Stained Glass Flowers.

I know summer is coming to an end, so I wanted to do a nice floral design on my nails.
I've had some glitter flakies in my collection for ages, but never used them. I don't even remember where I got them from..... Duh..... I know.

youtube tutorial

But I wanted to do something with those flakies.
So I painted my nails with 2 coats of Orly Deja Vu, then applied 1 thin coat of Sinful Colors Pearl Harbor. I don't know why but when I use this polish my mani tend to peel off in one go after a day or two. It's darn pretty, just dam annoying it keeps doing that no matter what base or topcoat I use.

Anyways, I used some foil glue to glue on the flakies. These flakies weren't tended for nail art because they're really thick. So I had to press down the corner of the flakies so they wouldn't stick out on my nail beds. I applied 2 coats of GListen & Glow HK Girl to even out the nail bed before I started stamping. I used Fab Ur Nails FUN15  and Funky Fingers Gesso. Then I applied 1 coat of topcoat again before I grabbed my pot of Akzents Bling On this gel is to fasten crystals or other nail embellishments onto your nails.
This gel can be cured in both LED (60-90 seconds) and UV curing light (3 minutes). I got some Swarovski crystals from Michael's almost 2 years ago, so expensive there for just a few crystals, and picked them up with my Crystal Katana from Crystal Ninja. Crystal Katana is the best pickup tool, I can't stop raving about this tool. If you want to buy it, enter the code; KORWEGIAN at checkout and get $1 off and a free storage case (costs. $ 8.95 on it's own).

These nails were so hard to photograph, because of the reflection camera kept going off focus.
But I hope you see some of the stained glass effect.

I hope you liked this one, thanks for stopping by.
Happy stamping!!!

A Touch Of Elegance

I wanted something simple but elegant on my nails. So I decided to do a look that also can be used as bridal nails. So if you're getting married and don't know what to do on your nails, then keep reading.

I applied Bliss Kiss Simply Peel around my cuticles for easy clean up, it's a peel off base with latex, But not pure latex so the smell isn't as bad as pure liquid latex. Plus it has glitter in it so it sparkles once it's dry.
I used Orly Deja Vu as my base color, I applied 2 thin coats.
Then I grabbed my Marianne Nails n01 and Funky Fingers Gesso as my stamping polish.
I am using the clear stamper head I got from Fab Ur Nails in her cap stamper handle. And stamped all my nails. Then I applied Glisten & Glow HK Girl fast drying topcoat and peeled off Simply Peel and used my sable hair cleanup brush from Fab Ur Nails and polish remover to clean any leftover polish on my skin and cuticles.
Then I selected the 3D nail decoration from aliexpress and my Akzents Bling On UV/LED light gel. This gel is to attach any 3D nail decorations, if you're loving Swarovski crystals like I do. This gel is safe for the Swarovski crystals, it won't ruin the sparkle effect in the crystals. You need a UV or LED light to cure the gel. If you have UV curing  lamp you have to cure it for 3 minutes, LED lamp for 60 seconds. I used my Crystal Katana to place and adjust the decoration onto my nail, it is the best pickup tool for crafts and nail art. Since I have a 12W LED I cured the gel for 60 seconds.

youtube tutorial.

Bad Day For Nail Stamping.

I guess yesterday was just one of those days..... A bad day for nails..... I was going to do two nail challenges in one mani, Inspired by my phone case & Double stamping.
So why was this a bad nail day?
First of I had just applied my white base color when I had to run and aid my 3 1/2 year old who had stumbled and hit her arm. So of course half dry nail polish and taking care of a crying girl who was having a fit because she had bumped her arm and being cross at her great grandmother who was nagging at her to come to her when she wanted mommy. So of course that left my polish with dents and half peeled off on some nails, so had to remove it all and start over.
I got my background done with an Indie grey stamping polish I made of what I had on hand and Dashica's Dash 18, and found some images on a few MoYou plates for the flowers and a leaf image and picked started stamping with Dashica Black and Pink stamping polish.
Applied top coat and some crystals, but wasn't happy with the final look at all.

