OPI Muppets Most Wanted Collection - 'I Love Applause' and 'Let's Do Anything We Want'

Greetings fair readers, how are you??!

It has been a while, hasn't it? I took a well needed sabbatical from Blogger, but I didn't stop painting nails.

Over the last few months I have been privy to experiences I could only have dreamed of. I've had ups, I've had downs, but I am happy to say that I return to my trusty readership with a new zest for life...and polish. Needless to say, I am a little late to the party with some of my nail art and reviews, but please stay tuned because I have A LOT to show you over the coming posts.

First, I'll return to my good old beauty blogger roots - a swatch (hazzah!).

OPI's Muppets Most Wanted Collection (2 of 8)
'I Love Applause' is a beautiful pale creme polish. No shimmer, just a yummy pink, reminiscent of my favourite childhood dessert - Angel Delight.

 Image

'Let's Do Anything We Want' is a clear jelly stuffed with pink and white glitter particles, with some chunky white squares chucked in for good measure.

Totally worth layering, wouldn't you say?

What can I say? The combination works and it's perfect for a Summer time pedicure. Fingers crossed that the weather in good old Blighty (slang for Britain) stays nice and dry for us!

I will be back again with a few more polishes in this collection, but in the interim, thanks for reading!

xx

Products sent to me for my consideration

Proceed with 'Caution' - Gelish

I recently ordered some really nice Gelish colours and due to me having a busy few weeks, this is the manicure that I have been wearing.

Gelish 'Caution'.
I accomplished this look with white striping tape and some gems that I got from eBay (not Swarovski).  

The floral detailing was painted (free-hand) with white acrylic paint after I had put down the striping tape. Usually with gel polishes, you are left with a sticky dispersal layer after curing. You would generally wipe this away prior to adding any art, but on this occasion, I placed the tape on after partly curing my last layer of colour for about 10 seconds. After adding the tape. I cured for another 20 seconds under an LED lamp and then added the top coat. When this was cured, I removed the dispersal layer, buffed LIGHTLY with a white block, painted on the flowers and added another layer of top coat when the paint was dry.

Here's a sneaky peak at my right hand, which is completely unused to modelling! I'll let you into a little secret...this was done about two weeks ago has grown out now although the gems are still intact. I'll probably remove it tonight though, because I'll be manicuring on a nail bar this coming week and want my nails to look freshly done!

If you wear gel polish, how long will you usually wear it before removal?

Have a great week.

x

Estee Lauder inspiration

Oh. My. Goodness.

Weeks without posting here on my blog. Absolutely appalling.

Without further ado, I present to you...

 Some Estee Lauder inspired nail art! That's right. I've been completely and utterly neglectful and have failed to provide my lovely readers with regular updates and nail-candy.

These nails are actually modelled on a cosmetics bag that was being given away as part of a promotion in Debenhams recently.  The black is acrylic paint and the rest is all nail polish. Check out the Swarovksi Elements Crystals too *wags fingers* - does the shine hurt your eyes much? I pushed the stones into tacky polish and then dabbed around the edges with clear polish to set them. As I knew that this manicure wasn't one I was going to be wearing for too long, I didn't bother with gel top coat. As I'm doing a lot more manicure work nowadays, I tend to slather all of my manicures in a Gelish top coat.

 One more picture before I go!

Thanks for reading - have a good week.

xx

My new (false) nails

Hi everyone.

Before I carry on with the post, I want you to know that I bought a new camera...but I'm still trying to figure out all of the settings. You may find the next few posts a little fuzzy but please be patient with me!

I haven't been looking after my nails very well recently and as a result, my nails became extra hard and brittle. I've bought various new products and rather than try them out on other people first, I am always use them on myself. Anyway, after battling with a ridiculously curled middle finger nail, I decided to chop them all off and give myself a set of acrylic nails.

First, I started out with short, sad, battered nails:

Then I blended some natural coloured tips after applying them:

I took my eye off the file to tell one of the kids to stop doing whatever it was they were doing and I nicked my thumb!

After? Not too thick. I ended up using white acrylic on the tip and pink for the rest of the enhancement.

I'm happy with them at the moment, but I can't bear to see the underside of the nail when the enhancement starts to grow out. As a result, I'll probably only wear these for a month or so.

I'm off to paint these bad boys because I'm working at V Fest this weekend (YAY!) and need to look half decent.

Have a great weekend folks.

xx

Swap In The City UK

Hi everyone.

Tonight I want to let you know that I am honoured to be providing manicures as L does Nails at an amazing event called Swap In The City UK (SITUK), which takes place on Sunday 25th August 2013 at The Royal Horseguards Hotel in London.





Okay, now for the info!

'An afternoon of fun and relaxation, SITCUK offers indulgent beauty treatments and sampling in the SITCUK ‘Beauty Fusion’, including nails, hair and well-being treats. You’ll also have the opportunity to swap your good quality clothing and meet like-minded women, whilst giving back to charity and making a difference to the environment!

SITCUK has held several successful events including being a part of The Good Fashion Show during London Fashion Week 2012.
SITCUK events allow women to have a positive impact on others, by donating quality items to the swap or taking part in the clothes auction.
Items are kindly donated by celebrities for the auction and the proceeds go to charity partners of the event. All whilst being pampered and having a fun-filled ladies event in luxurious surroundings.'

 The event is being held at The Royal Horseguards Hotel, which promises a five-star luxury experience overlooking the Thames and I absolutely can't wait. There will be price draws too...and everyone likes a freebie. Please visit SITCUK for further details and to buy tickets.

If you are in London, why not come down and join us?

xx

Barry M - Tropical Florals

Tonight on the blog, I have some hand painted flowers for you.

The inspiration to do this design actually came from a pair of flip-flops - one's that I am wearing right now, actually.

Please excuse the picture quality. My camera has dropped a million times and I'm actually surprised that the thing even works now! Time to upgrade methinks. Anyway, back to the nails...

 Barry M's 'Green Berry'.

 The art is a combination of Barry M's 'Pomegranite', 'Mango' (both from the Gelly Range), Milani 'Neon Pink', green from a random eBay nail striper and detailing with Nail Supreme nail art pens in neon and matte colours. Those of you who know how miserable I can be will be aware that I struggled with these pens for a while...I like them now!

Thanks all for tonight folks. If you want further info - just let me know. Maybe I might even do a tutorial...let me know what you think?

xx