Saturday, July 29, 2017

Before & After: Purple Crystal (featuring Spellbound Nails The Knight Bus + UberChic Beauty 10-02)

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!

So I learned something today...you have to be careful when you use matte topcoat over stamping.

I started with a base of Spellbound Nails The Knight Bus, from her Harry Potter Book 3 collection (see my full review here):


Spellbound Nails The Knight Bus
Spellbound Nails The Knight Bus

Then I stamped using UberChic Beauty 10-02, and Messy Mansion Carbon:


UberChic Beauty 10-02
UberChic Beauty 10-02


Then I used a matte topcoat...and discovered that even if you're careful, a matte topcoat can smudge your manicure:


UberChic Beauty 10-02 over Spellbound Nails The Knight Bus
UberChic Beauty 10-02 over Spellbound Nails The Knight Bus

Yes, it only smudged a little, but still. So what I learned from this is, always use regular topcoat over your stamping before you use matte topcoat! Even so, I do love this design, it has a peaceful stained-glass feel that I love.


Happy stamping and careful matte-ing!
M. xoxo

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Before & After: Always be a unicorn

(Press samples and affiliate links** ahead!) 

Hello!

Today I have a fun before-and-after for you...I haven't done a before & after for a while, but I love this skittle so much I had to show it to you.


Speaking of, I started with a skittle of polishes from the Girly Bits Sequins & Satin Pants collection (see my full review here), Brick House (index), The Hustle (middle), Le Freak (ring), Stayin' Alive (pinkie) and Sequins & Satin pants (thumb):


Girly Bits Cosmetics Brick House, The Hustle, Le Freak, Stayin' Alive, and Sequins & Satin Pants
Girly Bits Cosmetics Brick House, The Hustle, Le Freak, Stayin' Alive, and Sequins & Satin Pants


Then I stamped with Messy Mansion Chalk, with UberChic Beauty Unicorn Love:

UberChic Beauty Unicorn Love 

Here's how it turned out:


UberChic Beauty Unicorn Love over Girly Bits Cosmetics Brick House, The Hustle, Le Freak, Stayin' Alive, and Sequins & Satin Pants
UberChic Beauty Unicorn Love over Girly Bits Cosmetics Brick House, The Hustle, Le Freak, Stayin' Alive, and Sequins & Satin Pants


Some days you just gotta celebrate your inner unicorn, ya know? ;-)


Happy stamping,
M. xoxo


**When you click through to Amazon via one of my links, I get a few cents for any purchase you make during that visit, at no additional cost to you--even if it isn't the original product you clicked. All purchases are anonymous. So when you shop via my links, you help me pay for my hosting costs, etc. Thank you for your support!!!

Saturday, July 22, 2017

MoYou London Arabesque 09

(Press samples and affiliate links** ahead!)

Hello!


Today we're going to take a quick look at MoYou London Arabesque 09--this is not a new plate, but it's a new-to-me plate that I've been craving for ages and finally was able to buy. Here's the video review I did on the plate:



And here's a closer look:

MoYou London Arabesque Collection 09
MoYou London Arabesque Collection 09


What I love about this plate: I'm a huge fan of anything with an ancient Egyptian theme, and I have all of MoYou London's plates with that theme, and everything on this plate matches those other plates perfectly. For that reason alone, this was a no-brainer for me. But, even if I didn't have plates that match it, I'd grab this plate up for all of the gorgeous patterns on here that can be used in their own right, or for background images other art. Flowers and starts and geometrics--oh my!


Each of the squares on this plate are different sizes, so here's a shot with a ruler to help you get a feel for whether the images work for you--many of them are on the smaller side, so if you have longer nails they may not work, or you'll have to double them up:





I don't think I've ever had a MoYou London plate that I had a problem with, and this plate is no exception--look at the excellent detail even with a clear stamper:




For my sample manicure, I wanted to show you the background potential of the images, but I also had to throw something ancient Egyptian on there, too. I started with a base of Zoya River, then stamped the star pattern with Messy Mansion Soft Gold, and the cat with Messy Mansion Carbon:


MoYou London Arabesque Collection 09 over Zoya River, stamped with Messy Mansion Soft Gold and Carbon
MoYou London Arabesque Collection 09 over Zoya River, stamped with Messy Mansion Soft Gold and Carbon

MoYou London Arabesque Collection 09 over Zoya River, stamped with Messy Mansion Soft Gold and Carbon
MoYou London Arabesque Collection 09 over Zoya River, stamped with Messy Mansion Soft Gold and Carbon


This manicure features three things I love: background stamping, ancient Egypt, and of course, cats. I love the celestial feel and the ease of this look.


