GOSH Black Passion (and a request!)

I love autumn. I get absolutely giddy every year when the weather cools down and I get to start wearing my long-sleeved tops with my kitty shoes. This year has turned cool earlier than usual, and I'm not complaining at all! I am, however, finding myself turning to deep colors for my nails. It's time to pull out my GOSH Black Passion!

This is a deep charcoal polish with silver shimmer. I love it even more than usual because this gift (along with my other GOSH polishes) was sent to me by a lovely friend in the UK. Every time I see those bottles, I'm reminded of how surprised I was to see the package she'd sent me. A little unexpected kindness will turn me into a silly mess of thankfullness every time!

Black Passion is actually less black and more of a graphite color,  complete with silvery shimmer inside. It's absolutely lovely, and a bit easier to wear than straight-up black. I found it kind of hard to apply- it's a very dense, pigmented polish but it tended to have a lot of drag, so I ended up needing two coats just to even everything out. Still, two coats is nothing to complain about, especially when you end up with such a lovely result!

Also, I had a request the other day from Deez Nailz, who was curious to see what Love My Nails Dazzling looks like over black. She was thinking it would look stunning over black, and she was right!

I mean, really... do you see the crazy sparkle on that nail tip? I also tried something simple- I did a gradient with the sparkles, so that it went from pure black at the base to sparkle mania at the top. All I did was paint the glitter on from different parts of the nail for each coat!

I think it's a bit easier to see the lines since I put the arrows on. Also, to cut down on the lumpy look, I did the first coat on just the tip of the nail, the second on half, and the third coat covering three quarters of the nail. Somehow that makes it seem more gradient and less striped. A coat of topcoat and it looks magical!

What can I say, I think everyone should have at least one bottle of this topcoat. It can turn any polish from drab to glam! So tell me, what do you think of this topcoat? What color would you put it over?

Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique- Everything You Need For A Fun Manicure At Home!

I'm strongly tempted to call this week, "Why Don't I Live In The UK Week" because of all the fantastic UK products I've been finding out about! Living in the US definitely has its advantages, but I'm just not finding goodies like these over here! If you're wondering what I'm babbling about this time, don't worry. You aren't alone...

I've just been struck with a severe case of blabbosity by the insane cuteness of the Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique line. I saw a tweet by @AndreaFulerton stating that her new Nail Boutique was live on Superdrug.com, and I was curious. She's a celebrity nail technician with a heck of a resume, if you're wondering, and she has created quite a collection! This collection is clearly made by people who love nail art, for people who love nail art!

Let's take the polishes, for example. The Superdrug description says it best:

A treasure trove of colour. Be spoilt for choice with 24 professional finish Nail Colours that have a unique resin system formula that flexes with your nail and is easy to apply in just one coat. Keep your options open with the Trio Colour Layering System – a double ended varnish bottle of two colours that can be worn alone or layered creating a 3rd colour or effect, or try the re-worked French Manicure Sets with ultra slender brushes for effortless tip application or the experimental Flip Flop French with its especially angled brush and French tip stickers to make the French tip application easy. And finally, Peel Off Varnish is fast and fun with four shades to choose from.

Not only are there lots of choices, she's also got a range of colors that is wonderful for a new line. She didn't stick to safe pinks and reds. She's got a rainbow of colors that combine with her layering polishes to make an overwhelmingly exciting range! I so want to get my hands on these!

Then there are the nail art goodies, and you know that's what has me giddy! Stripe and Sparkles has a nail polish with a thin striper brush on one end and a glitter shaker on the other end. The Glitter Puff Dust and Overcoat comes with two colors of glitter in squeeze bottles plus their own topcoat. Then there are the crystal gemstones and nail tattoos. Finally, there are the finishing topcoats, from a simple quick-drying glossy topcoat to various special effects options. There's also something that I think might work as a "gradient liquid," although I'd have to test it to be sure.

And as if that's not enough, there's more. (I know, I know, I sound like I'm doing a cheesy infomercial. But wait, there's more... you also get this slicer/dicer/shredder/spooler/dishwasher attachment FOR FREE!!! What can I say, I think I need a nap... but back to the goodies!)

Where was I? Yes... there's also a line of tools that looks fabulous.  Files, buffers, cuticle pushers and trimmers, varnish remover, cuticle oil... Honestly, I'm wishing I could hop on a plane and go buy the entire line!

