Pink Flowers!

I was really looking forward to using a couple of the Models Own Chrome polishes I got to stamp with, and they did not disappoint. I have used one of them here for the stamping. Also, I really wanted to try out the floral image on the BP 54 plate - I haven't used such a large floral image before and it looks very unusual and eye-catching, I think.

Tropical Flowers Stamped Manicure - GOT Polish

This is the second GOT Polish prompt that I missed - Flowers! And the free hand tropical flowers nail art that I posted last week, put in the mood for some more tropical flowers, only I stamped them this time.

Tropical Flowers Nail Art - GOT Polish

I have some catching up to do with my GOT Polish challenge. And one of the prompts I missed was for something tropical! I did, in fact, do the manicure earlier - just did not get a chance to post it. So here it is, at last.

Roses and Pearls Spring Manicure - GOT Polish Challenge

I have another Spring Manicure on the blog today! The colours I have used in this manicure are just perfect for spring, in my opinion. And when you think of Spring, you have to have some flowers so I did some roses on my accent nail. And to top it off, I thought I would add some pearl studs.

Starting from the thumb, the nail polishes used are Revlon Cupid, Barry M Gelly Greenberry, Rimmel 311 Spring Yellow, Barry M Matt White and Barry M Gelly Blueberry. On the accent nails I did freehand roses with the colours on the other nails and the leaves with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Emerald Express.

Ruffle French Tip Manicure - GOT Polish

The prompt for the GOT Polish Challenge is the Ruffle Manicure. For this manicure, you just need to use a large dotting tool to create a line of dots on your nails. Then follow it up with successive lines of slightly overlapping dotted lines in a different colour. The end result looks like fabric ruffles. There's a good tutorial on Chalkboard Nails.
I thought it would be nice to use the ruffle nail art as an accent and french tips rather than the whole nail so this is what I did.

Its a pretty simple technique and the end result is very cute and colourful. This is my first attempt at this kind of nail art. I painted my nails with China Glaze For Audrey. And I did the ruffles with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Flashy Fuschia and Revlon Gold Coin.

Skittle Nails with glitter French Tips - GOT Polish Challenge

The prompt for the GOT Polish Challenge is a Skittle Manicure - where each nail is painted a different colour, inspired by the sweets with the same name. The colours I used for my Skittle nails are Rimmel Riviera Red, Sally Hansen Insta Dri Brisk Blue, OPI Kiss Me On My Tulips, Revlon Emerald and Barry M Gelly in Plum.

I used striping tape to mark two sections on the nail tips and painted this with Barry M (Textured Nail Effect) nail polish Lady. Now this in not really one of my old polishes but since its only for the nail art, I think I can get away with it - what do you think?!

Got Polish Challenge - Turquoise and Gold Saran Wrap Manicure

I am late with my Challenge manicure but here it is at last! The prompt for the Got Polish Challenge for the day was Blue. I wanted to use one of my favourite oldies for this prompt - the Barry M Gelly in Gauva. Originally, I thought I would do the Turquoise Stone nails with the Water Spotted Nail Art Technique. But halfway, through I had a change of heart.

I used saran wrap (cling film) to dab on some Revlon Gold Coin on to the Guava. Most tutorials that I have seen on this technique paint the second colour on to the nail when the base is dry and then dab it with the cling film. I have tried that earlier and I found that I ended up dabbing on too much or too little and wasn't happy with the result. So I tried it a little differently this time.
I started with a base of Barry M Guava. Then I used a scrunched up piece of cling film painted with some of the gold nail polish and dabbed it very lightly on to my nails. If there was too much gold in some spot, I went back and touched it up a little with some blue polish on the cling film.

I love the gold on turquoise in this manicure. I loved it so much, in fact, that I decided to wear it as is it was. I thought the blue this way is more appropriate for the challenge, anyway!

