Week 11 - St. Patricks day mani

I've already made one mani for St. Paddys day, and I'm guessing I'll make a couple of more before the big day on Saturday.
 For this one I used green and gold gradient and then added some green heart stickers to form a clover.

I've been wanting to use these heart stickers for just that for a while, so I'm glad I finally did it! The other colors I used were OPI - Green-wich village(of course!), Icing - Bright green and Isadora - Golden sparkles. Now, with these super green manis it's important to use a basecoat or your nails will turn out yellow and yuckie! I've been trying out Linda Johansen base coat lately, and it seems like it's working fine. The final test will be to see if it kept  my nails from staining when this green comes of!

I hope you guys have some fun plans for St. Patricks day, I'm going to the annual parade being held in Oslo, always loads of fun!
# What do you think of this design?

The winner+news about new giveaway

First of all, I'm really happy I got so many entries! And so much great feedback, you guys make my day!
Well, the winner of the giveaway was new follower and the entry number 551(I used random.org of course) her name is:
Lucia Izzo!
Please send me your full name and address to Kialuzula@gmail.com within 48 hours, or a new winner will be picked!


And in other news, I've reached over 100 followers!! Hurray, super happy with myself, and of course with you guys! There will be a 100 follower giveaway soon, and for this one you will have to be gfc follower. The prize for this giveaway came in the mail yesterday, it's from Linda Johansen, and I must say I'm a little jealous of the winner 'cus the prize is rad! So stay tuned for a new giveaway coming soon and loads of more nail art in the following days!

First St. Pattys day mani - Gold at the end of the rainbow

St. Patricks day may be my favorite holiday. I love Ireland, green, happy people and beer, and St. Pattys day has it all. None of the "I have to spend time with my family who'm I actually hate"-stuff, we get at Christmas...(Not that I hate my family or anything, but I get the feeling that many experience X-mas more of a drag than fun)
So for this first of my St. Pattys manis I'll be making this week I made the classic pot of gold at the end of the rainbow:

I love that legend, and as a kid I always tried to find the end of a rainbow!

I used a mint color base with OPI ds - sapphire over, then a random red, China glaze - Papaya punch, OPI - Green wich village, HM - Blue my mind and OPI - Planks a lot, for the rainbow. The gold is Isadora - Golden sparkles and Mellow yellow.

We had lots of sun in Oslo today, so these nails were great for the weather!
# Do you celebrate St. Patricks day?
# Do you have any tips for what other St. Pattys day manis I can make?

Orange, black and pink flower mani

These nails were sort of inspired by Kimono, and sort of not. We had a project at school were we created glasses, and my friend made her glasses inspired by the kimono suit. So this mani is inspired by her glasses, hehe.  I don't have any pictures of the actual glasses her right now, but maybe I'll try to get some and then post them in this post later. 

I made this using China Glaze - Papaya punch and Heli-yum a purple jelly from Urban outfitters and black and white. The colors are very hot and strong, not something I use a lot in nail art, but I dig it!

I made all of it free hand with a thin paintbrush. 

Please ignore the rift on my ring finger, I accidentally used the potato peeler on my finger, duh!

I guess we are all ready for spring now, and I feel like this is my first spring design!

# What do you think of this design?

Last chance to enter my giveaway!

My one year anniversary giveaway ends tomorrow at 12 pm, so today is the last chance to enter!


I will most likely draw and announce the winner on Tuesday so be sure to stop by and check if your the lucky winner!
                                                   Good luck!

Week 10 - Polka Dot Mani

Wow, week 10 already! This weeks theme is polka dots. Since I've already made all the dot-manis for Chalkboardnails dotting tool challenge I decided to do something very simple.
Simple and classy black and white polka dots

Even though it's simple, it doesn't mean it isn't eyecatching. I've gotten a bunch of compliments on my nails today!

# Do you make simple polka dots on your nails sometimes? 

OPI Ds Sapphire layered over pink

 Remember that I wrote that I wanted to try OPI Ds Sapphire as a holo effect top coat? Well I did! Of course I had to try it over pink, since I'm in my pink phase so I chose Essie - Rosebowl, a lovely hot pink
In addition to the Ds I added some black nail stickers from essence.

