Giveway winners!

Congratulations to Kelli and Sarah, emails (fb message) sent please reply within 48 hours! Grace and peace- gosh I love giving stuff away!

GO! Enter! Schwag! Prizes! Goodies! Polish! hehe

http://imfeelingnail-venturous.blogspot.com/2011/10/1000-follower-appreciation-make-sure-to.html

Guest Nails by (drumroll, please!) my niece Katy Clare!

Darling girl that I can't believe has been married, what, 5 years? and has my sister's one and only and larger-than-life grandchild, Danny! I made a franken I arrogantly called "Stairway to Heaven" and sent it off to her. Since then, she has worn it over black, frenched the tips then did a new mani with STH as the base and Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Rose Petal french tips- presenting, for your viewing pleasure, my niece and your hostess, Katy!:

You need this for the info (and a good laugh!)

The Crumpet: The 10 Basics of Nail Polish - What Every Beginner...: 10 Things 10 Things Every Girl Who Polishes Needs to Consider Hi Goddesses So, we all start somewhere, and I shocked myself th...

Out of Ideas-

So my brilliant daughter at college suggested I try a "Theme" week/month. So here you go- Golds! I love gold, rarely wear silver except as an accent, so this first one is the beautiful GR8 from China Glaze. It's the only one of the OMG collection I could afford on ebay besides FYI. It's a yellow-gold linear holo, actually, I think it's the weakest of the collection, but still gorgeous in it's own right. Of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone and had to dot it up with Nubar Conserve, a deep teal glassfleck. This is two coats over NfuOh Aqua Fix base and one topcoat of Out the Door. The tc does dull the holo a bit, but not nearly as much with China Glaze as it does the NfuOh holos.

This will make you feel good about yourself!

My naked nails:
They are yellow from staining, but I won't bother to buff them out because I am just painting them again....yellow! My poor middle fingers won't grow well- I had two major surgeries last year (11 days total in the hospital) and anesthesia is murder on my nails- still trying to recover from menopause! hehe
I pretty much keep the oval shape- it works best for me, my nails curve too much when I try to shape them square.

In my Early Days.....oh yeah, over the summer.....

This was done with a base of, you guessed it, China Glaze For Audrey with assorted other polishes for the color- I have acrylics, but I somehow seem to gravitate towards using all polish- it's harder, but I like how the polishes look together! Paula modeling- (again!)

Nailpolish is My Crack: 100 Follower Giveaway! Let's make this fun! (SORRY...

Nailpolish is My Crack: 100 Follower Giveaway! Let's make this fun! (SORRY...: FOLLOWERS ONLY PLEASE! I'm thinking of a number between...no, wait, that's stupid hehe. Im so sorry to make this US but overseas shipping ...

NAIL MAIL! My First Bettina Polishes!

and yes, there are TWO oranges, duh! One from the Resort collection and another from the Art Deco collection- a girl can never have too much orange polish....well, this girl anyway! I feel a skittles mani coming soon!

China Glaze Meteor Shower over Orly Star of Bombay

One, yes ONE coat of each!  First pic is fuzzy so you can see the colors! TC is Gelous and Revlon Quick Dry- still a little bumpy, this needed Seche. I also have a bit of Smurf cuticles from the Orly...

OMG you HAVE to see her nails- and her manis! ::::swoons::::

Fashion Polish: Yves Saint Laurent "The Black Collection" swatches...: A few weeks ago I posted the new Yves Saint Laurent "The Black Collection" preview. I was both really curious and excited about this trio of...

100 Follower Giveaway! Let's make this fun! (SORRY US ONLY)

FOLLOWERS ONLY PLEASE!
I'm thinking of a number between...no, wait, that's stupid hehe.  Im so sorry to make this US but overseas shipping is costly and I am already committed to a Secret Santa and Birthday Club with international peeps.  My poor budget!! How's about we make it really simple, just reply and tell me your favorite mani I've done! That's it.
 Closing October 31. Blessings!

