January Challenges - Glitz and Glam Lace

I don't do a lot of pinks but there are 2 types I like, a blue pink and a dusky pink - I am completely in love with this stunning dusky pink, 'Ard As Nails Faye.
As with Meadow that I wore earlier in the week, I think this is is quite a vintage shade and I just adore it. Wonderful coverage and finish - I really do like every 'Ard As Nails polish I've tried.
The prompt for #wnac2016 was Glitz and Glam Lace so I decided to add a thin coat of glitter to my dusky pink and then stamp using Yours Cosmetics Sascha Gossen YS01 and Colour Alike Kind of White.
I used Glam Polish Glitter In My Veins. It isn't really a glitter topper but I did manage to get the level of coverage I wanted using one coat sparingly.
Once I had stamped I took a few photos and then added matte top coat, I think the matte really works on this one. Added a couple of macros too.

'Ard As Nails Faye

 

 

Glam Polish Glitter In My Veins

YS01 and Colour Alike Kind of White

 

40 Great Nail Art Ideas - Films

This weeks prompt for 40 Great Nails Art Ideas was Films - I went with the first idea that came to mind - The Great Gatsby because that meant I could use my Art Deco plates!
I used a smooshed base that I had done for another challenge and then stamped on top using Avon Frosted Peach and Messy Mansion Symetrika 01.
Then I added a second layer of stamping using A England Camelot and 2 different plates - Messy Mansion MM45 and Emily de Molly EDM11.
I am pleased with how these turned out although as usual I have struggled to capture them well on camera.

Messy Mansion Symetrika 01

Messy Mansion MM45 and Emily de Molly EDM11

 

early morning sunshine shot

couldn't resist a matte shot

An InLinkz Link-up

January Challenges - Smooshing, Stripes and some Turkish stamping

I bought a new white polish last week. I am always on the look out for a decent white that doesn't end up looking chalky and I am really pleased with this one. 'Ard As Nails White Van Girl is a lovely creme polish which gave great coverage in two coats.
I used this as my base for the #smooshattack being run on a weekly basis on IG.
This was my first one, so quite scary! I used  HJ Manicure Candy Pink HJ Manicure, HJ Manaicure Pink Bikini and Nails Inc Kate Spade Soho Silver. I actually liked this a lot more than I thought and it's quite easy so I think I'll be doing it again. Makes a great base for a mani too.
The prompt was Stripes for #clairestelle8jan and I used Pet'la Plate Basics and Colour Alike Aurora over my pink and silver smoosh. I took advantage of a New Year sale to get some more Pet'la plates! I really like them and the chance to get more was too good to miss,
Finally I used Pet'la Plate Tu-Turkey-key and A England Camelot to add another layer.

'Ard As Nails White Van Girl

 

 

Pink and Silver #smooshattack

 

Pet'la Plate Basics

 

Pet'la Plate Tu-Turkey-key

January Challenges - Flakes and Spirals

I treated myself to a new black polish last week, 'Ard as Nails Beauty. It was part of a new selection of creme shades they had just brought out - you always need a good black in your stash!
This one is lovely, excellent application and good coverage in two coats. Pictures are taken with no top coat and look how glossy (ignore the rain drops!!)
I then used that as my base for #wnac2016. The prompt was Foil / Flakes - I don't have any foils but I do have this stunning metallic flakie Violet Rose Polish I Have a Dream, a stunning mix of metal flakes with purple being the main colour, and then a dash of evrything else in there too!
I just used one coat for this mani.
Then I added Spirals for #clairestelle8jan using Pet'la Plate Spinning and Colour Alike Aurora.

'Ard as Nails Beauty

 

Violet Rose I Have a Dream

 

Pet'la Plate Spinning

 

40 Great Nail Art Ideas - 3 Shades of Purple with Splatter

Well, the colour prompt for 40 Great Nail Art Ideas was 3 shades of purple -  not a problem, I must have a couple of hundred purples. The pattern prompt however was Splatter. I did try! in fact my rough try on the UberMat indicated that whilst messy, it would work, so I did all the preparation ready to get messy and then failed! so after a number of futile attempts I went for plan B (which I would have done on the other hand anyway!) and stamped. I am not proud of my failure but I think I am pragmatic and that after a while there seemed nothing to be gained by getting frustrated.
I used Yours Cosmetics Sascha Gossen YS12 and an image which I imagine would be great for fake water spotting but I think looks reasonably splattery too.
I started with a base of HJ Manicure Lavender which is a gorgeous slightly dusky purple. This is a lovely creme polish, applied beautifully and dries to a nice glossy finish. Pictures are taken with top coat.
Having abandoned the messy splatter fiasco I stamped, first with Leighton Denny Really Royal and then Virtuous Polish Queen Ester.
I had planned to use this as a base for another mani but actually I liked it so much I left it as it was.

HJ Manicure Lavender

 

3 shades of Purple - Splatter

An InLinkz Link-up

January Challenges - Clocks and Dance Legend Bow Polish Hex

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I bought some Dance Legend thermal polishes - Today I am wearing Hex, a red thermal. This lovely polish has fine sparkly glitter in it, just like Mutation, and as with Mutation I did need 3 coats for full opacity when warm.
Again, the polish dries to a matte finish so I took a few shots before adding top coat.
I have to confess, I prefer Mutation, being a blue green kind of person but I do like this. particularly in its transition phase. The warm red is just a touch too orange for me but as soon as it starts to cool I love it!
The prompt for #clairestelle8jan was clocks so I used Moyou London Steampunk 03 and Colour Alike Supernova to add the clock images.
I took loads of shots, and then added a matte top coat and took quite  few more! As before, my favourite pics are of the transition phase.

Bow by Dance Legend Hex

 

 

Moyou London Steampunk 03

 

 

When Colours Collide - Grey and Pink

Grey and Pink for #whencolourscollide -
I started with a base of a rather lovely pink, HJ Manicure Candy Pink.
I then used HJ Manicure SubZero and Esmaltes Da Kelly Topolino with Apipila Super Plate E over a gradient of Candy Pink and HJ Manicure Pink Bikini.
This challenge was really popular and we had to do 3 collages - see the end of this post.

Finally, as a little extra, I used Avon Mirror Shine Polished Pink and BundleMonster + Lucy's Stash BM-XL209 to add those sweet little bubbles.

HJ Manicure Candy Pink

 

 

Grey and Pink

 

BundleMonster + Lucy's Stash BM-XL209