The Digit-al Dozen does Decades - The 80s!

Hello everyone! So today finds us at Day Four of Decades week and I've picked the 80s. Being born at the tail end of the 70s I was pretty young throughout the 80s but remember the music (which I still love!) and a strange fashion of wearing mismatched fluorescent socks...

I started with a French White base and then freehanded triangles and parallel lines using LA Colors Black Velvet and Aquatic, and Kleancolor Neon Yellow and Neon Pink, before finishing with Seche Vite (which streaked two nails, so I swore a lot and then redid some of them...)

Top of The Pops and Smash Hits were the inspiration for this pattern, and although its not taken from anything directly, it reminds me of those days.

Four down, one to go! Better get painting! 

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen does Decades - Lava Lamps, but 1990s ones (bear with me!)...

Hello everyone! The title here warrants an explanation. There's nothing to say that I can't do the same decade twice, but I really didn't intend to. I had this idea which is pure 70s (as was my paisley mani on Monday) for lava lamps and really wanted to put it in. So seeing as I didn't own a lava lamp until 1995, I'm going to pretend (and hope that you'll all go along with me!) that these are those famous lava lamps from the 1990s! Shhhhhhh! ;)

My stiletto tips gave me a great starting point, and I started by painting them with I'm Never Amberrassed from OPI's Sheer Tints range. I then painted the base and the tips with Nail Essentials Silver Shimmer and a little Ciate Vintage topped with OPI Matte top coat. Once dry, I used LA Colors Moody Red for the "lava", and added detail in using Barry M Gelly Papaya and highlights with Models Own Lemon Meringue. Here's how they turned out :)

So there you have my 70s/90s mani, I have a new decade for you tomorrow and there may even be one from another century before the end of the week (if it comes off, that is!). 

Tomorrow will be a now rare two post day as its Scarlett's 8th birthday and I promised her that she could help me write a post (she also painted my nails), so stayed tuned for those and in the meantime check out all the other fabulous Digit-al Dozen manis via the links below! :)

Sam xx 

An InLinkz Link-up

FingerFood's Theme Buffet - Oriental

Hello everyone! HAving sat out last week, I'm back for the Oriental week of the Theme Buffet. This was suggested by Dawn from SassyLittleNails. I was really excited by this theme and was determined to step out of my Cherry Blossom comfort zone, so instead I bring you some Ming vase inspired nail art :)

Starting with a base of LA Colors French White, I painted on the outlines of the flowers, buds, leaves and other detail using Revlon Royal. I diluted it with a little acetone to get the "wash" effect. I filled in the flowers etc with OPI I Can Teal You Like Me from the Sheer Tints range and then, once dry, I added in the royal blue criss cross patterns with an ultra fine Sharpie. I gave the Sharpie a long time to fully dry before top coating with Seche Vite.

I must admit that I am in love with how these turned out! And using the Sharpie for the detail made life sooooo much easier!

Our theme for next week is something a little different. My daughter Scarlett is going to be 8 on the 15th May so our theme is "For Scarlett". She is already the biggest nail art fan girl so having a theme named after her is the highlight of her year so far! Whether its birthday related, inspired by something she likes (or that little girls like in general), or even just a scarlet mani, she is going to be beyond excited and I am so happy that the ladies in our challenge group are willing to get involved. Thanks gals! :)

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

The Nail Challenge Collaborative presents "Skittles" - A Neon Skittlette

Hello everyone! Following on from my oh so serious post earlier today, normal service is somewhat resumed now with the first of my NCC manis for May. I was thrilled when I found out that this month's theme was Skittles (so much so that I have three of the four done already, which is unheard of!). I'm starting with a skittlette and a bit of LA Colors neon :)

The middle and ring fingers were painted with a base of LA Colors French White, with the leopard print dotted on using Absolute, Spat!, Mint, Flicker and Black Velvet. I freehanded the stripes on to my index finger with Black Velvet, French White and Absolute and used more of the black and white to complete the dotted design on the thumb and little finger. 

So there you have number one! And on the 2nd of the month - go me!!!

As I explained in my previous post, I won't be posting on the blog over weekends from now on,

there may be a few bits and pieces on the "quickfire" sites, but I will be back next week hopefully feeling all renewed and full of sunshine, joy, kittens and candy floss (if that turns out to be true then you won't recognize me lol!). I also have a giveaway coming up very soon that I know you'll want to check out :)

Have a fabulicious weekend!

