Scaredy Cat

Hello ladies,

With his back arched and fur on end, the Halloween kitty tries to give the Moon a fright. In response, the Moon emits a purplish glow. Kitty still has many more tricks to play...

I began with Nubar Arencia, a coppery orange shade. Using Konad black special polish, I stamped the scaredy cat from design plate T13. I hung a purple Moon in the sky. With the striper in the Nubar Royal Amethyst two in one nail art pen, I tipped my nails in a coordinating purple.

Arencia looks like embers in bright sun.

Pyrite.

Here comes Rebus, ready to receive affection. Rebus belongs to my sister's neighbors. He's a gregarious fellow.

Arencia is the perfect shade for fall. The flashes in the glass flecked shimmer mirror the color of leaves turning. If your climate doesn't allow all four seasons, you can replicate one on your nails. I am showing three coats.

I rather love doing Halloween manicures. Any excuse to put a black cat on my nails works for me!

Royal Amethyst is from the Bejeweled Nail Art Pen Collection. Arencia is part of the Venetian Glass Collection. These polishes were sent to me for review and can be purchased at bynubar.com.

Image plate T13 was provided for my consideration. Please stop by chez-delaney.com to see the full line of nail art stamping plates. The popular H series was just restocked!

Happy painting, ladies!

Fall stilettos

Hello ladies,

Today I created an autumnal look to mirror the changing leaves and the pots of golden chrysanthemums. Who says you can't wear stilettos in the woods?

Starting with Nubar Taffeta as the base, I positioned a copper flower from Bundle Monster close to the nail line. A yellow rhinestone brightens the center. While the metallic flowers are pretty, they are not wholly colorfast with Diamont topcoat.

I formed the stiletto by creating a curve of Nubar Oro from the side of the nail towards the tip and overlapping with Arencia. This look can still be accomplished with less nail length. You will just need to begin painting the arch at the cuticle line. If you can paint a basic French with confidence, the stiletto will be fairly easy to replicate.

A citrine wand.







Arencia, Oro, Taffeta.

Taffeta is a lovely dark beige. It makes me think of a chocolate creme dessert with a touch of cinnamon. I needed three coats for opacity, but I think most ladies with active length nails would be satisfied with two. The formula is wonderful, so easy to apply.

I am really pleased with the assortment of neutrals in Nubar Finest Silks. I'm delighted how well these colors pair with the glass flecked shimmer polishes from the Venetian Glass Collection. I will definitely be showing more looks blending the two collections.

While true stilettos would involve sculpted tips that angle to a point, I think it's fun to reference the shape on natural nails with polish.

Taffeta is from the Finest Silks Collection. Arencia and Oro are part of the Venetian Glass Collection. These polishes were sent to me for review. They can be purchased at bynubar.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Serpent and the egg

Hello ladies,

My philosopher friend moved across town this week. As he was packing his collection of over 3,000 books, he handed me a copy of Alchemy and Mysticism to peruse. There were endless illustrations of serpents. Familiar themes were the snake eating its tail (the ouroboros) and the serpent wrapping itself around a large egg. These alchemical drawings are meant to convey the cycle of life and creation.

I am really fascinated by snakes. As much as I would love to care for one as a pet, I admittedly would have difficulty at feeding time. I think for now I will continue communing with them when I have the opportunity and creating an occasional serpent theme manicure.

Using Nubar Rosso as the base, I worked with a Chinoisserie palette of color. I stamped the snake from fauxnad plate H21 in Konad black special polish. I placed a gold sphere from Bundle Monster at the serpent's mouth. I repeated the gold at the tips with a Nubar nail art pen in 24K.

How cute are these peppers?

A brecciated jasper crystal skull.

The rosemary was incredibly fragrant.

Rosso applied beautifully. Two coats brought perfect opacity. This is truly a stunning polish. The foil finish paired with the glass flecked shimmer makes the red look fiery and bright like the red hot shade of metal being forged.

Part of the Venetian Glass Collection, Rosso was sent to me for review. The Nail Art Pen in 24K is from the Bejeweled Collection. This set was provided for my consideration. The full line of Nubar products can be purchased at bynubar.com.

Image plate H21 was provided for review. Additional nail art stamping plates can be purchased from chez-delaney.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Flower crown

Hello ladies,

I was imagining flower crowns when I was creating this manicure. I love the idea of the wreaths of flowers women would wear in their hair for celebrations such as weddings and dances. I have been reading the book Kristin Lavrandsdatter by Sigrid Undset and have been steeped in customs of long ago.

Beginning with Nubar Vino as the base, I chose a French tip design from fauxnad plate H28. I alternated the placement of the stamping so the flowers and leaves would move organically across my nails. I used Konad white special polish, accented by tiny silver beads from Bundle Monster.

Vino was opaque in two coats and easy to apply. I wanted to show this manicure on Saturday, but the sun wasn't cooperative. I took the photos late this afternoon. Vino has incredible longevity. I am truly impressed with how fresh and glossy this manicure appears two days after painting.

Vino was sent to me for review. This shade is part of the Nubar Venetian Glass Collection, available for purchase at bynubar.com.

Image plate was provided for my consideration. For the full line of nail art stamping plates, please visit chez-delaney.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

The white hind

Hello ladies,

I was thinking today about the mythical white hind that transports seekers into the deepest woods. The white hind is a beautiful doe. Following her into the trees evokes a spiritual wanderlust and marks the beginning of a quest. The white hind (doe) and the white hart (buck) appear throughout myths and faery tales. The white hind also is the subject of poetry. Here is the second stanza from the Danish poem by Jonas Hallgrimsson entitled After the Ball:

And now I plunge through the woods, my mind

distracted, at sixes and sevens,

seeking my white, my delicate hind--

stars aglint in the heavens.

My manicure today is an expression of what it would be like to pursue the white hind. She is always ahead, with the moonlight touching her. I wanted to evoke the dark green of a glade in the evening. The night blooming flowers are close at hand and the white hind is continually at a distance. Whimsical, yes?

Nubar Verde from the Venetian Glass Collection forms the base. I stamped the deer and ornate leaves from fauxnad plate H34. The deer image on the plate is a buck with antlers. It could also be a female reindeer. I was careful not to place any stamping polish in the antler portion of the design. I used a pin to draw on the other ear (that would have been blocked from view by the antlers).

The deer was stamped using Konad white special polish. The leaves were stamped in pastel green. I placed rainbow white flowers from Art Club to bloom from the leafy vine. I added a pale green pearl to each flower center. The last touch was to position a golden crescent Moon above the white hind.

The blackened burgundy flower is an Arabian Night dahlia.

Nubar Verde is a gorgeous polish. It's a dark green foil with gold, glass flecked shimmer. The polishes I have tried from the Venetian Glass Collection are breathtaking. The application is fantastic as well. Two coats bring perfect opacity.

Nubar Verde was sent to me for review. This beautiful green polish can be found within the Venetian Glass Collection at bynubar.com.

The rainbow white flowers are new from the Art Club Sprinkles line. These flowers along with an amazing assortment of stars, hearts, metallic threads and crushed shell are scheduled for fall release. The rainbow white flowers were sent to me for review.

Image plate H34 was sent to me for consideration. Please visit chez-delaney.com for the full collection of nail art stamping design plates. Would you the chance to win eight design plates of your choice. Stop by the Pick You Plates at Chez-Delaney Giveaway.

Happy painting, ladies!