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Mani for my Halloween costume! Edit- 2 pics added

I love my costume idea for this year.

I'm going as a peacock!

There's a funny story behind my idea...Billy is the 21 year-old nephew of one of the owners of the restaurant I manage. He comes in to manage a day so I can have a day off. We also work together on Sundays. Both customers and employees think he's an idiot. I agree. He likes to say deragatory things about me to the waitstaff. I'm not sure if it's because of his youth, or jealousy or the fact that I am not family yet I have absolute power in the restaurant. What he doesn't know- they all tell me what he's saying. One of the most frequent things he says about me is that I..."strut around like a peacock".

So I'm thinking that it would be hilarious to actually come in as a strutting peacock!

I'm still not feeling well, (pink eye- second time in 2 months, low-grade fever, cough) so I may have to resort to plan B costume- Lady from India. (I have tons of Sarees).
Anyway, my mani will match either costume.
We haven't had sun for 2 days, and I had to use my crap camera, so none of the detail shows in this mani. I chose stamping colors that had a strong flash or duochromes. I was going after the irridescence of peacock feathers.
Base- Brucci, Black Emerald
Fauxnad plates- H7, H8, H22...the feather images
Stamping colors; Scherer Chameleon, Calypso and Blue Sky
Nina Ultra Pro, Emerald City and Molten Gold
Spa Ritual, It's Raining Men
Maybelline Express Finish, Go Go Green
China Glaze, Millennium
I hope the sun comes out soon, because this mani is really cool in sunlight!

mani fail - 2 hauls to make me feel better

My last nail art mani was just awful! I finished it right before I had to leave for work one day last week, and had to suffer looking at it for 14 stinking hours.  Needless to say, I didn't bother to take a picture, and removed it 5 minutes after I got home.

I started a new mani in the orange from the OPI Tattoo ta-Boo set that I won from Sasse's Halloween contest. I really wish I could get a full size bottle- it's gorgeous!
Because all my "fails" happen when I rush things along, my plan was to wear it naked for a day, and fauxnad something the following morning. Unfortunately, I never got the time to be creative. I put in an extra 8 hours at work and had to fire 2 waitresses.
I did, however, receive a package of goodies in the mail from Head 2 Toe Beauty . I also shopped a couple of local haunts and spent my day off an hour out of town at a beauty supply store and Ulta.
All these goodies and I'm not feeling well enough to play. I think I may be comming down with the flu.

Here we go... click to make bigger

swatch request- Piggy Polish, Mermaid

I'm afraid I'm not very good at swatching, but I did my best.
Pinky and ring finger- 4 coats Mermaid over bare acrylic nails.
Middle finger- 2 coats Mermaid over Orly, Green With Envy
Index finger- 2 coats Mermaid over Color Club, Oooooo La La (white semi-shimmer)
Thumb- 2 coats Mermaid over Color Club, Where's The Soiree?

Evident on first coat- very sheer, palest of pale Lilac base with mint metallic shimmer that flashes yellow.
With each additional coat, the lilac base is less evident to non-existent because of the strong shimmer and flash. Vnl after 4 coats at some angles. My camera, of course did not pick much of this up.  Pictures taken w/flash indoors.

I figured that while I was at swatching, I might as well try Mermaid over 3 different base-coats to see what effects would show up. While I personally wouldn't wear Mermaid by itself, or layered over white or green, I would most definately wear it layered it over black! (I think most sheers look stunning over black).
Vivid, glowing green metallic with yellow-gold flash describes the effect of Mermaid over black perfectly.

Fauxnad crackle nails

My originial idea for these crackle stamped nails was green cat eye rub ons. I had 2 nails looking cool, when the rub-ons failed to apply properly...probably due to some excess oils on my nails and the dexterity issues I have when it gets cold outside. As careful as I was in taking them off, I tore up the polish on both thumbs. Not wanting to waste a decent fauxnadacure, I covered them with the largest rub-ons I had- Cute ghosts. Not my cuppa-tea, really, but it worked in covering the mess. I also had trouble applying the ghosts, and had to touch up places with an angle brush and black polish. Next time I do rub-ons, I'll get help from dh or my daughter, Amber.

Anyway I really love this crackle image! Here's what I used;
Base- Color Club, Where's The Soiree?
Overlay- Sally Hansen, Black Diamond
Fauxnad plate H22
Stamped with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, Lickety-Split Lime
Ghost rub-ons have a layer of Nina Ultra Pro, Molten Opal
2 coats Seche

"You Make Me Smile" Award <3 Nina Hagen

Tagged by Nihrida


Here are the rules:
- You have to put in a song that makes you happy.
- You can tag as many people as you like, there is no limit.
- Say at least one thing about each blog you tag, that will make them smile, something nice about their blog that makes you smile when you read it! :D

The outrageous Nina Hagen always makes me smile;




Music is a *really* big part of my life, so I love this tag!
I don't have very much time to nudge the specific people I tag, so I'm tagging everyone who reads this post.
I love color, I love creativity, so *every* blog I have on my list makes me smile. Truly, I cannot wait to get home from work to see all the "pretties".
Having said that, there are 3 people who regularly comment on my blog, that bring the biggest smiles.

