Tuesday, October 29, 2013

If I Were A Witch...

Hello dolls!

With Halloween right around the corner, I thought now would be a good time to share some "nailspiration"!  I read a fabulous post by Break Rules, Not Nails where she played with the idea of having witches nails.  I loved it and it got me to thinking what kind of nails I would rock if I were a witch...

Anise Cosmic Kiss, ombre, gradient, black tips, holo, cranberry, Halloween, witch, nails, nail art, nail design, mani
 Colors Used: Anise - Cosmic Kiss, Rimmel - Black Satin

I would do ombre of course!  :D  Cosmic Kiss is a new pretty in my collection.  I found it while out shopping at DSW (who knew a shoe store would carry such gorgeous polishes??).  It's a cranberry polish that's packed with holo glitter.  As usual, I couldn't get the holo sparkles to photograph... at all.  *sigh*


 I used my photo editor to turn my skin green because, well... turning my dark skin any other shade with makeup would be a difficult task lol.


Success?  I'm thinkin' yea ;)


Happy Tuesday, my pretties... muahahahaha!

Until next time!

Stef <3

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Emmanuelle & a Franken!

Hello, dolls!

It's been a month since my last SAFS post... yikes!



 Emmanuelle

First up I have my "normy".  A quick explanation for my newer followers... I sing in a televised church choir and while nail polish is encouraged (to look more feminine lol), I am not allowed to wear anything too bright/outlandish.  This includes any form of nail art.  Boring right?  Right!  This is how the SAFS posts were born.  With that being said... I love this beauty!  Super soft and subtle.  This was 3 easy coats with Color Club Clear topcoat :)


???

Eeeee I'm so excited to share this one with you!  Those of you who follow me on Instagram may have noticed that I did a little bit of a polish purge.  I think I got rid of 50-ish in all?  I shared them with friends in order to make room in my helmer for other beauties.  In the process of the purge I decided to have some fun and made a franken!  It needs a name tho... any suggestions??  I'm thinking something to do with the night sky? 

 I mixed the flakies from a couple of Revlon Moon Candy's,  holo glitters from China Glaze (Fairy Dust) and Kleancolor (Chunky Holo Fuchsia) and a splash of Revlon Royal.  This is 2 coats of my franken over 1 coat of Royal with Color Club Clear as the topcoat.  I love this polish so much that I wore it for 4 days straight... that's like a record or something!  Lol...


I seriously would love any suggestions that you might have on a name for this franken.  I feel like it deserves one :)

Until next time!

Stef <3




Friday, October 25, 2013

Kaboom!

Hello, lovelies!

I'm wishing you all a very happy Friday!  I have another vault mani to share with you today :)  This is one that I did over a month ago I think?  I used some new-to-me polishes from Color Club's Fiesta Collection and a polish from Salon Perfect's Neon Collision Collection that came out over the summer...

Color Club Fiesta Collection, Wild Cactus, Sunrise Canyon, Salon Perfect Kaboom, green, teal, lime, tribal, skittle, skittlette, floam dupe, nails, nail art, nail design, mani
 Colors Used: Color Club - Wild Cactus and Sunrise Canyon, Salon Perfect - Kaboom, Daisy Nail Lacquer - White Diamond

A little bit of this and a little bit of that in this skittle mani.  Kaboom is actually a perfect dupe for the ever coveted "Floam", an indie polish that has been discontinued.  Did you ever play with Floam as a child?  I loved the stuff lol.


It's been a while since I did this, so I can't remember how many coats all of this was.  I know that Sunrise Canyon (middle finger) was 3 coats.  I remeber being concerned about streakiness at first, but by the third coat it was golden.  I also remember putting Kaboom over a base of Wild Cactus, but I'm not sure how many coats I used.  Maybe 2?  The tribal print was free-handed using a striping brush.


All in all i like the color combo and it was 3 more polishes to get out of my un-used pile lol.


