Flakes on a Friday...on Saturday

Oh wow. I cannot believe my GFC follower count. I am seriously overwhelmed right now. 701 Google Friends...and that doesn't include those of you who subscribe to my blog in other ways. Thank you all so much for your support. I've had a really hard week (emotionally) and this is just one of the things that's really put a smile on my face.

I have some news. I've enrolled on a manicure and pedicure introduction course and I start next Wednesday. The course is six weeks long and I'll be attending college on Wednesday nights. The same week this finishes, I will start my NVQ level 2 VCTC (vocational course) in Nail Technology. Yep, I'm going to train to be a qualified nail technician! I'm really excited and, if all goes well, I intend to share my knowledge with you along the way.

Here is what I did yesterday. Pure laziness, I'm afraid. Flakies and water decals.

China Glaze's 'Fifth Avenue'.

Slicked with a generous layer of Nubar's '2010', which reminds me, I need do a Nubar and Nfu-Oh haul at some point this year. Maybe as a treat after I graduate from 'nail school'.

Hmm. So I'm posing with the Nubar, but actually have a layer of Rimmel's Matte top-coat on.

Water decals from Viva La Nails (purchased by moi), again with the matte top-coat.

I hated the matte look for a good while, until very recently so I think I need to give mattificationism (it's not a real word but I don't care)  the credit it deserves.

Happy weekend lovelies.

xx

31 Day Manicure Challenge Day 29 - 'Nails inspired by the supernatural'

Oooh, helloooo.

How's it going everyone?

Tonight I'm feeling a lot better and have a bit of energy for a change!  The challenge for today was to create a manicure inspired by the supernatural. I decided to hunt down my matte top coat specifically because I haven't used it for so long.

This is a random polish my husband picked up for me at our local pharmacy. He told me that he and the kiddie were deliberating for ages as to which colours to get for me :)

The red was layered with a pink hexagonal glitter (by Peripera), then layered with Nfu-Oh 50, stamped with Models Own 'Gold Digger' (using BM 223), then mattified with Rimmel Pro Matte Finish. It's not awful...could be worse!

Boo!

xx

31 Day Manicure Challenge Day 24 - 'Nails inspired by a book'

Hey folks. 

I nearly wasn't going to post anything tonight because I was busy gossiping with my cousin until quite late.

Today/tonight is a manicure inspired by a book. I don't often get to read for pleasure, but when I do, I'm afraid I'm a sucker for a Stephen King novel. I have quite a few of his books, but this one seemed like the easiest to capture in a manicure that could be 'worn'.

 Here we have 'Firestarter' a story about a father and daughter who are on the run from a government agency due to them possessing terrifying psychic powers.  The father has the power of suggestion, which has dire consequences upon himself and others. The girl? She has pyrokinetic abilities and can start fires with her mind...great stuff.

Black nail polish, yellow, orange and red acrylic paint with a layer of Nubar's '2010' on too to give the flames a shimmer.

I thought I'd better bring some game, considering yesterday's manicure was pretty sedate.

Happy Friday and a happy belated Thanksgiving to my readers who celebrate it :)

xx

Bulter and Wilson, Nails Inc and my current mani

Okay, so after the Collection 2000 launch, myself and Larry went off in search of a swift half, before bedtime.  As we wandered around, we came across some shop fronts that totally blew our minds. 

Check THESE out!

 We found these beauties at Butler and Wilson. These iPhone covers are not as expensive as you might think... Maybe if you're really good this year Santa might sort you out?

Nails Inc have also launched a Magnetic Polish range.

Apologies  for the poor quality shots; I had my face pressed up against the shop front window to get a snap of these bad boys. 

The display video in the window shows the nail technician painting the nails of a customer, taking the lid of the bottle (which has a magnet in it) and placing it near to the wet nail for a few seconds.  When the lid is removed, magnetic particles in the polish have been pulled into a pretty pattern. For those of you who haven't seen this before, it is definitely a sight to behold. Usually I don't rate Nails Inc polishes because I don't think the £10.50 - £11.00 price tag is always worth it. These bottles are £13 each! I don't know... would YOU buy these?

And now onto MY nails! This what I wore in the last post:

 Collection 2000's Fruit Salad with Nubar 2010 on the thumb, index and ring fingers. The stickers were a bit of a nightmare to get off the plastic backing sheet but I managed not to tear too many of them.

Hah. I tried to do an artsy shot like Anastacia but it wasn't quite the look I was going for. We don't have much in the way of plant life in our back garden!


Until next time!


xx

Fimo Fingers

Hi friends.

Over the last few months, I've built up a lot of nail art supplies and they are just stuffed into my helmer. It certainly feels as if I have more rhinestones, wraps and glitters than I do nail polish! I will be adding nail art supplies to my shop at some point so don't forget to have a look.

Yesterday I got my fimo's out...

I didn't take pictures of all the polish, but here is what I'm wearing at the moment.

What I did:
Painted my nails with Sally Hansen's 'Hard as Wraps'
Painted the tips with Barry M's 'Berry Ice Cream'
Painted on one layer of Nfu-Oh 50
Adhered the fimo slices with nail glue
Added dots of acrylic paint
Topped with Sally again and a layer of Seche Vite

I totally love this balm right now. I got it from Superdrug (yes, I know, I'm always in there). I put it on at night and in the morning my cuticles thank me for it; my purse did too, I think it's £2-3.

Okay, no more pictures!

Take care!

xx

My trip to Inglot - loads of pics/swatches

This weekend just gone, we (myself and the family) went for a wander down at Westfield London Shopping Centre in Shepherds Bush.  I know a lot of people love it, but since it's been open, I've only been a few times...and I'm not totally swung by it. Yet.  I like to be able to go straight to a store, get what I want and get out - a mall of this magnitude frustrates me because I hate having to faff around with lifts (especially because I usually have a buggy and another set of small legs in tow).  Saying that though, if you know where 'your' stores are, you can plan your drop-off point, hit your main points quickly and get out again without feeling too harassed. 

On this occasion, I'd already done my research so I didn't have to walk all over the place to find Inglot.  

This is only the polish section - the rest was filled with yummy make-up and brushes galore.  I took these pictures with my phone simply for my own pleasure...I was trying to be discreet because we were the only customers!

As an early Christmas present, Hubby bought me three lacquers:

Colour 703 - black base with gold micro particles.

Only 2 coats!! Fantastic coverage, easy, fluid application.

Colour 703...it dried with a rubberised/matte look (nice surprise!)

Three coats, coverage was okay.

  

 With a shiny top-coat, although I think I'll use a matte one in future.

Colour 969 - a mint green

Needed four coats and I could still see streaks.

Whilst in there, I found several different opal flakies that could pass as duplicates/substitutes for Sally Hansen's Hidden Treasures, Nubar 2010, Gosh Rainbow and some of the clear Nfu-Oh opals (for those who want them but can't find them). From what I remember, the prices range from £7-10 for the lacquers and the glittery/opal ones were £7 for smaller bottles. The staff were friendly and helpful and there were leather sofas for those with tired bodies and minds.

The only issue I have is that you can't order on-line...and that there is only one store in England. Otherwise, I'm totally loving Inglot.