31 Day Challenge 2014

Although it took me almost a year (beat that!!! :D) to finish the last 31 Day Challenge, I decided to join in again for the 31DC2014. I seldom manage more than two manis a week, so it'd probably will take ages again. Let's say, it's more the topics than the tight schedule I have to follow ;)
However, I feel like I've learned so much trying to follow the topics last year - especially all these "inspired by ..." topics. So call me crazy, but I'm doing it again :)

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[AiS]: Stamping over a striped background

There was an interesting challenge in Adventure in Stamping FB group for today: stamping over a striped background. I thought combining stripes and stamping would not be easy, so I decided to try it :)

It was a tough job to think of a style with stripes and stamping. I didn't want to stamp hearts, bows or kisses, so I ended up with this. I cannot say I love this mani, although it'd be probably a cute look for a holiday at the beach.  But hey, a challenge is a challenge, and I'm glad I've managed to think at least of something :)

Base color:  p2 Gel Look Crazy Beauty  (matches perfectly to the MdU stamping polish!) and Cult Nails Tempest (white)  for my middle and ring fingers.
Stamping: Stripes from MoYou Pro XL 01 plate, stamped with Mundo de Uñas #49, Lavender. Flowers from MoYou Pro XL 06, stamped with MdU #29 neon pink.
Studs: 1mm neon studs from Ebay Read More......

The Lacquer Legion: Weird Science

Once I saw the next topic of The Lacquer Legion I just had to participate. Being an IT consultant, it's clear what science instantly came to my mind: computer science!!! So here I am, with my IT inspired mani:

Admittedly, I wasn't very creative for the "Weird Science" topic, but I wanted to use the BM-415 and my new MoYou Sci Fi 06 stamping plates for ages! For more realistic look I also added some golden dots with a toothpick.

I used Mundo de Uñas stamping polish called Avocado (#39). As for me, MdU have the BEST stamping polishes - great color range, most bright colors stamp even over black. Unfortunately, MdU - a Mexican retailer -  stopped shipping internationally. The whole nail art community is anxiously awaiting their shop to resume international service. Let me know, if you hear any news there!

Base color: Cult Nails Fetish (one coat!!!)
Stamping: Bundle Monster BM-415 and MoYou Sci Fi 06 with Mundo de Uñas  Aquacate + some random dots with Essie Good As Gold and a toothpick :)

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Born Pretty Store stamping plate QA61

Couple of weeks ago I saw a review for this Born Pretty Store plate on Kelsie's Nail Files. I loved Kelsie's mani so much, the plate was almost instantly in my shopping cart ;)

The reason I bought this plate was that the patterns on it are similar, but not the same. A perfect plate for a harmonious look without much effort.

I'm not an expert on stamping as you can see ;). I always scrap and press too hard. But with this plate it was quite easy to get a clear stamp - the etching is perfect and not too deep. I also love how delicate the pattern looks:

I used one of my new Mundo de Uñas stamping polishes for the first time and was absolutely amazed:  it's incredible, how pigmented they are! Unfortunately I just saw that they don't ship internationally anymore. Please-please-please, ship internationally again! 

Base color: OPI My Vampire Is Buff

Stamping: patterns from Born Pretty Store Plate QA61 stamped with Mundo de Uñas Chocolate.

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31DC2013, Day 31: Honor Nails You Love

Hello everyone! Long time no see :) Caribbean weather here in Hamburg, so it was hard to stay indoors :)

With this post I'm officially finishing my first nail art challenge - the 31 Day Challenge 2013 .

There aren't probably many people who'd need almost a year for a 31 Day challenge. I'm not slow, I'm special :D And anyway: whatever!!! It was fun and I've done it!  Yeeeeey!

Here I am with the last mani of the challenge:

I must admit I forgot what the exact topic was. I just thought I had to recreate my favorite mani of the challenge... Well... Not quite.
It actually had to be a tribute to someone's creativity - "Honor someone else's nails you love" :). So modest as I am, by mistake I recreated mine :D
To be frank, my whole nail art is a tribute to someone else's creativity. For more than a year now, I've been following nail art blogs, absorbing the ideas and techniques someone else had. I would never be able to learn so much and do such a mani without the nail art community!

I recreated this mani with blue color scheme, but this time I made use of this awesome idea by Dominika -  aka the Panna Marchewka: I painted the pattern as a square on a plastic bag, then cut straight stripes and top-coated them to my nails. Cool, right? It definitely saved a lot of time. Additionally, I didn't have to paint with my non-dominant hand, which is always such a pain in the... you know where  ;)

Base color: white Cult Nails Tempest
Pattern: mix of different blue, silver and glitter polishes: dark blue A-England Tristam, blue metallic Essie Blue Rhapsody and then some silvery glitter polish.
Studs: silver 1mm studs from Ebay

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Ming nails with water decals

Couple of weeks ago I've ordered these Born Pretty Store decals and finally got to use them:

This mani reminds me on so many things: Spanish tiles - azulejos, Chinese Ming vases,  Russian Gzhel porcelain...

These are the original decals, but as you see the color on my nails is slightly different -  a beautiful royal blue. Instead of applying the full decal to my nails I cut out single flowers for lighter coverage.

I always forget how simple it is, to use water decals. To make it even easier, I always put some water on my "target" nail as well - this way I'm able to move the decal on my nail and see what position or angle works best for me.

If you're not a Michelangelo with a nail art brush or just simply don't have time for intricate manicures, decals are for you. As for me, I like the result and will definitely go for deals again!

Base color: Cult Nail Tempest
Flowers: water decals #1619 from  Born Pretty Store Read More......

Roses with Dance Legend 186

I was seeing these beautiful floral manis all over the internet - roses, sunflowers, violets, daisies... I decided it's time I learn how to paint flowers. So here is my fist attempt on roses:

I didn't know how to create this shading on petals, so I watched countless tutorials on youtube. Just search for roses... and spend the evening glued to the screen ;)

I used nail polishes and a very, very thin brush which I cut down as shown in this post (scroll down, there is a link to a tutorial how to cut your brushes).

It was a bit easier than I thought and surprisingly didn't take ages. The main thing is actually to have a thin brush and try to paint with very light strokes. I tried not to press the brush too mush, just barely touch the nail. Frankly, at first it looked really bad, but my top coat blended the colors together and it looks kind of cute now, right? 

The Dance Legend polish #186, which I used as my canvas is "solar active"  - it changes color to pink, when exposed to the sun. In my case the effect wasn't as as strong as shown on their shop page, but it was still very pretty - maybe I just move my hands to much when I talk :D. And the shadow/indoors color is just pure elegance for me. As for the formula, it's a dream - not streaky, self-levelling and fast drying. I'm wearing two coats.

Base color: sun active Dance Legend Magic Sun polish #186, bought online in their shop. If you are in Germany or North Europe, Hypnotic Polish  shop would be a better option.
Roses: pink Inglot 674 (from my NY trip), white highlights with Barry M Coconut (got it in here, Germany only )
Leaves: Formula X Fearless (the same NY haul) and darker Leighton Denny Femme Fatale (TK Maxx outlet) Read More......