Crafty Things To Keep My Brain Happy!

When I first made this blog, I thought for a long time about what to call it. I love nail polish, and at the time that's what I was focused on, 100%. However, I also wanted to leave room to write about other things I love, so I wanted the name to be flexible. I decided Layniefingers was perfect, because not only would it cover what was on my fingers, it also covered things I've made with my fingers. I haven't done a crafty post in a while, so I'll just share a few pictures of things I've been working on lately.

First, the crochet. I'd talked about the blanket I was making for a friend- I've finished it and am now working on a second one. I love the way it turned out. I giggled the entire time I was stitching the little face onto the hood. It's just so sweet, and I can envision a baby wrapped in it... a toddler throwing the hood over her head and running through the house at full toddler speed... or that same toddler clutching it close as she drifts off to sleep.

I'm hoping this one turns out to be the child's favorite, and it could even be passed down to her own kids, many years from now. Keep in mind, you can click the pictures to make them larger.

The next blanket I'm working on is a simple granny square blanket in alternating colors. Pretty, soft, and fluffy- how can you go wrong? :D

I've also done some amigurumi¹  recently. I'd bought this yarn simply because I loved the colors, but I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do with it. I thought about knitting something, but I don't really know how to knit. Also, it's Red Heart yarn, and that stuff is super rough. I wouldn't want to wear it anywhere close to my skin.

But toys? It's perfect for this! First is the little girl figure I made. At first I didn't know what I was making, really... only that I was making it. I didn't use a pattern, I just sort of made it up as I went along, taking a few notes to help the arms and legs match up.

Once I got to the hair, I realized this was a girl. She's got a punky mohawk, and it can be styled in several ways. I rooted each individual strand of hair so that I could decide how I wanted it styled. Then I spent about an hour playing with the hair, pushing it to one side or the other, making tiny updos or funky mohawks. Seriously, even I was stunned at how long I played with this thing!

I set out to make another one, only with longer legs and arms. Only, as I was crocheting the first leg, it didn't want to be a leg. No, it was very clear- it wanted to be an octopus.² Who am I to argue with an inanimate object? So, an octopus it was...

I haven't named either of these, and I still haven't come up with an idea of what to do with them. I suppose there's always Esty...


I've also been making jewelry off and on. While we were at my friend's house the last two weekends, I made some necklaces for her. First off, I wore a wire-wrapped pendant I'd made on a leather cord. She took that one and had me shorten it for her!³ It's fun to see someone so excited to wear something that they take it from your hands and immediately put it on!
 

 

So yea, that's been my last few weeks. Every time I tried to paint my nails, it was a disaster, but I was able to make a few goodies. Go fibro, yea? :D

So tell me, what have you been doing the last few weeks? Do you have any hobbies you really enjoy? Share with me!

¹ Amigurumi is Japanese for "knitted stuffed toy." I don't know why people called crocheted toys amigurumi, but hey, I didn't make the name up. I just make the stuff!

² Seriously. What do you do when your yarn starts telling you what to do? I wasn't up for fighting my yarn, so I said sure, why not... and made an octopus. I didn't want to wake up with a mouth full of yarn, suffocating because I didn't listen!
³ Not really. I told her it was for her, and she didn't want to take it because I was wearing it to see if it was comfortable or not. Still, she did take it off my neck and have me resize the cord for her!

 

What I wouldn't give for an evil monkey sidekick...

See my disclosure statement for more information.

It's Giveaway Time!! **ENDED**

Hiya!! This is a very quick post to let you know I'm holding a giveaway! The fine folks at Kiss have once again sponsored a sweet giveaway for my readers, and I'm super excited to share with all of you!

Kiss has recently released a selection of nail art products that I am absolutely in LOVE with! First off, there's sweet collection of nail art stripers that come with tip guides so that you can make your own French tips! There are several combinations, so I'm not sure which one you'll get.

I got a set that had blue, lavender and bright pink. I wouldn't call them pastels, because their colors are too saturated. In fact, the pink is so intensely bright that it would probably be suitable for a certain fashion doll known and loved by all.  I played around with them and they are so wonderfully saturated that one single stroke gives you perfect full color. They also dry quickly, which is a nice little bonus!

