Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Lacquer Ring: Pipe Dream Polish Neon Watermarble

Purchased By Shelby Lou

I am back with The Lacquer Ring today for one of the most dreaded challenges in nail art: The Watermarble. I admit I was thinking about just doing an accent nail. Possibly decals. Or maybe even just stamping the damn thing. But what am I doing this whole blogging and linking up thing for anyway? The challenge. So I finally decided to bust out my Pipe Dream Polish neons and properly watermarble.

I started with a base of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls. This was completely the wrong color to start with, but it's the polish I had already so I went with it. I used room temperature spring water and a glass with a one and half inch mouth. I liquid-latexed the hell out of my fingers and nails, I just use stuff I bought off amazon and decanted into bottles. I loosened the caps on three of the Pipe Dream Polish neons I chose: VIP Pass, All In, and Happy Hour. These polishes completely live up to their hype, by the way, and I'd love to see her do more cremes just for marbling!

I used the pointiest end of a dotting tool I had and made my flower design. Then I dunked my nails! I practiced on my right hand first and did two at a time. It looked like crap, but it did mostly look like a watermarble. I decided to leave it and start on my left hand. I did two nails at a time on my right hand as well and my thumb alone. Ready?

Shelby Lou Nails with The Lacquer Ring
Pipe Dream Polish Neon Watermarble
VIP Pass, All In, & Happy Hour

This is with no re-do, folks. Ain't nobody got time for that. My skin looks crazy while trying to get the colors more accurate, but it's a watermarble! I am so tickled and proud of myself. I never ever EVER thought I could take on this challenge, but I did, and I did good.

Shelby Lou Nails with The Lacquer Ring
Pipe Dream Polish Neon Watermarble
VIP Pass, All In, & Happy Hour

Here are some things I plan on doing differently next time:
1. Use a better base--I need to pick the lightest tone in the watermarble and make sure my base is nice and smooth. Mine was too light and had shrinkage from a fast paint job and quick-dry topcoat added too soon.
2. Dunk fingers individually--Doing two at a time saved time, but I think I can only get away with that on my index and middle. My ring and pinky being such different lengths made it tough to dip where I wanted at the same time. I might try doing my thumb and ring at the same time though.
3. Be more careful when applying and removing my latex barrier--I ended up eating into too much of my mani on some of the nails during clean-up.

Shelby Lou Nails with The Lacquer Ring
Pipe Dream Polish Neon Watermarble
VIP Pass, All In, & Happy Hour

Make sure you check out the other ladies in The Lacquer Ring today for their watermarble adventures! Have you loved your cuticles today?

Friday, September 18, 2015

HPBloggers Presents: Fugly Fall Sweater Nails

Purchased By Shelby Lou
Press Sample--Zoya only

Agh, has it really been that long since my last blog post? I have been so busy the last few weeks. I am back because I really wanted to participate in this month's Hobby Polish Bloggers' link-up since it is all about one of my favorite things: Autumn. I am also so #basic it's tragic, but I cannot deny my love of all things pumpkin and fall. I give you: fugly fall sweaters.

I started with a base of Pretty & Polished In The Buff, one of the new Dusty Cremes that I had to get on my nails ASAP and the inspiration behind this whole mani. But anyway. In The Buff is a perfectly dusty butterscotch yellow. I was expecting this to make my skintone look totally distinguiting but look! It's not bad and I actually got compliments. I must also add that it has a fantastic creme formula.

S
Shelby Lou Nails
Fugly Fall Sweaters
Pretty & Polished In The Buff
MoYou London Fashionista 14 & Zoya Geneviev

To make my sweaters I chose an image from MoYou Fashionista 14 and stamped it with Zoya Geneviev. I have used Geneviev so many times for a perfect gray stamper and I recommend picking it up at their next sale if you don't already have it. I finally used a teeny tiny dotting tool and a black creme to add dots to the floral-type elements of the stamp. Check out the dustiness of In The Buff close-up below, it is mind-blowing.

Shelby Lou Nails
Fugly Fall Sweaters (Macro)
Pretty & Polished In The Buff
MoYou London Fashionista 14 & Zoya Geneviev

Can someone make me a sweater dress in this color and pattern, please? I love my inspiration polish. Pretty & Polished's Dusty Cremes are amazing and easily one of my most favorite collections ever! I hope you check out everyone else's Autumn nails today in the link-up! Have you loved your cuticles today?

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

July-August Mani Round-Up

Purchased By Shelby Lou 
Press Samples

I have come to the harsh realization I just don't have the time to really blog about nails and stay sane. Some of my supportive bloggy friends suggested I try still sharing manis (because I love sharing manis!) on instagram though and rounding them up in a monthly blog post. So here are my instagram manis from the end of July and August!

Pahlish Duo for June 2015: Through Tugley Wood
Very Good Advice topped with Mome Raths


Hare Polish - Dreams Under A Microscope 


 Baroness X - Maracaibo


"Girly Stuff"
Zoya Genesis, Nana, & Serenity
MoYou London Tropical 05
KBShimmer Dust In The Bottle
Darling Diva Polish Choking On Swan Gas
Daily Charme Bow Charm


Pahlish Duo for July 2015: Mirror Images
Such Great Heights topped with Freckles In Our Eyes
Check out a macro here!


Pahlish Quite Ribbiting
Check out a macro here!


Quite Ribbing topped with I Love Nail Polish Neon Rosebud
Check out a macro here!


Hare Polish Sea Bunny
Check out a macro here!


I hope you enjoyed this round-up! I have more fun with my polish when I actually get to wear it and don't have to be brilliant with words, too. This will be a monthly feature for a little while. I started blogging almost two years ago and I've had to rethink it a little, but I like the idea of having a permanent place to have my manis. I  Have you loved your cuticles today?
 
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