Cupcake Nails

 Cupcakes, sweet cakes for all! Who doesn't love a cupcake?

 The smudgy bit near the gem is a lesson for us all: always use clear to stick on gems, don't try and match the colour.

Products used: Pale yellow - 17 (Sherbet Lemon)
                       Yellow - Barry M
                       Pale pink - Avon (Pastel Pink)
                       Pink - Barry M
                       Pale purple - Avon (Luxe Lavender)
                       Purple - Barry M (Bright Purple)
                       Pale blue - Collection 2000
                       Blue - Barry M (Cobalt Blue)
                       Pale Green - Collection 2000
                       Green - Barry M (Spring Green)
                       Brown - Me Me Me (Amethyst)
                       Black - Rio Nail Art

Post-Christmas Sparkle

They're not clever, they're not smart, what they are is sparkly and fun. I got nail stuff for Christmas (it's almost as if people think I'm into nails) so I played with it.

This was also my first go with caviar nails. It looked better without topcoat but mixing topcoatless caviar with work was just not going to happen. I liked the set, it comes with a plastic tray to catch beads that don't stick and a funnel to get them back in the bottle so you don't waste any.

Products used: Purple Glitter - Barry M (Magenta)

                       Pink Caviar - Primark (Breast Cancer Support Kit)

Island Paradise

Last year, my friend Siobhan (unexpectedgeek), who is the make up guru of our little shop, asked me to a summery design to promote bright nail vanishes. This is what I settled on.

I used a sponge to create the gradient effect, and applied a thin, cheap base coat before it set to help it all blend. It also gave me an excuse to try out the Barry M nail art pens and grab a few new colours.

I was quite impressed with the pen. It very east to use, almost like drawing with a felt tip. I did notice that I had to go over a few bits more than once to get a solid dark line. Also, do not leave off top coat! It wears off very easily if not sealed.

Products used: Pinky red - Barry M (Passion Fruit)

                       Orange - 17 (Orange Soda)

                       Yellow - Barry M (Limited Edition B)

                       Black - Barry M

Fierce Valentine

Last year I saw this design on cutepolish's youtube channel (see the original tutorial here) and I loved it, so this my attempt. I hope I did her look justice.

I think it's really cute, fun and quite simple to do. The wonder of leopard is that it's supposed to be organic and free form.

Products used: Beige - 17 (Forever)
                       Brown - Me Me Me
                       Red - Nails Inc. (Victoria & Albert)
                       Black - Rio Nail Art

Holiday Mix & Match

I went on holiday earlier this year and wanted something fun and bright on my nails. I well and truly jumped on the Mint Candy Apple bandwagon and did a mix & match look.

Hope you like.

Products used: Mint - Essie (Mint Candy Apple)
                       Dark Green - Barry M (Racing Green)
                       Silver Glitter - Barry M (Diamond)
                       Silver - Barry M Nail Art Pen

Swirly Thing Alert

Yeah, good name, right? (There is a prize for anyone who gets the reference*)

Anywho, I decided to do something simple, but that looked intrcate.

 Also a test of the Bourjois So Lacque nail varnishes.

I liked the Bourjois polish. I find pale colours usually streak without many thousands of coats, but this only took 2. It was also very shiny pre-topcoat.

Products used: Pale pink - Bourjois (Rose Lounge)

                       Black - Barry M

*The prize is an imaginary cupcake.

It's basically heaven

 So last year (yes, blogging fail) I entered and won a competition. And I thought I'd share what I won.

The competition was a collaboration of Avon & Marie Claire, and was a nail art contest (shock all round).

Needless to say I was pretty happy with this. The products I got were:
Gel strength base coat
French manicure set
Swift Sherbet Speed Dry polish
Sahara Sunrise nailwear pro+ polish*
Suddenly Sunny Speed Dry polish
ASAP Pink Speed Dry polish
Cherry Jubilee nailwear pro+ polish*
(Dark Purple) nailwear pro+ polish*
Fast Time Teal Speed Dry polish
All Khakied Out nailwear pro+ polish
Nail wraps in Inner Animal, Hot Pink Bling, Mosaic Flowers and True Zebra
Nail Art Tool

This calls for a new nail look!

This was my first go with nail wraps, so I'm not sure it's the smoothest application ever.

Products used: Teal - Avon (Fast Time Teal)

                       Nail wrap - Avon (Mosaic Flowers)
* I can't be sure about the colours here as there are no names on the bottles.