Deck The Halls!

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Merry Christmas one and all (and Happy Holidays to those who aren't celebrating Christmas)!

I did kind of phone it in this year, I'd seen this manicure idea (I really MUST get my act together and start taking note of where I see things because I always feel bad not giving credit where it's due) but it was a lot more intricate. I simplified it due to time constraints. I like the overall effect though!


NYC 298 "High Line Green", NYC 226 "Madison Avenue", Claire's Accessories 66953 "Festive Fun", No. 7 "Sun Rays".

This was also the first time I've sponged on glitter polish to get a better coverage without layers and layers of polish. It took a while (first time?) but I was pleased with the technique and shorter drying time!

What nail goodies did everyone get for Christmas? I was spoiled with some Nails Inc (including the Kensington Caviar Gel Effect Plumping top coat that I've been too tight to buy for ages!) and an Avon kit of magnetic polishes and "wands" to use with them. Expect reviews in 2014!

"Home-Made Crackle"

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Sorry for the clutch of posts tonight...Just trying to catch up, last one tonight, I promise! :)

Grafitti and Crackle polishes are some of my favourites at the moment, so I decided to experiment with a "dry brushing" technique I've seen a lot lately, taking 95% of the polish off the brush to be able to daub polish on with a streaky effect. I did this with a few different shades (I went for a blue palette over silver-grey), and topped off with an irridescent glitter to tie it all together. I'm really happy with the finished results!

 
OPI - Fort Worth It, Barry M - Pure Turquoise, Nails Inc - Connaught Square, The Serpentine, No. 7 - Twinkle Glitter (2013 Christmas Ltd. Ed).
 

Firework Crackle

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This is one of my favourite manis I've ever done. And since I did it, I've tidied up and put the rainbow glitter polish away, and can't remember what it is. :S I think it was just a regular old rainbow glitter from Superdrug though.

I painted my nails plain black, then applied the silver crackle. Once that had done it's thing and dried, I went over my nails with a dotting tool, filling in the largest cracks with glitter polish. DEFINITELY one I will do again with different colours, I loved it! So many people commented on it (I work in retail, so lots of people see my nails at close quarters every day!), and wanted to know how I got the crackle to crack in all the right places, haha!




Barry M - Black, OPI - Silver Shatter, Unknown Rainbow Glitter.

Grey Glitter Ombre

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OPI - I Don't Give A Rotterdam!, Nails Inc - Sloane Square (v. thin coat), OPI - Save Me.

Halloween 2013

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I wasn't sure quite what to do with my nails for Halloween! Then I found some Andrea Fulerton nail stickers in my box of tricks, and decided to go a bit gothic...
 
 

Barry M - 47 Black, Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique "Crosses" nail tattoos, OPI - Silver Shatter, Nails Inc - Trafalgar Square.

Rainbow Ruffles

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I have to admit, I did see a similar design to this online and I can't remember where. So, if it was you (there was more pink in the design) please comment and claim your credit!

The colours are *deep breath...* Background blue: Barry M 287, Red: NYC (lost the bottle, can't think of the code :S), Orange: Nails Inc, Draycott Place, Yellow: Nails Inc, Carnaby St, Green: NYC 28 High Line Green, Blue: Barry M 25 Pure Turquoise, Indigo: Nails Inc, Hanover Square, Violet: Belgrave Place, Glitter topcoat: Xtras 4 Mix White.
 
I used a dotting tool to create the "ruffles", making lines of dots in each colour. Pretty easy, took about 45mins, though I didn't leave each colour to dry for long enough, hence some running together a bit. :S

Smurfing Hell...

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I don't normally write bad reviews here, generally because I tend to try and only use awesome products, so I'm sorry if this is oddly negative for me.

I've been curious about "Suede Effect" polish for a long time. I don't usually like textured polish and I was wary of spending Nails Inc prices to try it, so when I spotted some "W7" polish in my local Xtras for £2.99 I decided to give it a try, in Aqua.

I was actually quite impressed at first, nice coverage, and it seemed to last pretty well considering there was no top coat...Though the only photograph I have of it on is the pic I took to show the first chipping three days after I put it on.

I liked the colour, the effect was pretty good, not so suedey, more like matte polish but with shimmer? Anyway, I did like it.
 
DID.
 
Then, I tried to take it off. I'm only grateful that I tried to remove it a couple of days before we went away on holiday, and not the night before like I usually do, to re-do my nails for my trip.
 
After 30 MINUTES and half a bottle of nail polish remover (no word of a lie), this is what I ended up with.
 
 
 
 
 
The pictures really don't do it justice. My fingers are still blue. It won't come off. This is completely ridiculous. I have removed polishes of every different colour and NEVER had one this bad...It won't come off even after soaking my fingers in remover (so now my fingers are dry AND blue).
 
Safe to say I will NOT be buying cheap sh!t polish again any time soon!!