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!

Shabby Chic: Color Club Clean Break and Pretty in Platinum

Hello ladies,

I decided to bring the Shabby Chic style to my nails. Today's manicure features roses and cameos on a silky grey background. I was imagining a tray of earrings and brooches sitting atop an old, whitewashed dresser. Jewels and pearls imbue a feeling of elegance to timeworn heirlooms.

I began by painting Color Club Pretty in Platinum as a base. With a Kolinsky Sable Brush size 00 from the art supply store, I mapped a fine, arching line with white polish. I then filled in the tips with Clean Break fractured polish. If you decide to use a crackle formula to create a funky french, I highly recommend having a guideline in place. Clean Break is on the thick side and it would be tricky to achieve the proper French tip. I tested this polish over the entire nail and I found traditional application to be simple. Clean Break offers well defined crackling. 

On the nails of my middle fingers, I adhered pale pink cameos with nail glue. I purchased these in a lot from ebay and I wish they were readily available! I would use them with abandon. I bordered the cameos with large pearls and gems. The grey and cream colored roses with pink and green accents are Art Club Petite Fleurs. These decals come on an adhesive backing with gold beads. I decided to build on the color palette from the roses to create an assemblage of finery by adding pearls of various sizes, and pink, green and crystal rhinestones. I first sealed the roses with topcoat and then placed the gems and pearls and added a final layer of topcoat. I varied the design a bit on each hand. 

Echinacea, purple coneflower.

Floral fireworks!

My right hand with smaller jewel clusters. 

Pretty in Platinum is a soft, grey pearl. This polish is completely opaque in two coats. It has a beautiful sheen and an easy to use formula. I recommend this polish to grey lovers.

What do you ladies think? Do you like the crackle tips and the vintage look?

Items in this post were sent to me for review. Clean Break is part of the Color Club Fractured Collection. Pretty in Platinum is from the Untamed Luxury Collection. Both are available for purchase at victoriasnailsupply.com. I bought the Art Club Petite Fleurs at Sally Beauty.

Happy painting, ladies!

Snails!: Nubar Earthen

Hello ladies,

I am feeling at one with these tiny snails today. I am moving slowly, but am doing so while prettied up a bit. Don't these little snails look like they are on their way to a faery garden party? I hope they arrive in plenty of time for treats and festivities.

From image plate H20, I stamped the snails in brown Konad special polish. I added gold beads to the tips of their long antennae. If we were exploring anatomy, these would be the eyes. In the center of the spiral shell, I placed a tiny pearl.

The funky french was created by first applying two coats of the flakie polish Nubar 2010 followed by one coat of Dewdrop. This would be amazing over the full nail as well.

The warm tones from 2010 glow beneath the soft blues in Dewdrop.

The sunlight is catching the lovely pearl shimmer in the bottle of Earthen.

A pale grey with a tinge of beige, Earthen is stirred with white pearl shimmer. The polish appears like a creme formula until the light touches the shimmer, giving it a subtle luster.

Earthen applied beautifully. I needed three coats for opacity but I believe ladies with shorter nails would be satisfied with two coats. Dewdrop is a festive, glittery topping. The round glitter pieces are softly tinted in pale blue and green. It reminds me of a cool tone version of Nubar Tiara.

Are you ladies as charmed by these darling snails as I am? They make the slow route seem quite a pleasure.

The three polishes featured were sent for review. These are available for purchase at bynubar.com. Earthen and Dewdrop are part of the new Spring Garden Collection, promotionally priced at 39.95 for the set of nine polishes.

Image plate H20 was provided for my consideration. Visit chez-delaney.com to explore the full line of nail art stamping design plates.

Today is the last day to enter the Make It Fancy Giveaway! Head over to the giveaway post before the last time zone March 14th (this translates to 8 a.m. EST March 15th) for a chance to win 8 nail art stamping plates, the Gabrielle Faust Eye Shadow Collection, a ring from Ginger Kitty Designs and skin care from Reviva Labs. Best of luck!

Happy painting, ladies!

Black Swan: Cheeky Monkey Filthy Madame

Hello ladies,

Ever since I watched the movie Black Swan, I have wanted to create a manicure inspired by the haunting visuals. I chose reoccurring themes from the movie to decorate my nails: ballerinas, feathers, a swan, and lilies. I attempted different ways of embellishing the tips with red and bone white crushed shell.