You can buy this plate (and tons more!) directly from MoYou London, or from Amazon if that's easier for you. And you can find MoYou London around the interwebs here:




Happy stamping!
M. xoxo


**When you click through to Amazon via one of my links, I get a very small commission for any purchase you make during that visit, at no additional cost to you--even if it isn't the original product you clicked. All purchases are anonymous. So when you shop via my links, you help me pay the costs of running my blog (hosting, etc.). Thank you for your support!!!

Friday, July 21, 2017

UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode plate!

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


What I wouldn't give to be lounging on a Hawaiian beach right now...or, any beach, truth be told...That's not in the cards for me at the moment, but I can do the next best thing--vacation nails with UberChic Beauty's Vacation Mode plate. :)


Here's the video review I did of the plate:





And let's take a closer look:


UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode
UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode


What I love about this plate: The first thing that called to me was the layered hibiscus images, I love being able to stamp the parts in different colors. I also love the negative-positive images for the leaves and the flowers and the planes. The Tiki guy makes me smile, and since I love cruises, I'm stoked about all the cruise images here. But, my very favorite is the layered shark fin images, I can't wait for the hockey season to use them! Go Sharks!


UberChic Beauty's full nail images are 17mm x 21mm, and here are shots with a ruler so you can get a feel for the rest of the images:




How about quality? UberChic always gives me great images; these swatches are done with a clear stamper:


 



I already showed you one mani with this plate, a traditional tropical-sunset type of mani:


UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Sally Hansen Get Juiced and Kook a Mango
UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Sally Hansen Get Juiced and Kook a Mango


I stamped with Messy Mansion Carbon over a gradient with Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Get Juiced and Kook a Mango.


So, for my second manicure, I wanted to try something outside the box with an unusual set of colors for tropical hibiscuses (hibisci?). I went out with friends and was wearing my new favorite shirts, so I wanted to try to match the colors. I did my right and left hand a little differently, but they both start with a skittle of Zoya Byrdie, Troy, and Tilly, stamped with Messy Mansion Chalk and Hit The Bottle Polish in A Rose By Any Other Name and My Suitor Wears Pewter (also available at Beautometry):


UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Zoya Byrdie, Troy, and Tilly
UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Zoya Byrdie, Troy, and Tilly



For the second one, I decided to stamp the flowers on the ring finger in pink:


UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Zoya Byrdie, Troy, and Tilly
UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Zoya Byrdie, Troy, and Tilly


Here's what they look like with the outfit, my girl power shirt and eyelet shorts:

UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Zoya Byrdie, Troy, and Tilly
UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Zoya Byrdie, Troy, and Tilly

UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Zoya Byrdie, Troy, and Tilly
UberChic Beauty Vacation Mode over Zoya Byrdie, Troy, and Tilly


I love how the flowers complement the pattern on the eyelet shorts, and I think I did pretty darn good with the colors! Which do you like better, the second version, or the first?


You can find this plate in UberChic Beauty's store, and can find them all around the interwebs:




Happy stamping! :)
M.

Monday, July 17, 2017

UberChic Beauty Garden Love mini!

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!) 

Hello!


Today we're going to take a look at the new Garden Love mini plate from UberChic Beauty...Here's the video review I did of the plate:




Let's take a closer look:


UberChic Beauty Garden Love
UberChic Beauty Garden Love


What I love about this plate: There's plenty of stuff here to build whatever gardening scenes you want, with a few very cute sayings to help you along. My favorite images are the bees and the hexes (also love that she gives the little images to go alone with the full-nail image), the snail, and the inchworm. Oh, and, ahem...I find the little gnome just a teeny bit terrifying.


UberChic Beauty full-nail images are 17mm x 21mm, and here's a shot with a ruler so you can see the size of the other images:





Quality is always top-notch with UberChic Beauty, and this plate is no exception. Here are my test swatches, all done with a clear stamper:





For my first manicure, I started with a base of Zoya Darcy, Julep Ledi, and Sally Hansen Get Mod. Then I stamped with Messy Mansion Chalk, Carbon, and Banana Bender:


UberChic Beauty Garden Love over Zoya Darcy, Julep Ledi, and Sally Hansen Get Mod, stamped with Messy Mansion polishes
UberChic Beauty Garden Love over Zoya Darcy, Julep Ledi, and Sally Hansen Get Mod, stamped with Messy Mansion polishes

UberChic Beauty Garden Love over Zoya Darcy, Julep Ledi, and Sally Hansen Get Mod, stamped with Messy Mansion polishes
UberChic Beauty Garden Love over Zoya Darcy, Julep Ledi, and Sally Hansen Get Mod, stamped with Messy Mansion polishes


For my second mani, I started with a base of Zoya Lois, then stamped some thyme with Hit The Bottle Polish It Mossed Be Love (HTB is also available at Beautometry). Then I made decals of the dragonfly, stamped with Messy Mansion Sterling and filled in with Hit The Bottle Polish Amethyst Sizzle:


UberChic Beauty Garden Love over Zoya Lois, stamped with Hit The Bottle and Messy Mansion polishes
UberChic Beauty Garden Love over Zoya Lois, stamped with Hit The Bottle and Messy Mansion polishes

UberChic Beauty Garden Love over Zoya Lois, stamped with Hit The Bottle and Messy Mansion polishes
UberChic Beauty Garden Love over Zoya Lois, stamped with Hit The Bottle and Messy Mansion polishes

These are both so different--one has a more graphic, bold look while the other is feminine and flirty-- but I love how summery they are!