1 stamping try result.

So I removed it straight away and started again from scratch. But this time I picked Shany's XXL Image plate 2 for the flower and leaf image. And just placed them randomly on my nails. Still not 100& happy with these but I like the 2nd try nails better than the first try nails. I may keep them for a day or two, before they drive me crazy and I remove them.

Just in case you were wondering all of the items I used in this mani: All the items used in this mani:

Orly Pointe Blanche 

HK Girl Fast drying top coat

Dashica Dash 18

Dashica stamping polish in Pink & Black

Grey polish mix of Sinful Colors Snow Me White & Wet N Wild Black Creme

Shany XXL 2/B plate

Squishy XL replacement stamper head from Fab Ur Nails

Silver Cap from Fab Ur Nails

Swarovski crystals from Michael's (US craft store).

2nd stamping result

Youtube tutorial of these nails.

 My nails and my phone case

 Just the stamped nails

With Swarovski crystals

So why don't I like them? They're too busy looking for my taste, if I saw these on someone elses nails I would go OMG those are so stunning. But then after starting blogging, youtube and doing challenges in FB nail groups I am happy to do nail looks that pulls me out of my comfort zone. My comfort zone is boring in the long run, just simple classic and elegant looking nails. In red, plums, purples and naturals colors, you see a lot of the same shades in my polish collection. I tell myself I have to start picking some more bold colors to add to my collection. I just need a good old kick in the butt to do so. LOL 

Pueen Encore SE01B Collaboration With Lucie Aka Loving Nails

Lucie's nails to the left & mine to the right.

About two months ago I asked Lucie aka Loving Nails if she wanted to do a collaboration video with me for our youtube channels. She said yes, and we have been chatting on FB about what to do and what plates to use. We finally got got down to do the collab after we both ordered and got our Pueen Encore sets.
We agreed to use Pueen SE01B and 3 parts of the plate.

                                   

My youtube video tutorial of each step.

I painted all of my nails white with Orly Pointe Blanche, then I applied 1 thin coat of matte top coat and let it dry before I pulled out my acrylic paints. The acrylic paints I used was FolkArt in Lavender and Parisian Pink. Then I used my fan brush I got in a brush kit from Dashica and loaded the brush half way with each color and painted my nails with a side to side motion to create a gradient. When the acrylic paint had dried I pulled out the Pueen plate, my Dashica stamping polish in Black and my XL stamper with the marshmallow replacement head from Fab Ur Nails (that I ordered from llarowe). 10 minutes later I applied a thin coat of the matte top coat again and added some crystals with my Crystal Katana (by Crystal Ninja) on my ring finger. 

Lucie's nails.

My nails 

This was my 2nd collab nails in very short time. But both of them was so fun to do. I hope I get to do some again soon. And all the girls did amazing jobs on their nails too. 

I feel so blessed to have met so many sweet girls from around the world who loves nails just as much as I do. 

Thank you, Lucie for doing this collab with me.

Moody For Purple.

My nails had been naked for 2 whole days (CRAZY, I know). But I couldn't come up with anything, and all that was in my head was French mani's. I hate it when I'm stuck like that, you see all those stunning manicures all over the place and want to do some neat designs your self. So when you sit down and try to figure out what to do you're just STUCK.
But last night I got an idea, so I worked on the base before I crashed into my pillows for the night. I used Julep's Grace and Orly's Charged Up, then on 3 nails I did 2 coats of China Glaze's No Plain Jane and 2 coats of SpectraFlair topcoat. And made some fine silver stripes with my Kiss silver nail art liner.
On the two non holo nails I picked out an image from SH 208 and used one of my Dashica stamping polishes (don't ask me the name of the color, it doesn't have a sticker on it.) Then in the center of the flower I used a decal from the little container I got in one of my NAS bags.

