Festive Blossom - Rimmel Double Decker Red, Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold, Born Pretty BP-L024

Happy Lunar New Year!! Sorry for the lack of posts, I have just been snowed under with work and social commitments~

[Lucky Fortune 88888888]

It is the Year of the Pig but rather than having little porkers on my nails, I ended up with a fairly traditional look once again.

[Base: Rimmel Double Decker Red (1 coat);
Stamping: Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold; Plate: Born Pretty BP-L024]

I used Rimmel Double Decker Red as the base (this is totally my go-to red creme base; you can check out my previous review here). I then stamped over with Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold, a bright yellow gold stamping polish with the flower and leaf pattern from Born Pretty stamping plate BP-L024.

[Base: Rimmel Double Decker Red (1 coat);
Stamping: Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold; Plate: Born Pretty BP-L024]

I did consider a less traditional colour scheme! Or maybe making some fancy nail decals, but I just did not have enough time to do much~ I very recently was reorganising my nail art stash and boyyy do I feel guilty when I see all the pretty goodies that I have yet to try. Shame!! Shaaaame~!

Holiday Fractals - Emily de Molly Empty Journal, Hit the Bottle Snowed In, Born Pretty Celebration BPX-L008

I know Jme and I are in super blazing hot Down Under (it's currently 43'C at the time of writing this post; that's 109'F if you're wondering!), but that doesn't stop me from getting into the snowy holiday manicures!

[Tis the season]

Exhibit 1! Perhaps having an icy cold manicure will fool me into cooling down a bit in this heat...

[Bottle to nail: Emily de Molly Empty Journal (2 coats)]

Last week's gorgeously glowy polish was Emily de Molly Empty Journal - a bright blue foil packed to the brim with blue-to-purple duochrome shimmer.

[Base: Emily de Molly Empty Journal (2 coats);
Stamping: Hit the Bottle Snowed In, Born Pretty Celebration BPX-L008]

From the very festive Born Pretty Celebration BPX-L008 stamping plate, I stamped the snowflake, stars and bauble design using Hit the Bottle Snowed In (how apt!), a white creme stamping polish.

[Base: Emily de Molly Empty Journal (2 coats);
Stamping: Hit the Bottle Snowed In, Born Pretty Celebration BPX-L008]

Ah, I'm so happy with this - the colours went together well and the stamping picked up all the intricate details first go each time. I love it when things just fall together just right!

All I Want - Lacquistry Rediculous, Kleancolor Nail to Toe Gold Dipped

I hope everyone is having lovely Christmas! Here's a silly themed manicure... which isn't even from this year, oops!

[Bottle to nail: Lacquistry Rediculous (2 coats); Striping: Kleancolor Gold Dipped]

The base is the always gorgeous Lacquistry Rediculous - the shimmery red version of the totes amazing Lacquistry Amazeballs. Gorgeous formula and amazing pigment, I used two coats for a deep, even shade.

[Base: Lacquistry Rediculous (2 coats); Striping: Kleancolor Gold Dipped]

I did a simple stripe lengthwise and crosswise over each nail with Kleancolor Nail to Toe in Gold Dipped, before adding a matching bow sticker over the top.

[Base: Lacquistry Rediculous (2 coats); Striping: Kleancolor Gold Dipped]

Add a generous layer of topcoat, and you're all set for the silly season! =)

Cursed Claws - OPI Jinx, Femme Fatale Cosmetics Tricky Treats

Halloween always just kinda creeps up on me (ha!) and I forget about doing any sort of seasonal manicure. So I smashed this one out on a whim and here we go! Quick easy Halloween 2016!

[Toil and trouble..]

Orange is always a winner. I considered ye ole orange and black combination but instead decided to pull out a glitter I've been saving for the occasion..

[Bottle to nail: OPI Jinx (1 coat); Glitter: Femme Fatale Tricky Treat (1 coat)]

A base of OPI Jinx... I have a confession to make! I just slapped a layer of Jinx on over my existing mani which was purple-ish so it toned down the brilliant orange a little. Regardless, Jinx is a real beaut - bright orange and gold glitter with a liquid sand (ie. textured) finish.

[Bottle to nail: Femme Fatale Tricky Treat (1 coat); Base: OPI Jinx (1 coat)]

Topped it off with a layer of Femme Fatale Cosmetics Tricky Treat from waaay back when! Isn't it super perfect! A mix of different shapes and sizes of orange and purple glitter with a smattering of holo as well.

[Base: OPI Jinx (1 coat); Glitter: Femme Fatale Tricky Treat (1 coat)]

Finish up with generous layers of topcoat so everything is super smooth and shiny, and you're all set!

[Base: OPI Jinx (1 coat); Glitter: Femme Fatale Tricky Treat (1 coat)]

Pretty happy with my last minute, lazy Halloween mani! =) Happy Haunting!!

Luck and Prosperity - Rimmel Exotica, Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold, Born Pretty BPL-004

Hiya everyone! Happy Lunar New Year! It's the first day of the Year of the Monkey today!

