NailNerdChallenge July 2021 // Nautical Nails

Mermaids are considered to fall under the "nautical" category right?? Well they do now because I love this look I did. 

It came about whilst I swatching some China Glaze shades and I couldn't help but stick a load of glittery toppers on Too Yacht to Handle. Negative stamps are also the best because I can only imagine a stamping polish like that would cost a fortune.

For these nails I started out with 2 coats of Too Yacht To Handle followed by a layer of Diamond Glitter, then Will-'O-The-Wisp and dry brushed on alternate strokes of Crystal Blue and Pink Luxe. I then used born pretty stamping plate on my middle finger and Moyou on the rest. 

Polishes/Tools Used:

Nails:

- China Glaze // Too Yacht To Handle (teal)

- Barry M Nail Paint // Diamond Glitter (scattered holo)

- H&M // Will-'O-The-Wisp (green duochrome shimmer topper)

- Barry M Molten Metal // Crystal Blue, Pink Luxe

Stamping:

- What's Up Nails // Blanc My Mind (white)

- Born Pretty Stamping Plate // BP-109 (middle finger)

- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Sailor 04 (rest of fingers)

NailNerdChallenge July 2021 // Tropical Nails

So this was the first prompt but I forgot to post it, so here it is! Usually when I do tropical I go for a pink or peach background with green leaves so I decided to mix it up with some darker colours and bright pops! 

For this one I started out with a layer of Night Sky, then applied Deep Ocean, Dream Holiday and Turquoise Mint to a design on the Paradise 02 plate. Scraping the polish blends them all together and then I stamped that on top. Afterwards I used the flower designs from Paradise 05 first in white so the colours would pop more then used No Tan Lines, My Showcase Pink and Raspberry fro the flower details. The little yellow pollen stems had a white base stamp and then Maui Gold stamped on top.

Polishes/Tools Used:

Nails:

- Barry M Green Origin // Night Sky (dark blue)

Stamping:

- MoYou London // Dream Holiday (blue), Deep Ocean (deep blue), Turquoise Mint (mint)

- Maniology // Maui Gold (yellow)

- OPI Infinite Shine // No Tan Lines (orange)

- Barry M Nail Paint // 273 Raspberry

- Kure Bazaar // My Showcase Pink (fuschia)

- What's Up Nails // Blanc My Mind (white)

- MoYou London Stamping Plates // Paradise 02, Paradise 05

NailNerdChallenge July 2021 // Fruit Nails

It's time for another set of challenge nails! This weeks prompt is "Fruit" and I've had this design on a false nail for ages but I just never got round to actually creating it in full on my nails but this was the perfect prompt!

It's summery, fresh and definitely fruity! Plus not one stamping polish in sight; I'm starting to get good at reverse stamping now. For this look I did two coats of Sweet As Pinkie Pie, then picked up the pineapple stamps using My Showcase Pink and then filled them in on the stamper with Honolulu Blues and Yellow (great name Barry M lol). I topped it off with a glossy topcoat. 

This one took a while to do due to the reverse stamping. You need to make sure it's dry before you stamp or will smudge but then your base has also dried so you either need to apply a sticky basecoat or a layer of topcoat and stamp just before it loses it's stickiness but won't smudge the polish underneath. I need to get at least 5 stampers so I can just do one after the other and fill them all in at the same time.

Polishes/Tools Used:

Nails:
- China Glaze // Sweet As Pinkie Pie (pink)

- Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy // Diamond Top Coat

Stamping:

- Kure Bazaar // My Showcase Pink (fuschia)

- Barry M Nail Paint // 134 Yellow

- Beau Nail Polish // Honolulu Blues (blue)

- Maniology Stamping Plate // M051

NailNerdChallenge July 2021 // Beach/Ocean Nails

So I didn't miss the first weeks challenge; I just never posted it. Lol, I'll do that now. So anyway, here is the next prompt; beach nails!

