Let It Snow Challenge-New Year's

I recently purchased Ninja Polish Caribbean Reef and showed you in a post this week what it looked like.  It is in my current top ten favorites.  I also am obsessed with reverse glitter gradients.  I figured I would combine them.....with a little reminder of the year.  I taught a spin class this morning and found a whole hours worth of New Year's themed songs.  It was a lot of fun.  I have to find the time to do stuff like that more often.  I think it makes the time go by faster.  Anyway...enjoy.  I will be back again before the New Year. Oh...and if your wondering, it's over Cult Nails nevermore.  My go-to black base coat.

Sheswai Honeyfox

I have to admit, I am obsessed with Sheswai.  Awesome polishes.  They are super pigmented and they have all been close to a one coater.  I have used two again because the consistency for me was sort of like a crelly (half creme and half jelly).  It was not flattering on my unattractive nails.  It picked up the flaws like my ridges, even though I used my trusty nail ridge filler from Nail Tek.  I think the color is gorgeous.  A real drop dead red.  But, I will be shipping it to a friend who is a Sheswai Collector and it will have a better home.  Here is a look....no top coat.  You don't need one with Sheswai and I will be topping it with something else soon....stay tuned.

Ninja Caribbean Reef

Yesterday I showed you Sheswai's Stoked and today I am showing you some amazing polish that I topped it with.  This is Ninja Polish Caribbean Reef from their Bling Collection.  It is amazing polish.  You must buy it.  Worth every penny.  If you have doubts after this picture, check out the YouTube video they did of it so you can see the bling-tasticness of it in the sun.

Sheswai Lacquer Stoked

I had never heard of Sheswai Lacquer (pronounced she-sway) when my secret swap partner in a facegroup group had it on her wish list.  I decided to order some for myself.  Six to be exact, and I am totally glad I did because it really is amazing.  The bottles are made with a wooden cap limiting the use of plastic.  Their polish is 3 free and very opaque.  I used two thin coats to achieve this look and no top coat.  It dries shiny without any help. This is the first of the six that I will be showing you and I have been layering each after one day of wear with some of my untried indie polishes.  I will be showing you those too.  Here is Stoked.........

 

 

 

You can purchase Sheswai Lacquer on their website

Let it Snow Challenge-Holidays

I wanted to do something really simple.  I am holiday'd out believe it or not.  I had done this a few weeks ago when I received my Festival of Lights Polish From Amy's Nail Boutique on Etsy.  I layered it over Zoya Song.  This is one of the most amazing layering combinations.  I am in love with this polish.  A few of us pestered Amy into making us some customs with the same look in different colors.  They are all equally amazing.  I actually bought a back up bottle of this polish.  That is the first time I have EVER done that.  She still has some left.........

This picture under lamp light shows the holo goodness.

 

 

 



 

Giveaway Winner

Congrats to Patty for winning the Jade Diamond Collection.  I also hit the next milestone so I will be thinking this weekend about what I can give away next......

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Guest Post at A Little Polish

I am so happy to be doing a guest post for Stephanie over at A Little Polish, here is a little preview...you can click here to go check out the rest of the pics and the story behind the design.

 

 



Let It Snow Challenge-Ugly Christmas Sweater

I found a lot of ugly sweaters during my search.  It is amazing how many I found.  I have even heard of people having ugly Christmas sweater parties.  I settled on one that wasn't too ugly but that I would never wear myself.  Here is my simpler take on it and the inspiration picture follows....

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For Sandy Hook Elementary School

At the suggestion of my good friend, Rachael Tayler, bloggers from all over the world are uniting to do a white manicure today.  This is a way to show our support for peace and non-violence and to let all of those that have been touched by this tragedy know that they in our thoughts and our hearts......

 

 

Digit-al Dozen Does Festiveness-Early New Year

When I think of festive or holiday, I have to add in New Year's.  The ending of a year and start of something fresh.  What better way to do it than with Cult Nails Nevermore?  I love the look of fireworks over a city skyline.  Don't You?

Digit-al Dozen Does Festiveness-Joy To The World

I browsed a lot of wallpapers in attempt to come up with inspiration for these posts.  This one caught my eye because it was very simple but really cute. I love to spend time on backgrounds trying out different shades, techniques and textures.

Digit-al Dozen Does Festiveness-Holly Tips

Every time I do a white background, I end up really disliking it.  I prefer dark vampy colors or some kind of textured look over white to soften the brightness.  I tried to break it up here with the glitter tips but it still just doesn't do anything for me.

 



Digit-al Dozen Does Festiveness-Presents

Before I get to today's mani, I wanted to remind everyone about my giveaway for the Jade Diamond Collection.  You can enter Here.

Today, I have for you a design based on wrapping paper and presents.  I used Finger Paints Merry Mistletoe as the base but ended up stamping over it and then adding hexes on it after that.  Even with three coats, this did not have very good coverage for my tastes.  In a way, I'm glad because I like the depth the additions gave it.  I added a bow in red and gold.  I am happy with it.

 



Digit-al Dozen Does Festiveness-We Three Kings

What an honor to be asked to participate with this amazingly talented group of nail artists.  I knew I had to step up my game for this group.  Does anyone have that feeling when they talk to one of their favorite bloggers like they are some kind of a celebrity?  Silly, I know.

This months theme was holidays.  I love a broad topic.  I did a lot of searching for pictures that inspired me and finally found a few that I really loved.  This first one is a depiction of The Three Kings (even though I only used two because I didn't want to overwhelm my tiny canvas). I did a gradient for the base and used acrylics to paint the Kings and Camels.  Hope you like it.

600 Follower Giveaway-Jade Diamond Collection

And, I have arrived at 600 followers at a very busy time of year.  I am wrapping Christmas gifts, covering for co-workers at the gym who are taking time off for the holidays and finishing year-end work at my "real job" during the day. 

I also plan on making eight different kinds of Christmas cookies this weekend and I still have three more nail posts to finish because I am working with two fantastic groups on some holiday manicures and will be doing a guest post for a good friend later this month. 

I am still committed to keeping to my original plan of doing a giveaway every hundred followers since I am grateful for all of you who check out what I am doing  on my little blog.  So, enter below for a chance to win the Jade Diamond Collection. 

These were purchased from Ninja Polish who graciously allowed me to use their photo.  They just got some in stock so, you can check them out at their store here and see some swatches.  The most impressive pictures are layered over black in my opinion. 

Thanks for continuing to support me and good luck.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let It Snow Challenge-Holiday Movie

I doubt this deserves any introduction but I can tell you about my inspiration.  I bought some glitter online recently along with other supplies to make my own polish.  This green was in the group but I hate bar glitter of any kind.  I obsessively pick at it once it is applied to my nails.  So, I needed to find another use for it.  It reminded me of Grinch fur (or hair??).  You know I love to attach crazy stuff to my nails.  I also figured, since the Grinch looks straggly, I wouldn't trim it at all either....

 

 

 

 

Here is what the other artists did........

 



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Let It Snow Challenge-Snowflakes

I think snowflakes are a great place to start for the Let It Snow Challenge.  I am continuing on with the same group of individuals.  We have lost a few and gained a few along the way but overall, it is an incredibly talented bunch.  We are going to do weekly posts throughout the Winter months.  The group was named The Nail Challenge Collaborative so we didn't have to continue to change our facebook group name.  I'm excited to start.  I decided to go big since I am behind on my posts.  I have added to my snowflake design a snowman and some icicles.  Hope you like it.

 

Here are the challenge items you will be seeing over the coming months......

 

 

And.......my cohorts......