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Thursday, May 31, 2012

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/

Monday, May 28, 2012

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)


Sunday, May 27, 2012

Saturday, May 26, 2012

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


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

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!



Saturday, May 19, 2012

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.