Marianne Nails N. 19!

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Hello!


Today we're going to take a look at Marianne Nails N. 19, which celebrates all things fashion, and sales, which seems appropriate for Cyber Monday! Here's the video review I did of the plate:

And here's a closer look:

Marianne Nails N. 19

What I love about this plate: I adore the dress made of butterflies and the butterfly shoe! And I love all the textile images. :)


Size wise, Marianne's full nail images are 1.5 cm x 2.1 cm. And here's a look at a shot with a ruler so you can get a sense of how small the images at the bottom are:

How about quality? These swatches were done with Sally Hansen Plummet and my clear stamper:

 

Excellent quality!


For my first manicure, I started with a base of Morgan Taylor Drawing A Blanco, and stamped with Messy Mansion Sterling and Soft Gold:

Marianne Nails N. 19 over Morgan Taylor Drawing A Blanco

Marianne Nails N. 19 over Morgan Taylor Drawing A Blanco

I love this for a holiday party look, or even a bridal look.


For my second manicure, I started with a base of Zoya Kelsey, Alicia, and Sally Hansen Get Mod, then stamped with Messy Mansion Sterling and Kaleidoscope St-04 Pink:

Marianne Nails N. 19 over Zoya Kelsey and Alicia, and Sally Hansen Get Mod

Marianne Nails N. 19 over Zoya Kelsey and Alicia, and Sally Hansen Get Mod

I loved this so much, I did an alternate version where I put brads on two of the nails:

Marianne Nails N. 19 over Zoya Kelsey and Alicia, and Sally Hansen Get Mod

Marianne Nails N. 19 over Zoya Kelsey and Alicia, and Sally Hansen Get Mod

What do you think? Do you like the first version or the second version better?


You can find this plate in Marianne Nails shop, or at Lantern & Wren if you're in the US or Canada. And don't forget to follow Marianne around the interwebs, here:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Marianne-nails-1434900166772095/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marianne.nails.france/

Fan group: https://www.facebook.com/search/str/fans+of+marianne+nails%2Fles+fans+de+marianne+nails/keywords_top

Happy stamping!
M. xoxo

NOTD: The Gates of Hell...

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Hello!


Today I have a quick NOTD to share with you that I think is just heaven...well, okay, maybe hell...


I started with a base of Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up, then stamped Winstonia W202 and Bundle Monster H-07, using Messy Mansion Chalk and Carbon:

Winstonia W202 & Bundle Monster H-07 over Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up

Winstonia W202 & Bundle Monster H-07 over Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up

Go ahead...open the gates and walk on in...but don't forget: Abandon all hope, ye who enter here...


Happy stamping!
M.

Morgan Taylor Flirty Florals stamping kit

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Hello!


Today we're going to take a brief break from Halloween themes to take a look at Morgan Taylor's Flirty Florals stamping kit. I've reviewed two of their polish collections now, and have been really impressed both times. So when they asked if I wanted to review this stamping kit, I figured I'd give it a shot. We've all been burned by the cheapy stamping kits out there you can find in drugstores, so let's take a look at how this kit holds up.

Morgan Taylor's Flirty Florals Stamping Kit

Here's the video review I did testing it out:

Let's take a closer look:

Morgan Taylor's Flirty Florals Stamping Kit

The kit contains a regular-sized squishy clear stamper, a credit-card style plastic scraper, and two image plates that come in cardboard holders. The stamper and the scraper were excellent quality; the stamper was squishy enough to work well with my curved nails, and the scraper was Goldilocks--not too flexible and not too stiff, just right.


The two plates have a variety of floral-themed images that work across a range of seasons, moods, and stamping techniques:

Morgan Taylor's Flirty Florals 3720201-1

Morgan Taylor's Flirty Florals 3720201-2

The images are  1.6 cm wide x 2.7cm tall:

So now for the all-important stamping test--I used the stamper that came in the kit and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Plummet (the test polish I normally use):

Every single image came out detailed and perfect the very first time I tried it. Solid areas were solid with no gaps, fine lines were crisp, and combo images worked well with no special scraping shenanigans. Absolutely top-notch quality.


For my first manicure, I started with a base of Morgan Taylor Don't Break My Corazon from their Matadora collection, then stamped with Messy Mansion Carbon for my accent nail, and used Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up to stamp the rest (I was delighted to find that most of the polishes in that collection were good stampers over light-to-mid colors):

Morgan Taylor's Flirty Florals 3720201-2 over Don't Break My Corazon

Morgan Taylor's Flirty Florals 3720201-2 over Don't Break My Corazon

I love how this has a soft, fun romantic feel, with an extra pop, and I adore how these two reds work together.


