Elves - Christmas Challenge

So this was a tough one for me! My first idea was to take an image of elves from the computer, print it off small and transfer it with rubbing alcohol. This did not work for me - even a little bit! I had the print out sitting on my nails for a good long while and nothing. I've no idea why, I've googled around and see comments about the whole transfer not working but not even a tiny bit of ink from that paper transferred to my nail! Perhaps it's just my printer and it would work with a magazine or something.. will have to try it out some time!

But onto plan B and this is what happened. Excuse the mess there are a few mistakes but as I wasn't keeping them on I was too lazy to clean them up! By coinicidence all the polishes used were Sally Hansen.

I can't believe it's almost the end! Only two more challenges left!

12 Days of Christmas - Wreath

So I wasn't sure I'd enjoy wearing this out so did it quickly before another manicure. I am actually reasonably pleased with the result and it may be something I will replicate later in the week.

I used an off white with a pinkish shimmer that I mixed myself as a base and with a dotting tool and Barry M's #284 dotted on a green circle onto each nail. I used Konad Special polish in red and a bundle monster stamping plate to stamp a ribbon on each wreath. I think it's cute - although totally simple!

12 Days of Christmas - Snowflakes

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

So on Saturday I went to Moncton and got a hold of OPI's On Her Majesty's Secret Service (amongst other things!) and couldn't wait to use it, so that is what I have for my base here.
I stamped using a bundle monster plate and an old Rimmel metal look silver polish. It is actually one of the best jobs I've done using the stamping plates as there is only one tiny mistake on my left hand and everything else seems super neat and marvellous :D

I topped with Gelous (for shine) and then Sally Hansen Insta-Dri (because I'm impatient).

Challenge #4 Snowmen.

Argh, so I'm a little late getting this in as I've not been feeling so great. I even had to drag myself into work this morning with no nail varnish on at all :O So as I really didn't want to spend too long doing my nails as still feeling kinda bleugh I went with the snowmen stamping. They're not perfect as I didn't take time to correct them but they still look kind of cute. I used A-England Lady of Shallott for the base, and an old Rimmel silver for stamping. I layered over a sparkle from Nina Ultra Pro (I forget its exact name though it's the white holo one) to give it a bit of oomph and to cover up a little bit of creasing where I stamped too quickly. Today was my first go and using Sally Hanson's insta-dri and whilst I love that it has a very similar finish to Seche-Vite it wasn't quite as solid in as quick a time. Though I did try and work quickly so the fault could be mine! Anyways, here's my snowmen, and although I haven't commented much on the snowmen out there this time, they all look great! Puts my little stamps to shame :)

 

Will try and get some better pictures up too!

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Black and Gold

I am in love with Orly! I can't believe I haven't really looked at their polishes before. Today I used the gold called 'flare' from the holiday mini collection and it showed up so beautifully on the nail I was taken aback. I used two coats but really that's only because I was painting my nails in the dark so first coat needed smoothing out.

I was looking for something delicate to stamp over it and went with a pattern from BM plate 314, I used Konad stamping polish in black. I was really pleased with how it turned out. I'm finding the stamps on the newer BM plates much larger making it easier to get a good coverage on the nail.

After a couple of days to change it up I added a coat of Essie Matte About You and really liked the matte on this combination.

Orly Holiday Polishes - Smiley Faces

So I fell for the Orly Holiday Minis collection on my last trip to Sally Beauty. I used Torrid as a base which is so much more shiny and shimmery that it seemed through the bottle that I almost wanted to wear it on its own! I'd made my plan though so layered over a coat of Devil May Care and was pretty impressed with the glitter payoff in just one coat.

I should have left it alone but I couldn't resist stamping so added the smiley faces from BM plate 304 using Black Konad polish. I don't think they showed up so well over the glitter coat and regretted the stamping but after a day I got used to it and thought it looked okay.
I can't wait to try those faces over some yellow polish for a more traditional look though!