Naughty Kitty: Color Club Yum Gum and Smash Hit

Hello ladies,

I wanted to create a fun, boudoir style manicure. I had a little help from a naughty kitty. Neon pink and black crackled French tips provide a stylish backdrop for a bit of mischief and delight. 

From image plate D26, I stamped the retro cats using black Konad special polish. I created a funky French with the fractured polish, Smash Hit. Rainbow crystal bows adorn the center. The French line sparkles with Art Club silver glitter. Kitty used her tail to steal a pearl.   

Yum Gum is a bold and pretty neon. The scent of bubble gum is subtle and pleasant. I appreciated the ease in application. Three coats over a whitening base brought perfect opacity.

I have been having a great time experimenting with the Fractured Collection. Painting Smash Hit across my tips created a lacy effect, and complemented the naughty kitty.

You will be seeing more of the Color Club Fractured Collection this week. The kitty might have a little something in mind.

Color Club Yum Gum and Smash Hit were sent to me for review. These polishes can be purchased at victoriasnailsupply.com.

I purchased the D series image plates from chez-delaney.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Liberty: Diamond Cosmetics Seafoam Spray

Hello ladies,

I hope American readers are having a stellar 4th of July! One of my favorite national treasures, the Statue of Liberty, is the focal point of today's patriotic manicure. She is a welcoming presence on our shores. Such a wonderful gift from the ancestors of our friends in France!

For the base color, I chose Diamond Cosmetics Seafoam Spray. I wanted a green with an aquatic feel that would also represent the patina on the Statue of Liberty. From image plate D08, I stamped the face and crown of Liberty in green Konad special polish. Because a patriotic US manicure cannot be wholly green, I added red, silver and blue stars from Art Club. The thin line French was created with Hologram, an Art Club striper. 

I adore Sweet Peas!

A pretty yellow lily.

A giant yellow lily!

I am showing three coats of Seafoam Spray worn over Diamond Cosmetics Super Base. As this shade has been sitting with my untried polishes, my bottle could have benefitted from a couple drops of  thinner. I wish I had worn Seafoam Spray ages ago! The color is beautiful! It's a pale mint green stirred with gold micro shimmer. Subtle on the nail, the shimmer adds both depth and sheen. If you are a lover of green polish, I recommend adding this color to your wish list.

Do you ladies have a favorite US monument or landmark? Whether you reside here or abroad, I am curious about places that call to you or seem like the heart or representation of America.

Seafoam Spray was provided for consideration. To purchase in the US, visit diamondcosmetics.com. International residents can find this shade at boozyshop.nl.

I purchased the D series image plates at chez-delaney.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Dragon's Pearl: Diamond Cosmetics 18K Gold

Hello ladies,

I wanted to create a tattoo style manicure. I imagined a dragon returning to his cave with a new pearl. Dragons, much like the keeper of this blog, adore treasure. In the dragon's world, even the Moon has been formed from a jewel. A bit of whimsy for you...when I met my friend Drew for dinner, I noticed he was wearing a Chinese dragon tee shirt that coordinated with my manicure. Magic is afoot. 

From image plate D25, I stamped the dragons in black Konad special polish. I accented the dragon's tail with miniature pearls from Born Pretty Store. I placed a ruby Moon in the sky. The tips were defined with an Art Club striper in Black Hologram. Preferring the thin line French to remain matte, I decided not to add a second layer of topcoat.

Diamond Cosmetics 18K Gold is a rich metallic. This warm toned gold is perfect for summer leading into fall. The formula is easily opaque in two thin coats. A careful application is required to avoid brushstrokes, but these lessen in appearance as the polish dries. The color glows on the nails like jewelry.  

I hope you enjoyed this treasure of a polish. Have you had any dragon sightings lately?

The polish was sent to me for review. US residents can purchase 18K Gold at diamondcosmetics.com. For international shipping, visit boozyshop.nl. 

I purchased image plate D25 from chez-delaney.com. The D series is a site exclusive.

Happy painting, ladies!

Make It Fancy Giveaway Winner!

Hello ladies,

Today I met with a well known connoisseur of fine dining and all things fancy! She was the perfect choice to make the winner's selection for the Make It Fancy Giveaway! She offered input on every part of the process. Let us first learn a bit about her qualifications. 

My name is Tilda. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. 

My skills include bird watching. 

And meowing.

A crystal bowl containing 780 contest entries and a fine pate were presented.

My, what prompt service. 

A bit too much garnish...

But the crystal is exquisite!

And the tasting menu, superb!

Delectable!

My compliments to the chef. 

A deliciously scented wind spirited away an entry into the topiary.

Tilda finds the winner to be quite fancy indeed!

The establishment passed the white glove test and Tilda relaxes, waiting for dessert.

Congratulations to purple-princess!

Many thanks to our giveaway sponsors: Overall Beauty, chez-delaney, Ginger Kitty Designs and
Reviva Labs.

A special thanks to Laura for escorting the esteemed Miss Tilda to the cafe.

I will be judging the Starry Temptress Giveaway soon as well as posting a new giveaway in the very near future!

Happy painting, ladies!

Astrological Portrait: Diamond Cosmetics Deep Blue Sea

Hello ladies,

In love with stargazing, I have longed to create an astrological portrait manicure. You will find all twelve signs of the zodiac represented in a sparkling blue heaven of color.

From image plate H32, I stamped the zodiac signs using a franken of Konad silver polish and China Glaze Millennium. If my right thumb were lined up with my left pinky, you would find the symbols have been aligned in the proper order. My thumb nails each show two astrological signs.

To create the starry tips, I alternated silver hologram stars from the Art Club Holiday gem wheel and rainbow jewels. The thin line French was formed using an Art Club striper in Crystal Glitter. 

There are various accents. I highlighted the clothing of the Twins, the skirt of the Virgin, and the stream from the Water Bearer with the Crystal Glitter striper. The Crab has silver moon legs and silver beads at the base of the main body. The Virgin wears a triangular gem on her dress. A Moon makes The Scorpion's tail. The Sea Goat has a pearl in his tail fin. The Water Bearer is beneath a silver crescent. Silver beads embellish the spiral of The Fish.  

The base color, Diamond Cosmetics Deep Blue Sea, is indeed blue despite any trickery from your monitor. I took pictures today amidst sun showers. The flowers are glistening with raindrops. 

A pink rose after the rain

Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo. 

Virgo, Leo, Cancer, Gemini, Taurus & Aries (on thumb).

Right hand: (Thumb) Libra & Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces. 

The purple iris petals look like fabric for a ball gown.

My right hand. 

A flower ring as bright as the sun.

A gorgeous jelly polish flecked with turquoise glitter, Deep Blue Sea is the must have from the Diamond Cosmetics Caribbean Collection. Opaque in two coats, the color was easy to apply. I decided to wear this over a whitening base coat to make the blue really pop. The color is so lovely, I have worn it a couple times in the past two weeks. As with any jelly formula, I recommend wrapping the tips.

I hope you enjoyed the astrological portrait manicure. Let me know your Sun sign or any bit of your chart you choose to share in the comments. I am always curious. I am a Virgo with a Scorpio Moon and Leo Rising.

Deep Blue Sea was sent to me for review. US residents can purchase this shade at diamondcosmetics.com. International residents, look to boozyshop.nl for availability.

Image plate H32 was provided for my consideration. To view the full line of nail art stamping supplies, stop by chez-delaney.com.

Happy painting, ladies!