40 Great Nail Art Ideas: Geeks

As you can see, this is a late post. To be honest, I had almost thrown in the towel on blogging this week. I really thought I was done. I had even created a mani for The Digit-al Dozen Does Autumn Week, but I couldn't get it to turn out the way I wanted it to and so I became anxious and gave up. I told the DD ladies that I didn't know what to do anymore. 

But! I woke up this morning with an idea for a mani! A mani that fits both themes that I needed today! I needed a Digit-al Dozen Autumn mani and I needed 40 Great Nail Art Idea: Geeks mani.

And I did it! I did it! I can't believe I did it! Yay! (Hahahahahaha, I hope someone sung that song while reading that).

I am hoping you all can tell where I got my inspiration. (pssst, my own blog!) 

Owl and colors I used = Autumn. Steampunk and Owl = Geek (because that's me!). Boo-yah! I tried to match the colors as close as I could (thought I did a pretty fantabulous job). 

My blog designs were all created by a dear friend of mine Missy (from Gnarly Gnails) (girl, I wish you were still blogging!I miss your face!). Looking over the icons and avatar and header she created got me thinking about the past couple of years. I realized that though I myself haven't grown so much as an artist (I think this is as good as it gets) but I do know that I have grown as a person. You all have been there for me, complete strangers, and yet we are all connected. And that is why I love the nail polish community!

So I chose my own blog design because the prompt was Geeks and I am a big huge Geek (with a capital G)!

I used BarryM Chai for the base of three of my nails (actually, this mani was a full mani....yep, all ten! Woot woot!). My accent finger is Pretty & Polished In the Buff (a gorgeous dusty mustard! Yummy!). I stamped using BarryM Cancun and Barry M Mustard using Messy Mansion MM43 for the Steampunk aspect. I used Konad Black and Born Pretty BP-L019 for the owl (I think he looks a lot like my little tab avatar guy). I used HK Girl Top Coat.

Guess what. I did this mani in an hour. All ten fingers! All with first try stamping! I think the polish gods were smiling down on me. I think I should take this as a sign. ;)

This is the collage for last week's 40 Great Nail Art Ideas: Teal (+ a pattern). I love these collages!

Don't forget to check out the other DD Ladies and their Autumn manis!

An InLinkz Link-up

Also don't forget to check out the other Geeks among us! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

The Never Ending Pile Challenge: Glitter!

Today starts the beginning of a new challenge! It is called The Never Ending Pile Challenge in which we post Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday different untried polishes that follow the prompt for the day! This challenge was created by Missy over at Gnarly Gnails for The Glittah Pirates facebook group. If you would like to join the challenge, feel free to join the group! :)

Today's prompt is glitter! 

This is Steampunk by Pretty & Polished. I bought this about a year ago? I bought it because 1) it's called steampunk! Hello, I love that! 2) it's a grey! and 3) love the color combo!

This is three coats. Yep three, well, closer to four. I don't really like polishes where I have to use more than two coats. Opacity wasn't the issue, two coats was good for that. Glitter placement and glitter fishing was the issue. But it didn't get thick with the coats and I do like the depth it has!

So I decided to pair this with OPI Glitter Off. I like glitters but hate taking them off! I've tried using Elmer's glue, but my polish just pops off really easily! So I put this on one afternoon, thin layer, waited until it dried clear and added my layers of Steampunk. I topped it off with HK Girl Topcoat. Almost 48 hours later (two showers, multiple hand washings, computer work, bathroom cleaning, and normal activities) one popped off! I think I could have gotten one more day's wear out of this mani but it snagged on something right after washing and putting lotion on and popped off.

Within seconds I had popped off the remaining polish, leaving behind nothing on my nail! I love OPI Glitter Off! Can't wait to use it some more! I really try to get people at work to buy it! :)

Don't forget to check out what the other Pirates are doing for their glitter prompt! Wanna join? Click on the prompt list above!

An InLinkz Link-up

January and February's Haul and a ton of Catrice!

First off, these have my old watermark. I edited these awhile back, sorry! :)

Today's post is my January Haul! And I am so excited for these pretties here! Catrice! Yes! I so wish these were available here in the US. You have already seen some of these being used in my posts. But I thought I would show you the whole haul! :)

 I got these from Jewli over at Fanning the Fumes. Thank you Jewli! So, at the top we have a polish that isn't Catrice but Essence Aquarius. Then we have Catrice No Snow Petrol, Big City Life San Francisco. On the bottom we have: Catrice Greys Kelly, Put Lavender on Agenda, Purpleized, Steel My Heart, How I Matt Your Mother, and Steel My Soul.

