TNCC - October 2014 Stripes #1

Back with another challenge mani, this time for The Nail Challenge Collaborative.  Every month a new theme is voted on, and October is stripes.  I've had this one on for a few days, because there has been no sunshine here for about a week.  This is day 6...it's been touched up though, so don't think it looks like this after almost a whole week.

Mish Mash Challenge #12: Flower

Hello everyone! So, I missed last weeks challenge post. I did the manicure, but never got around to taking photos. With the holiday on Monday I got thrown off a little bit, and missed the cutoff to post in the inlinkz group...so, fudge it.

This week's challenge is flower.  I'm not a floral kind of gal...you won't see me sporting tulips or calla lilies.  This topic is way out of my comfort zone.  My artwork skills are seriously lacking, so I decided to do something a little abstract.  And, crazy enough, I kind of like the finished look.

NOTD: Saturday 8/10/13

Relatively quick post today - I needed a change from my Mish Mash manicure, and had a craving for something neutral.  I have gotten in the habit of doing an accent nail, and today is no different.

I would say this is unusual for me, but lately, I don't have a usual.  Whatever grabs me, I go with.  It's a little more fun not being predictable, isn't it?

ABC Challenge - "U" is for U.S.A. (Memorial Day inspired)

Hope you all had a great 3 day weekend here in the States!  Weather was not as bad as predicted, but it still has been a lot cooler - and cloudier - than you would want at this time of the year. 

I had a little, I don't know, brain blockage, and couldn't decide between a couple of manicures.  So, I texted a friend of mine, and made her make my decision for me.  Thanks Jessica - this one turned out good.

ABC Challenge - "O" is for Orly, OPI, and Optical Illusions

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Step right up, step right up!!  I feel like a carnival barker...and I am beyond ecstatic about this week.  Now, before we get to the pictures, keep in mind this is not perfect work.  And, I need to give credit where credit is due.  Last week, Lisa @ LOZLOSA posted a FANTASTIC "newspaper" mani, with instructions (link to it HERE).  I loved this enough to try it this week.

Like I said, not perfect.  I was nervous because of the images I picked - very black heavy.  And a LOT of paper fiber left behind on the nail, some of which I didn't get because I was afraid of wiping off the black (yea, I should not have worried).  On top of that, my allergies are into overdrive, and trying to paint my nails with a staining red while coughing and sneezing, well, lets just say I did NOT color well within the lines.  I'm using my chitty cuticle pass this week.  Overall, I am SOOOO pleased with this - the options are truly limitless with this technique.  (The Orly red was crazy shiny, and pictures were taken at night.  Weather forecast for the next 3 days - rain.  I may update later if I can get something that resembles daylight, but otherwise...sorry, you will have to suffer through with the crappy photos).

 

 

**THIS IS MY FAVORITE**

 

Here are the original images I used.  I ended up inserting them into a Word document, and adjusted down the size from there.  They had to be drastically reduced, but the 12 original images I picked easily fit on one page.

Finally, colors used:
OPI - My Boyfriend Scales Walls
Orly - Unlawful

I SO wish I had better photos to do a little justice to how this turned out.  Thank you so much Lisa for the inspiration.

As always, Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner is responsible for the group you see below.  If you want to join, visit her website, click on ABC Challenge, and drop her a request.  And no cheating...if you haven't signed up, please don't link.

Good night all, but before you leave, check these out:

ABC Challenge - "I" is for OPI's I Don't Give a Rotterdam!

Here we are again for the letter I.  Bad, bad day.  I tried 4 different manicures for this letter - I got them done, hated them, and started all over.  Pretty much wasted my Sunday on it.  So, the title of one of the polishes I used pretty much sums up my attitude by the end of the night.

I'm not really happy with this, but I am guessing that even if I had the perfect manicure I wouldn't like it right now either.  So, onward...

I used:

OPI - I Have a Herring Problem (left, greener of the two) and OPI - I Don't Give a Rotterdam! (right, bluer of the two).  Both from the Holland collection, and both are very close in color.  Photo does show the difference.  I do really like these polishes though; muted colors and multi-color shimmer. 