I wanted to do something different than my usual sunset gradient with silhouette palm trees and opted for this negative space wave look and I have to say wow. Not to toot my own horn but I think I knocked it out of the park lol.  This has to be one of my favourite looks that I've done and it took me less than 20 minutes. It's so simple that I could do it on my other hand (not that I'm going to but it's nice to have the option).

Overlapping plates are simply the best kind of stamping plates. Not all of us have the artistic talent of Lieve91 (and I probably never will) so I love that these plates come to my rescue. This little plate I got off eBay a while ago and the wave designs are perfect.

I started out with my favourite OPI base, then added a layer of thirsty nails. It's honestly the best polish for giving the perfect flush pink natural nails that look great in negative space looks. For the waves I applied little blobs of Lillian, Super-trop-i-cal-i-fiji-istic and I'm on a sushi roll to the plate then blended it all together when scraping. When picked up it creates a nice blend of shades which give more depth. I used normal polishes because I wanted some sheerness as water is see through after all. I then added on some white detail and applied a glossy top coat.

These are perfect no maintenance nails as you don't have to worry about growth too much and I love the splash of colour at the tips of my nails (sea what I did there?? and there??)

Polishes/Tools used:-

Nails:

- OPI Infinite Shine // Conditioning Primer

- NailsInc // Thirsty Nails (sheer pink)

- Revlon Colorstay // Diamond Top Coat

Stamping:

- Pict You Stamping Plate // PY-F001 (overlapping waves)

- What's Up Nails // Blanc My Mind (white)

- OPI Infinite Shine // Super Trop-i-cal-i-fiji-istic (deep blue), I'm On A Sushi Roll (teal)

- Zoya // Lillian (pale blue)

The Rainbow Nails Challenge September 2020: Plaid // Mustard Scarf Print Nail Art

Directly inspired by the legendary Cher from clueless, I bring you these scarf/plaid nails.

It's not an exact match but I was really happy with them. I didn't wear a great base coat though and became extremely aware of how long I had this design on for as Cantaloupe is an absolute arse for staining. I think I had this on for about twenty minutes and then I took it off. The edges near the end had already started to slightly turn yellow.... I need to do this design on false nails so I can wear it for longer.

I also need more scarf print stamping plates. That means I have a valid excuse to buy more stamping plates. Sure, I could've done this with acrylic paints but I just love stamping.

Polishes/Tools Used:
- H&M // Cantaloupe (mustard yellow), Witching Hour (dark green)
- Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine // Black Forest (black)
- Ciate // White Heat (white)
- Barry M // Matte Top Coat

The Rainbow Nails Challenge September 2020: Leaves // Blue Hibiscus & Leaves Nail Art

I have no idea where this look came from. I just saw the stamp design of the floaty leaves and shimmery blue background in my head. The hibiscus came afterwards. These nails look like decals; I'm so impressed.

I also refuse to move into Autumn, summer just came and vanished...or rather I didn't make enough summer nail art because I'm lazy. Anway, Clairestelle8 is back as Alice.Claire.Nails after her account was hacked (honestly, what is wrong with the world??) and there are challenges again! I did a back to school look and today is the last day to get a leaf look done so here it is!

The base is Forest by Barry M and dries to a satin finish. I think the satin finish is ok but this polish is stunning with a glossy topcoat. I took photos without a top coat and it's a good thing I did because after I applied it, I spectacularly ruined my nails trying to open a chocolate bar...I never learn.

I also managed to get some MoYou polishes to behave and the hibiscus flowers turned out really well.

Polishes/Tools Used:-
- Barry M Silk // Forest (blue shimmer)
- MoYou London // Dream Holiday (blue), Deep Ocean (dark blue), Bora Bora (light teal), Mint Condition (light green mint), Snowflake (off-white)
- Nicole Diary Stamping Plate // ND-L14 (leaves)
- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Paradise 05 (hibiscus flowers)

Zig Zag Memories // Clairestelle8 September 2019

The mani for this prompt was inspired by some false nails I saw for sale in Superdrug and so instead of doing a black and white look I decided to spruce it up a bit with some holo and pink; can't go wrong with holo and pink. I also got to use Sweet Memories again; one of my favourite pink shades in my collection.

