Not for the Squeemish

I do apologise for this horrible post.  I've seen a few girls with gory bloody nails like this and couldn't stop myself, I had to try it out.  I watched this video by PackAPunchPolish explaining the technique, she also has some photos on her blog post.

The look is achieved by quickly laying white, red, shiny top coat, then nude and matte top coat.  When this is dry to the touch, simply break the nude "skin" with a tooth pick to allow the glossy red to be exposed and ooze out and the white layer underneath will look like bone.

White:  Sinful Colors, 101 Snow me White
Red:  Miss Sporty Lasting Colour, 540 Boys Love Me
Gloss:  Konad top coat.
Nude:  Primark Nail Polish, Unnamed (nude)
Matte:  Rimmel Lycra Pro, Matte Finish

Are you sure?

This ripped flesh manicure is totally disgusting.  I really don't like looking at it.  I am going to remove it right away.  Unless you have a fancy dress or halloween party to attend, I wouldn't recommend trying this out yourself.

Yuck!

Horrible Bottle Shot!

Close up of the gore

Breaking the Skin

Vile!!!!

Burnt Parchment

This technique has been used really successfully and caught my eye a few times, I really wanted to have a go at it myself.  At first I misunderstood how it was created and thought I'd have to start burning pieces of paper and sticking them to my nails.

Then I looked again, and realised I could achieve this look with polish alone by building layers then removing sections.  I painted my nails black, then added a nude, then finally a cream colour on top.

I then "burnt away part of this using a cotton bud and nail polish remover.  I attacked this with a stiff brush to make the edges less smooth and more ashy.

Finally time for stamping some script over the top.  To make the text look more weathered, I mixed a chocolate brown with konad black and swiped the colours together on the plate. (I had to remove the stamp from the burnt away sections on my nails).  And a matte top coat finished the look.

After a little more research, I realised I hadn't quite got this right!!!!  Click here for a manicure by Copycat Claws using a much simpler, more effective and less time consuming technique!

Base colours:

1. Miss Sporty Lasting Colour, 080 Fatal Black (not pictured)
2. Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Lychee GNP 10
3. Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Coconut GNP 28

Stamp colour:  Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Cocoa GNP 34 and Konad Black
Stamping plate: Moyou London Princess Collection - 11

Halogen lighting

Gigantic thumb

Bottle shot!

Tools of the trade

How to burn the parchment

Blank burnt parchment

Close up

Stolen Dotticure

I've never tried a dotticure before!  I scoured the net to find something simple and striking.  I also needed a look that didn't require exact precision, since I am so clumbsy while holding the dotting tool!  I have added a picture of the gorgeous manicure I copied at the bottom of this post (I would be too embarrassing for me to add it earlier since Heather's is so much cleaner!) Heather explains wonderfully how to create this look here on her blog "I feel polished" her dotticure is totally perfect <3.

Obviously I had to stamp over this, but I wished I hadn't.  It was far too busy for me after stamping.  I have posted a couple of pictures for you to see below.

Blue colour:  Rimmel 60 Seconds, 842 Too Cool to Tango
White colour:  Sinful Colors, 101 Snow me White

Stamp colour: Konad Black
Stamping plate: Konad m51

Halogen lighting

Dots bottle shot

stamped bottle shot

Gigantic finger!!!

Tools of the Trade

Diagonal Stripes

Blue dots

Awful stamping effort

Finished dotticure

My inspiration on I Feel Polished

Marbled Galaxy

My first water marbling :)  I used the dry method, you can see parts of this process below. This technique will take some practise.

Base colour: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Green Berry GNP 12
Water marble colours (from left in photo below):  Bronze Metalic nail colour from Savers, Barry M Aquarium Collection, AQNP5 Arabian, Ciate Paint Pots, PP037 Starlet

I was aiming for peacock inspired colours, but after seeing my marbled nails, I decided they looked more like a galaxy in space.  So obviously, I stamped stars over!!!!

Stamp colour: Konad White
Stamping plate: Cheeky CH5

Halogen lighting

Bottle shot

Star stamping

Marble Colours

Tools of the Trade

Water marble decals

Autumn sunshine

Spacey!!!

I am such a messy worker!

Autumn Leaves

September is Stamping Month here we go, we made a fortnight!  Yay.  Today the theme is leaves.   I just got this Moyou London Fashionista plate, and until this challenge, I hadn't realised it has the most beautiful leaves in it.

I can't keep it a secret, this manicure is a fake!!!  I used felt pens for the lead lighting instead of nail polish.  I feel as though I've cheated!!!!!  The water-based colours did not take well to the glossy finish, but after a coat of matte top coat, I was back at primary school, trying to stay in the lines while colouring in.

WARNING:  the colour will not stay on your nails.  I now have these colours on every other finger, all my clothes and somehow, even my face (I am clumsy).

Base colour: Revlon Colorstay, 290 Midnight
Stamp colour: Konad White
Lead lighting: I cheated and used felt tip pens.
Stamping plate: Moyou London Fashionista Collection - 06

Indirect daylight

Halo lighting

Halogen lighting

More halogen lighting

Under a tree

Tools of the Trade

Midnight teal = swoon

Just stamped

Bottle swatch

I wasn't sure whether or not to post this final photo, but I had actually intended to use this stamping image over natural nails and french tips.  It was a disaster, so I removed it and slapped on the above teal <3

The first attempt!

Stamping Polish Experiment

The Sunday challenge for Sunday Aug. 24th is:
Color combination I have never tried before.

This was a chance for me to try reviving my nearly empty gloopy konad white by adding another colour.  I chose a Loreal red I don't like much and I hoped it would make a soft rose colour when added to the white. It took a lot of shaking, I should probably invest in some mixing balls! I am not convinced this manicure is any better than if I had left my Konad white.  I probably should have added more, for a stronger colour but I am very happy with the consistency.  I will probably add red more at a later date, and will let you know the outcome.

Base colour: Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours, 320 Pop Fiction
Glitter topper: Essence Nail Art Topper, 02 Circus Confetti
Stamp colour:  Konad White mixed with 1/4 bottle of Loreal Color Riche, 403 Femme Fatale
Stamping plate: Born Pretty QA88

Direct sunlight

The glitter base

Artificial lighting

My left hand <3

Sunshine and glitter

Tools of the Trade

My phone seems to take better glitter pics!

Phone camera again