Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Copyin' from the Chalkboard

Howdy! I am so excited about this mani today, I love it a lot, a lot, a lot. I am completely inspired by THIS post from Sarah at Chalkboard Nails. Her fishtail designs are off the chain amazing!

Here's mine:







I am absolutely in love with this design, I will definitely be playing with color combos and doing it again. For this mani I used Sinful Colors "Pink Forever", Sinful Colors "Innocent", China Glaze "Wicked Style", and China Glaze "Gothic Lolita".

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

"Fun is about as good a habit as there is."

Hello readers!

Today I have a cool blue gradient to share. I just love gradients, don't you?



I used Wet n Wild "Teal of Fortune" for my base, NYC "Skin Tight Denim" for the tip gradient and then added a little bit of China Glaze "Blue Years Eve" for a little extra glitter.



The "Teal of Fortune" didn't photograph true to color, it's a little more green that its shown here.

I got a lot of compliments on this mani too, it was a big hit. :)

Thanks for stopping by today, love to hear what you think. TTFN

XOXO

Monday, February 27, 2012

I'm all shook up!

Uh uh huh, yeah, yeeeeeah!

Howdy! :) Today I have a little Elvis inspired nail art. Actually I feel a little let down by it because it didn't turn out quite as cool as I wanted. I need to get some new paint brushes, I can't find my really thin one and it's my favorite. I do like the design though, just think I could have done better. I'm my own worst critic I guess lol.



The blue is China Glaze Kinetic Candy. The rest is acrylic paints.



I was inspired by one of his infamous jumpsuits. I really liked the design and color combos.



I actually had another jumpsuit that I liked better but I wasn't up for the challenge today, I may do it later because it was pretty cool.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Sally Hansen Salon Effects

Today I have a really cool product to share, the Sally Hansen Salon Effects. This was the first I have ever used anything like this before and I was very impressed.



This is Glitz Blitz



They are very interesting and not what I expected. They are real polish strips and they are packaged in air tight containers to preserve them. Each strip is about 1.5 inches long, they were long enough that I was actually able to use 1 strip for 2 nails because my nails are fairly short. I did have to cut them and shape them when I did it like that but it worked out okay and wasn't too too much work. The directions are really easy to follow and application is pretty fast and simple.

The only negative thing I have to say about the product itself is that any unused strips are going to dry out (unless someone knows something I don't). I still have them but they aren't sticky like they were when I first opened it so they don't just stick to your nail. If anyone knows how to preserve the remaining opened strips I'd love to know how.

Over all, i really loved the Salon Effects strips and would buy them myself. They are perfect if you are in a hurry and want a cute nail art design. Just stick them on, shape them and go, no dry time needed. I have seen them anywhere from $7 to $9 at Wal-mart and several drug stores. The price is kind of high for my taste, $9 for 1, maybe 2, applications is kind of steep but there are a lot of really cute designs so I'm sure I'll bite the bullet and pay it anyways lol.


I was sent this product for review. My opinions were not influenced in any way by the company.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Flower Child

Howdy!

Hope you're having a great weekend. Today I have a simple springy stamping mani.

I used China Glazed Aquadelic and stamped over it NYC french white tip using Bundle Monster plate BM16





I don't have a whole lot of stamping plates, I have the first set of Bundle Monster plates and 2 Konad plates. I really want to get some more designs. It took me a while to really get the hang of it but now that I have I love them. They're really fun to do and it's fast and cute nail art.

Thanks for stopping by, TTFN :).

XOXO

Friday, February 24, 2012

Freedom tastes of reality

Howdy and happy Friday! Do you have big plans this weekend? I don't have any, probably just hang out at home with my kiddos and hubby. :)

Today I have a new band mani to share. I've done KISS, The Beatles and Pink Floyd and now....THE WHO!!!!!



I truly believe that I was meant to be a child of the 60's or 70's.

This mani was made using China Glaze Ruby Pumps, China Glaze Blue Years Eve, NYC French White tip, and Wet N Wild Black creme as well as white acrylic paint.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

Hello readers! Sorry for the lack of posts this week, just had a bunch of stuff going on. Today was even the first time I painted my nails since Monday. ::gasp::

Anyhoo, today I have a cute Sock Monkey design to share. I didn't realize it was so messy until I saw the close up pics lol. I had the shakes but I still think it's pretty cute. :)



Hear No Evil, See no Evil, Speak No Evil



The base colors are NYC Little Italy and Wet n Wild Megalast in Caught red handed, with the dots in NYC Black lace creme. The monkey are done in various acrylic paints.

Thanks for stopping by today! :)

XOXO

Monday, February 20, 2012

Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.

Howdy!

Today I am sharing another nail art contest entry. This is for a contest on Chalkboard Nails. The challenge for the contest is to use nothing but dotting tools for the nail art, no brushes or any other stuff, just dotting tools. Also, no acrylic paints were to be used either.

