Mish Mash Challenge: Purple

Purchased By Me

Welcome to the first day of the Mish Mash Challenge! Some of you joining us for this challenge are familiar faces that were involved in the ABC Challenge, sorry I missed the last part of that btw, and I'm glad that we have some new faces as well! Welcome to our group ladies, if I don't follow your blog already please bare with me and I will follow as soon as possible! 

ABC Challenge: N is for Neon

Purchased By Me

It's Wednesday and that means it's week 14 of the ABC Challenge hosted by Kimber's Lacquer Korner! Today's letter almost left me recreating one of my first manis, neon spun sugar, which incidentally is by far my most STOLEN mani on Instagram. I decided to do this one instead, so I can give the Instagram thief accounts a new neon mani to steal! 

Left to right: Dayglow, Glowstick, Melt Your Popcicle, Oh, Cabana Boy!,  Skinny Dip.

2 Challenges 1 Post, Cheater, Cheater, Orange Eater!

Well hello all! I decided, after much debate, to do just one post for both of the challenges that I have homework due for today...My Favorite Food for the My Favorite Things Challenge by Ooh La La Polish and the Color Orange for the 31 Day Challenge by Kimber's Lacquer Korner. I was going to go with Sushi but lets face it I just didn't feel up to drawing/painting all those little rolls and sashimi pieces...I know, I suck! So I went with one of my favorite fruits. I know I went easy, but who really doesn't like oranges???? They ARE amazing! Hello!

For this post I used an array of orange hues.

D&R Apothecary Clownin Around

and Sinful Colors Pull Over, Clementine and Citrine.

I started off with 2 coats of Pull Over. (Don't mind the oops on my middle finger, it disappears once I get to the next step) Now I am fairly sure this color is a dupe for China Glaze Sun Worshiper which I used fairly recently. I may need to do a comparison post soon because application was completely different on these 2 brands. Anyway...

I decided on a sponged gradient look. Don't mind my polish encrusted water glass there, I use it for my water marbling and for sponging so it gets a bit  gookie.

See, no more oops on my middle finger! =)

This was 2 sponged applications. ^^^

I then used Sinful Colors Snow Me White with BM-308 to stamp on my oranges.

I had a horrible stamping night with this look. It took me like a million and one tries before I finally just said foooook it and just left them all jacked up! I was fed up, I don't care!

And applied a coat of D&R Apothecary Clownin Around.

I have used a few of D&R's polishes now and this one is probably my least favorite. It has a nice shimmery orange base and a TON of multi colored, sized and shaped glitters but it was almost impossible to get the glitter out of the bottle. No matter how hard and how long I shook it they mostly stuck to the side and bottom of the bottle.

So here is my orange orange challenge mani....thank god this one was finished!

Make sure to check out the other girls in both of these challenges!



31 Day Challenge



-Kimber at Kimber's Lacquer Korner

-Kat at Hooked On Polish
-Diana at Nails By Diana
-Aly at Wonderland Beauty
-Meredith at Perfectly Polished
-Nicole at The Color Republic
-Kate at The Painted Pony Nails
-Cee at Absolutely Cee
-Sam at Polished Art
-Nail Narcotics
-Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
-Shelby at Shelby's Swatches
-Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful
-Mixed Mama
-Joanna @ Sweet Polish of Mine-Patty Greenberg
-Liz and Lisa @ Lozlosa
-Mari at Nailista
-Greta at How Was Your Day?
-Miss L at Beauty by Miss L
-Chameleon Stampede
-Pam at Nail-E-Glance

My Favorite Things Challenge



Lightning Strikes!

I wanted to try my hand at some lightning nails. It wasn't as easy as i thought it would be.

 My first attempt was fairly successful. The problem was it was a practice run and I actually painted the whole thing on a ziplock, peeled it off and applied it to my nail. Good in theory but not long term. It didn't last but for about 2 minutes.

So I tried again. This time the regular way. It wasn't as nice as the ziplock method but it did last more than 2 miutes. :)

I started off with my Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Base Coat.

Then 2 coats of Sinful Colors Black On Black.

I then sponged on a bit of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Violet Voltage

and Confetti Bayou Blue.

Then I used my white nail art polish to paint on the lightning bolts.

Iron Man? Is that you??

LOL. Ok, so it's not really Iron Man but wih the color combo on this mani

it really reminds me of the super hero.

For this look i used the following:

1 coat Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear #485 Golden-I.

I sponge applied Pure Ice Iced Merlot.

and with just a tad of the Golden-I to blend it all, two times.

Then, of course, toped it off with a coat of SV.

When i first attempted to do gradient sponging it was not successful.

 There are a few things that most tutorials usually leave out.

1. Make sure your sponge is damp *not dripping wet - not dry* DAMP.

I dip my sponge in room temperature water and ring it out to get it the right dampness.

2. The thinnest and lightest color should go on as your base color.

Some of the tutorials out there make it look easy just put it on the sponge and push it on to your nail.

NOT! You need to have a base color for the other colors to stick to and blend with. I've noticed the thicker the polish the better. Just because the color is dark does not mean it will work well.

3. Don't just set your sponge on your nail. Dab it two or three times.

This helps transfer the colors and blend them. Do not dab it to much or you will lift the color!

Two or three times is plenty. Move on  to the rest of your nails and if you want the color to be darker/brighter do it again after it has had time to dry.

4. Make sure you change your sponge often enough or you will end up with pieces of clumped polish or sponge on your nice mani.

5. Don't worry if it looks rough or like it hasn't blended enough, once you put your

 top coat on it will smooth out. This is also a great time to use that top coat that 

smudges and drags all your nail art, it will really help blend it even more.

I just love these 2 colors togehter! So much shimmer!

 I hope my rundown helped anyone who has been having trouble getting this technique to work