Aloe You Succulents // Clairestelle8 September 2019 Challenge

I bought the new MoYou London Summer Lovin plates a while back now and I've been wanting to use them for something but keep getting sidetracked but now I've finally had the chance for this cute succulent prompt!

I wanted to do something other than just cacti and the hanging baskets on this plate are just adorable and super easy to use in reverse stamping as well. If only MoYou's stamping polishes were as easy to use as well...

I was also inspired to use the blue by this beautiful plant pot I got from Sainsbury's (it's like my new favourite place no lie. You know you're getting old when you go in the Sainsburys clothes section and actually like the clothes...) My friends got me an Aloe Vera plant as part of my leaving present and I think I've already killed it; it's only been 3 months. I can't be trusted with anything. I thought I was ready for the commitment of looking after a plant; clearly not.

I also love the background shade Pretty in Putty; I would wear that everyday if I wasn't so obsessed with doing my nails. It's such a perfect off-white cream shade that makes you look super tan. I tried to make the design look more cosy and autumnal as well seeing as how I should be putting away my palm trees and bright sunset shades....then again it's now summer in the southern hemisphere so sunset and beach mani's all year long!

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Ciaté // Pretty in Putty (cream), Part-Time Mermaid (blue shimmer)
- H&M // Huldra (light blue), Sail Away (dark blue), Cantaloupe (mustard)
- Nicole Diary // Black Night (black)

- MoYou London // Croco Spark (blue duochrome)
- MoYou London Plate // Summer Lovin' 05

Little Cactai // Clairestelle8 August 2019 Challenge

I've been wanting to do this look for so long, I've just never had time. For context, I bought a plant pot from TK Maxx about a year ago with this design on it and every time I looked at it I would think "that would make great nails". Well the time finally come and I loved wearing these. My peel off basecoat held up strangely as well for 3 days of wear. Considering I expect a mani to last about 6 hours with my peel base, the polish gods were clearly shining down upon me.

How I did it:
I started off with just 1 coat of Don't cry over spilled milkshakes and then 1 coat of sweet memories. I then mixed some acetone with Giant Peach to give it that glazed painted look. Using the cactai design from Explorer 33 I stamped first using Little Pickle and then followed it up with Dragon and deliberately stamped it a little off.

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- OPI // Don't cry over spilled milkshakes (sheer white)
- OPI // Sweet Memories (sheer pink)
- Sally Hansen Hard as Nails // Giant Peach (peach/pink)

- MoYou London // Little Pickle (bright lime)
- A-England // Dragon (forest green holo)
- MoYou London Plate // Explorer 33 

Pink Cactus // Cacti & Geometry Stamped Nail Design

And here's the follow up to the last post where I had some scarf nails. Can you see the resemblance with the thank you card? No me neither. I mean if you squint really hard you can kind of see it but I really screwed this one up. I chose the wrong pink shades (Rosewood Forest was way to dark), I chose the wrong stamp design and the cacti and triangles are too pink when I should've used a gold polish. Oh well, I'll just have to do Pink Cactus II. 

It kind of annoys me because I spend a bit of time on the detail but the background clashes with it too much. I think I used to many stamps as well as it's bit messy and cluttered looking. I will say I miss these nails though. Please grow! Why did I feel the need to experiment with nail shape?

Polishes/Tools Used:-
- Essence The Gel Polish // Rosewood Forest (dusky pink)

- Nails Inc Fashion Fix // Vintage Tee (pale pastel pink)
- Ciaté // Vintage Tee (metallic rose gold)

- Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy // Diamond Top Coat
- Born Pretty Stamping Plate // BP-L041
- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Explorer 33 & Holy Shapes 20