Happy Mardi Gras!!

So I've been doing some Mardi Gras themed nails and decided to save them up for one post. And now I actually have some time since Emmie and I made it back (safe and sound) from our Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans!


For the first two, here's what I used: Zoya's Ivanka (green) and Zoya's Marry (purple). The gold is Milani's nail art polish in Art of Gold. The rhinestones are some I bought from the Born Pretty Store.


For this one, I used OPI's Glizterland (gold) and Konad's special polish in green. Again the rhinestones are from Born Pretty Store. Base coat for all three was CND's Sticky base and I topped all three off with two coats of Seche Vite.


Hope y'all enjoyed your Mardi Gras - even if you're not from Louisiana! Everyone deserves a little time to celebrate!

-CCC

Oh Cupid, It's a Valentines Day Nail !!

I wanted to do a special Valentines day nail, so here it is. I did two different versions. The first is using the Konad stamping system and the second done by hand. Hope you enjoy this V-day nail tutorial.

I started with a light pink bast coat (N.Y.C. 108A Polyester Pink Creme). Then I stamped the background pattern with a white polish (Confetti 011 wedding white) using plate m57. Then every nail got a diferent design. I found most the designs from my fauxnad set of plates and only one from konad. So from left to right I used fauxnad plate m09, konad m78, fauxnad m23, fauxnad m07, and fauxnad m41 for my thumb.

For the second look, I stole some ideas from Anna's last post. I used the same tape technique to achieve this look. I started with a hot pink bast coat (Sinful Colors 851 Boom Boom). Then I applied small little dots using a grey nail art pen. (Nail star Two-way pen from ebay)

After letting this dry completly. I took some scotch tape and placed it slanted across my nail. Then I applied the other color onto my nail (Ulta Flamingo). Then I carefully removed the tape and allowed to dry.

For the last part of I took (Sally Hansen x-treme wear in celeb city) and painted a slant going the opposite direction. I toched up the dots with my nail art pen and added a little heart to each nail.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Which one do you like better? Whats your plans for V-day?

-CCC

Feelin blue

OK...so I'm not sad lately, just really into blue polishes! I can't stop using them! Here's my first tape mani and I have a feeling I will be doing this quite often. It's really simple and looks awesome! I can't wait to try this again with some Konad-ing on top.

Here's what I used:
Zoya Ibiza (dark blue)
Zoya Tallulah (light blue)
Nail Star 2-way nail pen (blue glitter)Seche Vite top coat

I did the light blue polish first, then the dark blue with the tape. I free handed the blue glitter.

So what to y'all think??

-CCC

shatter

So I recently hit a sale with Zoya and this is one of the colors I picked out. It is a warm gold toned polish as you can see below. It is called Richelle. I really like the color but it is a little sheer, I think I applied 3 coats for this look. I also picked up a bottle of opi shatter from the Katy Perry line. I had been patiently waiting for this one to come out. (ok not so patiently I called ulta at least 3 times waiting for it lol) I have read about it on many blogs and had to try it out for myself.

It only takes seconds to form the crackled look. I snapped this photo above just after applying it to my nail. It only takes one coat and instantly separates to create this look.

At first I love loved the look but then I realized it doesn't come out the same on each nail and it started to bother me. I like the look but it will not look the same on every nail so I probably won't wear it much. I think the effect can be altered by how much polish you put onto the nail and also how much pressure you apply with the brush. Either way it is a cool idea and a fun nail for a crazy day !

If you like this look or have tried it..tell me about it, I would love to hear from you!

-CCC

New Konad image plate! m83

When I saw the new image plates from Konad, I couldn't wait to get my hands on m83. I ordered mine from wowsocool.com the day they came out. I've had them for a while and am just getting around to posting these pics. This plate will be really cute for Valentine's Day since there are some great images with hearts on them.

But for now, here's what I did and used:

• Ulta ridge filler
• Forever 21's Love & Beauty in royal (base color)
• China Glaze in Cheers to You (design color)
  
• OPI top coat
• Konad image plat m83

I have to admit that I was a little hesitant to use the Forever 21 polish again. The first time I used it, I wasn't crazy about the color after 3 coats. I thought it was too dark. But this time I did just 2 coats and I'm kinda lovin this color combo. With 2 coats, it's a shimmery dark teal and looks GREAT with the silver stamped on top. Definitely trying out this combo again!!

So tell me what you think? What other polishes have you tried from the Forever 21 collection? Any issues with those??

- CCC

Treat yourself to jewelry!

Hi everyone!

I know we typically only post news about nails on here, but I have something very exciting to share. I've finally started my own jewelry making business and I'm online!

Find my store — La Vie Charmée — on Etsy. I'm really excited about the jewelry I've been making and hope you are too! I can do custom work, so if you like the style of work but not the colors or charms, just let me know and I can create it for you.

My jewelry is hand made and I use mostly Czech glass beads, Swarovski crystals and antique beads from the 40s-70s. Right now I have only bracelets, earrings and bobby pins, but I plan on creating necklaces, rings and more soon.

