Dear Blog, why so blue

I have failed properly this week. I have been exhausted from work and having a wild puppy and my blog and the poor 31 day challenge has even stalled. I do apologise to those involved, life just got in the way.

I am also going to be a bit wayward over the next week because I am taking a break with my beloved husband for our wedding anniversary. It will also be the first time we have taken our wonderful puppy to the beach, so it should be loads of fun.

Before I go, I thought I would give you guys a bit of a glimpse into my stash. I store everything in a Helmer, which at the moment holds most of what I have. But, I have only focused on the metallics and glitter drawer, which sits at the top.

But firstly, the overview.

My metallics and glitter drawer ( metallics on the left)

Close up of the metallics

The march of the glitters. 

And on the go...

The last few....

A couple of straglers...

Oh, and a sneek peek of what's to come.

Greens and Purples...

Oranges, Browns/Nudes, Blues...

Pinks and Soak off Gel 

Reds, Yellows, Blacks, Whites and magnetics

Bottom drawer of nail wheels, top coats/base coats, konad accessories, nail art pens, nail file etc

 What doesn't fit in...

Konad/ Cheeky/BM plates, Glitter tubs.

See you all after my holidays.

31 Day Nail Challenge #27 Inspired by Art

I found this challenge a bit difficult, as I don't have an artist I go crazy for. But, I do own a very wonderful Doug Hyde picture which was brought for my first wedding anniversary. So, I had a look for one of his designs I could replicate on my nails.

I decided on this picture.

Then it turned our complete trash, so I changed to an 'interpretation' of this one

For this manicure I used Sally Hansen Insta-dri Whirlwind White, Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Delphinium and a couple of sharpies!

Here are the results.

If anyone is interested in the artist, here is a link to his webpage

http://www.doughyde.com/

If he see's this, I apologise for massacaring your lifes work. It isn't intentional, I tried hard.

Here are what the other people taking part in the challenge have done.

31 Day Nail Art Challenge #26 Inspired by a Pattern

Oooh, I like patterns, mainly because this allows me to flex those stamping skills of mine - yay.

Again I used my DRK-A stamping plate because it is just sooo wonderful. The images are so sharp and they cover all your thumb which is a wonder in itself. As the pattern I chose was quite pretty and delicate, this called for a delicate polish. The one I chose was Catrice Khaki Perry. It is a beautiful green with a hint and tinge of silver. The only choice for the stamp was therefore Stargazer Chrome.

Hope you enjoy these.

Here are the others taking part in this challenge


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MSE Challenge - Gradient

I am running a week out of kilter, and I have made the preparations for my rainbow, but I won't be able to complete it until this afternoon. So, I decided to get my diddle on with the gradient.

Now, if you have viewed my blog in the past you will know how successful my gradients are and that they are something I just adore doing - NOT. ( this is the last effort http://nailpron.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/31-day-challenge-10-gradient-fail.html ) but I decided to take on all the suggestions I have received and went for a darker second colour to try and emphasise the gradient. I also was a bit more brave with the dabbing and used a sponge with a bit of a more open texture. Well, you ladies are damn amazing as it only bloomin worked.

Admittedly, this still isn't as sleek as I would like it looking, but I feel it is a massive improvement on last time and I may even try another without having to!

Oh, I am still recording this as the MSE Challenge, but we had to move from MSE as we weren't welcome anymore. We have moved to a new forum at http://npaa.forumotion.co.uk/ . We discuss nails and stuff and everyone is welcome, so please come along.

Now for the pictures.

To see how the other ladies who are completing the challenge have done, please have a spy here

http://npaa.forumotion.co.uk/t47-gradient-week

31 Day Nail Art Challenge #25 Inspired by Fashion

This is a difficult one forme as I am not very fashionable. But I had a lok through the new vogue autumn/winter collections and picked something from there which I thought would transfer well into nail art.

My eyes were taken by this Missoni dress, which to be honest I would never wear in a month of sundays, but it looked nice in the picture.

However, in typical me fashion I didn't want to do it quite like the picture says. So, I decided to have a base of GOSH Galaxy. I feel quite sorry for this polish because if it was released at any time other than at the same time as GOSH Holographic Hero I am sure people would be on it like a dog eating chips, but as it came at the same time it seems quite ignored. It is a wonderful brownish sparkle, it applies wonderfully and it has some twinkly blue and red and orange bits sparingly spread through. I am very very impressed with it.

On top, to give the impression of the fishnetty ness I have used Konad plate M57 with the Konad Special Polish in Black. Here are the results

Here are the other ladies taking part in this challenge.

