The Lacquer Ring: Spooky Nails

Purchased By Shelby Lou

Last time I posted I was talking about getting started with the KonMari Method. While I haven't done it all completely properly, I have managed to rid my house of tons of clutter. I still have a lot to do but I am enjoying my home more and more. I have also done some massive nail polish purging, check out my Blog Sale if you're interested in acquiring some new pretties yourself!

Today's mani is "Spooky" and will also be my Halloween mani this week. I have been wanting to try the smokey nail technique and went for some spooky fog, or perhaps supernatural mist if you will. I used Chalkboard Nails' Midnight Smoke Nail Art Tutorial. It was the first search result and ended up being all the instruction needed!

As I tend to do, I wore my black base of Cult Nails Fetish (topcoated) for a day before doing my art. Chalkboard Nails used a pale green polish for her smoke, so I used Polish My Life Green Bikini for my fog. Then I lightly sponged on the smallest amount of CND Jade Sparkle for a little more dimension. I can't help it, I love gloss and sparkle on my nails.

Shelby Lou Nails & The Lacquer Ring
"Spooky" Smoke Nail Art

The brush I used for the acetone step was very square and not very flexible so I didn't end up with the swirls I really wanted. I'm still diggin' it though. So much easier than I thought! I'd love to try some turquoise nails with this technique. I also have to make a shout-out to Baroness X Swatcher's Balm for moisturizing my nails perfectly without making them greasy for my pictures!

Shelby Lou Nails & The Lacquer Ring
"Spooky" Smoke Nail Art

What do you think, spooky enough? It's reaching, but I'm not really into the spooky part of Halloween--I'm a scaredy cat. Anyway, I love now The Lacquer Ring makes me try out all the nail art I have been admiring. Check out the other spooky manis today. Happy Halloween!

Have you loved your cuticles today?

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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?

Stamping Saturday: Mermaid Nails

Purchased By Shelby Lou 

For today's Stamping Saturday I have used a new-to-me indie brand, Baroness X, for my inspiration! This lovely mermaid-y polish is Baroness X Mermaid Madness. This is everything I wanted Deborah Lippmann Mermaid Dream and all the dupes to be.

Shelby Lou Nails
Baroness X - Mermaid Madness
without flash

Mermaid Madness is described as "a turquoise shimmer and glitter nail polish." The shimmery base has gold, teal, navy, and gold metallic and holographic glitters along with metallic turquoise dots. With all the stuff going on in this polish I totally expected goop. But no! Buttery formula, great glitter spread. I did three easy coats for full coverage. It's not even that the formula was good, it was noticeably awesome.

Shelby Lou Nails
Baroness X - Mermaid Madness
with flash

Mermaid Madness is so shiny and sparkly! It was like wearing molten metallic turquoise on my nails. Absolutely magical. 

Shelby Lou Nails
Stamping Saturday
Baroness X -Mermaid Madness
MoYou London Sailor 05 & Rica Blackout
without flash

Of course I had to stamp this puppy with some mermaid-y scales. I used an image from MoYou London Sailor 05 stamped with Rica Blackout. I'm not totally happy with my image placement. I think it makes my nails look stumpy and weird curved downwards at the end. Ah well, I'll try a different placement next time. Sailor 05 is easily one of my favorite and most-used plates.

Shelby Lou Nails
Stamping Saturday
Baroness X -Mermaid Madness
MoYou London Sailor 05 & Rica Blackout
without flash

I wish I could have done Mermaid Madness more justice! Alas, my photography skills are limited. Has anyone else tried Baroness X? I have some of her new neon thermal flakie jellies to show at some point, too!

Featured Products:
Baroness X

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