I Miss My Grammy.

Day 110

Hey all, Grammys tonight!!! In honor, thought I'd do Grammy-themed nails. :-D



I used OPI Alpine Snow Matte as a base for all nails with OPI for Sephora What's a Tire Jack? Matte for the musical notes. For the grammy, I used a mix of Zoya Angelina and Nubar Milk Chocolate Creme for the base, China Glaze 2030 from Khrome Collection for the metal part of the grammy, with Zoya Angelina and China Glaze White on White to shade and highlight the metal.Two coats of Seche Vite top coat to top everything off.

Who do you want to win tonight?

Revlon Sheer Sugar & Konad M39

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I just have my Nails of the Day for you, which is Revlon Sheer Sugar with a butterfly pattern form Konad plate M39 stamped in Konad Pastel Blue Special Nail Polish.

It's two coats of Sheer Sugar, an old on I bought at a closeout store in recent days. It's not streaky and provides good coverage while remaining sheer, so I'm pleased with it.

Revlon Sheer Sugar Nail Polish, Two Coats & Konad M39 in Konad Pastel Blue

That's it for today, Dear Reader. Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

The Results Are In...

I was seriously surprised with the amount of entries I got- so many of you did the limit of 5!! I absolutely loved seeing everyone's interpretations of the designs from this site, and plan on updating this post with some of the entries when I'm not in a rush like I am today... :-/ (check back tomorrow probably!!)

Ok, on to the winners, which were picked by a random number generator from all the submissions!

Prize #1 goes to: Krista, this was the design that she submitted:



Prize #2 goes to Susan Holak, this is the design that she submitted:



Prize #3 goes to Bonnie Yang, this is her submission:



So, a big fat thank you to all of you that entered the contest- your designs were charming, fun, and well-executed!! I'm so glad to have such awesome readers!!!

And to those that entered, but didn't win, not to worry- I'll come up with another giveaway soon! :)

-Melissa


All the entries- alphabetically (CLICK TO ENLARGE):

It's in My Jeans...

Day 109

Ok, so in theory, these nails are fun and cool and shit, in practice, and let me tell you I PRACTICED, they didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. The process was to paint the nail the dark blue and when it was almost dry, press a piece of jean material onto the paint to leave an indentation that I would later paint with a lighter blue... like jeans? Not so much. lol every time I pressed the jean into the paint, it smeared, and I'd have to repaint the nail and start the process over. ARGH! :-P Anyway, I wasn't about to give up... and finally managed to get all 10 nails done, and mind you, they're not perfect, but I tried...thats what counts, right?!



I used Charlotte Russe nail polish in Rocker as a base, with the jeans pressed into it, and Essie Sag Harbor brushed with dry brush against the grooves from the jean. For the copper rivets, I used Urban Vibe nail polish in Charged from Wet Seal, for the seams, I used China Glaze Liquid Leather, and Diamond Cosmetics #319 Lemon Yellow Zest
for the stitching. For the Levi's tag, I used China Glaze Salsa with China Glaze White on White for the lettering.

Hope you like? :-P

Sephora by OPI Modern Flowers Collection

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I have swatches of Sephora by OPI's Modern Flowers Collection. I've previously been a big fan of the Sephora by OPI formula, but these weren't as nice as my others, and all took three coats. They still applied pretty well, they just needed an extra coat and don't seem as pigmented. The pictures are under artificial light, all with a base coat, none with a top coat.

Go with the Flow-er is a slightly orange-y bright pink with big bits of shimmer.

Sephora by OPI Go with the Flow-er Nail Polish, Three Coats

It's Bouquet with Me is a clear base with purple, silver, and holo glitter. Even at three coats, it doesn't provide coverage, so it'll be one for layering.

Sephora by OPI It's Bouquet with Me Nail Polish, Three Coats

Handpicked for Me is a pale lilac pink with a strong shimmer. It's a very delicate color, and I like it.

Sephora by OPI Handpicked for Me Nail Polish, Three Coats

Cover Me in Petals is a red orange creme.

Sephora by OPI Cover Me in Petals Nail Polish, Three Coats

Iris I was Thinner is a contender for the worst nail polish name ever, being both politically and grammatically incorrect. It's a pale purple creme.

Sephora by OPI Iris I was Thinner Nail Polish, Three Coats

Leaf Him at the Altar is my favorite of the collection, a dark leaf green with a strong shimmer that dries to an almost foil finish.

