Since today is Halloween, I thought I'd show you the nails I'm doing with my Halloween costume. I actually already did this once, for a party I went to, so I have all the pics ready to go!
I went (and am handing out candy) as a voodoo priestess:
I wanted a manicure that played up the feathers and the animal skulls in the costume, and of course included a voodoo doll...
I love how it came out--the feathers add a gorgeous texture and the skulls are just creepy! I also love the little pop of red. This is when I love nail art the most--when you can create something truly original to make a cool day even cooler.
So, there have been plenty of times when I've acquired a plate because an image matched something in my wardrobe...but for the first time ever, I bought an article of clothing because it matched an image I have in my stamping plate wardrobe.
It was really only a matter of time.
Here's the image in question, from Creative Shop 151:
Yes, that's right, it's a murderous kitty with a bloody knife standing atop a pile of skulls from his (or her!) victims. Totes adorbs, am I right?!
So you can imagine what happened when I saw this shirt:
If what you imagine is me squealing and clicking 'buy' so fast I sprained my finger, you're spot on.
For reasons I won't get into, I had to do a manicure using orange on the day I used this image for the first time. So here's what I came up with:
How cute and Halloweeny is that?! The next time I do it, I'm going to choose colors that match the shirt more exactly, but I gotta say, I love, love, love how this came out. What do you think? Too creepy for you? Or just creepy enough?
I'm back today with another Polish Pickup polish--this time one that's beautiful to wear, and to stamp with, and it's inspired by the song For Evermore from the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast:
Lantern & Wren For Evermore
Lantern & Wren For Evermore
Lantern & Wren For Evermore
Lantern & Wren For Evermore
Lantern & Wren For Evermore
Lantern & Wren For Evermore
Lantern & Wren For Evermore
Lantern & Wren For Evermore
Coverage: I'm wearing two coats on my index and pinkie fingers; you might be fine with just one. Application, formula, and stamping: As a regular polish, this applies beautifully and has a rich, deep color. It leans a bit lighter teal when stamped over white. The color doesn't show up as clearly over black, but the holo spark is still there. The image I used here is from Lantern & Wren's Feline Like Spring plate.
Lantern & Wren also has also made a lotion for Polish Pickup again--this month's scent is wassail, which smells like the most yummy mulled wine or plum pudding you've every sniffed!
Lantern & Wren wassail scented lotion
I love this lotion--it absorbs quickly and isn't greasy. Definitely excellent quality.
You can buy both of these products during November's PPU sale, from Nov. 1 - 4th. Each item sells for $12.00; the polish has a cap of 200, while the lotion has a cap of 100 only. In the meantime, check out Lantern & Wren's stamping plates here, and come hang out with other PPU fans in the Polish Pickup Pack group. :)
Coverage: I'm wearing three coats; this is also beautiful as a single coat over just about any color. Application and formula: Like buttah!
Stella Chroma Fountain of Fair Fortune is inspired by a tale by JK Rowling, about a trio of witches and a knight who travel through an enchanted forest to bathe in the Fountain of Fair Fortune. This polish is certainly enchanted--it's like a unicorn and a mermaid had a most amazing child! Packed full of iridescent flakies, it's like a fire opal for your nail. Absolutely magical.
For my nail art for this one, well...you know I had to do it...
UberChic Beauty Mermaid Life over Stella Chroma Fountain of Fair Fortune
UberChic Beauty Mermaid Life over Stella Chroma Fountain of Fair Fortune
This polish makes the BEST mermaid nails!! I plan to keep it where I can grab it at any moment because you just can't be in a bad mood when you're wearing this beauty. :)
This month Stella Chroma is also featuring an emulsified sugar scrub in the sale--it's oatmeal, milk, and honey scent, and it smells yummy!
I love using a good sugar scrub when I can during my manicure, to help exfoliate the skin around my nails.
You can get both from Nov. 1-4th during Polish Pickup's November sale; the polish will sell for $12.00, and the sugar scrub for $6. And in the meantime, come hang out with the Polish Pickup Pack, and check out Stella Chroma's other gorgeous polishes here. :)
You guys! I've had a crazy busy couple of weeks! Among other things, I had visitors from out of town and another of my cats had to be rushed to the hospital after trying to eat my couch. Possibly the cutest moment of it all was when my little niece told the cat, "Stop eating things you aren't supposed to eat!" Truer words have never been spoken.
The Lady Varnishes Human Tales? Humans Don't Have Tails...
The Lady Varnishes Human Tales? Humans Don't Have Tails
The Lady Varnishes Human Tales? Humans Don't Have Tails
The Lady Varnishes Human Tales? Humans Don't Have Tails
The Lady Varnishes Human Tales? Humans Don't Have Tails
The Lady Varnishes Human Tales? Humans Don't Have Tails
The Lady Varnishes Human Tales? Humans Don't Have Tails
Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Easy, breezy, awesome.
A scattered holo forest green to get me through fall and winter?! YES PLEASE. I love the gold glimmer in this, and the subtle look of glowing flakes. Gorgeous on its own, if you're a nail artist, this is great for creepy Halloween forests and beautiful pine groves for winter/Christmas. I'm telling you--grab this one.
For my nail art with this one, I was inspired by one of my favorite tales from this time of year--the tale of Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin. For some reason that always fascinated me--even though he never saw the Great Pumpkin, he believed so hard, and that just always made me happy. So I created my very own Great Pumpkin, glimpsed flying around the pumpkin patch:
Creative Shop 151 over The Lady Varnishes Human Tales? Humans Don't Have Tails
You can only buy The Lady Varnishes Human Tales? Humans Don't Have Tails during November's Polish Pickup sale, from November 1st-4th. It will sell for $12.50, with 150 bottles available. And don't forget to check out The Lady Varnishes' other beauties here. :)
Today we're going to take a look at something I'm super excited about--the very first two stamping plates from Hit The Bottle Polish! Hit The Bottle makes my favorite stamping polishes and everything Michelle does is top-notch quality, so I've been waiting for these plates with baited breath...And, one's a Halloween plate!
Here's my video review of the plates:
And here's a closer look, first at Hit The Bottle Embrace The Darkside:
Skill level: Most of the images on this plate are suitable for beginners. What I love about this plate: I love the elegant goth images--pretty enough to use all year long, or really class up your Halloween manis. I love the dancing celebrants, and the sexy cats, and the cool bat, and the flies--BUT UNICORN SKELETONS THOUGH!!!
Skill level: Beginners will have no problem creating masterpieces with this. And it's far easier than actual fluid nail art! What I love about this plate: Fluid nail art effects that don't take hours to make and a huge mess? Sigh. Me. Up.
Here are the test swatches I did:
On to the manis! First a simple look:
Hit The Bottle Polish Embrace The Darkside over Girly Bits The Hustle
