ASBMF Challenge #11-Eggs and Chicks

I figured why not take it literally?  Maybe not the chicks.  I was a vegetarian for several years so I don't want to harm any animals but the egg part....maybe.  I originally wanted to coat several nails in an actual egg shell but those shells are really curved, even when you crack them.  They just don't lie flat at all.  I had to settle for small pieces of cracked egg shell.  That's right, real egg shells. 

I have used flocking before but found a different brand by Martha Stewart that has glitter mixed in.  Love glitter as many of you already know.  Really makes it look very chick-like.  And, very fluffy.

And, because I know you are all wondering since you plan on trying this out on your own nails, the shells do stay fixed firmly using only polish to adhere.  No top coat, that would only detract from the beauty of the natural shell.



This challenge was created by the lovely Hannah from Polished Prisms. You can check out the group's facebook page to see all the designs in one spot but please take the time to see what the other ladies have done along with their blogs here also...........

Jess from Nearly Natural Nails

Amanda from Mandy's Polish

Heidi from DIY Polish & More!
Katee fromA Girl and Her Polish
Charlotte from Charlotte's Nails
Tess from Football and Fingernails
Karine at Karinea0a
Victoria from Manicurator
Ashley from One Nail To Another
Dani from Rustic Comfort
Amanda from Counting Down to Bliss
Kayono from Neues vom Kellerkind
Sarah from All This Polish
April from Munia's Nails
Cari from Cari's Little Corner



Nail Polish Tag

I was tagged by the lovely Hema at Rainbow nails.  She gave me some questions related to polish to answer..........

What's your favorite nail polish company?
For regular polish-I don't have a favorite brand.  I only care about the color. For gel polish-hands down...Gelish!!  Because it offers the most color variety.

Glitter or no glitter?

Glitter....Glitter....Glitter.  Never too much of it!!!

OPI, China Glaze, or Essie?
I have plenty of OPI and China Glaze but I do not own one single Essie.  I feel almost ashamed to write this.

When do you change your nail polish?

As often as I am able to.  Sometimes, three times in a day, sometimes once a week.  Depends on what life delivers me.

What's your favourite colour on your nails?

Purple.

Darks or brights?

Both.  I try to steer clear of brights during the week, especially if it involves nail art.  My job requires that I be somewhat conservative.  I usually wear darker colors.

What are you wearing on your nails right this moment?

Water Marbling consisting of three super bright colors.  Color Club and China Glaze.  Haven't blogged about it yet so I am keeping it a secret.

Matte nails in or out?
Definitely in by looking at the blogging world but not really my thing.  I am going to keep at it though.  I do see some I like every now and again.

French Manicure?

I love a great french manicure.  I also like a unique takes on the traditional french manicure, like glitter tips.

Favourite summer colours?
If I didn't work where I was....neons.  So I save them for the weekends. :)

TAG ANOTHER POLISH LOVER: I tag Ducky from I Love Pretty Colors....can't wait to see what she has to say.

Spring Challenge-Rainbows.

I actually already did rainbows recently in the other challenge I am participating in.  So, I wanted to do something really different for this one.  I got on the microbead wagon a few weeks ago but have yet to try them out.  The beads I bought were really shiny and I didn't want to take away from their pretty colors by using polish underneath.  I was afraid that some of the color might coat the beads.  I just used a clear coat to get them to stick.

I am just so attracted to these shiny beads.  They are all really pretty colors.  I was thinking tht I would have no reason to use them again but I actually came up with some cool concepts while using them.  I will save them for a later date.



The Spring Challenge was hosted by Mateja at Purple Glitters. You can read more about her VERY creative challenge and the rules here.  THANK MATEJA, This was a lot of fun!!!!

Please stop over to see what the other ladies did in the challenge...

Taya from Taya

Ducky from I love Pretty Colors

Kat from Hooked on Polish
Kelly-Ann from Nail Art By Kelly-Ann
Riley from Pinky to Thumb
Aylin from Posh Nail Art
Brianna from Welcome to Brianna's World
Aurora from of World of Happy Nails
Mateja of Mateji Ustvarjata
The Nail Buff
Moonchild
Anna
Colorful Bottle
Thalie from Glazed Talons
Hema from Rainbow Nails
Nailpocalypse
Lady-flower 123
Nail Crazy
Mimi's Vanity Box


ASBMF Challenge #10-Butterflies

This is for my cousin Beth who lives in Arlington.  That's right Arlington VA, as in , next to the capitol of the United States of America.  One of the biggest cities in the country.  One might assume that you could buy or eat anything there within one or two blocks.  Sadly, the one thing that escapes her is revlon's Whimsical.  Here is the evidence below......