Sephora by OPI Leaf Him at the Altar Nail Polish, Three Coats

That's Sephora by OPI's Modern Flowers Collection, and all I have for you right now. Until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

Crimi-Nails.

Day 108

Something tells me I need to lay off the NCIS marathons... and CSI... and Criminal Minds... and... well you get the idea. I'm a crime show junkie. Today's nails are my simplest yet I think, but they're definitely one of my favorites. :-P



I used Sally Hansen All the White Stuff as a base, with a mix of Zoya Dakota, Zoya Angelina, and China Glaze Salsa to get a blood color.

All I did to get this look is dab my fingertip in the red paints, blot on paper til I saw clear prints, then press my fingertip on the white nail. :-P Easy crime scene. :-D

China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Aahz Comparisons

Good morning, Dear Reader!

This morning I ran into a couple of polishes I've been hunting for, which I wanted for the purpose of this comparison post. I have the original China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Aahz C-C-Courage and Ruby Pumps, so I thought we could look at them as compared to the 2009 China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Aahz Returns rerelease. I believe the original release was in 2002, but am open to correction on that.

I recently downsized my stash significantly, and am hoping that somewhere in the box of special polishes I haven't gone through yet that I have the original Cowardly Lyin' and Dorothy Who? (with the question mark being part of the name, not mine!). I showed you the original DW a while back, but after I used it and took pictures to prove it, I passed it on to a friend. Shortly after, another friend sent me a fresh bottle of the original DW, so I hope I have it somewhere...

It worked out well to only do two colors today anyhow - I have ten pictures for you, which probably makes the load time of this page a century. Sorry about that! I took the pictures under strong artificial light, weak natural light (I checked the 10-day forecast first, and clouds are all I see), and regular room lightbulb light to show the differences between the releases. I also took pictures of a full manicure under artificial light of each, with the artificial light used being one that's supposed to emulate natural light. For all pictures, the polish is with a base and top coat and dry. I used Seche Vite over all but 2009 C-C-Courage, which is my NOTD, and for that I used Diamont.

Let's start with Ruby Pumps. I was bought this 2009 relelease full set, despite owning a zillion Ruby Pumps from other sets, for the purpose of this comparison. These are close, but the original is indeed different than the 2009 version. Here is the original Ruby Pumps, three coats , and all pictures of both versions are three coats to be consistent.

China Glaze Ruby Pumps Nail Polish, Original Release, Three Coats

As soon as I started using it, I noticed what the comparison pictures show: the original is a bit darker, more opaque, and has different glitter. Here's the manicure with the 2009 release to see.

China Glaze Ruby Pumps Nail Polish, 2009 Release, Three Coats

Here are the comparison pictures. The photos are labelled, but just to be clear, the middle and pinky are the original, the index and ring are the 2009 rerelease.

Here is the strong artificial light comparison:

China Glaze Ruby Pumps Nail Polish Comparison, Three Coats, Artificial Light

This is light bulb room light:

China Glaze Ruby Pumps Nail Polish Comparison, Three Coats, Room Light

This is weak natural light:

China Glaze Ruby Pumps Nail Polish Comparison, Three Coats, Natural Light

The difference is small, but I still see it, and I prefer the original.

On to C-C-Courage. Here, the difference is not so subtle. The finish, glitter, and base color are all different between the two releases. Here is the original C-C-Courage, and it only needed two coats, so all pictures of C-C-Courage have two coats to be consistent.

China Glaze C-C-Courage Nail Polish, Original Release, Two Coats

The Seche Vite wrinkled a couple of nails on this one, but you can see the giant glitter and the super pale color relative to the one below, as well as some difference in finish. For comparison, here's the 2009 version, the only difference in application being that I used Diamont rather than SV.

China Glaze C-C-Courage Nail Polish, 2009 Release, Two Coats

Now for the side-by-side comparisons. Again, middle and pinky are original and index and ring are the 2009 version. First up is artificial light.

China Glaze C-C-Courage Nail Polish Comparison, Two Coats, Artificial Light

This is light bulb room light:

China Glaze C-C-Courage Nail Polish Comparison, Two Coats, Room Light

This is weak natural light:

China Glaze C-C-Courage Nail Polish Comparison, Two Coats, Natural Light

This is what I hope is Part I of China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Aahz versus Wizard of Ooh Aahz Returns 2009. The both look pretty different to me.

That's what I have for you now, Dear Reader. Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Below the Waves Their Voice is Song, Above the Waves It Sounds So Wrong!

