PAA’S Monday Nail Art Challenges – Animal, Splatter and Layer

I’m a bit behind on updating my entries for PAA'S Monday Nail Art Challenge, not that I haven’t been doing them, I have… I’ve just gotten behind on my photo editing.  I had to replace my laptop recently and one of the main problems with my old one was that I couldn’t edit more than one or two photos before laptop came to a halt.  It was very frustrating… but now I have an awesome new machine and am back in action!

Three weeks ago the theme was Animal, which meant you could do anything that had to do with animals. Animal prints, animal nail art, whatever…  I had seen this post by Grace from Oooh, Shinies! about a snow leopard mani, and I was in love. I knew this was what I wanted to do for my animal theme!


Products used:
Essence Nail Art Protecting Base Coat
Essence 50’s Girls Reloaded Ahoy (White)
Konad Black Stamping Polish
Konad Plate M57
Essence Silver Stampy Polish (Silver spots)
Seche Vite Topcoat

Last week the theme was Splatter… boy, what a challenge that turned out to be.  The way splatter is meant to be done is to take a thin straw and dip it into a blob of polish so that it covers the opening at the end of the straw, then you blow through the other end, causing the polish to splatter onto the nail.   Well, easier said than done!  The straws I bought were far too wide and wouldn’t work, so I tried disassembling a pen and using the narrow opening where the tip of the pen sticks out to pick up the polish and blowing on the other end.  By the time I got that far, all the blowing was giving me a headache, so I went for the hand drawn, fake splatter look instead.


This is done by putting a drop of paint on your finger and dragging it out with a toothpick or fine dotting tool.  I had a lot of fun doing this!

Products used:
Essence Nail Art Protecting Base Coat
Essence Multi Dimension XXXL Shine Fatal (Black)
Essence Multi Dimension XXXL Shine Found My Love (Light Purple)
Catrice Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy! (Green)
Essence Colour & Go Let’s Get Lost  (Blue)
OPI  Planks a Lot (Dark Purple) & Sparrow Me The Drama (Pink) from the Pirates of the Caribbean Collection
China Glaze Fairy Dust (Glitter topcoat)
Seche Vite Topcoat

The theme for today was Layering, which is a little vague but I gather it just meant anything to do with layering one polish on top of another.  Unfortunately, I have an appointment tomorrow that I don’t think would be appropriate for really flashy polish so I chose to just stick a fake nail on my practice finger and do my idea on there.  It still counts!


Products Used:
Essence Nail Art Twins Thelma (Base coat, looks black but is really a dark purple)
Essence Nail Art Twins Troy (Glitter)
Pink Nail Striping Tape
Seche Vite Topcoat

I decided that instead of layering the entire nail I would do part, and try something different.  I got a package in the mail today with some items I ordered a few weeks ago from Born Pretty, which is a great shop in China where you can buy lots of nail items for seriously cheap prices.  Oh, and the best part?  FREE SHIPPING – WORLDWIDE!

I wanted to use one of my new products so I thought it’d be nice to border the two separate sections with some of the striping tape, so I could test it out.  I got 12 colors for only $7.99 (5,50 euro) which I’m pretty sure is enough to last me a lifetime!  You get a lot on those little rolls, it’s really surprising.
 
Be prepared, I see a striping tape frenzy in my future!

If you would like to get in on the Facebook nail group action, shoot me a message on Facebook and I’ll see about getting you an invite!

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London’s Weather Forecast

The weather here in the Netherlands has been rather dreary for the last while, and last week my husband deserted me for a few days in London… so it wasn’t hard to find motivation for my latest manicure.

My rainy day manicure… perfect for the dark and depressing weather we’ve had over the last while, and suiting to my mood of late.  Not sure why but I’ve been in a bit of a funk the last few days. I blame lack of real sunshine.

The base I used was London’s Weather Forecast by Catrice.  It was easy to apply and looked quite nice after two coats. It was the perfect texture and didn’t make me feel like the paint was working against me.  I love when the application goes smoothly. No matter what the color is, if I don’t like putting it on I’m not going to continue to use it.

I used one of the french tip designs on Konad plate m45.  I could say that doing it diagonally was my original idea but it only came to be after I flubbed up the first try.  It went totally crooked and I stopped, looked at it and thought “Hrmm, I kinda like it!”, so I continued on doing the rest crooked as well.   I guess I’ll practice getting it straight next time!

I never thought I’d actually like grey on my nails but I do! I can’t deny that I’m looking forward to the sun coming back though, it will help get me in the mood for some bright and cheery manicures!
I also used Seche Vite base and top coats and I have to say the more I use these products the more enamored I become with them.  My nails have never been as smooth and shiney, or as quick drying, as they are with the Seche Vite top coat.  Love it beyond words!

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I’m Sorry Essence, Can We Be Friends Again?

Stop the world, I wanna get off!!  I am so incredibly confused right now.
Remember my rant about stamping not working?
Then how I got a Konad set for my birthday?
… and how excited I got when the Konad stamping worked?
Well today I saw this post over at Mirannie’s Nails and once again I was wondering why other people seem to get the Essence set to work and I don’t.  So I was on a mission.  I was going to try every combination of Essence / Konad paint, plates and stamps until I narrowed down the culprit.  I wanted to know what exactly was making it not work for me!

Above: Essence plate with Konad paint and stamp.
I tried the Konad paint and stamp with the Essence plate – IT WORKED!
I tried the Essence paint and Plate with the Konad stamp – IT WORKED!
I tried the Essence paint and stamp with the ESSENCE plate – WTF IS GOING ON?! IT WORKED!!

