31DC2018 Round Up

I did it!  I did it!  I have now officially completed the 31 Day Nail Art Challenge for the fifth time in a row.  I wish that I could say all of my manis have gotten better over the years but this really isn't the case.  Anyway, I thought it would be fun to put all of my completed manis in the one blog post so it's easy to see them all.

Red Nails

Orange Nails

Yellow Nails

Green Nails

Blue Nails

Violet Nails

Black & White Nails

Metallic Nails

Rainbow Nails

Gradient Nails

Polka Dots

Stripes

Animal Print

Flowers

Delicate Print

Geometric

Glitter

Half Moon

Galaxies

Water Marble

Inspired By A Colour

Inspired By A Song

Inspired By A Movie

Inspired By A Book

Inspired By Fashion

Inspired By A Pattern

Inspired By Artwork

Inspired By A Flag

Inspired By The Supernatural

Inspired By A Tutorial

Honor Nails You Love

This year has definitely had some ups and downs when it comes to this challenge but I did it!  And with minimal cheating.  I'm pretty happy with myself.  

I hope you guys have enjoyed following along with this challenge.  I know I have.

31DC2018 Honor Nails You Love

Happy 1st day of October!  But more importantly - Happy last day of 31DC2018!  I did it!  Well kinda.  I guess it doesn't count as officially finished until the end of this blog post does it?  Anyway, the final prompt is honor nails you love.  I thought it would be fun to recreate one of the manis that Michelle from Ordinary Misfit  did for the Geometric prompt of this challenge.  If you haven't seen her mani then definitely check it out here.  Michelle has done some really awesome manis throughout this challenge but this would have to be my favourite (well one of them).

I used slightly different polishes than what Michelle did, but I think I chose the wrong ones.  My stamping also isn't as good as hers so lets consider mine the "messy" version of hers.  Sorry Michelle - I tried!  Polishes used are OPI Did You 'Ear About Van Gogh?, Ya Qin An stamping polish (it doesn't have a name or number that I can find) and Powder Perfect's White And Black Stamping Polishes.  Stamping images are from Lina Nail Art Supplies Feeling Shapely 01 and 09.

Woohoo!  Now I am officially done!  Thank you to everyone for all the love you have given me.  I have definitely enjoyed (for the most part) this challenge and have loved seeing what everyone else has come up with for the same prompts.  It's been fun!

An InLinkz Link-up

31DC2018 Inspired By A Tutorial

Today is the second last day of 31DC2018!  Woohoo!  I quite like the last two themes of this challenge.  It is always fun (and terrifying) trying to recreate someone else's look.  For today's look I decided to try and recreate an abstract foil design from Paulina's Passion.  I have been looking at my collection of foils for quite some time thinking I really should use them and then Paulina's tutorial popped up along with today's prompt and ta-da!  Personally, I don't love my creation (I think it's my colours) but I still love Pauline's version.  It's so good!

For my mani I used Emily de Molly What A Day, Desert Blooms, Bright Retreat and Colour Alike B A Sunshine.  I used the White Gold foil from Dollar Nail Art Store.

Only one more day to go...

An InLinkz Link-up

31DC2018 Inspired By The Supernatural

I seriously can't tell you how excited I am that the 31 day challenge is nearly complete for another year.  Only two more manis (after today's) to go!  Today's prompt is Inspired By The Supernatural.  Originally I had planned to do a Harry Potter type of mani but then I wasn't feeling like doing it.  I decided to stick with the witch theme, however it's not at all what I was hoping it would be.  Sadly, I started this mani too late in the night that I just have to go with it.

For my gradient I used OPI Do You Have This Color In Stockholm?, Funky Dunkey and A Grape Fit! and stamped using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.  Image is from Lina Nail Art Supplies Spookilicious 1. 

Now you may be wondering why I said that this mani didn't turn out how I wanted and there is a couple of reasons for that.  The gradient is really patchy (especially with Do You Have This Color In Stockholm? - I would just use the other two purples next time) and the image is a lot larger than I was hoping.  I was really hoping that there would be at least a couple of rows (vertically) of the witches but it just cuts them all too much.  Anyway, it is what it is.... now bring on the last two manis!

An InLinkz Link-up

31DC2018 Inspired By A Flag

I'm not going to lie but this week has been a bit of a struggle for me to keep up with everything.  Luckily for me there are only three more days to go (after today that is) until it's the end of the 31DC2018 challenge.  I don't know about anyone else but I am beyond excited for this challenge to finish.  Three days to go, only three days to go....

