Summer Water Marble

Let me just say, one more time; I am really not a fan of water marble!  Not the look; if done right, they can look really cool and intricate.  If anything goes wrong, you wind up with...well, this.  It's not all bad really; maybe part of it stems from my dislike of neons on my own nails.  I don't know.  At any rate, here it is in all its gory glory for all the world to see.

Underneath the Stars - Galaxy Nails

Ok, if you haven't tried galaxy nails, you really should!  I had so much fun with this mani!  Even a beginner can pull this off (evidence below!) using a few or several colors.  I started with a base of a basic black cream and pieces of a makeup sponge torn apart.  From there, I pulled out a few colors that I thought would look good and started sponging and layering. I can't even remember now all the colors I used but I'm sure there is some pink, blue, orange, yellow and purple in there...and who knows what else!  I added a few dots of silver for the larger "stars" and a coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust.  I will defiantly be doing this again!

This was also part of the Purple Crumpet Fairy Summer Challenge, be sure and check out the links below and see what the others came up with!

Summer Challenge : Blue + Aqua + Green

Blue, aqua, and green....had a bit of a tough time with this one.  I KNEW I didn't want to tackle another water marble yet, especially since there is one coming up on the list, so I had to come up with another way to combine the three somehow.  I pulled out several colors from my stash and none of them really looked like they went together so finally I decided on Essie Bobbing for Baubles which we saw in yesterday's post.  I recently got my set of Cheeky plates so I looked through them until something jumped out at me.  I tried a few other things first but none really worked out so I ended up with one of the designs form the CH12 plate and China Glaze Cherish for the green.  It is one of those that is perfect for stamping and it looked good against the deep blue background.  I added some aqua rhinestones and here is the result.  Overall I'm quite pleased with how it turned out!  I can't wait to see what the others have come up with!

Essie Bobbing for Baubles Swatch and Review

Looking for the perfect navy cream?  Look no further!  Essie describes Bobbing for Baubles as "deepest darkest sapphire" but I'm still calling it navy.  Formula is great, could be a one-coater if you are really careful but two is perfection.  Dry time was quick and it wears really well.  Lots of possibilities for this one, see tomorrow's post for an example!

Giveaway Winner

My Julep giveaway is now officially closed! Jasmin, please send me your address and which box you would like and I will forward your info to Julep! (email apolishedaddiction at gmail.com). For those that didn't win, you can still click the link on the right side of my blog with the code MAVENINTRO and get your first box for a penny!! And stay tuned for more giveaways in the very near future!!

Picnic Time!

Today's theme for the PCF Summer Challenge is Picnic.  I had an idea what I wanted to do for this one a while back but managed to put it off until the last minute... I think they turned out ok...not quite like I had pictured but "good enough".  Base is Zoya Purity with Orly's Grave Mistake and Cheeky plate CH3 for the pattern.  Dotting tool and art brush for the ants.  I used several colors layered/sponged to get the "fruit" part of the watermelon accent nail, art brush with black for the seeds and China Glaze Starbord and Glittering Garland for the watermelon rind.  Be sure and check out the other participants posts for today as well!!

Giraffe Nails

***Welcome Pinterest fans!!  Please be sure and check out some of my other posts!***

Today's theme for the Summer Challenge is "jungle mani or Parrots".  I wish I could tell you I had an amazing idea that was flawlessly executed but clearly that is not the case!  Are giraffes even jungle animals?  Probably not.  But, it is almost 4am and I am really tired so, giraffe nails it is.  I hope to do better tomorrow, but who knows?!

Base of China Glaze Lemon Fizz stamped with Revlon Hot for Chocolate and Bundle Monster BM-215.

The Crumpet: Lynnderella Rockafeller - The Week That Polish Ate Itself

The Crumpet: Lynnderella Rockafeller - The Week That Polish Ate Itself

I am posting this link for those who may not have seen it. There are so many remarkable bloggers who have addressed this issue far more eloquently than I can so please check them out and show them some love!

Hole Hearted Gone Gold

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a couple of the WnW Chrome polishes at Walgreens.  I had yet to try either of them so this seemed like the perfect chance to give one a try!  This is two coats of A Show at the Palladium.  It is a very pretty yellow-gold polish, easy to apply.  Somewhat sheer on the first coat, pictured here with two coats and no topcoat.  If you are going to wear it alone, you will likely want a topcoat as it is a bit "gritty" for lack of a better term.