Oops! This little guy was forgotten and came later in the mail. See! Not all of them were purple and teal! :) This is Catrice ACid/DC

Up next is the rest of my haul!

Here we have China Glaze Angel Wings and Glistening Snow. Thank you Sally's clearance sale! Woot!

The minis of the OPI So So Skullicious. Hi Pumpkin, A-Rose from the Dead, Mourning Glory, and Candlelight. Nothing too special about these I just liked some of the colors and the packaging is fun! Got this from Ulta.

Here we have OPI Thanks a Windmillon. This was not on sale but I had a coupon and saw so many swatches lately of it that I knew I needed it! Then we have OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls. Debbie over at The Crumpet swears by this polish, so I got it for clearance at Ulta! :) Next we have a cute little Orly Velvet Rope. He was clearance at Sallys and just too cute to pass up!

This is China Glaze Def Defying and Recycle. I got these from my beauty supply store I go to! Cheaper prices rock! :)

Also from my beauty supply store some Sation polishes! Feliz Navi-Doll a grey shimmer! Shyest Shade, similar to China Glaze Snowglobe. And 3 Freedom, a light taupe.

Some amazing Indies! Pretty & Polished Steampunk. Needed it for the name and the colors! Gorgeous! Next to it is Hit Polish Like, Gag Me With Glitter. I won this little gorgeous guy because I won the naming contest! Yep I named this one! To me it looked like all the colors of the '80s so valley speak was a must! Like, gag me with glitter! :)

 

I finally got the new Cheeky set that came out last year!

And finally a part of my Christmas present from my sister! Nailz Craze NC03 plate! It took awhile to get here with some paypal issues but Natalie (the owner and creator) was very awesome and understanding! Fabulous customer service! I love this plate and can't wait to use it! :)

So that was just January. Up next is February!

These are all from Ulta Clearance! L'Oreal Tweet Me, look at those flakies and shimmer! Next we have OPI Get In The Expresso Lane and Essie Little Brown Dress. I am told these are great for stamping! Finally we have OPI Don't Touch My Tutu. 

Sally Hansen Lickety-Split Lime, Sally Hansen Gone Grey, and Revlon Iconic. More stamping polishes! And then a beautiful Essence Oh My Glitter!

Some Indies? Yes please! I came across this lovely polish Beyond the Goblin City by The Lady Varnishes. I had to get it because it's based on The Labyrinth! Next to is Glimmer by Erica Cherry Blossom and Elixir Lacquer Double D-Struction.

Back shot off:  Beyond the Goblin City by The Lady Varnishes, Glimmer by Erica Cherry Blossom, and Elixir Lacquer Double D-Struction.

Here is Slick Lacquer A Wink and a Nod. Gorgeous!

Dandy Nails! Here we have Chilled Down, Bound to Fall, and Like Disco Lemonade. Like Disco Lemonade I got in a swap from Elizabeth from NailPolish Is My Crack.

Side shots of  Dandy Nails: Chilled Down, Bound to Fall, and Like Disco Lemonade.

Some new Sation polishes! Oh My Oceania and Ego-Friendly.

China Glaze Budding Romance, Snap My Dragon, and Joy.

OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons and Unfor-Greta-Bly Blue.

I also got this China Glaze for super duper cheap but I don't know it's name!

Here is a swatch of it. What the heck? It's like textured. Did someone franken it at the supply store? I have no idea? Do any of you?

Nail decals from RLR Creations Nail Art.

A butt-load  of owl decals! I got these from ebay!

Whew! That's it! Now to catalog and put them all away! :)

TGIF and 31 Day Challenge 2013! Day 4: Green Nails featuring Pretty & Polished Apple of My Eye

So today's post is a doubled up post! It's Day 4: green nails, of the 31 Day Challenge 2013 (relaxed version) but it is also TGIF: Thank Goodness, Indy Indie Friday! So what better than a green indie! :)

This gorgeous polish is Apple of My Eye by Pretty & Polished. I got this during her sale and I am so happy I did! At first I thought it was going to be just a normal green glitter. Little did I know that it was going to be such a stunner! As always: (l-r) 4 coats, 3 coats, 2 coats, 1 coat.