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

A Pointy Radiant Orchid Dotticure (and my first #NAILLINKUP mani :)

Hello everyone! Today I have a mani that I did quite some time ago, but that I completely forgot to post! That was until I saw the May/June issue of Nail It! magazine as they featured it in their dotticure section! 
It also coincides with me discovering a new nail art link up put together by Craftynail, Brijit's Digits and Eeeek! Nail Polish! and this week's theme is dotticure. Its a fairly non-committal link up where there are set weekly themes - you can dip in and out when you like and the Inlinkz remain open all month. You can find the themes, challenge graphics and Inlinkz here :D

I started with three coats of LA Colors Lilac Frost and then dotted on a French tip shape using Orly Pink Waterfall, Revlon Sassy and LA Colors Wisteria on four nails and fully dotted the accent nail, before finishing with Seche Vite.

This is such a simple design, but I think its pretty cool. A springy test for colour blindness on stiletto tips with a radiant orchid colour scheme - what's not to love? :)

Sam xx

FingerFood's Theme Buffet (Gothic) and NCC Movies - Nosferatu

Hello everyone! Today I have some nail art to show you that I am insanely proud of! The theme this week in FingerFood's Theme Buffet is one that is very close to my heart as its been a huge part of my life for over 20 years now! It was suggested by the lovely Sarah from Penny Pinching Polish and I was so happy that she put it forward :) This also fits in with the NCC's Movies/Music/TV month so its a double win! 

Goth isn't all maudlin black and it has grown its own set of sub genres over the years (including the fluffy, neon cyber goths), but I'm pretty much old school apart from my nails, so I decided to try and recreate an iconic image from "Nosferatu", the 1922 film starring Max Schreck.

I started with a base of LA Colors French White and sponged on the "frame" using Color Club Silver Lake, Ciate Vintage and LA Colors Black Velvet. I used a black Sharpie to draw in guidelines for the bannister, doorway and Dracula himself, and then carefully painted them in with more black, using a little more of the Vintage and Silver Lake for detail. I finished with a coat of Seche Vite.

Here's the image I worked from:

This is one of those manis that I had to try once I'd had the idea, but had no hopes of it turning out well enough for me to be able to post it! Instead I am really pleased with myself! I know that it has areas which need refining, but I think it captures the essence of the original image and this style of nail art is way out of my comfort zone!

I have one more NCC mani coming at you for April and the theme for the Buffet next week is to try "something new". I'm going to take the rest of the evening off and look at these nails some more, and I will be back with you soon - please follow the links below to check out all the other fabulous NCC and Buffet manis :)

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

An InLinkz Link-up

FingerFood's Theme Buffet - Fishtail ;)

Hello everyone! This week's theme in the Theme Buffet is Fishtail. I'm not going to lie to you, I've tried that technique two or three times over the last year and never once have I got more than halfway through a single nail before getting so bored and frustrated that I wiped it off and started again with something else. Its just one of those things that aren't meant to be.

Anyhoo, I had to think of a way around the theme that still fitted the prompt (also feeling glad at this point that I suggested people stretch the themes as far as they wanted!), so I painted fishtails, but more like the ones attached to my parents' Koi. 

I started with a base of Barry M Gelly Blueberry and LA Colors Flurry, and then painted in the white base for the tails in French White. Once dry I covered the white with Color Club Sparkle and Soar and painted in the details with Barry M Gelly Satsuma, Tangerine and a little more white. I added a little LA Colors Metallic Silver to the edges and a coat of Seche Vite to finish.

I'm actually pretty happy with the way that these turned out - flamey, abstract-y, fishy nails. The cremes, shimmers and glitters all worked pretty well together...

Next week is far more up my alley! I'll be back with something a little bit Goth for you - I have so many ideas for this that I don't know where to start! We might even end up with a Goth week if I can't rein it in lol!

Check out all the other fabulous fishtail manis from the ladies with far more patience than me! ;)

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen does Texture Day 5 - Textured Stamped Floral

Hello everyone! Woohoo! I made it! I have completed my first week with The Digit-al Dozen. I have loved every minute of it but it has been a pressured kinda week and its a massive relief to have the first one out of the way! Everyone in the group is lovely and they have been super supportive, but there is a huge amount of talent between all the ladies and its been pretty intimidating to have to jump in to it!

Today I have gone with my new found fave, stamping! It looks a little more Christmassy than I intended as I used all textured polishes to complete the look and the choices from my stash were limited! I started with two coats of Sally Hansen Sugar Fix and then stamped an image from MoYou Pro XL 06 with Konad Black. Once dry, I filled in the flowers with Sally Hansen Sugar Coat Cherry Drop and Claire's Red Leather polish (with a little help from the super sheer LA Colors Moody Red), and the leaves with more Sugar Coat, but this time Sour Apple (and a touch of Sinful Colors Exotic Green). I finished with a little of L-A Glitter Nails fab copper glitter at the centre of the flowers.

