Silver Snow

Hey everyone! So this past week the temperature has been dropping like crazy and it even started to snow, what to me is quite unlikely this time of year. November is just over and it already is like Winter Wonderland out there! Not that I complain - I love a white world!

For todays manicure I decided to use the snow as my inspiration but to be honest, it isn't much of a manicure. I've slapped some polish on a sponge and that's it.


Ha, metallic snow! My base colour is CND Asphalt, a dark grey creme. I know I've said this a whole lot before but I love how the CND polishes apply, they're all so smooth! After that I took out a normal household / kitchen sponge (in the Netherlands we have these ugly yellow one) and used Orly Shine for sponging. Orly Shine is my favourite silver, it's not dense looking but more scattered.. Makes it perfect for my metallic snow. The household sponges work good for sponging like this and best thing: they're el cheapo! I cut them into small pieces so it's easier to work with and you don't make a mess of all your fingers. Make up sponges also work good and don't have to be that expensive.

While typing this post I was thinking how cool it would be to have metallic coloured snow. You know, silver, gold, bronze... Woahhh. It would be so pretty!

Take care dear readers, thanks for visiting!
Michelle

CND Colour and Sparkle!

Good morning everyone! A few days ago I received some more CND colours and effects (yep.. definitely some kind of temporary obsession) and today I want to show you a combination that I like very much.


First I applied one of the CND Colours. This one is Eclectic Purple, not that special but very pretty. It's a medium purple creme that applied very smooth and was opaque in two coats. I don't know why I don't see a lot of things about these CND colours because the ones I own apply great! They're pigmented, smooth and sooo easy to work with.


After Eclectic Purple dried I applied the effect. I picked Raspberry Sparkle! Just like the other sparkles, Raspberry Sparkle contains fine, dense reddish pink glitters. Sometimes it looks a little like it's shifting towards gold. Absolutely awesome!


I can't wait to layer this one over a dark green like OPI Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow. Maybe I should do some kind of layer inspiration post when I got the time. If you want to order some CND effects but don't know which one, you definitely should have a look here at the Edge of Sanity.

Want to know where you can buy the CND effects? They have a handy shop locater on their site. The CND polishes are also available on Trans Design.

Well, what do you think? I love the effects and I'm smacking myself in the face for not getting Sugar Sparkle. I can't find it now and I WANT IT. >:]

Enjoy your day and thanks for visiting!
Michelle

Nail Art Tutorial: DIY Leopard

Hey guys! According to my question on the Eyeko Giveaway form you wanted to see more nail art tutorials, especially videos. I'm sorry if I am disappointing anyone but there will never ever be any video material of me around, I just hate camera's haha. I did find the time to do a short nail art tutorial for you all and it's an easy one: a DIY leopard. You don't need a lot for this simple manicure: two different shades of polish, a striper brush and a dotting tool or something else to create your dots with.


First you're going to start applying your base colour. I really like my leopard manicure freakishly coloured so I choose Color Club Mrs. Robinson as my base colour. Mrs. Robinson is a purple neon and I love it. Must be the only neon I find myself using a lot. After applying the base colour you let it dry for a few minutes and then it's time for the next step: adding dots.


There are many ways to create dots. The best thing that's ever invented for this purpose is a dotting tool: a stick with a dot on the end that will create the most perfect dots for you. These are available on eBay and at some etailers. If you don't have a dotting tool you can use a tooth pick or a bobby pin. I used Ciaté Ditch The Heels for my dots, I love the way it stands out against the neon purple.

When that is done grab the striper brush because we're going to do the outlines!


This is how it will look when you're done using the striper. You just use the striper to work on the outline of the dots. Make sure you do this gentle and relaxed because you can slip up easily. If you're having troubles with these, f.e. your hand isn't steady at all then you should also pay attention at supporting your arm and wrist while working. Last but not least, sometimes you just need to practice, practice, practice. Don't worry if the spots aren't similar: leopard spots aren't exactly the same in real life! After doing the outlines I also placed a few random black dots here and there.