I chose white Konad special polish for stamping. On my pointer finger, the cascading feathers are from plate M77. I added a mirror gem and a white pearl. The ballerinas positioned on my middle finger and thumb are from S08. My pinky has lilies from M36. I adhered a white pearl and a small rhinestone to highlight the flowers. The plates mentioned above are from Konad.

From chez-delaney P19, I stamped the swan on my ring finger. I placed a clear crystal on the wing. I used a striper brush with China Glaze Millennium to highlight the feathers, water beneath the swan and the lily stems. It is tricky to create clean lines with a chrome polish. I would recommend experimenting with a fine silver glitter instead.

Feathers, a ballerina, a swan, a lily.

I chose red crushed shell to embellish the tips on my thumb and ring finger.

A howlite crystal skull.

On my rather elusive and seldom seen right hand, I blended red and bone white crushed shell on each tip.

My right pointer finger.

Cheeky Monkey Filthy Madam reminds me of a black pearl. In bright sun, the color appears deep charcoal grey. There is a wealth of micro shimmer adding luster to Filthy Madam. Silver and rainbow particles are stirred throughout. Holding the bottle, I can easily distinguish green and pink micro shimmer.

The formula has a pearl finish. There are subtle brushstrokes during application that dissipate once topcoat is added. I am wearing three coats, but I think ladies with shorter nails could get away with two. The polish dries quickly with a lovely sheen.

When examining the different typefaces printed around the bottle, my friend Emily said: Filthy Madam? What about Filthy Mademoiselle?. I think that's a wonderful name to add to the Cheeky Monkey catalog!

I hope you enjoyed my cinematic nail art. For another manicure exploring the movie Black Swan, check out Deniz's version. She really captures the dark and violent feel. Are there any other Black Swan manicures I should see?

How many of you ladies have seen Black Swan? What were your impressions? While I enjoyed the acting and found some of the images arresting, I felt the director could have been more restrained in letting the plot move more naturally and allowing the viewer to develop his or her own impressions. I knew how the movie was going to end within the first 10 minutes.

I also would have loved to have seen more original themes explored. The idea of ballerinas dealing with aggressive and predatory directors, overbearing mothers, competition among dancers, and anorexia has been examined. This isn't to say the movie wasn't worthwhile, but I think with fine tuning it could have been great.

Filthy Madam was offered to me for review. This shade can be purchased at cheekymonkeycosmetics.com.

Konad image plates M36, M77 and S08 were sent to me for review. You can shop the complete line of nail art stamping products at ocnailart.com.

Design plate P19 was provided for my consideration. Stop by chez-delaney.com to view the full assortment of nail art stamping plates.

Happy painting, ladies!

Grey and silver skies: Nubar Barricade and Organza

Hello ladies,

The past three days have been a gathering of snow, sleet, and rain. I decided to translate the chill weather onto my nails. I created a grey tone on tone manicure with gems and mirrors as icy highlights.

I formed pearl dots using Nubar Organza. This is my first venture with a dotting tool. I am definitely looking forward to experimenting further with this technique. I placed large rainbow gems, mirror circles, clear faceted and smooth rhinestones and pearls at random.

This manicure was tricky to capture. All of the dots are the same color on the nail. The sun seemed to highlight some more than others. If you squint a little, you can envision it.

Barricade applied easily, with the standard high quality Nubar formula. Two coats brought perfect opacity. I love wearing grey polish in winter. I feel like I am part of the atmosphere.

I hope you enjoyed my modern take on snow, ice and rain.

Part of the Fortress Collection, Barricade was sent to me for review. Organza, also provided for review, can be found within the Finest Silks Collection. Both polishes can be purchased at bynubar.com.

The dotting tools were sent to me for consideration. Visit bornprettystore.com to purchase.

Happy painting, ladies!

Crane under a silver Moon: Diamond Cosmetics Starshine

Hello ladies,

Today I created an Asian inspired look featuring a crane. I have a real affinity for water birds. I wouldn't mind spending part of my day wading in a lake. The crane is a traditional symbol of longevity. As 2010 draws to a close, it's my wish for each of you, along with health and happiness.

