Wildflowers, layered fauxnad

Hi Kids!
I said I'd be back...just *much* later than anticipated.
I get a lot of emails asking how I create my layered fauxnadicures. The only way I could do this would be with a video. And that takes time...seeings how I don't know a thing about working my Vcam ...and there is the uploading stuff. At present, what I can do is snap a pic or two as I go along the phases.

Speaking of...there is always a phase where I think the fauxnadicure will not work. I have taken a picture of such a phase with this particular mani that I'll post at the end. It's really ugly! I started it yesterday thinking that I could finish it before work- and I couldn't. I wore it unfinished and hated the look of it so much, I almost removed it this morning.
I stuck with it, and kept adding stamps, and you know what? I love how it turned out!

My camera picked up way too much detail in these pictures. Pull away from your monitor and view these at a distance.

The dots located at the bottom third of my nails were done with Color Club, Explosive. In order to balance out color, warmth and intensity, I "picked up" one of the colors in the flower decals. Working one nail at a time and at a distance, I applied each dot in the areas that needed them. They are *not* as sheer as pictures show.I'm mentioning this because in the pictures they look like scattered blobs.



This is what it looked like yesterday;

Base color- 2 coats U.S. Maxim, Shine Green
Konad plates- M21, M66, M8
Chez-delaney fauxnad- A07
Bundle Monster fauxnad- BM04, BM06
Stamping polishes- Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, Speedy Sunburst, Snappy Sorbet, Presto Pink, Whirlwind White
Claire's, Kelly Green, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Going Green & a green franken
Wet n Wild, Nocturnal
Dots- Color Club, Explosive
Flower decals
2 coats Seche

Bundle Monster fauxnad plates- review

Hi Kids!
This is a review post. Later on I'll be posting my layered fauxnad over the U.S. Maxim, Shine Green I showed you yesterday.

On April 23rd I placed an order for THESE nail stamping plates/fauxnad from Bundle Monster, 21 nail art plates for 17.99+. I received them on Tuesday, 11 days after my order.
(I also placed and order with chez-delaney for an assortment of European fauxnad plates- to which I am *still* waiting to receive.)

Most of my nail stamping art is done with fauxnad plates. Last year, I did a  Konad vs fauxnad comparison post that I'd love to link to, but because I suck at tagging my posts, I have no idea where it's at.
I don't dislike Konad at all...it's just that with fauxnad plates I get more variety, co-ordinating images on each plate & across multiple plates, mirror images, full images on European plates that are much larger, & I get more images per plate. The downside of fauxnad is inconsistency. Some images don't transfer well, some need a lot of stamp pressure, some need light. Sometimes I have to thin my stamping polish and sometimes only a jelly polish will work. There are some fauxnad images that I love but haven't found the right technique or polish for a good stamp.

I am more than happy with my Bundle Monster fauxnad plates (BM from here on). The images are cut with thicker lines and are a bit deeper and crisper than my European plates. This is a huge plus for layered stamping. Thicker lines = beefier images=perfect for images at the forefront of my designs!
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this set has lots of co-ordinating images across plates. For example, these ballz on sticks;
Tip image, 3 full nail images and 1 solo image. 5 matching images!

A variety of co-ordinating images allows for better mix and match options. If you piece together images for a full nail design, the variety on this set of plates allows for less repetition. I like that. And I love, love, love these plates!
Depending on how you look at it, the only other downside to this BM set is the full images. They are about the size of little girl nails...very petite. If you're like me, with long and wide nails, these will never work full nail- even if they were turned horizontal and double stamped...yes, they are that small!
The good thing I can find with these full nail images- they are scaled to size. What this means that the image itself is in good proportion to the area it occupies. These "full nail" images are perfect for use as french tips for long nails.

I would definitely recommend these plates! If you're thinking about trying your hand at nail stamping, these BM plates are a great first set. They are easy to use, have a good variety of workable images and they are much cheaper than Konad.
If you already own plate, this set of 21 image plates will make a fantastic addition to what you have.