Sapphire worked awesome as a holo effect top coat! The turned out great underneath, and I just love the effect.
I had some problems doing it though. First problems is that it was hard to get the Ds in a really thin coat. If I used to much the color underneath disappeared entirely, so I had to be careful to get it perfect in the very first coat. On the index finger I had to use two coats, and the pink is nearly invisible.

I'm gonna try to layer it over green next, since I'm craving for a green holo. I've ordered the new A England polishes, but it seems like they've gotten lost in the mail. But Adene is going to send them again, and I'm grateful that she is so helpful!

# Have you tried to layer Sapphire before?
# What do you think of this mani?

International Women's day nails

Today we celebrate the national female day. Did you know that the women's day demonstration in Russia in 1917 started the Russian Revolution? Pretty cool, huh?
Today I made some nails in the celebration of just that day. I used OPI Planks a lot and Honk if you love OPI for the french tip, then China glaze - Holly-day and OPI greeh-which village for the sign.

I love the combo of green and purple, my two favorite colors!
And just for fun, here is the Womens day design exactly one year ago! I must say I've come a long way in nail art since that day. I've gotten a bunch of experience through this blog and I'm so grateful to all you wonderful people out there!

I also think I've gotten A LOT better in taking pictures of my nails, haha!

I don't remember what I used for the design...
# Do you celebrate 8th of March?

News from Nicole by OPI

NibyOPI is launching some new collections coming out soon!
First up is Texture top coats which are some new crackle polishes. Yeah, I know, more crackle isn't exactly what I was hoping for, bu Opal finish looks rad! Heres the press release:

Nicole by OPI announces the launch of four new limited edition Texture Coat hues: Opal, Quartz, Amethyst and Aquamarine. This line of graffiti-style nail art products offers a simple way to create an edgy, two-texture effect on nails with quick, at-home application.

In addition to the two-texture element, these four new line additions feature high-shine finishes. Opal Texture is a metallic, mother-of-pearl shade with chameleon-like properties that takes on a different look depending on the color over which it’s applied. Quartz Texturehas a unique taupe/pink metallic hue, while Amethyst Texture and Aquamarine Texture are packed with sparkle – purple and blue respectively – for an added glittery effect.

Opal Texture, Amethyst Texture, Aquamarine Texture and Quartz Texture

The second collection is some new shades added to the Kardashian Kolors:

Nicole by OPI Introduces NEW Kardashian Kolor Nail Lacquers, Inspired by Kim Kardashian

Nicole by OPI announces the launch of Wel-Kim to My World, a collection of new nail lacquers inspired by Kim Kardashian. The line features six pastel-hued shades in white, pink, blue and honey tones that give nails a subtle pop of color. Lacquers Lights, Kim-era, Action! and Here Kim’s the Sun feature glitter and opalescent shimmer to create an added element of glitz.

“These six new lacquers really showcase Kim’s flirty, feminine side,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Kim often wears pink, white and other softer-toned shades; these colors are great for creating a classic, elegant look that works day or night.”

The Wel-Kim to My World shades include:

Here Kim’s the Sun Brighten up your day with this opalescent sparkle.

Kim KonfidentialA honey-nude so stunning, it should be "klassified.”

Up & Kim-ing Pink Get in line! This cotton candy pink is THE pink of the season.

Nothing Kim-pares to Blue There just isn’t another hue like this lovely lilac-blue.

Lights, Kim-era, Action! A screen-stealing shimmering pearl.

Others Pale By Kim-parison This breathtaking white is the fairest of them all.

They will both be released in April!

Gray with pink Flowers

I've gotten a hang up on pink lately... I get these hang ups now and then, you know, only wearing shimmer or only wearing purple. I guess all nail fanatics get these hang ups from time to time. Well, now it's pink. And it's weird! I've never liked pink before, so maybe it's nice for a change...
Well today I combined pink with gunmetal gray and silver glitter. The base is the magnetic polish from Essence called Mystic wish, the flowers are H&M duo- Dusty Nails and Spoiled Beauty.