"GOT Polish Challenge 2014" - Pink and Silver Criss-Cross

You know how you see this beautiful bottle of nail polish in the shop (or online) and think that you have to have it? Then you buy it and end up using it once and then just never get around to using it again.  And sometimes, that bottle of polish lands on your heap of "un-trieds" and doesn't even get used once! Well, I am very excited about doing two nail art challenges this year - the second of which shows a little love to just some of these forgotten polishes in the nail polish stash!

The Golden Oldie Thursday - GOT Polish Challenge 2014!

The basic rules of this challenge are that the nail polishes used should be at least a year old or one of the oldest that you have, preferably previously used, though you can use an old one never used before too. More than one polish can be used if it fits the themes and the rules. The prompts are:

The prompt for the day is "Pink".

For this manicure, I painted three nails with Revlon Silver Dollar. The other two nails are painted with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Presto Pink. The pink rhinestone on the ring finger is from Cheeky. I used striping tape to mark out the criss-cross pattern on the thumb and the middle finger. I painted the presto pink on top, removed the striping tape while the pink was still wet, in the "last on first off" order.

Festive Food!

Food is an important part of any festive celebration - and the prompt for my Christmas Nail Art Challenge. And Christmas has so many foods that are eaten specially at this time of the year. This manicure celebrates some of these yummy treats - Christmas Pudding, mince pies, gingerbread men and sparkling wine!

The base polish is Revlon Hot for Chocolate. The little finger is stamped with gingerbread men from the image plate GA41 from the Gals Fairy Set with Essie Good as Gold. The mince pies on the pointer are also stamped from an image plate from the same set, GA47. The bubbly on the ring finger is from the Messy Mansion plate, MM02. The middle finger and thumb have a coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust on top of the brown polish. The Christmas pudding is painted free hand with OPI Alpine Snow, Sally Hansen Insta Dri Quick Brick and Jumpin Jade. I finished everything off with top coat.

Christmas Traditions

There were many Christmas traditions to choose from, for my nail art today. So I picked Holly, because I love the beautifully shaped leaves with the red berries. And since a lot of the festivities revolve around the little ones in the family, I couldn't leave out all the excitement in hanging up those Christmas stockings and finding lovely little presents in them and under the tree!

For this manicure, I used a base of Revlon Gold Coin. I love these shiny, glittery polishes but really struggle with the clean up. I can't seem to get rid of some of the glittery particles - if anyone has any tips, I would love to hear them!
I stamped images from the MoYou London image plate 03 from the Festive Collection. The stamping polishes are Sally Hansen Insta Dri Quick Brick and Jumpin Jade.

Red and Gold Festive Nails

More festive nails today ...

For these nails, I used Nails Inc in Luminous Red Metallic. I did a glitter gradient on three of the nails with Butter London West End Wonderland and Revlon Sequins. For the glitter gradient, I painted on a thin layer of Butter London West End Wonderland starting at three-fourths of the way up the nail. Once dry, a second layer of the same polish halfway down the nail and a third coat just at the tips. When this was dry, I painted on the big glitter in Revlon Sequins on the glitter part of the nail. 

On the other two nails, I stamped an image from the MoYou London image plate 03 from the Festive Collection with Essie Good as Gold. 

Gingerbread Men

Gingerbread man on my nails today!

For this manicure, I used the polish, China Glaze Fast Track. I love this polish - its a natural beige but has a lovely sparkle to it. I stamped these three nails with the Gingerbread men image in Konad Black from the GA41 image plate from the Gals Fairy Set. The other two nails are painted with Revlon Hot for Chocolate. I painted the Gingerbread Man on the ring finger and thumb freehand with OPI Did You Ear About Van Gogh? The hand painted gingerbread man is decorated with chocolate buttons!

Woods in the snow and a snowman

The manicure today is my attempt at winter nature. I painted the snowman freehand. The trees are stamped and I dotted on the snow. The trees in the snow looked better in my head, I have to say! But I guess, you can still make out what I was going for!
For this manicure, I used a base of OPI I Don't Give A Rotterdam. I stamped the trees with Revlon Hot for Chocolate from the MoYou London image plate 04 from the Mother Nature Collection. I dotted on the snow with Barry M Matt White and finished with a coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust. The snowman is painted on with a nail art brush in Barry M Matt White.