Those wonky edges may look like I free-handed the entire thing but there is a reason you can't see my thumb ('cause it's awful). I stamped on some thin zig zags then painted on top to make them thicker and more 'hand-drawn'. I think it turned out pretty well. Although trying to do free-hand designs with an A-England polish is super hard. It just turns gloopy and drags along. I was going to use on the accent nail as well but King's Road is just a tad to dark for what I was going for. It does match the OPI holo quite well though.

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- OPI // Sweet Memories (pink)

- Ciaté // White Heat (white)
- OPI // Tinker, Thinker, Winker? (light silver holo)

- A-England // King's Road (dark silver holo)
- Avon Gel Shine // Top Coat
- MoYou London Plate // Tropical 34

Tea Party Trip // Neon Watermarble Design Clairestelle8 September 2019

So here is the finished result after I added the stamping from the last post. It's not awful but it's not exactly what I wanted either. I imagined this psychedelic look with melting clocks and teacups but I'm terrible at freehand and I didn't have any stamps that matched my ideas exactly and ended up with this.

It also doesn't help that all the black and white stamping polishes I have are starting to stamp really patchy. I don't know how others get super clean designs but I think I may need to 'prime' my stamping heads as it's getting really frustrating with constantly having to re-pickup designs.

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Ciaté // White Heat (white)
- OPI // Dance Party Teal Dawn (teal)
- China Glaze // Flip Flop Fantasy V2 (pastel orange)

- Orly // Glowstick (fluorescent yellow)
- Artistic Colour Revolution // Love at first Skate (pink)
- Nicole Diary // Black Night (black)
- Essie // Platinum Grade Topcoat
- MoYou London Plate // Alice 02

Camo Clouds // Clairestelle8 Challenge September 2019

My first camo look! And I did it without the use of stamping; it's pure hand drawn baby. I'm actually quite proud because it looks, well, good. I'm not the biggest camo fan so I decided to make it something I would like to wear by using basic colours. 

I started off with a white base and created gradients using the main three colours and then used the larger end of the dotting tool to make the camo design. It took me around 10 minutes to do the entire look. I was originally going to just do 1 nail with the camo on it and leave the ombres however, I keep forgetting that the french tip polish from Avon is trash and the look was patchy.

The colours make this for me though. Who needs actual camo when you can have basic camo?

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Avon True Colour // French Tip White
- Essence The Gel // Perfect Match (dusty pink)
- H&M // Wild Lilac (lilac), Huldra (blue)

- Barry M // Matte Top Coat
- Essence // Dotting Tool

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

Back To School // Clairestelle8 Challenge September 2019

I can't believe it's September again already. The mornings are already starting feel crisper and the nights are getting dark early :( Whereas I love the idea of fall and autumn scenes with all the warm colours and general cosy-ness; when you're alone in the middle of nowhere it's kind of hard to be excited about the upcoming season.

But it's September and that means...discount stationary. That's right, all the stationary is on offer right now and I can't because it's one of my main weaknesses; that and Cadburys jelly popping candy chocolate. I've already done a similar look to this one but I really love the scholar and artist plates so combined them for a bit more of a detailed look.

I was a bit upset that I smudged the pencil stamp a little and the MoYou polishes are just awful. I'm going to have to stop buying them because it always takes me several tries to pick up designs. I might start doing swatch posts on them so others can see how terrible they are at being stamping polishes.

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Nailberry // Stone (dark grey)
- Nicole Diary // Born Perfect (white)

- MoYou London // Mint Condition (pastel blue), Coral Crush (coral pink), Into The Woods (dark brown)
- H&M // Cantaloupe (mustard)
- MoYou London Plate // Scholar 01 & 06, Artist 21