Saturday 25 October 2014

Frankenstein Manicure

Hello!

Here is my latest manicure using my MoYou Gothic 05 plate - this is seeing me all the way to Halloween, it's a brilliant plate ^_^

For my base colour I used MeMeMe Virtuous and on top I stamped the Frankenstein stitches from Gothic 05. I chipped the mani on my first day of wearing it, but for a not-so-bad reason - I was working, and managed to survive the shift with my nails as the only casualty!


Hugs,

Lisa xx

Wednesday 22 October 2014

Purple Rose Design Manicure

Hello!

Today's manicure is another design featuring my new MoYou Gothic 05 stamping plate! I wanted that gothic style without going full-on Halloween too early, so I decided on a purple gradient beneath the plate's rose and netting image.

For my gradient I started with 2 coats of OPI's Care to Danse and sponged Jade's Vestido de Gala onto my tips with a damp washing-up sponge. I top-coated to smooth the gradient out then stamped my design on!


I'm not normally 100% happy with my manicures but this one looked really professional in the flesh - some credit has to go to the polishes and MoYou for that! - and I really, really loved it.

Lastly, a Lisa Update (feel free to skip this bit!): I've been writing on the blog about my struggles of trying to get back into work whilst suffering with mental illness. Fortunately - well, fingers crossed it's fortunate! - I was hired for a new part-time Christmas job! This week is the induction week and I'm being physically ill because of the fear, but I'm still trying because I know the only way to get better is if I push myself. I won't say where I'm working in case it backfires on me, but safe to say that it seems like a great place to work with lovely people.

Hugs,

Lisa

Thursday 16 October 2014

French Lace Manicure

Hello!

Today's manicure uses a lace pattern from one of MoYou's newest stamping plates, Gothic 05. I was planning on using it in a more Halloween style but I actually have a new job interview tomorrow and thought I'd try and show off my nail art in interview-appropriate colours!

In the vein of a French manicure I used the lovely sheer Bubble Bath by OPI as my base; I then stamped on the lace design using Konad's white polish. Here it is:


I'm so happy with this! The lace design is just gorgeous (well done as usual MoYou) and, while it isn't perfect, my stamping accuracy has definitely improved. Has anyone else bought this plate?

Hugs,

Lisa xx

Wednesday 15 October 2014

Stained Glass Manicure

Hello!

First of all, just a little thank you for reading and for anyone who's commented when I post about my depression troubles - it does help when I'm feeling sad and uncertain about what's happening in "real life". Massive hugs xx

Today's manicure uses my first stamping plate purchase in quite a while! MoYou have released some new plates for Halloween and I just could not resist Gothic 05. Amongst its gorgeous designs is a stained glass window image, so I decided to take the leadlighting technique very literally and paint over it with some sheers!

My base polish is Barry M Pearl, my stamping polish is Konad Black and my sheers are OPI Y'All come Back, Ya Hear?, Nails Inc Strawberry and Barry M Greenberry. For the Barry M to be sheer I had to dilute it with some clear polish; unfortunately I didn't dilute it quite enough and it spoilt the mani slightly to my mind. However, since it's my first time trying this, I'll call it practise and happily learn for next time ^_^


Hugs,

Lisa xx

Sunday 12 October 2014

Owls! Owls! Owls!

Hello!

I haven't been writing blog posts recently, and I'm sorry! I'm quite open on here about my struggles with depression, so what's been happening is that I started a Christmas job last Tuesday - but after only a few hours it was too much and I became physically ill. I had to go home and missed the rest of the week. It's been devastating; I'm in this awkward place where I feel too ill to work but am not going to get any better unless I push through. With fingers crossed it seems like I still have the job and will have that chance to get better.

Onto the nails! I ordered some more owls from the lovely YRNails because I'm crazy for them, and so here are 3 different manicures I've done using them as accents!

1. Baby Owls! These are the Excited Owl and Winking Owl as centre accents paired with a baby blue, pink and white skittle.



2. This is the Dozy Owl paired with purples to match the colours in the decal.



3. For World Mental Health Day (apt considering this post!), this is the Shocked Owl along with the holographic Layla Emerald Divine. Green is the colour of mental health awareness and I wear it with pride!



Hopefully write soon,

Hugs,

Lisa xx

Saturday 4 October 2014

Blue Owl Manicure

Hello!

This manicure uses these blue owl decals that I bought from YRNails; I can't recommend them enough because they're adorable!

I painted a blue skittles manicure using polishes that match the colours of the owls: White Light by Models Own, Huckleberry by Barry M and Stand Back! by Boots No7. I applied the owls to my white nails then top coated. Here are both hands:



They're so very, very cute. It's only £1.50 for a sheet of decals, go support YRNails!

Hugs,

Lisa xx

Thursday 2 October 2014

Cheery Half-Moon Mani!

Hello!

I've been seeing quite a few "negative space" manicures in my nail art groups recently - this is where you leave areas of your nails bare in your design for a really creative look. My manicure is more classic than creative, a half-moon design with some hearts and polka dots!

My polish of choice is the cheery Raspberry Crush by Models Own, and the stamped pattern is done with their White Light polish. The stamping plate is QA29 from KKCenterHK. Here we are!


The half-moon manicure is super easy to do - I bought some round page reinforcer stickers from a stationery shop ages ago to use as guides, and they're lasting me forever!

Hugs,

Lisa xx