Simples: Scattered Fall Foiled Abstract Nail Art

Hey stamperistas,

  Press Sample

Purchased by Me

How is everyone?  It was a quiet weekend!  I was in a lot of pain thanks to the hurricane that is battering the east coast currently.  The rain makes my legs & chest ache in ways that make it difficult for me to do more than cower in bed with ice and NSAIDs unfortunately.  However I did have time to create a few cute looks that were more fall inspired.  Generally I love the fall.  For me fall means it's time for rich golds and bold color choices.  There's so much I want to do but I know I don't have the stamina to do everything so I decided I'm definitely going to be sharing more of my nail art but not necessarily creating tutorials for everything I create.  This is something I talked about a few posts back especially for the more simple nail art I create unless its requested.  This nail art came about because I really wanted to break out my rich gold polishes that were shimmering as well as some of my Orly Satin Hues.

Super Girly Neon Geometric Nail Art + Tutorial!

Hey lacqueristas,

Purchased by Me

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!  You guys know generally I don't follow the rules if I did I would never create the things I love when I love them.  What do I mean by that? Well the summer if over and the fall with its PSL drool inducing moments is upon us, BUT whatever.  Its still hot as hell in DC & I felt this neon pink polish calling to me.  Therefore I've got what may be one last hot and sizzling summer nail art before we start the switch up!

Magnetic Jeweled Stonework Nail Art + Tutorial

Hey lacqueristas,

Recently I've become obsessed with magnetic nail polishes mainly owing to the fact that when I was in the TJ Maxx the other day I found a bunch from Nails Inc for .99 cents on the polish rack.  I figured after seeing some of the amazing things The Swatchaholic and some Russian bloggers (yes in fact its always Russia - they must be putting something in the water over there) using the Masura magnetic polishes I had to take a shake at it.  I will admit I did not get the effect that they did I think due in part to the fact that I did not have a very strong magnet as they did, but the effect was so pretty I'm going to be trying LOTS more of these in the future +/- stamping!

Orly Colorblast Neons & Nudes QGirl Geometric Nail Art

Hey lacqueristas,

Its been a while since I've posted something neon right? Lol like 5 minutes maybe? Lol ok it hasn't been that long yeah, but when the neons are so juicy how can I possibly resist? Today I'm wearing some of my favorite neon polishes in my collection...the Orly Colorblast polishes I discovered a year ago.  These polishes are VERY VERY pigmented and as such very intense.  For those of you that are looking for alternatives to the Pipe Dream Polish Vegas Collection these may be a great alternative. That's also one reason I decided to create this nail art along with the fact that hello I love neons ;)

Christmas 2014: Merry Christmas!

Ho ho ho stamp champs,


Merry Christmas for those of you that celebrate and happy holidays to the rest!  I'm keeping in short and sweet today I just wanted to show off my Christmas Day nail art! Another complex one full of layerings upon layerings and loads of advanced stamping.  Not easy nor for the faint of heart but I'm loving how it turned out!

Sally Hansen Color Foil Abstract Nail Art

Happy Saturday lacqueristas,

I have some pretty yummy nail art for you today!  I was so excited when the Color Foils from Sally Hansen came out.  I knew they were going to be perfect for stamping and I couldn't wait to get them.  I hunted high and low and I found 6 of them.  I thought that was all of the colors until I discovered apparently there are a few more out there waiting to be snatched up.  Alas, but while I'm stalking I thought it might be nice to take a few of the ones I do have out for a spin.  Come along for the ride ;)

Mani-louge

Basecoat / Topcoat: Duri Rejuvacote and NYC Matte Me Crazy

Base color:  Orly Satin Hues Majestic Satin

Stamping polishes:  Sally Hansen Color Foil in Titanium Rush, Purple Alloy, and Minted Metal

