Fall is here!

And the news said that we didn't have any days over 100 degrees!! So yay for that!

As promised here are the fall flavored nails I mentioned last post - though I can't really say I'm happy with the photos... but ahh well...

So after these I saw a new technique that someone posted on AIS from NailStamp4fun (http://nailstamp4fun.blogspot.com/) that is on the stamp gradient or watercolor... and I had just  received new Messy Mansion plates so it seemed a perfect fit. I enjoyed these a lot!

Then it was time again for the Sunday Challenge - which was to use individual stamps only no full nail designs... I used a feather and again with a fall vibe :)

And that brings us to today's design, which was really inspired by the desire to use my new Moyou plates, I'm sure there will be more soon , but I thought these came off feeling fall but still a little brighter and happier since I was just feeling a bit blah today... also you may notice a new photo style these days... I had noticed some of the ladies at AIS using this format and really like the ability to put different shots and lighting and the polish in one photo collage. I don't know how long I'll keep using it but for today I'm happy with them. :) 

So lovelies I hope you are enjoying Autumn where you are and hoping you stay shiny! 

At least two Sundays... (or Fairy Dust ALL The THINGS!!)

Sigh... it's been a crazed race for the finish for a project at work, so I just haven't had a lot of time to post here... Still been painting my nails and for the most part taking pics (a few came and went without being immortalized honestly)... Anywho... Also I should apologize for the lack of detail about polish and plates for the last few posts, I saw someone who took a picture of all the polishes and plate they use and post with their designs, that is my intent soon!!

anyway two weeks back the AIS challenge was stripes, I struggled a bit but finally came up with this one which was a base of China Glaze Pelican Gray stamped with SC white stripes and SH Flashy Fuchsia and then I FAIRY DUSTED!! ( I love this image and I love fairy dust... ) 

  

I'm sure there was another design in here that I don't think got photographed, 

So then the next Sunday's challenge was geometric,  I thought this one had a very 80's vibe. :)  It is a base of Orly - Glowstick and stamped with Konad black and topped with Pixel perfect, the plate is the Pueen Encore set

So I had been on a little bit of a no buy phase, well that ended with a bang this month... I ordered the full Nabi Metallics collection (30) after seeing some stamp swatches (I'm not 100% sure I'm in love with them all, but I'm trying to give them a fair chance), I also got the Kleancolor metallics for the same reason, hearing they were good for stamping... got the Kleancolor chunky Holographic set because I realized that I was super short on holos... the Pueen Love elements set, a color club holo and two soft stampers from MessyMansion (and can I say HOW in LURVE I am with these stamp heads??? - just SO GOOD!!). After realizing that my MM order arrived in a week and shipped from NC and not AU I promptly went and ordered some plates, and then a few days later decided I should order some Moyou UK plates (Though I did order some through amazon last week and am still waiting on them) So that's about 8 new plates I'm completely excited about getting.... Sooooo with all the new polish arriving and an already full rack on the wall I went ahead and ordered a new nail polish rack... so I asked hubs to install it for me Saturday, with the plan that I'd put up all my polish and have plenty of space to order a few more... but....

yep completely full to the max... I have tried to rationalize that I probably won't be buying anymore polish so this should be ok... but I guess I'll just be ordering a third rack... ;) 

in the midst of all my new pretties arriving I did this quick pink mani, I know the plate was the encore and the white would have been sc, but not sure now what the pink was... this was the day my Nabi's came in and I just thought the color combo was pretty. :)

So in spite of the fact that I'm completely overwhelmed by the number of choices I've got, I wanted to try something with the new babies, and ended up using the Nabi Metallic Sky Blue and the color club angel kiss holo and shocking but true, the encore set yet again... :)

I just adore this holo... though possibly once I get a new polish rack I'd like to get the rest of this set... squeeee.... ;) 

So that brings us to this weeks Sunday Challenge which was "over a purple base". The first one I did was achieved after about 15 new starts... Purple should not be this challenging! As my fave color I have more of it than anything else!!! But I think I was trying to find a way to use the new polishes and maybe a different plate... and the pressure was getting to me... SO I settled on purple with bright green (sc polish for the stamping) 

I liked it for about 20 minutes... then just was like, "maybe I'll just change one finger....". And then there was this... 

