Digit-al Dozen Day 2: Look up!

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


So this month's theme in The Digit-al Dozen is "Look up!"--basically, the idea is to create manis that show what we see when we look up.


For my first mani, I decided to be very literal, and do a mani about what I see if I literally look up while doing my nails. And in my living room, which is where I do my nails---I have one of those horrendous popcorn-finish ceilings. You know, the lumpy bumpy ones...and at some point someone thought the right way to save mine was to spray some glitter onto it. So here's what I came up with...

I started with a base of the much-reviled China Glaze There's Snow One Like You (which I still maintain is an awesome way to add snow to your nail art, but agree is pretty tough to try to wear on its own), and then added a very light brush of Colores De Carol Bling over the top:

China Glaze There's Snow One Like You and Colores De Carol Bling

Yeah, give or take a little artistic license, that's what my ceiling looks like. Well, almost...if I'm completely honest, there's something else that needs to be added in...

UberChic Beauty Halloween 04 China Glaze There's Snow One Like You and Colores De Carol Bling

Yep, dusty cobwebs. Maybe not THAT many, but yep, they're there. I never claimed to be a good housekeeper, and right now while I'm trying to catch up on everything, cobwebs on my ceiling are the last thing on my list to worry about! ;-) I added these in with UberChic Beauty Halloween 04 and Sally Hansen Grease Lightening.


I'll be back before you know it with another 'Look Up' mani, and in the meantime, check out the other ladies' take on the theme below. :)

Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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The Digit-al Dozen Does "White" Day 4: featuring UberChic Beauty 27-03

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


Today's day four of The Digit-al Dozen's "White" theme, and I'm going to show you a white mani using UberChic Beauty 27-03...plus a bonus look with that plate.


If you missed it, here's my video review of collection 27:

And here's a look I did with plate 27-02.


But now, let's take a look at plate 27-03!

UberChic Beauty 27-03

So first, here's a simple look that's the complete opposite of 'white'--I started with a base of Spellbound Nails Black Eye, and stamped with Moyra Gold:

UberChic Beauty 27-03 over Spellbound Nails Black Eye

UberChic Beauty 27-03 over Spellbound Nails Black Eye

I like the simplicity of this, I think it's classy but glitzy. :)


Okay, so now for the 'White' mani! I started with two coats of Colores De Carol Bling, to give a little silver holo sparkle over my naked nails, then stamped with Kaleidoscope White:

UberChic Beauty 27-03 over Colores De Carol Bling

UberChic Beauty 27-03 over Colores De Carol Bling

And here it is matted:

UberChic Beauty 27-03 over Colores De Carol Bling

UberChic Beauty 27-03 over Colores De Carol Bling

I love the bling in this (no pun intended!) and the play of white over it. I think this is a romantic mani--the swirls sorta look like swans atop a heart to me. :)


You can find collection 27 on sale now in UberChic Beauty's store. And don't forget to check out the other ladies' manis, linked below. :)

Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Before & After: Mysterious Rendezvous

(Nothing to disclose)

Hello!

I'm back today with a manicure I think is fast and cute for a New Year's Eve or other party sort of look...It's a little more subtle than my last look, but still has plenty of wow.

I started out with China Glaze Rendezvous With You, a sugar-plum concoction of fleck-y sparkle:

China Glaze Rendezvous With You

Next I stamped an image with Nfu-Oh 61 and Cici&Sisi 19, then I sponged on some Bling! by Colores de Carol:

I like that this is a simple, fast look that delivers style and just enough bling to make you feel special at that awesome party. A sprinkle of holo glitter will catch that hottie's eye--and I have no doubt you'll be able to take it from there.


Happy stamping,
M.

Review & NOTD: Christmas Tree Skittle Mani with Born Pretty Store nail tape dispenser

(Press sample)

Hello!