Stamping plate: Dashica SdP 69

Accent: various 2mm studs and beads

One thing I always worry about when stamping with foils/chromes is that they will dry up very quickly when I scrape them over the plate.  This is definitely true for the Sally Hansen Insta Dri's - you have to move very fast with those.  However I have seen the Color Foils used in water marbling, generally you need a slow drying polish to make watermarbles work well the one exception being some holographic polishes, so I knew these would work well for stamping.  Not only did they leave time for placement but they were very opaque.  In short, I'm pretty happy with my stalker like pursuit and purchase of these polishes.  One thing I forgot to mention is there is no topcoat over these foils.  I didn't want to ruin the matte nature of the Satin Hue polish so the shine you see is totally from the polishes alone.

So what do you think? Anyone else using the Color Foils for stamping or nail art?  I have to admit I do not like foil finishes on my nails.  I feel like foils will show every flaw when used as a base, but I love to use them for stamping. And there we have it!  Btw I have added a new signature to the bottom of my posts now.  What do you think?  Thanks for reading and see you next post...

MoYou London 31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Day 15 Love

Happy Friday lacqueristas!

I'm both happy and bummed that the end of the week is here because it means a new rotation waaah but that's ok cause it's still Friday! Anyone have any exciting plans for the 3 day weekend?  I'm sleeping, doing laundry, and maybe the movies.  I realized I have gotten so far behind in these 31 nail art challenge posts.  I'm just too exhausted the last several days to create a mani, photograph, edit pictures, post to instagram and then do a blog post.  But I said that was going to happen didn't I lol.  Nevertheless I have put up a lot of posts this week including the new teaser photos from Pueen Cosmetics soon to be launching plate collection so go check it out!  Now onto Day 15 and oh lord love...

Mani-louge

Basecoat / Topcoat:  CND Stickey / Sally Hansen Diamond Flash

Gradient: Orly Satin Eloquence Satin Style and Satin Gala

Stamping polishes: Mundo de Unas #1, 2,  Color Club Hot Like Lava

Stamping plates: MoYou London Princess 10, Comic Collection 05, and Mother Nature 05

 
Hail the Comic Collection!  Totally underrated and underused IMO.  I say that knowing I myself am guilty of not taking advantage of these awesome plates.  Let's pause and talk about shoujo manga.  I don't know if you've realized it yet but I am clearly a otaku.  When it comes to tween-teenaged romance nothing beats shoujo which is basically comic books aimed at teenage girls about those doki doki heart fluttering moments when you work hard and achieve your love with the most popular guy in school and life is great...oy! Even though I've read a ton lol they just kill me.  Totally unrealistic and ridiculous, but that's the point of a good comic right?  So why am I talking about this instead of the art? Because I pulled Comic 05 with the sole intention of creating a lovey dovey mani themed around the shoujo genre.



So for the life of me I can't recall which holo I used for the accent polish here.  I'm sure it will come to me and I will update it later definitely an indie pink linear.  So thoughts ladies? I kind of wish I'd let the hearts play out along the edges instead of flowers but I'm still so pleased with this main.  Note the blush on kissing couples cheeks lol that was my special effect ;)  Anyway sorry to be running so far behind on these posts.  IRL I'm already at Day 23!!! Thanks for reading and see you next post...

MoYou London 31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Day 13 Childhood

Happy Sunday lacqueristas,

I don't have an AIS post today as likely I won't be able to get to it with the daily MoYou London challenge eating up a majority of my time these days.  Whine moan and complain right? Lol nope! I've pretty much hit my stride minus the post for day 14 because that one was a doozy, but otherwise I'm feeling good kinda floating through these challenges now.  Today I've got Day 13 nail art for you.  The theme was Childhood.  Ah the nostalgia ;)

Mani-louge

Basecoat/Topcoat: CND Stickey and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Topcoat

Base colors: Lilacquer Selkie, IMN Northern Lights in Silver, Orly Tennis Ball Neon, Ablaze, Hot Tropics, and Tropical Pop, Essie Shake Your $$$ Maker, Color Club Endless Summer