[All is Well]

I managed to squeeze this post out just in time! This one's a stamping mani that I just did last night, phew~

[Bottle to nail: Rimmel Exotica (1 coat)]

Of course, this celebration calls for a nice rich red base. This is an oldie I dug up called Exotica from Rimmel's Lasting Finish line.

[1 coat: Rimmel Exotica]

Exotica isn't really that exotic! It's a deep red polish with lots of golden shimmer that lightens up the base shade. The shimmer is fairly fine, so you don't see it on the nails much.

[1 coat: Rimmel Exotica]

I only used one coat here which gives decent enough coverage if you're careful. Since I was going to stamp over it, I wasn't too concerned. Dry time was quick with a nice smooth finish - these photos are just base polish before topcoat.

[Bottle to nail: Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold (stamping);
Base: Rimmel Exotica (1 coat)]

After topcoating the base polish, I then stamped over it in gold with Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold, a gorgeous rich gold stamping polish.

[Base: Rimmel Exotica (1 coat); Stamping: Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold]

I was looking through all my plates for an appropriate pattern and ended up using this lovely geometric one. It's from Born Pretty stamping plate BPL-004 again, just like last week's post. 

[Base: Rimmel Exotica (1 coat); Stamping: Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold]

This is a pretty similar colour scheme to last year's mani but really, what other colours would you use! I'd like to think that I've improved since then, but that may have more to do with the stamping polishes I'm using now...

[Base: Rimmel Exotica (1 coat); Stamping: Hit the Bottle To Have and To Gold]

Hehe, at any rate, I'm committed to this learn-to-stamp business so you'll definitely be seeing lots of stamping manis from me this year!

Deck the Halls - China Glaze Emerald Sparkle, W7 It's Christmas

It's still technically Christmas?? Isn't it?! I'm just gonna sneak this Chrissy mani in here...

[Come back, my lovely holidays..]

Not just that, it features a polish that Jme just blogged about last week! In fact both polishes this time around are ones that were gifted to me by Jme!! What can I say... they're both just really appropriate for Christmas!

[Bottle to nail: China Glaze Emerald Sparkle (2 coats);
Glitter topper: W7 It's Christmas (1 coat)]

I started out with a base of China Glaze Emerald Sparkle - a lovely deep emerald (you guessed it!) shade that seems to have featured in LOTS of our Christmas manis! Check out Jme's awesome nail art from previous years here and here.

[Bottle to nail: W7 It's Christmas (1 coat);
Base: China Glaze Emerald Sparkle (2 coats)]

I then topped it off with a dabbed layer of W7 It's Christmas. Jme has done a great description of this festive glitterbomb in her awesome nail art post last week)

[Base: China Glaze Emerald Sparkle (2 coats);
Glitter topper: W7 It's Christmas (1 coat)]

Top it off with a generous layer of topcoat and voila! Insta-Christmas manicure! Ready-to-go themed glitters are the best for getting into the spirit! =)

Happy Haunting - Nubar Arencia, Konad Black Pearl, Bundle Monster BM20 + BM-224

So, today's manicure... has been sitting in my folders for the last four years!
 

[The creepy part is how old these are..]

This was 2011, so pretty much the first Halloween manicure I ever attempted since I got into nail polish in late 2010. =) How's that for a throwback!

[Base: Nubar Arencia]

I obviously hadn't got the hang of colour correcting photos at that point! Bear with the odd pink skintone..

[Base: Nubar Arencia]

My base was the very lovely Nubar Arencia from the Venetian Glass collection. Man, this kinda makes me feel bad because I don't think I've picked it up since doing this mani...

[Base: Nubar Arencia; Stamping: Konad Black Pearl, Bundle Monster BM20 & BM-224]

I think this was also when I first picked up stamping. Here's me going crazy with Konad Black Pearl stamping polish and Bundle Monster plates BM20 (stripes and arrows) and BM-224 (reptile print, haunted house and pumpkin).

[Base: Nubar Arencia; Stamping: Konad Black Pearl, Bundle Monster BM20 & BM-224]

Wow, look at past me! I even added some rhinestones to top it off! Current me feels rather lacking... well, there's just under a week to Halloween, so maybe I'll get my act together in time for it... Hopefully I won't take another four years to post it... =p

Candied Eggs - Chi Chi Bubble Gum Pop Confetti Aqua, Baby Pink

Hope everyone had a great long weekend! Phew! I've had a looooong few weeks before this break, so it was definitely appreciated! It's Easter Monday today, so I'm sneaking in my Easter-inspired manicure~ =)

[Mmm... candy goodness]

Nothing like candy coloured pastels to bring Easter goodies to mind!

[Bottle to nail: ChiChi Bubble Gum Pop Confetti Aqua (index and ring);
Baby Pink (middle and pinky)]

I recently picked up a set of Chi Chi polishes from their Bubble Gum Pop Confetti line. Unfortunately these don't have names, but I picked the aqua and baby pink shades for today's mani!

[2 coats: ChiChi Bubble Gum Pop Confetti Aqua (index and ring);
Baby Pink (middle and pinky)]

This collection is a themed set of pastel cremes containing various shades of neon hexes in three sizes. These photos show two coats followed by top coat. Glitter density was pretty good, no fishing required! The glitter also laid flat and dry time was reasonable. I think it could possibly do with three coats if you have longer nails.

