Barielle Swatches

Here are some quick swatches of some new Barielle polishes.  I have never tried this brand before and I must say this were super streaky and a mess to apply.  I don’t know if it’s just some of the colors I got or if Barielle applies like this.  But anyway here are four of the six colors that I recently purchased.

The first one is Barielle "Coco Bar", this is desribed as a dark cocoa brown. This color was super streaky and kept pulling up the color from the other coats creating bald spots... super frustrating.  I wanted a nice dark brown but this one is very very dark.  So still need to look for a nice brown.

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This next color is Barielle "Lemondrops", it is described as sunny yellow creme.  It applys not so pretty but it is an interesting yellow. 

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This is Barielle "Coalest Day of the Year", this is described as carbon gray with white pearls.  This was probably my favorite of the colors that I got.  I love stone looking grays. 

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The last swatch is Barielle "End of the Rainbow", this is sheer aqua green with shimmer.  This is a super super sheer color.  To get it fully opaque you need around five to six coats, CRAZY... but I think it would be a pretty color to layer. 

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And just a quick end note:
This video is done by the amazing PlasmaSpeedo... really cute nail designs.  This video is hilarious and thought I would share it.  Again, this is not my video but Plasmaspeedo
ENJOY all you nail polish addicts!

Seashore Nails

I wanted to do some summer nails before summer was actually over...

So here are my Seashore Nails... a homage to my childhood in sunny California.

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These were done with Pure Ice “Excuse Me”, Pure Ice “Celestial”, Pure Ice “Splash!”, Pure Ice “Copper”, China Glaze “Desert Sun”, and Finger Paints “Paper Mache”

Old Manicures...

Here are just a few old manicures that I have done... I only have bad quality phone pictures for these because I didn't think the world wanted to see my manicures, lol.  I then figured... who knows, hence the nail blog. But yeah anyway... here's just a few quick pictures.

Here is a quick Spring time design...

Tuxedo Nails... I called this manicure a Black Tie Affair.

My man wanted me to do Snake Nails... so here is Desert Snake.


During the Fire works for forth of July I did Sparkle Nails!

One of my favorite gradients: NEON!

And last but not least... my favorite manicure so far.  I called it "The Golden Scholar"

Sorry for the bad picture quailty again... but just wanted show some of the designs I have done in the past.  If you would like to know the colors or image plates just ask. 

Silver Swirl Holographic

I fell in love with the holographic polishes… apparently about two years late, lol.  A lot of bloggers talked about some of the spectacular holographics like Chanel, China Glaze, and GOSH.  While I love holographics I definitely don’t have tons of money to spend on polish, lol. 

I have heard that GOSH is releasing their holographics again but I can’t order them in the US… very frustrating, and I have yet to make any friends overseas that can help me out, lol.  A few blogs talked about Nfu Oh and when I found out they were restocked I had to get one.  I went with the classic “61”.

Apparently they have changed their formula about three times and the new formula is not as holographic as the original.  I have not seen the original in person but I can tell you that the new version is not SUPER holographic.  In pure sunlight it is stunning! Alas, in any other light it is not as pretty.  So just a warning to those of you, who like me thought it would be rainbow under different lighting conditions, it isn’t. 

Here is my first try with the Nfu Oh.  I read after I ordered it that it required the Nfu Oh Aqua base.  I did not buy it.  I did a sandwich with Orly Bonder and it worked absolutely fine.  No spotting or streaking and it did not bunch or pick up the pigment.  So maybe they changed this formula from the old polish but just so you guys know you can use Nfu Oh holographics with other base coats.  So if you want to save $12 bucks, try doing a sandwich with the holographic polish and a base or top coat.

I wasn’t brave enough to try a full holographic manicure so I did an accent nail. 

Today has been such a busy day at work… crisis after crisis… I’m so glad it’s the weekend and I can get some polish therapy myself.

Any of you guys have fun plans for the weekend?

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In front of window

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Sunlight

Nfu Oh #61: In all it's Glory in the Sun

This polish does not want to photograph well... I hope you still get a little bit of what it does look like.

This was done with Pure Ice “Silver Mercedes”, Pure Ice “Don’t You Wish”, Nfu Oh “61”, Konad special “Black”, and BM-215

Teal Flower Manicure

Sinful Colors was on sale at Walgreens and I informed my man that I wanted to stop to check out if I needed any new colors.  He thought I was joking because I already have a stash but he went with me anyway.  I was being very good and only looked at about two colors when he said, “Oh you need this one, Oh a gold sparkle you need that one, and this one too you don’t have this color yet.” So I went in with one or two in mind and ended up with about 12… all thanks to the prompting of my man, lol and lord knows I don’t need much prompting. 

So I wanted to do a manicure with some of the new colors… I’m pretty sure “Nail Junkie” is one of my new favorites.

Here is what happened and I must say I loved it… I actually left it on my nails for a remarkable four days, which is almost unheard of in my house. 

A funny side note, my man surprised me with a day in the city and we went to the zoo, and yes while there I did wish for a second I was sporting some animal print nails, lol.  I did get a lot of great ideas for manicures while there though… more to come with those in the future.




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Sunshine

This was done with Sinful Colors “You Just Wait”, Finger Paints “Art Dealer Teal-er”, Sinful Colors “Nail Junkie”, Konad special “White”, and BM-05

Verstile Blogger Award

Versatile Blogger Award!

Thank you so much Shelby from Shelby's Swatches I love watching your blog!

The rules surrounding this award are:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Include a link to their blog.
3. Select 15 blogs/bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow regularly.
4. Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award; you could also link to them.
5. Finally tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.





