Ornate

Hello, everyone!  I hope you're staying warm out there!  The holidays are creeping up on us!

I was feeling like wearing rich colors.  I experimented a while and  chose a gradient of Revlon Top Speed Expresso and Sallly Hansen Insta Dri Red-io Active.  I wasn't sure that the brown-to-red gradient would work, but I love the final product!

I used another pattern from QA61 and the lovely Essie Good as Gold for the stamping.

I love how this little chocolate-cherry mani came out!  

Thanks for stopping by, Konaddicts!  Remember to be good - I think Santa is watching!

A Walk on the Wild Side

Hello, everyone!
Well, my laptop went kaput (argh!), so I'm making this post with my phone. So far, so good....

This mani was inspired by a trip to the zoo.  Our local zoo has a new elephant calf.  Isn't she cute?

I LOVE elephants, so I decided that now would be a good time to try out wild manicure.

For this mani, I started with BMC Nail Lacquer 15.  I used the beautiful Revlon Top Speed Charmed for the orange gradient.  I used BMC Nail Lacquer 13 for both the stamping and the black stripe of "ground".  I wish I had taken pictures ASAP (to avoid the nail line), but I was completely sidelined by my ailing laptop.

For the stamping, I used a number of plates.  The tree and "brush" are from RA-115 and BM-315.  The elephants and accidentally enormous giraffe-a-saurus are from Mash 66, Gals GA32, and Gals GA46.

Thanks for reading, Konaddicts!  Wish me luck with my laptop!

Pashmina

Hi everyone!
Today's mani was inspired by my favorite pashmina scarf.  I started with a simple blue - Sally Hansen Insta Dri In Prompt Blue.  I added a little glitter - though it's hard to see - with Vivid Lacquer Late Bloomer.  I used a design from Cici & Sisi 03 and China Glaze Passion for the stamping.

It makes me feel very elegant!

Have you all seen the new Bundle Monster Art Polishes?  I've already ordered a few, so I'll be sure to give you skinny on them!

Thanks for reading, Konaddicts!  I hope you're having a wonderful week!

Custom Nail Decals: Bollywood Nails

 Hello, everyone!
One of my nail dreams has come true!  I am wearing Shah Rukh Khan nails!  Shah Rukh Khan is a hugely famous Bollywood star and my very favorite actor. These super fan nails put a smile on my face every time I look down. :)

So...this mani started with a Google search.  I was wondering whether anyone would make custom nail decals for you.  I stumbled on Fireside Gifts on Fiverr.  The seller seemed to have good feedback and the decals were only $5!  I thought I would give it a shot.

I placed an order for two sets, sent a link to a photo, and a few days later got a picture of my order before it was slipped into the mail.  How awesome is that?

They arrived with a full set of instructions as well as a link to a video how-to.  I promptly ignored the instructions (of course!) and got to work.

The quality is awesome, you get two sheets of varying sizes of decals, and they're easy to apply with a little water.

Easy, peasy and what awesome possibilities this unlocks: - babies, anniversaries, memorials, sheesh (and, of course, very attractive movie stars - haha)!

You'll have to have a white background for the decals.  I started with a white base, applied the decal,  and then polished the area around it black.  There's a bit of a "halo" here, in direct, artificial light, but you don't notice it most of the time.

This is Wet n Wild Black Creme and a dusting of the glitter Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Midnight Glitz.  I used Essie Good as Gold for the stamping.  The plates are BM17, BM421, Konad 16 & 17, Cheeky CH51.

Of course, these nails put me in the mood for movies!

Have you considered custom decals?  What ideas do you have in mind?

Royal Red

Hello, everyone!
I had a wonderful vacation and I'm just now getting back in the swing of things! I had a whirlwind trip to two places I've always dreamed of seeing - London and Paris.  What a wonderful experience - c'etait magnifique!

The manicure I'm wearing now is actually inspired by one of the awesome sights from my vacation - the Red Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

The room is breathtaking - and apparently only open during the winter months - so I felt extra lucky to have the opportunity to see it.  This was, by far, my favorite of the rooms we visited.

From: The Anglophile

I came home determined to "nailify" this beautiful color and texture combination.  Once I got settled in, I got out my plates and polishes and got to work.

