Hot Off The Stamping Press: Winstonia Store Generation 2 Stamping Plates!

Stamping fanatics,

It's that time!  Yup I can't believe I already have news about the latest plates releasing in the new year.  Well I do and you can pre-order yours today in time to ship on on the 2nd of January.  I am of course referring to the Winstonia Store Generation 2 stamping plate collection!  The first collection was so baller  and then they up and released those square plates that rocked my XL sized nail world.  I am so blown away by by this company so when I heard the rumors and whispers that the new plates would be dropping any day now I started my stalking ahem I mean well no I do mean stalking regime and finally my long awaited moment is here!  Introducing the new Winstonia store plates...

I know you couldn't see well with the first pictures so I have close ups below.  These plates are really interesting.  Even from far there are images catching my eye like the tiny windmills, and castles. You will need to click the pictures for a closer look at the plates.

 

 

So where do I even begin?  Shoud it be with the killer dinos or the fairy tale castle?  Actually on further review clearly it should begin with re-imagined butterfly wing the likes of which I have never seen and the exemplary dream catchers.  You know honestly no matter here I begin or end it's love.  I love what this company came up with.  Tons of original imagery with only a few things I've seen a couple of time elsewhere (the squid tentacles, a few of the Halloween images, and the daruma dolls).  However it's hard to get as many unique images in one collecion.  Winstonia may be the only company that does this so well with a full plate set although to be fair the CYO Bundle Monster set was nothing to write off either.  I see some companies upping their game, and I'm appreciative as a nail art lover.  You can preorder your plates here they retail for $16.99 for a set of 22 plates.  I certainly will be rushing off to do the same.  Thanks for reading and see you next post!

MoYou London Candy Cane Nail Art

Happy holidays lacquer ladies,

It's getting to be a bit of tradition that I break out candy cane nail art.  Last year I did it with watermarbles, but this year I have lots of cool plates featuring candy cane-eque imagery that I wanted to try.  If you follow me on instagram you know I just got the other half of my MoYou London stamping plate order from way back in October and it has the Festive Collection plates that I adore.  There are literally candy canes everywhere so I could resist taking some of my holiday plates for a late spin.

Mani-louge

Base coat/Top coat: CND Stickey & Poshe Fast Drying Top coat

Basecolor: Wet N' While A Blank Canvas

Stamping polishes: Konad Special Polish in Red and Personal Accents Hunter

Stamping plate: MoYou London Festive 03

One this I have always loved are the candy canes with the multiple stripes of color that's what I modeled my watermarble last year, but this time I just wanted to stick with traditional swirls and stripes mimicking the classic candy canes that abound around this season!

So thoughts? This mani is pretty easy and straight forward taking me roughly 15 minutes to polish and complete, and because it is so simple I got a lot of compliments on this one.  Winning when you are rushing around during the holiday season!  You can check out the festive plates here.  In all honesty they are worth getting even if you are preparing for next year so you won't be like me rushing to fit in all of the mani's I want to see on my nails before Christmas is gone or until July when I have some fun plans.  In any case thanks so much for reading and I'll see you next post!

Liquid Sky Lacquer Sleigh Me and Ever Green Christmas Nail Art

Happy holidays lacquer ladies,

Today I'm back with some Liquid Sky Lacquer holiday polishes and Apipila Cosmeticos nail art!  I've actually had the holiday holographic trio by Liquid Sky Lacquer since the end of November, but I haven't had a chance to capture their beauty until just now.  Honestly I think you all know by now I love every single polish Carolyn makes particularly her holographics.  They are intense and gorgeous, but I bet you didn't know that I have been in search of the perfect arterial blood red holographic polish for a very long time.  While I'm still waiting for it I have to admit Sleigh Me is a nice step in the right direction ;)

Mani-louge

Base coat/Top coat:  CND Stickey & Sally Hansen Diamond Flash

Base Colors: Liquid Sky Lacquer Sleigh Me and Ever Green

Stamping Polish: Konad Special Polish in White, Essie No Place Like Chrome,

Stamping plates: Apipila 05

This mani is pretty straight forward. It was quick and easy with the right amount of Christmas cheer.  I have to say I have neglected this Apipila plate for far to long.  It's probably one of the best Christmas plates I have and to be honest a lot of plates that have come out recently have only just started creating themes that Apipila has been creating for a while now.  It's probably too late to pick up this plate for Christmas mani's but it does also have some New Years themes that might be nice. 