**I paid for these 21 plates. This review  is my own opinion of my experience with Bundle Monster nail art plates. I have no affiliation with Bundle Monster. I have not been paid or compensated for my review.

Neon mint- U.S. Maxim, Shine Green

Hi Kids!
I was all set for this mani to be Zoya, Charla, but after swatching one of my nails with U.S. Maxim, Shine Green, I changed my mind.
I Purchased this polish for $.99 at the U.S. Maxim Beauty Supply Store in Philadelphia several weeks ago. If I hadn't seen this at a popular nail salon on Tuesday in Delaware, it would have stayed in my Frankening drawer. I figured no one would be interested in a virtually unknown polish.

Anyway, I really love this polish! It's bright,pearly, crisp and fresh. Shine Green looks like how spearmint gum tastes...minty. Having swatched this on a fake nail when I brought it home, I already knew this polish was nicely pigmented. Two thin coats and it was opaque.

Excuse the faint sheet marks...this will be covered with some fauxnad stamping!

I had to decant this...look at the brush in the original bottle...wtf?

The haul this came from.

Layered fauxnad- BB Couture, Horned Devil

Hi Kids!
I'm in such a rush, and have so much to say!!!
I really should delay this post until I have enough time, but I figure you all are here mostly for the pictures and not my ramblings.
Before I move on to the pictures, I think it's important for all my Readers to know that I despise the color red on my nails. All of the red polishes I buy are for my daughter, Amber- who, by the way, loves red on her tips.
It's really surprising that I should want a red for myself...I don't lem reds, ever. When I fell in love with swatches of BB Couture, Horned Devil, I knew it was pretty darn special, and I had better order it.

I have no idea where to begin describing this color, except to say that it is beyond gorgeous! It reminds me of the old fashioned corn starch lollypops my grandfather sold in his General Store. They were in the shapes of animals, and although they looked like jello on sticks, they were rock hard and lasted forever.

I will be buying a back-up of Horned Devil...maybe even 2.

All pictures taken outside, sun and shade... All are click-able.

This mani was done to match my skirt...

First fauxnad layer

3 coats BBC Horned Devil
2 coats BBC Dragons Breath on tips
fauxnad plates- H29, stamped with Konad Special Polish, Wine Red
Plates BM02, BM14 & BM21 stamped ith Sally Hansen, Violet Sapphire Chrome
1 coat seche
1 coat Barielle extender

Overall Beauty ...my new nails!

Hi Kids!
I'm alive- but extremely busy. Between Health Department inspections and preparing for Mother's Day-the busiest, craziest day of the year for us at the restaurant - I don't know if I'm coming or going!
Time for comments on your Blogs and here, on mine, will be very limited this week.
Today, I have lots of errands to run, one of which, is the Post Office- to mail out all Giveaway packages. (I know- I suck! I wouldn't be surprised if I got polished and feathered).

I want to get everything out of the way so I have time to create a layered fauxnadicure this evening. New polishes are calling to me!
In addition to the Zoyas I received the other day,  [Charla on bo :(  ], I just opened the package of my first BB Coutures, from Overall Beauty...only minutes ago.
Zuma Wave Rider, Love Bug, Horned Devil & Dragon's Breath!!!

All the raves about Kim from Overall Beauty are true. In the almost 50 years I've been around, I can count on one hand- and have fingers leftover, of a Vendor giving me Personal Service. My order was not a large one...4 polishes is a dinky, almost insignificant amount...certainly not one to warrant attention. But that's what I got from Kim, and you know what? That kind of Service is a Luxury today. With time at a premium for everyone, she took the time to reply to a short note and exchange several emails.
And that, my Friends, is exceptional Customer Service.  
I will most definitely be plunking down more money for BB Coutures with Kim at Overall Beauty.
This is my honest opinion of my first experience/order with Overall Beauty,  I purchased all 4 bottles of BB Couture Polish.
***********
My new set of nails!
I only have a couple of "spots" to file, and LOOK!- no unsightly cuticle wounds!!!!!