Prize 1

Prize 2

100 FOLLOWERS!! And they said it wouldn't last! GIVEAWAY COMING TOMORROW!

Oh do I have goodies for YOU! Two prizes....ooooh shiny!
See you tomorrow!

Disguising an acrylic growing out....she was thinking of pulling the tips off!

Did a quick Ruffian with an old Orly (Gold Rush) and balance with the incomparable Sally Hansen Salon Sequin Scandal. The gold is really opaque, the lighting makes it look sheer.

I love it when my daughter has study groups over!

I get to do all their nails! Here is my SECOND ever leopard print- Essie base, Essie Case Study for the foundation, Barielle Cowl of the wild for the spots, China Glaze Midtown Magic for the lines and a coat of CND Gold Sparkle for fun, all under Essie Good to Go topcoat.

My First Tie-Dye!

I was admiring DollFace's pin-drawn tie-dye nail art here http://adayinthelifeofdollface.blogspot.com/2010/04/contest-entry-tie-dye.html
and finally found a victim, err, volunteer to let me do her nails! For your viewing pleasure, using Zoya Base, China Glaze papaya Punch, Tree Hugger, Caribbean Blue and Ulta Plum Perfect. Still perfecting the technique, I have a long way to go, but she was happy!

Couple late-night manis!

SO my daughter was feeling yellow and purple for a manicure- I think it looks like the skirt of a cheerleader's uniform! 2 coats China Glaze Lemon Fizz (one of the cleanest and least streaky yellows I have) followed by two coats of Ulta Tutu Cute and some dotting. One coat of Seche Vite made the dots "melt" into the nail!

Next up, I am going to be wearing ALOT of glitter from now on, now that we have an easier removal method (see earlier post) This is two coats of Color Club Rebel Spirit from the Back to Boho collection. Rebel Spirit is a clean, pure dark brown that was still streaky and had some cuticle pull at two coats- I would recommend waiting between coats, but I knew noone would notice under all the bling I was going to layer over it. And BLING it is! This is one, only one, coat of the fabulous China Glaze Mahoganie, a copper-brown shimmer packed with tiny gold flakes and medium holo flakes. I will not apologize for the pics because in real life, it looks EXACTLY like this; you never catch a glimpse when the glitter isn't shining- I adore this color! Painted over Nubar base with one coat of Gelous and one of Seche Vite over the top- nice and smooth!

HAUL!!!

Small shopping trip to "Professionals Only" stores netted some long-wanted beauties- from the top- CND Jade and Gold Sparkles Effects, New Muppets  OPI minis, China Glaze Peace on Earth, Mega Bite and Jolly Holly, Essie Wrapped with Rubies, OPI Y'all Come Back Now  Ya Hear (for jelly sandwiches) Seche Restore and a  couple empty bottles for frankens.

Easy Glitter Polish Removal- linked from and All the credit to soguesswhat11

Almost time for a giveaway- 100 Followers coming up!

Going to a pro shop tomorrow- gonna maybe find some dusties and some goodies for you-all.....stay tuned! :)

Purple Pride! (Royalty!)

My friend Ester (Queen, hehe) likes purple, so I did a single coat of the new Revlon Edgy Elegance Fierce with a single layer of Orly Fowl Play over it- can't wait to see what colors flash in the sunlight on this! Zoya base coast and Revlon Quick Dry topcoat over it.

Beauty School is in Session!

So, I have this friend to works at a salon- hair, colorist exceptionale, makeup artist. DOES NOT like doing nails. She came over today and asked me to replicate a mani she had a picture of on her cell. This is the result- Two coats Opi Mod About You (still a little streaky but OK) and spots with Barielle Cowl of the Wild centers and Color Club Reble Spirit for the lines. Thick coat of Seche Vite and she was on the road home to cook dinner. Very happy camper.

Revlon Edgy Elegance Skittles!

