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

Paw Prints

Hi everyone,
I decided my new canine addition was a perfect excuse to try out some paw print nails!

This design was a fun change from all the Fall colors I've been wearing and I got to experiment with a few plates I haven't yet used.

I only used three colors for this one - Sally Hansen Whirlwind White as a base, Wet n Wild Black Creme for the designs, and a red nail pen.

Once I started looking, I couldn't decide which designs to use, so I used a combination from several plates.

The thumb design is Bundle Monster BM 306.  The other paw prints from my DRK-A plate.  The pooch on my ring finger is from plate T28 (an eBay plate from Beautiful Scratchers).  The hearts are from a QA plate (the one with the Statue of Liberty on it!).

I didn't wear this one for long - i'ts kind of like having a comic book on your nails! - but it was definitely a fun departure from my usual designs.

Take care, Konaddicts!  I hope your holiday shopping is going well!

She's settling right in!

Chrome Hearts

Here's another quick mani.  For this mani, I decided to combine two colors that I love.  The base is Maybelline Express Finish in Racing Rubies, a deep burgundy red.  I stamped with Pure Ice Outrageous, a beautiful pink chrome.  The hearts are from the DRK-A plate.

I like how this one turned out!  I have to experiment more with stamping in pink (rather than always just reaching for the silver!).

Hope you're having a great May, Konaddicts!

Can-Can French Manicure

Hi, everyone!
I've opted for a simple mani today using a design from DRK-A.  For a base, I used two coats of  Orly French Manicure Sheer Nude.  On top of that, I used one coat of Bella Il Fiore - it's a blue-tinged sheer that came from an old French Manicure kit.  Milani Black Magic is my stamping polish.


The blue tint keeps the mani interesting, the pattern is simple and sweet, and, best of all, it was quick and easy! The result reminds me a bit of those leggy French Can Can dancers!


Don't be afraid to kick up your heels, Konddicts!

Zen Garden

I was aiming for a soothing, calming manicure (to counteract a very hectic week!) and I came up with this mani inspired by Zen gardens.

This is a base of 3 coats of Orly French Manicure Sheer Nude stamped with a swirly background using DRK-A plate and Cover Girl Boundless Color Bronze Beauty, a metallic bronze sparkle.

I used Revlon Top Speed in Emerald and Red Angel RA-115 to stamp the fern frond.  I used Bundle Monster BM-213 and Kleancolor Metallic Black to stamp the "rock pile".

It's a calming sort of look...now, if only I could get a massage, I'd be all set!

Have a relaxed day, Konaddicts!

Citrus Sunburst

For this fresh and fruity mani, I layered the stamps a bit, moving from the lighter color at the top to the red at the bottom.

I started with a base coat of Rimmel 60 Seconds Extreme polish in Va Va Voom.  I rounded off the edges of the swirled pattern on plate DRK-A with a q-tip so that I could get close to a solid stripe of circles.

I stamped using Sally Hansen Insta Dri Lightening, then L'oreal Pumpkin, and finally, Pure Ice Siren for the tips.




I like the overall bright and cheery effect, and I especially liked the layering of the lighter yellow over the slightly more peachy base color.  The pearl of the base color also provides an interesting contrast with the creme polishes overlying it.

Playing with colors is so much fun!  What combinations are you aching to try this summer, Konaddicts?