[Look] Teal Christmas Woodland Scene

I did these a while ago now (the picture metadata says 13th November 2023....) but seeing as it's christmas once again, I guess I can finally post them.

I painted these onto some false nails I picked up from Primark a while ago. I kind of like the shape but I chose sizes that were way to big for me. Either way, it's always nice to be able to paint on your own time and not worry about catching your nails on something.

Method:

I started off with two layers of I'm on a Sushi Roll. Then stamped on some flower designs from Noel 07 using Café au Lait, followed by Rusty Red and Ghosted on top. For the deer, I used a design from Fall in Love 01 and picked that up with Ghosted, then filled it in on the stamper with Cappuccino. The flower is from Noel 07 and I picked that up with Ghosted as well but filled it in with Café au Lait. The "snow" I did by hand just using a dotting tool with Ice Cold Milk (a sheer off white shade). I topped all that off with a smudge proof top coat and then a matte top coat.

Polishes/Tools Used:

Base:

- OPI Infinite Shine // I'm on a Sushi Roll (teal)

Stamping:

- H&M // Ice Cold Milk (off white)

- MoYou London // Café au Lait (light oat), Rusty Red (burgandy)

- Kure Bazaar // Cappuccino (beige)

- Twinkled T // Ghosted (dark grey)

Plates:

- MoYou London // Noel 07, Fall in Love 01

Top:

- MoYou London // Smudge Proof Top Coat

- Barry M // Matte Top Coat

Christmas Wrapping Paper Nails #2 // Mint Festive Design

This is mint version of a design I saw in Sainsbury's last year. I did a dark version of it here: https://ifndefnailsh.blogspot.com/2022/12/christmas-wrapping-nails-1-sainsburys.html

I think I prefer this one thanks to the over-stamping!

Method:

I started off with 2 layers of Neely. Then I applied Liquid Gold to Noel 07 and then stamped on top with Vibin using the same stamps but slightly offset. The Holly jolly text comes from Noel 12.

I then topped it off with some smudge proof top coat.

Polishes/Tools Used:

Base:

- Zoya // Neely (mint)

Stamping:

- Twinkled T // Liquid Gold (metallic gold), 'Vibin (black)

Plates:

- MoYou London // Noel 07, Noel 12

Top:

- MoYou London // Smudge Proof Top Coat

Christmas Party Nails // Nude & Gold Glitter/Foil Nail Design

I have so many designs that I just never got round to posting. Here's some nails I did for works Christmas party last year!

I'm all about super quick and easy designs right now. This one should take less then 10 minutes!

I did 2 layers of Revel, then once it was dry, dabbed on some gold foil eyeshadow, then topped that with Bijoux. I just did light brush strokes, starting from the tip to give it that ombre look.

Polishes/Tools Used:

- Manna Kadar // Revel (nude creme)

- H&M // Bijoux (gold glitter)

- Primark P.S Beauty // Gold Foil Eyeshadow 

Christmas Wrapping Nails #1 // Sainsbury's Country Walk Linework Leaves Christmas Bag

I can't believe it's that time of the year again already. Every year, Sainsbury's do some amazing designs on their wrapping paper and bags that are just begging to be put on nails. Case and point this bag design.

I went with some designs on the MoYou London Noel 4 plate and Liquid Gold. For the text I used what was left over from stamping the pinkie nail (as it left the perfect oval centre) and then stamped the text in the space.

It's not exactly like the bag as the designs aren't as detailed, however I'm waiting for some more Noel plates from the Black Friday sale so hopefully I should be able to get a little closer to the bag.

This is a cute and quick set though!

Polishes/Tools Used:

Base

- Essence Shine Last & Go // 46 Black is Back

- Barry M // Matte Top Coat

Stamping

- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Noel 04

- Twinkled T Stamping Polish // Liquid Gold

Christmas Peppermint Candy // Red & White Pinwheel Nails

Doesn't this just scream Christmas! I knew the moment I got Chakra that this is the look I should do with it; it's just taken me 4 years to get round to it.

This was a real simple one to do but make sure you where a couple layers of basecoat because Chakra stains!

I did 3 layers of Chakra (it's kind of jelly shade so it builds up beautifully). Applied a layer of top coat. Then applied the stamp with Blanc My Mind and added a layer of smudge proof top coat. Then sealed it in with another layer of top coat.

It's mesmerising!

Polishes/Tools used:

- Cuccio Colour // Chakra (red shimmer)

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

- Barry M // Wet Set Quick Dry Top Coat

- MoYou London // Smudge Proof Top Coat

- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Princess 12

Tutu Bijoux // Pink & Rose Gold Snowflake Nail Design

I keep saying "tutu bijoux" like "boop boop be-doo" and it's starting to annoy me. What a shocker, I'm annoying myself. November was a very annoying month though because Black Friday happened right at the end of my self imposed "No Nail Polish November" and I bought all the fucking nail polish. No joke, I literally bought 25 polishes from H&M. 

