Tea Party #3

This will be my last post in this month's challenge.  I'm one mani short...My back went out again and I've been dealing with that pain and several doctor's appointments leaving me with no desire to do the last one.  Sorry ladies!
I love the dainty quality of this manicure!  This one is inspired by the tea set shown below.  Again, this item was found on Pinterest and didn't lead to a valid link so it is just an image.  My hubby picked this one out!

Here is what I used for this one:

• Sinful Colors Snow Me White
• Sinful Colors Tidal Wave
• Mundo de Unas Bronze (stamping polish)
• GA11 (stamp)

After applying my usual base coat, I used 2 coats of Snow Me White.  Once that was mostly dry, I added a layer of Seche Vite to harden it all the way so my tape wouldn't pull it up.  I used reinforcements cut in half to get my half moon design.  I used 2 coats of Tidal Wave on the tips and removed the tape right away for a clean line.  I did this one nail at a time!  

I put another layer of Seche Vite down before stamping so it wouldn't smudge.  It was a challenge centering that stamp, but it came out great!  Once the stamp was dry, I added the final layer of Seche Vite.  This was a time consuming mani, but worth it!

Be sure to look at the other lovely mani's done for this month's challenge!

Tea Party #2

For my second look in this challenge, I went with something simple and delicate.  Who doesn't love pink tea cups?  Here is my interpretation of these pretty cups!

I am also working with my photography skills these days...I think I have made some progress in learning the manual settings on my camera.  :)

• Sally Hansen I Pink I Can
• Mundo de Unas White
• Mash-36  & SH208 (stamping plates)

These are really pretty!  I found the picture on Pinterest...it led to an Etsy site that sold it in 2012 so I didn't include the link in the photo below.  

Using this as my inspiration, I chose a pink color that was as close as I had to the photo.  I used 2 coats of  I Pink I Can then a layer of Seche Vite.  I used the single rose image on Mash-36 to stamp my nails.  Now, my hubby said that I missed the mark...this was disheartening and he said I needed more on the nail so I added a little of the flowers from SH208 to my middle nail.  Anything to appease my love!

I love pink!  While searching for the pink color, I realized that in my plethora of pink polishes, I need more pink cremes!!!

Catching Up: Peach Smoothie

I have another summer manicure that I did and never got to write about for you tonight.  I wanted to do something simple, yet eye-catching for this one so I went with a striping tape mani!

These colors worked fabulously together and I had no problems with application of either.  The biggest, most time-consuming, part of this is dealing with the tape.  I cut 40 pieces to do 4 nails!  Good times!

• Revlon Peach Smoothie
• Pure Ice Coral Reef

I used 2 coats of the Peach Smoothie to get a solid base color.  When that was dry, I added a layer of Seche Vite to harden the polish so it didn't dent when I put the tape on it.

Working one nail at a time, I laid down the tape where I wanted it, then painted 2 coats of Coral Reef on top and removed the strips of tape while the polish was still wet to ensure a crisp line.  Once that was dry, I finished it off with another layer of Seche Vite.

Tea Party #1

I was never a tea party kind of girl...I never played that as a kid and I haven't ever been to one as an adult.  I guess I am deprived...  I do like tea though!

I am starting my research on inspiration for this challenge and found an image that caught my eye as it was beautiful, yet non-traditional.  I found this on Pinterest and would have provided the link back to it but it was dead.  :(

Using this as a guide, I went to my swatchcicles and picked out a few beauties:

• Mash-41 (stamping plate)
• Mundo de Unas Bronze (stamping polish)
• Zoya Gaia
• Revlon Midnight Affair

I started with 2 coats of Gaia, which is my favorite off-white polish (ever)!  I put a coat of Seche Vite on top of that to seal it and prepare for the gradient.  I applied the blue gradient with a make-up sponge that had both the colors on it to get a smooth transition.

Once I had the blue the way I wanted it, I put another coat of Seche Vite on to prepare for stamping.  I tried really hard to center the stamp and I was pleased with how it came out!  I chose the bronze over the gold because I felt it had a warmer quality to it.

Once the stamp was dry, I added the last layer of Seche Vite to seal it all in.  There is a lot of polish on these nails this time around.  

I hope I can find some other feasible inspiration pieces looking around!  The women in this challenge are amazing!  Be sure to check them out below!

Re-create #4: Ode to Classy Nude & Black

This is my favorite in this series!  Pretty much everything worked out on this one!  That rarely happens!  LOL

My original post of this manicure was quite impressive to me at the time, as I was just getting into stamping.  You can read all about it here.  This time around, I wanted to follow the same theme but use different polishes and a different stamp image.

• Mundo de Unas Black (stamping)
• Essie Ballet Slippers
• Bundle Monster BM-211 (stamp plate)

I used my usual base coat to prep my nails and then I used 3 coats of the Ballet Slippers.  I don't have many Essie polishes in my collection and there is a reason why.  I've struggled with them.  I don't find them to have even coverage.  Even with three coats of this, I still have a VNL.  It is a very pretty color though.  I love the subtle pink and it has an appropriate name.  Once that was mostly dry, I applied a layer of Seche Vite to harden the polish and prepare for the stamping.

I love this MDU polish!!!  I used just a very small amount on my plate and scraped very lightly and slowly to get full coverage on the image.  I waited a few seconds to pick up the image on my rectangle Messy Mansion stamper.  The fact that this polish takes a little longer to dry really worked in my favor as I needed to line up the image with my nail carefully on each finger.  I did one finger at a time so that I could clean up after the stamping as I have heard that this polish may stain my skin or cuticles if not removed quickly.  Once all of my nails were done, I waited a good 5-10 minutes before adding my top coat.  I used a "floating" technique to be sure not to smear the black.  It turned out amazing!

Comparing these manicures, I can really see an improvement in my photography skills.  I'm glad to see that, since I feel like I am still struggling to get it just right.  It seems like I am on the right track!