It took a bunch of tries before I got the combination I wanted.  I finally settled on a base of Love My Nails Pomegranate stamped with the darker and more opaque Sally Hansen Insta Dri Rapid Red.  The shape and width of the lines on BM206 was about as close as I could get to the brocaded image.  For the accents, I used Essie Good as Gold and Mash 27.  I added a rhinestone for shimmer and as a nod to the color and shape of those beautiful light fixtures.

Nothing, alas, can replicate a room fit for a king...but this mani is a little reminder of a glimpse into the life of royalty that I was fortunate to have.

The weather, however, has refused to cooperate with my little homage  - we've had overcast skies and snow! - so I've had to take my pics indoors with and without the flash.

Thanks for reading!  Even after a dream vacation, it's always a blessing to come home to family and friends.  Thanks for stopping by!

Good as Gold: Twin post with Jajuana from Mani's by Moore

Hi, everyone!
Today I have another twin post with the talented Jajuana from Mani's by Moore!  Our theme is "Good as Gold".  I puttered around a bit with plates and polishes and finally settled on a simple - but bright and bold! - mani of polish and glitter.

This is Kleancolor Metallic Yellow topped with Kleancolor Tiara Gold.  Tiara Gold steals the show!  You can see the hex glitter pieces ranging from really tiny pieces to big ol' chunky ones.

I have to confess that I slapped A LOT of glitter of these nails and (gasp!),  I didn't always wait for the coats to thoroughly dry (which I'm guessing may have been sometime next week - haha).  So, my metallic yellow base didn't come out as smoothly as it otherwise might have.  I'm just going to say that it added to the "textured look"...

So...dazzling sparkle and fun with another nail-girl?  How can you go wrong?

Can't wait to see what Jajuana does with today's theme!

Thanks for reading, Konaddicts.  It's Friday; get your sparkle on!

Metallic Gold and Black

Hello, everyone!
I am still not feeling 100%.  This year's flu is a nasty one!

I decided to go with another simple two-color manicure.  This is Essie Good as Gold stamped with Konad Special Polish in Black using a design from the Pueen 12 plate.

It's simple and strangely interesting.

Here's another shot of the golden goodness!

Well - that's all for now, Konaddicts!  

Fall Color Block Manicure

Hello, everyone!
Today I'm wearing a color block manicure in Fall colors.  I done many manicures using tape, so it was nice to try out something different.

I started with a white base and cut scotch tape pieces to make a small cross.  I taped all of my nails at once. Then, I polished in the colors: Kleancolor Coffee Addict, Metallic Yellow, Metallic Orange, and Metallic Red.  I pulled the tape off after I got all the color one.

I couldn't decide whether to leave the taped spaces white or whether to fill them in.  In the end, I used a black nail pen to color in the cross.

People have done some awesome color block designs!  I'm going to have to practice this technique more often!

Be well, Konaddicts!  Hope you're having a great weekend!

Starstruck

Happy Saturday, Konaddicts!
I'm feeling better today, so I wanted to post today's manicure.

I love stars and, after trying other star full nail designs, I think the stars on Mash 40 are perfect!

I started with several coats of Maybelline Color Show Twilight Rays.  It's a black base with a gold glitter.

The glitter in Twilight Rays is pretty subtle, so I decided to use the China Glaze Blonde Bombshell to add some additional sparkle.  The Blonde Bombshell is a rich glitter, so instead of polishing the whole nail, I decided to stamp it using the streak pattern on BM 316.

Finally, I stamped the stars using Mash 49 and China Glaze Passion.

Oh, this design feels very Hollywood - despite the smears... :)

Have a great weekend, Konaddicts!

Hello Kitty of the Month: Bling Kitty

Whoa - it's almost the end of May!  I had better get my monthly Hello Kitty mani in!

For this mani, I decided to depart from my usual kitty-pastel-sweetness.  This time, I went for bling!  This isn't typically my style, so it's fun to try something new.

The base is Wet n Wild Black Creme.  I used China Glaze Passion and Cheeky plate CH5 for the stamping.  I used B87 to stamp kitty.  Kitty's bow and nose are filled with a cheapie Nail Star nail pen.  The rhinestones are stickers.

Every now and then, I look down and think "Who's blinged out hands are these?" Ha!  I guess that means I need to try new things more often.

Take care, Konaddicts.  Try something new this week!

Royal Purple

After a drought of purple, I've been on a bit of a purple kick these days! I was watching the movie Gambit - with Shirley MacClaine and Michael Caine.  In the background of one of the scenes was a lacquered box in deep purple and gold.  I immediately got my polishes (because what could be better than polish and a movie?) and this is the design I came up with.

