Nail Crazies Unite: Sweets

I actually forgot that I was doing the Nail Crazies Unite Challenge.  Apparently I did a mani for this challenge a couple of weeks ago.  Luckily for me I have a blog planner or I would seriously forget what I am posting and when.  Anyway, today's theme is Sweets. 

For this mani I wanted to do something colourful and bright.  This isn't exactly what I had in mind and sadly it didn't photograph as pretty as it looks in person.  The joys of neons and cameras.  Lol.  For my base I used China Glaze Blanc Out and stamped using Bundle Monster's Mercury Baseline, Rave Babe, Jungle Mirage, Monarch Dream and Tranceland.  Stamping design is also from Bundle Monster.  It's plate BM-306.

Here is a reminder of what prompts are coming up (because apparently I need another reminder).

As usual, don't forget to check out everyone else's manis for today's theme.

An InLinkz Link-up

HeHe Stamping Plates Mixed Plates - Swatches & Review

Today I have a new brand to my blog to share with you, HeHe.  Now HeHe plates have been around for a little while and I even have some HeHe plates (well actually that is questionable - I got them from a blog sale a while ago so they could be fake) but I have never tried them.  I know, I know.  I am mental.  I have no real justification why I haven't tried them.  I was recently sent five of their stamping plates from my good friend Margaret (@loveslacquer on Instagram) and just couldn't resist.  Today I thought I would share my manis and my thoughts on the plates I have - 073, 074, 075, 076 and 082.  Right, so let's get into them shall we?

All five of these plates are circular and feature five designs on each plate.  These plates are definitely unique in that they have a central image which overlaps the other four designs (well with the exception of 083 because the middle image is a lot smaller).  I think this is such a great idea because no only can you use all five images alone but you also get a cool overlapping image depending on where you place your stamper.  It's like double stamping but with a lot less effort.  You'll see what I am talking about in a minute.

HeHe 073

This is the first plate that I used from Hehe and I am so impressed.  It stamps beautifully.  This is what I was referring to when I said that the images overlap.  For this mani I used China Glaze Seas The Day (which I mattified) and stamped using Mundo De Unas Black stamping polish.

HeHe 074

This next mani was a result of seeing a mani by Debbie (@ladyandthe_stamp on Instagram).  I fell in love with her gradient so stole it.  I'm nice like that lol.  For the gradient I used China Glaze's Spring In My Step, Lotus Begin and I Got A Blue Attitude.  I stamped using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish. 

HeHe 075

I originally had a different idea for this plate but then I thought it would be fun to see how the images layered over each other.  I really like it.  For this mani I used Essie B'aha Moment and stamped using Dance Legend's Pink and Powder Perfect's White Stamping Polishes.

HeHe 076

I couldn't resist attempting a reverse stamping decal with this plate and I am so happy I did.  It's probably my best attempt at this technique to date.  Woohoo!  Polishes used are OPI Alpine Snow, Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish, Orly's Risky Business and Road Trippin'.

HeHe 082

The base of this mani is actually a mani I did for the Digit-al Dozen last week.  I love dry brush manis by themselves but I especially love them for bases of a stamped mani.  Polishes used are OPI Alpine Snow (for my base), China Glaze Too Yacht To Handle, Bottoms Up, I'll Pink To That, Sun Upon My Skin, UV Meant To Be and Home Sweet House Music and Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.

Overall I really like these HeHe plates.  I really like the designs and they have all stamped so well.  I am definitely impressed.  Have you tried HeHe plates before?

These plates are all available from HeHe.

Essie Spring 2017 Collection - Swatches & Review

Sometimes you see a collection and you know that you just have to have it.  This happens to me a lot especially with Spring and Summer Collections.  I am such a super for bright and light coloured polishes.  Anyway, Essie's Spring Collection is one of those collections that were calling for me to get it.  I saw so many pictures and swatches of this collection (I'm sure they were stalking me!) and I couldn't skip over it.  Fast forward to now and I have swatched/worn the entire collection and can share all my thoughts with you.