Slowly but surely my nails are growing.  I'm hoping that their will be a noticeable difference when I start sharing more current nail art with you.  Then again maybe you'll think, "She made a big fuss over this??".  Hahaha we shall see ;)

Until next time!

Stef <3

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

I'm Completely "Spellbound"!

Good evening, dolls!

Now, I know I said this would be a week of nubbin's buuuuut you HAVE to see this polish I just got in the mail!! (*disclaimer)...

Spellbound Nails You're a Virgin??, Halloween, Hocus Pocus. the Black Flame Candle, black crelly, red glitter, indie brand, nails, nail polish, swatch
 Colors Used: Rimmel - Black Satin, Spellbound Nails - You're a Virgin??

Agagagagagagagagaaaaahh!!!!  This is me freakin' out!!!  Imma calm down now lol.

This beauty is from Spellbound Nails' Hocus Pocus collection.  And seeing as I have watched this movie every year since the age of seven, when I saw it in the theatre with my daddy.  It is a very nostalgic film for me and well... yea.  Had to have one!


Ashley describes this polish... "The moment that started it all. A virgin lights the Black Flame Candle. A black jelly with enough red holographic glitter to make your nails flame."

Yup!  I walked around all afternoon looking at the flame like flicker this glitter polish gives off.  I used 1 coat of You're a Virgin?? over 1 coat of Black Satin :) 


 I love all of the Spellbound polishes that I own, but this one definitely takes the cake!

I also bought a thermal holo polish from her Halloween Collection but my nubs are not quite long enough to see the desired effect.  I'll post it within the next 2 weeks when I get some more nail length.  We will return to our regular programming tomorrow morning ;)

Until next time! 

Stef <3


* This product was purchased by 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. 

A Speckled Half-Moon Mani

Good morning, lovies!

I've pulled another one out of the vault today :)  This is a mani I did for my first concert of the season.  I usually balck out my nails for concerts to go with the "concert black theme"  This time I decided to do something a little different (frankly my director couldn't care less what I have on my nails lol)...

Icing Deliciously Scrumptious, Sinful Colors Whipped, speckled, half-moon, leather luxe, matte, nails, nail art, nail design, mani
 Colors Used:  Icing - Delicously Scrumptious, Sinful Colors - Whipped, Orly - Dazzle

I started with 2 coats of Scrumptious and top coated.  Once it was completely dry, I taped off my nail, leaving only the "moons" exposed...


I then applied 1 coat of Whipped.  I thought the design looked a little incomplete so I decided to free-hand the stripes of Dazzle.  In hind sight I should have taped and painted Dazzle and then taped again for Whipped.  Oh well!  Haha ;)


I really like this look.  I'll definitely be re-creating it in the future :)


So I'm being a little bit sneaky with these vault photos.  Yes, I need to clear out some of my designs and I love sharing them with you.  But it's also providing my the opportunity to grow out my nubs a bit and get them back to the length and shape that I love.  'Cause this just ain't cuttin' it!

Until next time!

Stef <3

Monday, October 21, 2013

Playing with Studs

Hello dolls!

I'm pulling a mani out of the vault for you today.  I decided to take a little blogging break over the weekend and then I ended up being so busy that I really didn't do any good nail art-ing lol.  So onto the pictures we go!

Kleancolor Signature Lavender, black studs, black diamonds, triangle, pyramid, black, purple, nails, nail art, nail design, mani
 Colors Used:  Kleancolor - Signature Lavender

This is a pretty simple one :) I started with 2 coats of Signature Lavender and I then top coated my nails...


I then used some black studs that I got in an H&M nail art wheel and, with a dotting tool and more topcoat, started stacking them pyramid/grape style.  5,4,3,2,1.  I let the studs set and viola!


