K is for Kitchen Sink

Hello my lovely readers,

This manicure is full of subtle changes.  From a multi-chrome base colour to a pretty stamped gradient and a using a stamping image which merges from one pattern into another.

Today is the letter K for "Kitchen Sink" for the A-Z Weekly Blog challenge.  I'm stretching the challenge a little here, but I've tried to use everything except the kitchen sink on my nails this week. We post alphabetically on thursdays, but I am always late. Ig hashtag #A2ZNails

Colour shifts!!!

And here's more from up-and-coming British indie polish maker "Frightfully Spectacular"

Today I am showing off this incredible multichrome topper (used for the base of my manicure):  Once Upon A Dream by Frightfully Spectacular.

This flower-shaped bottle of magic will totally transform any colour into an incredible purple to green to gold party on your fingers.

Check out the new facebook page https://www.facebook.com/frightfullyspectacular for a sneek peek.  Also see  #FrightfullySpectacular on instagram for more photos.  

If you would like to donate to Frightfully Spectacular  www.gofundme.com/kttwuo

Halogen Lighting

This close-up really shows the change in colours both in the base coat and in the stamping.

Gigantic finger

Base colours:  Frightfully Spectacular, Once Upon A Dream (Multichrome topper), over black (black polish not shown)

Stamp colours from left:  Mundo de Uñas Stamping Polish, 16. Lilac, 49. Lavender and 24. Aqua

Stamping plate:  Pueen Encore - SE02A

Tools of the Trade

To finish off, I wanted to show you how I achieved the coloured gradient using stamping polish.   I used three colours, placing a dot of each next to each other on the stamping plate and scraping two or three times in the same direction.  Mundo de Uñas Stamping Polish is perfect for this technique since it is slower to dry than most other brands.

My work area after stamping!

Here are the other manicures for K = Kitchen Sink

An InLinkz Link-up

Purple for Small Soldiers

Today the 17th of November and I am wearing this purple manicure for every tiny hero born prematurely.

#DiaMundialDelPrematuro
#ConAmorVencerás
#WorldPrematurityDay
#ManiMorado
#PurpleMani

Base colour: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Coconut GNP 28
Stamp colours: Mundo de Uñas Stamping Polish, 14. Violet, 20. Fiusha and 42. Holland Blue
Stamping plate: Moyou London Pro Collection - 06XL

Raising Awareness

Bottle Shot

Halogen lighting

Close-up

Bottle shot!!!

Gigantic thumb

Tools of the trade

Please Wear Purple Today

So, what is world prematurity day?

Source:   http://www.mummypinkwellies.com/2014/11/world-prematurity-day-17th-november-2014/

This year 15 million babies will be born prematurely around the world, 60,000 right here in the UK. More newborns die from premature birth than from any other cause. Yet, 75 percent of these deaths can be prevented, even without intensive care.

On 17 November, World Prematurity Day, Bliss will join with other organisations around the globe to raise awareness.

We know that having a premature baby can turn your world upside down. Join us on World Prematurity Day and help us turn the world the right way up for the thousands of families all around around the UK who are facing an extremely traumatic time when their baby comes early.

• You can show your support by sending Bliss a picture of your little one. They’ll be combining all of the images to make a photo collage which they’ll send back to you on 17th November for you to share with friends and family and over social media. Just email your images to mediateam@bliss.org.uk

• The international colour for WPD is purple, as always, you could light a purple candle or wear purple on the day and share a photo across social media.

• Hold a little lights walk in your area to raise awareness and vital funds for Bliss.

• Tweet the following message on 17 November – I am supporting #wpd to help the 15 million babies born too soon each year with @Blisscharity #giveahug

• Update your facebook status on 17 November – I am supporting Bliss this World Prematurity Day to to make sure all the tiny babies get the support they need. Help us raise awareness of the serious issues faced by them and their families by sharing and liking.https://www.facebook.com/WorldPrematurityDay

*For more information please visit Bliss.

Sea Shells with Mariana

Our Beach Manicures

I was so delighted when the gorgeous Mariana Linares (who is my Stamping queen) agreed to work on a manicure with me.  You can find her awesome manicure on instagram  (she also has a blog which is beautiful, but not quite up to date due to pc trouble.

We decided to forget Autumn for this and do a beach themed summer manicure.  We used a base layer of stamping to show the sea on the sand. Then added shell decals with corals and pinks.

Base colour: Sinful Colors, 101 Snow me White
Base stamp colours:

• Mundo de Uñas Stamping Polish, 12. Cream 
• Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Sugar Apple GNP 21

Decals from left in photo below:

• Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Papaya GNP 13
• Barry M Nail Paint, NP318 Peach Melba
• Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Rose Hip GNP 20
• Rimmel 60 Seconds, 405 Rose Libertine

Stamp colour:  Mundo de Uñas Stamping Polish, 42. Holland Blue
Stamping plate: Moyou London Sailor collection - 07

Giant finger

She shells

Tools of the Trade

The decals

Base stamping

Halogen lighting

Enormous thumb

Bottle shot

Mariana and a small group of her mexican stamping friends are also responsible for setting up this month's breast cancer awareness challenge "On Wednesday We Wear Pink". You are welcome to join in this wednesday with pink polka dots. Use the following ig hashtags: ‪#‎enoctubreusamosrosa‬ ‪#‎OnWednesdaysWeWearPink‬ ‪#‎manirosaenoctubre‬

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

Owl in a Tree

It is the tenth day of September is Stamping Month. Another fantastic theme.  It's "Trees"

I have a wonderful Moyou London, Mother Nature plate with three gorgeous trees to choose from.  I haven't used any so far, so I decided to start from the left :)

The tree on this plate was my inspiration. I wanted to differentiate between the leaves and branches, so  I picked a nice green and brown for gradient stamping (I'm not sure this is the correct term). The plate is quite busy, so I chose a neutral base gradient as a simple background.  I was also careful about what I stamped and where (I actually had to sketch it out and did a test mani on paper) even after all that thought, I still slipped up a few times! Hope you like it. Xxxxx

Halogen lighting <3

Sponged base gradient: 

• Primark nail polish, unnamed (nude)
• Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Lychee GNP 10
• Sinful Colors, 101 Snow me White

Stamping gradient: 

• Beauty UK nail polish, unnamed (green)
• Max Factor Max Effect Mini, 22 Coffee Brown
• Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Paprika GNP 32

Stamping plate: Moyou London Mother Nature Collection - 03

Sunshine through the window

Giant thumb!!!

Tools of the Trade

The base gradient

In the late afternoon sun

Indirect sunlight

More halogen lighting

Before stamping

Rainbow Trout

Today is day 9 of September is Stamping Month and the theme is "Fish".  I have recently worn a fish manicure that I was soooo proud of, see Fish Fingers for that.  So, for this challenge, I really wanted to try something equally awesome.

I knew double stamping could be interesting, and that if I chose a really subtle simple pattern, I could stamp over it and blend a few colours together to add more depth.  I tried out several colour combinations before settling on this purple and teal variation.  My major criticism is that  I use sooooooo much polish when mixing colours on the image plate like this, and it feels really horribly wasteful :(

Base Stripes:
Base colour alternate fingers: Rimmel 60 Seconds, 842 Too Cool to Tango  and Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Sugar Apple GNP 21
Base stamp colour:  Konad White

The Fish:
Stamp colours mixed on plate: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine, Plum GNP 1 and Revlon Colorstay, 290 Midnight
Stamping plate: Moyou London Sailor Collection - 05

Under a tree

Halogen lighting

Indirect sunlight

Tools of the Trade

The stamped base stripes

Swim!