And so now I have all this polish I just bought and an advent calendar to swatch. So I did a nail look instead because I can't stop.

I just bought the glitter topper from H&M in their sale for £1 and it's just stunning. I wore 3 coats of it alone for the work Christmas party. It does distract from the snowflakes a little too much though. @paulinaspassions also posted a similar look to this a few days ago using some iridescent hexagonal glitter which suits it more. I wish I'd seen the post before I did this!

Polishes/Tools Used:

- Ciaté // Tutu (pastel pink)

- H&M // Bijoux (Rose Gold & Silver glitter)

- Born Pretty // #4 (white)

- Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy // Diamond Top Coat

- Harunouta // L056 Stamping Plate

Stripes & Baubles // Christmas 2018 Nail Fails

Well Christmas is now over for another year and it's time to contemplate over my first year of doing Christmas nails...it wasn't good...

I actually attempted three of the Clairestelle8 challenges but only posted one as the other two I just found hideous. I also had some crazy deadlines to complete for my degree and only really got some days off starting the 21st; not leaving much time for nail art designs. Coupled with the crazy amount of swatching this month I'm looking forward to actually doing nail art next month...that said I've got both the Cuccio Wanderlust & Tapestry collections to post, plus the boxing day Morgan Taylor haul I did today with December Mani & Lola and Meebox....ARGH. There isn't enough time in the day. I did this to myself though, no one needs this much nail polish......said no one ever.....

Design 1 // Ornamental

The 12th of the Clairestelle8 Christmas challenge was "Christmas Ornaments" and using a Circus plate I came up with this. It doesn't look like much but I spent around 2 hours doing this due to all the stamping. The baubles were tripled stamped, as was the wiring and all that stamping took a while. I have a newfound appreciation for those who make double or triple stamping look easy.

I think the colour combo is one of the main reasons I don't like it that much. The blue and green just seem jarring with each other. This was a design that I had no idea where it was going but unlike the other times; this one didn't turn out so well.

Design 2 // Christmas Candy

Designed for the 16th of the challenge which was "Gingerbread or Candy Cane" I tried to do the double lines that have been sweeping across instagram. I did this whilst swatching the OPI advent calendar and felt like I could do something with the shade....I couldn't. I detest this design; the colours don't match, the pink in the background just ruins it.

And that's as far as I got with the challenge. I finish my degree in June so next year I'll be able to participate in the challenge properly as it's so much fun. I'd love to the the Digit-al Dozen challenges as well but they seem to only post their challenges on Facebook; which I don't have. Oh well, I'll just have to keep doing my own challenges, which I don't seem to stick to lol. 

Hit The Birchbox Slopes // Birchbox Advent Calendar 2018 Nails

Oh man, I couldn't leave you all hanging with those terrible Birchbox nails I posted earlier today, so I sat down and did these! They are perhaps my favourite look I've done all month but I just wish my nails hadn't broken the other day so I would've had more room to play with.

So for this design I started off with one coat of Forest which dries to a satin finish but once you apply a top coat it turns into this beautiful deep blue shimmer. I then used the white polish and the Scandi 10 plate to create the mountain range and filled in the gaps as the stamp design does't cover your nail entirely. 

After a layer of top coat, I then used the triangle shape from Tropical 35 in a few different shades. The gray shade was a bit wishy washy and so I had to stamp that one about 4 times but I don't have a stamping polish in that shade. The star is also Scandi 10 and then some snowflakes were added using a combination of Crystal 03 and BP-01.

I'm so happy with how this turned out; especially with all the failures I've had this month. I've got a few more Christmas designs I'd like to do but seeing how there's only one day left, it looks like they'll have to wait for next year!

Polishes/Tools Used:

- Barry M Silk // Forest (deep blue shimmer)

- Born Pretty Stamping Polish // #4 (white)
- Avon Gel Shine // Rain Washed (pale blue/grey creme)
- Essence The Gel Nail Polish // Pure Beauty (pale dusty pink creme)
- Essence The Gel Nail Polish // Perfect Match (dusty rose creme)
- Barry M // Plumpy Hi Shine Top Coat

- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Scandi 10
- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Crystal 03
- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Tropical 35
- Born Pretty Stamping Plate // BP-01

Twinkle All The Way // Birchbox December 2018 Nails

Dammmnn this is soo late! I'm sorry but at the same time, my assignments have to come first. I've given myself a few days off for the holidays so I'm hoping to catch up on some nail art and do some new posts as I've pretty much just been swatching the entire of December. Next year remind me to get only one nail polish advent calendar. 

