Water marble water decals.

Hello friends!

I've reached over 800 readers via Google Friend Connect and I'm so chuffed. Thank you all so much for visiting, reading, viewing, commenting and following (in whichever way you do so). It really means a lot to me. 

Okay, to the nails we go!
As another demonstration of my love for water decals, I've decided to show you how I use them.

Now I know that some of you will be perfectly aware of how to use water decals, but I'm sure that there are some other readers who aren't so familiar with them.

 The decals are basically transfers that are attached to cardboard. These were sent to me for review, but you can buy them and other designs here at KKCenterhk.

I started off with a gorgeous pearl shimmer polish by Hard Candy. Sorry, I don't know the name of it because the label has come off!

 I cut off the pattern I wanted and let it soak for about 10 seconds.

At this point, I was able to press the card between my thumb and index finger and slide the transfer off the card. I personally only like to slide off half of the transfer and remove the rest of the card after I've positioned it where I need it; if you slide the whole transfer off the card, you run the risk of it folding up on itself. If does do this to you, put it back into the water and you may be able to straighten it out again.

 Place the transfer where you want it...

 Et voila!

 

These decals are quite clever. They look like intricate water marble patterns and I managed to fool a few people into thinking I'd created them myself with polish (only for a few seconds though - I'd NEVER try to fool people like that!). The only thing that annoyed me was that they smudged and nearly disintegrated when I used my Seche Vite top coat. I don't know if it was the polish or the quality of the decals, but I could only wear this manicure for a day because I could see where the pattern had been destroyed and I had started to obsess over it. Just a little.

Oh, and I bought this 'glow in the dark' top coat recently too.

 Erm. The polish glowed quite a bit after I 'charged' it by holding up to an artificial light...it didn't do too well on the nail though.

Probably not a polish I'll be using again in a hurry, I must admit.  I like the concept, but the formula was gloopy and took ages to dry. I chose not to use Seche Vite because I didn't want to dampen the 'glow' effect.

I hope this post was of use to someone and not just me trying to teach grandma to suck eggs (sorry).

Have a good week.

xx

31 Day Manicure Challenge Day 19 - 'Galaxy nails', loads of photo's and how-to

Captain's log. Day nineteen and there seems to be a shift in the space time continuum...

I'm sorry - I don't know what a space time continuum is, or how it could shift, but I sure do like that phrase (I'm a trekkie deep, deep down).

This was my first ever attempt at 'galaxy nails' and I actually enjoyed it. I'm not quite sure if it is as intricate as some I've already seen, but I think it resembles something galactic! Keep scrolling to see the outcome.

This is Orly's 'Goth'. A pretty jet black lacquer full of silver glitter particles. Tip wear after applying it last night and washing, drying and styling hair this morning.

This is how it started. Below is the end result and what I used and did to achieve it.

Hard Candy 'Skimpy', Gosh 'Wild Lilac', Orly 'Goth', Gosh 'Gasoline, Barry M 'Matte White' and Nails Inc 'Carnaby Street'.

First, I painted on a zig-zag with the Skimpy (you probably don't need to do this. I was thinking of something completely different at the time).

I sponged on some Matte White over the Skimpy and then some Carnaby Street, using an eye shadow sponge applicator.This allowed me to apply the polish more neatly.

Then the Wild Lilac and the Gasoline. I added random dots of Matte White.

Here's the thumb.

Ta daahh!

I hope you enjoy looking as much as I did sponging.  Good night folks.

xx