I love this combo of bright creme pink and the metallic effect in the gray! I wish I would have gotten the magnetic effect a little stronger, but I need practice.

You can probably be looking forward to some more manis with pink in them. Hope you guys don't mind. 

# What do you think of this design?

# Do you get a lot of polish hang ups?

Essence - Red-y to go

This is a great red shimmer that I bought in Italy last fall. It has blue undertones, which keeps the orange in this down.If it had been to orange-y it wouldn't have fit my pale skin tone, but because of the blue it's great for me! I like it especially in the shade, even though the shimmer comes out in the sun!

Shade

The formula was great! I had no problems at all. And when removing it, it didn't stain at all!

I really like Essence. It's a great brand, and they have some totally unique colors. Even though I only own three, more are on my wishlist!

Sun

Sun

Please tell me if you know of any good Essence colors, 'cus I'd love some tips on which ones to buy and where to buy them online!

# Do you like this color?

Join my One year anniversary giveaway!

Silver with colorful dots

This was my first attempt to make something for Chalkboard nails' dotting tool challenge. I had an idea that this would turn out like a hippy looking sun somehow, but it didn't at all.
Instead it looked more like a mess of colors and dots...oh well. I removed it pretty quick, but decided to share it with you guys anyway. Maybe it can inspired you to make something even better, or warn you not to try this, hehe.

The base is China Glaze - Devotion with Gina t - Billard and Petron and Cg - Papaya punch and heli-yum.
It kinda reminds me of colorful M'n'M candies, or something similar like Skittles.

Tell me what you think and if you get inspired to make something!

Dollish Polish - I'm the ghost with the most, babe!

A while back I showed you We're gonna need a bigger boat from dollish polish, and today it's the other lacquer I bought from her etsy store, it's currently down since she has so many orders, but will hopefully be back up again as soon as she has everything in order. 
On to I'm the ghost with the most, babe. First of all, love the name! A quote from one of my favorite movies Beetlejuice! Dollish Polish has really captured the essence of that quote in this color. It's very hard to describe in some short sentences, but I'll try. And if I don't do a good job just see the photos! They'll do most of the talking anyway! A green and silver foil with small and some bigger black glitters with some large hex silver glitters.

Damn, it's nice! The black glitter is just *moah*.
Formula was a little tricky, like a lot of foils are. I used two thin coats to get it opaque and the second coat was totally not working with me. It crumbled and tried to f*** everything up, but I manged to work it all out in the end.

Wow, I love this! Can't really say anything more than that! One of my top ten fosho.

I love all these new artsy polishes that are coming out. Like lynderella and those. Please send me a link if you know about a good etsy store, or your own for that sake! I'd love to check it out!

# Have you tried Dollish polish?

Week 9 - Vintage Mani

I saved this for the weekend on purpose, since I was going to a 50's themed party on Saturday. There will therefor not a an animal Sunday I think, a lot going on at school so blogging can't be a priority! Sorry, but that's life, hehe.
Well, I had no idea there were actually something called a vintage mani. It's when a halfmoon and a french tip are the same color.I think it's kinda cool!
I made mine with OPI - Got the blues for red and a blue jelly from Urban outfitters.

The french didn't show very well over the blue, but I don't mind. Think it looks cooler this way!

I got a lot of compliments on my nails, which is always nice!

I figured I'd put out a face snap to. Never done that before, but why not? I was gonna get a outfit picture to, but totally forgot. Maybe I'll see what pictures from last night ended up on internet and pic a nice one of me and post it here later, hehe.

My style is very 50's inspired everyday so it was cool to meet a bunch of other people dressing up the way I dress everyday!

# Do you like vintage manis?
# Are you inspired by 50's style a lot?

Dotty dot

This is my nail design for Chalkboardnails' dotting tool challenge. I used a lot of time experimenting and trying out different dot designs. And then ending up with this! I had to do this twice, 'cus the first time the crackle wouldn't crack, damn!

I've first made golden dots, then black crackle and some smaller red glitter dots with CC - Ruby Slippers, the crackle is H&M and the gold is Isadora - Gold Sparkles.

