Nails Inc Victoria and Bundle Monster Nail Art!

Hi Everyone!

Today I'm showing you one of my favourite Nails Inc London polishes, called Victoria. It is a gorgeous dark, dark, plum red, that deepens with the more layers you paint on. The first coat is almost a bright cerise colour, but by coat three, you've got a really deep sexy red/black - it's how I imagine Vampire Blood would look like, only much more sophisticated and beautiful, OBVIOUSLY.

It looks almost black indoors, but when the sun shines on it you can really see that deep, claret colour coming through. This is sans topcoat as well, it is the glossiest polish ever!:

You know me, I just couldn't leave it alone, could I?! I added some nail art, using Miss Sporty Electric Beige to stamp the swirly image from BundleMonster image plate BM04.

 

I know it's not quite as interesting today, but sometimes I do like to look sophisticated, as opposed to ridiculous, ya knooooow?! Haha, it's a far cry from banana nails, that's for sure. I'll make up for it tomorrow, you can count on that! 

What do you think to this shade? It was the quickest Mani ever, so great if you're in a hurry to do something smart, but you've not left enough time to get ready - story of my life!

Hope you're all having a lovely Tuesday, stop by tomorrow because I will be having a GIVEAWAY. NOOICE!

In other news, if you all "like" Cadbury Caramel Bunny on Facebook, you might get a nice surprise on Friday! (Hint: IT'S MY FACE. And Manicures!)

Scotch Tape Zebra Print Manicure

Hello everyone! I know, two posts in as many days, almost like the good old days eh?!

When I was on holiday with my family, we had a very restricted weight allowance for the flights, and so we ditched all the heavy beach gear in favour of lighter alternatives. This included picking up some cheap, light beach towels from Asda, and my, ever tasteful, father chose the most trashy-fabulous, attention grabbing, lurid print that was available - zebra print with a bright purple border. They were amazing. And chavvy. But mostly amazing. They inspired this manicure!

I started with a base of 3 coats of Natural Collections White and allowed to dry before stamping the zebra image from Konad M57 with Konad Special Polish in Black. If you're in the UK, and don't want to splash out for the Konad special Polish, I've heard that MUA Shade 2 - available for only £1 in Superdrug - is a fantastically opaque alternative, though I've yet to try it myself. I added a coat of Seche Vite to dry it all quickly, and ten minutes later added strips of scotch tape diagonally across each nail. I then painted the nail in Claire's Matte Purple (I LOVE mixing textures!) and pulled the tape away while still wet. ET VOILAAA! Trashy Towel Nails.

 

I love how the shiny and the matte finishes look together. The cameras playing tricks on your eyes, the purple is, in fact, a lot more violet and red toned in real life, my camera is in perfect, purple denial, turning it blue. The photos were also taken at dusk, so sorry they're a bit dark and blue. (gawd I need to build myself a light box!)

Let me know what you think everyone! :D

And We'll Lie Beside A Turquoise Sea.

Sorry for not being around much this week, I promise I still read all of your comments and emails, I just haven't got around to posting - anyone who blogs will know it can be rather time consuming! Here is a Bundlemonster Konadicure for you, though, using Rimmel's Sky High as a base. Sky High is a gorgeous blue turquoise, goes on beautifully and opaque after 2 coats - I wore it on my toes for 2 weeks sans topcoat, and it didn't chip once.



I stamped the swirly image from the new bundlemonster set of image plates, BM201, using Konad's special polish in White. I think it kind of looks like art-deco style ocean waves, like a sea-themed mosaic!

 

I used Rimmel 60 Seconds as a topcoat - DO NOT WANT. I did not get on with it at all. Firstly, it smeared my stamping, which wasn't noticeable to the naked eye, but macro shows EVERYTHING! Secondly, it turned the white, stamped image yellow. You can't tell too much from the photos, as they are taken in bright sunshine, but trust me, the topcoat stained my manicure. I have NO IDEA how this can be, it's a topcoat for goodness sake! It is supposed to provide a clear coat over whatever I choose to use as a base! I'm baffled! Won't be using it again - money well spent...not. It's crazy how much I love Sky High, but hate this topcoat.

In other news, I loaned my nail art skillz to a little girl's birthday party, which was an exhausting 2 hours - kids are sticky and demanding! They loved my Del Sol Colour Changers though! (A post to come on those soon , once I've acquired Ruby Slipper!) I'd definitely hire myself out again, I've already been asked to do a wedding party - exciting stuff!