I loved how these turned out! The colours show brighter in real life so it looks more tropical (the irony of posting Xmassy looking nails at Easter is not lost on me!). I wasn't sure how the textured polishes would work together for the "colouring in" but they were great. Rexture over texture can be quite unforgiving so I had to be super careful with placement, but its definitely something I'll try again.

So there you have my first week with The Digit-al Dozen. Its been so much fun and I can't wait for next month. Next week is going to be a busy one, with lots of music/tv/film inspired manis for the NCC and a mammoth catch up with the NAILS Mag challenge on the cards. I also have lots of swatches and reviews to post (can you tell that Scarlett is heading back to school??? Normal service will be resumed)! :D

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

GOT Polish challenge - Hot Pink

Hello everyone! Another week has rolled around in the GOT Polish Challenge and the theme for this week is Hot Pink. I was a little undecided as to what to do this week, but I was stamping a floral while I was thinking about it and realized that I had what I needed right under my nose!

I started with a base of LA Colors French White and then stamped an image from MoYou Pro XL 06 in Konad Black and waited for that to dry. Once dry, I thinned out Cacee Nails Olivia and Jessica Purple Burst with some acetone and started "colouring in". I added some Color Club Fly With Me for the leaves and finished with Seche Vite.

I was originally planning to do something bold, bright and HOT pink, but when this idea presented itself I decided to go with it and I think it works! 

The GOT challenge has seemed to have become a stamping challenge for me the last couple of weeks - I promise to try and do something freehand for next week! Having said that, I have a stamping mani tomorrow to close out Texture week with The Digit-al Dozen, but after that I'll be freehanding my way into the Easter weekend :)

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen does Texture Day 4 - Gemstone Nails

Hello everyone! Another wholly impractical mani for you today as part of Texture week with The Digi-al Dozen! Those of you that know me know that I also make jewellery. I closed my business before I had my daughter as there was no way I could balance all that work with a baby and now its mostly a hobby, but the occasional piece makes it on to Etsy with the nails and other bits and pieces. Anyway, as a result I have cases full of gems and beads. I was joking with Alessandra (The Sparkle Queen) back in January that I should mix it up with the nails and now that time has come!

I went through looking for the smallest chips and settled on some Iolite (one of my favourites because of its lovely violet blue colour. After the denim debacle I couldn't face gluing them to five nails so settled instead for two and created a skittlette. 

All the nails were painted with a base of Sinful Colors Glass Pink. I added a layer of nail glue and added the Iolite chips to my middle and ring fingers. I had to place a couple with tweezers to fill gaps, but for the most part they adhered really well! I added a coat of Color Club Covered in Diamonds to the index finger as the large holo flakes added to the gem effect. For the thumb and little finger, I used a ton of striping tape to create a triangular pattern (again similar to the Iolite effect) and filled in the sections with Nail Essentials Silver Shimmer, Barry M Gelly Picky Pear and LA Colors Illusion.

This is far from being one of my favourites, but its one of those things that I had to see through once I'd had the idea, and despite how it turned out, I'd put too much work into it not to post it!

One more to go for my first DD week and its been a blast! :)

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

Tri Polish Tuesdays April #3 - A quick neon dotticure

Hello everyone! I have been so preoccupied with The Digit-al Dozen week that I almost forgot about Tri Polish Tuesdays! I figure that if I can get through this first week and stay on top of all my challenges along with having Scarlett home and working, then I'm probably doing okay :)

Having said that, I realized at 7pm that I needed to do something quick so settled for a dotticure with some bright neons. I started with a black base of All About Nails Liqorice and then added dots in white so that the neons would pop. I covered over most of the white with LA Colors Flicker and Absolute, and Color Club Otherworldly before finishing with Seche Vite.

Despite the fact that I literally threw this together at the last minute, I love the colours and its been ages since I did a dotticure! 

Tomorrow will bring another DD mani and I already have my GOT ready for Thursday so I can continue to pretend that I'm on top of things :)

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen does Texture - Day 2

Hello everyone! Today is the second day of Texture week and I have something a lot simpler than yesterday's creation featuring one of my favourite colour combinations (so much so that this was the colour scheme for my wedding)!

I painted freehand sections of Claire's Accessories Black Leather polish and Pretty Hot Pink Leather polish. Pretty is a brand I have only ever found in Poundland - the effects polishes are a bit hit and miss and the smell is not something they should be proud of, but some of their polishes are gems and this is one of them. I separated the colours with LA Colors Metallic Silver to add a little bit of shine and that was that!

This is a very "me" design, in very "me" colours, but I'm not a huge fan of textured polishes so I have ventured at least a little bit out of my safe zone! Tomorrow is a little bit more "out there" though, and doesn't really involve a whole lot of polish ;) Check out all of today's other awesome DD manis below!

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up