Halloween 2012: Devils Ahead...

Hello polished prisoners,

Mwhahaha another Halloween installment here!  It's been a bit dead these days I apologize for it its a combination of wi-fi loss, my own icky cold, and now a hurricane (Sandy) hitting DC.  Seriously it's crazy! Everything has been ripped off of the shelves and the schools are closed even the metro shut down!  Well its great for polishing up my nails so here we are.  This is another Bundle Monster one.  I've been wanting to use this plate since I got them but held off until now.

Mani-louge

Base/Topcoat: CND Stickey & Poshe

Thumb, middle, & ring: Sephora Pantone Universe Tangerine Tango Creme & CrowsToes Hell Hath No Fury (find it here or here)

Index & Pinkie: Sinful Colors Cloud 9 & Sephora Pantone Universe Tangerine Tango Glitter

Detailing: Wet N' Wild Black Creme

Stamping polish: Konad Special Polish in Black Pearl

Stamping Plate: Bundle Monster BM305

So let's talk about a few things here - CrowsToes Halloween collection is seriously giving me chills!  HHNF - first of all did any of you see Rosanne in She-Devil that late 80's movie?  Oh lawd I think about it every time I see devils.  So funny!  HHNF is so perfect and just the right combo of purple and orange-red yumminess for this mani.  I also have to say thank you to Lauri who sent them to me as a ROAK.  Seriously YOU rock lady!  Kindness has always been my weak point and this lady has continued to maintain her kindness and grace even when her family has been going through such difficult times.  She is a treasure and her polishes make me drool!  My friends in the blog-o-sphere can attest to that! But hey when you're working it you're working it and Lauri is always fierce!

Sephora's Pantone Universe 2012 - I've had these for a while and I have no idea why I never used them they've just been hanging out.  Opaque in three coats for the creme and drying to a near squishy like jelly finish. What's not to love?  I'm not sure of the availability of these anymore but the determined lacquerista should be able to make it happen if she wants them.

So thoughts, comments, mindless adoration? Lol kidding!  I'm having fun with these Halloween mani's.  I wish I had been able to do more curse the luck!  Oh well there is always next year ;)  Let me also take this time to say thank you thank you thank you to everyone who voted for me in the Bundle Monster Contest!!!  I didn't make it into the top 15 but it was really fun creating the look.  Also for those that didn't know it I won that inaugural entry for Leah Anne's new website and blog LLarrowe! Woot! Thank you for those too who always encourage me and give me the faith to continue on!  Perhaps they really do like me??? **Gazes into the distance with a faint look of surprise** Okay enough sillies.  See you next post and thanks for reading!

Hope Springs Eternal

Hey polished prisoners,

It's official! I'm living in hell or something equivalent as I am once again without Internet. Why? Because my landlord left the window open and the modem upstairs fried. Lovely so once again I'm back to using my cellphone blogger app to save the day. Please forgive my less than polished posts until this gets fixed (no pun intended). Anyway onward to today's art...

Mani-louge
Base: Essie Blanc and Wet n' Wild Tickled Pink
Gradient: Essie Blanc and Wet n' Wild Tickled Pink and OPI Pink Flamenco
Glitter Topper: Elevation Polish Froze To Death
Stamping polish: Color Club Hot Like Lava
Stamping plate: BM321

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I couldn't let it slip by without doing a mani in dedication. When I think about cancer I don't have too many close ties to this one though I could tell you in a heartbeat how we use mammograms to diagnose and identify suspicious breast architecture. Personally I feel every day of every month should be dedicated to some form of health awareness, but I also have a great deal of faith in the medical system and the science behind it. Well I sort of have to nevertheless faith is a powerful thing. So here's a bit for all the ladies, families, and friends struggling under the burden of this disease. May their hearts be lighter and their fears less fearsome in the days to come. Thanks for reading and see you next post!

Llarowe Style: Under Da Sea..

Hello polished prisoners,

So why am I posting up marine/ocean oriented nail art in the heart of Halloween season? Well Llarowe, a small business that specializes in selling all manner of nail polishes lemmings including many highly coveted indie brands, is launching a blog! The kicker here is the inaugural post is going to be a guest post from whomever creates a manicure featuring products carried by Llarowe.  Pretty great huh? I created this mani in the hopes that I might be chosen :) Now let's get onto the art...