What I did:  full coat on the nail with the bluer of the two, I Don't Give a Rotterdam!.  I did a tip gradient with the greener one, I Have a Herring Problem.  The idea was to put a stamp near the gradient line with silver.  For that, I used Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Hi Ho Silver.  The problem?  The stamps I used were so delicate, they are not translating into the photos.  It's there IRL, but not as...bold?...as I would like it.  Poor choice of polish to stamp with too (I found out).

I tried to blur the pictures a little to show the stamps...






Oh, and FYI - this manicure wasn't even 10 hours hold, and there is already tip wear...overnight.  I'm guessing these OPI's don't like Seche Vite.  Another "good to know" thing.                  

So, here is a little darker and blurrier photo, but the stamps show up a little better.

Glad this week is done.  Not exactly a "fail" because I've got polish on my fingers, but far from a success. Oh well, I'm already moving on to J...

Give everyone else a look-see that is involved with this challenge, hosted by Kimber of Kimber's Lacquer Korner.  Want to join?  Visit her website and drop her a message - all are welcome.  (Isn't that a line from Poltergeist?).

Until next week!

ABC Challenge - "G" is for geometric

Hello, hello!!  I'm cheating a little bit with this post - I am "drafted" and ready to go here on Sunday, but holding off the PUBLISH button until Wednesday, make that Tuesday; I didn't want to wait.  I am in a mood, and can't seem to want to keep a manicure for more than a couple of days, no matter how long it takes me to do, or how much I like it.  I'll probably have my "H" post done before the weekend!

Anyway - focus, focus.  This week in Kimber's hosted ABC Challenge, is the letter G.  Last week's manicure was an issue for me - every day I woke up wanting to like the colors, and every day, it did not happen.  I figured I would go to the other end of the spectrum in colors this week, and I did....sort of. 

I got a little inspiration from Jenni at I Relish Nail Polish and her Fish braid mani last week.  I also commented on FB about walking by a display at a local store that was packed full with ESSIE dark colors.  I picked up my first 3 from the brand, and planned on using them this week also.  The detour I took was in the base coat.  With three dark colors I planned to use, I had no choice but to use a very light base.  I remember Kimber using a taupy base color back in week E, so I went that route.  Yes, you women are inspiring me - giving credit where credit is due.

So...I painted three coats each of my Essie colors onto a sheet protector, and let them dry overnight.  I peeled them off and decided to cut them into squares/rectangles and triangles.  Easy, right?  Not so much (for me, anyway).  These suckers seemed pretty strong, until I got a TINY little nick in one, and tore it almost in half.  OOPS!  Also, the scissors I was using to cut the shapes created JUST enough static electricity that I couldn't get the little pieces of polish to let go.  It was pretty comical - and it got the attention of one of my kitties.  Bad got worse really fast. 

I ended up, for sanity's sake, making the shapes quite a bit bigger than I had originally planned.  1)saved time, and 2) saved my sanity.  I was going to do circles with a dotting tool, but with the size of these cutouts, it just would have been too much.

On to the pictures...I'm doing my camera research too, but these seem to be a little better than usual.  Maybe because it turns out there really is a sun out there - haven't seen it in what seems like forever.  The down side?  It's like 15 degrees outside, so the photos are taken inside near a sunny window.

The colors:
OPI Skull and Glossbones (light grey) LOVE this - I already know I will be using again at least one time in this challenge
ESSIE Stylenomics (green)
ESSIE No More Film (blue)
ESSIE Carry On (burgundy/wine?)

I have to say, so far in this challenge, this is my favorite that I have done.  The top coat I used made the colors bleed (until I figured out a way around it, at the end, of course), and the shapes did morph a little out of proportion, but all in all, I am happy.  The photos magnify every "flaw", real or imagined.  IRL, this looks good - because I say so. (And no one will tell me different - ha!)  Now, it I could get all my nails the same length, life would be good.
 

Thanks for stopping by...please stop and look at all the other amazing ladies that are participating in this challenge below.

SEE YA!