Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy: BB Couture Carla

Hello ladies,

During the winter holidays, I always encounter images of The Nutcracker ballet. I have seen the performance many times, favoring the second act. My manicure today tells the story of Clara and the Prince in the Land of Sweets. There is a lollipop with a heart, the Sugarplum Fairy in motion amidst flowers, and a crown for the coronation of the new rulers of Confiturembourg. Ah, to be a princess in a land of candy, fantasy and dancing fairies!

I chose China Glaze Millennium Khrome for stamping. The lollipop is from Konad plate M14. The dancers are featured on disc S08. The leaping ballerina floats over a white flower with a rhinestone center. The crown is shown on M40. I added a pearl and two beads for ornamentation.

Carla applied well and was easily opaque in two coats. This dark purple is stirred with hot pink shimmer. In lower lights, the finish can masquerade as a creme. The sparkle enlivens the purple, keeping it from venturing in the almost black territory. If you like a vampy purple with a hint of shimmer, Carla is sure to entice.

I hope you enjoyed my festive winter manicure!

BB Couture Carla was sent to me for review. This polish is part of the Infamous Lovers Ladies' Collection, available at overallbeauty.com.

Image plates M40 and S08 were provided for my consideration. To shop the full collection of Konad products, please visit ocnailart.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Icy roses

Hello ladies,

I was amazed when my friend David told me the roses in his yard started blooming again. Roses are my favorite flower. It brought me such happiness to be able to experience roses on the vine past their season. I was thinking about the frosty temperatures typically brought by late November weather as well as the early darkening of the sky. I created a look of icy roses.

From Konad plate M40, I stamped roses with white special polish. I reversed the image from top to bottom every other nail. I added a clear crystal with rainbow reflection, a white pearl and a silver bead to each nail. I love the icy feel and the shine brought by these tiny ornaments.

Jewel of a Girl is such a beautiful shade. The color is a shimmering fusion of plum and burgundy. The deep hue doesn't appear blackened. Two coats should be perfect for opacity. While I tend to use three for most Color Club polishes, I love this color so much I kept right on painting!

I wanted to create a manicure that felt like a reflection of me, something to help me connect with my own sense of self and happiness. Roses and pearls were a natural choice. The local rose bushes were in full collaboration. I hope you enjoyed it too!

Jewel of a Girl was sent to me for review. This polish is part of the Untamed Luxury Collection, available at victoriasnailsupply.com.

Image plate M40 was provided for my consideration. You can see the full line of Konad products at ocnailart.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Chocolate and crochet

Hello ladies,

With the cooler weather upon us, I keep hearing tales of evening hours spent with crochet hooks and knitting needles. I can guarantee the majority of my female friends has made a crochet flower in the past week. This manicure presents an option of how to accessorize your nails to match endeavors with yarn.

From image plate M40, I stamped the row of flowers with Konad pastel blue special polish. I added soft blue pearls and blue beads for ornamentation. This tone on tone approach reminds me of boutique yarns, threaded with delicate beads and gems.




Easy to apply, Nothing But Truffle was opaque in two coats. I love the warm shimmer present in full sun. In diffuse light, this shade appears dark, but still looks brown to my eyes.

For those of you who enjoy crochet during the colder weather, may I suggest a chocolate truffle to add luxury to the comfort of yarn?

Nothing But Truffle was sent to me for review. This polish and others from the Untamed Luxury Collection are available for purchase at victoriasnailsupply.com.

Image plate M40 was provided for my consideration. Visit ocnailart.com for the full line of Konad products. For a chance to win an assortment of image plates, stop by the Ladies' Choice of Eight Plates Giveaway. The contest ends on November 24th, so get your entries in!

Happy painting, ladies!