You can buy your Apipila plates here and as to the oh-so-stunning holographics snap them up here after all there is no such thing as too much red or green polish in my universe.  However Carolyn's shop won't be open again until the 28th so plan accordingly. Thanks so much for reading and see you next post!

Stardust Polish Sweet Pea Holiday Nail Art

Polished prisoners,

Ok for reasons I can't fathom Blogger deleted my original post of this nail art!  I have no freaking clue why, but what a major bummer.  In any event I wanted to put up my last nail art featuring Sweet Pea from Stardust Polish.  This one is absolutely stunning IRL and so pretty I tried not to create art that would crush the light out of the polish.  I think I got the balance just right while staying true to my sense of artistry.  So blogger you better not auto-delete my post this time!

Isn't this polish so pretty?!?  I took the liberty of once again taking my Apipila Cosmeticos plates out for a spin.  I pray my manilouge is right since it was also deleted and I wasn't sure which plate I used

Mani-louge

Base coat/Top coat: CND Stickey and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash

Base: Stardust Polish Sweet Pea

Stamping Polish: Konad Special Polish in Black

Stamping Plate: Apipila P.10

 

I'm so please with how these turned out! You can find Stardust Polish here and it's my understanding that Drema just restocked her shop today so even though my post was deleted it's in perfect time for you to scoop all the pretties you want!  Thanks so much for reading and see you next post!

Hot Off The Stamping Press: Messy Mansion Holiday Plates!

Hey stamparellas,

You know I can't stand to miss a good plate release right?  I have so many of these little hot tickets that are releasing to put up on my blog it's nonsensical, but as usual my heart skips a beat when I see that Julia releases new plates.  If you don't know about Messy Mansion check out my Plates I Love feature it's chock full of my love and admiration for this lovely Aussie indie plate maker! Let me say I already ordered away as soon as I saw they released since I am totally in love with this brand!

These have actually been on the etching table for a while, but they finally released this week. It's a bit late for the Thanksgiving plate, but of course I had to have it anyway so next year I'll be all set ;)

The last plate MM29 in my opinion is the most sickening sickening plate I have seen from a creator in a while!  Still utterly blow away by this piece.  I got some big plans when that plate arrives.  In any event.  These plates are available now.  Get em here while they last. I hope the winter themed one makes it in time for me to create some lovely Christmas art.  I get plates from Julia pretty quickly though usually in about a week from when I place my order.  The plates retail for $7 USD and it's on $2.50 USD flat rate for world wide shipping.  Got I love your plates Julia!  Thanks so much for reading and see you next post!

Stardust Polish Supernova Winter Butterfly Nail Art

Happy Sunday ladies,

I wish I could say my Sunday is going to be spent indoors basking in warmth and drinking chocolate chai while working on fun manis, but I know how this jazz is going down.  I'm gonna be filling out templates, chasing down electrolytes, and doing goodness knows what else.  Doesn't that chocolate chai sound nice though? I've been making it at home lately from unsweetened almond milk and the Starbucks mix and it's totally heavenly! Just like the mani I'm about to show you.  It's another Stardust Polish mani and today's dalliance into Drema's world features my favorite of the 3 polishes sent to me - Supernova.  Check out swatches here.  I wanted winter to be a little more glamorous, beautiful, and whimsical.  I think I hit it spot on.