I ended up being much much happier with this one using Orly "Saturated" and SH insta dri in "Lively lilac" and some stamping with the color club holo again... I think I must be like a crow attracted to the shiny!! ;) (and really do I even need to tell you the plate?)  

So that's all I have for today, I have already changed out of the purple since my work ended up being hard on them and I came home after an all nighter with chipped polish. The new ones are very fall... so those will be up soon... well soon-ish...

Till next time lovelies stay shiny!! 

aaaaaand then....

Lots of real life craziness these days, so I haven't been as diligent as I'd hoped I'd be on here about getting pictures taken and put up... a few designs passed on without ever being photographed... (the horror!!!)  Anywho... onward and upward...

The first picture for today is from the AIS over a yellow base challenge from a few weeks back, I decal-ed these and painted with acrylic paint, however I got in a bit of a hurry and tried to put them on before they were dry... so there is a bit of smudging... still I thought these came out fun...

Picture two... was a kind of boring one but I realized I could have used this one for a color combo you've never tried, except I was a week early (that one is next coincidentally) Not much to say peachy breeze and blue...

And then, here is the official untried combo (that I didn't get even posted on the challenge because I took pictures but didn't do anything with them for a while... I think it has a 70's vibe

This next one almost didn't see the light of day because I was finding myself not liking it, however I was too tired (Lazy) to do another whole design, and don't you know I got lots of compliments since I had said I don't like them... ;) 

Vacation etc...

Ok so we made it out on our vacation and back and I'm just now getting back to downloading photos!! So there were a couple more vacation themed manis... and then a few since I've been back... so lengthy post ahead!!

This first one was a yummy china glaze "pool party" that I ended up making into a gradient using SH Lightening and SC Picante... it was stamped with my Cheeky tropical holiday that got a lot of use lately! The accent nail is a laser printer decal (which I talked about last post and have really had a lot of fun with!)

This next one was the actual one that I wore there, unfortunately it didn't last very long but I had some backup polish with me... the coolest part is that the base was a funky fingers Solar polish (surfs up) and changed colors in the sun... which would have been even cooler had I taken pictures of said change... but alas... (and yes I did have a thumbnail incident and have an odd angle till it grows out)

There were two more quick polish changes with Decals that I did while actually on vacation, but I didn't get good pics... 

So when I got home I did a super cute rainbow shattered mani that apparently I didn't take pictures of (super sad face!)  So when it started peeling/chipping I went with this hot pink, black and silver number... Pink Base is SH Flashy Fuchsia , stamped with Black Konad... Black is Revlon Black Magic, stamped with SH Silver sweep and silver is SH Celeb City.

So after the rainbow one I found on pinterest that I copied and loved I went in search of more on pinterest and found this chevron using a similar technique ((http://slightlynailpolished.blogspot.com/2014/03/stamping-rainbow-gradient-chevrons.html))... I love it... it was a bit of a pain though because I couldn't get my chevrons to sit straight so I did decals to make it easier to place (the polish ones not the printer ones) anyway they are a bit mudgey in some spots but still I'm super happy with them! 

vacation countdown...

So soon we are going on vacation to Key West... I won't have the time or supplies to do nail craziness... So I figured I'd start doing some theme nails and see if I could come up with one winner to do for the actual trip... I wanted to incorporate some sort of Key west icons... So I used the vodka print transfer method... it actually took quite a bit of trial and error but finally got the hang of it... so I put the print over SH lightening, and on the other nails I used SC "Why Not" stamped with the SH and my cheeky tropical holiday plate (which I actually purchased with this in mind :) )  I was actually really happy with the overall look!

another 4th a bit late... and since then...

So well I haven't been on to post in a few days, and I even already had pictures ready so no good excuse... other than you know... life :)

Ok here is a second 4th of July mani I did... I got inspiration from some of the other ladies at Adventures in Stamping...