I also went to Parklife festival in Manchester this weekend (the reason Ive been so lax on the posts!) which was amaaazing, all the DJs we saw were fierce, and the crowds went mental! Skrillex was a definite highlight for us all, and despite the rain (and camping out for a couple of hours in a tea and cake tent!) we had a hilarious (if not muddy) time!

Leanne on my shoulders (yes, I'm a beast) and Sara during Chase and Status! Note the rained on makeup hahaha

The only one in wellies - soooo sensible

yes, the sun actually came out for day 1! Snapped in the Wagamamas noodle station with the dancing tigers. RIP reflective aviators, you shall be sorely missed (replaced)

Hey, look at that! Some of my real life made it on here! :D

I hope you are all well!

Snakeskin...

...'cus I'm classy like that. This is deliciously White Trash, I feel like I should be wearing a matching pair of trousers and Crocodile handbag. Mmmmm.

I reckon I'm probably building up to some sort of crazy safari manicure, with the theme of animal prints emerging! I had wanted to try this image from the new BundleMonster set for a while, I was just trying to figure out the colour combos, which I'm not sure I've got spot on! I started with a coat of Barry M Mushroom (I'm not sure if this is because it's quite old now, but this is now a perfect one-coater, though I'm sure it's not always been!). I then sponged on Claire's Jade Green, down either side of each nail. I used Miss Sporty Electric Beige to stamp with:

I remembered after the pictures, that I had used Electric Beige instead of Catrice Be My Millionaire!

I added Claire's Matte Topcoat over the design, and I really prefer it! What do you think? I love the feel of mattified nails as well, they're all smooth and velvety, I keep rubbing them on my face - weird? Yes.

 

Wooo hoo, snakey fingers, I'm off to explore the Jungle (and by Jungle, I mean Pub).

In keeping with the wildlife theme, I entered the Tiger Nail Art into Swaafie Blog's Inspired competition, and voting is now open! If you love me, you can head over and give me a vote! My design is number 3, and you've got until the 8th! There are so many amazing designs, and you can vote for your favourite three, so GO MENTAL! I would really appreciate you taking a look :D:D

"Check out Swaafie's contest, it's GGRRRRRRREAT!"  (I'm a loser) click here to see the original post

I hope you're all having a wonderful Monday!

Stars, Skulls, Swirls, Sponging and Stamping. (Giveaway Winner, too)

God, I love it when an alliterative post title comes together.

The whole shabang for you today, I went a little stamp crazy...

All photos in natural light

Please ignore the smudge-tasic index finger! After all that work, there was no way I was re-doing it haha!

I'd been wanting to use the Skull image from the new Bundle Monster Image Plate set for a while, but was in danger of utilizing it to create some kind of gross emo-dream/Pirates of the Caribbean tribute! I decided, in the end, to keep the colours light, and add some swirly pattern and some stars :D

I started with a base of Barry M Turquoise, and sponged on Models Own Blooboo in differing places on the nail. I then repeated this with Silver, from Claire's Silver Nail Art Pen. Now, I've mentioned this before, but however wonderful this silver is (and it is), it gives you the WORST glitter herpes ever. You can scrub and scrub at your silver-stained cuticles but it Just. Won't. Go. Away. So, I apologise for the sparkly cuticles haha! I also added a little bit of Rimmel Sky High to the sponged base too :)

After adding a coat of Seche Vite to smooth it out, I stamped the swirly, planty image from BM225 using Konad White Special Polish onto different parts of each nail. Then, using THIS method, I mixed my own pastel Special Stamping Polishes and stamped some pink, green and purple Skulls from plate BM211. I then did the same with the Star image from BM206, adding them sporadically to make a pattern. I added some coloured rhinestones to the Skull eyes (a later addition - I liked it without, too) that you can get from Nail Art online store Born Pretty.

If people like this look, I may do a sponging/stamping tutorial, because it looks rather busy and difficult, but it's really very simple, when you know how!

Also, I'm going to quickly announce the Giveaway winner (I know it's been a long time coming, soorrryryyyy).
I have contacted her and she's accepted, the winner is...

Lily over at Beauty's Bad Habit!

Congratulations! I'll be posting your goodies after my exams (next week :D)

I used Random.org to select a random number, then simply found that numbered entry in my spreadsheet!

(Didn't want to include your email, Lily!)