Nihrida ...creative, gentle and sweet, she makes me feel special.

Lucy because she comments on all my posts and says such nice things. Do you have a blog, and if so, am I following it?

Thriszha, from FAB UR NAILS Awesome blog! Her skills and presentation are top-notch. I always feel wonderful when she comments on my posts.

As an aside...I cannot believe that my followers have almost doubled since last week! The milestone for a 25 follower giveaway will have to change to a "just because" giveaway!

Nail polish/Nail Art randomness

I really enjoy reading the many blogs I have on my list/roll. I just wish I had more time to comment on them, and reply to comments in my blog. I have been asked some questions along the way- here, (and in rl-) and thought it would be better to answer all in one shot in a seperate post. I've also added a couple of things on my own. I really wish I could write well and come across friendly and warm...ah well...

#1. Up until 2 years ago, the *only* color I ever wore on my nails was black.
#2. The bulk of my nail polish collection is in the purple family.
#3. Followed by blues/teal
#4. Then pinks
#5. Reds are the smallest of my collection.(I bought 1, the rest are my daughter's)
#6. I do all my swatching on clear plastic sheets(usually scrap wrappers from something else I purchased, like stockings. If I run out, I use food wrap.)
#7. Nail Art fulfills my need to be creative.
#8. I draw inspiration from swatching and manipulating colors.
#9. I want my nail art to dazzle people into feeling happy- even if it's for a moment.
#10.I would like to formulate my own magnetic polish.

Dupe for Color Club Wild and Willing

Perhaps this is old news and I should shut up...
I just opened my box Victoria Nail Supply haul which included Color Club Wild and Willing. And guess what? I *have* this polish already...4 bottles of it to be exact. It's Funky Fingers in Bourbon St, and is an *exact* dupe for CC Wild & W....color, formula. I swatched them both side by side on clear plastic, and they are indeed the same.
Of course they are...they're both distributed by Forsythe Cosmetics.
I'm not sure why I didn't see it before- CC Ultra Violet and Funky Fingers Sound Machine Purple are organized on my polish rack side by side. Swatching both of them proved that they are the same everything as well.

I did a quick Google search and found this post from Beauty Judy

I found my Funky Fingers at my local Five Below- 3 bottles for $5.

Yoga-ta Get This Blue magic- click 4 big

My first attempt at art on my OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue! was a major fail. I tried to salvage it by layering almost *all* the glitter and flakies in my arsenal. At one point, I could have sworn I heard someone chanting..."more, more, more is better". I'm not sure, but I think it was the ONE voice of the Glitteratzi. So, it was looking very cool- and then I did it again- I went overboard with yet another layer. Thankfully, it was all still wet so removal was not a pain.
Anyway, I started all over with a fresh 2 coats of Yoga-ta. Although I have lots of Halloween ideas, none of them seemed right with this color...it's too classy for cheesey Halloweeney art. (I had no inclination of trying my first idea again, as I really need a different shade and formula of orange(s) than I have.)
I came up with a magic inspired fauxnadacure. Magic and Halloween go together, so I say this counts as #5 in my series.

Basecoat- OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue, 2 coats
Overlay- Hard Candy Hot Pants (holo glitter- micro and medium)
Fauxnad plates- P55, H16, H17
Sally Hansen Chromes for stamping in- Royal Purple Chrome & Aqua Chrome
2 coats Seche
Too bad my dh wasn't home to photograph my nails...I had to use my ancient Fuji- not very good for glitter, holo & detail shots.

No art yet...fell in love with Yoga-ta Get This Blue!

I have walked by this OPI color for months. It's been in my shopping basket several times, only to be put back on the shelf- (I must say that in order to prove to myself that I have a smidge of discipline in regards to spending money- I
always put a bottle back).
This is such an interesting blue. While I was uploading my pics, I did a search on it to read who blogged about it and what they had to say. Most said this was navy blue. My bottle and nails read differently.
Under low light it *does* look navy, however, put some light on it and a very dark turquoise shimmer appears...and there is purple around the edges.
My camera, of course, does not pick this up, but it's there, and is it ever gorgeous! I could wear this color all by itself- without art or layering of any kind, which is a rarity in my world.

Up until this very moment, I have been stumped on what I was going to do art-wise, so as to not cover or detract(is this a word?) from how pretty this blue really is.
If I don't mess this one up, I'll have pictures tomorrow.

Quickie Halloween mani- fauxnad- & 25 followers!

It took me well over an hour to remove 90% of my gradient mani. And another 40 minutes to remove the remnants of my secret weapon...the polish that allowed me to blend everything together... El-cheapo Funky Fingers in Hyper!.

Anyway, I didn't realize how badly I needed a fill until I removed all that glitter, so I did an easy quickie. After this post, I'm leaving for my fill and will work on something better tonight.

Base- 2 coats China Glaze, Orange Knockout
Overlay- Pure Ice, Hot Tamale
Fauxnad plate- H7
Stamped with Essie, Where's the Soiree?
2 coats Seche

News of the day!
I won 2nd prize in Sasse's
Halloween mani contest!