The set of three polishes not only includes tip guides, it also comes with a sheet of adhesive rhinestones! I love these because they're the perfect size, and very sparkly. They're a wonderful addition to any french tip. You'll receive one package of three nail art paints with 2 types of tip guides and one sheet of adhesive-backed rhinestones.

Then there are the nail art pens. Now, don't get me wrong, I've used quite a few nail art pens. I love different pens for different purposes. These pens, though, may just be my favorites! They have such a fine point that you can easily write whatever you like with them and have it be readable. I LOVE these pens! You'll receive one package of two nail art pens, either the black and white or the pink and silver.

You'll also receive a package of the new flat nail stickers. I love these... they're so pretty, and they're super easy to use. They're also very detailed, so it looks as if you've had your nails airbrushed at the salon! You'll receive one package with three sheets of stickers.

Finally, and perhaps my favorite, you'll receive one package of Broadway Nail Dress stickers. Oh my goodness, can I even begin to tell you how much I love these things? They are very easy to use, and they look like you've just been to the salon! I wore mine for three days with absolutely no lifting or chipping, and they removed easily with nail polish remover.

So, how do you win this kickass package? Easy. First, you need to be a GFC follower of mine. You should  also leave your email address, so that I can know how to contact you. That gets you an entry into the giveaway.

However, you can get additional entries. If you "like" Kiss and Broadway on their facebook pages, you'll get an additional two entries. Following Kiss and Broadway on twitter will also give you 2 entries. Following me on Twitter earns you an additional entry, as does friending me on Facebook. Tweeting about my giveaway will earn you an additional entry, as will blogging about it (or putting it into your sidebar- I'm not too picky!). And finally, if you're a frequent commenter on the blog, I'll give you an extra entry. I'm lenient, so you don't have to add that on the entry form.

Also, be aware that yes, I actually do doublecheck to see that you've done everything you say you've done. If I see you've said you did something you didn't actually do, you will be disqualified. Also, I'll frown at you sternly and you may not get dessert with your dinner. Seriously, it's annoying. Don't do it.

So- that's lots of entries for this sweet package! You've got until April 30, 2011 to enter- if it's still April somewhere in the world, then the entry form will be available.  What are you waiting for? Enter already!!

Sorry, the giveaway has ended.

This giveaway was sponsored by Kiss and Broadway.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

Vacation!!

Wow! I'm such a slacker... My husband and I had a bit of an impromptu vacation come up. We were only planning to spend the day, but we ended up spending several days with my best friend from college. It was her birthday week! (I know, not just her birthday but the whole week!) What was going to be an afternoon turned into something entirely different!

I know, I know... I'm surprised I'm showing this photo because
of how awful I look in it. But isn't that the sweetest puppy ever?

We started out visiting, just catching up on old times. We hadn't been able to get together in over 2 years due to money, schedule, etc. Turns out a lot can happen in 2 years! Her kids... omg, they're such adorable little guys, and they're WAY too smart for their own good! And her dog... I have no words. That dog was glued to me for at least 75% of the time we were there. He's a lab mix, and is the most gentle affectionate dog I think I've ever met! We spent most of our time like this:

Matty has perfected the "poor widdle me" look.

He's such a demanding guy, too! If I stopped petting him, he'd start making the petting motion with his paw, as if to say, "Hey, petting lady, you stopped with the petting! Here, you do it like this!" If I didn't start up again, he'd slowly sit up and turn to look at me, giving me this face.

Honestly, how could you deny that face?? He's so gentle and loving, and he didn't cover my face in kisses which was a good thing. Other than the occasional little lick on the hand, he just wanted to snuggle, which was fine by me!

I know, I'm talking too much about the dog. But come on, can you blame me? We did more than just hang out with Matty, too!

I love sharing!

Since it was my friend's birthday, I brought my polish with me. Yes, almost all of it... it took 4 boxes to manage it, too! I let her dig through and pick, and boy did she pick some good ones! I had some small empty bottles too, so polishes I wasn't willing to completely part with I decanted for her. Can I just say she fell in total love with the BPAL polishes?