2 coats Diamond Cosmetics, Cotton Candy
1 coat OPI, Princesses Rule!
1 coat Seche

"Spots" are raindrops.
Next 2 photos- I would not have dared to show the thickness with my "old" set!

The profile in my new set is "true" to my natural nail. With my old set, I was trying to create a dramatic curve, much like that of my fellow Wicked Vixen, Andrea, from Black Nail Polish and Lip Gloss.
My nails grow flat-ish, and as much as I want Andrea's shape, I am starting to accept the fact that my nails were looking grotesquely thick & unattractive- especially under the Macro setting.
Much better now...

Re-usable nail forms were utilized in lieu of tips for all 10 nails. Tips on my 2 thumbs.

I've just about run out of the liquid monomer I was using, specifically, Aspire brand from Sally's Beauty. I want to switch my system to a professional one. I'm leaning to Creative, but am open to anything that's VERY good. I understand that not too many girls out there are sporting/supporting acrylics, however, I really don't have a choice and am looking for recommendations for systems and E-tailers. I don't have a license, so I need a place that sells to the public. Anyone...please?

New Pinky nail- Zoya Reece

Hi again Kids!
So sorry to be spamming today...I'm  really excited - not only did I get my Zoya order today (Reece, Adina, Happi, Maya & Jo), but my pinky nail turned out great using my new brush!!! What a difference!
AND- I did not apply nail tips...I used a nail form.

I had great results in using a form when I needed to extend a crooked sidewall. My natural nail doesn't have much of a c-curve, and with a form I can create a deeper one. In addition to aesthetics, I think a rounded c-curve takes some stress off the artificial nail making it stronger- and I don't feel like I have to apply the acrylic as thick.

This nail is just a test. I'm going to remove this after work because I *know* I can make this look better, more natural. Not bad though, eh?
Direct overcast-

For those that are interested, I use clear powder-

Shade overcast-
btw- all the little black specks you see when pictures are enlarged, is the grit from my black file

Hi Kids!
Wow- I don't log-in to Blogger for a day, and look at all the pretties I've missed! All I have is "how I spent my day off (changed to Tuesday this week)" and a haul.

It all started late Monday night when I followed a link to You Tube, and got caught-up with related links.
Would you believe that for all the time I spend on the internet, I never thought to check out "acrylic nail application" tutorials? Duhhhhh!


Anyway, on one of the channels I watched, the nail tech used a large, flat, squared tip brush. I got to thinking about how a brush like that may help me with my application issues. I have 2 brushes- one round, one flat-ish. They both come to a point, and to me, they seem narrow. My nail beds are very w i d e, and because I have to make 3 to 4 passes with my brush (in addition to not being an expert) my application is very uneven. To compensate for the un-eveness, I add more acrylic. In the end, I spend hours sanding, sand in between manis, and just when I get them to look acceptable, they're due for another fill...and the process starts all over again.


Soooo, yesterday, with a list of BS stores in hand, I drive 35 minutes to S. 11th St, Philadelphia. I've never been to that section of Philly and was surprised to find that the area was Vietnamese. With names like PA Nail Supply Inc and US Maxim Wholesale Supply, Inc- who would have thought? I got great cs at the first place, so I purchased lots of stuff there, including a #16 brush that they crimped for me. The second place was not so friendly. I bought their own brand of polish (surprisingly- well pigmented) and some way freaking cool ceramic, nail art teardrops.
After that, I headed back to NJ to check out another bs store, (they carry Barielle) only to miss my turn. I did not have the chance to turn around due to it being rush hour, so I made the best of it and stopped at a Sally's, Dollar Tree and Rue 21 in the area.


As I write, I'm working on removing the acrylic from my last nail. I won't have time to apply my full set before work today, however, I am going to try at least one nail.

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