All The Wave is described as a sapphired indigo.  I love the look of this one in the bottle, but found it was a little dark on my nails (I think that was more my expectation of it more than anything else).  I think it's a really nice colour (although I wish it was a little lighter or brighter to make it more spring like).  The formula is also really good.  With a careful application, you could get away with one coat.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Backseat Besties is described as a delicate pink plumeria.  I love this one.  I am actually wearing it as a full mani now.  I have also grabbed for it a few times now.  Such a gorgeous colour and it has a good formula.  My swatch shows two coats.

B'aha Moment is described as a pink pomegranate.  Again, this one is a really pretty colour with a good formula.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Designated DJ is described as a plum sangria creme.  I think this is a nice vampy colour but for me it does not belong in a spring collection.  This is a shade that I would expect (and would wear) in Autumn/Winter.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.

Excuse Me, Sur is described as a sun-kissed coral mango.  I was a little on the fence about this colour when I first put it on.  I wasn't sure if I like it on my nails.  But I wear it as a full mani and feel in love with it.  The formula is easy to use.  I used two coats but questioned whether I should do a third coat.

On The Roadie is described as a vibrant kelly green.  Personally I am not a fan of this one as a full nail colour, however I think that it is perfect for nail art.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.

Overall I like this collection, but wished that some of the colours weren't as dark as what they are.  The formulas across the polishes are good and so easy to use.  I know sometimes Essie's can be a little tricky to apply especially with the thin brushes (Essie polishes in Australia have a wide brush which are amazing!) but I didn't have any issues with the thin brush in these polishes.  My personal favourite from this collection (if you couldn't guess) is Backseat Besties.

What do you think about this collection?

Lina Nail Art Supplies In Motion 02 Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

I feel like it's been ages since I have done a Lina Nail Art Supplies review.  It really hasn't been that long though.  My last one was just over a week ago.  I think maybe because I have been swatching like a mad woman over the last week and a bit that it seems like it was longer ago.  So busy, and my swatch pile seems to be growing by the second.  It's quite scary to look at.  Anyway, I'm getting completely side tracked here.  Today I have Lina's In Motion 02 Stamping Plate to share with you.  I have previously reviewed In Motion 01 here if you are interested.

Image from Lina Nail Art Supplies

This first mani is one that I barely even remember doing because I did it soooo long ago.  I'm not even sure I have gotten around to posting this mani on Instagram yet.  For my base I used China Glaze Set In Greystone and stamped used either Mundo de Unas Black or Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish. 

This next mani I love!  The base you may recognize as it's a mani I did for my review of Lina's Make Your Mark 03 stamping plate here.  I feel in love with that mani I thought it would be fun to stamp a bold design over the top so I did just that.  For my base I used OPI Alpine Snow then stamped the dotted image from the Make Your Mark 03 plate using B Loves Plates/Colour Alike B A Cobalt Kick, B A Fuchsia Flash and B A Yellow Glow.  Finally I stamped over that using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.

You just know that I have to mattify this mani right?  Still loving matte nails....speaking of which.  I should matte my current mani lol.

I am a fan of this plate.  I think there are some really cool designs.  They are the type that you really don't have to do much to for them to look awesome because they look great by themselves.  I think they would also make for a great black and white accent nail.

The In Motion 02 stamping plate is available for pre-order from Lina Nail Art Supplies.

Powder Perfect Third Anniversary Duo - Swatches & Review

If you ever need a reminder of how behind I am with swatching things I purchased last year, well this post will give you a good indication.  Powder Perfect celebrated their third anniversary back in August/September last year and I have only just gotten around to swatching the polishes.  How crazy is that?  I blame the lack of sun that we have had...and time!  But I finally have swatches which means I can now do my review.  Yay!  And for an extra bonus these polishes are still available!  Woohoo!

Elysium is a silver holographic medley of sparkling microglitters, with fuschia to green shifting ultra chrome flakies!  I am such a big fan of Powder Perfect's holographics with the ultra chrome flakies and this one is no exception.  It applies so evenly and has a great amount of flakies.  I used three coats for my swatch, however you can get away with two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Utopia is a vibrant hot pink holographic polish with sparkling holo glitters and ultra chameleon chrome flakies.  Again, big fan of this one.  The colour is so pretty and the formula is great.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

I think this is such a beautiful duo and I am so happy that I grabbed it (even though it has been sitting in my swatch racks for far too long!).