For my second mani, I started with a base of Morgan Taylor Mauve Your Feet, and stamped the lace pattern with Morgan Taylor Danced and Sang-ria:

Morgan Taylor's Flirty Florals 3720201-1 over Mauve Your Feet

Morgan Taylor's Flirty Florals 3720201-1 over Mauve Your Feet

I love how these colors give the lace a vampy edge that's sexy and almost goth at the same time!


So would I recommend this kit? Yes, without reservation. If you're a beginner, this will get you off to a great start. And if you're not, you can always use extra stampers and scrapers for making decals and fun stuff like that. A girl can never have too many stampers or scrapers, I say.


Morgan Taylor products are sold at JC Penny and you can find other sources on their website. You can also follow them around the interwebs here:

Website: https://www.morgantaylorlacquer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtmorgantaylor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorganTaylorLacquer/

Happy stamping!!
M.

Dixie Plates DP 09!

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Hello!


Today we're going to take a look at Dixie Plates DP 09, my very first Dixie Plates plate! I couldn't resist snapping this up because it has such cool images on it, and especially the Halloween right around the corner, I couldn't resist those skulls 'n' such. Here's a video review I did of the plate:

And here's a still of the plate:

Dixie Plates DP 09

What's to love about this plate: The Halloween stuff grabbed me, but the rest grabbed on and held me. The skulls are great as skulls, and as a textured background. The pin-up sugar skull beauty is beyond amazing, and the eye-pyramid image would have been enough all on their own. I also love the brocade-deco images at the top, and all the beautiful medallion artwork at the bottom. And the free edges--I love that there are shapes here you can play with, curves and lacy lines to give my manicures extra flexibility and pop.


How about size? The full nail images are 2.1 x 2.5 cm, and here it is with a ruler so you can judge the other images:

How about image quality? These swatches are taken with a clear stamper, and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Plummet, and as you can see, they're top-notch:

For my first mani, I had to go right for that gorgeous lady. I started with a base of Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up, from their Matadora collection, and Sally Hansen Get Mod on my accent nail. I made a decal using Zoya Qtica top coat, and shunk the image slightly by stamping with an UberChic Beauty Luxe stamper, and then removing the stamper head from the handle so it de-stretches (is that a word?) a little. I colored in her lips, earring, and rose with All Tango-d Up for a pop of matching color, and stamped the rose image on my other nails with Messy Mansion Carbon:

Dixie Plates DP 09 over Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up and Sally Hansen Get Mod

Dixie Plates DP 09 over Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up and Sally Hansen Get Mod

I love this mani so hard, there aren't even words. The rich red of the roses, and the pin-up feel of that gorgeous face--she's hot, hot, hot!


I filmed a tutorial to show you how to get this look with the slight shrink technique (thanks to Jenn W for the tip!):

For my second mani, I wanted to play around with the skulls. I started with a base of Morgan Taylor Drawing A Blanco, Danced and Sang-ria, and All Tango-d Up, then stamped with Messy Mansion Chalk and Carbon:

Dixie Plates DP 09 over Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up, Drawing a Blanco, and Danced and Sang-ria

Dixie Plates DP 09 over Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up, Drawing a Blanco, and Danced and Sang-ria

I love how this mani is both creepy and beautiful all at the same time--it channels a Nightmare Before Christmas sort of vibe, with a slightly creepier edge. This is the sort of 'Halloween' mani I'd absolutely wear all year around.


I was playing around and did a slightly different version with the same polishes (All Tango-d Up stamps well):

I like this version too, but because the color shows through in the skull shapes, it's a bit harder to see them as skulls. But you can see how the image gives a great graphic texture.

So what do I think about Dixie Plates? I love them and can't wait to get my hands on more. Luckily, a few more just arrived today, so stay tuned...


If you're in the US or Canada, you can find this plate at Lantern & Wren; if you live outside those areas, check the Dixie Plates site for updated stocking information. And in the meantime, you can stalk Dixie Plates around the interwebs here:

Dixie Plates Facebook Fangroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/461694520667496/

Dixie Plates on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dixie_plates/

Happy stamping!
M. xoxo

Review: Morgan Taylor's Matadora fall 2017 collection

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Hello!