After seeing the other attendees I feel kinda set back, hehe. So much talent going around here! Still I'm happy with what I made, and I know I did my best! So I'm really excited to see the result! Got really inspired by the other dotting designs. Woah!

This is all made with a dotting tool, obviously, hehe!

# Have you entered the contest?

# What's your favorite dotting tool design?

Jenna Froggy and Labmuffin giveaway!

There are so many great giveaways going around now! But there are two that really stands out!
Jenna Froggy has a giveaway called Blue tastes the best(link for giveaway) and is inspired by the crazy chick who drinks nail polish! Haha, what a great theme for a giveaway. Win this:

The other giveaway is by labmuffin! I totally adore her blog. It's inspired by chemistry and science and I always learn something from her! So enter here's Here. The prizes are great! A franken kit and some rad polishes:

Micro Cell color repair - Soft Taupe

I came across a brand I hadn't hear of before called Micro Cell. Their polish range called Color repair is based on nail health and nail repair. I love all kind of repair and health polishes so I sent Micro Cell an email and asked if I could try one. And then I got color repair called Soft Taupe and and a top coat called Nail Wonder  in the mail!

I usually wear OPI nail envy if I need some extra strength, but lately I haven't been wearing any nail repairs. I realized my nails had some chipping, so this was a great opportunity to try my new Micro Cell.
I took one coat of the nail wonder, two coats of the color and then another coat of nail wonder. As it said I should do in the instructions.
I also made my mom wear it for a couple of days, since she doesn't wear any other nail repairs.

The result? My mom said that her nails felt a lot better after wearing the Color repair, and I feel the same! It's a lot thinner and dries faster than Nail Envy so It's great both as a strengthener and a top coat! My nails don't have any more chipping(oh yeah!).
I felt kinda weird about wearing nail wonder as both a strengthener and a top coat. The top coat won't actually touch the nail and I wouldn't think that would be to a lot of help to the nail... In the brochure it said I should, but I don't want to waste the nail repair as a top coat. On the other hand it dries super quick and makes an ideal top coat... Hmm, I don't know what I'll keep doing.

The color in itself is also a strengthener, so by not using the special nail wonder you will still get healthier nails. The color is a purple toned cold beige. A sleight hint of silver shimmer! Yummy color. Very chic and office approved! Not a color I wear a lot, but I feel a lot more grown up wearing it, haha!  It has great application, just like butter!

See the silver shimmer in direct sunlight

I'm very happy with this polish and the strengthener! My mom is also pleased, she will be wearing a lot more lately, it's great for her job!
Nail Wonder and Color repair can be bought Here

# What's your favorite nail strengthener?

X&D Crackle white crackle polish from Everbella

Sweet Florence from Everbella was so kind to send me this white crackle polish and red basecolor for me to try! Everbella also provided the metal nail tips for my giveaway, they are really great!
The crackle polish comes in 30 different colors and can be bought Here. Here is also the color chart:

Playful green and Lemon look rad!

Over to my review. I must admit I've been kinda fed up with crackle polishes, even though I haven't tried that many of 'em. However I had never tried a white one, and I had a image in my head that it would look rad over a deep red. To my delight the basecolor provided was just the right red!
Together they make a great pair! I get the feeling of christmas, candy canes and zombies(haha)!

The red polish was very thick and pretty hard to put on nicely, but with a little cleanup it turned out smooth. I waited pretty long before putting on the white, but as you can see from the photo the red wasn't completely dry. But guess what? I don't think that was a problem at all! When it blended a little together the crackle turned a little pink, and that was cool!

The formulas on most crackles are thick and so was this. The brush was a little upcooperation , but nothing I couldn't handle. It crackled very well! Some big cracks and some smaller, just the way I like it!
If you want to achieve that the crackles goes in different directions you can paint different directions. Here I've done one normal upwards, one sideways and two diagonally. Cool huh? 

All in all I'm happy with the crackle. Even though I don't wear it a lot anymore there are tons of cool nail art to make with crackles. See some crackle designs Here and Here.

# Do you think this crackle looks cool?
# Are you still fond of crackles?
                                                     * This product was sent to me for review*