The NCC presents "Skittles" 4 - A Pastel Skittlette

Hello everyone! Today I have my final May NCC mani for you. Its a bit of a win/fail for me as I loved the selection of Barry M Gelly colours I used, but the techniques don't really show up as different in the photos because the colours are so soft. Still its a lesson learned and it looks pretty so... :)

I painted all five nails with a base of Huckleberry before topping the index finger with a couple of coats of silver glitter. I then sponged Greenberry, Guava and Dragon Fruit on to my middle and ring fingers and used the same colours on my thumb and little finger to create the distressed look. I topped them all with Seche Vite to finish.

As I said before, I love the colours but not such a big fan of the fact that you can't see a whole lot of difference between the distressed nails and the sponge nails. The linear nature of the distressed pattern is a lot more obvious in real life, but these thing happen...

There'll be another post up soon explaining what's happening with the blog for June :)

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen does Decades Day 5 - The 60s (but the 1660s!)

Hello everyone! Today brings the Digit-al Dozen Decades week to an end and I have loved every minute of it! Everyone's art has been so creative and the diverse interpretations have been awesome! I'm finishing with a curveball, born out of a school project that Scarlett did a while ago. I've had this idea on the back burner since then (fire pun - yay!), and seeing as the Great Fire of London happened in 1666, I bring you the 1660s!

I started with a base of Models Own Lemon Meringue, before sponging on OPI Yellopalooza, Barry M Gelly Mango, OPI The Drummer Is Hot and Dream Black to create the burning skyline effect. I then painted in the burning building silhouettes with Color Club Rebel Spirit, watered down with a little acetone in places, before finishing with Seche Vite.

So I'll admit this isn't the cheeriest topic to end the week on, but I am in love with how this came out (even if I did have to do it twice after I painted it upside down the first time - grrr!). Decade week has been a blast, and if you haven't checked out everyone else's manis for the week you are missing a treat! Follow the Inlinkz below to check out all the other ladies' work :)

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

A galaxy in purple (Born Pretty Store review)

Hello everyone! Hope you are all enjoying the weekend so far! Today I have the third of four Born Pretty Store reviews for you from the fab package they sent me. This time is features some glittery purple star stickers which I have used to jazz up a galaxy mani and add a little twist to the way I would usually do them.

I started with a dry black base and sponged white sections with different opacity. I then sponged outwards from the centre using Barry M Papaya, Fuchsia and Cyan Blue and sponged a little black along the edges to blend properly. 

I added a coat of Seche Vite before carefully applying the stickers once dry. I didn't want to lose any of the glitter texture effect by top coating over the stars - it didn't seem to affect the longevity as I had no issue with peeling for the two days I had them on, but if you want a long term look I would suggest that you make sure that they are firmly affixed and that you top coat over them.

I love that this changed up the traditional galaxy look and it was so simple to do. The stickers are easy to apply and not too "floppy", but they adhered well to the nail and looked great!

You can find all of the new nail art products at Born Pretty Store here, and don't forget that if you use the code UKX31 you will get 10% off your order.

I have some stunning swatches coming up for you later, so stay tuned for multiple glitter bombs!!!

Sam xx

Tri Polish Tuesdays April #1 - Yellow, pink and blue!

Hello everyone! Here comes today's catch up post! As expected, the school holidays have sent my blogging and painting schedule completely out of the window! Having OH home for a week as well also makes for constant interruptions so I really didn't stand a chance! Never mind, onwards and upwards!

Today (or yesterday) sees the start of another colour combination for April and this time its yellow, pink and blue. I chose a simple sponged rainbow using Models Own Lemon Meringue, and LA Colors Aquatic and Pink Bubbles and finished with a coat of Seche Vite.

I'm really loving this retro tie dye effect that is created by sponging just a few colours together! 

I'm off for another round of Minecraft tutorials/cake pop making/7 year old nail painting (delete as appropriate!) and I will be desperately trying to have tomorrow's GOT Pastel mani ready on time!

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

Tri Polish Tuesdays and NAILS Mag 31DC - My favourite nail product

Hello everyone! Today I'm doubling up as I have so many manis to fit in this month! I had already decided to do a sponging mani as they are my current obsession, and that tied in (tenuously, but I'll take it!) with the 31DC prompt! So my current favourite nail product is technically not nail specific, but make up sponge it is!

I started with a white base to make the colours really pop and then sponged on several layers of LA Colors Mint, Aquatic and Edgy before finishing with Seche Vite.

Its got a retro, tie-dye, lava lamp effect that I love, plus it features some of my favourite colours! I I originally planned to put something else over the top, but I loved the colour combo so much that I couldn't bring myself to add anything else.

Follow the links below to see all the other fabulous Tri Polish manis and if you are thinking of joining in, we have the colours themes for the next three months now posted in the group. We have one more left in this colour scheme though so check back next Tuesday for the last green, blue and purple creation :)

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up

The NCC presents "Inspired by Summer" #'3

Hello everyone! Today I have my third "Inspired by Summer" mani for the February theme of the Nail Challenge Collaborative. I've gone with some summery colour sponging (sponging is my current obsession in case you hadn't noticed!), for this bright and cheery look.

I started with an LA Colors French White base and then sponged on Models Own Lemon Meringue, LA Colors Pink Bubbles and Color Club East Austin. I topped with Seche Vite and then once dry, added white polka dots with a little more French White.

Its a subtle one for me, but it definitely puts me in the mood for summer! One more to go for this month before we start in with our theme for March, which I will reveal with my fourth mani :)

Put yourself in the mood for summer by looking at everyone else's fab designs in the links below.

Sam xx

An InLinkz Link-up