Day 107

No more nerd nails!! (at least for a while) I'm sure some of you are relieved!! :-P I guess this post COULD be considered nerdy, if not only the title, since it's a Harry Potter reference to the merpeople. Anyway... Ever since I bought Hard Candy Break Up, I've totally thought it looked like fish scales, so naturally, last night, when I decided to do a mermaid theme, I HAD to use it, and I have to say, even though there's only a bit here and there, it looks like the light is reflecting off of the scales!



I used:

Thumb:

Sally Hansen Envy Frost (got at Dollar Tree- can't find a link to purchase any online!!) :( as a base, with Hard Candy Break Up over it, http://www.artofbeauty.com/scrpt/scr.dll/Item?Item=1869&brand=2&d=Zoya_Nail_Polish_|_Suvi applied with Konad Plate m57 for the scale lines, Urban Outfitters Matte Nude 3 for the belly, and Zoya Dea for the belly button. Zoya Envy was used for the waist. :)

Index:

Sally Hansen Funky Frost (another Dollar Tree purchase- and no online link to be found) as a base, Hard Candy Break Up over it, then with Sinful Colors What's Your Name sponged on the tips and a bit on the sides. For the scales, I used China Glaze DV8 applied with Konad Plate m57. Next, I used Urban Outfitters Matte Nude 3 for the belly, Zoya Dea for the belly button, and China Glaze Metallic Muse for the waist, which was also outlined with China Glaze Liquid Leather.

Middle:

Zoya Juno as a base with Zoya Savita matte sponged on the tip and sides, and Hard Candy Break Up on top of that. For the scales, I applied Zoya Pippa with Konad Plate m57. Next, I used Urban Outfitters Matte Nude 3 for the belly, Zoya Dea for the belly button, and OPI Parlez Vous OPI? for the waist, outlined in China Glaze Liquid Leather.

Ring:

MAC Phosphor as a base, with Urban Outfitters Orange 2 sponged on the tip and sides, and Hard Candy Break Up over that. For the scales, I mixed China Glaze Salsa and Urban Outfitters Orange 2 on Konad Plate m57. Next, I used Urban Outfitters Matte Nude 3 for the belly, Zoya Dea for the belly button, and Urban Outfitters Orange 2 outlined in China Glaze Salsa for the waist.

Pinky:

Zoya Jo as a base, with American Apparel Mount Royal sponged on the tip and sides, and Hard Candy Break Up over that. Next, I used Urban Outfitters Matte Nude 3 for the belly, Zoya Dea for the belly button, for the scales, I used China Glaze Millennium applied with Konad Plate m57, then used American Apparel Mount Royal for the waist, with China Glaze Liquid Leather for the lines.

Everything was topped off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat. :)

Orly Snowcone, China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint, and 3D

Good evening, Dear Reader!

I got some new 3D nail art molds from Trans Design this week, and thought I'd show you the fun I've been having with them. I know not everyone's a fan of the 3D nail art, so for base colors, I used two new shades so there might be redeeming value for those of you who don't care about the acrylic art.

The first, Orly Snowcone, a light blue creme, was a sample sent to me by Orly. It applied well, was easy to control, and was opaque and even in two coats. This is Snowcone alone in sunlight.

Orly Snowcone Nail Polish, Two Coats

I chose this as a base for my most challenging acrylic mold: a cameo. The mold had three sizes, and I used the middle. I would have preferred the smallest, but the detail work on this one was challenging. The trick with the multi-colored molds is that you have to visualized to 3D image, and essentially work backwards to build the piece. I started with pure white for the hair adornment and earring (which totally doesn't show, I should have used blue to make it a sapphire), then a deep pink for the roses at the neckline, a pastel pink for the face, and of course, I gave it red hair. I've had a soft spot for cameos since I was a kid, so I'm in love with this mold. It's just very difficult to execute.

Orly Snowcone Nail Polish, Two Coats with 3D Nail Art 1

Here's more how it looked wandering around.

Orly Snowcone Nail Polish, Two Coats with 3D Nail Art 2

What I found less than satisfactory about it was how thick the last coat of top coat made it appear. I took a different approach with the next one.

For a base, I used China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint. I like the color, but my experience is that all of the Up & Away colors I've tried has been they're very thick and hard to work with. It took two coats to be opaque and even. Here's Re-Fresh Mint alone.

China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint, Two Coats

To it, I added red roses and leaves. In finishing this one, I just added top coat to the acrylic pieces, not to the entire nail. I'll see how well they stay on. The cameo one survived hair-washing, so they stay on pretty well! The light faded for the picture with the roses, and the picture of Re-Fresh Mint alone is color accurate on my monitor, this one is less so. Since the point of this picture is to show you the roses, I thought you'd forgive me.