Apple of My Eye is a gorgeous complete coverage glitter! It has many different sizes of green glitter in a slightly green base. But look at that shine! Wowza! This applied like no other! Amazing formula and application! I am in love! :)

Here's my Indie skittle! (l-r) Essence Romeo, OPI Don't Talk Bach to Me, OPI Wooden Shoe Like to Know, and OPI Planks A Lot. Isn't this glitter amazing! Sadly it is from her fall line and so I am not sure what her supply is of it. I am excited at the possibilities of this polish!

Bottle shot and macro bottle shot of Apple of My Eye by Pretty & Polished.

Don't forget to check out Pretty & Polished:
Etsy Shop
Facebook Page
Shop
Blog

Don't forget to check out the other ladies in the 31 Day Challenge 2013 (relaxed version) and their green nails!

Nail Mail Monday!

Another haul post! Really I promise I am slowing down (maybe) in buying of polishes! But all these great etsy shops restocked and I had to get my dream polishes! :)

First up are these amazing glitters from Sonoma Nail Art: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Clockwork. I had to get these not only because they are gorgeous but also because they are Steampunk related! Yes! Thank you thank you thank you for making such awesome themed polishes! :)

Macro bottle shot of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (as stated on her etsy shop) "takes inspiration from Jules Verne and the imaginative adventures of Captain Nemo in the cold deep. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a glitter polish with blue, green, and white shades". The polish is really stunning and the micro glitters reminds me of bubbles under the sea! :)

Macro bottle shot of Clockwork. Clockwork (as stated on her etsy shop) "takes inspiration from the fantastical gears and cogs of steampunk machinery. Clockwork is a glitter polish with multiple metallic shades". This glitter is perfectly named and is jaw-dropping gorgeous!

She also sent with the polishes a paper that gives you tips and tricks for glitter polishes and on the back of that is a step by step guide to the foil method to remove glitter polishes! What a brilliant idea! :)

I can't wait to show you these two polishes during my TGIF: Thank Goodness, Indie Friday segment. :) And don't forget to visit her Sonoma Nail Art's etsy shop here and her facebook site here.

What we have here is a gorgeous mini from Pretty & Polished called Hustle. Great things really do come in small packages! :) This little guy wasn't on my list to buy but then I saw him and fell in love! It has small green, copper, and silver hex glitter with larger silver and teal hex glitters. This also has silver bar glitter. Brown and green together in a glitter! My two favorite colors! Could it get any better! :)

Don't forget to check out Pretty & Polished's etsy shop here and her facebook page here.

Macro bottle shot of Pretty & Polished's Hustle. See super duper pretty! :) I'm excited for this one too!

What is one of my haul posts without a grey!? :) This I got in a swap from a fellow polish lover in a facebook group. She was looking for a polish which I happen to have and was willing to swap for. So I got my first American Apparel polish in Factory Grey. It's inspiration is based on their floors in their factory. It's grey/purple creme and I lurve it a lot! :)

Now these aren't nail mail but ones that I picked up in person. (l-r): OPI Houston We Have a Purple (absolutely love this name! Brilliant!), China Glaze Lemon Fizz, and China Glaze Electric Beat.

Have any of you bought any excellent polishes lately?

Pretty and Polished Reviews

I got the privilege of review two polishes from Chelsea's etsy shop Pretty and Polished. These polishes are my first ever Indies to try! And let me say, if other Indies are as good as these, then watch out! These polishes are amazing! Lots of photos!

This first polish is called Galactus. It is a gorgeous bright purple holo. The color is a little hard to capture on camera, shows bluer than it really is. The picture above is one coat! One coat! The formula is amazing and handles like a dream!

Check out the holo-goodness! In the sun it looks a lot like it's true color. This is two coats.

This is two coats in artificial light to show more of it's true color. This still isn't the exact color but closer. (I really wish I had a light box!) I love this polish, very bright, smooth, and holo! 

This is Hemi-Sphere. Wow. A gorgeous shimmer green! Love! It looks to have a little gold shimmer in it too! This is one coat. It is more sheer than Galactus. But it depends on how much you have on your brush as you can see my ring finger is more sheer than my middle finger.

This is two coats. Much deeper and even more gorgeous! This formula was just as awesome! But look at this color!

Bam! Full sun! A-mazing! Thank you so much Chelsea for letting me review these awesome polishes! You can find these wonderful amazing polishes at her etsy shop: Pretty and Polished. And she has even given me a discount code to give to my fellow readers! How awesome! Use code pretty5 for 5% off 
This code expires March 20, 2012 (one month from today). Chelsea told me that she will be completely restocked after midnight Thursday morning!