Everything is really affordable and would make great gifts for your friends, family or even yourself! I gave several pairs of earrings/bracelets out as Christmas gifts this year and EVERYONE loved them! So check it out and tell me what you think! And stay tuned for a giveaway featuring some of my jewelry!

-CCC

CND stickey base coat is amazing !

So the konadicure I did today was really simple. I started with a blue base coat and stamped with a silver flower image. It is a full nail image so it was super easy, the design is from plate m73. But what I really want to talk about is how great this CND stickey base coat works. I have read many reviews about it in the past and finally gave in a bought a bottle. I was skeptical because of the price (I think I paid 8.50) but it was totally worth it. The CND really has prevented chipping and peeling and has made my manis last longer than they have before. I have used the same polish without the use of the stickey base coat and my nails chipped within 3 days. With the CND stickey my mani lasted for about 8 days!! It was totally worth the 8 bucks.
Sinful colors in midnight blue and China glaze in devotion

Does anyone use this base coat ? and do you like it ?

Til next time.

-CCC

Giveaway Received from A Polish Problem

Here are photos of the giveaway I won from Megan at A Polish Problem! Sorry I don't have the original packaging on the China Glaze gift set - I was too excited to open it and it didn't fare well :)

Here's what I won:
A China Glaze's "Cheers to You" gift set (part of their 2010 holiday gift set collection). Polishes include Midnight Kiss (see post below), Cheers to You (silver foil) and a shot glass with the China Glaze logo on it. So cute!

There were also 2 OPI AvoJuice Juicies in Orange Almond and Crisp Apple. Love these lotions and the small ones are perfect for my purse.



Thanks again, Megan!

-CCC

A new year, a new nail!

Now that it's officially 2011, we're getting back into updating our blog more frequently.

This weekend I received the giveaway I won from Megan at A Polish Problem.
 I was super excited to get it and couldn't wait to try out the polishes.

I also used a couple of things from Sally Beauty Store since they were having a sale. 
I mean, really, can you pass up a 50% off clearance prices? I think not!
I also bought a neat tool to help pick up the flakes or rhinestones,
which was money well spent. I wouldn't have been able to do this without it.

Here's what I used:

• Ulta ridge filler
• Base color - China Glaze in Midnight Kiss
• Turquoise flakes from Sally Beauty
• Pink rose sticker from Sally Beauty
• OPI top coat

I tried the flakes on top of black and they showed up more than on the gold,
but I still really like this color combo.

A FEW TIPS:

• Go for the smaller flakes to stick to the nail since the larger ones won't bend and will just pop up.
• And apply the flakes to a top coat - not a base color. Just trust me!

So, what do you think???

Happy New Year!

I found this design through a YouTube video tutorial. I think it's super cute for New Years or, as I realized after I finished my nails, for watching the Saints! I wanted to do the design on my ring finger, but there wasn't enough room since I recently cut my nails - so thumbs it was!

Here's what I used:

• Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Black Out (2 coats)
• Milani Nail Art in Art of Gold (for the gold fading effect, which I did by using a make up sponge and for the champagne in the glasses. The 2011 isn't great on that thumb but the glasses were better than the other one - don't you hate when that happens?)
• Sally Hansen French Manicure Pen in Pure White for the white detailing on the thumb.
• OPI top cot to top it all off

What do you think? Do you have any big plans for New Year's? What about resolutions?

- CCC

Let it snow!

So we really don't get a "real" winter down here in southern Louisiana, but we can dream of snow, right? Since Christmas is over, it's time for me to do some winter nails (I even have a New Year's design I'm working up for this weekend!).

Here are my snow nails and what I used:
Base color: Confetti's Blue Bombshell (3 coats) - it's a really pretty color and since I don't usually have my nails blue, I can't stop looking at them!
Top coat of glitter is an NYC color with pink and blue bigger pieces in it
Fauxnad design of the snowflake stamped in Konad's special polish in white
The pearls are some I bought at the Born Pretty Store in a set of different colors
OPI clear coat to top it all off

So what do you think? And stay tuned for my New Year's nails!

- CCC

Getting into the Christmas spirit!

So earlier this week I had candy cane nails with Christmas trees on them - I plan on doing those again tonight and will post about them later. For today, I have strings of Christmas lights (thanks to my hair stylist for the idea!). I used nail brushes from Born Pretty Store to create the lights/string.

Here's what I used:
Base color: OPI - The show must go on!
Black string color - Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Black Out
Lights: Milani Neon in Dude Blue, Milani nail art in Art of Gold and Konad special polish in green
Trim on lights: Essence nail art in silver

So, what do you think?? Sorry about my AWFUL cuticles, this cold weather is making them sooo bad!

shades of pink

So Anna found this new technique where you sponge on different shades of polish to create this shading effect. Her original post can be viewed by clicking here ! Her nails came out awesome so I decided to try it out for myself. And I embellished them with a little flower with a rhinestone center!



