31DC2013: Day Eight - Metallic Nails

For the metallic nails, I used Max Factor Ivory, stamped with Konad M93 and Konad Black. After which, I dotted with OPI A Woman's Prague-ative and also added this colour to the ring finger. Finally added the rhinestones.
I am quite keen on leopard print nails at the moment and really like this stamping image on plate M93 - its much nicer and bigger than the one on Konad M57. This plate is one of the new Konad ones and the image size on this is bigger then the old Konad ones, so they are easier to work with.

31DC2013: Day Seven - Black & White Nails

This is the first black and white look I've ever done - and I must say, I really liked it.
For this manicure, I used  Sally Hansen Hard As Nails White Tip and stamped with Konad Black and the image plate, Pueen 44.

After I did this manicure, I decided to experiment a little more and taped each nail off diagonally and painted it black. But I didn't like this second look as much. Maybe its just because the black I used here, Maybelline Onyx Rush, bubbled up a little or maybe it just needs a softer colour here. It also made me realise I need better black and white nail polishes! The two that I used here are quite thin and so were difficult to work with in this type of a tape manicure.

In the end, I decided that I liked the nails in the first photo better and so those are my official black and white nails for this challenge. What do you think?

31DC2013: Day Six - Violet Nails

Violet Nails for Day Six of the Challenge.

I used Layla Hologram Effect 14 Cloudy Violet for this manicure. Since this nail polish is so pretty on its own, I felt that if I added anything on to it, it would just distract from the polish itself. So I decided to keep this manicure simple and just add some rhinestones to each of the nails.

Hope you've enjoyed the manicures in the Challenge so far. Please check back tomorrow for the next one in the Challenge!

31DC2013: Day Five - Blue Nails

Blue Nails for Day 5 of the 31 Day Challenge 2013.

I love nail art stamping but lately I have been enjoying trying my hand at free hand and other styles of nail art. This manicure is an attempt at free hand nail art.
For this manicure, I painted my nails with Barry M Gelly Blueberry. Then I used a small flat nail art brush and the nail Polish, Revlon Cupid (Pink) to paint 3-4 brush strokes in the shape of petals. Then I used a slightly smaller brush for some strokes of white - I used Sally Hansen Hard as Nails, White Tip. I added in some Blueberry again right at the edge. Lastly, dotted with Konad Yellow.

I was toying with the idea of doing one of those cloud manis for the Blue Nails look - but I sort of reversed that for these flowers at the tips of the nails. I think the flowers look rather sweet!

31DC2013: Day Four - Green Nails

Green Nails for Day 3 of the 31 Day Challenge 2013.

I decided to use one of my favourite images from one of my favoutite plates for my green nails look! 

The image is from the MoYou London Suki Collection 01 plate. The nail Polish is Barry M Gelly Greenberry. I used Konad Black to stamp with and dotted the flowers with the Barry M Nail Art Pen in pink. Lastly, I added small square rhinestones to two fingers and thumb.

The nail polish is a really nice mint green. The stamping looks quite striking with this polish as the base. I have to try my hand at stamping decals with this image sometime soon to really bring out the flowers. 

I was thinking that I might have to recreate some of these looks after the Challenge so I can enjoy them for a little bit longer than a day each!

31DC2013: Day Three - Yellow Nails

Day Three of the 31 Day Challenge 2013 and here are my Yellow Cat Nails!

For this manicure, I used:
Base Polish: Boots 17 Lasting Fix Mellow Yellow
Image Plate: Konad M91
Stamping Polish: Konad Black

The yellow and black colour combo is so striking! Love the cat images on this plate - this manicure turned out cuter than I expected.
Looking forward to day four of the Challenge!

31DC2013: Day Two - Orange Nails

The second day of the 31 Day Challenge 2013 - and here are my Orange Nails.

For this manicure, I painted my nails with Model's Own Copper Pot. After they were completely dry, I used striping tape to mark out the pattern. Then painted on top with Barry M Gelly in Mango. Removed the tape while the polish was still wet but waited for the polish to dry before adding a top coat.

I am much happier with this striping tape manicure as compared to my first one. And I love this Barry M Gelly - although I think the whole range is pretty great.

Day two done and counting!

31DC2013: Day One - Red Nails

So here we go - the first day of the Challenge!

For this "Red Nails" manicure, I used:
Nail Polish: OPI The Spy Who Loved Me
Image Plate: Pueen 46
Stamping Polish: Konad Black

I love this gold flecked red polish! Its very festive - I used it for my Christmas mani last year. The polish is gorgeous on its own but I thought the ladybug would look cute on the accent nail!
Here's a swatch of the polish on its own.

Day One done then - thirty more to go!

And thanks to More Nail Polish for setting up the Inlinkz codes.

31DC2013: The 31 Day Challenge 2013!

I came across this 31 Day Challenge very late -  yesterday, in fact. And I spent most of the last twenty four hours debating whether I should participate or not. I finally plucked up the courage to do so. I am still quite apprehensive! Not sure if I can keep up with posting a new manicure every day for 31 days but I won't know if I don't try! So here goes ... wish me luck!

Photo courtesy Chalkboard Nails

Two Tone on Tone Manicures

Two tone on tone manicures in this post, where the base and the stamping polish are in the same colour family. The first one is green on green.

For this manicure, I used:
Base Polish: Boots No 7 Totally Teal
Stamping Polish: Sally Hansen Color Quick Green Chrome
Image Plate: Pueen 33
I used the Rimmel Pro Matte Finish Top Coat for the matte effect.
I have already tried so many new things since I started this blog and a matte effect is one of them. I bought this matte top coat sometime ago but never used it. I really like how it looks on dark colours and I see myself using it in the future.
A quick note about the Boots No 7 Totally Teal - I liked the colour but it does stain so be sure to wear a couple of layers of a good base coat, if you try it.

The next manicure is purple.

For this look, I used:
Base and Stamping Polish: Sally Hansen Insta Dri Lively Lilac and Barry M Gelly Plum
Image Plate: Pueen27

I painted the entire nail lilac and then did a sponge gradient with the lilac and the Plum. I love gradient nails but I obviously need more practice with doing one since I have smudged it a little.
I then stamped with both the colours. I painted both the lilac and the plum on one half of the image and then stamped the result on the opposite colour on the nail.

Hope you liked looking at these manicures as much as I enjoyed doing them!