My precious bottle of Hole Hearted has been staring me in the face for weeks now since it arrived on my doorstep; I have been trying to come up with something a little different to do with it.  Granted, this isn't really anything earth-shattering, but I had yet to see it layered over a gold so I thought "why not?".  Hole Hearted is a fun matte glitter polish by All That Glitters and can be found via her Etsy shop.  While it is currently out of stock, there are some other great polishes that are in stock and she generally restocks fairly often.  See my other posts featuring All That Glitters polishes here and here.

As always, feel free to tell me what you think!  

Polish Pixelle: So Here Is The Deal: Lynnderella & Llarowe Drama

Polish Pixelle: So Here Is The Deal: Lynnderella & Llarowe Drama

Please check out this very well written post and comments!!

Summer Challenge: Kite Nails!

Today's theme for the Summer Challenge is ballooning/kite nails.  When I looked at the list tonight to see when the next challenge was and what the theme was, I almost didn't do it.  Now I'm kinda glad I did!  I wanted to use some polishes that I hadn't used yet so I started with a base of Color Club's Take Me To Your Chateau.  I must say I am very impressed with this polish!  For a pastel creme it is VERY easy to use! I think I could have actually gotten away with one coat but I used two for this mani.  I then freehand painted the kites using OPI If You Moust You Moust, then a black polish and nail art brush to do the outline and strings.  Then I went back with OPI I'm All Ears for the accent color on the kites.  I used a doting tool and Zoya Purity for the clouds and a silver polish for slight little outlines on the clouds.  This is one of my favorite challenge manis so far!  Don't forget to check the links below and see what the others came up with, and feel free to leave me some feedback and let me know what you think!

OPI DS Extravagance Swatch and Review

This is the second of the DS series polishes that I bought, I'm not sure why it has taken this long to get it on here because I do LOVE the color!  Formula wise it is great as well, two easy coats to full opacity though you could probably get away with one careful coat.  Shown here with a topcoat of Seche.  I don't usually wear polish more than a day (trying to get through my ever-growing stash!) but have had this one on for over 24 hours now through playing with my nieces and nephew today and it shows no signs of tipwear!

OPI DS Extravagance

Zoya Meg Swatch and Review

 I have become quite obsessed with Zoya products lately as you may have noticed!  Meg is from the Beach and Surf collection; specifically the Surf collection.  All of the colors in the Surf collection are described as having a "foil like finish".  I especially love the way their cream polishes apply, that said, Meg applied easier than some I have tried.  I did get several compliments on this polish as well.  Eventually I am going to try it for a stamping polish..seems like it could hold some promise there as well!

A Retro Water Marble

 I don't know why I keep trying to do water marbles, I am never truly satisfied with how they turn out...think I just answered my own question though; I am a perfectionist.  If I don't like how something turns out I will keep at it until I get it right, *sigh* I guess that means I will be getting more practice.  At any rate, I am more pleased with this one than the pink/blue one from last week but it still didn't turn out as "crisp" as I would have liked.  But, I really wanted something that resembled a bright tie-dye and I think it does do that.

Don't forget to check out the links below and see what the others came up with!

Ladybug Nails and a Lesson

Today's theme for the Summer Challenge is "Ladybird"...when I hear that all I can see is Hank Hill and his dog.  Obviously, that is not the theme for today, rather ladybird is simply another name for a ladybug.  The "lesson" I learned with this mani is that not all fast dry top coats are created equal.  I used Julep's and while it does dry fast, it also caused my work to streak! :(  Back to Seche for me!

Cult Nails Cruisin' Nude Swatch and Review

My collection of Cult Nails polish is growing rapidly!  I am up to ten now I think and I pre-ordered the Fairy Tale Collection and so far I love them all.  I had put of ordering Cruisin' Nude for several reasons.  I have several nude polishes already and this one didn't look much different...I was WRONG!  This is a beautiful nude shade with pink shimmer!!  Aside from that the formula is wonderful as has been my experience with Cult Nails polish.  What do you think?  Do you have any Cult Nails polish?

Also don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a Julep Maven box!  Just click HERE.

Hot Pink Freestyle

 The theme for today for the Purple Crumpet Fairy Summer Challenge is Hot Pink - Freestyle.  I had kind of a hard time with this one because while I do love pink, HOT pink is a bit out of my comfort zone.  That said, I am really happy with how these turned out though they took FOREVER!  Tips are Color Club Warhol.