The background is Sally Hansen Insta Dri Violet Voom (is a deep purple that's almost blue).  For the stamping, I used a Sally Hansen Nail Color Pen in Gold Chrome and Bundle Monster plate BM 206.  I used a nail pen to add a pale, pearly blue to the design and dotted on Kleancolor Metallic Orange for the accents.

The movie was funny and fun - an unexpected pleasure - and now I have nails to match!

Be well, Konaddicts!
PS: I hear Colin Firth is in a remake of this!  How did I miss that?

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!

Leopard Nails

I 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!

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!

New Year's Nails

For this manicure, I have confetti and streamers (and a spotty glass of wine!) to welcome the new year.

The plate is A16.  I love, love, love the A-series plates (and eBay searches show that new designs have been released - hooray!).

I used Milani Black Magic as the base and Sally Hansen Chrome Nail Makeup in Gold Chrome for the stamp.  I used my brand new dotting tools to add color to the "confetti" in various metallics.


Best wishes for a wonderful start to the New Year, Konaddicts!

PS: Santa's Amazon Gift Card means that new nail plates are on the way - Red Angel, a brand I haven't heard of before (you can see them on Amazon here).  I'll give you the low down when they arrive, so stay tuned! 

Holly, Jolly Christmas Nails

Holiday nails are always fun!  Even a broken thumbnail doesn't take the jolly out of this mani.  The gold is Color Club Gingerbread Man.  I stamped the holly entirely in green using Revlon Top Speed Emerald (the lighter color) and Sally Hansen Insta Dri Jumpin' Jade.  I went back with a pin to dot on Racin' Red for the berries.  The plate is BM 14.

Stay jolly, Konaddicts!

Bollywood Peacock Nails

I love Bollywood!  I'm constantly awed by the colors, textures, and music of India in Bollywood movies.  Looking through my jewelry box, I was reminded of a particularly "filmi" pair of earrings I had purchased. I love the shapes and colors in this pair of earrings (a pairing that is pretty common in Bollywood costumes), so I decided to see if I could create the same look with polish.

The base coat is China Glaze For Audrey.  I stamped using China Glaze Hi-Tek and the peacock-like pattern on Chez Delaney XL Plate B.  I filled in some of the peacock design with a pin and used a nail pen to add a bit of glitter to the center of each pattern.

Hmm...I'm not sure how I feel about this design...the pattern is a little hard to see (and to photograph) in these colors.  I've got a few more Bollywood nail ideas, so stay tuned!

Here's a great song featuring my favorite actor!  I love all the costumes and colors!

Butterfly Nails

The pattern of Plate A03 reminds me of butterfly wings.  I took a look at some butterfly pictures and gave the coloring a shot.

I started with a base coat of gold, Milani Morning Sunshine.  I sponged a bit of Kleancolor Metallic Mango for the color gradations.  For the stamping, I used plate A03 and Kleancolor Metallic Black.  I used a pin with a little silver for the dots.

This mani makes me smile and reminds me of warm summer days.  Ahh.... :)

Asian Inspired Nails

For this Asian inspired manicure, I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Racin' Red for the base color.  Next, I stamped various Asian designs from Konad S6 and BM203 in China Glaze Hi-Tek.  Then, I stamped the dragons from H12 (usually sold with other GCOCL type plates) in Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Sea Breeze.  I'm thrilled at how well the green stood out on top of the red!  Finally, I added a bit of glitter to each dragon's eye with a pin (I used Rimmel 60 Seconds Vinyl Stars in Eccentricity).  It was a surprisingly quick mani and I love the result!

Here are the polishes I used.  BTW:  I love, love, love Insta-Dris for base and stamping coats.  As a base color, they dry in a snap and they stamp beautifully!

Here's a closeup of the result.

Happy stamping, fellow Konaddicts!

Elegant Emerald and Stripes

I'm so excited to post my first blog entry!
The change in seasons and beautiful Fall colors inspired me to create this mani.  It's hard to fully capture the colors, but I like how the color combination turned out.
Hope you like it!  Thanks for reading!

Base color: Revlon Top Speed Emerald
Stamping color: China Glaze Hi-Tek
Plate: Konad S6

Here's a peek at the base before the stamping: