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

I Won! Contest Prize!

Does anyone remember me entering That's So Fresh's Spring Manicure contest? Well....I won! Wooo hooooooo! I found out a while back, but wanted to have received my prize before letting you all know!

I entered with this freehand Manicure, created before I got any tools, so the whole thing is done with a toothpick and nail art pens: -

 

You can see the whole post on this, HERE.

So I won! How exciting! I was absolutely over the moon when I heard, that was the end of Uni work for the day! 

The prize was a $50 coupon for www.wowsocool.com, a great online supplier of Konad and Nail Art products.Unfortunately, because I live over here in the UK, I had to pay $10 shipping - which I used part of my coupon for, as I'm not exactly minted right now! If you're in the USA or Canada it is free shipping over $20, however. I didn't mind, as it still left me $40 to spend on some stamping stuff :D Here is what I received, it took about 2 weeks to arrive, and was well packaged - no spillages!

Read about these nails tomorrow :D

I picked a selection of Konad Special Polishes for stamping, a yellow because it's difficult to get a regular yellow polish that's opaque enough for stamping, a black because it's an essential, and green and red because they're primary colours and bound to come in handy! I didn't go for any pastels because I can mix them myself (see how HERE).
I also selected M57, beacause I'm curious to test out stamping leopard prints vs. freehanding them. I know you will get a fishnet design on the new set of Bundle Monster plates due to be released, but I wanted it :D and the little flowers are sweet. I bought M29 because, let's face it, who DOESN'T want a pineapple on their nails? Exactly.
All in all, I'm thrilled to have won, because it's given me the opportunity to own some proper stamping equipment, instead of making do with what cheapo stuff I can find in the shops (God, Cinderella much?). Very excited to be trying it all out soon - a MASSIVE thank you to April at That So Fresh! Check out her blog if you havent already, her nails are amaaaziingngng.

xxx

Night blooming flowers

Hello ladies,

Today I am wearing Nubar Midnight Matte from the Night Sky Collection. I love how starry this polish appears with topcoat. I decided to embellish my nails with some night blooming flowers and a classic color palette.

The modern flowers design is from Konad plate M29, stamped in white special polish. I tipped my nails in red with the striper brush from the Rubies Nail Art Pen. The brush is finer than most stripers. I have used this technique before and I find the brush from the Nubar Nail Art Pen to yield the cleanest result. I added iridescent and red rhinestones to complete the look.

Not exactly a flower ring or a flower bracelet. A flower beret, perhaps?

These lilies have interesting white tipping on some of petals.

I painted two coats of Midnight Matte for opacity. I wore this shade for a day without topcoat or decoration. I'm really impressed by how all three colors in the Night Sky Collection work just as beautifully as matte or high gloss.

Konad plate M29 and the red jewels came to me from the beautiful Laura from Sawan. Many thanks!

Nubar Midnight Matte, the Rubies Nail Art Pen and the diaphanous crystals were sent to me for review. Midnight Matte is one of the three polishes in the Night Sky Collection. Rubies can be found within the Bejeweled Nail Art Pen Collection. The rainbow crystals are from the Mirror gem wheel. These items can be purchased at bynubar.com.

For a chance to win the Nubar California Dreamin' Collection plus a summer fun gift pack, please visit the contest post to enter.

I'll have news for you ladies soon about the Spring Beauty, Spring Cleaning Giveaway winner.

Happy painting, ladies!