Stamping polish: Mundo de Unas #2

Stamping Plates: MoYou London Pro XL 04, Princess 09 and 10 

For this challenge I decided to create a mani with elements of things I loved as a child. And what I loved when I was a child was simple - Lisa Frank, Minnie Mouse, strawberries, anything bright colored, and stars.  I still love all of these things which is kind of surprising though I no longer collect Lisa Frank items.  When I think about it my mother always said I was her most difficult child - a picky eater, sickly, and finicky about everything.  Lol lord things have so not changed! I guess we are who we are from the moment we are born until we die and if we are lucky we learn enough to change some of our poorer bad habits ;)  



So how about you ladies are their things that you still love as a child that stuck with you as an adult?  Did you like the mani?  I think it was fun and bright!  I hope you liked my day 13 post and are enjoying the warm weather, if you have it, this weekend.   Thanks for reading and I'll see you next post...

MoYou London 31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Day 9 Superhero

Hey lacqueristas,

Something about man in a cape with a skintight suit really gets me going! What can I say I love comic books particularly of the Marvel genre.  I've been dying to do some nails for the latest Captain America which I have already seen and Spiderman which I haven't.  Alas this challenge is eating up all my free mani time.  In any case I was pumped for the day 9 challenge.  The theme was Superhero which allowed me to finally break out  my Comic Collection plates and play.

Mani-louge

Basecoat/Topcoat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Top Coat

Base colors: Wet N' Wild French Creme and Orly Satin Majestic Satin topped with IMN Northern Lights

Stamping polishes: Mundo de Unas #30, Konad Special Polish in Red, China Glaze Millennium

Stamping plates: MoYou London Comic Collection  03 & 05

I knew in advance I wanted to capture a panel per nail. Maybe a crime scene or a call for help or a spectacular fight.  You may recall several months ago when I attempted something similar with my World of Wars mani that I used to enter a prior MoYou contest.  I felt very frustrated then because the mani took me an incredibly long time to put together and I kept changing things until I felt I got it just right.  This time I knew I was going to have the scenes play out in red, yellow, blues and whites with a strong reliance on the decal method.



I really love how these turned out, but what do you think? One thing the scenic plates make me wish for is larger nails.  Lol it's so hard to cut the scenes down.  I had to do the same thing with the Birth of Venus mani to fit it on my nails and I consider myself to have pretty long and wide nail beds.  In any event I felt like the superhero challenge was relatively smooth sailing.  Thanks for reading and see you next post!

Neon Mickey Mouse MyOnline Shop Nail Art

Hey Stamperistas,

It's a Disney themed nail art day! All I can hear in my head is, "Hey Mickey you're so fine you're so fine you blow my mind!" I have been planning this mani since I bought the Jr Plates from MyOnline Shop (you can read about it here).   Plate 05 is wildly innovative and different from any plate I've seen that's themed around Mickey Mouse ever. If you remember it was also the first plate I used from the new collection for my one of my Valentine's Day mani's (here).  Today I did something a little brighter with a punch for spring. I hope you'll like it...

Mani-louge

Basecoat/Topcoat: CND Stickey / Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Base colors: L'Oreal A la Meringue, American Apparel Coney Island, Zoya Thandie, and Orly Neon Heat

Stamping polish: Mundo de Unas #2

Stamping plate: MyOnline Shop JR 05

It can basically be said that I am never far from my Orly Baked Collection these days in case you hadn't noticed.  I find myself wondering how I would have pulled off some of the exuberant mani's I've done lately without this collection.  The colors are so intense! Orly Neon Heat was a no brainer, but what you may not know is all the colors of the accent peace sign nails are from the Baked Collection as well except the blue and yellow.  Love love love these polish! What took me by surprise was Zoya Thandie.  This orange is so milky and bright.  The formulation is killer.  I love it when polishes play together like this! 

