Cozy Sweater Nails

Hello, Konaddicts!
I hope you're doing well in this new year and staying warm!  I decided to try out an unusual image plate - Vivid Lacquer VL 025.  I love trying a new or different nail plate.  This one was especially fun, since I am a big fan of crocheting.


I bought the plate on Etsy.  It has several unusual crocheting and knitting designs.

The biggest challenge with this plate was trying to decide how to do the stamping - should I apply the dark color over the light one?  the light color over the dark?  I also had a few false starts with colors that were too similar to show the design clearly.

In the end, I used Sally Hansen Insta Dri Raspberry Race as a base and used the shimmery and darker Sally Hansen Insta Dri Pronto Purple for the stamping.


It's different look, it has a cozy feel to it, and I love the overall effect.

Thanks for coming by Konaddicts!  I hope you're staying warm!

Glitter Gradient

Hello, everyone!
It's been a long time since I've had a moment to post!  I just love how this glitter gradient turned out!

This is a gradient of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Raspberry Rave and Vivid Lacquer Late Bloomer. I am still really loving my Cici & Sisi plates.  This time, I used Cici & Sisi 05 and Sally Hansen Insta Dri Urgent Orchid for the stamping.

Thanks for stopping by, Konaddicts!  Is anyone else amazed that Fall is already here?!

Jenkies! I'ts Scooby Doo!

Hey, everyone!  I couldn't wait to show you my latest nails.  I finally got around to trying out Scooby Doo pattern from the MJ Special Edition plate!  I love classic Scooby Doo - I own the first couple of seasons, along with the movies, and the Dynomutt and Batman episodes - so I knew I wouldn't be happy with this mani unless I had time to get it exactly right.

It was so much fun because I got to use some of the Halloween designs in it!  The ghost is from Winstonia W221, the bats from Winstonia W116, and the haunted house from BM224.  I had to incorporate those crazy psychedelic flowers, so I used Cheeky CH114.

I used saran wrap to create the backgrounds.  I started with darker versions of the blue and purple - Sally Hansen Insta Dri Brisk Blue and Insta Dri Urgent Orchid.  I used saran wrap and a lighter color over the top - Kleancolor Pastel Blue and Salon Perfect Lavendar Fields.  When I needed contrast for the stamping, I added a little darker color - Rimmel Blue Eyed Girl and Kleancolor Love Affair.

Scooby is a decal made with Konad Special polish in black and Kleancolor Mocha. The plate is the oh-so-cool MJ Special Edition from My Online Shop's facebook store.

Thanks for stopping by!  If Scooby Doo teaches us anything, it's that things are rarely as scary as they first seem and that there are few situations that you - along with help from your best pals - can't make it through. :)

Purple Hearts

Hi, everyone!
Guess who just got a bunch of new Kleancolor polishes?  I did!  I couldn't decide which of my new purples to wear, so I decided to wear them all!

I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Lacey Lavendar as a base and sponged on Kleancolor True Purple, Kleancolor Love Affair, and Kleancolor Lavenbaby.  I didn't want to go without stamping (gasp!), so I used Essie No Place Like Chrome and Vivid Lacquer VL009 for the hearts.

Sorry about the chip.  If it's not sunny weather, I can nearly guarantee that I'll have a chip somewhere by the time we get a little sun for a photo!

So...ladies...have you noticed the new stamping plates out on Amazon?  A second set of Winstonia plates, some adorable designs by CICI&SISI (Jajuana has a cute design using these)?  

Dear oh dear, I fear my gift cards are all a thing of the past!

Catch you later, Konnadicts!

Harlequin Nails

Hello, everyone!  If you're here in the US, I hope you've got a great long weekend planned!

I finally had a little time for some much needed polish therapy; I decided to make the most of it!

This is a little tape mani made with Salon Perfect Baby Blues, Salon Perfect Pure Azure, China Glaze Spontaneous, and Sally Hansen Insta Dri Blue By.

I had my camera handy, and a couple of nails to redo, so I figured this would be a chance to take some step-by-step photos.