BFF Challenge - City

I have approached this one a little differently. I wanted to do a skyline, but, time ran away with me and to do it well I couldn't do it in the time. So, Instead I used my Color Club Raspberry Scented Neon along with Barry M Silver Hexagons.

I brought the Color Club polish in NYC when I was there last, and the Silver Hexagons remind me of all the lights at night sparking away. I think the effect is good and it smelt delicious, even though a coat of Seche Vite. 

Here are the others taking part in this challenge


Here are the other ladies taking part in the challenge

Thiamere of On Beauty Stuff & What Else's

Pram of My Nail Polish Addiction

Bec of Lacquer Dreams

Kerrie of PishPosh and Polish

Caitlin of Caitlin's Creative Corner

Emma of Manicurity

Alyssa of Fancy Phalanges

Sally Of Nail Pron

31 Days Nail Art Challenge #24 Inspired by a Book

Yesterday was a rubbish day, and even though I had planned my post I never had chance to make it. I apologise to the other challengers, it was never my intention to be late.

Anyway, enough grovelling lets get onto the nails.

I based my manicure on a book which touched the heart of someone I care alot about. It is called A Million Little Peices by James Frey. It is written as a memoir, although he has since admitted that it is partially fiction. The cover looks like this.

As I don't have a glitter which fits the bill properly I decided to mix my own and used a bit of Sinful Colors Opal Glitter, W7 Cosmic Green and Color Clubs Candy Cane and placed them over a base of Color Club French Tip. Here are the results

Here are the others who are taking part in the challenge.

STOP PRESS Models Own Glitter Ball

I think the gods are being kind to us glitter loving people today. Models Own have announced their glitter ball collection

 

Their announcement is as follows

NEW! The MIRRORBALL Collection, a completely unique glide-on glitter that will revitalise your entire polish collection! Wear alone or over your favourite colour polish to give a frosting finish, taking nails from boring to BLING! Each polish contains five different chunky colours of hand-cut glitter that are guaranteed to get the party started: Disco Inferno, a glittery gold disco bomb; Hot Stuff, an intoxicating mix of pink and gold sparkles; Freak Out, a crystal shimmer mix of bold blue and purple; Dancing Queen, fabulous flecks of emerald, blue and gold; Boogie Nights, a multicoloured mix of intriguing purple, pink and blue! The Mirrorball Collection launches (with LIMITED EDITION metallic coloured caps!) exclusively at the Models Own Bottleshop on Thursday, September 6th, on the Models Own website from Monday, September 10th and in Boots stores nationwide from Wednesday, October 3rd. x

Personally I cannot wait for these and will be ordering the whole set. They look SO adorable. What does everyone else think?

31 Day Challenge #23 Inspired By A Film and BFF Challenge Inspired by The Movies

Being a soppy soul this one again is for my husband, and I hope one day when he happens upon this he realises that even though his darkest days I was here for him, thinking about him more than he ever knew.

So, instead of picking a good film to inspire my nail art, I picked Star Wars. Yes girls, your right, bloomin Star Wars.

As I have five fingers I decided to do five different characters. Now, I am not too good at the painting, and all of this has been done using nail varnish and tiny nail art brushes, so I hope you can excuse me for it not being 100% perfect. The characters I have focussed on are R2D2 ( the little white computer man), C3P0 (the golden computer man), Chewbacca ( the hairy one), Boba Fett ( my husbands favourite one) and Darth Vader.

I have used a myriad of polishes to do this, but I will list them by finger, so you have half a chance.

R2D2 Little Finger
Color Club - French Tip
No7 Poolside Blue

C3PO Ring Finger
Accessorize Jewel
Barry M Instant Effects Gold Foil
Unnamed Gold

Chewbacca Middle Finger
Essie Chocolate Cakes
China Glaze Midtown Magic
Sally Hansen Insta-dri Slick Slate
China Glaze Ingrid
Stargazer Chrome

 Boba Fett Index Finger
Technic Sea Foam
NYC City Blackout
Sally Hansen Insta-dri Quick Brick

Darth Vader Thumb
NYC City Blackout
Revlon Black with Envy
Stargazer Chrome

Here are the pictures

Here are the other people taking part in the challenges interpretation of the theme

Thiamere of On Beauty Stuff & What Else's

Pram of My Nail Polish Addiction

Bec of Lacquer Dreams

Kerrie of PishPosh and Polish

Caitlin of Caitlin's Creative Corner

Emma of Manicurity

Alyssa of Fancy Phalanges

Sally Of Nail Pron