31DC2018 Black & White Nails

One of the problems with doing a daily nail art challenge (or just daily blogging) is that when you have a nail break you have no choice but to carry on.  I have actually had two really bad breaks on my nails for quite some time now but have been waiting for them to grow to the point where I can file them back and still have them look ok.  Anyway, that day has come which is why I now have shorter nails all of a sudden.  Anyway, onto the 31DC2018 prompt - Black & White Nails.

I know I have said this time and time again, and to be honest it will be something that I will continue to say - but I love black and white nails.  Whether it is a full mani or just an accent nail, I think that you can't go wrong with black and white.  Now originally I had something different planned for today's mani but I recently received some new stamping plates from Uberchic Beauty so I just had to use one of those.

For base I used Pretty Serious Cosmetics Absence and stamped using Powder Perfect's White Stamping Polish.  Image is from Uberchic Halloween 04.  I will have more swatches and a review of this plate soon.

Fun fact: this is the first time in the five years that I have done this challenge that I have used a black base with white stamping.  All previous manis have had a white base with black stamping.

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31DC2018 Violet Nails

I have always wondered why Violet is a theme for this challenge.  It's such a specific type of purple.  I really think it should just be purple.  It really would make things so much easier.  Fun fact, I really struggle to distinguish the different types of purples.  There are just soooooo many variations.  Purples always take me the longest to sort and put away in my drawers.  I also tend to re arrange these more often than any other colour because I can never seem to get it "right".  Well, that's a little bit of random information for you today.  Let's get into the nail art shall we?

For today's purple nails I pulled out one of my favourite purple cremes - Emily de Molly Original Cindy.  I teamed it with Color Club Harp On It and a black and white accent nail.  Image is from Lina Nail Art Supplies Mad For Mandalas.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

I really like this mani.  It's so simple yet really pretty.  I actually had a lot of comments while wearing this mani.

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31DC2018 Blue Nails & Grace-full Nail Polish Polish Pick Up September 2018 - Swatches & Review

PRESS SAMPLE

Today I have a two in one post.  It's the first one for September and it definitely won't be the last.  Where possible I will try and combine some of posts, but there will also be some days that I will be doing double posts.  Anyway, today I have my blue nails for the 31DC2018 challenge and I have my swatches and review of this month's Polish Pick Up from Grace-full Nail Polish (which spoiler alert - is absolutely gorgeous!).

Firstly, let's take a look at this stunner!

Let's Play is a colbalt blue jelly filled with chrome chameleon flakies and ultra holo micro glitter.  Aurora pigment throughout gives it a deep blue and purple shift while the flakies cause a green shift.  Seriously, how gorgeous is this polish?  I love the colour and the flakes.  The formula is fantastic and is opaque in two coats.

Picture take in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors in shade

Picture taken outdoors in shade

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

This polish is definitely going to be in my favourites post at the end of the month.  I love it!

Let's Play will be available via the Polish Pick Up from Friday 7th September at 11am EST until Monday 10th September.  This polish is capped to 130 bottles so grab it as soon as you can.  I imagine that this baby is going to sell out quickly and you don't want to be someone who misses out.

Now, for the nail art.  Let's Play is one of those polishes that is so stunning that I don't want to cover it over with too much to distract from the polish.  So I went for this simple image from Uberchic 1-01.  The stamping polish is Dance Legend's Blue Stamping Polish.

That's all from me for today.  I'll be back tomorrow with another 31DC2018 mani.

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31DC2018 Green Nails

It has taken me a little while to find my nail art groove but I think I have got it back!  Hopefully it decides to stay with me for the rest of this challenge.  Definitely no promises on that though.  I always find the later prompts in this challenge really hard!  

For today's green nail I sponged on Color Club's Having A Ball, Tic-Tac-Toe and Playing The Field.  I do love these matte polishes!  Stamping polish is from Powder Perfect and image is from Pueen 103.  I quite like this image.  It's got a leafy vibe to it which is perfect for today.

This mani looks better in person because you can actually see the three different greens.  They seem to blend together more in my pictures.  I guess it's because they are neons and they freak my camera out.  Either way, I really love how this mani turned out.

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31DC2018 Yellow Nails

I have been doing various nail art challenges for many, many years now.  In fact, if you have been following me on Instagram for a while then you will have seen that I am no stranger to doing multiple challenges at a time.  One thing that I learnt from doing so many challenges at the same time is how to cheat.  Why am I mentioning this?  Well today I have cheated.  The mani I have for you today is a mani that I actually wore last month for one of my daughter's gymnastics competitions.  I never got around to posting it but I think it's a really pretty mani that needs to be shared.  So here it is!

For my base I used Color Club's Smashing Review (from the Halo Crush Collection) and stamped using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.  Image is from Uberchic 6-01.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

I know this mani is gold, but it's a yellow gold so it still counts, right?

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31DC2018 Orange Nails

The idea behind having the same prompts each year for the 31 day challenge is to see improvements and to push your creativity.  Well sadly for me today, this mani isn't an improvement at all.  In fact, I personally think it borders more on to a fail than anything else.  I am definitely a little out of practice when it comes to nail art at the moment but it can only get better right?  Well I hope so.

For today's mani I used China Glaze Home Sweet House Music, Lady And The Vamp and Orly Melt Your Popsicle.  Stamping image is from It Girl IG117.

Bring on Day 3....

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31DC2018 Red Nails

September is here which can only mean one thing - 31 Day Nail Art Challenge time.  I have joined in with this challenge every year since 2014 and thought that I should join in again this year.  I have been in a little bit of a nail art slump at the moment so I am hoping that this challenge will help force me out of it.  It may not be the wisest of moves - doing 31 days of nail art is a lot to take on (especially when I do other nail art challenges and have swatching commitments) but I'm going to give it my best.  

First prompt for this challenge is Red Nails.  I really like these "easy" prompts.  You really can just do whatever you are feeling at the time.  I recently swatched China Glaze Haute Blooded and feel in love with the matte red so decided to break it out again for this first prompt.  I stamped this image from Lina Nail Art Supplies All About Love 02 using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.

I really like this mani - especially with the matte finish.  Day 1 complete - only 30 more days to go.  I can do this!

Are you joining in with this challenge?  If you have never seen this challenge before and are interested in finding out more then head over to Cathy's (More Nail Polish) blog and see the frequently asked questions answered here. 

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