Windswept flowers

Hello ladies,

On such a warm and still day, I wanted to inspire Nature to stir the air. I decided to create the look of windswept flowers. These were a nice accompaniment as I strolled through the paths in Rancocas Woods with my friend Sarada.

From fauxnad image plate, I stamped the tumbling flowers in Konad white special polish. I accented the design with tri-color metallic gems from Art Club. I alternated gold and silver petals across my nails.

Sedum

Goldenrod

Mayweed

These mushrooms were so delicate and tiny. Many were smaller than thimbles.

I painted three coats of Tequila Sunrise for perfect opacity. I imagine this shade would flatter most skin tones. This base color reminds me of persimmons. There is a tint of pink beneath the orange. Gold shimmer adds a gentle radiance.

I love how Tequila Sunrise is a bridge of color from summer into fall. It makes me think of sun-warmed fruit and flowers.

Image plate H34 was sent to me for consideration. To view the entire line of stamping nail art plates, please visit chez-delaney.com.

The metallic gems are from the Art Club Pretty Shiny Things Kit. These were provided for my consideration and can be purchased from victoriasnailsupply.com.

Tequila Sunrise was sent to me for review. This shade is from the Cantina Nights Collection, available at overallbeauty.com. For the opportunity to win your choice of five polishes from Cantina Nights along with a beauty gift pack from Reviva Labs, visit the Naturally Beautiful and Polished Giveaway. The contest closes at the end of the day, September 25th. Please stop by and enter if you haven't yet had the chance.

Happy painting, ladies!

Seashells and peach pearls

Hello ladies,

With the return of the sun today, I could not resist creating a summer manicure with seashells and pearls. I am wearing Tropical Fantasy from Diamond Cosmetics. This polish is a joy inspiring shade, reminiscent of an orange creamsicle. In addition to the sweetness, there are tiny flecks of gold shimmer that interplay beautifully with the light.

I stamped the seashell pattern from Bundle Monster plate BM09. I chose Konad special polish in white. I rested a peach pearl at the hinge of each shell. This would be so much fun for a beach excursion.

I found myself entertained watching a bee balance on a flower the same size as it's own body.

I love how this white butterfly blends into the pink and soft cream of these blossoms.

Application of Tropical Dream was a little tricky, but workable. The polish seemed thicker than the usual Diamond Cosmetics formula. I used three coats, but it may have been opaque in two if I had paused and added polish thinner. I definitely recommend the color, but I would test the polish first and see if it needs to be thinned. Otherwise, paint carefully and all will be well.

I hope you enjoyed the summer look today!

Tropical Dream was sent to me for review. US residents can purchase this polish at diamondcosmetics.com. For those looking to buy Diamond Cosmetics internationally, you can use this reference. For a chance to win a total of 12 polishes and a treatment product, visit the Ladies' Choice of Diamonds Anniversary Giveaway.

Happy painting, ladies!

Minerals Eye Look: Hot and Cold

Hello ladies,

This eye look is a meeting of hot and cold. Visit in your mind's eye the time in early evening when the temperature shifts. I wanted to express those minutes in between with color. The shadows used are Minerals from Overall Beauty.

The first stripe of color is on bare skin. The second is over Reviva Labs Makeup Primer.

Orion: navy blue shimmer with a hint of purple. Deepest blue when applied over primer.

Snow: sheer white sparkle.

Blue Skyz: A pale blue shimmer that can be used to highlight or built for a brighter appearance.

Peachy: a light and creamy peach color.

Calendula: A terra cotta orange shade.

Across the lid, I am wearing Blue Skyz, applied heavily. In the contour is the gorgeous navy shimmer Orion. Peachy and Calendula are blended over the brow bone. I then tapped a bit of Snow over the warm colors to make them sparkle.

I used Hard Candy Walk the Line liquid liner in sugar plum on the upper lid. The lower lid has Blue Skyz meeting with Snow towards the inner corner of the eye.

I enjoyed my first experience with Minerals from Overall Beauty. These are great shadows for ladies who are new to makeup or are experimenting with color. The shades go on soft and can be built up easily for a bolder look. They are virtually mistake proof.

All of the products mentioned were sent to me for review. Minerals from Overall Beauty are available for purchase at overallbeauty.com. For a chance to win your choice of six mineral eye shadows and a beauty gift pack, please visit the His & Hers Giveaway to enter. The contest ends in the last time zone on June 10th. Please get your entries in to qualify.

Happy painting, ladies!

LIPPMANN COLLECTION!

Good Morning, It's Tuesday and I have 2 Lippmann polishes to show you.  Love the bottle design.  The cap is beveled making it so easy to hold while applying.

                               Don't Tell Mama

Deborah Lippmann describes this polish as a mood ring blue/green shimmer.  It looks like a blacken emerald green with green shimmer with a glossy shine. Indoors the polish is dark.  Smooth application , first coat was opaque used 2 coats. Love it!

This picture was taken with a flash...see the green 

I'm Not Innocent

I love this one!  It's a creme creamy peach.  1st and 2nd coats were streaky and applied 3rd coat thick to get an even application.  

  

Did a nail design that was inspired by a blogger *Polished Stars*  used  LA Colors Art Deco pens black and white along with my dotting tool. 

Sorry picture is blurred.

If you don't have any Lippmann polishes you should add at least one to your collection.  Go and check them out here

(These polishes were sent to me for review)

Until Next time please have a great nail polish day!

♥♥♥

 

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Seashells and stars

Hello ladies,

With March weather bringing warmth to the air, I wanted to further explore the Essie Art of Spring Collection. Today I am wearing Van D'Go. My mind was adrift with seashell colors. I noticed parts of the design on Konad plate M76 reminded me of the half shell in the Birth of Venus. I decided to adorn the shells with pearls. I placed a silver star on each nail to further the motif of the sea and sky. I stamped the design in pastel orange special polish.

Van D'Go is a fussy diva polish in an unusual way. Whenever I wear a pastel, I always begin with two coats of a ridge filling base. It creates a sheer white backdrop for color to adhere easily without streaking. I used Brucci 2 in 1 Nail Perfection for this task. After two coats of Van D'Go, I think most ladies would be satisfied. For longer nails or dealing with the unforgiving macro camera setting, three coats would be preferable. Now, all of this seems standard practice for applying a pastel.

The diva factor emerged at the time top coat was applied. After one coat of CND Air Dry, Van D'Go changed color. It went from a pink tinted peach to an orange creamsicle, heavy on the cream. I thought maybe my top coat wasn't compatible. I tried my Carolyn New York top coat. I witnessed the same color transformation. I painted another coat of Van D'Go and used Zoya Armor with OPI Drip Dry drops. There was no escaping the orange creamsicle!

My photos are taken under a natural lamp. The polish and bottle shades are color accurate. Unfortunately, I don't have an Essie topcoat in my collection other than Matte About You. I'm uncertain if using Essie treatments with Van D'Go would keep the color the same from the bottle to the nail. Fortunately, I love a good orange creamsicle.

Essie Van D'Go was sent to me for review.

Konad plate M76 was provided for consideration. Konad products can be purchased from ocnailart.com. For a chance to win the eight new Konad image plates, please visit the contest post to enter.

Happy painting, ladies!