Supernova Mani-louge

Base: Stardust Polish Supernova

Stamping polish: Konad Special Polish in Deep Blue and Black Gold

Stamping plate: Bundle Monster CYO BM424

I did a little gradient stamping for the wings because I knew I wanted the butterfly to transition from dark blue to black at the edges. What blows me away is how blue this polish it!  It's bright and exuberant and every time I looked down it made me happy to see the blue and various colored matte glitters shining back at me. 

So what do you think?  I also took this opportunity to once again break out some of my Create Your Own Bundle Monster plates.  I am so impressed by this set.  The rhinestones and gold beads were simply the final touch required for embellishment.  Over all I love what I created!  In any case thanks so much for reading.  I'll have my last installment of nail art up tomorrow and see you next post!

Stardust Polish Lavender Dream Winter Nail Art

Hey lacqueristas,

As promised I'm back with some nail art for the Stardust Polishes I reviewed yesterday.  If you didn't see my swatches and post check it out here first.  Normally when I create nail art for a brand I swatch I tend to push them together into one post and it's hard to figure out whether to give swatches or art priority and because of that I decided it's probably best to give each an equal billing especially when I love the polish and the art so much in different ways.  So here I am and here we go!

Lavender Dream Mani-louge

Base: Lavender Dream

Stamping polish:  Konad Special Polish in Black Gold, White and Purple

Stamping plates: Bundle Monster BM14 & BM407

Again Lavender Dream is a subtle scattered holo with a blue shimmer.  I love everything about it and for some reason when I saw it I knew a winter inspired theme would suit it perfectly!  I have to say this came out so gorgeously.  I wanted to create a gradient purples sliding from dark to light along the light base which is exactly what I think I achieved.  I have to say I am also really loving my new CYO Bundle Monster plates!  The images on them are just so cool and workable.  Love em to death!

So what do you think?  You can get Lavender Dream here in the Stardust polish store.  Stand by for more awesome nail art from the brand.  Thanks so much for reading and I'll see you next post!

Swatched: Stardust Polish Lavender Dream, SuperNova, and Sweet Pea Review!

Hello lacquer ladies,

I have some very pretty polish for you all today.  I don't know who is whispering in the ears of these creative geniuses but thank you!  I got the opportunity to swatch a few polishes for the indie brand Stardust Polish, and I am beyond honored.  If you've never heard of the brand is it run by the highly professional and sweet Drema.  When she sent me the package it contained a card and the polishes laid out professionally.  This is clearly someone who values the impact of presentation.  I do as well that's why I can appreciate it when I see it done well! I know this brand for a red holo by the name of Yes Your Majesty inspired by the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland.  For some reason I can't get the timing of this one so I have yet to attain it as it's quite popular so it sells out pretty quickly.  So now that I've told you a little about the brand let's get swatching!

Lavender Dream
A lavender weak scattered holo with a blue shimmer throughout.  It's very difficult to capture the holo component indoors but easier to see in flashes of direct sunlight.  The formula on this one is one of my favorite kind a medium thin consistency.  It applied a little streaky in the first coat but leveled out evenly by the second.  I used 3 coats for opacity here but could have gotten away with 2 coats easily.   I will say this is a color that plays very well with my skintone and I don't believe I have a lavender polish with a shimmer like this in my collection.  I will say though that the holographic  component is very subtle even in direct sunlight, and takes a backseat to the shimmer which in my opinion isn't a bad thing when the shimmer is so gorgeous! I thought of at least 5 ways to wear this polish after I got it laid down on my nails and when that happens I know I've got a hold of something good!