And! I have 25 followers! ...which means I have to organize all the "giveaway" items I've been collecting in anticipation of my Blog hitting 25. There will be 2 winners.
So yea...I need to get moving...this is my only day off!

2 nail polish hauls

Top Picture, top row, l to r;

SinfulColors- CallYouLater, All About You, Forget Now, Frenzy, I Love You, & Tapping Nails.

Bottom l to r;

Fantasy Makers- Magical, Black Radiance- Risque, Sally Hansen Salon- Navy Baby, Wet & Wild- Deep Wine, Finger Paints- Be A Pal-ette, Nicole- It's Up To You, China Glaze- Blue Sparrow, Frostbite, Glacier & Orange Knockout.

Bottom Picture l to r;

Jesse's Girl- Confetti (my 2nd bottlevery dense glitter strips- Love it on my toes layered over a purple!), Sally Hansen- Opulent Cloud(bought both bottles from display), Pumpkin Nail Enamel (no name, gunmetal grey w/holo glitter), Another no name- Pink glow in the dark w/ opal glitter, Hard Candy- Break Up, Hot Pants & Mr Wrong.

I'm not sure what the fuss is over SH Opulent Cloud. To me the colorr is *meh*... But I bought them anyway. One is going in a package to one of my followers, and the other will be thrown into stuff I'm collecting for a 25 follower giveaway.

Some of the polishes I purchased with Frankening in mind.

Candle-flame gradient mani! Click to make big.

Finished this 1pm Tuesday, had dh take photos and then had to rush to work without posting them!
None of these photos do this epic mani justice... They *really* do look like they are candle flamess/on fire!
I want to mention that this idea came by accident, while I was doing some swatching on a clear plastic sheet. (My initial idea was to fauxnad over black and orange.)

Base- Sally Hansen, Insta-dry in Orange You Fast.

Overlay- Nfu-oh, #49

Overlay- Funky Fingers, #874, Hyper!

Overlay on tips- Sinful Colors, Daddy's Girl

Overlay on tips- Nina Ultra Pro, Purple-Xing

Overlay at base of nail- Color Club, Explosive

Another haul

Top of box, left to right;

Orly- Blue Suede, Nina Ultra Pro- Molten Ruby, Spa Ritual- It's Raining Men

Bottom left to right; OPI- My Private Jet, Yoga-ta Get This Blue!, Piggy Polish- Pink-ing of You,

Piggy Polish- Mermaid, China Glaze- Coconut Kiss, China Glaze- Liquid Leather, China Glaze- Atlantis and China Glaze- Dreamsicle.

I can't recall ever seeing Piggy Polishes swatched, nor do I know anything about formula and performance. They weren't cheap...$7 each at Ulta. I had 2 additional PPs in my basket, but put them back because I just wasn't sure.

After doing a preliminary swatch (on a clear plastic sheet), I wish I had purchased the other colors as well. Both Mermaid (shimmery duochrome) and Pink-ing of You (Made of awesome glass? sparkley stuff) are very cool...especially the latter. My daughter, Amber, was wowed by Pink-ing of You.

Spa Ritual, It's Raining Men is very cool as well. Light blue base with pink and gold flashes...reminds me of a blue fire opal. I can't wait to use this one!

Anyway

7 Choices tag!

Tagged with the color purple from both AllYouDesire and (Sasa) Nihrida.
I couldn't get all my items grouped together, so here's 7 pictures for you.

First up; This used to be an old potato and onion storage bin. Painted and decorated, it's now home to the steel boning I use to make corsets with.

Next; a beautiful embroidered sari from India

3rd; Gorgeous mineral blush from Aromaleigh Rock's Collection in Wildflower (a warm purple)

4th; A necklace I made. While it's not totally purple, the beads have an oil slick purple flash to them.

5th; A kitchen towel given to me by one of my waitresses. (She purchased it at Kohl's)

6th; My *favorite* pair of sunglasses! Check out the really cool ankhs on the sides. I have a second pair of these with cat-eye shaped lenses.

And last; A Halloween themed T-shirt I purchased from Target. It's the same warm purple color as my Aromaleigh blush. I think the color is off due to the Halogen lights in my bathroom.

Thanks girls! This was fun!

Fauxnad spiders and webs- click to make big

Base-coat- Nicole, Show You Care
1st overlay- Milani #119 Totally Cool (Not pictured)
2nd overlay- Franken- Orly, Love Eachother with a bit of Funky Fingers, Bourbon St
Fauxnad stamps from plates-H25 & H22
Stamped with Sally Hansen, Pure Chrome
Seche- 2 coats

Love the color of my nails, however, I'm not very happy with how sloppy this mani looks. I could have done a better job. My only excuse is that I'm not feeling well today and sorta rushed through the stamping. You really need a steady hand and patience when working with a high contrast nail stamp idea.

Also, a heads up! Periodically check your stamp. The pink rubber part of my stamp dropped into the plastic holder. I didn't notice until I had stamped both thumbs. I now have 2 half circle indentations around the web where the plastic edge made contact with my nail.