Adventures in Stamping. Spring Colors

This week our challenge was to come up with a manicure using spring colors.   What I decided to do was a skittle manicure.  I used all Essie polishes except on the thumb.  On the thumb, I used OPI Funky Donkey, the Essie's I used were on pinky Tart Deco, in the Cab Ana from the new resort collection, Fair Game from the same collection and Madison Ave.  I hate to have shown them before actually switching and reviewing but time is just flying this month.  I decided to use my new pueen plates and I really like them.  They have really nice designs nothing weird like another plate set.  So, that is my spring manicure.

Ciao, 

Patty

OPI Woman’s Perogotive

This is OPI's Women's Perogotive.  It is a frosted orange and I really like it.  Just the other day I showed Butter London's Sunbaker.  They are not dupes.  This one is much lighter.  The formula is a little funky in that it streaks a little but it eventually smooths out.  This needed three coats for opacity and a top coat.   I love the gold high lights in it and it is like any other OPI when it comes to dry time except for the jellies which all take longer to dry.  This was actually my first choice of the Euro Central line and then Czech My Czechbook.  Most people liked the Czechbook first but I am a total sucker for orange/rust colors like this.  It just reminds me of a sunset and all the beautiful ones I saw growing up on the beach.  I just remember that it only lasted about 5 minutes but it was always beautiful.  So, there is a story to this polish.   I guess when you get to be a person of my age all you really have that you can't take away are your memories.  Oh, I just had a birthday and can't believe some of the wonderful things I have been able to see.   I hope there will be many more.

 

 

 

 

Ciao for now,

Patty

 

(the light is off a little so the color is a  bit lighter)

Cover Girl Outlast

This is one of the polishes of the giveaway and it really is a pretty color.  It is not a really a glitter but it appears to be very fine milled glitter.  It is a little holographic in that it shines purple and gold.  I followed the directions without base coat and no top coat.  I loved the formula but do admit I was so tempted to put a topcoat on just out of habit but had to see how long it would last.  For me, it stayed perfect looking about four days.   I could change my polish everyday so sometimes wear is not the most important thing to me.  I want polishes that dry fast the dry time is a little longer than the polishes I like.  If you are someone who wants long wear this is your polish.  I would not have a problems saying it lasts better than a Butter London but again it is your choice.  Me I love any polish that dries fast and although this one did not take the time I prefer it wasn't like I had to wait an extra five minutes it was only a minute longer.  So, will I buy more, of course,  I already bought a really pretty beige one because I think they will be great to take on vacation and I really like some of the colors.  They have some really great colors.  So, enter the giveaway and try your luck at winning this prize.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ciao for now,

Patty

Most Worn Polish This Month

I got this polish at the end of last month and realized I have worn it three times.  That is very odd form me because I get new polish almost every day.  When this one came, I just had to put it on and wore it for a couple of days, then took it off and wore it two more times.  It is such a neutral color I could not believe it I wore it with brown, white black and even green and it looked good.  This is Contrary Polish and is called Ain’t No Sunshine.  It is supposed to be a dupe for Illamasqua’s Raindrops.  I don’t have Raindrops but I am trying to get it.  If I can do it I can do a comparison or if you have it can you leave a comment so the rest of us can know if it is even close to being a dupe.  It is a greyish light blue and has white flecks.  The formula is really good the dry time is average it takes two coats for opacity and a coat of top coat.  I really like it.  It might be one of those that you buy a second one just in case they discontinue it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ciao for now,

Patty

Could This Be One of the Polishes You Choose

This is CGA by Pretty Serious Nail polish.  It is a creme pink with a lavender undertone.  I ended up taking about twenty pictures and everyone came out great.  The formula was great, drying quickly.  This color is great.  You can wear it for a day of fun or a night out on the town.  An added plus is that I found this little app on my IPad and you can see what color a polish will look on your skin.  This color looked great on ever skin tone.  I was amazed to see how many nail polish apps they have.  It was really fun playing with them.  Like a kid.  What can I say?  Two coats and a top coat is all I used who could ask for more. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, what do you think about this color?

Ciao,

Patty

Essie Maximillian Strasse her

This is a new one from one of Essie's new line.  It is a sage green and really pretty.  It is from the Spring Collection.  They also have a resort collection so it is hard not to get the two mixed up.  But this is definitely from the Spring collection.  It is a sage with hints of gray two coats and a top coat and you are good to go.  I like polishes like that.  It is kind of hard to be so excited about this polish after my last post but it is really pretty.  I think it is the best color of the collection but I still did get two other colors which are equally as nice.  Essie just has a way of making great pastels.  Like Zoya makes those great neutrals.  So, this polish won't disappoint.  If you buy it on eBay it is only around $6.00.  I know I don't show enough drug store brands but when I can get Essie and China Glaze for 5 or 6 dollars the same as something from the drug store I opt for the Essie and China Glaze.  Covergirl's new line is great and I will be reviewing it tomorrow and fill you in on a secret about this polish.  I am happy with this color.  It wasn't a waste of money because I have three niece's to share it with and I just got the greatest news.  My daughter is spending the whole summer in Houston. One of my favorite blogs is  Lozloza they are a mother daughter team who have a passion for  nail polish.  I guess I am secretly a little jealous because I don't have that with my daughter living in different cities but with her here all summer we are going to have some fun and I really look forward to that and I hope you all can too.  I will have her do her own posts so we have some good stuff coming this summer. 
Ciao bellas,
Patty

 

Lozlosa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think about the color need it or pass?

