Happy Thanksgiving!

Even though I'm not actually eating turkey today, it's such an iconic image for this US Holiday, that I wanted to try painting turkey nails.

I was originally inspired by a picture on Facebook, and I even asked her to create a tutorial which I read, but now I can't find it.  So embarrassing.  Another blogger created a similar look, so I refreshed my memory with her tutorial -  Miss JenFabulous from Polish and Pearls.

I used some polishes from the new Jade Diamond collex to create my look - Joy, Scarlet, and Supernova.  The yellow (Supernova) was a little more sheer than I'd hoped, but all of them are really vibrant.

The body of the turkey is American Apparel Racoon, and the eyes and white swirls on the other nails were done with Sally Hansen White Tip.

The translucent white base behind the turkey is two coats of Matesse Elite Snowfall.  I really thought it would be more opaque.
 

I really wanted to see how this would look with a glitter mani, so I used Dollish Polish This is Halloween.  This polish is very Fall, and I loved it with the turkey accent.

Will you have on a special Thanksgiving mani?

Today, and every day, I am thankful for my ability to write this blog, and I am thankful that there are people out there who want to read it.  Thank you all so very much for going on this journey with me!

Not-so-scary Halloween manis

These glitters have scary names, but don't really say Halloween to me, but maybe they do to you!

First up, The Monster! 

Undies are Attitude by Mattese Elite.  I suspect this polish is a response to the OPI Ballet Collection, because there are other ballet names in this collection, and they are all pale, sheer shades.  Mattese Elite is Ricky's NYC brand, and, though I don't live in NYC, they do have an online presence, and they often have great sales!

I really like the Mattese Elite brand - it's a good quality product, and they often have dupes for more expensive polishes.  This color made nice undies for Hare's The Monster.

I don't know any monster that looks like this.. maybe Sully from Monsters, Inc? 

I admit it, I have the mind of a 12-year-old boy sometimes.  The name of this polish makes me giggle.

Above the Curve Witches Tit (is it supposed to be possessive, as in the tit that belongs to the witch?  Then it should read, 'Witch's Tit') is a white base with black square and tiny glitters.  It also has this metallic green shimmer to it that is pretty unique!

I was wearing this with a white/black/grey dress, so I wanted to tone down the green a little, so I used one coat of Sinful Colors Aries over WT.  I love that you can still see the glitter.

Are you choosing not-so-scary manis this Halloween season?

Doodle nails

These two manis were inspired by this Robin Moses teal filigree manicure.  I love her style, and I've tried to imitate a lot of her designs.. usually with only very limited success!

There's a lot of pictures, so come see the rest after the jump.

Taupe and Mauve

Today's taupe is a mushroomy-brown with a golden shimmer from L'oreal called Brit Invasion.  If you read the numerous reviews on the beauty blogs about this polish, there are the lovers and the 'meh's.  I'm a lover.  I dig brown, and I dig the golden shimmer.

Gorgeous as it is, I can't sometimes help myself and add a little more.  I thought that Mattese Elite Je' Taime would add to the golden glow, but it pert much took over!  I'm sure with another coat, it would be opaque. 

I love brown and gold together, and this brown-taupe provides such a lovely backdrop for the golden glittery holo goodness of Je' Taime.

Today's mauve starts out with a color I would expect to be a deep brown from the name.  Sally Hansen Insta-Dry in Expresso is either the coffee spelled wrong, or just a cruel trick.  Exmauvo is dumb name, though, so I'll stick with Expresso.

Not that this glitter needed much of an undie.  NOPI Just Busta Mauve is pretty opaque.  I love how all the micro-glitters just mesh right together.  It's mostly mauve, with some glitters in pink and BLUE.  Blue?  Totally unexpected, and yet, it works. 

Are you team Taupe or team Mauve?  Me, I like them both... and I like saying taupe and mauve, too.  Taupe... Mauve...