Anyway, here is the first Birchbox nail look this month based on the top design from the beauty box. I'm also going to do the advent calendar as well but whilst editing this post I can't help but feel I may need to re-do this look as well as it just doesn't look right. The colours don't match at all and I realise I probably should've used Katherine Parr by A-England as the blue colour now and left out Nail Junkie. I only added that glittery topper to give it a bit of texture like the box, however, it shines way too green. Also the gold shade is too yellow.

This is the third Christmas look I've done now where I'm just not happy with it. I think tomorrow I'll do a Christmas 'Nail Fail' post as two other designs I did just failed to win me over.

For this look though, I applied one coat of Knee Highs, followed by two coats of Nail Junkie. Then used the Scandi 10 plate with the gold shade. The actual stamp design had other smaller dots in the background however, I used a dotting tool to remove the excess design on the stamper before I applied it.

Polishes/Tools Used:

- Ciaté // Knee Highs (royal blue shimmer)
- Sinful Colors  // Nail Junkie (teal chunky glitter)

- Born Pretty Stamping Polish // #1 (gold)
- Barry M // Plumpy Hi Shine Top Coat

- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Scandi 10

Crimson Christmas // Christmas Party Nail Design

I'm back with a new Christmas design...finally! Just one more assignment to go and then I can get on putting up some posts which got put aside. This look was completely accidental and came about whilst I swatching shades from the Ciaté advent calendar. Days 8-14 will be up in the next few days! 

Anyway, in the calendar Dangerous Affair is a day before Antique Brooch but I couldn't help but think "damn they look good together" whilst they were sat on my desk. Before I took off Dangerous Affair I decided to add a coat of Antique Brooch to my middle finger and thus this look was suddenly born in my mind. I knew instantly I had to do this mani.

It turned out better than I could of hoped for. The pattern is the new MoYou Crystal 03 plate and this design is just perfect for Christmas parties, New Year or a fancy event. I can't stop staring at my nails; send help.

I'm wearing two coats of Dangerous Affair, followed by two coats of Antique Brooch and used a gold Born Pretty Stamping polish for the detail.

Polishes/Tools Used:

- Ciaté // Dangerous Affair (deep crimson creme)
- Ciaté  // Antique Brooch (pink and gold glitter in sheer gold shimmer base)

- Born Pretty Stamping Polish // #1 (gold)

- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Crystal 03

The Christmas Edition // Look Fantastic Beauty Box December 2018 Nails

I had a lot of fun translating this months box into a nail art design; it just screams "Christmas" and has made the perfect Christmas party nails. This was my first time using a dotting tool as well. I've had them for a while but been scared to use them.

The design of the box also has this matte and shiny striped background and for the life of me I just couldn't get the red right. Roses are Red is close however it's kind of hard to see the difference between the matte and shiny sections like on the box. 

Also, out of the thousand stamping plates I have, one of them doesn't contain the outline of a square...honestly. Looks like I need to buy some more then....I ended up creating some decals which I'll explain later on.

I started out with one coat of Roses are Red and then applied a quick dry top coat. I followed it up with the Barry M Matte top coat and let it dry for around 5 minutes. Then I used the BP-L061 plate with the same polish to create the striped background. 

Using a small dotting tool and the gold stamping polish I created dots on all fingers except the middle and ring finger. On some silicone mats I applied a layer of top coat, then stamped on a red square using the same colour polish. I then applied a layer of gold, another layer of top coat and peeled it off the mat. I cut it out to the desired size so there was just a neat gold outline and stuck it on my nails. I did it this way because when peeled off the mat, the bottom side is always matte and I needed the squares to be matte without applying another layer of matte top coat (as I needed the shiny parts of my nails to stay shiny). 

When making decals, you need to leave them for a good 15 minutes to harden up otherwise they'll be to malleable and you won't be able to do much without leaving fingerprints or ripping them. Don't leave them on to long though or they'll just flake off in bits.

I then stamped on the L and F using the Typography 04 plate and used the dotting tools around the image in the same style as on the box. 

I can't believe I only used two polishes for this look though! Or well, 2 polishes not including top coats...who knew top coat could be so important for nail art!

Stay tuned for some beauty box nail art as I've got both the Birchbox Advent calendar and beauty box planned as well as some other Christmas looks. I've got an assignment due on the 18th though so that's why I haven't been posting as much. 

Polishes/Tools Used:

- Avon Gel Shine // Roses are Red (red)

- Born Pretty Stamping Polish // #1 (gold)

- Revlon // Quick Dry Top Coat

- Revlon Colorstay // Diamond Top Coat 

- Barry M // Matte Top Coat

- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Typography 04

- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Holy Shapes 20
- Born Pretty Stamping Plate // BP-L061