Today's 31DC2018 prompt is Inspired By A Flag.  This year I have kinda gone for something completely different.  In the previous years I have done simple flags and have had the full mani with the same design.  Today, however I have grabbed out these MILV decals (N361) which not only have the Union Jack but some other London themed images.  I think these are such cool images, however they were extremely difficult to put on.  Do water decals have an expiry date or something?  These struggled to stick to my nails and as you can see they creased horribly!  They also started to crack so I didn't top coat these.

How are you feeling about the 31DC2018 challenge?  Excited that it's coming to an end?  Sad perhaps?  Let me know in the comments. 

An InLinkz Link-up

31DC2018 Inspired By Artwork

I have mentioned a few times how I am not really a fan of the "inspired by" section of the 31DC2018.  Inspired by artwork is definitely one of my least favourite prompts.  I thought I would be smart this year and try and plan out some of my manis in advance so that it would be easier for me to manage.  Last week, I put in my planner that I would do some graffiti nail art (I have stamping plates with graffiti style images).  I pulled out Lina Nail Art Supplies Make Your Mark 01 plate and say the hand prints when it become clear that I need to use them!  My daughter has done so many hand print paintings (it's really cute watching her hands grow over the years) so I did rainbow colours just like she uses.

For this mani I used Emily de Molly Bright Retreat for my base and stamped using Bundle Monster Quasar, TeePee Tipping, E-tronica, Opus One, Astronomical, Monarch Dream and Kandi Spirit.

I'm really happy how this one turned out.  I think it's fun.  What do you think?  Would you wear a mani like this?

An InLinkz Link-up

31DC2018 Inspired By A Pattern & Uberchic Beauty Culture Rich Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

PRESS SAMPLE

Happy Wednesday everyone!  I hope your week has gotten off to a good start.  This week is definitely going by quite quickly for me, but then again most weeks go by quickly especially this late in the year.  Anyway, today I have another 31DC2018 mani for you.  The prompt is inspired by a pattern.  Like with yesterday, I am combining today's prompt with a plate that I was sent to swatch by Uberchic Beauty - Culture Rich.  If this plate doesn't scream patterns then I'm really not sure what does.

One of the first things that I thought when I saw this plate was neon gradient!  It has been a while since I have done gradient stamping so that is exactly what I have done today.  For my base I used Pretty Serious Cosmetics Absence and stamped using Hit The Bottle's neon stamping polishes in High Voltage Violet, I Pink Therefore I Am and Orange You Excited.

Here is a closer look at the Culture Rich plate.

Image from Uberchic Beauty

For this mani I used Orly Scenic Route, Mirrorball (over Color Club Beg, Borrow & Steel) and Emily de Molly Bright Retreat.

See what I mean about the patterns?  I think there is some really cool designs on this plate.  I love that they have the hand drawn look about them and aren't perfectly done (if you know what I mean).

The Culture Rich stamping plate is available now from Uberchic Beauty.

An InLinkz Link-up

31DC2018 Inspired By Fashion & Uberchic Beauty Pretty In Plaid Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

One thing about doing the 31 day challenge is that you need to get really creative about how you combine the prompts with other challenges or things that you swatching.  I have definitely had a lot of practice with both of these things over the years.  There is always a chance that somethings can be combined with minimal thought - like today.  Today's 31DC2018 prompt is inspired by fashion and I also happen to have a new Uberchic plate - Pretty In Plaid.  Plaid has definitely come and gone in popularity for many, many years in the fashion world so it is the perfect plate for today's mani.  I also have my swatches and review of the Pretty In Plaid stamping plate for you as well.

First, let's look at the mani that I did for 31DC2018.  This mani is meant to be inspired by Burberry, however the plate images don't quite allow for a direct replication.  As you can see I can't stamping straight lines to save myself.  I'm not sure if it's a user thing or because my nails are so curved or perhaps it's a combination of both.  If I could stamping straight lines I would love this mani.  For my base I used China Glaze Bourgeois Beige and stamped using Powder Perfect's Black, White and Fire Engine Red.

Right, let's take a good look at Uberchic's Pretty In Plaid Stamping Plate!

Image from Uberchic Beauty

This plate is quite unique in the way that it has been divided into three sections.  On the left hand side of the plate you have images you layer, the middle is individual images so you can completely DIY your own plaid design, and then the right is full plaid designs (no layering required).  I really like how this plate is divided like this.

As much as I really like layering images, my heart will always belong to full sized images.  For this next mani I used Emily de Molly Swing Error and stamped using Powder Perfect Black Stamping Polish.

I definitely need to practice trying to get these images on this plate straight - but aside from that I am a big fan of this plate.  I think it will make some pretty awesome manis.

The Pretty In Plaid stamping plate is available now from Uberchic Beauty.

An InLinkz Link-up