KBShimmer Proud Peacock PCF Summer Challenge

The challenge for 6/1 was "Swimming Pool". Now, I don't know about you, but our summer swimming pool was always a 4 by 18 foot above ground pool my dad would assemble at the beginning of each summer. each pool usually only lasted two summers, so we kids (5 until Momma had two more after a 7 year gap) would stand around trying to "help" Dad pull the parts out of the huge box and assemble it. After alot of cigarettes, a few beers and maybe a shot of tequila, the shiny blue (or yellow or silver) pool stood proudly in our backyard, with the hose draped over the side. it always took the whole night to fill, and the first kid up would wake all the others to go oooh and ahhh at all the water, now normally spilling over the sides.

Dad would spend a few more hours getting the pump set up and start the magical process called "testing". This was where he would rinse out the rack of tubes then add this many drops and that many drops of all different liquids to the tubes. After a good shake and maybe a countdown, he would compare the colors to the chart included. Then a ph strip, compare again. We would all groan in unison when he declared  had to "balance" the pool and there would be no swimming until the following day.

But boy, that following day! Leaping off each others shoulders, whirlpools, Marco Polo, underwater "tea parties" we did it all. And not only did we enjoy that pool with the 7 of us, we had every last blessed neighborhood kid there are well. Which is why I chose KBShimmer's Proud Peacock to  represent my swimming pool. After a summer of dozens of kids in that small bucket of water, it kinda resembled this murky gray/turquoise glitter bomb. The description from the etsy site is exactly right: A teal green base is accented by tons of glitter. We started with a large royal blue hex, and added both a black and black opal hex. We then went micro with purple and white diamond glitters. Fuschia, teal, and navy small glitters accent several holographic glitters, including a silver bar, teal, and two sizes of silver.

This baby is glitter hungry- shown with two coats over base, then Gelous and Poshe- really needs a third layer of TC.

 I've seen pics online showing a much brighter greener base, this is really murky grayish teal.

Thanks for checking me out- now go see some of the other challenger's ideas!

Debbie @ The Crumpet - http://thecrumpet.blogspot.co.uk/

Danielle - http://lbobeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

Neivys - http://maquiclubgirl.blogspot.com/

Jo @ Northern Nails - http://therockchicksrambles.blogspot.co.uk/

arlene @ http://euzefelus27-nailart.blogspot.com/

Helena - http://nailwish.blogspot.com.es/

Cuti-CLUE-les - http://cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/

Katee - www.agirlandherpolish.blogspot.com

Alyssa at Fancy Phalanges - http://fancyphalanges.blogspot.com/

Sarah - http://www.ynails.blogspot.co.uk/

bec - http://lacquerdreams.blogspot.com.au/

Misha - www.enigmatic-rambles.blogspot.com

Sharon - http://whatcolorismycoat.blogspot.com/

Melissa - http://www.misadventuresofawannabemartha.com/

Laurie http://dressedupdigits.blogspot.com/

Lucie @ Lucy's Stash www.lucysstash.com

Emma @  http://manicurity.blogspot.com/

Caitlin - www.caitlinscreativecorner.blogspot.com

Jane- http://absolutevarnish.blogspot.com/

Amber www.nevernakednails.blogspot.com

Vic @ Glowstars http://glowstars.net

Jackie- http://memasmanis-jackie.blogspot.com/

Rychelle @ Colorsplash Nails- http://colorsplashnails.blogspot.com/

Stella - http://mywetnails.blogspot.com

Missy @ http://missysmanis.blogspot.co.uk/

Kim @ http://apolishedaddiction.blogspot.com/

Christine @ http://lost-in-my-reverie.blogspot.com

Angie @ http://ourpaintedworld.wordpress.com

Bazzia @  http://polishmymind.blogspot.se/

Missy the Manicured Maniac @ http://melissahenderson95.blogspot.com/

Michelle @ http://lacquerorleaveher.blogspot.com/

Nikki @ http://www.lilgreenheart.blogspot.com/

Purple Crumpet Fairy Summer Challenge- Summer Sunrise

Base of Orly Prelude to a Kiss, a pale peach that took three coats to become opaque- nice application though. Sponged on various pastels (painted the sponge and daubed until I was ok with effect) Poshe overall.

Orly is a bit lighter and pinker than my phone captured

(before oil)

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China Glaze Martini Pedicure Collection

Come to me, my Precioussssssssssssesss....oh yes, the long lemmed (is that a word) shimmering, micro-glassed flecked beauties China Glaze birthed in 2005. Found these on ebay, although a friend was able to walk into a nail supply in her area of Cali and buy them a bit cheaper than I did. Ah well. The swatchsicle closeup is the best in terms of color correctness, and these each took 3 or 4 coats to near-opaqueness, but who cares? Enjoy!

switched the two first swatches from left

Most acccurate as to color

Polish finishes- save this

http://theedgeofsanity.org/?p=3780

Incredible tutorial!