Top Ten Polishes!

My favourite polishes change all the time and its really quite hard to pick just ten individuals bottles. So I am going to share with you, with some new manicures and some old, my top ten favourite categories of polish, whether based on brand or colour, in no particular order.

1. Sally Hansen Insta Dri Polishes: Not only are the insta dri polishes good to wear on their own, they are also great stamping polishes. They come in a variety of shades and finishes. They are mostly one-coaters, they are quick dry and they stamp very well.

Stamped with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Jumpin Jade

2. Essie Metallics: I love the Essie Metallics for stamping and use them very frequently. The ones I use are Essie No Place Like Chrome (Silver), Essie Penny Talk (Copper) and Essie Good as Gold (Gold).

OPI Get Your Number stamped with Essie No Place Like Chrome

Stamped with Essie Good as Gold

3. Nude/Near Nude: A nude or near natural nail colour is a must have in every girl's polish drawer. Not only are they good to wear on their own, they make an excellent base for nail art.

OPI Did You 'Ear About Van Gogh?

4. Pastels: I really like pastels for a pop of colour. These shades really make me happy and are a great pick me up.

Starting from the thumb, Sinful Colors Mint Apple, Sinful Colors Cinderella, Revlon Cupid, Barry M Gelly Guava and Essence Off to Miami.

5. Barry M Gellys: Not only are the Barry M Gellys great to wear on their own - they are one-coaters, quick dry and glossy! They also stamp really well.

Starting from the thumb, Barry M Gelly Blackberry, Pomegranate, Watermelon, Blood Orange and Plum.

6. Black!: You always need a good creme black - like a nude, its great to wear on its own and great as a base for nail art.

Boots No 7 Just Black

7. Textured: Textured nail polishes are a new favourite. I didn't think I would like them since I do like a glossy finish but I was surprised at how much I loved these. I love how they have a matte finish but there is still a lovely sparkle to them.

OPI Get Your Number

8. OPIs: As I have started using a wide variety of nail polishes, I have come to love my OPIs. The formulas are good and they have a huge range of colours and finishes.

OPI The Spy Who Loved Me

9. Color Club Holo Hues: Everyone likes a Holographic nail polish! I only have a couple of the Holo Hues. And although I do like wearing them on their own, I love stamping with them.

Color Club Cosmic Fate

Stamping with Color Club Harp on It.

10. Top Coats, Base Coat/Nail Strengthener: When you think of favourite polishes, base and top coats may not immediately come to mind, but they are very important parts of a good manicure.
I am a loyal user of the OPI Nail Envy. It has really helped my nails to strengthen and get into better shape and I use it all the time as a base coat.
I have recently started using the Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat and I think its a great top coat to use, specially as an intermediate layer when doing nail art.
And I guess I don't have to say much for Seche Vite - the quick dry, super glossy top coat which has such a huge fan following!

What are some of your favourites? I'd love to know!

Goodbye Sachin, you'll be missed!

Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest players to have ever played Cricket! He is the only player to have scored one hundred international centuries, the first player to score a double century in a One Day International, and the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket. He is also a humble person, a devoted family man and sponsors 200 underprivileged children and supports other charities. He retired from Cricket on the 16th of November 2013 after playing his 200th and final Test match for India.

My manicure today is just a little tribute to him!

The Indian Flag on the thumb and ring finger has been painted free hand with Barry M Matt White, Essie Fear & Desire, Revlon Emerald and Barry M Black. The middle finger represents his blue jersey with the number 10, painted with Barry M Cyan Blue and Black. The pointer and little finger represent the green cricket field with the wickets and the cricket bat and ball are painted on Revlon Emerald.

For "Children in Need" - Pudsey Nails

Children in Need is a BBC UK charity which has the Pudsey Bear as its mascot. Since 1980 it has raised over £600 million to change the lives of disabled children and young people in the UK. You can support the charity by donating here.

