A2Z Series - T is for Texture

I was delighted when I saw that the T in the A2Z challenge was for texture! I love textured polish so it was a great excuse to get a couple out for this week's mani.
I've seen other ladies do textured gradients, so that's what I decided to do.
I bought all the Avon Stardust textured polishes when they were on offer just before Christmas and so far I have only used one, the stunning Silver Crystals.
I have a complete love of purple and teal together so for my gradient I chose Polished Plum, a deep dark purple, and Teal Glitter which is a a beautiful dark teal. These two seem to be a finer grain than the Silver Crystals but still very sparkly and I love them- what could be better than dark, textured and sparkly!
I am not 100% sure my gradient looks as perfect as it should but I love the 2 colours so much that I don't really mind.
I was really pleased with this but I did think maybe it needed something more, so of course I had to stamp over it. I used Essence Stampy 001 and UberChic Beauty UC1-03.
I love the contrast of the smooth crisp white over the dark textured sparkly polish and this Uberchic image is so pretty. In fact I should mention I really love my UberChic plates, I have used them so many times since I got them and they are fantastic!!
I did take some pictures without a top coat but the Essence really does need a top coat to seal it so I have top coated them. I think I'd need a couple more coats to make a completely smooth finish but I like that I can still see and feel the texture.
I am so happy with this mani, you can probably guess that as there are loads of pics!!

A2Z Series - T is for texture
Avon Stardust Polished Plum and Teal Glitter 

 

 

 

T is for Texture -
gradient stamped with UberChic UC1-03 no topcoat

 

 

T is for Texture -
gradient stamped with UberChic UC1-03 and top coated

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

March Challenge #clairestelle8march - Dotticure

Today on Claire's challenge the prompt was Dotticure. I have done a dotticure once with a dotting tool, it killed my hands!! I have also done one once before using a stamped image - no contest as to which way I chose this time!
I did have a mani planned but my UberChic Beauty plates arrived and as they have some dotty images on, I thought I'd better give them a try.
I chose this image because it gave me exactly what I'd been planning to do and I had been sat there thinking how likely would it be that I could paint my nails 2 colours and manage to stamp the colours in reverse, and not end up with black on black! There it was on this plate, UC 1-03, and a nice twist on a french mani too!!
I started with a base of A England Ascalon, a lovely silvery grey holo with a hint of lilac, which is apparent in lower levels of light when you can't see the holo.
I then stamped with A England Camelot. The plate stamped beautifully. On close inspection, the dot images are not completely perfect but I think that is because my Camelot is nearly empty and I don't think I had enough polish on the plate. On the ones where I scraped forward and then back again the image is better and to the naked eye they look fine anyway.
I really like the finished look and that at a glance it looks like a gradient, darker at the tips. I also like that thing where you looks and think - is that black on silver or silver on black?

Dotticure with UberChic 1-03
A England Ascalon and Camelot

 

 

A England Ascalon