Showing posts with label Illamasqua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illamasqua. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Back to School

Hey Everyone!! Ok. So school started yesterday. My baby joined the ranks of high school. It is so very odd having him go to the same school I went to and even having one of my teachers! We took a tour of the school on Friday and it was a very weird feeling. I was dressed in jeans, sneakers and a t shirt roaming the same halls I used to roam dressed pretty much the same way. We even ran into a teacher that was there when I was so it made it even more strange. I am not enjoying the switch from getting up after 7:30 am to getting up before 6:00 am either. I am hoping I get used to the new schedule quickly because not even coffee is waking me up and I am pretty much in a haze until around noon. I can't tell you how many stupid mistakes I have made the past two mornings because I have not been fully with it. The good news is that I should be back on schedule blogging now. 

In honor of school starting I did a back to school mani which I wore yesterday. I was going to do a full week's worth of back to school designs but I was so tired last night I went for something more simple. I guess this year we will have just one back to school mani. On a side note did you know they now have Crayola Colored Pencils in 36 color packs?! When I was a kid we had 10 (or was it 12) colors!! How in the world are there 36 colored pencils? I was impressed and actually picked up a pack. One of the school supplies T needs is colored pencils and I couldn't pass up the 36 pack even though I know he probably doesn't need that much variety. 36 colors!!! 

Back to the mani. I used a base of Illamasqua Scorch. I don't have a picture of it but I used three coats. I love the polish and the color but the brush makes me a little crazy. It is on the wonky side and applies the polish uneven and streaky. I don't know if all Illamasquas have that problem or just this brush but I am not a fan of that stupid brush. I need to check out my other two Illamasqua polishes to see if they have the annoying brush too.


I used a Sinful Colors striping polish in blue to stamp the loose leaf paper design on Vivid Lacquer nail plate VL008. I think this image is the cutest and it was one of the main reasons I bought the plate. I love the Vivid Lacquer plates and they stamp really well. 


I used a neon purple Sinful Colors stamper and Mash plate Mash-31 to give my papers a happy face.


I have short nails so I was hoping the paper design would actually look like paper. I think it came out pretty cute. I used Wet N Wild Ebony Hates Chris to do the nail art. 


If my nails were a little longer or bigger fitting some school work on there would have been easier. They are growing though so that is a start. 


My right hand didn't quite come out as good as the left but it is still decent enough to show. 


I was so excited to do this mani. I love the paper design so much. 



I had to explain the mani to my mom. She didn't quite get it at first look. I am not sure what that says about the mani but I also had to tell C why there was a check mark next to dog. He didn't quite understand the check marks. 


I thought it made a great first day of school mani. Not exactly high school level work happening on those nails but I don't think an algebra equation was going to fit on there. 


As a nice little bonus for you I have Mr. Neil guarding his food bowl. The big dogs come and push him out of the way and eat his food if you don't watch them. Poor little Neil, he gets no respect. 

That's all for now :)




Monday, June 10, 2013

Stay Behind, Catch a Wave

Hey Everyone!!! Happy Monday!! I hate those mornings when you know you have to get up early for something and end up waking up insanely early and unable to go back to sleep. That was me this morning. I have been up since around 6am. Luckily I am not TOO tired but that may change by the afternoon. It might be a two coffee kinda day.

Today I have an awesome mani to show you! I LOVED this mani. So so much!


I used Illamasqua Scorch as my base. This is my second Illamasqua polish that I own and the first one I have tried. I don't know if they are all like this but if they are I am going to need more. A nail board friend snagged this for me from Sephora in JCPenny on clearance because my store didn't have any. White polishes are usually a PITA to work with but this was an easy two coats full coverage gorgeous off white dream. The picture was taken inside so it looks more gray than white but omg it is awesome.


Elevation Polish Stay Behind, Catch a Wave. The label says just Catch a Wave but I would imagine it would be hard to fit the whole name. This baby is amazing. I had been wanting this polish since it came out but just recently was able to finally snag a bottle. OMG just go buy it because it is awesome!


Catch a Wave is a gorgeous glitter in a slightly blue tinted base. I didn't realize the base was tinted until I put it over Scorch actually. This baby has a TON of glitter and 5, yes FIVE, different circle glitters in there. It also has iridescent hexes and holo micro glitter in teal and green. The circle glitter is white, blue and teal.


I did two coats of Catch a Wave over two coats of Scorch. I LOVE the color Catch a Wave's tinted base turned Scorch. Such a pretty tint.


Catch a Wave was a bit on the thick side so next time I use it I am going to add thinner. There is a TON of glitter in this baby so I am not surprised it is a little on the thick side.


There is so much glitter in this polish! I could not stop staring at my nails.


I took a ton of pictures because it is so pretty. I know, a lot of them look the same but how can you resist staring at that gorgeous blue glittery goodness?


Something about the iridescent glitter makes this mani even more awesome.


This is one of those polishes I could just stare at all the time. I should probably keep the bottle on my desk so I can always see it. I can't believe I waited so long to get it.


I need to make a necklace with this combination and wear it all the time.


Stay Behind, Catch a Wave is from the 180 degrees South Collection and is currently available on the site.


Elevation Polish is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands. I have loved every polish I have tried so far and there are several I have my eye on still!


If you don't have this polish and you like glitter you NEED it! You will not regret it!

That's all for now :)