These didn't stay on my nails for very long because I wound up picking them off lol.  I really don't do well with things sticking up off of my nails :\


I hope you all enjoyed this post!  I have at least one more halloween mani planned but that won't be posted until closer to the holiday.  This week I'm going to clear some more manis out of the vault (which means you'll be seeing some interesting stuff?  lol).

Until next time!

Stef <3

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Inspired by the Evil Queen

Hiya, lovies!

I have a quick post for you today.  My inspiration was The Evil Queen (who's name is actually Queen Grimhilde) from Disney's Snow White...

Mentality Tempest, OPI Stay the Night, Disney, Snow White, Evil Queen, Queen Grimhilde, skull, crackle, inspired, nailas, nail art, nail design, mani
 Colors Used: Rimmel - Black Satin, OPI - It Color and Stay the Night, Mentality - Tempest, Daisy Nail Lacquer - White Diamond, Maybeline - Carbon Frost

I wanted to go for something a little more dark/sinister rather than cartoonish...


I free-handed the crown and apple and then used stamping plate SH02 for the skull and cross bones.

I wish the detail of the apple popped more but c'est la vie!

It's almost the weekend!!  Anyone else excited?  :P

Until next time!

Stef <3

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Candy Corn Spooks

Good morning, dolls!

I told myself that I should calm down with the Halloween manis for a little bit.  You know, maybe pull some regular nail art from out of my picture vault?  Yea, no.  That didn't happen lol.  Last night I thought to myself, "Candy corn!".  But it's nail art that has been done... a lot.  heck, I did it last year.  So then I figured I could incorporate those colors without actually doing cany corn.  Right?  Right!


Color Club Almost Famous, Daisy Nail Lacquer White Diamond, Rimmel Black Satin, China Glaze Toe-tally Textured, Sinful Colors Nail Art Time Off, Halloween, candy corn, ghosts, stiches, water decals, nail art brush, striper, yellow, white, orange, black, nails, nail art, nail design, mani
 Colors Used: Color Club - Almost Famous, Daisy Nail Lacquer - White Diamond, Rimmel - Black Satin, China Glaze - Toe-tally Textured, Sinful Colors Nail Art - Time Off

I started with my base colors.  3 coats of Almost Famous. 2 coats White Diamond, 2 coats of Black Satin and 2 coatts of Toe-tally Textured (which I bought on clearance specifically so I could use it for Halloween lol).

 
I used the water decals that I received/reviewed for KKCenterHK and placed my ghosts on my ring finger.  Then I took the Sinful Colors striperand added some stitching to my middle finger.  I threw on some top coat and that's all she wrote ;)


Boo!

The most challenging part of this nail art was finding a good yellow to use.  They are notoriously streaky, which is sad because yellow is one of my all time favorite colors.  Almost Famous is a really great yellow polish, but still... it requires 3 thinnish coats before the streaks are covered *sigh*.  Do you have any yellow recommendations?  I'm on the hunt!  Hahaha...

Until next time!

Stef <3

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

A Quick Fright!

Good evening, lovies!

This is going to be a very quick-and-to-the-point post because I'm a little tuckered out haha.  I hated the majority of the photos that I took of this mani so you only get one :P

This skittle mani is the first Halloween-ey design I did fir the season.  I was trying to get inspired (and I wanted to play with a new black glitter I picked up)...

Colors Used: Daisy Nail Lacquer - White Diamond, Love & Beauty - Orange,  Pure Ice - Private Show (Black Glitter), Urban Outfitters - Bandeau (Purple), Julep - Korbin (Green)

I really wanted to try out Private Show (which is a dupe of Butter London's The Black Knight... spitting image...) but I didn't want to wear glitter on all of my nails.  I try no to go that to myself because I HATE taking off glitter polishes.  Any whosy there's some tip-wear because I took this pick 3 days after having done my nails.  Whoops!

Well, that's all.  Imma go pass out now!  ZzzzzZzzzzzzZzzzzzz.....

Until next time!  