I have never done anything with my dotting tools other than, well, dots. I loved doing this, it was really outside of the box for me.

I'm not really sure why this theme came to me but it was the first thing that came to my mind and I did a few sketches and then tried it out on a nail wheel. I love how it turned out.



The polishes used where NYC French white tip, Sinful colors Why Not, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear mellow yellow, and 7 China Glaze Polishes; Recycle, Gothic Lolita, Gaga for Green, Electric Beat, Wicked Style, Aquadelic, and Kinetic Candy.

I also used three different sized dotting tools. I used the tiniest one, a medium sized one and the biggest one.



I had a lot of fun working on this, I can't wait to see all of the other creative entries.

XOXO

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Electro Pop Splatter

Howdy! Today I did a fun and bright splatter using 5 polishes from the new China Glaze Electro Pop collection.



I used Make Some Noise, Sunshine Pop, Gaga for Green, Aquadelic, and Gothic Lolita.

And just for a good measure, here's a pre-cleanup pic. Splatter is not the cleanest design lol.



XOXO

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Drawn to you

Hello readers! Hope you're having a fab weekend. It's kind of a rainy gloomy weekend here so far but its still been pretty swell.

I had dinner last night with one of my dearest old friends and she brought me a little haul from her work. I got 15 new China Glaze polishes, including the entire Electro Pop collection. They are all awesome.

I also go my first magnetic polish from the China Glaze Magnetix line, Drawn To You, along with the 3 way magnet from China Glaze.






I really like the stripes and stars magnets, I couldn't get the chevron design to do right, I need to play with it a little more.

I'm really wishing I would have gotten her to pick me up some other colors too. I wasn't sure I was going to like them or not so I just picked out one.

This a really neat effects polish, I am definitely going to get some more colors, it's just too cool.

XOXO

Friday, February 17, 2012

My first ruffian nails

Howdy! TGIF!!!!

I did my first Ruffian nails last night. I really love how it turned out.



I used Color Club Molten Lava and Wet and Wild Black Creme.



What do you think? Do you like the ruffian design?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

We Come In Peace.

Howdy! Hope everyone is having a great day! :)

Today I have some silly and simple nail art that I did this morning. I was inspired by the polish I'm wearing and Scooby Doo lol. I love this polish, it's a Franken called Natural Law by my friend Laurie of Dressed up Digits. I believe it's a dupe of Essie's Starry Night.

On the Scooby Doo episode my kids were watching before school this morning, they were looking for an alien lol.



Natural Law is my base and I used China Glaze Pool Party for the peace sign.

Here are some swatches of Natural Law. It is an absolutely out of this world (pun intended lol) blue jelly polish with silver glitter. It's just gorgeous!



This is two coats. The coverage is really beautiful and the flecks of silver come through really nicely. It definitely looks like you're flying through space.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Wacky Wednesday!

Howdy! It's really not all that wacky of a Wednesday, I just couldn't think of a good title. I'm lame, I know! lol

Anyhoo, so today I went to Walgreens and took advantage of their Sinful Colors polishes being on sale for 99 cents. I picked up 5 new bottles, including the elusive Cinderella. She's so much prettier in person too, O.M.G. I never realized it had the pink micro glitter in it. It's just gorgeous.

Naturally as soon as I got home I had to see what it looked like on. I wore it for several hours and decided she needed some accessorizing.



I did a gradient with Color Club Foil Me Once and then stamped with Pure Ice Black rage with Konad plate m64. I love how this turned out.



On another note, I have some super exciting news to share. Remember the "Bee Mine" post that was entered into a Valentine Nail Art Contest? Well....I WON!!! I am so excited and I just want to thank everyone that voted and helped me win, I could not have done it without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have the most amazing followers, you are the bomb diggity! :)

XOXO

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

I love John!

Hello again, two posts in one day, whew! lol I just wanted to share my Valentine's Mani. :)

My husband John and I were just talking yesterday about my aversion to PDA, public displays of affection. He joked and said the only thing he wanted for Valentine's Day was for me to shout to the world that I loved him. So, here ya go honey, I'm shouting it to the world (wide web). lol



This is Zoya Carrie Ann, with an accent of an awesome franken called Natural Law by my friend Laurie from Dressed Up Digits. Natural Law will getting it's own post very soon, it's a fantastic blue jelly with silver glitter and it is so gorgeous.

My little Valentine

Good Morning and Happy Valentine's Day!

My daughter asked me to do her nails last and I was very much obliged. She wanted her own "Bee Mine" nails like THIS post.

She picked her favorite color, pink, for the base with white polka dots.







The polishes used were Wet and Wild Flirty Rose Creme and the dots were done with NYC French White Tip. Everything else is acrylic paint.

She was very happy with them so that makes me happy :)

Hope everyone has a spectacular day full of Love!

XOXO

Monday, February 13, 2012

Paradise is Always where love dwells

Hello! Hope everyone had a great Monday, Happy Valentine's Eve! :)

I have a quick little stamp job to share that I did today, it's nothing major but I think it turned out cute.



