Diva of Geneva

This week I wanted to go with something a little more glittery.  I tried doing a french manicure with glitter, but it looked like I was dead, due to the base color of the polish.  At some point, I'll show you how bad it was.  In the end I decided with a deep shimmery red, with a layer of glitter on top.

I started with three coats of OPI Diva of Geneva.  When that dried, I used China Glaze Fairy Dust on top.  It's really simple, something anyone can do easily.  I love that it takes so little time to finish.

Until later,

Chess

Teal the Tide Turns

This week I decided to try out another of the China Glaze textured polish collection.  Since Monday was St. Patrick's day, even though I don't really celebrate it, I decided to go with one of the greens.

I used two coats of Teal the Tide Turns.  I think I could have used another coat to make it more even.  It is a mint green with some dark green glitter scattered throughout.  The texture wasn't too rough and I love the color.

It is relatively simple, and a perfect way to bring in spring.  Thursday was the Vernal Equinox.  I'm so very ready for warmer weather and sunny skies.

Until later,

Chess

Luminous Lilac

This past week I have been sick and miserable.  I haven't done a whole lot more than is required of me, and sleeping extra.  This was also another week where my mani was fighting me.

It has been getting lighter out longer and warming up quite a bit, though we will still probably have more snow sometime before the month is over.  I have been ready to use more spring and summer colors, so this week I decided to go with a pastel pink.  I love the pink, but when I showed it to my sister on Skype, she asked if it is a color that I used before.  I thought about it and realized that I have an Essie polish that is the exact same color.  Once I am done with this post, I can put this color in the donation/sell box.

I started by applying three coats of Pixi Luminous Lilac.  Even still, it was a bit uneven, which is why I am opting to keep the Essie color and get rid of this one.  When it dried, I used the Konad special polish in a shimmery navy and plate m60 for the image.  The image didn't come out as clear as I would have liked on some of the nails, which is what I meant about it fighting me.  Finally, I topped it off with my Diamond Dri.

Overall, it's not my best work, but I'm not really sure why it was being so finicky.

Until later,
Chess

Smokin' Hot

Last week I mentioned having a rough time with my mani.  I felt little creativity and was having a hard time with the stamping.  Sometimes things work, and sometimes they just don't.  This week was better.  I still didn't have much of a creative idea when I set out to do my mani this week, but it came together better.

I started off knowing what color I wanted to use, but wasn't very sure what image or color for the image.  I just kept going through my plates and looking at all the images until I felt comfortable with the idea I formulated

I started off using three coats of Essie Smokin' Hot.  It was uneven in some places, so I used the third coat.  Otherwise, maybe two would have sufficed.  It is a purple tinted grey or grey tinted purple, depending on the light.

After all that dried, I stamped on the different images using Konad plate m51 and the Konad special polish in black.  I find the Konad special polish works better than the Mash special polish.  There are three images on the plate, though I forgot to take a picture of my thumb so you could see the third, largest image.  The flower and the leaves are separate, but I put them together to make a slightly different image on my middle and ring fingers.

I love the way this one turned out.  What do you think?

Until later,

Chess

Can't Find My Czechbook

This week has been rather long a frustrating on many levels.  I think I really need to take a vacation, but I always hate coming back to a huge pile of work.  It doesn't truly feel like a vacation. I found out some rough news at work, that really simply forces me to continue looking for something else, so any well wishes and such would be appreciated.

Now, on to better things.

I have been so exhausted lately that I haven't felt very creative when it comes to my manicures.  It's all I can do to figure out which color I want to wear, and then try to figure out something to do with it.

This week I decided to go with a bright blue, as I am experiencing some pretty strong spring fever.  The color is gorgeous, but I was having a rough time getting the image to transfer.  Maybe it is the special polish I used, or maybe since I'm not really feeling it right now, it was just fighting me.  The reason I tell you this is that maybe someone new might experience the same problems.  Even someone more experienced has problems with the stamping plates.  Keep practicing and it will get easier.

I started off with three coats of OPI Can't Find My Czechbook.  Then, I stamped on the two different images using plate BM-317 and Mash special polish in white.

I am hoping this next one I do will work much better.

What do you think?

Chess