We also got to go out to dinner with more friends I haven't seen in years, as well as making new friends! Then we got wild and went to a casino in Biloxi! It was fun stopping at the beach to take pictures. Unfortunately, we didn't have our camera with us, so they're on other people's computers. Still, it was wonderful!

All in all, this was a fantastic vacation that I got to spend with some of my best friends in the whole world. I wouldn't trade a minute of it. I had so much fun, and I hope we helped make my friend's birthday a great one.

Make Your Own Nude Nail Polish, courtesy of Pursebuzz.com

I was talking to a friend of mine on Twitter tonight who was having problems with a nail polish she'd gotten. It was a lovely nude polish, but it was just too sheer for her. She wanted to know if she could somehow concentrate the polish pigment, or if that would even work.

Immediately I thought of a video I'd seen a while back. I quickly googled and found what I was looking for. In April of last year, Elissa from Pursebuzz did a fantastic video about making your own nude nail polish from mineral makeup! I've tried it since with eyeshadow and it worked like a charm. So hey... try it out, it can't hurt!



Something else to keep in mind- if your polish mix starts drying up or getting kind of lumpy, add a bit of nail polish thinner to it if you have some. this will loosen up the mixture again so that you can apply it nicely. I do this when I'm mixing custom colors for a single manicure but don't want a whole bottle of it.

Hope this helps someone! Also, if you're at all interested in cosmetics, fashion, DIY, or just plain fun then you'd probably enjoy Elissa's website, Pursebuzz.com. She's also got a Twitter account where she gives tips and tricks, tells you when her new videos or blog posts go up, and sometimes hosts fun little giveaways! And as if that's not enough, she's also got a Facebook page!

Most of all, she's not just a beauty guru, she's also a genuinely nice person. I'm not being compensated for this post, I just think she's one of those people everyone should know about. So go follow her, and tell her I sent you! :D

Til next time...

See Pursebuzz.com for more information on fashion, makeup, and all sorts of goodies!

See my disclosure statement for more information.

Zoya New Collections- modmattes LE, Sunshine and Summertime!

OMG, can I just tell you how excited I am about the new Zoya summer collections? Holy WOW they're gorgeous! I have been really feeling drawn to bright fun colors, and these collections have my name on them! What, you can't see it? Look closer, I SWEAR it's there! ;)

First let's look at their basic collections. These babies are intense!

First, there's Sunshine, a collection of six sparkling metallic colors that will have you longing for summer. The press release describes those colors like this:

* Reva (ZP546) - A cool toned strawberry red with glowing golden metallic sparkle. A very rich and luxurious looking gilded red.
* Kimmy (ZP547) - Gleaming metallic candy apple red brightened by gold sparkle. Not your usual red shimmer- this one has a fiery attitude.
* Apple (ZP548) - Luminous yellow-toned apple green packed with gold metallic sparkle. A dimensional green that's clean and bright.
* Tanzy (ZP549) - Light, bright tangerine orange with yellow gold metallic sparkle. A sunny orange that's easy to wear year-round.
* Rica (ZP550) - Warm light coral with pink and orange tones and heavy gold metallic sparkle. An alternative to flat corals for when you want to shine.
* Faye (ZP551) - A bronzed mauve with purple and brown undertones flooded with right gold sparkle. A unique gilded shade that will work in any season.

Aren't those delicious-looking? I'm particularly drawn to Tanzy and Apple. What can I say, I'm in love with greens! But next... ohhh, coming up next are the cremes...

I know. I'm not a big fan of cremes. I think I may have bought two creme polishes ever, and they were almost identical shades of red way back before I became polish-obsessed. But the Summertime collection? These cremes are calling my name, teasing me and tempting my with their saturated summer goodness!