 

You can find Julep polishes here:
http://www.julep.com/shop/nail-polish.html#.

The base before I stamped.

Finished look.

 An other final look.

Now off to make Korean dumplings for dinner, yes I am making them. I am using ready made dumpling skins but rest is from scratch. Have a good day, and thanks for stopping by.

Sunday Nov. 18th Challenge.

Let's just say the last half of this week hasn't been good, we got hit with colds and stomach flu. Little G had her first stomach flu, and let me just say she was a handful. Instead of standing still when she was sick and freaking out she would run around and go EEEEEEEEEHEEEH..... Thank goodness for Bissel spot cleaner, that thing has been my best friend for 2 days..... I got a cold and a sore throat, and yesterday I got stomach flu too. The joy of winter months...... HELL NO....

Anyways now on to this weeks challenge in AIS: Some aspect of matte in your mani.

I didn't want to do a black base, because it stains my nails and cuticles like crazy......  So I decided to go with red. I also thought this would give me a chance to test my 3 matte topcoats, so I pulled out one of my nail wheels and painted 4 black swatches with WnW Black Creme. I did 4 so 1 was with normal topcoat (Out The Door) so you could see the difference. I have 3 matte topcoats one is from NYC Matte Me Crazy, Dashica Matte Topcoat & Hard Candy Matte-Ly In Love.

LtR: Out The Door, NYC, Dashica & Hard Candy.

I have to say I like the Hard Candy one the best, it dries faster and shows up a bit more matte than the NYC one. I got mine from Walmart, can't remember the price tho.....

Now onto the challenge again...........

As I said I didn't want to do a black base, so I went with red ORLY Grave Mostake. Then I did 2 coats of the Hard Candy matte TC and pulled out one of my Dashica plates  ( I know, I know... I use them A LOT.) SdP 80 and Maybelline Bold Gold for the stamping part. And I finished the look with some yellow rhinestones.

Mango Mend <3 div="div" stuff.....="stuff....." this="this">

Now, off to try and eat some Saltines to settle my poor stomach and try and get some sleep.

Thanks for checking in.

3 mani's in one day.....

Why  only do one manicure when you can do 3...

Just one of those days, you can't make up your mind on what polish or image to use. So when it hits me I change my manicure just after a few hours. 

First I used one of the polishes from China Glaze's Safari Collection as base color.Purr-Fect Plum, then I did  a coat of Orly Too Fab on my left hand. On my right hand I did some stamping with Bold Gold from Maybelline and picked CH 44 from Cheeky's summer collection. 

I kept the stamping mani, but removed the glitter one.....

\

My 3 rd look I used OPI Jade Is The New Black as base and stamped with Bold Gold again and used Dashica SdP 35. Today's challenge in AIS was leaves. I also did a French tip with Matte top coat, but it's kinda hard to see in the pictures. 

September is here.

This weekend wasn't any fun, I have two kids with really bad colds. And now I guess it's mommy's turn to get sick too. But yesterday my dear husband asked if I could make Pasta E Fagioli soup, you see he loves the one they serve at Olive Garden. So I looked up a recipe that says it's the one from Olive Garden, so I gave it a try. Pulled out my 10 qt pot and started chopping veggies and stirring. Guess that Olive Garden make their own marinara sauce and beef stock, but hubby said it was the closest he had had. And it made him super happy, he's gonna have some yummy lunches with him to work this coming week. Plus we have a few for dinners in the freezer. But it was really yummy with some good bread, tasted really good when you feel like you're getting a cold and there's a thunder storm outside.