So, there we are! My first Giveaway, over and done with! As you can see I had a colossal amount of entries, so they took a while to verify - thank you for your patience, and for entering in the first place!

I hope you enjoy your prize Lily, check out her blog Beauty's Bad Habit!

I also got some great feedback from the giveaway question "What would you like to see from me in the future", so I'll be sharing some of the suggestions with you soon! 

Thanks Everyone!

Totally Tropical

Hi everyone!
In the spirit of craving summer SO BADLY, I decided to try out my newest Konad plate M29, and stamp a design I had been wanting to try for a while. Unfortunately, I only managed a quick flash shot of this, as I headed down in the morning to do the washing up, and a) broke a nail on the light switch, and b) managed to chip it all - washing up is kryptonite for manicures!

photo with flash - sorry it's the only one!

I started with a base of Topshop Green Room, and Bloom Flamingo sands II (both my absolute favourite polishes for the summer). I bought a couple of other Topshop polishes, and they are quickly beginning to rival my, previously unfaltering, love for Barry M! The formula is great and the colour selection is so different - I hope to do a review this week!

I added yellow ovals to the nail in Miss Sporty Taxi! and stamped the pineapple image from Konad M29, very carefully, over the top of these using Konad Black Special Polish/Konad Green Special Polish (for the leaves).

For the accent nail, I sponged 17 Orange Soda and Miss Sporty Taxi! over the top of Flamingo Sands II, then stamped the hibiscus image three times using Konad Special Polish in White and Red, as well as mixing my own pastel blue from Barry M Cobalt Blue and Konad White Special Polish (to see how click here). I stamped the "Aloha!" image in Konad Black Special Polish. I then added a coat of Seche Vite after the stamping had ten minutes to dry properly, so as not to smear the image.

I absolutely love this design - especially how the accent nail and the rest of the fingers do not match each other AT ALL in colour - I'm loving the colour clash trend this summer haha! My favourite mani in a while - I only wish I could've kept it on longer! I'm eager to try some variations on the accent nail design, the sponging is really subtle, which gives a cool effect.

Let me know what you think!

xxx

Twist on the Traditional Leopard Print Look

I say "The Traditional" leopard print like animal print nails are the most common thing in the world, but here in the UK at least, you still don't see them that often! I love a leopard print manicure, it's so eye-catching, and there's so many different colour combinations to try out. Today is a grey and silver combo, and my first time doing leopard print with the Konad M57, as opposed to my usual freehand technique - which do you think is better?

moley moley moley moley

All photos are in natural light, no flash. I started out with 2 coats of Urban Oufitter's Sparkle and Fade in Light Grey, and then stamped the leopard print image from Konad M57 using Konad Black Special Polish. Does anyone else find this relly messy to work with?! I find it gets eeeeverywhere and my hands always end up covered in it haha! Maybe I just need to improve my technique! I added silver dots to the centre of the circular designs using Claire's Silver Nail Art Pen. I finished off with 2 coats of Seche Vite Topcoat.
What do you think?  What other colour combos would you try? I'm dying try a neon one!

x

BundleMonster Contest Entry

If you haven't heard, BundleMonster (the creator and distributor of the Image Plates I use to create some of my designs) are having a Nail Art competition over at their Facebook Page. There are 25 sets of their NEW image plates up for grabs for those with the most "likes"! Voting opens on the 13th, and I would REALLY appeciate it if you could wander over, take a look at my entry (and the others of course) and see if I deserve a thumbs up! I implore you to enter yourself, too, what have you got to lose eh?

Here is my entry, you had to use Bundle Monster products and I wanted to submit something that showcased some skill, as opposed to just a simple painted base and stamped image, so I whipped the pan scrubbers out and did a pink to purple, sponged gradient base. I hope to do a sponging tutorial in the near future, as it definitely requires a "knack" and I think some people might benefit! I then stamped the flower image from BM16 in pastel blue.

I started with two coats of Barry M Strawberry Ice Cream, then painted a blob of MUA's Medium Pink Shade onto a small piece of sponge that I cut from a standard, kitchen pan scrubber. I then repeated this on the tips with Barry M Ltd ed. for Boots.

Now, I needed the stamped image to be very opaque, and I don't own Konad Special Stamping Polish in Pastel Blue, but I DO own the White - I'm going to quickly show you how I mixed my own Blue stamping polish:

I started with The Konad Special Polish and Barry M Cobalt Blue. I then popped a blob of each onto the image on BM16, next to each other (as opposed to on top of each other) so as not to gammy up the brushes:

I then used a paintbrush to swirl them together, you can create a cool gradient image if you only mix them up a  little bit.