I got the whole collection at Walgreens recently and after wearing dark green with glitter, I was ready for a lighter mani for a few days. We have a massive, perhaps record-breaking cold front coming through here and so I decided these frosty polishes might bring the chill in and a return to boots and scarves weather! I used the five I like the best, Downtown (teal blue), Princess (cornflower blue), Innocent (peachy-pink), Catty (pale gold) and Punk (green) in a skittles mani. Application (over Orly Bonder) was weird- the polish doesn't "flow" like most polishes do, it was kind of like pushing whipped cream around my nails- EXCELLENT opaque coverage practically in one coat, I used two because I want to wear this a few days. Orly Sealon over the top left it still a little gritty- I may use a second coat. I will remember Gelous next time. I did one of my nails in Fierce (the bright purple) first then removed it because it was too dark to go with the other colors- it came off easily with NON-acetone remover! (WARNING- silver may remain a bit- I have very shiny cuticles after cleanup) The Innocent (peachy-pink) is the only one that isn't really as foilly as the others. They all look like pastel/metallic cement to me- grainy and "Edgy" ha! I may have to let them sink in a bit- hopefully it'll grow on me- not too sure I like the colors yet.

The TraceFace Philes: The Trace Face Philes 1900 Follower Giveaway!

The TraceFace Philes: The Trace Face Philes 1900 Follower Giveaway!: Another milestone already?! Oh my! Time to thank my readers!! I am pleased to announce... There will be a total of NINE winners this time...

SO when the tips started peeling from the thick Nubar Diamont...

I got jiggy with Kleancolor Holo Green over the whole mani (Zoya Veruschka) I tried to get a pic in lowlight- the sparkles just won't stop!

Is it almost time for a giveaway?

Survey says:::: you tell me! And do I do two small prizes or one person gets the while enchilada?

FB Polish-aholics Anonymous Monday Challenge: Green

So I was going to do some neat nailart and was looking at all my green polishes and had a brain freeze- maybe later this week, but I all could come up with was the beautiful  Zoya Verushka with some overly-thickend Nubar Diamont for a fake tip- love love the color though! Sunlight and shade pics :

I need a swap buddy!

Someone in a far away land (Canada, France, Brazil, Australia, anywhere?) that wants to swap out fun nail polish with me. The only hassle is, of course, shipping, but if we set some standards and boundaries it could be alot of fun! :::::WANTS NAIL MAIL:::::::
thanks for thinking of me!

 ps I am in the US in Florida so that gives you an idea of what is available to me.

MY FIRST FRANKEN!!!!!!!!!! (sorry for all caps!!!!!!)

I found an old Sally Hansen Salon Navy baby (square bottle) at Big Lots for 50 cents last weekend, and they were doing friends and family 20% off, so I figured, 40 cents? OK! Got home and it is a sheer deep navy- my SpectraFlair had been sitting in a box waiting....waiting....so this morning I added two decent "strawfuls" and shook shook shook and voila! A deep blue holo! The swatch pic is pretty lame, sorry (no camera, remember?) but the one next to the blue is a silver Fetish "Run for Cover" I got in a blog sale and the sheer is an old Orly Honeymoon in Style I added two spoonfuls to and then about a third bottle of an old topcoat- I will swatch this over some other colors later. Dark blue holo my son named "Midnight Rush"!

Another "make this mani last another day" French!

Orly Sweet Peacock had chipped. Badly. Sick daughter could not give up use of both hands for the time it would take to redo the whole thing. Enter: The Funky French! Tips in Color Club VooDooYouDo with spots of Sonia Rykiel Smoke and Mirrors (silver foil). Mani lives another day! Daughter....not so sure.....

Wish you could see the teal and pink specks in this smokey blue/black Color Club- so pretty!

Not ready to remove this orange holo yumminess!

Thought I'd get another day out of my Hits No Olimpo Demeter mani- just a little wear at the tips (no chips, 3 days!) but I love funky french manis so I used chevron tip guides (pennies on ebay) and two coats of the spectacular L'Oreal Project Runway Amazon's Flash- you gotta see this gold, it has multicolor speckles in it- makes it kinda gritty, and it's sheer (probably take 4-5 coats for opacity) but that makes it a perfect layering/topcoat. I love the fact it looks like 18k gold- this mani is a little Bollywood, no?