~on beauty stuff and what else's....~: Weekend Nails: 3d Violets~: Another nail art tutorial~ I'm so neglecting my beauty product reviews because i'm so into nail art these days. I'll get on those later. he...

Nail of the day- Nostalgic Envy

A dear friend  managed to snag me this in the latest insane asylum opening also known as an etsy restock from the lovely Erin at Nostalgic Lacquer. This is my first, hopefully not my last one of her beautiful creations. I used one thick and a couple times two thin coats of Envy over two coats of Bettina Green Apple, a pretty, creamy, bright, well, apple green solid cream. Application of glitter topcoats is usually a challenge and this was no different than what I have come to expect. The glitter is a bit sparse, but I like that I can control the amount on the nail. My bottle had an odd consistency (see all the  tiny bubbles?) and Erin is graciously working with me to figure out what happened- there may have been some evaporation that changed the base. It didn't stop me from wearing this though with Gelous and Seche Vite over- the bar glitter in this is wonderfully tame and I had no issues with getting it smooth.

Highly recommended, and if I have my way, she'll take preorders so I can try another one of her polishes!

Love Yourself with Clockwork

Not springy at all, but I love brown polish and hadn't tried Mahogany Magic from China Glaze's Hunger Games collection. I TOTALLY understand the woman who drinks nail polish after applying this beauty- it was just like smearing melted milk chocolate over my nails- a few bald patches after one coat (and very thick) but the second coat leveled nicely. I gussied it up with a dab of Sonoma Clockwork for, what I think, is a shnazzy classy look. I only had to pull one small bar glitter out with tweezers that refused to lay flat, the other glitters were compliant. I especially love the fine gold glitter in Clockwork- this would totally be opaque in two coats, I used one. Gelous and Seche Vite over.

10 To Midnight- Holo Steel

Being a little burned out on chunky glitters, yet nevertheless loving all things sparkly, I was hoping a linear holo would coax the sun out from the rainclouds we've been having here in Florida. Not to be coaxed today, so these pics are taken indoor with flash. Glitter Gal polishes are thick and creamy, they need a spot of thinner after a couple uses, but the brush is perfection and lays all that rainbow goodness down without straying. (read: minimal to no cleanup) 10 To Midnight is a metallic finish steel gray loaded to the gills with holo particles. Two thin coats with Poshe over.

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MSMD manicure-FAIL!

I was hoping to repeat the gorgeous holo gradient manicure that Nicole of nailpolishwars had done here. I have all the polishes she used. I've done gradients before. I thought I knew better and even practiced on swatch sticks. I wanted to do a green/blue combo instead of the orange/pink. I failed. I did not pick colors that were close enough in density to obtain a smooth gradient no matter how hard I tried. So after using 4 GORGEOUS polishes I caved and removed it without even topcoating. live and learn.

Wedding Guest nails- Bettina and Lynnderella

My daughter was headed out of town to Orlando for an outdoor wedding and wanted to wear something a bit jazzy on her nails. We came up with two coats of Bettina Sunrise from their Resort collection dabbed on the tips with Lynnderella Thank Blue! Every Bettina I have tried (a dozen so far) has been creamy, non streaky and high gloss. I am very happy with this brand.

Love Yourself manicure- Ziggy Stardust!

Kirsten at All That Glitters is another wonderful etsy seller- the getting-famous Spotty Dottie polishes, Plum and Plummer, Space Rock, all hitting the nail polish scene like gangbusters. (you can find her here ) I obtained this beautiful peachypinky glittery wonder from a dear friend (you KNOW who you are!) The base is a slightly colorshifting polish- gold to coral/pink that reminds me of Nina Ultra Pro Molten Gold, a brand exclusive to Sally's. I layered two coats over FingerPaints Circus Peanuts to get a completely opaque look, but by itself I think three or four coats would do the same. Gelous and Seche Vite over for a totally smooth finish (unusual and very nice for a chunky glitter) I DID pick a few bar glitters off with tweezers :)

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MSMD manicure!

My inspiration, the fabulous Kayla Shevonne here
I've been meaning to do this for a long time. I think what held me back was having to put WHITE nail polish on my hands. (OPI Alpine Snow) Like I don't look fishbelly pale enough! I screwed up my courage for this challenge and went for it!  I had the bright idea to add a layer of China Glaze White-Kwik-Silvr which is a creamy, shimmer pearly white that, on it's own, takes FIVE COATS to become opaque. But over two coats of the OPI it added a bit of a softening effect and a tiny shimmer to the base. Neon dots are all Color Club's Electro Candy from summer 2009. Seche Vite to top.

you can see a bit of shimmer on the pinky

and now I know I need to attend to my cuticles

How to remove Acrylics- from Bee Polished

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GORRAMIT!!!

quick NOTD (that's becoming more common, yeah I know) A dear friend once again has blown my mind with her kindness towards me and sent me some mail recently. This nerdlacquer  gem was included- oh my. Mustard yellow shimmer with small red squares, tiny gold glitter, larger copper glitter and hexes and bronze hexes. Perfect. VERY TC hungry, I have Gelous AND SV over and it needs another coat.