Today we're going to take a look at Morgan Taylor's new collection--the Matadora fall 2017 collection:

Morgan Taylor Matadora fall 2017 collection

This collection is inspired by Spain, particularly the colors of traditional Spanish clothes and culture. When I look at this collection together I see flamenco dresses, roses, and black lace. Let's break it on down!


First up is Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up, a spicy blood-red crelly:

Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up

Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up

Morgan Taylor All Tango-d Up

Formula and application: This was easy to apply every step of the way.
Coverage: 2-3 coats

This polish isn't quite a creme, and not quite a jelly, and while I normally use the word 'crelly' for finishes like this that also include glitter, it's the best term to capture the finish. It has a hint of that jelly squishiness without the complete opacity.

This color is the sort of red that flatters everybody--a little vampy, a lot sexy, and just plain classically beautiful. It's red roses from your lover and lipstick on Hollywood glamour queens. I'll be returning to this again and again.


Next up is Morgan Taylor Danced and Sang-ria, an almost black aubergine purple crelly:

Morgan Taylor Danced and Sang-ria

Morgan Taylor Danced and Sang-ria

Morgan Taylor Danced and Sang-ria

Formula and application: Beautiful and easy.
Coverage: 2-3 coats

This polish turns the vamp quotient up about as high as it can go. Smoking hot, sexy, and mysterious. Sign me up.


Then we have Morgan Taylor Don't Break My Corazon, a tomato-red creme:

Morgan Taylor Don't Break My Corazon

Morgan Taylor Don't Break My Corazon

Formula and application: Perfect.
Coverage: 1-2 coats

I got full coverage with one coat of this--super impressive. This polish is fiery and energetic, just looking at it makes me want to go find the nearest salsa club and dance the night away! If I could dance without seriously injuring myself or others, that is. 

Next we have Morgan Taylor Drawing a Blanco, a white shimmer that's nearly a metallic, with tiny pin-point flecks of gold: 

Morgan Taylor Drawing a Blanco

Morgan Taylor Drawing a Blanco

Formula and application: Easy, but a little patchy on the first coat.
Coverage: 2-3 coats

The little gold flecks in this add a sprinkle of magic that makes me feel like a snow queen when I'm wearing this. And who doesn't want to feel like a snow queen?!

Next is Morgan Taylor Mauve Your Feet, a light tan-mauve creme:

Morgan Taylor Mauve Your Feet

Morgan Taylor Mauve Your Feet

Formula and application:  Perfection.
Coverage: 1-2 coats

You guys, this is ONE COAT. Are you kidding me? I love this as a fall neutral, and the fact that it covers so well in one coat makes it the little black dress of your fall polish wardrobe, in my opinion.


And finally, we have Morgan Taylor Ole My Way, a royal blue shimmer:

Morgan Taylor Ole My Way

Morgan Taylor Ole My Way

Morgan Taylor Ole My Way

Formula and application:  Easy as you please-y. ;-)
Coverage: 2 coats

Wow, wow, wow. This is a night sky in a magical kingdom--I feel like I can look into it and see forever. This would make the most amazing galaxy nails--but it's also rich and regal all on its own. This is bold and a little goth and just plain HOT.


The colors in this collection are so saturated and rich, I had a feeling they might work as stamping polishes, so I tested them out...here are the results:

Drawing a Blanco isn't too effective over either light or dark bases as a stamping polish, but the others all ROCK over white. I'll definitely be using these to stamp--in fact, I maybe already have...stay tuned. :)


So what do I think of this collection overall? You'll notice I didn't pick a favorite because I just can't--I love every polish in this collection, and I love them all together. This collection celebrates what's bold, strong, and beautiful in us--it's incredibly sexy and powerful, and I can't wait to play with these polishes together in nail art.


Also, this is the second collection from Morgan Taylor I've reviewed, and I have to say, I'm really, really impressed with the quality. One-coat cremes are never easy, let alone in lighter colors, and I haven't had any issues with formula or application. I definitely recommend this line.


You can find Morgan Taylor polishes at JCPenny and other locations you can find through their site. You can also find many of their polishes on Amazon. And you can stalk them around the interwebs here:

Website: https://www.morgantaylorlacquer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtmorgantaylor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorganTaylorLacquer/

Happy polishing!
M. xoxo


*Press samples provided for my honest review by Morgan Taylor as part of the #PreenMeVIP program