Battle of the Butter Londons

Today, I have the dilemma of which butter London to keep but after seeing both you will see the choice is clear.   This is Torch, a Nordstrom exclusive, I had kind of been waiting for because of the pictures I had seen.  I was so impressed they showed it with gold flecks in the sun.  I got it and was not too pleased.  First, it is a jelly.  Ok, I can overlook that but it did not have the wow factor swatches butter London was putting out.  So, it has been sitting on my go back to Nordstrom shelf for about a week now.  Meantime, I was very happy with Jaffa, the orange crème.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now go forward one week.  Butter London announces I guess their summer line.   Wow, there is this polish called Sunbaker.  Had to try that one.  Holy crap.  A total winner.  No problems with pictures.  It is like a perfect polish with one flaw I am willing to work with and that is the first coat is a little streaky and I did use three coats but check it out it is like you hear, AHH, when you see it.

 

 

 

 

 

Just look at that sparkle.  This is in the shade and look at how it shimmers with gold.  I love this polish.  I see myself wearing very often this summer.  I am so happy with it and so glad I got it.  There is one other from the collection that might have that WOW factor but I won’t know until tomorrow.  I am actually going to drag my butt to Nordstrom and go exchange Torch for I am really looking at Marbs.  If it has the same WOW factor that this does I am set to go.  Since my husband is not going to have a long vacation we are just going to spend a few days at a local beach.  Wish we could go to our hometown beach but it is too far.  So, we settled on a short visit to a local beach which is fine.  Next year it is either Xtapa or back to Venice, CA.  I don’t know which I would want more but we will see.  I might just buy another bottle of this so I can be sure I have it for next summer that is how much I like this polish.

So, if you had to choose what would be your choice they are both pretty, I am just gaga over Sunbaker but I don’t know does anyone prefer Torch?

Ciao for now bellas,

Patty

Kimber’s Challenge A-Z N is for NARS Night Porter

This is a Nars polish I have had for about two years and really have not worn that much but I keep it because it really is pretty in person in pictures it just gets lost.  I must have taken at least 30 pictures and could not get this shimmer.  This is a shimmer polish but to me it looks much more like a crème.  Now, I do have to admit that the formula is just ok.  It is not outstanding like some other polishes and I got to thinking maybe that is why I don’t reach for it as much.  Once it dries and has top coat it is ok but Nars polishes are quite pricey and for that amount of money.  I want outstanding.  I did not get that with this polish.  I just wanted to make sure I got two N’s for this challenge.  Next week is O maybe I will try that other very popular O polish for that one.  HMM.  Maybe?

 

 

 

 

Ciao for now,  I do have swatches that are ready to go and I am so hoping I can post them tomorrow.

Patty

Adventures in Stamping Orange Base

 

Today’s challenge was to do something with an orange base.  I had completely forgotten about it then remembered that I did do a manicure for this challenge.  I just deleted some of the pictures so instead of four I only have two.  All you really need is one right?

Ok, for this look I used Butter London’s Jaffa and stamped using Leelac plate B with white Konad polish.  A real KISS manicure but still nice.

 

 

 

So, Ciao for now,

Patty

Crumpet’s Challenge Girly Sunday

I love to do girly manicures because I think I am girly.   I had only sisters.  My mother had only one brother who did not live in town and we never saw them.  So, my mom has five sisters and so does my dad.  He was the only boy in his family and as far as cousins went I have only a few cousins that are boys.  So, I was always around girls.  I don’t even  know how to ride a bike.  Then when I had my own family I had two boys and didn’t have my daughter till around eight years later.  Having two little boys really changed my life for a while but it was fun learning things together with my two sons.  I remember when they tried to teach me to ride a bike and they told me “Mom we think maybe you need a wider seat then you can do it.”  They were probably right but I wasn’t going to invest into a girl bike when I can drive.  I was go glad when my daughter came Mother’s Day we always bought matching dresses and same thing for Thanksgiving.   The girls finally started to rule the home as it should be.  So, doing girly things is great. 

Here is my girly manicure.   I used my Essence polishes a mint green called That is what I Mint and the lilac is called Ballerina’s Charm.  I am loving these polishes.  Then I stamped with Konad Purple and used a striping brush with OPI’s Alpine Snow to make the lines.  I have seen so many variations of this manicure and have always wanted to do it but never had a chance so when I was thinking of a girly this came to me.  Hope you like it and if you haven’t done one of these and you are a girly girl.  Do one and have fun

Ciao for now,

Patty

Don’t forget about the giveaway.