Make sure you still do this mixing quickly, as if the polish begins to dry on the plate, it will be difficult to scape and stamp a complete image. Once you've scraped off the excess polish, and rolled your silicone stamp over it, you're ready to stamp the image in Pastel Blue:

BOOM! The stamping polish world is now your oyster -you can literally do this with any coloured polish to mix your own pastel Special Polish - this will save you splurging on all the different coloured Pastels that Konad offer, because you can still get a good quality, opaque image when using this technique. Cool!

I added clear Rhinestones to the accent nails with Nail Glue, silver dots to the centre of the flowers with Claire's Silver Nail Art Pen and then added 2 coats of Seche Vite - what do you think, was this good enough to be entered into the Bundle Monster comp? Some of the designs over there are really good, but my nails just aren't long enough to do something fancy-pants with lots of different stamps. I really like how a gradient Mani looks - I get asked if they're Minx all the time!

Don't forget I have Giveaway going on! Win yourself some sexy stuff!

PEACE OUT

Starry Eyed - Sponging and Stars!

I really was very uninspired last night, and started with a base of Model's Own Blooboo. Anyone else get bubbles with this polish? Maybe it's the way I apply it, but it happens with this polish more than any other. Here is Blooboo on its own:-

It is a lovely Pastel Blue Cream, but it has a lovely royal blue shimmer in the bottle that doesnt translate onto the nail, not even a little bit.

I decided to sponge on some silver using Claire's Silver Nail Art Pen -  I really like this silver, it's very sparkly and metallic, almost like it's made up entirely of teeny tiny bits of glitter.

Nice gradient going on there! Looking a bit wintery, like I should be adding some snowflakes! I added some purple stars instead: -

I've got a bad case of glitter herpes from the Claire's Silver, it's an absolute bugger to clean up, I can't for the life of me get it all off! I stamped the starry image from BM21 with Claire's Matte Purple. I'm never using this polish to stamp with ever again, although nice and opaque, it just dries far too quickly and I struggle to pick up/transfer a complete image - which is a shame. I wish I'd used something like Barry M Cobalt Blue instead, but by the time I'd realised, I was past the point of no return!
It still turned out alright, but it's not my favourites. It looks much better from a distance, in a dim light - much like most men.

Let me know what you think everyone!

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

Champagne anyone? *pic heavy!*

Today's Manicure uses MUA's B6 (is it too much trouble to actually NAME your shades, Superdrug?!), which is a pearlescent champagne kind of colour. It is a lovely shade, butIi think it would look a lot better on a darker skin tone, it kind of washes me out a bit.

This colour was quite hard to capture, it's slightly more beige IRL, and not quite as silvery (except at certain angles, in the light). The brush for this polish is NOT my favourite, the bristles are really thick, making the brush a bit clumpy and hard to keep neat round the cuticles. This was especially a problem as the pearlescence of this polish shows up every brush stroke!! I had to work hard to make sure each stroke was straight to avoid wiggly lines. A topcoat did help with this after the fact, however.
I then added the leafy/spotty image from BM04 using Claire's Black. This is not my favourite Mani, I think it's a bit "old lady", I prefer using creams and nice fun, bright colours!

Today is the online release of the new Illamasqua "Toxic Nature" collection, which has some interesting pieces, including some brilliantly pigmented, multi functional creams. Head over to their website to check it out - look at these promo pictures! Make-up for your alter-ego indeed!

I love the makeup - but if someone did that to my fringe I'd punch them very hard.

outrageous, no? They've also bought out some great looking nail polishes, including one called "Bacterium":-

Bacterium on the left, Purity on the right.

Now, I'm not claiming that my little MUA B6 is a dupe, but have a look at these swatches from Leanne over at DoNotRefreeze - She's lucky enough to own Bacterium, and has swatched it for us:-

PHOTO BELONGS TO LEANNE AT DO NOT REFREEZE!!!!

Considering MUA is darker IRL, this could be considered a cheaper alternative seen as Bacterium is £13.50, and my tight arse paid £1.00 for B6. It may be a bit more silvery (and obviously not as good quality), but I think I can make do with that when considering the price difference! Y'all need to go and check out Leanne's blog Do Not Refreeze by the way, easily one of my absolute favourite blogs to read!

Have a lovely day everyone, let me know what you think!
xxx