So I used Revlon "spirit" for the white and it bubbled :(  I liked the 3d star effect using a pueen star plate and SC "hottie". The red was SC "under 18" stamped with Cheeky CH4 stars and wavy lines with sc "snow me white"

Sundays at AIS is challenge day, and the challenge for Sunday the 6th was lacy... So I'd seen some nails on pinterest using a sheer black with a matte top coat which is just gorgeous... So I made up a frankenpolish out of some clear coat and w&w black... the picture wasn't all I'd hoped but still all in all they were pretty good... 

Then after my lacy nails self destructed on Monday I came home and had to throw on something... it was one of those seriously indecisive can't decide on a color nights... I finally did SH "Peachy Breeze" stamped with Cheeky  Jumbo "home sweet home" keys over china glaze "Pelican Gray" with the accent nail in the Peachy Breeze and stamped with SH "grease Lightning" in the home sweet home design... Kind of random but they were ok and actually held up pretty well for 3 days.

This post has everything...

Ok so today's mani had me cracking up, and I could just hear Stephan saying "this mani has everything, water-marble, stamping, glitter, confetti and more glitter..."  But wait I'll get to that momentarily.

Since the last post I did 3 different designs so I need to go back and share those too... SO the first one was kind of interesting... let me tell you why... I have been reading about jellies and I've seen a few over black (at least as I understand it?), so that was kind of my intent to add that into this design, then I decided to alternate with pink having already used finger paints "pride" along with Revlon's "Celestial Fix" over "Black Magic" , of course I couldn't decide on a pink so had to redo the alternate fingers 4 times while I tried to settle on a specific shade, I finally settled on Essie "Jamaica me crazy" which matched pretty well to the Pride glitter... So then because I sometimes just keep adding and adding, I decided to stamp with my Konad special polish a design on the pink (magenta?) , anyway, I did really like the overall effect. The problem I had was that after a few hours the top coat seemed to sink into the glitter or something and it started to seem more gaudy than it had at first... this reminded me of a prom dress that you just LOVE and think is so glamorous and fancy at 16 only to look back ten years later and think "omg that was awful and gaudy!!"  so these got named "Gaudy Prom Dress Nails" ;)

I just can't stop adding a layer of china glaze "fairy dust" to everything! 

So those didn't last too long because the love was gone... :)  I have really been wanting to use my Orly "glowstick" but it seems every time I try I end up disliking the result and killing the design. So I thought I would try it with a turquoise and see how it worked out.. I thought they were cute... and BRIGHT :) the stamp was a rounded chevron on one of my Cheeky plates, (which I just don't have handy and no way my memory is good enough to remember something like that from a few days ago ;) ) I ended up using Milani "Aqua Brisk" and SC "Why Not"  for the stamping, the why not was darker but I didn't want to have to start that whole layer again so I just alternate the darker and lighter... The first go round I added a small heart with wings to the accent nail, but after about 10 minutes I didn't like it so I went over it and added SC "call you later" a green glitter. However the best picture was of the heart stamp design so that's what you get to see! (lucky~~ ;) )

So that brings us to today's design... it was one of my more frustrating attempts tonight. I just couldn't decide on a color, maybe that's because I'd been polish shopping and came home with a few new colors to add to my already overwhelming choices.  I could list all the ones I put on and took off but that might take all night... sufficed to say that by the time I decided to scrap the stamp design I had done several of and finally try water marble I was a wee bit frustrated. Probably in retrospect starting on something you've never attempted when you are already frustrated and indecisive may not have been the best move.... anyway moving on, I tried probably about 6 different color combinations in the marbling having varying degrees of success. Finally I decided just to do a swirl and dunk 3 fingers in simultaneously, and also decided to go ahead and use red white and blue, a bit early for the 4th since I'll likely destroy this design by Tuesday if it lasts that long... I'd like to say it went smoothly from there, but that's not really accurate... ;)  I did however settle on the designs I felt I could handle for a little while at least. then I had one random accent nail, and I decided to stamp blue stars using my Cheeky CH4 plate, but that wasn't enough so I added a coat of Revlon "Graffiti" and a coat of SH "beach ball".  By the time I got around to taking pictures, I've found that I don't dislike them as much as I initially thought... So maybe they'll live a day... :) 

OK well....

