Happy New Year!

Dear Nail Diary,

This is only going to be a quick photo post, which I'll add details to later, but I thought you'd like to see the nails I was rocking last night.

Christmas Nails

Merry Christmas!
I thought I'd show you some of the nail designs I've been doing in the run up to Christmas.

 This is the Gift Wrapped design I did for my mom.
I started out with two coats of China Glaze's Tip Your Hat from the Twinkle Collection.  Using gold sticker stripes and a gold bow, I created the gift design on the middle finger.  On the index and ring fingers I added glitter stars.

Recently I did this Christmas design, inspired by various designs I saw over the internet.

On the thumb, index and baby fingers, I painted two coats of Rimmel's Block Your Green.  Then on the middle and ring fingers I painted a two coat base of China Glaze's White On White.

 On the middle fingers I applied striping tape in a diagonal pattern, painted London Girl's 149 on top and carefully removed the tape to create this candy cane effect.

For the ring fingers, I applied tape in an inverted "V" and began dotting various sizes with the London Girl and the Rimmel to make a tree and placed a star sticker on the top before sealing it with a top coat of Seche Vite.

My own mani was inspired by a candle created by my friend Maryann over at One Stop Pamper. I'm not sure if she still makes it, but it smelt like peppermint.  It had these glitter particles in it, so it not only looked, but smelt like fresh snow.

Two coats of China Glaze's White On White and then a coat of Butter London's Frilly Knickers to create the snow effect.  On my thumb and baby fingers I did a glitter gradient with China Glaze's De-Light from the Twinkle Collection.  On the rest, I painted on Nails Inc's Diamond Arcade and sealed it with Seche Vite.

I may do another mani for Christmas Day, if I do, it will probably posted after the day itself.  It I don't, have an awesome December 25th, whatever you may be doing that day!

=:x

Polish Haul

Dear Nail Diary,

Sorry this post is a bit late, but I've been busy updating X99 and making jewellery and Christmas decorations.
Today I've decided to share my latest additions to my polish collection, as jewellery making isn't really conducive to a neat manicure!  I'm currently wearing my chipped polish from last Monday - terrible, I know. :(

Warning: Photo heavy post!

China Glaze Twinkle Collection Review - Part 2

Dear Nail Diary,

This is the second part of my review for China Glaze's Twinkle Collection.  Sorry it's a bit late, however there was a mix up with my order and I had to wait for it to be corrected before I could post this.  While I've been waiting, I've updated the look of the blog and I think it fits in better with the image I'm trying to create.
Anyway, on with the Twinkle Collection....

China Glaze Twinkle Collection Review - Part 1

Dear Nail Diary,

This is my first time reviewing a collection.  I'm a complete amateur, so I don't know all the technicalities and whatnot, so this will just be my honest opinion of how I thought they looked on me and how smooth the application was.  Also, I can't wait to get my new camera so my photos will come out clearer and the colours more accurate.  My current camera hates purples and greens. :(

Happy Halloween!

Dear Nail Diary,

Happy Halloween!

I love this time of year - and not just because of all the sweet treats!  The weather (which has been unseasonably warm round here), the food and the nails.
First up, Candy Corn nails.  Maybe because I'm not American, but I don't get the hate that these get.  I always make sure I have a bag for Halloween.

Mani Monday - Calling It Curtains

Dear Nail Diary,

Well "it's just another Mani Monday..." and today I have a design I did on my Mom's nails instead of mine - mine are rather busy with jewellery making at the moment.  I've been inspired by my doctors surgery again, or rather my mom was.  I was showing her the floor that inspired me a couple of weeks back, while we were getting our flu jabs (stupid asthma!) and she noticed the privacy curtain and thought the design would make a cool nail art pattern.

Tutorial Tuesday - Inspirations (Part 2)

Dear Nail Diary,

I'm sorry this is later than I intended to post, but last week was rather traumatic.  It's still Tuesday though - just about, so here's the next tutorial that I promised from the Inspirations Mani.


Inspiration 2 - Doctor's Floor

As I said, I tend to stare at the floor a lot whenever I'm at the doctor's.  I think it's part of my social anxiety and agoraphobia.  Anyway, the last few times I've been to see the nurse, I've noticed they have this really bright yellow marble-like vinyl floor.

Tutorial Tuesday - Inspirations (Part 1)

Dear Nail Diary,

Inspiration 1 - Cat Food Packet

My middle cat, Jake has been very unwell lately and has been put on a special diet with special brand of cat food.  The design of it inspired me to do this mani.

Things You'll Need:

• Base Coat
• White Nail Polish
• Teal Green Nail Polish
• Green Nail Polish
• Nail Tape
• Acetone/Nail Polish Remover
• Angled/Makeup Brush
• Top Coat

Inspirations Mani

Dear Nail Diary,

I was going to post this yesterday for Mani Monday, however I've been feeling especially tired lately and it took a lot longer than I was expecting. I've been inspired a lot by things in my environment recently, I even made up crude design swatches on Paint for me to follow.

So as I took step-by-step photos, it can be Tutorial Tuesday instead!  I told you I'd get around to making more tutorials eventually. ;)
Part 1 will be posted shortly, you'll have to wait until next week for the next tutorial!