Monday, August 4, 2014

Before & After: Leadlighting isn't just for light bases

Hello!

You've seen the lead-lighting technique here on my blog and elsewhere. Normally, you use a light-colored base (usually white), stamp in black, and then put nearly translucent polishes over the stamping to color it in.

Well, I just can't leave well enough alone, and I decided I wanted to try it with a base other than a light-colored base, because, well, I'm stubborn like that. So I've been playing around a bit, and wanted to show you something I think you'll like.

Here's the base I started with, it's Misa Lash Out, from their Blink Of An Eye collection--if you haven't seen this collection, take a look. There are three polishes in it that I've never seen anything like: wax-finish matte polish with a crazy sparkle that's almost like a scattered holo; in the sunlight, it's insane. Lash Out is a blue-leaning teal:


Misa Lash Out
Misa Lash Out
Misa Lash Out
Misa Lash Out

Misa Lash Out
Misa Lash Out

Misa Lash Out

 This also looks beautiful with topcoat, as you'll see below. I'm not sure which way I prefer it.  :)

To decorate it, I first stamped using MoYou London's Sci-fi plate 04, with Sally Hansen Silver Sweep. I added a star rhinestone to the index finger (more about this below), and I used the leadlighting technique on the pinkie finger. I filled in the planet with ALIQUID Lake Michigan Sunset (originally sent for review) with the lead-lighting technique--I applied it over the planet with a dotting tool:



Lead-lit galaxy!


Notice that the effect is subtle here--I wanted to highlight the planet, not necessarily make it jump out. The gentle difference in color makes it appear slightly three-dimensional in person, and as you can see in the close-up, I chose this polish so the little flakes in it would catch the light:


Leadlighting over a colored base
Lead-lighting over a colored base


Two more things I want to say about this. For the constellation on my index finger, I was really surprised that I found it nearly impossible to get a clean image from it. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with my plate, so maybe I was just having one of those days (although everything else stamped easily). I hadn't originally intended to use the star rhinestone, but because two of the stars just wouldn't come out right, I used it to cover one of them, and it ended up giving a good balance to the manicure. So this is one solution to use if you have a smudge or something in your stamping--throw on a well placed rhinestone, stud, or glitter.

The last point I want to make is that I really want to encourage you to use lead-lighting over other colors. If you do, test out your color combinations to make sure you're going to like what you get, and don't forget those kindergarten paint mixture rules: if you put blue over a yellow base, you're probably gonna get green. Play around, have fun, and bring the leadlighting out into the full range of color!

Hugs, and I hope your week has started well. :)
M.

13 comments:

  1. I think lead-lighting has more oomph over a light base but it's cool to add something in a mani like this too. I absolutely love the base colour you used here and I really like the star rhinestone even if it wasn't supposed to be there at first :)

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    1. I think you can get oomph over a colored base, too, depending on the color combinations. I wanted something subtle for this one, but I'm going to play a bit with some yellow and see how that goes...wish me luck!

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  2. I really like this mani :)
    (The text says the leadlighting is on the index, but it's on the pinky, right?)

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  3. Cute! I am a huge fan of blues and greens on nails... Even though I never wear it. It's so bold!

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    1. I used to be scared of them when I first became a nail fanatic, but now I love them!! :)

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  4. Amazing! Such intricate designs.

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    1. Thank you! That's one of the reason I love MoYou, they do such great designs. :)

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    1. Great stuff, this. Love the finish on that Misa polish! And the stamping designs are just too cute, especially that constellation one (now I have to go play me some Jack Johnson (Constellations)). :)

      (err, sorry, just a typo in my previous comment)

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    2. ::googles Jack Johnson Constellations:: <3

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