These nails are not my favorite... I like somewhat of the effect so I'll still post but with several caveats, this is the 2nd day with these and yesterday I was in paint & craft overdrive... so that they made it intact is fairly impressive... these were done with Cheeky Jumbo plate N , I was in a hurry so just grabbed the first plate my hand landed on so that I could get them done quickly... also wanted to try out my new SH Grease Lightning dark gray, so I paired it with CG Pelican Gray and SH Insta-Dri Silver Sweep and my almost always present CG fairy dust. Anyway it's usually the day I do new mani, so I should have something new soon... :)

bit of a gray mess :)

Whoooo wants more nails?

Owls that's who!  So the other day I was doing my friends daughter's nails for their vacation to the city... Alas I didn't take pictures :( but she was happy with them so I was happy (navy blue with silver chevrons, and one with a city outline) But while showing her my stamps I came across this cute little owl on the Head of the class cheeky jumbo and we both agreed he was pretty cute. So after the first iteration of the owls done with SH "Pronto purple" stamps over Maybelline "Chiffon chic", just went too far into not working land... I switched the whole thing up and decal'ed them using konad special black over a finger paints "where art my love" base and filled in with the "Chiffon chic" on the owl pattern and a few insta dri's for added individual owl color... I was pretty happy with these even with a few smear and painting outside the line issues... :) the owls just made me smile :)

It's summer... it's hot... it burrrrrrns....

Ok well it doesn't ignite really, it's just an icky hot humid mess that we lovingly know as summer in Texas... I've been here long enough, I should really be used to it... but for this nail "do" I decided to pay homage to the heat... I actually really was feeling orange and then started with an orange yellow red ombre sort of look, but it just wasn't working, so I looked at my newest Cheeky full plate and it had a fire tip... the young dude (my boy) suggested black, but when I tried it, it looked like Frankenstein hair... not what I was going for. not.at.all.  So I started over with 2 base coats of Sally Hanson Insta-Dry in "Lightening"  a fingerpaints orange (that I have the bottle packed away to do a friends nails tomorrow - I'll update the name when I open the box back up) all sponged and then stamped with Wet and Wild Megalast in "Red a good book"  - after stamping I went back and added highlights with Covergirl outlast glosstini "rogue red" and "Flamed out" was happy enough that these have been on since Sunday and since I didn't redo them today will be on till Thursday at this point... And yet alas not one really decent picture...

my kingdom for a decent picture...
I took quite a few in different lighting,
but just never got it right this time...

Some more recent history...PT II

Ok so it took a few days but back again to get some of the history pictures up so I can start with new fresh postings... YAY~ ;)  Of course I've done 2 new designs which are quickly becoming history... arrrgggh... but I digress...  Ok let me see where we were...

ah yes... nails...

these were a super fast -
I just can't make a decision just
have to put something ON~ kind of nail

Ok so just looking at my fingers, you can probably tell I'm not much of an outdoor enthusiast... and well I live in Texas and it's HOT and HUMID, there is a reason we have A/C everywhere!! BUT if there is one thing I LOVE more than being not hot, or dirty, or bit by bugs... it's my boy... So this fru fru mama went camping! BUT if I had to camp I was darn well gonna do it in style... :) I did have some smearing issues when I did my top coat on the pointer finger... but hey it's supposed to look organic right?

camouflage 

I mentioned in one of the photos in the pt 1 recent history that I bought a new black stamping polish, I am still having issues with it and the smear factor, perhaps I'm just not waiting long enough? I'll continue to investigate... with the below I had trouble with the new "gelous nail gel" by ACI - I put it in between final stamp and SV and in many cases it seems to help lessen shrinking and keeps me a bit more chip free, however, it does tend to smear the stamps... boo

smeared a bit... :( -  "love letter"

I really want to get better at photographing these things, it really does bum me out when I can't get an accurate photo after all the work that goes into these things... but I'll keep trying! :)

shadowy picture :( but I did love
these colors!!

