Blue swirl on Orly Dazzle

NOTD with base coat of Orly Dazzle tipped with OPI Simmer and Shimmer. Then stamped swirl tie dye pattern from Konad plate m 63.

The silver by Orly goes on thin but very opaque...unforgiving for any fill lines or ridge nails showing every imperfection, but once a stamp is applied all is forgiven! They look great , with the extra sparkle on the tips it is very fun.

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Scotch Tape Mani

OK, I have heard of it before and played with it once or twice, but this gal has really figured it out! 

Here's a step-by-step of how to use scotch tape to make a starburst pattern on your nails.  Very fun, and it looks simple enough.  Imgonnadothat!

Link: http://chloesnails.blogspot.com/2011/01/ask-and-you-shall-receive.html

Resolution: Blog It!

OK, so I have a New Year's Resolution:  I am going to blog once a week.  So, to make this happen I will be adding reviews of polish to my blog.  Pinkie swear!

OPI Simmer and Shimmer perfect for Mardi Gras!

Just a quick post with my new polish from OPI called Simmer and Shimmer.  It's a gorgeous, durable, sparkly polish that dries pretty quick.    I have used this as a french tip and it looked awesome, but I didnt get pictures. Thickens in the bottle pretty fast, I've only had it a month and I've had to clean the brush with thinner once already because it got too chunky

 
Base coat is China Glaze Aqua Baby to give this sparkling polish a blue hue.
(Sorry my nails are a mess, just trying to get in the swing of things and KNEW if I waited until I had cleaned up the cuticles I would NEVER get it posted, just like that last fifteen manis I've given myself!)

I would highly recommend this polish, and can see it for wintery looks and Mardi Gras designs.  The glitter has purples, greens, golds and turquiose blues and will play well with tons of colors by taking on the tone of whatever base coat if you decide to use one.

Kimono

This summer, I had a lovely idea for a kimono style manicure on my natural nails.  I loved how powerful and vibrant the colors were, and it was quick and easy to repair the few chips that my natural nails were subject to by adding a couple of green leaves.  Since I run so much and am really rough on my hands during the summer, chipping is a huge problem.    I have found that putting a base coat on reduced the chipping.


I used a bright red base coat, and stamped on greenery from plate m2, my very first plate in my now rather large collection in Apple Green.  I then used plate m36 to stamp yellow blossoms.  I was a bit disappointed that the flowers didn't pop more in the picture, it looked really great in person.

Flat (No Pattern) French Tip m19

Most Requested Manicure Tips are for a French...

OK, so I shot a french swirlie from plate m56 in April, and another one of what I call a french flat (flat meaning no pattern) in May...too much frenching around, and I had viral issues of the computer kind over the last week or so, so I am just getting around to getting it posted...the video needs to be reshot so that you can tell more easily how I stamp. I had terrible luck, as I stamped I would look down and my hand travelled out of the shot for most of the stamping.

I used an OPI shimmery base to jazz it up a bit...it is from the Designer Series 106, and is a shimmery pink. Honestly, I am not a big fan of the french since it's so finicky, but this time it worked ok for me. The key is have short nails, and have a smooth motion as you stamp. The slightest hesitation or pause as you roll the design on causes a ripple or unsteadiness to the design. Therefore, I do the swirlies from m56 since they are much more forgiving.

Wild Flowers

I was playing around Monday while I watched tv and did a base coat of China Glaze's Tree Hugger. Love the color, but I wanted something over the top this week to pick me up, so...using a very well-worn plate, m64, taking has this very cool Henna Paint in Konad's Princess Brown...then layering on top of it my trusty m57 Three Flowers.

I just couldn't leave well enough alone, since it was looking so cute a little was cute so alot must be cuter! I wanted to accent some of the leaves with my Art Club striper in Yellow, but unfortunately I used the brush instead of dabbing with a toothpick like I usually do (so disorganized, couldnt find the toothpicks until I was putting everything away!). More, more more! Then, it just needed a bit of dazzle for the final touch--I dotted with Art Club Fine Gold Glitter, which I use for sparkle when I don't want to rhinestone all three flowers but I wanted them all to have a bit of fingerbling.

Love it, a little clunky funky fun...and it all works together so well.