs came be found here at Born Pretty's store!

How do you feel about studs?  Something you'd rock or something that would drive you crazy??

Until next time!

Stef <3

* This product was provided to me for review.  I received no payment or other compensation for the review of this product.  The opinions stated here are completely my own.  The contents of this review are based on my direct experience with this product.

Neon Week - Rainbow Collab

Hello hello!

I'm getting this post in just under the wire haha.  Well, it's the end of my neon week and I'm going out with a bang :D  I participated in Nails Like Lace's Instagram Collab (#collablikerainbows2013) this weekend and naturally I had to make it neon...

 Colors Used: China Glaze - Rose Among Thorns, Celtic Sun and Blue Sparrow, Orly - Mayhem Mentality, Savina - Power Up, Love & Beauty - Purple

As always with neons, I started with a white base.  I then took my handy-dandy striper and started painting away.  There really was no rhyme or reason to my pattern, I just went for it...

The neon polishes I used were half jellies and half cremes.  I wasn't sure the mix was going to look alright, but yea...

This is probably one of my favorite mani's to date haha.

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend :)  I am off to bed now...

Until next time!

Stef <3

H&M Nail Tattoo

Good evening, dolls!

I meant to have this post up earlier this afternoon, but... I got side tracked.  On the flip side, I re-did the layout of the blog!  I wanted something clean/professional looking while still being whimsical and fun.  It's a work in progress (any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed!).  Anywhosy, on to the nails!

I did this manicure almost 2 weeks ago.  I've fallen very behind in posting because life has gotten in the way, but that means that I have a nice store of mani's to pull from...

 Colors Used: Daisy Nail Lacquer - White Diamond, Orly - Shine On Crazy Diamond

Sometimes you've just gotta keep it simple you know?  I picked up the nail tattoos at H&M for about $4.  It came with a variety of designs on 1 sheet.  The tattoos can be used on both skin and nails.

I started with 2 coats of my white polish and I let it dry completely. I then peeled away the plastic cover, placed the tattoo on my nail at the desired angle and, with a cotton swab, I dabbed water onto the paper backing.  If you've ever put on fake tattoos as a child, then you're familiar with the process.

I topped each nail with my Orly glitter and top coated.  'Twas a cinch!

I think this is the first time I've ever really enjoyed a bow on my nails.  I like that it looks like a bow and not a crazy mess haha.

Has anyone else every tried nail tattoos or water decals?  Do you have a brand that you recommend?

Until next time!

Stef <3

If You Give A Girl A Strping Brush...

Hello dolls!

Late night post from em today (or early morning, depending on your global locale).  I should be going to bed but decided blogging would be a much better idea haha.  So, this mani is one I did last week out of sheer boredom...

 Colors Used: Sally Hansen - Blue-Away, Orly - Dazzle, Rimmel - Black Satin

Blue-Away is one of SH's Insta-Dri polishes.  Very thick/opaque and dries  with a nice glossy sheen.  I started with 2 coats as my base color.  Then only exception being my middle finger which received 2 coats of Dazzle.

I then just sort of went to town with my striping brush.  No rhyme or reason to it. I just painted with abandon and it was pretty fun lol.

Hmmm... I really wish I had something more interesting to add to this post.  I don't tho.  I'm very sorry.  I hope you all have a loverly night/morning :D

Until next time!

Stef <3

I Got My Light Tent!!!!

Yaaaaaaayyyyyy!!!  It's here, it's here, it's heeeeeeerrrre!!!!!  I'm just going to show you pictures now hahaha...

 Colors Used: Julep - Denver, China Glaze - Flip Flop Fantasy, Orly - Dazzle, Sally Hansen - White On, Hard Candy - Black Tie Optional

My photos are drastically different from before and I'm going to have to adjust BIG time!  I'm not comepltely sold with what I've done here but it's a step in the right direction :)

Denver and Fantasy both got 3 coats for base colors because they were a little streaky, while Dazzle and White On were 2 coaters.  The bow is a nail art sticker that I got from my local nail supply store.  All of the righting is in a language I can't read, so I don't have any onther info to offer about them :\  I free handed the striping and then applied my black/white glitter as accents...

I love this mani so much that I'm going to wear it for another day hahaha

Yayyy pretty picture!!

I have to say a huge thank you to my a,azingly wonderful husband for supporting me and loving me enough to put up with my crazy obsession <3

 Until next time!

Stef <3

An Orly Ruffian

Good day, dear hearts!

I have yet another bright/neon polish to share with you today (Shocking... I know!).  I was at Sally's almost a month ago looking for a good silver foil polish and stumbled across neon goodness...

 Colors Used:  Orly - Dazzle (silver) and Mayhem Mentality (neon orange)

Having a foil polish really helped with my ruffian design this go around.  It was easier to smoth out the edges with this silver polish than it was with my Sally Hansen Golden-I.  Photographing this mani, however, was a nightmare!  The above photo was taken in my usual lighting... at my desk, with a desk lamp, using flash.

This photo with the greenish tinge was take in my bathroom.  Fluorescent lighting, no flash.

This last photo I feel is closest to the true color of the polish and I took it in my car.  Don't worry, I wasn't driving!  The hubby was lol.

All in all this mani was 1 coat of dazzle and 2 coats of Mayhem Mentality.  Two new faves in my ever growing collection :D

Just an fyi... I know I had said that the TPC for May would be starting this week.  I was very off lol.  It starts up next Tuesday.  it will give me a chance to do the final mani for the Hobby Polish Blogger challenge... Re-create Your Favorite :)

Until next time!

Stef <3

Tri Polish Challenge - Day 3

Good morning, dearies!

Today's post features my third installment in the Crumpet's Tri Polish Challenge.  I decided to do something a little "sweet"...

 Colors Used: Jesse's Girl - Spring Break, Spoiled - Let's Get Sushi, Sally Hansen - Green With Envy, Orly - Shine On Crazy Diamond

I racked my brain for a looooong time trying to think of something fun/different to do with these polishes.  This challenge is a lot harder than I thought it would be!  Lollipops popped into my head and then I remembered a mani that Chalkboard nails did recently with little candies on them.  While hers are A LOT better, I liked the way this mani turned out :)

The Crumpet said that we had full use of glitters as toppers so I added 1 coat of Shine On Crazy Diamond to finish the mani :)

As much fun as I'm having... these polishes are going to be "put to bed" after Thursday.  I don't want to look at them anymore lol.  Don't forget to check out the other fab mani's for today's challenge :D

Until next time!

Stef <3