And I actually think that brings us to the present! YAY!! So excited!! See ya then! 

Some more recent history...

Ok so now I can add some of the more recent ones that I've started doing, again still pretty new at this... I've learned a lot from YouTube, Pinterest, and lots of blog stalking... :) again the photography needs work, I think I need to get or make a light box, and keep the batteries update on my bigger camera, some of the ones with my iPhone tend not to be color true.

After discovering stamping I picked a set (CiCi & SiSi set 1) on amazon, it was around 30ish dollars and seemed to have a decent selection of designs...  The first outing with them was a bit of trial and error, I had watched several videos so I felt like I had a good idea of what to do, however the images just were not sticking to the rubber stamper, I did some more searching and found that you sometimes have to prime them by filing lightly and then removing any debris with tape. After learning that by the way I've never used acetone on my stampers preferring to use lint rollers to clean. I was able to finally get the hang of it...

the first stamps...
couldn't decide so did a few :)

settled on a completely different
design!

These I called my peacock nails...

The one thing that I have noticed that most of my polish does tend to chip after a few days, but so far that's not been a problem because I get antsy to change them after that anyway. I was having some trouble too with the polish peeling off in sheets... I think I've found closer to the correct ratio for top coat etc. also added some new base coat options to my collection... I started out with about 20 bottles of polish... today I have about 120 and that seems to be growing quickly... Also my plate collection has grown at the same rate, I have plates from Cheeky, Bundle Monster, Pueen, Mash and the aforementioned CiCi & SiSi. The only ones I've noted trouble from are the Bundle Monster having had some designs not lift from the plate.

edges still a bit messy
- but this was a fun one

Had a little trouble with the black polish
stamping on this one on all fingers...

Again I feel I should mention that I really am getting better at cleanup!! Really! My Mom, who was a nail art magazine published nail tech a while back, suggested I get pure acetone which totally helped when removing glitter polish and many layers...  She also just lately gave me her refill bottle of Seche Vite... Awesome!!

like if a watermelon and a cheetah
had a baby nails... lol (let's all ignore the
lack of clear coat cleanup shall we?)

This one was one of my faves,
unfortunately it self destructed
after a day :( plus the black didn't stamp
well... definitely need to do this one again

These were my first stamp decals,
the chevrons could have been
cleaner, but I loved them bunches!
again will have to retry for a better result.

Sometimes, like this guy a full
design never sees the light of day
for some reason I just wasn't feeling it
so I started over...

It does happen, like the example above, that I completely finish my nails and they just aren't what I want, I have and will at that point break out the polish remover and do them again... That is one of the big reasons behind this blog, if I took their picture and posted it, well they weren't wasted! :)

feeling summery!

"the memorial CLAW" :)
great lighting in my Mom's kitchen!!

bought a new black stamping polish!

Well I thought I'd get all the older ones in one post and be able to just get up the current ones, but I'm out of gas for this round... So stay tuned for part II! Also When I get current I'll be better about listing the colors and stamps used... Since these were saved on my phone and were mostly to send to the few people I had been pestering with them... :) 

History...

Here are some of the previous nail stuff I had done before becoming obsessed :)

deffinitely needed better cleanup... this was the Sally Hanson Salon Express that I cut to make tips, not too much longer after I found they were making such a thing pre-cut

Again, more Sally Hanson Salon Express - these were near the beginning of trying them, sorry the pic isn't great... really I'll improve!! :)

Again a different SHSE these were at Christmas and I picked them for the fun holiday aspect... It's zebra Santa Y'all!~

yes shockingly SHSE again :) I think I did get better at applying them as I did them more often - I tried other brands, Essie, KISS, etc. but none of them worked as well as the Sally Hanson in my opinion... (I never tried Jamberry though which has way more designs, just the heating to apply didn't sound like something I'd enjoy... )

Finally we get to one of my first forays into painting and freehand decoration... this is really what led me to Pinterest for ideas... 

I'll have more to add, but need to hunt down all the older photos... stay tuned!