Januray Julep Maven

So this is a bit late. . . I have some catching up on blogs to do, but then what's new?  I decided it might be a good idea to give a little product review and and some swatches of the Julep Maven boxes when I get them.  I am not sure if I will continue doing this or not.  Let me know what you think.

I ordered the Modern Beauty Box and I added Hannah and Noelle to it.  I really wanted to try Vanish which is there cuticle softener and remover and it only came in that box.  It was also more cost effective to add the polishes to the box rather than adding Vanish.  The extra seems to be nail file cubes. . . I haven't used them.

Since I have had a month to use the products and I can say with affirmation that I love Vanish.  It does exactly what it says it does.  It spreads easily and has little to no mess, provided you don't use too much product.  When this runs out I will be buying more, however I don't see that happening too quickly.  You only need a drop on each nail bed, so it will last me quite a while.

I wish I could see I also loved Ta Da.  It seems like a great polish if you don't use as a top coat, but seeing as how you will never part me from my top coat, this product is a bit superfluous for me.

Now on to the colors.  Hannah and Noelle are okay colors, but not anything to write home about,  They are pretty, but I honestly don't know it I would wear them alone.  They would be nice colors for a background of a design.  The formulas are nice and Hannah has so much shine!  I didn't use any top coat on these photos and used Ta Da to dry them.

Well, that is all for now.  Until next time!

Tootles!
Fitz

Once upon a time three purples. . .

Today's Sunday Stamping challenge was to stamp with three purples.  When I saw the challenge I knew I wanted to do a gradient.  I love gradients and they never fail to impress and they are easy!

I knew I wanted to start with China Glaze Sweet Hook so I took out my box or purple polishes and went started playing with color options.  I decided to join SH I would use Finger Paints Spun Sugar and China Glaze Gothic Lolita (one of my absolute favorites!) and top it all off with China Glaze Fairy Dust.  I knew I wanted to stamp in white so that it blended a bit with SH so Konad Special White was puled out too.

Finally I had to pick a plate.  I decide with valentines coming up soon I wanted something in the vein.  I also knew I wanted a full nail image design.  When I saw Bundle Monster BM-H18 I knew it was exactly what I had in mind.

One of the things I like to do is vary the stamp a bit so it looks slightly different on each nail, especially when I am not doing an accent nail.  I am lucky I can do this because I have such small nails.

Well that is the finished look.  I hope you like it.  It is great for Valentine's Day and would really cool in the more traditional pinks and reds if that is your thing.

Tootles!
Fitz

Stamping Sunday meets IT Crowd

So, for Stamping Sunday the prompt is inspired by a show you watch.  This is really rather hard.  So my sister and I sifted through my plates for a light bulb moment and found Bundle Monster BM-415.  One of my favorite shows is IT Crowd.  If you haven't seen it, then you should.

So this is what I came up with.

Orange and Green seem to be rather prevelant in the show.  They are a bit akward together.  Althought these colors alone are really nice.  Same with that glitter polish.  The show is full of akward and not quite fitting together, so I think it all works rather well.

Once you add the stamps it comes together nicely, at least I think so.  I used China Glaze It's A Trap-eze, Millenium, Julep Leah, Marjorie, and Konad Special White.

There really isn't much to say, so I will just give you more pictures.

Until next time!

Tootles!
Fitz

Favorite Flower

It is the magical time of the week we in the nail art community call Sunday Stamping.  It has been some time since I participated in this blessed day, but I will try to get on with the festivities!

So, today's challenge is favorite flower.  My favorite flower is a sweet pea, but I don't have a stamp that even remotely resembles one.  So I decide on the hibiscus.  This flower reminds me of my old childhood home in southern California where they grew in the front yard.  We had red ones, but I always thought the white ones were lovelier, plus red would not have gone with this color scheme!

To achieve the gradient French manicure I sponged Nina Ultra Pro French White, Essie Need A Vacation, and OPI Sparrow Me The Drama onto my nails.  Then smoothed them out with Julep Shoshanna.  The stamp is Bundle Monster BM-313 stamped with Konad Special White.

My thumb with its sad little chip in the polish.  I framed a picture before I took this picture.  Grrr!

This is definitely a very girly manicure and will be removed rather soon.  I like the effect, but this is just too much pink!  There is something to be said with how a French manicure makes your nails and fingers look longer.

Tootles!
Fitz

Jelly Time!

So I had a jelly stamp sandwich manicure in mind, but I also wanted to do something with Julep Bette.  When I started this manicure I didn't realize Bette was a jelly.  I am glad it is, because I love what I came up with.

I think Bette looks great Finger Paints Winter Sky topped with Julep Esmerelda.  This look is probably more summery than winter, but I love the colors together.  Esmeralda is filled with teal micro and medium hexagon glitters.  Teal always reminds me of my Aunt and Ovarian Cancer, so I feel like I am honoring her each time I wear it.

For the stamping I used plates GA15 by Gals and B-19 by Betina.  I used Konad Special White for the stamping polish.  Then I added another layer of Bette over the top.  This creates the jelly sandwich.  Most people do sandwiches with glitters, but I really like stamping.  It gives a more subtle stamp.

Well, I hope you like this non-New Year manicure.  I hope you have lovely day celebrating the hope and possibilities 2014 will have in store for you.

Tootles!
Fitz