I used a 4 different shades of pink and a red polish for the flower.







It's a very simple technique using any kind of cheap makeup sponge. Just dip the tip of the sponge into the polish and dab onto nail until you have the look you desire. It's all about layering and make sure to let coats dry in between applying or it will stick and turn messy.







These are all the polishes I used to do this mani. I started with N.Y.C. in Pol ester Pink Creme as a base all over the whole nail. Then used Ulta in Flamingo and shaded in below the half moon shape of my nail. Then took Sinful colors in Boom Boom to shade in the lowest part of my nail. The glitter polish from Sinful Colors in Pink 4 Ever was placed over the darkest shade and kinda blended everything together. I used essence in Ready for Action to stamp the flower with plate m57. And finished with a pink rhinestone and top coat.

If you like comment below!!

-CCC

Zebra Konadicure

Today I did a pink zebra nail. I used Sinful Colors Boom Boom and Konad black polish for the design. The zebra print can be found on Konad plate m57.

The full plate designs are my favorite because they come out perfect everytime and its really fun to convince people you painted the design yourself :)

Hope you like.. comment below!!

-CCC

Green & Gold Superbowl!

Well my godchild's 8-year old football team had their Superbowl game today and WON! To prep for the game, I did green and gold nails for the team's colors. I used a sponging technique to fade the colors. And using the glitter fades away any mistakes or uneven lines. So what do you think??

Here's a run down of what I used.

• Milani - Good Morning Sunshine (gold base color)
• Ulta - Limelight (green base color)
• Sinful colors - See you soon (dark green tip color)
• Konad special polish - in black pearl (stars)
• Sally Hansen XTreme Wear - Disco ball (top coat glitter)
• Sally Hansen XTreme Wear - Invisible (top coat)
• Image plate - BM14

pink sparkle

Today I decided to do a simple pink glitter nail. I started with Ulta's Flamingo as a base and used Sinful Colors Pink 4 Ever as the top coat. These two pinks works great with each other. Hope you like !!





When I was in class I realized my nails matched my favorite pen !!!

If you like these pretty in pink nails comment below !!

-CCC

Nail art imitating life?

Well I've been having this design in my head for a while and finally did it.I wasn't sure why I automatically chose these colors though...until I realized that I have a pair of shoes that match them! This was also my first time using a nail art pen and of course since I'm a lefty, it came out much better on my right hand. But I really like it and hope to get a few more colors. Enjoy!

Polish colors: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in Black Diamond Konad Special polish in white Essence nail art freestyle and tip painter in Silver surfer Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in Flawless (topcoat) Konad plate m64

MIRROR SHINE

So I saw this commercial for avon for a duo lipstick/gloss in one and I had to try it. Its called the Avon Pro color and gloss duo. I got mines in sunset glow. It is a little strange to apply at first but the color lasted and I have to say I really love this duo. Heres a link if you want to see it.click hereWhile I was there I also picked up a few avon polishes to try them out. I saw some good reviews for this mirror shine polish so I tried it out for myself. I got it in peach ice and polish (the purplish one). I have to say I am kinda dissapointed with these polishes. The peach ice was so light you could barely see it, sorry I didn't take any pics, I'll prob swatch it in a few days. However, I did try the purple one out and it wasn't all that great. It took 2 coats, could have gotten away with one coat but did 2 just to cover any lighter spots. It looks pretty but I wouldn't call it a mirror shine polish! It also chipped after only 1 DAY !!! not so good... so I say stay away from the avon mirror shine, the only thing it got going for it, is that its cheap. Til next time.
-CCC

Peach ice (on the left) and polish (on the right)

This is Avon's mirror shine in the color polish...no points for a unique name ...really polish???

A pretty purple but did not live up to my expectations, I have to say Avon let me down in the nail polish dept.

first piggy for me

My newest design was from plate m64. I always want to use the paisly flowers, but I decided I should try something differnt and use the plaid design. I also used my new piggy polish from ulta. It was my first time using piggy polish and overall I wasn't that impressed by it. I had to use 3 coats just to cover my nail with no bald spots. I don't know if all piggy polishes are like this one but I was dissapointed with the quality. Anyway I made it work with a quick stamp of konad white special polish and the end result came out pretty neat. Hope you like this one!!
-CCC

cute bottle but that flower decoration kept getting in the way and the polish was not so great. Has anyone else had probems with piggy polish??

the evil black polish

I was in a stamping mood on Tuesday night. I wanted to get some more use out of my so6 plate from konad. I wasn't sure how it would look with black but I think the colors look good together. Started with a black base coat and stamped with china glaze in hi-tek. Hope you like !!

-CCC

My pinky finger didn't get the whole design but I figured it would look just

as good with just the stripes.

The other design I used was also from plate s06. I used the same colors but a different black polish. It wasn't by choice but lets just say a glass bottle and ceramic tile do not mix, and I ended up with a huge black mess all over my living room ...well that was fun to clean up...NOT !!! lol