Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Red Angel Disappointment

Okay, so I've been continuing to try out my new Red Angel plates.  Some plates have turned out beautifully; others are disappointing.  I couldn't wait for this plate, in particular - RA-106 (it's perfect for an early Valentine's Day!).  I was pretty disappointed when my heart stamped into a red splat.  I tried it with special polish, over polish...still more splat than pattern.


I tried another design - from RA-116- and I was disappointed by this one, too.  I kept getting blurring on the edges and it seems like the tulips are etched too deeply because it doesn't seem like the polish is evenly distributed in the design (which seemed to also be the case with a few other designs I tried out).


So...pretty disappointing.  I'm not sure I can recommend this set of plates as wholeheartedly as I initially thought.  For tonight, I'm packing up my bottles and heading to bed.  Hopefully, I'll have better luck tomorrow!

Sleep well, Konaddicts!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Valentine Hearts



Okay, so it didn't take me long to try out another design with Red Angel RA-114.  This time, I went for a simple look.  The base color is Pure Ice Siren.  I used Konad Special Polish in Pastel Pink to stamp the hearts.  Then, because I just couldn't stop, I used Bundle Monster BM 09 to stamp on "Love" and the heart in silver.


I like it!  It's more understated than the last design but still manages to be cute and sweet.

I have to say that I'm not a fan of the Konad Special Pastel Pink.  It seems to me a little orangey and I think I have more smearing with the "special" polish than with regular polish (and for $7 per bottle, "special" polish had better be very special!).  Anyway, in this mani, the pink came out just fine.

I love, love pink so February is the month for me.  I'm sure I'll be back with more hearts for you soon.

Much love, Konaddicts!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Valentine Gradient


Here's an early Valentine's design.  It's a pink gradient stamped using Red Angel RA-114.  I really like this plate, so I'm sure I'll be posting more variations soon!

Hello Kitty Image Plates

Hello, Konaddicts!  My new Hello Kitty plate is here!
I decided to do a quick lineup to compare the three HK plates that I own.



B87 was my first Hello Kitty plate. I bought mine from Beautiful Scratchers.  I love this plate, and this is the one I usually use.There's not a lot of room for additional decoration since her face takes up most of the nail.







QA12 was the second plate I bought.  I bought this one on eBay without looking closely at it.  The plain HK face is missing a chin.  The other has paws  and I think the other one is making an OK sign.

I do like, but haven't tried yet, the bows, polka dots, bears, and moons and stars.  I'm more likely to go use this plate for the other designs since I'm ultimately not too fond of the HK designs themselves.


KD1 is my brand new Hello Kitty plate!  I love, love, love it!

Kitty's face is small enough to incorporate other designs.  There are also a bunny, a squirrel (is that a squirrel?), a darling purse, and full kitties in dresses!

The only thing is that one kitty's bow isn't the usual bow (you can see it in the stamp above).

I also like the lines are a little thicker and each design looks very distinct.  You can even read the word "album" on the book kitty is reading.

Aaaaa!  The amount of cuteness is killing me!

Well, if you're looking for a Hello Kitty plate, I hope this posts help you pick the one that will work best for you!

See you soon!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Short Circuit


Here's a quick design using Sally Hansen Insta Dri in Jumpin' Jade.  I stamped with Color Club Gingerbread Man - a sparkly, metallic gold.  The design is from XL Plate B.

Chin up, Konaddicts, it's Friday!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Blue Hawaii Nails



Oh, the irony!  I started my day with these beach-ready nails and walked out into this weather:


Yech.
Back to the nails; they're much warmer!

For this beachy look, I finally gave my Red Angel plates a try.  I started with Sally Hansen Insta Dri in Brisk Blue.  I stamped the wavy background using Kleancolor Beach Blue and Red Angel Plate RA-109.  I stamped the flowers using RA-108 in silver and dotted Kleancolor Metallic Yellow for a dot in the middle of each flower.

Such peppy nails make even this weather seem merely balmy. 