Had I known, I could have given it to her this weekend in NYC, where we met halfway for a visit.  So, at her request, I am using it so she can live vicariously through me.  Oh, and it's also is a base for my next item on the challenge which is butterflies. 

Definitely not my color.  Kind of makes my fingers look like they belong to a corpse.  If Whimsical continues to be M.I.A. in the D.C. area, I will be shipping it down there soon. 

This challenge was created by the lovely Hannah from Polished Prisms. You can check out the group's facebook page to see all the designs in one spot but please take the time to see what the other ladies have done along with their blogs here also...........

Jess from Nearly Natural Nails

Amanda from Mandy's Polish

Heidi from DIY Polish & More!
Katee fromA Girl and Her Polish
Charlotte from Charlotte's Nails
Tess from Football and Fingernails
Karine at Karinea0a
Victoria from Manicurator
Ashley from One Nail To Another
Dani from Rustic Comfort
Amanda from Counting Down to Bliss
Kayono from Neues vom Kellerkind
Sarah from All This Polish
April from Munia's Nails
Cari from Cari's Litttle Corner

ASBMF Challenge-#9-Fresh Cut Lawns

As soon as I saw this challenge item, I knew what I wanted to do.  I just wasn't sure if it would come out like I had pictured or if it would be a flop.  I really like it a lot.  Thanks to Bethany at A Plethora of Nails, I used Sinful Colors Cinderella for the base coat.  I won it through one of her giveaways.  Then I glued on some emerald tinsel with clear polish (after I painted the tips with Orly Green With Envy).  I used stripers to add the sun, the clouds and, of course, the mower.......

Charlotte from Charlotte's-Nails did something very similar earlier on.  Great minds think alike!!

I am fairly certain I will have green tinsel stuck to my hair and face and hands for the next week or so.  Hard to get rid of that stuff.

This challenge was created by the lovely Hannah from Polished Prisms. You can check out the group's facebook page to see all the designs in one spot but please take the time to see what the other ladies have done along with their blogs here also...........

Jess from Nearly Natural Nails

Amanda from Mandy's Polish

Heidi from DIY Polish & More!
Katee fromA Girl and Her Polish
Charlotte from Charlotte's Nails
Tess from Football and Fingernails
Karine at Karinea0a
Victoria from Manicurator
Ashley from One Nail To Another
Dani from Rustic Comfort
Amanda from Counting Down to Bliss
Kayono from Neues vom Kellerkind
Sarah from All This Polish
April from Munia's Nails
Cari from Cari's Little Corner

If I missed anyone, please leave me a comment, I think a few new people started and I don't want to leave anyone out.

Gelish Deep Sea with stamping two ways

Keeping with the same idea of of gel polish with varying themes.  Here I used Gelish Deep Sea.  I have to say that I am a bigger fan of Gelish than Shellac.  I love Shellac but Gelish color variety just can't be beat.  I didn't take a picture of the Deep Sea on it's own because I don't really love the color by itself. I went right for a stamp.

I used Cheeky CH16 with Color Club's Lumin-icecent.  Looks like cute silverish flowers.  The color stamped great on the navy.



After a day of this, I wanted to change it up.  Even with a metallic base polish, removal was a breeze with non-acetone remover.  Next up......

Same Gelish Deep Sea base, this time I stamped on top with Cheeky CH7 and Milani Violet Dash.  Again, stamped beautifully.  Finished it off with some purple rhinestones to bring out the purple color even more.

I like the second look better but that is the purple fan in me.  The thing I love the most.....versatility and, the fact that I screwed up on the stamp because I was not quick enough and I just had to wipe it off and redo.  Never have to worry about messing up your basecoat.

Shellac Hollywood with dots

For those that follow my little blog, you know that I am really into polish of all kinds but I love gel polish.  Many times when I am doing one design or playing with items on the challenge list, I have on a base and top coat (usually in Gelish, sometimes Shellac).  I keep that same base and top coat on for at least a week and change out the design with regular polish on top using non-acetone polish remover.  Periodically, I like to use a Gelish or Shellac color and then do something creative on top.  I am a huge fan of red.  Love the color Hollywood from Shellac.  I did this a few weeks ago and then topped it with dots.

People at work said it reminded them of I Love Lucy.  It reminded me a lot of a cartoon mushroom top.  Color looks great in the sun.  I wore it like this for a few days and then I decided to add another layer....

I added a coat of Essie Matte About You to the top.  I am not a big "matte" fan but I did kind of like the way it turned out.  I am way happier about the shine in the first photo since I am a glitter girl through and through.