So do me a favor, lovely readers of mine. If you happen to be out and about and nab some of these luscious goodies, take pictures. Tease me with photos of all the wonderful things you can do with these, and maybe I can get some vicarious joy through you! ♥♥

With Monsters On Her Fingers, Why Should She Be Afraid?

I have just finished the silliest set of nail tips that I think have ever existed. Rhinestones? Heck no, that's too elegant! Roses? BORING. (Not really, but go with me on this!) I wanted something different, something that really expressed my inner self. I wanted monsters! But not just any monsters. No... I wanted monsters with WIGGLY EYES!

That's right. These nail tips have monsters on them, and those monsters have 3D wiggly eyes that actually move! Some of them look excited, some of them look menacing, but most of them look kind of confused, and I really like that! They're silly, and they're weird, and they're in halloween colors to boot! Purple, green, and orange combine on a stark black background to make these monsters really pop.

Now, I started these ages ago. I got the test one finished way back on August 6, believe it or not! They clearly didn't take that much time to complete. But I got the bases painted and then had a huge moment of fear: could I finish them? Could I make them as cute as I hoped they would be? And those nails sat, and waited, taunting me simply by being unfinished. It was almost depressing!

Then one night I realized that hey, it doesn't matter if they're perfect. They don't have to be perfect because they're monsters! That moment freed me from the fear I was fighting with, and I was able to dive in and get back to work on them. The more I worked, the happier I got, until finally I was giggling as I painted on the goofy details, the pink hair bow, or the goofy teeth on the orange guy with eye stalks. They're not perfect, but they're cute, and that's enough for me. Anyone who wants perfect monsters can paint their own!

By the way, I think you should enlarge the image above, even if you don't click any other images on this blog. It's silly, and you can see all the little guys in their full glory. They're pretty nutty, really, and I love them all! I may have to make my own set of these, especially if someone buys them.

Wait, buy them? That's right, this set of nails is also up on Etsy for $24.95. They'll come nicely and safely packaged so that you don't have to worry about them being squished by the post office, and then you'll get to love the little guys while I miss them.

It's ok. I can make more. Already, my mind is filled with googly-eyed critters, and I'm wondering what to make next...

So, what do you think? Any other critters you'd like to see?

WHEW!! They're finally finished- my non-bumpy, non-scratchy lace-embedded nails!

I am so excited to share this that I am almost speechless. I have finally finished the lace-embedded nails to a point that I would wear them happily. My lace nails are FINISHED! They're hard to photograph, but they're so cute! Yes, these babies have actual lace embedded into the finish, and yet there are no sharp pointy bits sticking off the edges, and no scratchy bits on top. They have all the beauty of lace, yet none of the irritating texture!

There are a few patterns in, because I didn't have enough lace to make them all identical. It's something to consider for next time if they sell. Also, I was unsure on the price. Do you think they're priced too low? Too high?

This was a serious learning curve. When I first attempted it, I was left with a nail that had lace bits poking out at the sides. Each bit would then soak up topcoat, becoming a tiny sharp barb that would make wearing these pretty much impossible, in my opinion. Add to that the texture of the actual lace on top and these were pretty, but unwearable for me. The solution?

Elbow grease. I wish I had a better answer for you, one that's fancy and high tech. But no... it came down to finding each little pokey part, trimming it as closely as I could, then filing it smooth with an emery board. Then I would take my buffing block and work through each step, until it was buffed to a glass-like shine. Tedious?

You have NO idea.

And yet, I wasn't finished. No... there was still that pesky lace texture to deal with. I bought a bottle of Seche Vite, hoping it would self-level all my problems away. It didn't. So... once again, I sanded those lumps and bumps away until I was left with a smooth surface, then buffed and polished them til they shined. What can I say, I'm determined. And look at them shine...


So yea... that's the big secret I've been holding on to. It's not something particularly special... it's just an amazing amount of work... mind-numbing, fingertip-erasing work. I've sanded my brains away, and for now, they're available for $24.95 through my Etsy shop. Here's hoping someone jumps on them, because I'd really love to make some more in other color combinations (black and red, anyone?), but I need the money from sales to buy more supplies! So go, look, and if you know someone who might be interested, maybe you could toss them a link? Thanks!!