Now on to nails.
This Sunday's challenge in AIS was Something you have learned from AIS or Inspired by members in AIS.
A few weeks ago a sweet lady showed us some pictures of some stamping she had done on those glass crafting pebbles you can make into jewelry or magnets. She had this phoenix image on two for earrings, I remember I thought WOW, that's so stunning. And I wanted to do that image on my entry for today. So I did some stamping tests on my nail lollipops, and showed them to hubby. He suggested to add some flames too, so off I went to do some more testing. And then I remembered an other sweet lady in AIS did a youtube video a while ago with flames and skulls. Base color is a white from Sinful Colors, name sticker came off.... For the flames I used 2 BM plates BM 202 & BM 312 and Wet N Wild Club Havana, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Rapid Red & Lightening. Used BM 314 and the phoenix image and Rapid Red and Bold Gold from Maybelline. I added a trail of gold glitter on the red birds and for that I used Orly Too Fab. But it's really hard to see the glitters on the pictures.

Now I am gonna take some cold meds and head off to bed, almost 1 am. Hopefully I can fall asleep even with the dam people next door being loud and drunk outside....

Have a great Labor Day.

12 August Sunday Stamping Challenge with a......

The theme this Sunday's challenge in AIS was 2 images on the same hand or nail. I decided to use some of the new polishes I just got at a local nail supply store.
I did French tip on all but the ring finger, the colors I used Orly Deja Vu and OPI Suzi  Says Feng Shui, and for the stamping polishes I used Wet N Wild Black Creme and China Glaze Deviantly Daring. I picked 3 plates Bundle Monster 209 and Dashica SdP 32 and 38.

Yes, it's my first nail stamping tutorial video. Still need some more practice in shooting, lighting and editing. But I had fun making it.

On to something else, my son is starting school so we had to go to Walmart and pick up some school outfits, backpack and a pencil holder. He got to pick his own backpack, and he is SO proud. He walks around with  it and he has asked a few times if he's going to school today. He's not too happy when his little sister wants to borrow his backpack, looks like we have to get one for her too.

Have a great week. 

My trip to Sally's Beauty Supply.

So yesterday I decided to go to Sally's to get an other tub of Bubble White, since I only had enough for one more use. Needless to say I walked out of Sally's with more than just one item in my bag. I love Sally's and every time I pop in, I wish I had more cash to use on items I want. But I spent 40$, so I got a few items:

10 Pack color wheels, Bubble White & Cuticle Oil.

Blue Cross Cuticle Remover

Mango Mend, Orly's First Kiss & Finger Paint Base Coat.

So I've tried all the items I got, well been using Bubble Whiter for a while now and still love it. I use it once a week. And it's the best way to get your nails white. I was out of cuticle oil, and I saw this bottle for under 3.00$ it's 8 fl oz, and so far I like it. I used a cotton ball and put it on my fingers and toes and wiped off the access.

Now the BIG thing I really wanted to try after hearing a lot of praise about it was Blue Cross Cuticle Remover, and oh my..... It's like the best cuticle remover I have ever tried. I have for years struggled with a lot of dead skin build up on some of my toe nails, and the Blue Cross just removed it all. And it doesn't take a long time, just wait a minute or two and use a cuticle tool to scrape it off. I have to show a before and after picture later on, so you get to see it with your own eyes.

While I was paying for all of this my eyes found this orange tube, that I just had to check out. And I asked the girl if she had tried this product, she hadn't tried this one but a lotion they make and she loves it. So it was a couple of bucks more so I grabbed one. And the girl kindly informed me that they sell a big tube if I like the product. On the back of the Mango Mend it says: Mango Mend is the ultimate remedy for excessively dry skin, cracked heels and rough patches. And to apply it to the targeted areas for intensive treatments and allow it to absorb overnight. I used it on my hands and around my nails, since the skin is so dry after a lot of hand washing during the day . Like I've said before having a baby in the house is making me wash my hands and use alcohol gel all the time, but the downside is the skin on my hands get so dry. I woke up this morning with really soft hands. I love this stuff, and I am so going back to Sally's to get the big tube.

But there you have it, what I got at Sally's and my early review of the new products I got. Have a smashing night.