The Anniversary Duo is limited edition.  For Australian customers you are in luck because both shades (and the set) are currently both available and on sale Powder Perfect's Australian Site.  For international customers, the only shade available is Elysium (and it's on sale!) on the international site.

Grace-full Nail Polish Serenity Collection - Swatches & Review

PRESS SAMPLE

Grace-full Nail Polish are back with another gorgeous collection, the Serenity Collection.  I am going to throw this out there now but this is one of my favourite collections that Grace-full have ever released (and there have been some awesome releases).  You may be thinking "but Tracy you love bright colours" and while you are correct in saying that I think this collection is jaw dropping gorgeous.  As soon as I saw them I had to let Theresa known that it was going to take me a little longer to swatch them, only because I wanted to wear each polish as a full mani.  I guess now would be a good time to stop talking and get into the pictures right?

Antique Pink is a deep dusty pink creme.  I love everything about this one.  The colour is gorgeous and the formula is amazing.  My swatch shows two coats.

Dreamy Cloud is a light grey creme.  Another stunning colour (I think everyone needs some grey in their collections) and again the formula is fantastic.  My swatch shows two coats.

Eucalyptus Dew is a soft sage green creme.  This is definitely one of my favourites in this collection.  Yes a green is one of my favourites.  Who would have guessed that?  Seriously the colour is gorgeous!  And again the formula is awesome.  In a pinch you could get away with one coat.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Japanese Violet is a mid red toned purple creme.  Because I like to repeat myself (and I really don't know how else I can say the same thing lol) this polish is gorgeous and the formula is fantastic.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Lavender Bouquet is a super soft and muted with a touch of grey lavender creme.  Now this one isn't entirely colour accurate.  My camera made this one looks a little more red toned and made the touch of grey disappear.  If you check out @loveslacquer on Instagram you will see a more colour accurate picture.  Silly camera.  This is such a pretty colour.  The first coat did apply a little uneven, however evened out on the second coat.

My Cup Of Tea is a neutral creme.  Nude polishes are another staple that I think everyone should have in their collection, and this is a good one.  The colour is really pretty (I kinda have the urge to mattify this one - yes my matte addiction is still going strong) and the formula is great.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Peony Bloom is a soft pink creme that leans towards peach.  Personally I don't really see any peach in this one but maybe I am partially colour blind (that wouldn't surprise me).  Anyway, this is super pretty and so easy to use.  My swatch shows two coats.

Verbena Blossom is a mid dusty purple with a pink/red flash of shimmer throughout.  This is the only polish in this collection that isn't a creme, but boy is it stunning.  The colour is gorgeous and the formula is awesome.  My swatch shows two coats.

How gorgeous is this collection?  I am loving it!  As I mentioned (about a hundred times) the colours are gorgeous and the formulas are amazing.  They are all so easy to apply, and apply so evenly.  

The Serenity Collection is available now from Grace-full Nail Polish's Australian site and stock is on it's way to their International site.  So keep your eyes peeled!

Crumpet's Nail Tarts: 26 Great Nail Art Ideas Challenge: Spring Animals

I am soooooo excited for today's mani.  I am seriously in love with it!  I'm skipping ahead of myself here.  Today is another theme for the 26 Great Nail Art Ideas Challenge.  The theme is Spring Animals.  I really didn't put much thought into this one.  As soon as I saw the theme I just wanted to do butterfly nails.  It has been forever since I have done any and I have this gorgeous butterfly wing stamping plate from Bundle Monster (BM-S188) that I have been dying to use again.  Now I thought it would be fun to ask Olivia (my daughter) to pick what colours I should use.  She decided yellow, pink and blue - and she was very happy with the polishes I decided on.

For this mani I used China Glaze Lemon Fizz, Feel The Breeze and UV Meant To Be.  I stamped using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.

I thought I would throw in a picture of the gradient before I stamped over it because I think it looks so pretty.

When I look at the themes that are left of this challenge I get a little confused.  I feel like this challenge has been flying along (which it has!) but there are still so many themes to go. 

Don't forget to check out everyone else who is participating in this challenge.

An InLinkz Link-up