Stef <3

Monday, October 14, 2013

KKCenterHK Halloween Decals

Hello, dearies!

Today I have another Halloween mani to share with you.  I used some water decals that I received from KKCenterHK...



KKCenterHK, water decals, halloween, haunted house, witch, spooky, sunset, dusk, gradient, nails, nail art, nail design, mani
 Colors Used: Sinful Colors - Hazard, Julep - Evie and Trina

I started by sponging on a sunset gradient and then I went to work and the spooky design.

Did you know that there is a difference between water decals and nail tattoos?  I had no clue! Unlike the temporary tattoos that many of us played with as kids, these decals are not sticky on the front, a bit of a surprise for me lol. 


 You wet the back of the paper with water  and rhe decal will slide off.  It's very thin and tears easily, so I recommend using tweezers.  Again, since it's not sticky it is easy to adjust the decals in just the right place.  Once I had the houses and witch in place, I used a black striper polish to free-hand/fill-out the remaining fence and ground area.  I then top coated with Color Club Clear (my current fave).


I really love the way this one turned out!

Name: N.NAIL Halloween Witch/Haunted House/Bat/Broomstick/Ghost
Item #:  NNAIL-WDHHK188
Quantity: 1 Sheet
Cost: $6.39 USD
       
These decals, and others like them, can be found at KKCenterHK's online store! 
I'm really getting into the Halloween spirit this year!  What are some things you lovelies are doing to celebrate Halloween?

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.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Hobby Polish Bloggers Halloween Giveaway

Hey dolls!
I'm participating in a group giveaway and I think you all should enter!  The prize?  A $320 gift card to Llarowe, Ninja Polish, Harlow & Co. or PayPal (winner's choice).  Details can be found below :)


The Hobby Polish Bloggers are having their first ever multi-blogger giveaway just in time for Halloween! To enter, please allow the Rafflecopter widget to load below. All Terms and Conditions may also be found in the widget. Please visit the following Hobby Polish Bloggers members who are bringing this to you! You may enter using Rafflecopter from any of the below blogs but your entry will only count one time. You may, however, tweet about the giveaway (the last option) once a day for the duration of the giveaway.



Hobby Polish Bloggers


Carinae L'etoile

Fairly Charming

From Polish, with Love

Geniabeme

I Feel Polished

Imperfectly Painted

Kat Stays Polished

Lit From Within

Love. Varnish, chocolate and more...

Lucy's Stash

Manicure Addict

Manicurity

Pamper with Polish

Peer Pressure Polish

Polarbelle

polish insomniac

Polished and Glittered

Polished Prescription

PolishGalore

PolishNV

pretty tough nails

The Dalai Lama's Nails

The Sparkling Hoard


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Saturday, October 12, 2013

I Scream, You Scream...

Hello, dearies!

I was going to wait until Monday to start sharing some of the scary/spooky/kooky nail art that I've been working, but I did one last night that I'm just itching to post!  I think I mentioned recently that I'm still struggling with stamping.  It's embarrassing at this point.  Yes, I am a nail artist that can't stamp very well :(  With that being said, I dusted off my nail plates last night to see if there was anything spooky to inspire me and I found...

kiloX Lacquers KILO, Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby, black, crelly, glitter, Halloween, Scream Mask, drip, drippy, blod, scary, nails, nail art, nail design, mani
 Colors Used: kiloX Lacquers - KILO, Sinful Colors - Ruby Ruby, Konad - White

The Scream Mask!  I must confess, I've never seen the movie.  I was a tween when it came out and was always too scared to watch it.  The mask is iconic tho and I immediately knew I had to try it (I used stamping plate SH02)


I'm all excited, finally ready to get this stamping thing right and somehow I managed to stamp the mask crookedly.  I was furious!  I refused to call it a wash tho, so I free-handed the line of his hood to give it some dimension and I thought, "Hmm... that's not half bad...".  I decided to add a little bit of drippy blood and then topped it all with Color Club Clear.   I just want to add, I didn't do this over my previous swatch of KILO lol.  I just decided I wanted to rock it again because it's such and awesome polish!