What do you think?  Be sure and check out the other participant's blogs too and see what they came up with for today!

Cranberry Cosmo Swatch and Review

 Cranberry Cosmo is the first polish I have tried from Enchanted Polish. It is a gorgeous cranberry shade, and its holo. Need I say more? While it isn't as holographic as the Layla's for example, it is still a beautiful and unique shade. I did find that Seche did dull the holo some and also changed the color a bit. That being said, the pics show one coat. All in all, I find it to be a great polish and I would buy it again. Enchanted Polish can be found at llarowe and sells for $15.

If you look closely at the pics you can see a slight difference in the pinky nail; there is a coat of Seche on that nail so you can see the change for yourself.  What do you think?  Love it/hate it?  Is it worth the price?

Giveaway Time!!

Ok guys, you have seen me post a lot lately about Julep polishes so now I think it is time for you to see just how great they are first hand!  Julep will be sponsoring a giveaway so one lucky reader will win an introductory Maven box for FREE!!  Can't wait?  You can sign up now by clicking HERE and use code MAVENINTRO to get your first box for only a penny!  How great is that??!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Hot, Hot, HOT!

The theme for today's Purple Crumpet Fairy Summer Challenge is HOT, HOT, HOT.  Earlier this week I eluded that there would be an upcoming post using both of the polishes from this months Julep Maven box.  Well, this is it.  I started with two coats of Courteney and then taped off sections and painted on Lily.  Once that was dry, I free-handed the gold lines using Selena, also a Julep color and topped it off with a coat of Seche.  What do you think?  Be sure and check out the other participant's blogs as well to see their take on today's theme!

After Party

I have an interesting find for you all today!  This is a "glitter" polish from Icing called After Party.  But this isn't your typical glitter!  It's like shredded glitter!  What a fun look this is.  I layered it here over black so the colors would really pop but you could put it over almost anything.  I like for my nails to be smooth so I added a coat of Gelous and then a coat of Seche to help smooth it out and got a perfectly smooth, glossy finish.  What do you think?  Is this a look you would rock?

Summer Challenge - Pink and Blue

So today's theme is pink and blue, simple enough right?  I have known the theme for a while now and knew it was one I would be attempting so I should have loads of ideas by now, right?  Nope!  Nada.  So I finally decided to attempt a water marble.  I have such a love/hate relationship with them.  I love the way some bloggers out there can get theirs to look, hate the time consuming mess mine usually turn in to.  But decided to attempt it anyway...at 8PM no less.  So, here is my sad attempt at a water marble and very late Purple Crumpet Fairy Challenge mani for today.  I used all China Glaze colors, First Mate, Electric Beat, and Kinetic Candy for the blues; Make an Entrance, Traffic Jam, and Dance Baby for the pinks.

Pink and Blue Water Marble

My First Jelly Sandwich!

A while back I showed you Spotty Dottie Dark from All That Glitters.  Today, I have its sister, Spotty Dottie Light.  For this mani I used two coats of OPI Do You Think I'm Tex-y followed by one coat of SDL and then one more coat of the OPI.  I love how it turned out!  Stay tuned for more posts featuring All That Glitters polishes and be sure to check out her shop HERE if you haven't already!

OPI and All That Glitters

Classic Black and White

Basic black and white nearly always look classy.  I saw a mani very similar to this on Pinterest but can't find it now, apparently I didn't pin it.  At any rate, here is my take on the look.  What do ya think?

Julep Courteney

My June Maven box showed up the other day and the first polish I wanted to try was Courteney.  I had some trouble deciding which box to get this month, I usually go with the "It Girl" box because it nets me 3 polishes instead of 2.  However, since they recently started allowing add on polish for $4.99 each, this month I switched it up and got the American Beauty because I was more drawn to the colors.  I have some ideas for some nail art with Courteney and Lily so keep your eyes peeled for them in the future together.  But for now here is Courteney all by herself but still gorgeous!

Julep Courteney

Shown here with two coats and a coat of Seche.  If you aren't already a Maven, you can sign up here.  If you are a Maven, which box did you get?  Do you like the colors?

Ozotic 534

Not much to say about this polish other than that it is packed full of holo goodness.  This was my first Ozotic and it certainly didn't disappoint!  Shown here over Rimmel Black Satin.