The Jr plates - fast becoming a dear place in my heart.  I have every single one of them released so far.  They are of superb quality and every time I pick one up a get inspired to create something.  I really hope you liked today's art. You can find the Jr plates here on MyOnline Shop.  They retail for $7.50 USD per plate, but if you buy a bundle they will cost $7 per plate.  Sorry its slowed down a little here.  I'm exhausted because of work.  I have so many backlogged mani's to share and a epic giveaway coming soon since I've hit a few milestones and I'm quickly approaching another ;)  Stay tuned and thanks for reading.  I'll see you next post...

Loja BBF Neon Abstract Nail Art

Hey lacqueristas

Spring is finally in the air here in DC.  Just enough that I am clamoring for warmer nights and the abilty to wear shorts and hoodies and of course break out ALL the NEONS.   Of course I'm breaking out my Loja BBF plates too! I know lots of ladies have a vested interest in seeing these little pretties stamp, especially after my review which can be seen here.  Now let's get onto the art!

I started out with a white base because I wanted my neons to look more neon, and once again I turned to my Orly Baked Collection (I love these polishes immensely).  I also decided to break out a nail art method that I saw on IG and wanted to replicated.  It's called distressed nail art or something like that.  And I used it to create this base (I apologize in advance I really could not find a great picture I took of these before I started stamping).

Mani-louge

Base color: Wet N' Wild A Blank Canvas

Distressed nails: Orly Baked Neon Heat, Ablaze, Tropical Pop, Hot Tropics, and Saturated

Stamping Polish: Konad Special Polish in Black

Stamping Plate; Loja BBF 08

Studs - Daily Charme

Once that was done then I simply choose the plate I wanted knowing it was going to be abstract clean and simple to let the back ground pop and abracadabra I got this final product!  What do you think? I'm inordinately pleased with how this little project came out.  The plate stamped cleanly and easily and everything ended up meshing extremely  well together.  I left one nail unstamped and added studs and oval shaped gold studs from Daily Charme to show off the distressing.

 Recently I was talking with a friend and new stamper about techniques etc etc and how several times on IG I have been accused of cheating to create my nail art.  But the thing is stamping is a skill despite what others may think.  I would consider myself to be an advanced user approaching master level, but I am still learning more and more everyday.  A lot of my nail art is loaded with what I started thinking of as "nested technique" - double stamping, advanced stamping, decal method, gradient stamping etc, and that's before I even discuss what I have done with the base for the nail art.  It's easy for outsiders to pick apart a work thinking stamping is easy or not understanding how something that looks relatively simple is actually, in fact, quite detailed.  Well what can I do but keep on stamping and enjoying my craft? Apologies for the rant it just boggles sometimes how one dimensional people can be.  Thanks so much for reading and I'll see you next post!

Orly Baked Chevrons & Studded Triangle Nail Art

Hey lacquer lovers,

I really am sick of winter! I know everyone is sick of it but I swear I am ready for summer.  I skipped the pastel season and went straight for the hardcore neons of summer.  Welcome a few beautiful and bold polishes from Orly's Baked Collection.  They are so hot they sizzle!

I kept the nail art fairly simple today.  Mainly because I was testing out these new Nail Art Stencils by Polish Me To Go (PMTG).  Basically they are like the Nail Vinyls I introduced 2 weeks ago here, but by a different indie maker.  I bought an iteration of nearly all of the various shapes, but I am hesistating about how to use a few so I will reserve judgment of these stencils until I can play with them a bit more.   Then I can give you a better sense over all.  The shape I chose to use for this nail art was the Bolt shape.  They are a bit like twisted chevrons only smoother around the edges and bit more curvy.  I can say I love these quite easily.

The colors I chose for this mani were Orly Tropical Pop, Neon Heat, Ablaze, and Liquid Vinyl.  My camera freaked.  These are mega mega neon especially Neon Heat and Tropical Pop.  The most impressive part about these polishes?  They were really well formulated.  No nasty streakiness like I've gotten before with neons just endless creamy application.  These were opaque in two coats.  I put a white no name polish underneath to really make the neon pop.  The triangles I freehanded and then added studs for extra appeal.