It Pays to be Nice to your Kids!

So my third daughter was packing to go back to college this summer and was cleaning out some old stuff when she happened across her polish stash from middle school. I saw these two bottles and wow did my eyes get wide when I realized what they were! She let me swatch them and put them on a shelf in the room where she is keeping her junk. She was home this weekend and offered to let me have them "if I wanted"!!! So now I am the proud owner of two bottles of the famous Sally Hansen Magical holographic polish! Both are over half full and completely good as new as far as I can tell. The formula is thin and highly pigmented, and, well, just look. Whoa...

The TraceFace Philes: The Trace Face Philes 1800 Followers Giveaway!!

The TraceFace Philes: The Trace Face Philes 1800 Followers Giveaway!!: WOOHOO this one is a doozy!! I am pleased to announce... ONE lucky person will win the ENTIRE OPI Muppets Collection! Gone Gonzo, Excu...

Robin Moses 1 Year Anniversary!

Go and be amazed- some of my best ideas (ok, most) have come from her- the guru of nail art- and videos and tutorials for EVERYTHING!

http://robinmosesnailart.blogspot.com/

NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!

Hits No Olimpo Demeter three coats, Nubar Topcoat, full sun!

This was a mercy polishing!

One of my daughter's friends is taking some very intense classes at college and has taken to biting her nails/cuticles unmercifully. I grabbed her hands and put Orly base coat, two coats of Orly Rock Solid, a GORGEOUS gunmetal gray packed with glitter and holo particles, followed by a coat of elf matte topcoat. Hopefully she'll think twice about biting these beauties! (pray for her cuticles...)

The Exotic Lacquer: VALENTINE KISSES 500 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY

The Exotic Lacquer: VALENTINE KISSES 500 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY: PRIZE INCLUDES 60 ITEMS GIVEAWAY CLOSES OCTOBER 17, 2011 CLICK HERE TO ENTER

I Couldn't Wait for the Sun! Hits No Olimpo Demeter

Perfect brush, application, (no bare patches even after 1 coat, I did two) I used Zoya ridge filler then Nfu Oh Aqua Fix base then two coats of this orange holo yummiliciousperfectionness. Shown with no topcoat, although I will be putting one on, it's not supposed to hurt the holo.

 with flash

 incandescent light

Halogen light


I was so excited I took these before cleanup- I hope to see the sun one day soon here in Florida- nor'easter still around, but I couldn't wait!

Stash shot!

Finally organized by brand, just have 1 full box of "fancies" (holos, glitters, HTF's) and another of bases, treatments and topcoats. I just realized I only have maybe 8 OPIs and 25 China Glaze polishes...guess I like CG better??

Color Club Beyond the Mistletoe Collection

You HAVE to see this! her pics/nails/settings are amazing! She is what I aspire to become in the nailblogosphere!

Color Club Beyond the Mistletoe Collection

I don't know what happened!

I got so excited by Robin Moses tutorial Here because I have lots of foil and mineral glitters and pigments. I ordered the "Best Glue Ever" and it came today. This is two coats of China Glaze Brownstone (LOVE love) over Nubar base, glue then copper foil, more glue then two glitter pigments- a goldish copper and faded rose then thin lines of Sally Hansen Sequin Scandal and Zoya Elise all topped off with Nubar Diamont. Kinda like a huge sundae, makes your tummy ache when you're done...but I had to start somewhere, right! Here's hoping my foiling improves...

Enter to win fabulous prizes from nailventurous!

ENTER HERE!

Hits No Olimpo- Demeter

ahhh  my Precioussssssss..... come to me.....my dream polish, bright orange holographic......
swatches to follow when I can stop clutching this to my bosom....

Topped up the butter london

with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Set the Stage- kinda awkward to get enough large pieces of glitter, but one coat of Nubar Diamont over is and it's smooth as glass-
Oh yeah, the pic includes another of my hobbies- baking with freshly-ground wheat for my kids!