Get your hula on, Konaddicts!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Peacock Feather Nails



I love the peacock pattern on BM 212!  I had to experiment a while to get a look I liked, but I'm happy with my final result.


I started with two coats of Cover Girl Boundless Color in 603 Bronze Beauty.  I stamped the peacock pattern using BM212 in Kleancolor Military Green.


 I used a dotting tool to make a big dot in the center of each "eye" with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Blue Blast.  I used a smaller dotting tool to make another dot on top of that one with Kleancolor Metallic Sapphire.



What a beautiful and inspiring bird - and what a fun plate!

Strut your stuff, Konaddicts!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Leopard Nails



should be doing my nails right now (especially after the week I've had).  Instead, I'm about to move furniture to prepare to have my carpets cleaned - argh! So, I reached into my archives and pulled out...a leopard!

This is my take on leopard nails.  Pure Ice Georgia Peach is the base (it's the same base I used for my Giraffe Nails).  I stamped the spots using Konad M57 and Milani Black Magic.  I filled them in using a pin and Revlon Copper Gleam.

I have to admit that I loved sporting my leopard nails!  They made me feel kind of fierce!

Be well, Konaddicts, and get your growl on!

Holy Giveaways, Batman!


Great nail art and now lots of prizes!
Take care!

Monday, January 16, 2012

For Audrey Houndstooth


Hello, Konaddicts!  I'm finishing a very busy work week and getting ready for another busy one.  I opted for a quick Konadicure with China Glaze For Audrey stamped with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Teal Takeoff using M63. I figured that you can never go wrong with houndstooth!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Hello Kitty Nails


Today, I'm wearing Hello Kitty Nails!  You're never too old for Hello Kitty - or, at least, I'm sure I might be one day signing myself into a nursing home using my Hello Kitty pen. :)

Here's what I used for this design:


Two coats of Love My Nails Angel is the white base.  It's a pretty pearly and shiny color (although a bit streaky).  I stamped Kitty using Milani Black Magic and unbranded plate B87 (mine came from Beautiful Scratchers). I made the polka dots (and filled in Kitty's bow) with a dotting tool using Love My Nails Rosebud, True Lilac, and Berry Nice.

I hope you like it!  Thanks for reading!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Simple Wine and Bronze


Today I'm wearing a simple and easy design.  The base is Sally Hansen Insta Dri Wined Up.  I stamped with Sally Hansen Chrome Nail Makeup in Bronze Chrome.  The plate is Konad M60 (another classic!).

My Red Angel plates are here; we'll see if I can't come up with something using the new plates for next time.  Take care, Konaddicts!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Egypt Inspired Nails


When I was a girl, I loved to read about anceint Egypt.  I remember thinking, "When I'm a grown up, I'll have books about Egypt that I don't have to take back to library!"

When I saw an inexpensive, generic plate on eBay with the Eye of Horus (the accent design on my ring finger), I knew I had to have it.  This is my first design inspired by that plate.

What beautiful colors on this scarab from King Tut's tomb!


The base is China Glaze Mega Bite, a beautiful holographic gold.  I wanted to replicate the inlaid look of Egyptian jewelry with a stamp (I don't have a hand steady enough for actual painting), so I chose a pattern on BM 214.  I stamped using three colors: Sally Hansen Insta Dri In a Blink Blue, Revlon Top Speed Emerald, and Insta Dri Racin Red.  I stamped the Eye with Milani Black Magic and highlighted it with glitter.



As usual, my stamping isn't perfect and some of my colors were smeary.  Imperfection would not have worked for Queen Nefertiti, but it works just fine for me!

Thanks for reading and have a regal day, Konaddicts!


Monday, January 2, 2012

Garden Variety Roses


I used two coats of Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Mint Sorbet as a base, Revlon Top Speed Emerald for the stems, and various pinks, purples, and white for the roses.  The plate is GCOCL K05 (there's a photo of this plate in my Lady Bug Nails post).

I hope your start to 2012 is a great one, Konaddicts!

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