Models Own - Flowers!

quick note first of all - I finally got Twitter the other week (I'm still getting to grips with it, it's embarrassing, really) so if you want instant updates on the blog; giveaways and posts etc (as well as my very own rambling brain farts) you can click on the little tab on the left side of this page to follow! Alternatively, you can search Emilysnailfiles :) "Look at me Mum! I'm getting with the timez!!"

My Manicure today is more fanciful than yesterdays, thank goodness, and I've used two of my new Models Own polishes, Purple Ash and Blooboo. Now, I realise Purple Ash is from the Autumn collection, but by adding some lighter pastel accents, it can make a really sophisticated summer evening look, say for a summer Barbeque, or Evening Garden Party (which are my absolute favourite bits about summer!).

Purple Ash is a gorgeous Red-toned muted purple, and I've never seen any polish quite like it, certainly none in my own collection. The Models Own polishes are great, I can't really say enough good things about them - affordable, streak-free, fashion forward, high-shine and the colour choice is astounding. Love them!!! (and they're 3for2 in Boots at the moment, winnneerrrrr)

I added some little flowers from BM12 in Blooboo, a cool-toned pastel blue with the slightest royal blue shimmer - which you can't see on my nails, but its pretty in the bottle. Application is a dream, really lovely and smooth.

Here we go kids!

Back by popular demand, LES ORANGE.

and in the shade - you can see the silver better - and the SHINE!

I added Silver to the middle of the flowers using Claire's Nail Art Pen. Click to enlarge the photos! The little flowers look really pretty close up!

Have a lovely weekend my Darls! I need some new blogs to follow, if you've come across one recently, or have one of your own you'd like me to check out,  let me know on the comments, as well as what you think to this manicure :D

Hothouse flowers

Hello ladies,

The weather in Philadelphia today was much like living in a greenhouse. I decided it was time to bring out the neons! Warhol is the first shade I am going to share from Color Club's Poptastic Collection. These neons will be appearing on my nails to coordinate with summer temperatures.

Using white Konad special polish, I stamped part of the daisy image from Bundle Monster plate BM12. There were two smaller flowers I excluded. I thought they would read more as dots than as flowers on the nail. In the center of the larger daisies, I placed hot pink crystals. For the three smaller flowers to the side I alternated with pink pearls, mirror gems, and white pearls. I decided one flower for my pinky nail made sense. My little nail works better as a bud vase than housing a giant bouquet.

I will ask you to use your imagination when viewing the photos. Neons become shy around digital cameras. In real life, Warhol is a searingly bright pink.

My owl ring is peeking out near a purple petal.

I painted three coats of Warhol over two coats of Brucci 2 in 1 Nail Perfection, a whitening base coat. I discovered a little trick for speeding up the dry time when trying to build a polish to opacity. I started with my whitening base coat the night before and added quick dry spray. Drying drops would also be useful for this purpose.

I completed the manicure in the morning. This method worked so well! I didn't have to worry about waiting for additional dry time for the added coats. There was no bubbling from my being too impatient to let each coat dry sufficiently before painting on another. I think this is going to be my new standard for applying neons and pastels.

What do you ladies think about neons? It's a category of polish I never had experimented with before I started blogging. I now love wearing neon shades in July and August especially. I think of them as part of summer, like picnics and fireflies.

Warhol was sent to me for review. This shade along with the entire Color Club Poptastic Collection can be purchased from victoriasnailsupply.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Flower circlets

Hello ladies,

Today I have a manicure to show you with Nubar Reef Green. My nails are glowing like vibrant leaves freshly unfurled or deep sea fishes swimming in a school of ten. Reef Green is striking enough on its own, so of course I added circlets of pink flowers. What else would I do? They reminded me a bit of daisy chain bracelets and summer whimsy.

I used Konad pink special polish to stamp the semi-circle of flowers from Bundle Monster plate BM12. This manicure was a playful experiment to try alternate positioning with a French tip design. I accented the flowers with pink rhinestones and pink and green pearls. I loved how this turned out.

Upside down butterfly

Reef Green needed two coats for opacity. Brushstrokes were apparent as I applied the polish, but they virtually disappeared once I sealed the manicure with Diamont. Reef green shares the lovely pearl finish that categorizes the California Dreamin' Collection. This group of polishes is truly masterful. Although I have always been enthusiastic about Nubar as a brand, California Dreamin' makes me adore them a bit more.

Reef Green was sent to me for review. This shade and the rest of the California Dreamin' Collection can be purchased from bynubar.com. For a chance to win all six polishes, 2010 glitter topcoat, Diamont fast drying topcoat and a summer fun gift pack, please stop by the contest post to enter. Best of luck!

Happy painting, ladies.