I'm redoing my pinky nail here.  You can see my base coat of Baby Blues with a freehanded bottom of Azure.

Here is the nail taped up, and ready to polish.  I pressed down the edges as firmly as I could to try to get those crisp lines.

Here I've polished Blue By and Outrageous over the tape.

I pulled the tape off and voila!

So, I wasn't ready to end my polish therapy, so I decided to add an accessory.  I couldn't choose between pale blue rhinestones and nail tape, so I chose both!

I couldn't find my good topcoat, so I had to use my kind of goopy one.  Other than that, I like it!  I'm sure it will look better tomorrow, when I've really had a chance to clean up the edges, but I'm always afraid that all the tapes and rhinestones will fall off before I get a good picture!

Well, Konaddicts, thanks for stopping by!  I really enjoyed by polish play time today; I can't decide whether to wear this one for a while or to pull off all the colors and start again!  

Subtle Spring Flowers

Hello, everyone!  
I had a hard time trying to capture this pastel mani on camera.  With temperatures topping 104 degrees (!), I was in the mood for something light and airy.

This is a light gradient of Salon Perfect Lavender Fields and SP Azure.  I used the cute butterflies on  Pueen 39 and Sally Hansen Whirlwind White for the stamping.  This was my first experience with Salon Perfect polish and, I have to say, the Lavender went on like butter!

Here's another look - this time indoors.  The focus isn't perfect, but it gives a truer sense of the colors.  

Well, Konaddicts - I hope this post finds you cool and collected!  Thank you for stopping by!  Be sure to catch my Saturday post - I'm going to be doing a "nautical nails" twin post with Jajuana from Mani's by Moore!  I've never done nautical nails before, so it's going to be a fun challenge!  See you soon!

Amythest

Hello, everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas or time off with friends and family.  For me, it has been a difficult holiday season.  This was my family's first Christmas without my father, who passed away earlier this year, and without my great-nephew, our beautiful 4 year old boy, who was killed in a car accident in July (that also severely injured my sister).  On Christmas day, he would have been 5 years old.

Despite our losses, it was a blessing to be together, to enjoy each other, and to be thankful for the graces that we have been given.

All that said - I've finally also gotten to do my nails!

This was another design that kind of just evolved.  I started with a gradient of Love My Nails Angel, a pearly white, and Kleancolor Salsa, an unusual pink/gold color.   I added a coat of holographic glitter - Kleancolor Holo Pink - before using XL Plate A to stamp the design in Love My Nails Berry Nice.

From DRK-A Plate

I decided to try a contrasting accent nail.  The colors I used weren't really reversible, so I used Milani Blackberry Baby as the base color and I stamped with Pure Ice Outrageous.

Well...that's all for now.  I hope you are each doing well and preparing for an awesome start to the new year!

Be well, Konaddicts!

Royce - We love you and miss you!

My Dad and Me

Reverse Polka Dots

Hi everyone!
Today, I am wearing a Monkey See - Monkey Do manicure.  I absolutely loved the look of Nasli's Silver & Flip Flop Dotting so I decided to give it a try.  I used Essie's No Place Like Chrome as my base color.  I actually tried the dotting in creme purples and blues before I realized that neons seem to work best.  I finally used Heaven Hawaiian Coast, a neon purple, for my dotting, and I love the final product!

Thank you, Nasli, for introducing me to such a great design!  I got tons of compliments on this one!

Take care, Konaddicts!  I'm off to a conference in Nashville this week.  I've never been there, so I'm looking forward to the trip.  Catch you soon!

Purple Accented French Manicure

Whoa - has it really been almost a week since my last post?  Where has this week gone?  Well, I guess I'll take a step out of the time warp to share today's colorful French mani.

This is a base of Kleancolor Pink Sleepers.  I couldn't find the nail guides so I freehanded the tips with Sally Hansen Insta Dri in Whirlwind White.

I wanted a big, frilly design, so I took a look at my XL Plate I.  One of the nice things about the XL plates is that you'll find the same design in different sizes, so you can pick the size that works best for the look you're going for.  I chose the largest of this fan or leaf design.