Above: Essence plate, paint and stamper. ALL Essence and it worked!! *Bewildered*
I think the world is playing an evil trick on me. How can this be?!  I spent weeks, no that is not an exaggeration, literally WEEKS and multiple bottles of polish trying to get the Essence set to work with the most meager of results.  Before I couldn’t even get the stamp to pick up the paint!
THEN I get the Konad set and it works so I’m convinced, ok that’s it… the Essence Stampy Set just sucks balls.
THEN I try the Essence set again, just for shits and giggles, and it works?!!
*Smacks forehead against table repeatedly*
I just do not get it…
I’m not complaining, I just don’t get it.  I’m happy that I may be able to use some of the Essence designs now but I DO NOT GET IT! hahaha
Oh Essence, I’m so sorry! I’ve spoken so badly about you but here is solid proof that you do work!
Why though?  Why have you been so stubborn for me and why do you decide to work now when you never did before?? 
I am so completely and utterly stumped by this.

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I Can Stamp! I Can Stamp!

PTOEY! *Spits* Suck it, Essence Stampy Set!  I got me some Konad now and I’m never turning back!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!
I stamped, I actually STAMPED!
If you are new here and are wondering what all the fuss is about, stamping has been a bit of an issue for me.  The first stamping set I got was from Essence and I tried a million times but could not get the full nail designs to work.  The smaller ones were OKAY but the full nail? Not a chance…
But it wasn’t just me! I mean, it wasn’t just that I totally suck at it!  When I got out my new Konad Set that my husband got me for my birthday, it instantly worked.  It was so easy… oh I’d have so much more hair left if I’d just gotten Konad from the start!

I used Finger Paints Art Dealer Teal-er as a base with the Konad black special polish.  The design is from plate m51 and it’s so pretty.  I’m in love with this! 
Now, of course, I want every stamping plate there is.  Uhh, except for any more Essence plates, I mean. 

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My Nails Are 36 Years Old Today!

Today is my birthday and boy oh boy do my peeps know what I like!  Especially my husband!  He really threw me for a loop today as he got me the absolute best present I could have ever asked for.  Not only is it something I love, but it’s not something I’d hinted at or even put on a list… just something that he heard me talking about, made a point of remember and got for me!
Here, I’ll give you a hint!

When I unwrapped it I … well I was silent for a few seconds because I was in shock.  Then I squealed!!  I can’t believe he remembered this!  I have the best husband ever.  I know I’ve said that before, but I’ll say it another million times before our time together is through.
Remember my stamping frustration?  I can’t wait to see if this makes a difference!

Doesn’t it look beautiful on the inside? So luxurious and pretty!  My preciouuuussss!!!  Wait… what is that thing in the bottom corner??

What the heck is this?  It was in the box but I don’t know what it is.  Is it meant to be there? Does it serve some sort of purpose?  Oh what a mystery!  Does anyone know?
I’m not sure it is supposed to be there, but I know these things are!


You can see a list if what was included here under Konad Classic Collection II.  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!
My parents sent me a box from Canada, which had some beautiful jewelry, a new watch, and a few other things, including these bottles:

(L-R) Avon SpeedDry+ Mink Vison (why do I feel like this should be vision? It says vison on both the bottle and box though!), Avon SpeedDry+ Red Wine, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Hot Magenta, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Purple Potion, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Merlot.
I’m so chuffed that she sent me some reds because the only one I had was from 2True which I’m really not a big fan of.  I also didn’t have any browns so that makes for a nice change!  Oh, and a girl can never have enough purple and pink!
They also got me this, which I totally forgot to get a photo of so I swiped one from the internet.

A white Sally Hansen nail art pen!  I can’t wait to try that out either!  Although if I like it my mother will wish she hadn’t gotten it for me because I’ll be bugging her to send me one in every color!  They are lightweight though so shipping shouldn’t be too terrible.
Oh, but that’s not all!  I also got polish from my BFF who brought it all the way back from California, where she spent three weeks last month on holiday!  If you are an expat and have ever travel overseas you know how precious luggage space is coming home.  So you will understand how grateful I am for her bringing them home for me!

(L-R) WetnWild Fast Dry Teal of Fortune, Finger Paints Art Dealer Teal-er, Finger Paints Be A Pal-Ette, Finger Paints Wine At The Gallery, Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, Seche Vite Crystal Clear Base Coat.
SWWEEEEEEET!  These are all brands I’ve seen on people’s blogs but have never seen in the shops here.  I have seen (and lusted after) the Seche Vite products on a website here in NL so I was super chuffed when I opened the package and saw that in there!
Oh wait, but that’s not all! There was also another polish surprise! 

My new friend Kati (she has no blog to link to, boo hoo!) sent me this bottle of WetnWild Wild Card.  We had just met a few weeks ago but we both have been bitten by the polish bug.  Her a lot sooner than me so she has a much larger collection.  When she heard it was my birthday this weekend she asked for my address to send a card, and then the sneaky sneaker sent a bottle of polish along too!  What a pretty one as well, I think I’m going to like this polish! Wasn’t that sweet of her?!
So my day was fantastic, I got some lovely gifts (which included all these bottles of polish!), hubby and I spent 1.5 hours at the dog park with the dogs this morning, went out to do a bit of shopping, spent some time in the sun, got a bunch of phone calls from family members and he made the most beautiful dinner.  Now it’s almost time for bed and it’s hard to believe that another birthday has pretty much come and gone.  My parents weren’t kidding when they said the older you get the faster the time goes! 
Now, I have a dilemma!  My nails have been naked all day because I’m so overjoyed and overwhelmed with all this new polish that I can’t decide which I’m going to use first!  I think this is what my husband calls a ‘luxury problem’!!!
I know one thing, whatever color it is I choose, it’s darn well going to have a stamp on it!

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