7 Random things about myself

1. I currently work as a substance abuse counselor, and I love it.

2. I have a mini Dachshund called Milo.

3. I have recently discovered Stargate SG1 and I love it, *nerd alert*

4. I’m an artist.

5. I love trying candy from different countries.

6. I was born and raised in California.

7. I am super in love with my man but hate that he is a trained chef… I can’t lose a pound, lol.

Here are the blogs/bloggers I've nominated! I broke the rules and did 16 but I absolutely love all of these blogs.

1. Gorgeois This wonderful woman does some beautiful interesting maincures.  Her manicures look like paintings, LOVE!

2. Chalkboard Nails Super creative blog… her avocado manicure was SUPER cute!

3.Loodie Loodie Loodie I stubled upon this blog and I absolutely love it.  I love that she talks about nail problems and how to fix them… she has a great sense of humor!

4.My World DNA nails… so awesome, need I say more?

5.  Nailside Amazing tape manicures.  These nails are so sharp and graphic!

6. Oooh, Shinies! I have loved this blog for a long time.  Absolutely great!

7. Rebecca Likes Nails One of the few blogs I found a while ago that got me thinking of nail blogs.  I love this one.

8. Smashley Sparkles Here ideas are beautiful.

9. Tassa's Blog Perfect stamping manicures!

10. The NailasaurusThis blog has some great hand painted manicures.  

11. The Polished Perfectionist I am in love with this woman’s manicures… they look so professional!

12. Wacky Laki Wonderful swatches and manicures!

13. Jen's Polishes Amazing nails and really cool collaboration with franken polishes.

14. Chit Chat Nails One of the first blogs I found that really checked on daily! I love this blog. 

15. The Daily Nail  A well-known blog for good reason, I love her video tutorials.

16. Amber Did It This woman is an artist with her nails, let me tell you.  Her hand painted designs are astounding.

Black and Teal Hatched Manicure

This did not turn out how I wanted this manicure.  I saw a beautiful manicure that had a really pretty gradient from white to yellow and I wanted one from black to teal… but, that didn’t happen.  It was just a mess.  So I just said screw it, and tried something different.  Here is that mess baby.  I do kind of like the design it made in the middle of the nail and now that I know what it can look like I will have to go back and try it.  Excuse the grow out  and tip wear I didn’t take pictures of this for a few days but wanted to show you guys. 

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Indoors

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This was done with Pure Ice “Kiss me Here”, Jordana “Boy oh Boy”, and Finger Paints “Art you Wondering”

Snow Leopard Manicure

My best friend recently came over and had me do her nails. I’ll add a picture on the bottom. She wanted me to stamp on her nails and brought over one of her new favorite colors. I looked at it and told her that was definitely her color. She laughed and said, “I know you would never get it.”

The big difference between Megs and me is I like bold bright neon eyes bleeding shades while she is a subtle taupe flesh colored person. The color she had was a lovely grayish taupe that really fit her so nicely. The manicure at the bottom is the one I did for her.

After that incident I wanted to try something subtle… well at least subtle for me. Here is where I cue the Snow Leopard.


gardenofeaden.blogspot.com

This animal is so pretty and I thought it would make a beautiful manicure. I did a gradient nail and then stamped over it to get the lovely coat pattern of the leopard. I hope you guys like it as well.


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This was done with Finger Paints “Paper Mache”, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails “Gunmetal”, my favorite silver Pure Ice “Silver Mercedes”, Konad special “Black", and image plate BM- 221

This manicure on Meg’s nails was done with L'Oreal “Tea and Crumpets”, Konad special “Black”, some highlights with art stripe "Gold glitter", and image plate BM-214

Blue Raspberry Jello

I saw this color swatched on a lot of blogs when the summer collections for China Glaze came out.  I know a lot of other people were not a fan of this color but I absolutely love it.  I love the sheer jelly quality and the transparent sheen even with multiple coats.  What do you guys think of this color?



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This color is just a beautiful vivid blue.



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I absolutely Love this color... makes me think of blue raspberry Jello!



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First thing my man said when I was done, "That makes me think of jello."  I said, "That's why they call them jellies."  He looked at me with one eye squinted and said..."Oh...  I get it."


And because I can't leave well enough alone I stamped over it. It makes me think of balloons in the sky or some weird alien looking flowers.

BM-224

These were done with China Glaze "Ride the Waves", Konad special "White", and image plate BM-224

Star Spangled Nails

This post is obviously a month off but I'm going to go back a little and show some of the designs that I have taken photos of.  These were my Fourth of July nails.  I wanted something red, white, and blue.  These were done by the Salon Express kit that my lovely man got me.  It was my first foray into nail stamping.  I had heard of Konad just briefly during a trip to the local mall but at that time did not want to spend a large amount of money on my nails.  I'm so glad I didn't get into Konad two years ago becuase my bank account would have been pretty low even to this day.  Now that I'm addicted to nail art... well, let's just say I'm so glad my man supports my nail habit.

These were done with image plate SE-22, Pure Ice "Celestial", Pure Ice "Siren", and Salley Hansen "Hard to Get".

P.S. please excuse the horrible mess around my nails.  This was before I started getting serious about cleaning up around my cuticles... shame on me.

First Post

Recently I have been stalking quite a few nail art blogs.  I have always had an interest in art and nail polish and when I saw people putting the two together I was hooked.  I started doing free hand designs but never really found the time to really devote to it.  I still collected beautiful nail polish and still made sure that my nails were painted.  I am by no means a nail professional and have no training.  I just enjoy making beautiful things on my nails and wanted to show others.  I hope to find some belonging with the other nail art fans in the universe.  I think this will allow me to reach others and for others to reach me.  A lot of my early pictures are not the best quailty and the nails themselves not so great but hey, it's a place to start.