You can find the plate in UberChic Beauty's store, and you can stalk follow them around the interwebs here:




Happy stamping!
M.

Friday, July 14, 2017

MoYou London Africa 04

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!

Today I'm going to take a look at MoYou London Africa 04, a plate that's been a around for a while, but that I only got my hands on a little bit ago. Here's the video review I did of the plate:




And here's a closer look:



What I love about this plate: The strength of designs like this is their bold intricacy. You can throw a rainbow at them and they'll sing--you'll get big, beautiful designs that make a statement, without drowning the pattern itself. But, you can also use them for more subtle color-on-color art, and the detail in the patterns are strong enough to create a gorgeous look.


The images on this plate are 1.5 x 2.0 cm, and here's a shot with an inch ruler:





In terms of quality stamping, MoYou London is at the top of the industry. Check out how beautifully all the detail is preserved--and this is with a clear stamper:




For my manicure, I started with a base of Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer A Love Such As This, and stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Let's Go To The Peach (also available at Beautometry if you're in the US):






See what I mean about how that design just pops on a color-on-color manicure? The detailed flowers create a rich look even with a simple one-pass technique. Fast, but amazing. You gotta love that!


You can find this plate, and literally dozens of others, on MoYou London's website, and you can follow them around the interwebs here:




Happy stamping!
M.

Monday, July 3, 2017

UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini plate! (Or, Happy Birthday America!)

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!

The cool thing about when Fourth of July falls in the middle of the week is you get a cool weekend of celebration, and a day off to celebrate, too. I know lots of you are taking today off so you get a four-day weekend, and I hope you have a great one! Here's a plate and two manis to give you ideas for great nails to help you enjoy.

Let's take a look at UberChic Beauty's Fourth of July mini plate; here's the video review I did of the plate:




And here's the plate itself:

UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini plate
UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini plate

What I love most about this plate: I love the stars that look like snowflakes; I love that she gave us not only the continental US, but Hawaii and Alaska, too; I love the statue of liberty and the 1776, and I love the 'vote' and the checkbox, because I will be doing patriotic nails for election day with this from now on!


UberChic Beauty's full-nail images are 17mm x 21mm, and here is a shot with a ruler to help you see the size of the other images:





How does it stamp? Have a look:


 


Crisp and beautiful--and that's with a clear stamper.


For my first manicure, I started with a base of Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, a gorgeous red holo, and then stamped my images with Hit The Bottle Blue-tiful and Messy Mansion Sterling; on the ring finger, I did a second layer of stamping underneath the sterling with Holo There Beautiful to get some holo shimmer, but it's hard to see in the picture:


UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini plate over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Blue-tiful and Messy Mansion Sterling
UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini plate over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Blue-tiful and Messy Mansion Sterling

UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini plate over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Blue-tiful and Messy Mansion Sterling
UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini plate over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Blue-tiful and Messy Mansion Sterling

UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini plate over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Blue-tiful and Messy Mansion Sterling
UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini plate over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Blue-tiful and Messy Mansion Sterling


I love the look of the 'snowflake' stars over the regular stars, and there's nothing like the sparkle of a gorgeous holo the help you get the feel of fireworks across. I love love love how this came out. :)


For my second mani, I did a smoosh with Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, Sally Hansen Get Mod, and Girly Bits Le Freak; then I stamped my images with It Girl Nail Art Sapphire, and Messy Mansion Red-y Or Not and Sterling:


UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, Sally Hansen Get Mod, & Girly Bits Cosmetics Le Freak
UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, Sally Hansen Get Mod, & Girly Bits Cosmetics Le Freak

UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, Sally Hansen Get Mod, & Girly Bits Cosmetics Le Freak
UberChic Beauty Fourth of July mini over Shinespark Polish Heart Of A Hero, Sally Hansen Get Mod, & Girly Bits Cosmetics Le Freak


The trick I used here was to stamp the images in a blue and a red stamping polish that were a shade or two darker than the polishes I used in the smoosh, so they would be differentiated from it. I love the collage feel and how the silver stars seem to fade into the background and give the mani depth.


I did two other manis with the plate that you can see here, and I also did a tutorial for one of them that you can find here.


You can find this plate on sale now in UberChic Beauty's shop, and you can follow them around the interwebs here:




Happy stamping, and Happy Birthday America!
M.