One of the ways, I am showing support is with my cute Pudsey manicure!

For these nails, I used the polishes, Barry M Matt White and NYC Lexington Yellow to paint my nails. The dots are done with a dotting tool and NYC Lexington Yellow, Sally Hansen Insta Dri Rapid Red, Barry M Cyan Blue and Revlon Top Speed Emerald. Pudsey's face and paw-prints are done free hand with a nail art brush with Barry M Black.

Sparkly nails for Guy Fawkes Night

We enjoyed a great bonfire and barbecue at a neighbour's and a gorgeous firework display at our local park on Saturday for Bonfire night. But since Bonfire or Guy Fawkes Night is officially on the 5th of Nov, I have some sparkly nails to mark the occasion!

For this manicure, I painted the pointer and little fingers with Revlon Gold Coin topped with two coats of Butter London West End Wonderland. The other nails are painted with Essence prom-berry. The stamping is with Essie Good as Gold and the MoYou London XL Plate 13 from the Princess Collection. I think these images from the plate are so pretty - they are rather unusual fireworks images and so beautiful!

You can really see the sparkle in the sunlight ...

Gold Paisley on Scarlet and Revlon Top Coat Review

Diwali, the Festival of Lights is just around the corner so I have been thinking of some Indian themed manicures. Today's manicure is just a little attempt towards that. For this manicure, I used the nail polish, Collection Cosmetics Scorched, which is a shimmery red-orange colour. I stamped the gold paisley on the nails from the Bundle Monster plate, BM315, with Barry M Gold Foil.

Also, I have been using the new Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat for the last week or two and thought I would do a quick review. This top coat is certainly quick dry - it is touch dry within a minute or two. It is however much thinner than some of the other quick dry top coats that I have used, say Seche Vite. The disadvantage of it being thinner is that it does not make the nails quite as glossy as Seche Vite. On the other hand, because its thinner, it is easier to apply, it does not bubble up even with a couple of coats and it did not streak my stamping. I think it is especially good to use as an intermediate top coat when you want the base layer to dry before you do your nail art. Overall, I am quite happy with it and would definitely buy and use again.

Halloween free hand Witch Nail Art

Time for some free hand Halloween nail art today. Its a simple black manicure but with an accent nail, which has a yellow moon behind a witch flying on her broomstick. The witch is painted with acrylic paint and I originally painted the moon with acrylic paint too - but it didn't come out smooth and the paint was quite thick so didn't dry for ages. So I started again and painted the moon with nail polish as well. 

For this manicure, I used Revlon Black Star. I painted the yellow moon with NYC Lexington Yellow and a nail art brush. The witch was painted free hand with acrylic paint and a nail art brush. I used this wonderful tutorial to paint the witch.

Happy Halloween!

Pink Friday for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2013

Its time for another pink manicure to support the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
To show your support, you can register at the Wear it Pink website and wear pink on the 25th of October. To quote the site, "To join forces all you have to do is grab something pink, wear it on Friday 25 October and donate £2 to Breast Cancer Campaign. With our ideas for wear it pink at the office, in primary school, secondary school and at home you can make sure everyone joins in. This year there are great prizes for some of our fundraising heroes who pay their money in by the end of November, too!"

I really like the water marble designs that I see on blogs and youtube but I have had unpredictable results with it myself. I definitely need practice perfecting that technique but after the number of times I had to do it for my one manicure for the 31 Day Challenge, I think it will be some time before I gather up the courage to try it again! In the meantime, I came across some good tutorials for dry marbling on the internet. Of these, I tried this one by Tartofraises, which I loved. My attempt is not as perfectly beautiful as the original but its still very pretty and I really loved wearing this manicure.
For this pink manicure, I used Revlon Cupid again. For the marbling, I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Emerald City and Plum Power. The sparkly silver is W7 Moondust. I used a fine nail art brush and a dotting tool for this design.