Born Pretty Store recently sent me this nail tape dispenser to review; I chose it actually because I tend to struggle a little with nail tape:

Born Pretty Store nail tape dispenser

Born Pretty Store nail tape dispenser

My issue with nail tape is two-fold. The main problem is that I lose the end and struggle to find it again, and in the meantime what I've already applied catches on something and pulls off. Of course, one solution to this is to cut off as many pieces as you need, and pull them off the corner of your table or some such as needed. That sounds good, but what happens is, when I pull one of those pieces off, it instantly flaps over and sticks to my hand or something else, and then I have to try to pull it back off while not destroying the tape on the artwork I'm trying to do. AND, I still can't find the end of the tape the next time I go to do another mani.

So, when I saw this, I figured it would be good for someone as nail-tape challenged as me--it will keep the end ever-ready, and maybe even help me keep the tape under control while I'm working.

I did a video review of the case here, just showing how easy it is to open and put the tape in:

I also did a second video, a tutorial using the dispenser to make the manicure you'll see below:

What I like about it:

• It keeps the end easily accessible
• It's easy to pull off what you need as you need it
• It's easier to grip than the rolls of tape, so I find it easier to use while I'm applying the teap
• It opens easily so you can change the color of your tape as often as you want

For my test mani, I did a little twist on a simple, traditional nail-tape manicure, the simple Christmas tree. Normally what you do is put on your base polish, and then when it's fully dry, you lay your tape, put the polish for your tree over it, then pull up your tape.

For my tree, I wanted the tree to be on a naked nail, and have two layers--and undercoat of glitter that would show through as the 'garland' on the tree, and the tree itself:

Christmas tree skittle mani

Christmas tree skittle mani

Christmas tree skittle mani

As you'll see in the video, I messed up my first attempt. See, what you have to do is:

1) Try not to overlap your glitter coat with your tape.
2) Let this coat dry completely.
3) Put your 'garland' tape on.
4) Put your green polish on, and give it a few seconds to set but not dry
5) Remove your tape in the reverse order you put each piece on.

So this look can be a little tricky, but I think it's worth it, because I love the spray of glitter showing through as the garland on the tree.

Here are the products I used:
Colors By Llarowe Pirates of Penzance (holo red!)
Colores de Carol (silver holo glitter!)
Colors By Llarowe Gemini Rising (Holo green!)
Color Club Marina (textured gold--I think this looks like Christmas garland!)
Bunny Nails HD-F to stamp the star pattern on the thumb and pinkie, and the star at the top of the tree
Barry M Silver and Gold Foil Effects.

I love how it came out, and have already gotten compliments on my sweet little tree.

If you get frustrated with nail tape like I do, a little dispenser like this might be just the trick for you; for $1.59, it's hard to go wrong. You can also use my Born Pretty Code for 10% off  you full-priced order:

Happy taping!
M.

Review and test: My Online Shop JR-35

(Nothing to disclose)

Today I'm showing you a brand I've never tried before, My Online Shop. They've been around for a while, but you know how it is--so many plates, so little time. *sigh*

But I finally got two of these plates, and I'm starting off today with JR-35, because this month's theme in the Nail Challenge Collaborative is 'animals', and this is the most animalest plate I've ever seen. Yes, it's a word. I checked...>.>

Let's start with the video:

And here are the stills:

My Online Shop JR-35

My Online Shop JR-35

My Online Shop JR-35

And to give you a sense for how big the images are, here's the plate next to a standard Konad plate:

My Online Shop JR-35 vs. Konad

For my first manicure with this plate, you know I had to check out the cute little kitties...they're half the reason I bought the plate! I started with a pink-and-purple skittle featuring Zoya Eden, Colores de Carol Amethyst, and Zoya Thea; I did a little sponging on my ring finger, and then stamped my kitties on top:

Kitty skittle

Kitty skittle

Kitty skittle

I have to admit I struggled a little getting these kitties to stamp well; unlike the images I tested in the video, these are a little harder to isolate, and I had to scrape/pick up each of these at least 5-10 times before I got a good image--and you can see on my pinky and my middle finger, the images still were not perfect. This doesn't mean that the plate is bad, just that it's not a beginner plate, and you may have to try a few times before you get the image you like.

What do you think--cute enough to be worth a little extra work? :)

Happy stamping,
M.

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