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?

An InLinkz Link-up

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?

An InLinkz Link-up

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?