Celebrate glitter - Champagne bubbles

China Glaze Optimistic is exactly the kind of color that my Mom would want me to wear.  It's a perfect Lady color, demure, soft, a hint of shimmer.  Despite all that, I still like it.  There really is something about a champagne polish that evokes a sense of elegance.  Two coats, and there's still some VNL, but no worries, because glitter to the rescue!

 Another gorgeous Mattese Elite glitter polish.  This one is called Je Taime, and I love it right back.

This glitter is mostly tiny gold and holo glitter, with a very few medium holo hexes tossed in a clear base.  These are a soft champagne gold, though, not a 24-k blingtastic gold.  It's a very soft, elegant look.

Blurred to show a little holo bling.

Are there certain colors that evoke your childhood?  Do they make you more or less likely to wear them?

Celebrate glitter - Pink Platinum

When I first started this nail art journey, I thought I had clear fave colors and polishes, but I'm really finding myself loving polishes outside my normal 'box'!  I thought I had given up on pink - the color I was forced to limit myself to as a girl, the color my room was painted because my mom wanted a girly-girl.  I wanted blue.

This is a pink I can endorse.  Essie Your Hut or Mine.  You can't see it well in the pix, but it has a slight shimmer to it, so it's not a true creme.  Essie surprised me with this one.  I can usually count on Essie to be difficult - streaky, balding, three coats or more.  Not this one.  Two perfectly well-behaved coats.

I have another Mattese Elite glitter to show you.  It's Wet Dream.  So for those of you who'd never had a wet dream before, now's your chance, worry-free!  She may have a naughty name, but she is the demure cousin of Mysterious.  Instead of blue, this is a pink jelly with holo glitter.

 Look at the shiny!

Black and white with pink is a classic combination.  I was inspired to take out my black and white dollar store stripers and create a little pattern on my nails.

 I really like creating depth and interest by layering polishes like this.  By adding a stamp or drawing over the glitter, it creates a definite foreground and background to the art.  What do you use glitter for?

Celebrate glitter - Black surprise

When I first started collecting polishes, I was all about red.  Especially on my toes.  Now that I'm really into polish and nail art, the color I buy the least of is probably red!  So, when I saw this polish at the CFL Beauty Bloggers meeting swap, I snatched it up.  It's L'oreal 470 Caught Red Handed.  I wasn't expecting it to be metallic, but it is.  And, like most metallics, it was opaque in one coat.  I would definitely wear this on it's own - it has that lovely glow-from-within that I love.

I intended it to be underwear for this glitter, but the glitter was completely opaque in one coat.  What bits of red you see are the red glitter from the polish itself.  This is Mattese Elite Amour De Ma Vie.  It's a black jelly with tiny silver, red, and blue glitter. 

I don't own Butter London Black Knight, but from the swatches, this sure looks like a close relative.  What's better, it's less than half the price, and I got it on sale at Ricky's NYC for $3. 

I really like that it's mostly black with tiny glitter.  Perfect for those days when you want to rock black, but not a black creme.  I actually thought it looked pretty subtle at arm's length.

Are you a convert to Mattese Elite yet?  I know I am.  Do you own the BL Black Knight?  Does it look like it?

Celebrate glitter - Blue bling!

Today I have a gorgeous blue polish that I fell in love with at first sight - and what's better, is that it's a rescued polish!  I got it from a swap at the Central Florida Beauty Bloggers meeting a few months ago, but it had languished in a pile of untrieds until now. 

This is China Glaze Flyin' High.  2 coats, no topcoat.  You can see a little VNL, but it didn't show in RL.  This may be one of those 'crelly' type shades.  The first coat was thin and patchy, the second one is opaque and a little squishy. 

This glitter is a new brand to me.  It's Mysterious from the brand Mattese Elite and is sold at Ricky's NYC.   Mysterious maybe, but definitely not shy! It's a clear base with tiny blue and holo glitters.  Love, love.

Look at the scattered holo goodness.

 Right hand:

Blurred to better show the holo.

This polish made me a lover of Mattese Elite!  I have a few more of these to show you.  Great formula, came off relatively easy, smooth application, and gorgeous finish.  And only about $3 on sale at Ricky's NYC online.