Stamping with pastel blue special polish, I chose the crane image from Konad plate M23. I used a rainbow crystal to hang a Moon in the sky. A pale blue gem highlights the crane's wing. I flocked the trees with a turquoise blue glitter striper from Art Club. I love the softness of tone on tone manicures.

Starshine needed two coats for opacity. This shade has the beautiful pearl finish Diamond Cosmetics formulates so well. There is sparkling turquoise micro glitter in a blue green base. Starshine is a must have for lovers of blue polish. Diamond Cosmetics continues to enrapture me each year with their Winter Collection. I am excited about every color in the offering.

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday preparations and making good wishes for the year to come.

Diamond Cosmetics Starshine was sent to me for review. This polish is sold in the US at diamondcosmetics.com. Use the code HOLIDAY for free shipping through Sunday, December 19th at 5 a.m. International readers can check boozshop.nl for availability.

Image plate M23 was provided for my consideration. You can shop the entire line of Konad stamping products at ocnailart.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Fire witch

Hello ladies,

This Halloween, a Fire Witch takes flight. If you see a sunset that flickers orange and gold, it may have been created by the whisking of her broom as she traversed the sky.

I began with Nubar Orange Crush. In black Konad special polish, I stamped the flying witch from image plate T29. I placed an orange Moon overhead. On the lower portion of my nail, I painted a thin coat of Nubar Tiara to add some sparks to the fire.

Mookaite crystal skull.

A Bengal cat.

I was taking photos in Rittenhouse Square and I felt a familiar tap at my ankle. I looked down to see this Bengal cat communing for my affection. His owner was walking him on a leash and a harness. He pulled in my direction. The kitty decided to jump up next to me for admiration, compliments and a modeling opportunity. He sat for a spell.

Orange Crush has a gorgeous pearl finish. I painted three coats for opacity. There is an appearance of brushstrokes that fades after top coat has been applied. This shade looks peachy when wet and then becomes fully orange and aglow after a layer of topcoat. This is one of my favorite orange polishes!

Tiara is a wonderful glitter topping. It's useful when trying to work around a design because the formula is on the thick side. A thin coat plus some light dabbing for touch ups will provide an even layer of sparkle that's easy to place with accuracy.

Orange Crush is from the California Dreamin' Collection. Tiara can be found with the Royal Gems Collection. These polishes were sent for review. Both shades can be purchased at bynubar.com.

Image plate T29 was provided for my consideration. To view the full line of nail art stamping plates, please stop by chez-delaney.com.

Happy painting, ladies, and happy Halloween!

The Bridge

Hello ladies,

Today I created a manicure using two shades from Color Club's new Untamed Luxury Collection. The finished manicure makes me think of the command bridge in a space ship. Calling to mind flashing buttons on a control panel, I am tempted to press the mirror gems to see what would happen. The shimmering grey of Ms. Hautie looks futuristic. The flakie glitter in Covered in Diamonds could be the view outside the window of the bridge. The Captain sees a glittering nebula ahead.

With a black Art Club striper, I painted an arch to form the french. I filled in the tips with Covered in Diamonds. The nail art wheel from the Boudoir Collection afforded me with small and large mirror gems with black and white borders. I alternated colors and placement of the smaller gems from nail to nail.

I painted three coats of Ms. Hautie for the best application. I found that with two coats the glitter looked slightly textural. The third coat evened the polish out beautifully. Ms. Hautie has a pearl finish. A little extra care when painting will minimize brushstrokes. I love the look of this polish. There is rainbow and hot pink micro shimmer in a silvery grey base.

Bolder than Nubar 2010 and Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure, Covered in Diamonds is my new accessory. It lit up my tips. The polish has a thick consistency, which is useful. The flakie glitter will apply directly to the nail without needing to fish pieces out of the bottle. Perfect! I recommend when applying Covered in Diamonds to gently run a finger along the free edge to tap any pieces that overhang back on the nail. I only needed to do this on one occasion, but it's worth being vigilant.

I am really excited to be sharing more of the Untamed Luxury Collection with you. The colors are gorgeous!

The polish and nail art items featured in this post were provided for review. Color Club Untamed Luxury is available for purchase at Victoria Nail Supply. I have seen the Boudoir Collection at amazon.com, but I will inquire about other sources. For a chance to win the Boudoir Collection nail art kit, please stop by the Art Club: Black, White and Bold Giveaway.

Happy painting, ladies!