Enchanted ZigZags

Hello, Fireflies!

This Sunday's AIS challenge is zig-zags or chevrons.  I decided to pull this cute pattern from the vault.  Lots of people are dealing with cold temperatures and maybe even snow, but the colors here are promises of Spring!

Sunday Stamping - Fall Leaves

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's Sunday Stamping challenge was to use a plate that ended in '27'.

Exotic Feathers

Hello, Fireflies!

AIS is still on official hiatus from Sunday challenges at the moment, but that just means another Sunday where I get to show you whatever stamping I want! yeah! Feels so rebellious.  I have three looks to show you today, all revolving around feathers, and I used kinda exotic or HTF polishes as the base colors.

NYE Nude Nails

Hello, Fireflies!

Happy NYE! Whether you're going out and partying, or bringing in the New Year with the TV, you can still have fabulous nails, right?  For me, the trend was nude, with a little (or a lot) of bling!  I reached into the vault to bring up some looks you might want to try to ring in your 2015.

The Vault - Glitter Ideas

 Hello, Fireflies!

I haven't done very many holiday nail looks this season, but one thing I can always make time for is a little glitter to feel festive!  I have a few looks I pulled from the vault to share with you today.

From Orange Holo To Orange Flakie

Hello, Fireflies!

You may remember last week's GOT challenge, where I resurrected an old holo from the Old Forgotten Holos Home - Enchanted Polish Dragon Spit.

Well, after I was done admiring it, I covered it up with another forgotten polish, but a flakie, this time - Nfu-Oh 44, a gorgeous orange base with golden orange flakies.

Look at that glow. And, isn't the bottle super cute?

I thought these Maybelline Colorshow Nail Tattoos I picked up from the Dollar Tree looked cute with this mani.  Hello, Lucky Cat!

Now that Fall is approaching, are you going looking for some fave fall color nail polishes?

How Can You Ignore A Dragon?

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's Golden Oldie challenge is to wear a polish that's been ignored for too long.

Enchanted Polish Dragon Spit was probably the first EP I bought.  I had no idea how popular the brand would become, or that this polish would appreciate in value so much. 

I'm sure there are other polishes out there now that can approximate this one, but I'd forgotten how gorgeous this particular polish was.  Such a fiery reddish-orange.  And, I admit, I love the name.

Is there a polish or a makeup item in your kit that's been ignored for too long?  What are you thinking about digging out of your stash?  If you take a pix, I'd love for you to share it on my Facebook wall!

An InLinkz Link-up

Majestically Holo S-TRI-pes

Hello, Fireflies!

Ready for some TRI polish challenge goodness?  I'm loving this month's colors.

I started with a lovely subtle lilac holo, Enchanted Polish Majestic.

Then, I took a striping brush and made stripes of different thicknesses with Colors by Llarowe Thriller, a bright teal holo.

I love having a silver striper - it makes adding a little silver detail so much easier.

Topcoat, and the look is finished! 

I love how saturated the teal is, especially in contrast to the muted lilac and the pale silver.

I forgot the bottle shot, but, look, both hands!

I love stripey nails.

An InLinkz Link-up

The Tie - Files

Hello, Fireflies!

Welcome to another edition of Tie-spiration manis, The Nail Files edition.  My husband chose a few of his favorite ties and asked me to make nail art inspired by them.  I previously posted this blue, purple, and grey tie look, and today I'm going maroon and gold.

Here's the tie in question:

It gets a little overly complicated before I'm all done, but it starts with an amazing holo, Enchanted Polish Vampires Suck.

I think a lot of Enchanted fans were bummed that this was more brown when they expected a vampy red.  I love this color, though.

I used a red nail art striper and then created a chevron French tip using A-England Fated Prince, a charcoal grey holo.

Next, I used a white striper and a gold glitter nail art striper to add details.

Finally, I finished it off with a square black stud, and some topcoat.  Whew! It's way busier than any nail art I think I've done before.

But it is definitely reminiscent of the tie, even if it's not an exact replica.  I never knew how complex this tie was when he wore it, I just liked it!

Bottle shot:  Enchanted Polish Vampires Suck, A-England Fated Prince, and nail art stripers in gold glitter, metallic red, and white.

I think I let this nail art get away from me.  I like some of the elements, though, and think it evoked the spirit of the tie.  Have you ever tried to replicate a pattern and got lost in the details?

For more 'the nail files', please check out Jennie Shaw's blog.

Get Lucky - Green Waterfall #NailArtForNubs

Hello, Fireflies! Happy St. Patrick's Day! Tip o' the hat to ya!