Yay Halloween!

Have any of you started getting into the spooky spirit yet?  Are you planning a fantastically ghoulish party??  I'm particularly excited for Halloween this year :D

Until next time!

Stef <3

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Introducing kiloX Lacquers

Hello, dolls!

When I started this blog, it was in the hopes that I'd grow as a nail artist and share awesomeness with all of you.  I never in my wildest dreams thought that I'd be working with indie brands and help in introducing them to the nail world!  It's such an awesome thing to do and very humbling as well.  I am truly thankful for it :)  With that being said, say hello to kiloX Lacquers



The focus of this brand?  "kiloX lacquers was started with a single goal in mind; to make a lacquer that looked like Morgan's beloved cat Kilo. A black lacquer with the perfect shimmer and green flash."  I'm guessing Miss Morgan really felt inspired because she has two collections available!  I was sent some beauties from the Rescue Collection, polishes named after rescue animals.  How cute is that??  Side note, you can click on the images to enlarge them...


  "Sienna is a fun-loving, sweet Golden Retriever. 
This polish embodies her radiant personality with a spectrum of golden hues and sparkle."   


I love love love the butterscotch-iness of this polish!  It's packed with gold glitter that peeks thru this metallic-creme polish beautifully.  As much as I love Sienna, I'm not sure it's a great color for me.  It's a little too close to my skin tone for my taste lol :)  Application was very smooth and easy.  This is 2 coats with topcoat.
 

"Kora was a loving short-haired Saint Bernard rescue. Saintly Bernard is a chocolate brown with a scattered holo that is a tribute not only to her breed, but her sparkling personality."


I don't know if you saw all of that holo-goodness in the bottle shot but wowwza!!   I'm not really into brown polishes (again, too close to my skin tone).  I'm making an exception for this one lol.  Again, the glitter creeps thru this creme polish amazingly well.  I have a really hard time capturing holos in pics, so the fact that I got these few to shine thru gives you a clue as to how sparkly this baby really is.  This polish was practically a one-coater and applied like butter. This is 2 coats with topcoat.


 "Tango is vibrant green lacquer with multiple shades of iridescent green microglitter. Tango was inspired by Morgan's beloved cat Tango and is the colour of the blanket and collar she brought him home with as a kitten."


I've always had a love for green polishes.  The sheer microglitter of Tango is really quite lovely.  I always try to stick with 2 coats when swatching because that is the general average.  I feel like 3 coats would do this polish well.  Application was easy, just sheer.  This is 2 coats with topcoat.


"Zulu is bright blue lacquer with holographic teal diamond glitter floating throughout. Zulu was inspired by Morgan's beloved cat Zulu and is the colour of the blanket and collar she brought him home with as a kitten."


Zulu is such an interesting beauty!  I would describe it as a blue glitter-crelly with diamond chunks mixed in.  I've never seen anything like it!  Best part?  No staining :D  This was 2 easy coats with topcoat.


"KILO is a black lacquer with a iridescent green and golden microglitter. KILO was inspired by Morgan's beloved cat Kilo and captures Kilo's black coat and green eyes."


Kilo is my fave of this collection!  It's so stinkin' pretty.  A black crelly- microglitter??  I'm sold!  Application was beautiful and I wore it for 2 days with no tip wear.  Awesome, awesome polish.  This is 2 coats with topcoat.

Kilo and all of these other beauties can be found on kiloX's website.  For every bottle of the Rescue Polish Collection sold, a donation of $1 will be made to the Las Vegas Humane Society, a no-kill shelter that helps homeless pets find loving homes.  Such a great, new indie brand that I'm incredibly honored to share it with you :)

Thank you for reading thru this post!  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it haha.

Until next time!

Stef <3