What do you think? I couldn't stop staring at my nails.  They were extremely bright lol almost alarmingly so.  Well I feel better about the coming warmth, but still I will heave a sigh of relief when the winter finally breaks.  You can get PMTG stencils here on the Big Cartel site.  I warn you now try not to look at all the pretty neon glow in the dark polishes.  I was sadly unsuccessful at such an endeavor ;)  Thanks so much for reading and see you next post!

New Years Nail Art Messy Mansion Style

Hiya lacquer ladies,

Yup I told yah more New Years nail art.  I just couldn't help myself and had so much fun creating these various looks to ring in the new year.  In all honesty this one and the next one I'll post were my two favorites!  This one I created using my new Messy Mansion plates is not your typical new years nail art.  There will be no counting down clocks or fireworks though I do own a plate like that from Julia instead I'm giving you my old school trademark glamour darlings.  I mean there's something to be said for the cutesy nails, but really we all know a little sparkle and shimmer are necessary to ring in the new year.  I also took this opportunity to take my new matte topcoat by NYC out for a spin but more on that later.

Mani-louge

Basecoat/Topcoat: TBA Basecoat / NYC Matte Me Crazy

Base color: Orly Liquid Vinyl and Dazzle

Stamping polish: Konad Special Polish in Black and Orly Dazzle

Stamping plate: Messy Mansion MM12

Accent: 2mm clear rhinestones

About NYC Matte Me Crazy, this is the first time I've every used a matte topcoat other than Essie.  I have to say I'm not horribly impressed with the mattifying ability of this topcoat.  It dries to a waxy finish (see above) and takes about 2-3 times longer to dry than Essie's Matte About You.  The plus is this topcoat is a bargain at $2 a pop if you desire a waxier finish and a time on your hands. 

So thoughts?  I actually very happy with the way this little mani turned out.  dripping chevrons on this plate make me so happy.  In fact everything about this plate makes me happy!  I have several more ideas in mind using the images on this plate.  Great job once again Julia.  So one last mani left in the New Years nail art cache.  Thanks for reading and see you next post!

New Year's Nail Art!

Happy New Year Lacquer Ladies,

Welcome to the 2014 on Lacquer Lockdown.  I actually did 3 different nail art manis for the New Year and then as is usual  didn't get a chance to post up even one until this late time slot, but they say better late than never!  I hope all my followers will be happy to keep tuning into my nail art looks for this year as well and that everyone had a great day to kick off the start of 2014! I tried to challenge myself this year by using a variety of my plates to create individual looks so each new year mani is created around a different brand of stamping plates.  First up MoYou London...

Mani-louge

Basecoat/Topcoat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Orly Black Vinyl,  Wet N' Wild A Blank Canvas, and INM Northern Lights in Silver

Stamping polish: Essie No Place Like Chrome and Konad Special Polish in Black

Stamping Plates: MoYou London Festive Collection 05

I wanted to do a tuxedo suit style nail art for dog years now!  I have no idea why I waited this long.  I will tell you though this was the trickiest image to stamp.  I tried over 4 times before I could get the placement and the complete image dead center the way I wanted with the coverage I wanted.  What a mess!  I'm still not entirely pleased with how that nail in particular turned out but practice makes perfect.  I added some black studs to the tuxedo to create a little 3D effect that I found fairly cute.

I love this plate and have to say this is another winner MoYou!  Right now I can say without a shred of embarrassment I have 36 plates on my wishlist just hanging out for the opportune moment to strike.  Ok maybe I'm a little embarrassed, but you guys haven't even seen my MoYou stash have you?  It's massive lolol.   In any case I have lots more nail art around the bend and of course another Plates I Love feature soon, as well as an awesome review of 2 new plates from the genius plate maker herself little miss Bunny Nails.  Thanks for reading and see you next post!