A couple of days ago, someone in a nail group asked for a comparison of Enchanted Polish Britney Spearmint and July 2013, and I had those two polishes handy, so I did the comparison.

Then, it came to me.  "Self," I said, "These are green - and I have one green mani left to do for this challenge.  Let's do a waterfall!" And, so I did.  I used the tutorial from The Nailasaurus. 

I started with Zoya Dree, a muddy brownish-green and Cliche' Salto Alto, a metallic blue-green.

Next, Above The Curve It's Because I'm Green, Isn't It?, a forest green holo.

Lastly, Lime Crime Pastelchio, a bright yellow-green.

I need a little practice, I think.  My stripes don't have that little flicky thing at the end that they're supposed to. 

My husband said that it looked like the Monster drink logo.  Kinda made me mad, and so I took it off right away.  Darn him!

Bottle shot:  Enchanted Polish Britney Spearmint and July 2013. Zoya Dree, Cliche' Salto Alto, Above The Curve It's Because I'm Green, Isn't It?, and Lime Crime Pastelchio.

I think I've gone through most of my green untrieds with this challenge! I'm ready to wear something... anything... other than green - after today!  Have a great holiday,  - or, if you don't celebrate - a great time drinking green beer!

If you missed it, my GlamGlow review posted today, too!

An InLinkz Link-up

An InLinkz Link-up

Pink Modern Art #NailArtForNubs

(2 posts today! If you'd like to see my review of AHAVA Intensive Nourishing Body Cream, please click HERE.)

Hello, Fireflies!

Are you still into holos like I am?  Do you get caught up in the frenzy of an Enchanted Polish restock?  It's like Black Friday at Walmart, with 10,000 people trampling the virtual doors to get 1 of the 10 computers they have on sale.  Her polishes sell out within seconds.

I was happy to get October 2013, a blackish-blue holo.

You know I couldn't leave it alone, though.  When I saw this picture on Instagram by NailPorn, I actually didn't like it right away, but it struck something, so I Pinned it.  Later on, I came back to it, and decided that I liked the idea of the pop of color in the center, and thought it would look better on my short nails.

So, I got out a Zoya Yana, a bright pink, and made a triangle shape with it. 

A white striper adds a pop on the lower half of each nail.

Nothing brings a nail art look together like a black striper.  Outlining makes the look very modern-arty.  Artsy-fartsy?  Oops, my inner 12-year old just came out.

Topcoat to smooth it all out.  I love how the pink just lights up!

Bottle shot:  Enchanted Polish October 2013, Zoya Yana, art stripers in black and white.

I love this with the pink, but a bright yellow might also look good!  What color would you use?

(2 posts today! If you'd like to see my review of AHAVA Intensive Nourishing Body Cream, please click HERE.)

Sunday Stamping - Holo Purple Gradient Chains

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's stamping challenge was to use three purples.  Well, if 3 are good, more are better, right?  I saw this striped-gradient mani from A Little Polish that I really liked, and thought it might be fun to try.

Word to the wise, though.  If you want a true ombre effect, plan out your colors and paint them on something first.  I went by bottle color, and.. well, as we all know, sometimes what's in the bottle doesn't transfer that way exactly to the nail!

I started in the middle of the nail with Colors by Llarowe Tank Tops and Flip Flops, a really pretty bright purple holo.

Ouch, you can see where my middle nail tore off.  I did that playing with my dog, Banjo.

Next color -  Lacquer Lust Tanzanite.  It looked more purple in the bottle, but next to a red-purple, it turned more blue.  See what I mean about planning ahead?  Not my strong suit.

While Tanzanite dried, I went above middle and used Enchanted Polish Mercy.  This one definitely came out darker on the nail than in the bottle. 

Colors by Llarowe Woman From Tokyo is a blackened purple.  Wow, is it pretty.  It's super holo, too.

I could have painted my nails with a base coat of Lacquer Lust Amethyst and spared y'all the horror of my nearly naked nails.  But what's the fun in that?  Amethyst was the lightest of the bunch, and went at the top.

I wasn't really sure I wanted to stamp over this, I liked it so much! But, I was committed to the challenge.  So, I tried to find a stamp that would allow the gradient to play a part of the stamp.  I chose this chain pattern from DRK-C, and stamped with Essie Nothing Else Metals.

 I couldn't bear to stamp over all of it.  This is definitely a technique I will use again. 

Bottle shot:  Lacquer Lust Amethyst, Enchanted Polish Mercy, Colors by Llarowe Tank Tops and Flip Flops,  Lacquer Lust Tanzanite, Colors by Llarowe Woman From Tokyo.

So, are six purples better than three?  I think so!