China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint, Two Coats with 3D Nail Art

As I said, I know not everyone's a fan of the 3D nail art. However, after doing my own nails for over 25 years, having something new to add is fun. Next on the list is using an airbrush I have, but I have to get a holder for the templates made first - as it is now, I would need a third hand to use it. I only have the two.

So that's all for today, Dear Reader. Until tomorrow, love and nail polish to you!

Nfu Oh 51

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I'f mentioned recently that I had more Nfu Ohs to show you, and today I have Nfu Oh 51. I think I've shown this to you before, but it's a polish so nice we'll look at it twice.

The base color of Nfu Oh 51 is a duochrome-y purple jelly, and it's full of flaky glitter. On its own its quite sheer, requiring many coats to have depth, and I didn't have the patience for that so I layered it over a black shimmer. For the base color, I used two coats of the Revlon Dark Pleasures black shimmer nail polish, Black Patent or Patent Leather or something like that. A black shimmer, in any case. Then I added one coat of Nfu Oh 51 to it, loaded it up with top coat, and let it dry. It's completely dry in the pictures.

I had the rare moment of sun this morning, so I used it. I have two pictures for you, one in direct sun and one in indirect natural light, since duochromes have a different look in different light. With just one coat of Nfu Oh 51, the duochrome effect is not that dramatic. It would have been more so with a second coat, but flaky glitters can be a hassle to remove and one coat was sufficient, so I stopped there.

Here it is in the sun.

Nfu Oh 51 Nail Polish, One Coat over Two Coats Black Shimmer in Direct Sunlight

And in indirect sunlight.

Nfu Oh 51 Nail Polish, One Coat over Two Coats Black Shimmer in Indirect Sunlight

Clicking on the pictures will show you more detail of the color and flaky glitter.

That's what I have for you for now, Dear Reader. Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Purple Pizzazz

Good evening, Dear Reader!

I thought I'd end a long day by showing you my Nails of the Day, which has been Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Purple Pizzazz.

This is a cool jelly purple with small flaky glitter that is dang near impossible to photograph. I've worn it a couple of times, but haven't shown it to you because I couldn't get a decent picture. I finally stumbled upon the right light today, so here she is.

This is three coats of Purple Pizzazz. Click on the picture for a better view of the glitter and jelly finish.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Purple Pizzazz Nail Polish, Three Coats

That's all I have for you today, Dear Reader. It seems something new and exciting is around the bend next month, but I'll fill you in on that another time.

Until tomorrow, love and nail polish to you!

All Systems Go!

Day 106

Another Apple-inspired mani today- this one is for you old school Mac enthusiasts! (Yes, I know that it's the Finder icon, too, but it was originally the MAC OS logo... 8.1 baby!!) Yay for iPad!! :)



I used Essie Sag Harbor as a base, which I got on clearance at Ulta for $3, and I'm loving it, I think it'll get used lots in the future, it's just such a pretty color!!! For the other half of the logo, I used China Glaze Secret Peri-wink-le, for the black lines, I used China Glaze Liquid Leather and for the dark blue lines, I used American Apparel Mount Royal, which is a perfect darker version of China Glaze Secret Peri-wink-le. :-P I topped it off with two coats of Seche Vite top coat to get that new computer shine? :-P

Are you excited about the new iPad? Awesometacular.

Pasadena Purple Konadicures

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I just went through the pictures I haven't shown you yet, and I found two Konadicures with Nubar Pasadena Purple that were recent post-swatching manicures that I thought I'd give you a look at. One turned out far better than the other.

The weaker one is two coats of Pasadena Purple with the daisy pattern from Konad plate M41 stamped on my tips in Konad Psyche Pink. The fact is that without bright light, the Konad doesn't show up at all. Lesson learned - Psyche Pink over purple is good in theory, not in practice.

Konadicure with Nubar Pasadena Purple Nail Polish, Two Coats, and Konad M41 in Konad Psyche Pink Special Nail Polish

The second, I liked a lot. I used a small floral pattern from Konad plate M35 to stamp a pattern at the side and cuticle using Konad White. The Konad is far more visible on this one, and that's how I like it.

Konadicure with Nubar Pasadena Purple Nail Polish, Two Coats, and Konad M35 in Konad White Nail Polish

That's what I have for you today, Dear Reader. Until next time, love and nail polish to you!