Plates I Love!: Messy Mansion Nail Art Edition (Pic Heavy)

Happy Friday Stamp Tramps ;)

Welcome to my new feature called - Plates I Love!  I will be featuring brands of stamping plates that I have tested out myself and can attest to the quality of and know for a fact that the creators are well...creative.  These will be two part features - in the first segment I'll talk about the brand and show you some fabulous nail art creation and in the 2nd I'll be interviewing the creator (click here for the interview).  I think it'll be kinda awesome to get personal insight into the process of their designs.  So let's start the show!

The first brand I'm featuring is Messy Mansion an Australian based company created by the wonderful Julia McGowan who I discovered through my AIS group!  I will always have a weak and sentimental place for Australia, a country I lived in for half a year while studying abroad, so of course when I heard of these plates I had to snag them up! Julia is seriously seriously seriously talented and to date has some of the most innovative plates I have EVER seen.  This is saying something for a lady who owns, no joke, hundreds and hundreds of stamping plates from all over the world (my inventory is coming soon).  Today I used several of her plates to create a special manicure to go along with this feature and I'll be showing you some of her other plates later as well.

Mani-louge

Basecoat/Topcoat: OPI Natural Nail Base Coat/Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

French tip bases: Orly Satin Hues Satin Joy and Satin Reflection

Overcoat: PolishedbyKPT Green Awakening

Accent: Liquid Sky Lacquer Solar Plum

Stamping polishes: Konad Special Polish in Black Gold

Stamping Plates: Messy Mansion MM20 and MM06

Blurred to capture holo and green flecks - the shade of it all!

Let's pause here for a moment so that I can show you some of the plates Julia created which started my fanatical obsession with her awesome products so below are a few of the plates Julia has created thus far...

The following are coming soon!

The 411:

Stalk Messy Mansion here 

Enrich your nail art soul and collection here or here

Plates are $7 AUD with $2.50 AUD shipping worldwide  
 

So now you know what's so hot about Mrs. McGowan aka Messy Mansion.  The images on her plates are massive as in they fit my wide and long nail beds like a dream and the engravings on these plates are genuinely some of the most fantastical and imaginative artistry I have seen come out of a stamping plate company.  In addition the quality and etching of the plates is flawless!  You will hear me utter not one word against this brand.  You will see me run falling screaming and tumbling to get my hands on a preorder for her plates, and try desperately to create nail art that is worthy of their beauty.  Yup full of hype today but every word I say is true and more!

 

Shade

A little about today's mani starting with Liquid Sky Lacquer Solar Plum because I don't want you to be an idiot like I was - it's a UV changing polish not a thermal which means unless you are sitting in a tanning bed or out in the direct sunlight this bad boy won't shift.  Don't be ridiculous like me and email the seller and then have her politely explain that a full spectrum lamp just won't cut the mustard.  Lol I love you Carolyn! I also used PolishedbyKPT to give the iridescent green effect you see over all of my nails except the accent and I really love how that turned out!

 Sun

So thoughts? I wonder if it was too much to show a mani and her plates together in one feature?  I could use so feedback so let me know what you think! Do you prefer to just see the plates and have me talk about the brand or to see nail art and then split from there with a separate post about the plates and the brand?

I realized after I did this mani that it has been entirely too long since I have done a bling mani! How is that even possible? I mean I used to live for the bling bling.  Lol well tis the season coming for all of that so hopefully I can get a bit in during these holiday months.  I totally adore this nail art.  It's completely over the top and impractical, but it's so shiny and pretty I can't stop staring.

Finally, I'm always for supporting creativity and ingenuity in the stamping and polish world.  I love all of my plates, but my indie ones have a special place in my heart for being unique and cool.   Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow for the interview with Julia.  I promise it will be worth your while and I'll see you next post!