Just Spotted the....Giraffe?

This is my second attempt with the new 2012 Bundle Monster plates.  The first I used the puzzle design that didn't fully transfer.  I think the plate is fine.  It was just the stamper and the selected polish that was the problem.  This manicure is from plate BM-313.  I used Just Spotted the Lizard and stamped with Coco-a-gogo from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri series.  Please bear with me on my photos.  I'm really trying to improve the quality, but it seems to be getting worse in my attempts to improve.

 

At first glance, I thought this was a stone path.  Especially the top outline image.

I used Just Spotted the Lizard as a base to pass it off as a turtle design.  In my head,

this was going to look awesome.

After the image was stamped, it's now pretty obvious that it's a

giraffe design.

I need to pick up a tan base and redo this image.  China Glaze has their Safari collection
coming out soon.

Here are a couple swatches of Just Spotted the Lizard.  This is one of my new
favorite polishes.  I just love the shifting color of the duochrome.

Essie Bikini So Teeny

This is how bad my nail polish addiction is, I see something and then my mind relates it to a nail polish color.  Last week, I was sitting by the pool at my daughters swimming lesson, I was showing my youngest daughter the clouds in the sky.  I looked up and thought the sky was a beautiful blue, just like Essie Bikini So Teeny.  Yep, that's what first came to mind.  Of couse that afternoon I went and picked up a bottle.  I have a lot of blue polish and nothing came even close to being remotely similar.

The formula was thick but yet slightly runny.  It self levels, so that was a plus. I used two coats with Seche Vite for the base and top coat. Dry time before the Seche Vite was fairly quick. This is a beautiful, calming blue that I never get tired of.  I love it on its own and as a base for stamping.  Of course the first mani had to be clouds.  I used a Konad plate for the clouds and a nail express plate for the flowers.  I'm trying to incorporate fimos in all my manicures.  It's my personal challenge to use all the designs that I have.  I also am going to try to use all the designs on every nail plate that I own.  I even want to somehow get through all my untried polishes too.  That is a mega challenge that might take me a year to do considering I only do my nails 2x/week. 



I got my Bundle Monster Plates!!!!

Wahoo!! I got my plates today!  I was getting a little worried because I expected them yesterday.  Today they weren't in with my mail,  Checked online and it said delivered.  Checked again an hour later and there they were.  Relief.  Immediately opened it up and started taking pictures. I can't wait to try these. 

They all came packed in this cute little box.

Neon Melon Watermelon

I was in Walgreens the other day and saw their Sinful Colors rack fully stocked for the first time in awhile.  Included in that rack was a bunch of neons that I had seen earlier in the year and passed up.  On this trip,  they were all calling my name.  Wishing it was $0.99 sale time, I settled on just one.  I decided to get Neon Melon because I wanted to try my fimo watermelons with this highlighter yellow.  This is my first official neon polish.  I'm pretty excited with it.

I used X-treme Wear White On as undies to really make this neon
pop.   I used a Konad plate and Konad polish for the tips.

I did this entire manicure 2 hours before leaving the house.
When I came home, one of my watermelons was missing.

This color is so bright, it practically glows in the dark.

Summer Strawberries

Today I have a sparkly jelly sandwich with strawberries on top.   I paired OPI Guy Meets Gal-veston with China Glaze Mrs. Claus.  The result is something that is twinkles like crazy in the sun.  I was a little worried that is would look like a holiday color and added strawberries to summer it up.  For the stamp, I used my Konad fruit plate and SH X-treme Wear in Bubblegum.  The strawberry tops are Ink Green Glitter striper.  I also added in one of my new fimo fruits to accent the design.  Everything got sealed over with Seche Vite.

I took these pics on day 2 and my pinkie had already chipped.

My cuticles tend too swell after I attempt to do some cuticle cleanup. 

These 2 polishes will be a fun combo for the holidays. 

Just Spotted The Lizard

This month I'm on a low buy.  This is one of the three that I picked up this month.  So far I am not disappointed.  Just Spotted the Lizard is such a beautiful duochrome that shifts between gold, orange, green, and a bluish green.  It has a mirror shine finish.  As much as I am loving this polish, it is a bit tricky to apply.  It's very unforgiving.  My nail bed has some unevenness which is highlighted by this polish.  Just Spotted the Lizard shows brushstrokes too, so application needs to be straight with minimal strokes.  I still think Just Spotted the Lizard is a great addition to my collection.  

I tried stamping with black but immediately removed it.  It just didn't seem right to cover (partially) such a beautiful color.  I am just enjoying the duochrome effect right now.  In the future I will try some sort of nail art with it.  I also want to apply Just Spotted the Lizard a little better.  The pictures look horrible, in person it's not so bad.  It looks fine.  The pics magnify everything.  As I'm typing this, the sun is setting and my nails are a beautiful chrome gold.  Absolutely gorgeous! I highly recommend this polish.  

Fimo Fruits

This is my first attempt with my new fjmo canes.  This morning I was having a bad nail day.  I had on a different color and tried to Konad over it 3 times until I finally took it all off.  Ugh! So frustrating.  I took a break, washed some dishes, and decided to try my new fimos.  I am absolutely loving the results.  It's pretty easy to work with.  I was trying something on my ring finger.  I was going to "dip" the fruits, but it didn't work out. 

On my nails, I started with a base coat, 2 coats of OPI Flit A Bit, 1 coat OPI Y'all Come Back Ya Hear?, applied fruits, 1 thick coat of Seche Vite.  Done.  It was easier than me trying to stamp this morning.

OPI launches their first ever line of neons

Have you guys seen this.  I'm totally excited!  OPI is releasing a mini set of neons next month.  The set includes: 1 white base coat, 4 neons, 1 topcoat.  It's going to cost around $20. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZvmbkRS9tk

Milani Jewel FX Lavender

Milani Jewel FX in Lavender is the last polish I bought in the month of May.  This has been a very elusive, hard to find polish.  I found it in a K-mart two hours away from where I live.  I'm still looking for the FX red glitter. 
After some thought, I decided to do a gradient under the FX Lavender.  I used Essie Playdate and sponged on OPI Funky Donkey. 

Lavender is a combination of small and large glitter in a
clear base.

This was taken with flash to show the gradient better.

The heavy duty glitter is perfect at the moment.  It's something pretty while I'm busy getting my hands dirty painting.  I've had this on for 4 days and no chipping yet.  I've been carrying wood, getting paint on my nails, washing my hands frequently.  Right now I'm nursing a cut I got on my hand yesterday from an iron roof.  It's only about 1/2 in long, but it still stings and I can't remember the last time I had a tetnus shot.