I used Herôme Brooklyn, a black striper but you can use every colour you like. If you don't have a striper or striper brush I suggest you get one because they are sooooo handy, I can't tell you this enough. You can also use a nail art pen if you prefer that more. Striper brushes are available on eBay (you can get nice nail art brush sets there) and some etailers will sell them too.

When that is done your DIY leopard is done and you can top it off with a top coat. I've added a CND effect for that extra glitter.


The finished result, my leopard manicure with CDN Jade Sparkle on top. Hopefully this tutorial was helpful and if there's something you need to know you can always tell me in the comments. :-)

Thanks for visiting!
Michelle

CND: The Look. Fall/Winter 2010

Good morning everybody! I was so excited when I saw these two new polishes pop up on my computer screen I decided to order these right away. This set for fall and winter contains two gorgeous polishes, Urban Oasis (colour) and Teal Sparkle (effect). Remember me raving about the two CND effects I tried earlier? I was also telling you that I really wanted to try out their normal polishes and finally, the time has come!


This is Urban Oasis, a teal creme. Not only am I a sucker for teal shades, I'm also a sucker for one coaters. And that's what Urban Oasis is - a one coater. The formula on this one was really good, it has a good consistency and it glides on the nail like butter. I am definitely not disappointed with the first colour I've tried from CND.


Here is Teal Sparkle topped over Urban Oasis. Teal Sparkle is meant to be worn over Urban Oasis for getting 'the Look'. Well, I must say that I'm liking this look very much. Teal Sparkle has fine, dense glitters that show teal, turquoise and gold on the nail and applies, like the other effects I've tried, very good. This will leave you with a smooth nail surface instead of a gritty one and that's a huge plus for me (and others who will start picking nails when the nail surface is not even).


My opinion on these? Get them! Urban Oasis is a pretty shade and Teal Sparkle is gorgeous plus you can use it on every polish you want. I can see myself using this one a lot! Now, excuse me because I'm going to drool over some more CND effects.

Thanks for visiting and have a nice day!
Michelle

Misa Meets CND

Good morning everyone! Today I have another meeting between two pretty polishes and one of them is a CND effect. Last time I was already raving about Sapphire Sparkle and now I'm going to rave about this one, Copper Shimmer.


The colour I have used as my base colour is Misa's On the Edge, a gorgeous blue creme. It's one of my favourite blues and it's opaque in two coats. On top of that I added CND's Copper Shimmer which really isn't more than - yes, you've guessed it right - a copper shimmer!

I love it. It's so glowy and shiny and pretty and oooooh wow!


I guess that from now on I'll also be a CND Effects craver. I have no experience with their regular polishes but I've ordered some and I'm very excited to try them. If they are like this, well, I'm very pleased! What are you experiences with CND (Effects & Colours)?

Have a nice weekend!
Michelle

Mrs. Robinson meets Sapphire Sparkle

Good morning everyone! How is your weekend so far? I went to an aerobatics show yesterday and it was very fun, I really want to do that myself again. Other than that I'm relaxing a LOT, I hope you will do too today - it's Sunday so it's okay to be lazy.

When we were on our vacation in August sweet Natasja dropped by and she brought a few polishes including CND Sapphire Sparkle. We were all amazed how pretty it looked and I ordered it myself.


Mrs. Robinson is from the Color Club Poptastic collection and it sure 'pops'! It's a super bright magenta creme. I needed two coats for it to be opaque but I added a third one because you could see my nail line in the pictures (macro is still a bitch).

I topped Mrs. Robinson with CND Sapphire Sparkle. Sapphire Sparkle is from their Colour & Effects line. The line exists out of 50 colours and 15 effects which is really awesome because you can keep combining with these pretties. Sapphire Sparkle is a glittery clear based polish that also is duochrome. It changes blue and purple and it's awesome. I had issues with photographing the purple but I'll definitely show you a bit more of CND layering so I'll try next time! :-)


Enjoy the last day of the weekend and thanks for visiting!
Michelle