For the stamping, I used Sally Hansen Insta Dri Urgent Orchid and L'oreal Violet Vixen.  To finish, I added a rhinestone to the curlicue...and, there you have it!

I'll catch you soon, Konaddicts!  I hope you also aren't feeling stuck in a time warp!

Puzzled

Ah - what fun!
This is a gradient of China Glaze Sweet Hook and Kleancolor Lavenbaby.  I stamped it using XL Plate A and Sally Hansen Insta Dri Presto Purple.  I filled in the "missing" pieces with a black nail pen.

I love this one!  I'll be wearing it a while, I think. :)

31 Day Nail Challenge - Day 17: Glitter

Today's challenge is "glitter"!  I haven't done much stamping over glitters, so this was (another!) new challenge.

I started with Kleancolor Wicked Plum and topped it with two coats of Revlon Scandalous.  The hearts and diagonal lines are a design from BM 317.  I used Pure Ice Outrageous - that lovely pink chrome - for the stamping.  


Today's post is short and sweet - speaking of sweet, these nails remind me of grape jelly!


PS: Hope you all like the blog's new look.  I ran across another site - about cemeteries! - that used the same template I did.  I was ready for a change, but the headstones were the final push to try something new!


See you next time for "half moon nails" - this will be another first for me!

31 Day Nail Challenge - Day 6: Violet Nails

Guest model - my left hand!

Well...these were supposed to be my purple nails.  It's Kleancolor Metallic Fuschia - a beautiful grape.  When I added Pure Ice Pussy Cat and stamping with Konad M64, I thought I had a winner.

Until the topcoat.

Oh, yes, until the topcoat.

Oh well...at least there was my left "non blog hand" so I could show the look I was going for!  Memo to me - if I try this again, add topcoat between the base and the chrome stamp.

The nice thing about this nail challenge is that no mani lasts too long...see you tomorrow for black and white nails!

Bright Dots

Hello, everyone!  Today, I have an easy and vibrant mani using Cheeky plate CH10.  I started with twocoats of coats of Pure Ice Free Fall.  I used a final coat of Pure Ice Tease, a magenta with a blue shimmer.

I stamped the dots using Cheeky CH10 and Kleancolor Metallic Aqua.  The aqua looked more purple on the nails, but it worked!  Before picking CH10, I tried the dots on Konad M60.  I liked the Cheeky plate better for this mani.  The dots on the plate blend more at the bottom on the Cheeky plate and I liked that look better for these colors.

It's a simple look, but I love the sparkle!

Shine on, Konaddicts!

Floral Layers

One of the ladies in the Facebook Adventures in Stamping group showed off a gorgeous design and inspired me to try out the some layering.

I love the sparkle and the almost 3D effect that the layers create.

You can really see the glitter in artificial light! 

Here's what I used:

Layer 1: Two coats of Sally Hansen Extreme Wear polish in Lacey Lilac.
Layer 2: Cover Girl City Lights, a clear holographic glitter
Layer 3: Big pink flowers with Sally Hansen Insta Dri Fuschia Flare and Cheeky CH12 (pattern A in the photo below).
Layer 4: Smaller flowers with Cheeky CH12 and a Beautiful Scratchers Special Polish in Pastel Green (pattern B).  I had intended to stop there, but the green faded to almost white, so I decided to add one more layer.
Layer 5: Big flowers with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in The Real Teal.  On the middle finger, I used Kleancolor Metallic Aqua but decided I liked the subtler color better.  I used Fauxnad M26 for the flowers (C).

I was pretty happy with the results!  I liked the sparkle and depth created by the layers.  I'm definitely going to try more of this.

What about you, Konaddicts?  Have you tried layering your patterns?  What combinations do you like best?

Is it Spring Yet?

Excuse the stray polish...these still need cleanup.

Alas...not quite.
Oh well; at least it's Spring on my nails!
This is Sally Hansen Insta Dri Urgent Orchid.  The flowers are from Cheeky plate CH16.  I used a dotting tool and Kleancolor Metallic Yellow for the flower centers.

Chin up, Konaddicts!  Spring isn't too far away!

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?