Mani-Logue

Base: OPI Natural Nail Base Coat

Index, Thumb, & Ring: OPI What's With The

Catitude?, Sally Hansen X-treme Wear Blue Me Away, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Freeze!, A-England Avalon, Layla Hologram Effect 05 Jade Groove, CrowsToes Tangled Web & I Make The Path

Middle & Pinkie: Essie Navigate Her, Revlon Posh, Spoiled Deeper Dive, China Glaze Blue Iguana, Layla Hologram Effect 07 Ocean Rush,

Dollish Polish Slippery When Wet & Go Luigi!

Stamping Polishes: Konad Special Polish in Pastel Purple, White, Purple, and Pastel Blue, Essie As Good As Gold, and China Glaze Millenium

Accents: LA Colors Gold Glitter, Essie Blanc, Orly It's Not Rocket Science

Stamping plate: LeaLac LLC5

Look at all the holo goodness from CrowsToes and Dollish Polish.

Leah Anne the lady behind this company is such a sweetheart! We've shared a mutual health burden that led us to some shared sympathy and laughter. Honestly, I'm uber excited to see both her blog and new website!  Anyhoo, I created this mani using one of the adorable 10 small stamping plates offered by LeaLac a subsidiary of Llarowe and several polishes i.e. CrowsToes, Dollish Polish and A-England, also carried by Llarowe (click links above to view). I chose this plate because it's probably one of the most unique plates I've seen of the many I own, and it's been calling out for a good mani for a bit now.  And after this mani yeah um I need ALL the plates now!

In case you were wondering what my mani looked like prior to stamping ;)

I could seriously eat this little octopus up! So freaking cute!!!

So what do you think? Another insane mani-logue huh? Hehe I must be channeling a mad person lol! But the results are worth it don't you think? Okie dokie that's it for now. Thanks so much for reading and I'll see you next post! Toodles...

Skulls and Crossbones Oh My...On Sundays I Stamp!

Hey polished prisoners,

Omo you thought I stopped stamping on Sundays huh?  Well truth be told sometimes AIS was hard to do when I had to get my Time Warp challenges up, but the warp has ended and here I am reunited and it feels so good ;)  But I will say this now yesterday's mani made me want to go very simple today in terms of stamping.  The theme for this weeks challenge was to do an invasion of...whatever our hearts desired.   I chose skulls and crossbones because I wanted to stay on theme for Halloween and because I have lots of plates with skulls and crossbones.  So let's get onto the art yes?

This is more color accurate than the outdoor photo. Hmmm...

 Mani-louge

Base color: Revlon Zealous

Gradient: Revlon Zealous , Essie To Buy or Not To Buy?, and Sinful Colors Daddy's Girl

Glitter Accent: Sonnetarium Samurai Princess

Stamping polishes: Konad Special Polish in Black

Stamping plate: Vivid Lacquer VL001

I wanted to use lots of different stamps to create this mani unfortunately it didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to when I was stamping so I chose to stick with one plate.  However I have to say I love the overall results!  Notice how once again I snuck in some of my beloved black and white glitter? Hehe this time the lucky winner is Samurai Princess by Sonnetarium.  She's quite the talented little medhead eh?  You can find her polishes here and keep updated  on her Facebook page.  And as always you know I love my Vivid Lacquer plates! They can be found here.

So spooking of Halloween if you haven't already or even if you have since voting is daily please vote for my entry for the Bundle Monster Fright Night Contest here!  Public voting is open till October 19th and I could use your votes!  I really worked hard on this mani and perhaps as an incentive for you to vote (as if my miraculous stamping wasn't enough kidding ;) ) I plan on giving away the plates if I win.  I mean I do already have them so I don't need a backup and really sharing is caring.  Stay tuned for a not so Halloweenish mani tomorrow - whaaa? I know but no worries you'll still be able to get your fix.  In any case thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Halloween 2012: Ghoulish Glam

Happy Saturday polished prisoners,


This week has been a mother...ah let's just leave it there.  Suffice to say I'm so thankful it's the weekend as I'm exhausted and I get a one day reprieve from the shade of it all ;) Man oh man I have been so psyched up for the manicure I'm about to show you since I saw the announcement for the Bundle Monster Fright Night Competition!  I literally thought I have to do something that leaves me gagging (um in delight not because it's gross I don't do gross...) - lol.  You can vote for my entry HERE.  Oh my a shameless plug but I do need your votes to win! In any case this was such a labor of love and evolved so slowly every nail took me forever, but it was worth it.  Now onto the art...

Mani-louge

Thumb: Base: Orly Liquid Vinyl stamped with Konad Special Polish in Light Green, Light Purple and Purple

Index: Base: OPI What's With The Catittude? sponged with Orly Velvet Rope and Sinful Colors Daddy's Girl and Orly Liquid Vinyl, freehand accents: Cm Nail Art Brush in Black stamped with China Glaze Millennium

Middle: Base: INM Northern Lights in Gold with OPI I Have A Herring Problem sponged with Sinful Colors Daddy's Girl and Orly Liquid Vinyl; Floral vines: Cm Nail Art Brush in Black and stamped with Konad Special Polish in Black.  Rhinestones: 1-3mm rhinestones in various colors

Ring: Base: Essie To Buy Or Not To Buy; Gradient: Sinful Colors Daddy's Girl and Orly Liquid Vinyl; Stamped: Konad Special Polish in Yellow and White; Accents (dots): Essie Blanc

Pinkie: Base: Essie Navigate Her sponged with China Glaze Near Dark and Orly It's Not Rocket Science and Liquid Vinyl; Freehand accents: Cm Nail Art Brush in Black stamped with freehand accents: Cm Nail Art Brush in Black stamped with Konad Special Polish in White

Stamping Plates: BM14, BM211, BM223, and BM305 

That mani-louge is something else right?  So many polishes and plates and tiny detail work.  I can't remember the last time or if I have ever done such a complicated mani before.  Every single nail was thought out and thought out again.  I wanted to create something pretty and a little spooky and of course extremely unique.  I couldn't even figure out the colorway for this mani which I usually always do before I start.  I just made it up as I went along which I have to say at least to me is so much harder to do.

Notice how I "snuck" some bling into this jazz hehe!

So what do you think? Once again if you like it please vote for me over on the Bundle Monster Facebook page under the Fright Night Contest here.  I'm pretty happy with the results though in all honesty I doubt I'll do a tutorial for this manicure as it'd be over 30mins long even condensed down :/  Totally worth it though since I cannot stop staring at my nails! How am I ever going to be able to take this off?  In any case thanks for reading and I'll see you next post! Toodles...

LDTTWC Day 8 - Let's Do The Time Warp Again!

Hello polished prisoners,

It's the end of my first nail art challenge!  How bittersweet; bitter because  this really pushed me in a lot of ways to try new things and ideas and sweet in all honesty it's hard to keep to a schedule of nail art while staying true to your personal aesthetic even for a pace as lenient as then one has been but hey maybe that's just me ;) The last and final challenge today was to recreate another participants nail art that you loved.  There has been one that has been sticking in my "craw" since I saw it.  A mani inspired by one of my all time favorite movies in the world Gone with the Wind created by Nail Polish Creations.  Absolutely stunning you must check out the link.  I tried my best to recreate it but I admit the silhouettes of Scarlet and Rhett almost killed me hehe.  I have a long way to go with my freehand, but you all know I love anything with a gradient :)

Mani-louge

Gradient: Sally Hansen Crushed, OPI Pink Flamenco and China Glaze Happy-Go-Lucky

Detailing: Cm Nail Art Brush in Black

Another color-true shot halfway through the nail art. 

So thoughts?  I'm in love with the gradient and the trees!  I'm so glad I chose this manicure even thought it was tough for me!   I'm gonna miss the focus this challenge brought me but I have some great plans and posts ahead for Halloween so stay tuned! Thanks for reading and I'll see you next post! Toodles...

LDTTWC Day 7 - You're Timeless To Me...

Hello polished prisoners,

Just one more post to go before the end of this challenge.  I'm so shocked I had the stamina to make it!  I apologize for the radio silence over the weekend.  I've been sick with a cold that sort of snuck up on me then laid me flat on my back for most of the weekend - eep!  I feel like my sinuses never felt so pressurized :/  In any case here I am with today's theme and  it might be my favorite by far - creating a manicure around something in style back in the day and today as well.  Oh my the possibilities were endless.  However ultimately I chose something that never goes out of style and that is glamor darlings!  Whether you are Marylin Monroe, Michelle Obama,  or Lana Del Ray glamor is a lady's arsenal for life.  She wraps herself up in it and then approaches the world fiercely armed and ready for battle.  I think we could all do with a bit more of the stuff eh?

Mani-louge

Base Colors: OPI DS Coronation & Orly Liquid Vinyl

Accents: Kiss Nail Art in Silver Glitter, rhinestones 3-2mm various colors, 2mm pearls, fimo, silver beads

We have had no sun at all this week and it does a diservice to OPI DS Coronation which is a silver based linear holo.  It's my first time taking it for a spin and boy is it gorgeous!  I mean really freaking blingy all by its lonesome.

So here we are coming down to the last post in the challenge and I hoped you liked this one.  Whenever I do a mani this bling I always here Marylin belting out this tune, "A kiss on the hand may be quite continental but diamonds are a girl's best friend." Lol!  Well I certainly don't take quite that mercenary stance but I do love a good blingy manicure now and again ;)  Thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Halloween 2012: Crawling Marbles...

Hey polished prisoners,

You don't even want to know how excited I am for the month of October around these parts! I am so friggin' excited!!!  I want to try and post every day and get up some awesome tutorials for my Youtube for Halloween.  I have so many great ideas I can't wait to share plus the electricity is back on and I think the blogger app worked out fairly well so I've got my bases covered.  Its come to my attention that I've never done a "full" water marble mani round these parts.  Mostly I've done them as accents or as part of a trigger style mani.  So to kick off the Halloween felicitations today I'm showing you a full neon glowing creepy crawly mani.  Let's get onto the art shall we?

Mani-louge

Base colors: Essie Marshmallow and Milani Neon Totally 80's

Marble: Orly Liquid Vinyl, Milani Neon Totally 80's, Sinful Colors Let's Talk & Cloud 9

So let's talk about Totally 80's shall we? This polish is almost impossible to photograph! I had to color adjust like mad to get to the true color on screen.  It is a screaming highlighter yellow/green that hurts my eyes to look at directly in the sunlight.  Now that is saying something huh? Three coats are shown here over one thin coat of Essie's Marshmallow, and like all neons this one is a bit on the thicker side but has nice self-leveling. I fully expect to use this one again this month it's such a great base color!

So here's my first nail art of the Halloween season.  I'm looking forward to showing you so much more! Thanks for reading and I'll see you next post!  Toodles...

LDTTWC Day 6: They Sure Don't Make Them Like They Used To...

Hey polished prisoners,

Here we are at the near finish line of the LDTTW nail art challenge and I have to say one of my favorite mani's for this challenge thus far!   The theme of today's post was to create nail art inspired by a classic childhood game or toy i.e. they don't make them like they used to.  I had so many ideas for this one because I was definitely something of a game fanatic when I was a kid.  However one thing that has somehow stood the test of time was my love of video games.  I still own several systems as well as plya and I'm still obsessed with the Final Fantasy franchise. Until the day I die I will love FFVII and Cloud Strife, but my favorite system and game that started the obsession is Nintendo's Super Mario Bros.  I played this game until my fingers bled lol!  Yeah I'm that girl ;)

Mani-louge

Polishes: OPI Red & Alpine Snow , China Glaze Starboard, Orly Snowcone, L'Oreal Perfect Trench, No Name Yellow Nail Art Pen, Cm Nail Art Striper in Black

This is so cute!  But my poor nubin....

The  nails with the M and L are based on the caps that Mario and Luigi wear, the star is self explanatory, my pinkie, recently nubinized, is based on the mushroom cap and my thumb is the mystery box that you bop to find out what's inside.

Okay isn't this totally cute?  This is the type of mani where everything I did was so simple, but somehow came out looking just the way I imagined it.  I really enjoyed creating this one and I hope you liked it too!  We're winding down on this challenge with just two more posts to go.  It went faster than I thought it would :)  Thanks for reading and I'll see you next post!  Toodles...

LDTTWC Day 5: We Can Do It!

Hey polished prisoners,

Happy Monday and October!  I'm hoping this post comes out well as I'm trying it from my new blogger app as my electricity is off in my apartment! These days it really feels as if I'm living under a dark cloud of apartment disasters.

Ok so today's art is all about a woman in history that inspires me. Well there are a lot but one lady always puts me in a great mood - Ms. Nina Simone. She was a classical pianist, an Aftican American activist, and one of the best damn jazz singers I've ever heard! I admire her a great deal and I was devastated by her passing in 2003. So this mani is most assuredly dedicated to her honor.

Mani-louge

Base color: L'Oreal Notting Hill Nlues and OPI Alpine Snow

Gradient: Orly Stone Cold

Stamping Polishes: Konad Special Polish in Light Blue, China Glaze Millennium and Passion

Script: Kiss Nail Art in Silver Glitter

Stamping plates: MJ Medium Plate and Dashica SdP

Can you see Nina's name? Honestly I need to update this because I realized I can't put the HTML code in with this app. Sheez! Well I hope you like what you've seen thus far. Stay tuned for my next post and thanks for reading! Toodles...