[2 coats: ChiChi Bubble Gum Pop Confetti Aqua (index and ring);
Baby Pink (middle and pinky)]

...and just for Easter, I stuck on a bunny water decal! I hadn't realised how translucent the decal was though, so the glitter underneath is still showing through, oops! =p

Happy Happy Joy Joy - Mode Vicious Venom, Color Club Wish List Red, Glam Polish Big Bang Theory

HAPPY HOLIDAY-OF-YOUR-CHOICE!! =) Here's a Christmas tree inspired manicure that I slapped together for the silly season.

[Bottle to nail: Glam Polish Big Bang Theory over Mode Vicious Venom, Color Club Wish List Red]

I won't say too much about it, but basically it's a base of 2 coats of Mode Vicious Venom (previously used here) and then Color Club Wish List Red (reviewed here) striped over the top using the tape method.
 

[Base: Mode Vicious Venom (2 coats); Stripes: Color Club Wish List Red (1 coat);
Ring finger: Glam Polish Big Bang Theory (1 coat)]

I then edged the red with LA (previously used here) before topping off the ring finger with a coat of Glam Polish Big Bang Theory! I thought the assortment of round glitters in BBT would look awesome as baubles on the "tree"!

[Base: Mode Vicious Venom (2 coats); Stripes: Color Club Wish List Red (1 coat);
Ring finger: Glam Polish Big Bang Theory (1 coat)]

Hope y'all are having a great time and filling up on yummy food and catch-up time with family and friends! Mwaahhh~!

Abstract Patriot - Sally Hansen Blue It, Tropez White Hot, Color Club Wish List Red, LA Girl Celebrate

Happy Australia Day! Time for beeer, beaaach and barbequeeee~ =D

[Oyyyyyy~]

I wanted to do something for the occasion and decided to stick to the classic red, white and blue of the flag - so really, it could do for a whooooollle lot of other countries too!

[Bottle to nail: Sally Hansen Blue It (2 coats)]

I started with this gorgeous shade, definitely a "true blue", hehe.... This is Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Blue It. It seems like just a plain ole shimmer at  first glance but it has this gorgeous glowyness. It looks super sleek - like a racing shade!

[2 coats: Sally Hansen Blue It]

This one seems like just a plain ole shimmer at  first glance but it has this gorgeous glowyness. It looks super sleek - like a racing shade!

[2 coats: Sally Hansen Blue It]

Formula was great. It does take two coats to fully level out, but the results are beautifully smooth!

[Tape manicure: Sally Hansen Blue It, Tropez White Hot, Color Club Wish List Red]

After topcoating the blue base, I taped off half the nail diagonally and added the white using Tropez White Hot, a plain white creme.

[Tape manicure: Sally Hansen Blue It, Tropez White Hot, Color Club Wish List Red]

After the white was dry, I taped again and added the red using Color Club Wish List Red - a bright red jelly with red glitter. This one really popped with the white underneath!

[Gradient manicure: Sally Hansen Blue It, LA Girl Celebrate]

I also did an experimental gradient with LA Girl Glitter Addict in Celebrate, a mix of small and large hexes in red, white, medium blue and magenta. However, I didn't quite like the results as much... Not showy enough for my tastes! =p

Anyway, hope y'all have a great long weekend!

Purr-fect Sunset - Halloween Challenge #11: Recreate your favourite!

Haha, both Jme and I picked one of Cathy's Halloween manicures to try out for the last theme: Recreating your favourite from another blogger! At least we picked different ones! =p

[Meow meow...]

The one I picked was for the gradient theme! For two reasons: 1) I've terrible at gradients so I wanted to try out this sponge gradient. I've only done dabbing-style sponge gradients so I wanted to try this one out! You can check out Cathy's How-To here!... and 2) Cats! Who can say no to cats....

[Gradient (Top-bottom): LA Girl Alkaline Blue, Kleancolor Metallic Purple,
China Glaze Orange Marmalade, Kleancolor Metallic Yellow]

I was super impressed by the colour combo used so I followed it pretty closely. The shades I used were LA Girl Metal in Alkaline Blue, Kleancolor Metallic Purple, China Glaze Orange Marmalade and Kleancolor Metallic Yellow! Apologies for the shoddy cleanup... I was rushing this again because I didn't realise how close together the last few challenges were...

[Gradient (Top-bottom): LA Girl Alkaline Blue, Kleancolor Metallic Purple,
China Glaze Orange Marmalade, Kleancolor Metallic Yellow]

This method of sponge gradient is really quick and easy, I was really happy except for the mess I made around my nails. I never EVER do cleanup with my usual manis because I just colour "in the lines", so I didn't have anything handy to do proper cleanup with. =(

[Halloween Challenge #10: Inspired by... Gradient with cats!]

Then I added some cats with Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in Black, and did a fine crescent tip with LA Girl Blackout. =) It's definitely a bit more cartoon-y then Cathy's version, but it was fun to try out this technique!

PHEW! With this, we've made it through all the Halloween themes! =D YAY!