Original Spectraflair franken

I made this 6 years ago with original Spectraflair. I don't recall what base polish I used...from the sweet smell, probably an old school, it may be a Nicka A. Really sheer blush with a soft gold flash. This is 3 thin coats over my acry gel enhancement. Aside from my gel topcoat pooling around some of my cuticles, I think this looks lovely on my nails.

I'll have to wait a few days for some nail growth to file down the pooling and apply another layer of gel top coat. I'm unsure as to why this is happening. I'm using thin layers, and it *looks good until I remove my hands from the UV light.
*Could just be my eyes...I'm expecting a Brightech Lightview Pro magnifier with led lights any day.

New project- organizer for round 7mm Chez Delaney plates- picture heavy

I have 128, round 7mm Chez Delaney plates that I want to organize in a folder type holder. Thus far, I have found one place that sells 7mm plate holders- here on Aliexpress. They are side loaders. I almost pulled the trigger on purchasing, but decided to make my own because I think top loaders would be better.
Finished plate holder;

My initial idea was to use upholstery to cover my plates, but switched to re-purposing an old bamboo placemat.
Supplies; 6 pocket picture protectors (leftovers from organizing my husband's family photos...purchased here), 1/2" screw posts from Hobby Lobby (in the leather section...they also carry 1/4" screw posts- great for repairing your existing folders!), sewing machine (you could hand sew), spring steel lacing bones (from my corsetmaking stash...can be purchased here...plastic washers would be a good substitute), polyester thread (is best), choice of cover, awl, leather hole puncher, glue (E6000), drill.

Tips:( I sewed my pockets 7mm.) Use the finest needle you can. Loosen both the needle and bobbin tension. Use the largest stitch on your machine. You want to keep the stitch holes small and spaced  far enough away from eachother with enough "give" to allow reaching into the pocket to remove a plate without it ripping like perforated plastic.

Moving on...The wide channel between the picture pockets will be the fold line...where the screw posts will be installed. Each page of the finished folder will have 6 plates, back to back...vertical.

The lacing bone will be running down the center channel between pockets. The screw post fits perfect through the holes...I used 3.  Assembly goes like this-bone (or washers), upholstery, photo pages, bone...all held by 3 screw posts.) The lacing bone will add stability in addition to keeping the pages from ripping away from the screw posts.

 It was at the above point when I realized that I didn't need a cover at all, and maybe using the upholstery I had in mind would be time consuming. It's embroidered, so I'd have to finish all my edges. Then I saw the placemat.

Shown already cut, binding pirated and re-worked (glued) on the new edge. Bonus- the binding is nylon...the edges can be burned with a lighter to seal. Drilled 3 holes through the placemat for screw posts. Also, I glued that last leftover bit to cover the spine (over the lacing bone) of my holder, and used a red hot awl to burn a hole where the screw post goes.

Above, awl is on the left. On right is a leather hole puncher, and what I used to make holes through the picture sleeves. Below- inside assembly.

Below are metal, decorative corners I found while shopping for the screw posts at Hobby Lobby. 3 sets of 4 in  a burnished finish-silver, brass and copper. I used the silver...Although a bit expensive, I think they add a finished look to my new holder.

Below is a pic with the embroidered upholstery I almost used.

50% off almost everything at Winstonia

Winstonia
I ordered the 3rd generation plates and some replacement stamper heads...50% off!

lost my reply to comments button

test post

Homemade lint roller stand

Leftover from a bathroom remodel- hand-towel bar. Telling sign that I did not fully inspect this thing before working on my plans for it...there are teeth marks from the pliers I used. I initially thought that the end cap on this bar came off. I didn't see the little screw at the other end (the whole bar comes out of the base)...when I did see it, I unscrewed it with a non magnetic screwdriver, and lost it. Fortunately, I found another that fits, although long. Anyway, I cut out the plastic handle from the lint roller and inserted a new sleeve made from 2 plastic bottles- one slightly smaller than the other, bottoms cut off.  I cut these bottles with a hacksaw, but f I had my Dremel set up, I would have taken more off from the bottom instead of cutting extra from the tops. The higher up you go on the bottles, the flimsy-er they get. Using the hacksaw was a crude way of getting what I wanted...sliding the 2 bottles into each-other, total length, end to end, accommodating the length of the bar.
The base of the towel holder now re-purposed lint roller stand is mounted directly onto my mani table. (I built that myself and can make all the messes (as you can see), that I want.)
I think it turned out well enough- it does exactly what I want it to do.
CICI & SISI sell a beautiful acrylic lint roller stand that you can purchase here . I don't know if other lint rollers than their own would fit their stand.

 

Going through the stash

Fusion from Avon...purchased years ago, when mannequin hands were the rage. The swatch in the catalog looked flesh colored, but it arrived mauve.
I thought this polish would go in my frankening box, but I really like it. Fusion leans more on the neutral side, not as cool, mauve-y as I first thought. It has a beautiful pearl finish, which I also like. I'm not crazy about the pink glitter...it's as if the makers were trying to make it "edgy". Doing an image search, seems Avon reformulated Fusion and added more glitter in 2008, making it a grainy mess.
This polish makes my boxy, mannish hands seem more delicate and feminine- just- really flattering.

More tinkering with holders, also Bliss Kiss, CiCi and SiSi

I don't know if I ever put this out here...back in1982, I had a factory injury which involved A 1" steel rod going through my right (dominant) hand in addition to it being crushed between 2 steel plates...the force, 7,500 lbs of hydraulic pressure. Were it not for a very fine surgeon, I would have lost my hand. I have limited range of motion, so the way stamper holders feel and perform in my hand is important. Conical holders...not a good idea. They either slip out of my hand or my grip is wonky.
Anyway...I received 3 new stampers yesterday...Bundle Monster XL (conical holder), Bliss Kiss clear and CiCi and SiSi clear (conical glass holder).
 Love the Bliss Kiss holder. I made a similar holder (orange) last week using a hairspray cap and inserting a cut-down prescription bottle so the head won't move. I also hot-glued in a bushing to my Wistonia holder to keep a head in place. The Bundle Monster holder also got a much needed make-over....I hot-glued that into another cap and added a metal filigree napkin ring. Love the flat head on this one.
CiCi and SiSi holder...so elegant looking, but a no go for me...too heavy. Love the clear conical head on this one. I'll be looking for an alternate holder. Top row, L to R; new and improved Wistonia holder, Bundle Monster holder, Diy. Bottom row L to R; Bliss Kiss, CiCi and SiSi, Diy

Speaking of CiCi and SiSi...Last month I purchased 6 sets of their metal plates from DestashTheDupes on Storenvy. Curious about their acrylic plates, I went ahead and ordered 3 from their site....LOVE them so much, I ordered 7 more direct, and 4 more from DestashTheDupes.

Here's a pic of what my bum hand looks like;

My favorite topper, Pure Ice, Oh Baby!

Pure Ice, Oh Baby!...discontinued?! Imo, the best thing Bari Cosmetics ever made. Oh Baby!, I love you so much....build-able, irregular micro flakes that shift from turquoise to blue to purple to pink. To my eye, this stuff always made everything look better on my wide, Chicklet nails. Here it is, just one coat, over Color Club, Tangerine Scream.