The stamp plates used were all Bundle Monster, BM11, BM03, and BM09. I used NYC french white tip and Pure Ice Black rage to stamp with.

The base is Zoya CarrieAnn. It's completely gorgeous!


XOXO

Sunday, February 12, 2012

I'm sorry!

Apparently my blog has a mind of it's own, I don't know why it keeps posting all of these old posts as new. I hope it gets fixed soon, I apologize for the craziness. :(

Crawfish Boil

Howdy!

Today I'm really excited to share one of my new favorite polishes. It's called Crawfish Boil and it's a franken made by my friend Amy from I'm Feeling Nail-Venturous.

It's an amazing red jelly with several different sized glitters and it's MATTE. OMG, it is absolutely gorgeous.





Is this amazing or what?

I couldn't help myself I had to see what it looked like with a shiny top coat too so I added some Seche Vite and HO-LY MO-LY, it's stunning.



I love red so much and this is hands down my new favorite red in my stash, it's just awesome!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Laissez les bon temps roulette!!!!

Let the Good times Roll!!!! Mardi Gras season is upon us and what a festive season it is. Parades, beads, king cakes and just all around fun times.

Today is the Krewe of Centaur parade here and I decided to do my nails for the fun day ahead.


I thought I'd do something a little different too and show you the process.


These are all of the paints, polishes and tools used for this nail art. Polishes used are (L to R): NYC French White tip, LA colors glitter, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Going Green, Zoya Ivanka, Kleancolors Metallic Purple, Sinful Colors I love you, Sinful Colors This is it and Seche Vite Topcoat.


I started with the French Tip White and a coat of the LA Colors Glitter and on the thumb a duo of Going Green with Ivanka on top and Metallic Purple with I love you on top.


Then I did the masks with Acrylic paints


And then the beads I did with a small dotting tool and Ivanka, Metallic Purple and This is it.


The Fleur Di Lis was hand painted first with yellow paint and then I did a coat of This Is It.


And the end result again


I broke my middle finger nail yesterday so I'm sporting nubbins again for a while. I couldn't make myself cut them all down so short, hopefully they won't be uneven for long.

This is my work area when I was done. :) Those are my son's little hands drawing at the table while I was painting my nails lol



Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this post.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

What's A happenin' Hot Stuff!

Howdy! Is this week like seriously dragging for anybody else, it's the week that never ends. Although it has been pretty fantastic for me, had several things that happened that made me happy. For One thing, yesterday I bought my domain address, now instead of my blogspot web address, it is now AmberDidIt.com I'm super excited about that. It only cost me $3.15 too, deal of the century.

Another exciting thing is that I was asked by my friend Briana from Nail A College Drop Out to do a guest post for Valentines Day. You can check out the post HERE. Make sure you take a look around her blog too, she's awesome!

For her post I did a cute little Devil mani, it turned out way cute if I do say so myself. Flowers and roses and candy are nice and sweet and all, but sometimes we want something a little hotter, right? Being bad can be good!!! ;)



For this design I used NYC Black Creme and Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow for the bases and various acrylics craft paints with Seche Vite top coat.

Is this hot or what? :)

XOXO

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Pink Wednesday!

Howdy!

Another Pink Wednesday is upon us. :)



I am wearing Sinful Colors Pink Forever with Klean Colors Metallic Red stamped on top.



I had a little smearing when I put the top coat on, I was just using some generic brand I just happened to have in my stamping box. From far away you can't tell, feel free to get up and stand a few feet away from your computer screen so it'll look better ;).

Pink Forever is really a great pink, I love it!



Thanks for stopping by today, Happy Hump day! :)

XOXO

Monday, February 6, 2012

Minnie Mouse!

Howdy!

Happy Monday, hope it was a good one for you! :) Today I have a really cute Minnie Mouse mani to share.

This was kind of the spur of the moment nail art. I did the dots first and I thought "Hey, this looks like Minnie Mouse" so I took the polish off my ring finger and did a Minnie accent.






I used Wet and Wild Megalast in Caught Red Handed and NYC French white tip for the polka dots and craft paint for Minnie.

And do you see the smudging? Yeah, that's all thanks to Julep "fast dry" top coat. You might think I put it on while it was still wet, but no, it was dry a good 45 minutes to an hour before I ever ever got around to putting the topcoat on. :/ This also happened when I used it over stamping and it's hardly a fast dry, so it gets a big red F from me. Glad I only paid a penny for it, it normally retails for $14 and you only get 8ml. I will definitely be sticking to Seche Vite from now on, I get it for about $9 and get almost twice the amount as the Julep and it actually WORKS!!!!

Anyhoo, sorry for my little rant lol It's just irritating to spend time on nail art and it get screwed up. If my rant helps someone else's art not get screwed up, then it's all for a good cause. ;)

XOXO