* Sooki (ZP552) - Bright, clean, crisp cool cherry red cream with a subtle jelly finish. For an irresistible, attention-grabbing red nail.
* Tamsen (ZP553) - Medium warm brick red with strong orange tones with an opaque cream finish. A special red that is both enticing and mysterious
* Areej (ZP554) - Pink with an opaque cream finish. A pink for when you want a bold pop of color but not something neon-bright.
* Kieko (ZP555) - Warm, red toned dusty light purple with berry tones with an opaque cream finish. A nice alternative to pure pink or berry, especially flattering on warm skin tones.
* Mira (ZP556) - Blue toned medium purple with dusty lavender tones and an opaque cream finish. For a muted yet colorful purple that isn't too dark
* Breezi (ZP557) - Soft, dusty, medium cerulean blue with an opaque cream finish. A super chic high-fashion denim look for nails.

I want Breezi so much!! Actually, scratch that- I want them ALL!! I can't even explain it. I'd love to have a house with accents in all these colors, surrounding me with lots of bright, happy, fun  colors and inspiring me. All that's missing is a lovely lime green!

And if that's not enough... there's also the limited edition modmattes.

There it is- the lime green I was missing! Is this beautiful or what? These three matte polishes are the absolute bees knees, and I am wanting these babies BAD! How does Zoya describe these?

• Lolly- Bold, saturated medium magenta pink cream with a velvety matte finish. A very colorful new matte style for perfect stand-out Barbie pink nails.
• Phoebe- Bright azure with fine electric blue and violet shimmer with a velvety matte finish. The matte finish amplifies the bright color; this is a matte that positively glows.
• Mitzi- Funky murky light yellow-toned lime green cream with a velvety matte finish. A new edgy, fun, bright type of matte for a retro mod look.

And if you've made it all the way to the end of this post, then have I got a treat for you! Zoya is running an amazing special that people all over have been prepping for. If you've got an account at Zoya, you can get polishes two for the price of one! You can read the official Zoya blog post about it. Not bad, eh?

So go on, go spend some cash at the Zoya sale. Then you can stop back by and tease me because I'm still on a no-buy! :D

Til next time...

Images were provided by the manufacturer.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

KISS & Broadway March Glamness Sweepstakes for the Month of March!

Wow, I wish I'd seen this sooner! You guys have probably figured out by now that I love KISS & Broadway products, yea? Well, this is one more reason to love them! Every day in March, they're giving away one of their products, and on March 31 they're giving away a giant package with everything they've given away for the rest of the month!

Pretty awesome, yes? The only catch is that you have to enter every day. It takes a whole minute or so to enter your information, though, and they're not bad to send you spam.

Entering is easy. Just go to the KISS & Broadway facebook page, become a fan (I don't know if it's necessary, but go ahead and do it, they're awesome!), then click the "Sweepstakes" tab. You'll be taken to the sweepstakes page, where you can click "Enter." Then just type in your information, and you're done! (Click the images for more details if you can't find it.)

So what are you waiting for? Scoot on over to the KISS & Broadway March Glamness Sweepstakes and enter!

Information and top image provided by the manufacturer for consideration.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

Go Green For St. Patrick's Day With Milani

Green with Envy

Milani Cosmetics gets gorgeously green for St. Paddy’s Day.

This St. Patrick’s Day, Milani Cosmetics is offering 25% off their classic green shades for eyes and nails! This is the deal that will have everyone green with envy!

Also, check out Milani Cosmetics DIY nail tip of the month to achieve sassy shamrock nails without breaking the budget at the salon!


Retail, $4.09 to $8.99, available for purchase at: www.MilaniCosmetics.com


*Discount will be applied at checkout after entering promotional code.

Milani How-to Steps:

1.        Apply Smoothé Base Coat Specialty Nail Lacquer MST-01 to entire nail. Let it fully dry
2.        Apply French Manicure Nail Lacquer MFM-302 Angel Pink as a color base coat. Allow it to fully dry
3.        Use Nail Lacquer MNL-829 Dress Maker across the very tip of the nail, creating a French tip. Allow to fully dry
4.        Add 4 small “V’s” the arrangement of a four leaf clover using Nail Art Lacquer MNA - 709 Green Sketch
5.        Apply a tiny dot in the center with Nail Art Lacquer MNA – 701 Art of Gold. Allow to fully dry
6.        Apply Glossé Top Coat Specialty Nail Lacquer MST-02 over entire design

Blah blah was provided by the manufacturer for consideration.

See my disclosure statement for more information.