Outdoors

 Artificial Light - holo becomes more silvery

 Outdoors again - subtle holo shimmer here and blueish sheen

Sweet Pea
Easily my favorite of the bunch and not just because of my problematic holo hussy ways.  Sweet Pea, a deep rich raspberry toned polish with a linear holographic finish, has utterly stolen my heart!  It's so flattering on my skintone I never want to take it off.  While I was going about my business at home occasionally I'd get a glimpse of fire flash from this mani and immediately stop to stare and angle my hands to catch the best light.  Yup it's a winner!  This polish is extremely thin which means you have to build it up.  At three coats I still had visible nail line, but at 4 everything was perfect with no drag in between coats.  Here's another bonus of this shade - I felt with every coat the berry colored became richer and deeper.  I was worried about putting down so many coats to reach opacity because I felt it might take forever to dry, but as with every well done holo I've encountered this was dry at a speed that made me blink!

Sweet Baby J this polish is gorgeous!

Supernova
Be. Still. My. Heart.  This polish is genius! I wanted to swatch it first the minute I opened the package.  I went ooooohhhh and ahhhhh and squeeeee.  Hey don't judge a lady has to have her little pleasures in life you know!  You all know I love me some blue polish, but what I like the most about this one are the pops of reddish pink, white, and yellow in the canary blue base.  This is a bold and happy polish and with the winter plaguing me by the day I could use a little burst of cheer.  This polish is a also on the thin side in the most perfect way!  I'm really surprised because usually cream based glitter filled polishes tend to be a bit thicker, You do however need to be careful of drag from the matte glitter and not rush between coats.  Supernova is pictured here in 2 self-leveling coats.

I had to adjust the color here so my skin looks jaundiced but this blue is what it's like in real life.  Fantastic!!!

The 411:

Scoop these little pretties here

Follow Drema and stay updated on the latest on Facebook

Polishes retail between $8-11 USD

So thoughts?  These polishes are all unique and pretty in different ways and I like that!  I think Drema did a good job of showing me and and as such you what her brand is all about,  namely presentation and eye-catching elements in the vein of shimmer, holo, and bold glitters.  I can honestly say it's been a while since I have been sent polishes to review and found I loved each one equally in different ways!   That said because I liked them all so much I took the time to create nail art for all three polishes!  So come back tomorrow and check out my Startdust Polish nail art.  I want to say thanks for reading and I'll see you next post!

Clearly as I already stated these polishes were sent to me for review but like everything else on this blog I give you my true opinion 110% of the time!

Hot Off The Stamping Press: MoYou London Explorer Collection Expansion + Holiday Limited Edition Plate

Hey stamperellas,

I took a pause over the holidays.  Lol not really unfortunately I didn't really get a true holiday and spent most of the time working like the proverbial dog.  I did post some things to my IG including some Elevation Polish nail art that I will have upcoming on the blog, but today let's play a little catch up!   Remember the MoYou London Explorer Collection that I raved and raved about basically telling you which organs I would sell off in order to attain these lovelies? If not click here and relive my insanity and unquenchable lust!  Lol well MoYou has already updated the collection and these 5 new beauties have joined the crowd to play!

I can see so many amazing things happening with this design on my nails!

For me this plate is probably my least favorite but only because I feel like the Artist Collection with the Sugar Skull Madame that I secretly call La Catrina blows this one out of the water!

Look at this friggin giraffe!  How cool how cool is this plate! I freaking adore this!

 Love the dreamcatchers above lol questionable love over the little eagle head which is borderline creepy.  **Shrugs**

Just spectacular right?  This collection is sneaking up to the Artist and Suki for my favorite collections thus far.  These plates as usual are highly unique and even better I think this collection has an edge of funkiness which makes them even more superb! For a bonus I'm going to also show you MoYou's new limited edition holiday plate!



Aren't these plates awesome?  The Explorer plates released last week and the Limited Edition released today.  They retail for 4.99 Euros as usual and are available now so hurry up and go scoop some pretty.  Jeez I  honestly once again want everything!  It's unfortunate that right now I'm being pulled in multiple directions in terms of awesome stamping plates coming out now.  It's a travesty to my wallet!  Lol Thanks for reading and see you next post!