Cherry Blossoms

Here is what I have been wearing since Monday. I love it so much, I didn't even wear PINK on Wednesday, although I was still quite mean....LOL So, the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. was held March 26th - April 10th, and the blossoms are always beautiful!. I haven't been in years, but I think it's something all Americans should do once in a lifetime.......(or visitors, for that matter!)

This is NR, FBL502 (see below) as a base, and stamped with konad white and pink using plate s9, and T25!!! (the symbols are "beauty" on my middle finger and "Life/Destiny" on my ring. Thank you Bless!!!! <3

(OOH! - The elusive Right Hand!!!)

The birds were from plate SR08-1, which I ordered from Nail Art Diva!. It actually is supposed to be used with the "application device" (stamping machine), but I used it with my konad stamper and it was fine. I have the whole NAD kit, but haven't used it, yet! Things are frequently out of stock, so I was stoked to get the bird plate!

My first attempt at "freehand painting" ; I used Color Club "Positively Posh" for the branches, essence "I Love This City" for the blossoms, and white (el-cheapo, no name) for the white dots. This was a bit tougher than I had expected - maybe next time I'll try acrylic paints...but I think it looks OK.

This is what I used as my base - Nature Republic, FBL502 - it is a little holo, but with little sun, it was more like a micro-glitter.

GIGI!!!! Is basking in the sun! *snort*

So, read the information on the Sakura and see if you think I captured the essence of the meaning of these gorgeous flowers!

Be Pawlished!

~Tiffani

Game Day in 3D

Game Day Nails 2011 Edition!

And a review....of the 3D molds....can I just say I LOVE THEM....more in a minute.

For starters, I used Color Club "Stuck on You" base-coat....can I say WOW! This is by far the best base I have ever used....it reminds me of "Get Wet" by Cheeky Monkey (which I have used all of) - slightly sticky, VERY quick drying, and the staying power of an unwanted house guest.

2 coats of Milani "lemongello" (too funny) , Sally Hansen "Blue It" for the stripe and dots. The white dots are Orly "White Out" and of course, a dotting tool.

I have been reading about these 3D molds and really like the idea. I know, it's almost like cheating on nail art...I have tried to sculpt with acrylic many times but I don't like how (even on top of my several layers of polish) the acrylic always leaves a little spot on my natural nail where it adheres, even when I soak them off. These little molded letters and flowers are already dry when you apply them, so it is no different than rhinestones or stickers.

I used IBD acrylic in "Bright White" for the letters.

This little pink flower was made with colored acrylic powder. I think it's darling.

I used Seche to stick them on and top coated them with the same.

GIGI BREAK!

OK-I am back. LOL

I purchased these molds on www.transdesign.com for $11.20 each. They are a little pricey, but well worth it.

I will probably get a few more. BTW, I contacted this company (no bad press, please!) about a year ago to review their product...I never heard back from them, so I just went ahead and bought them myself to review. I am so glad I did!

~Be Pawlished!

Tiffani

STILL WEARING!

The Purple Peacock. I am attributing the longevity of this mani to Color Club "Stuck on You" base coat. I have been using it for a month or so, and I swear, my manis are lasting a week or more....(essence polishes are quite long wearing, also. Colour & Go line, not so much)

Case in point. (the PP was done Monday evening. THIS is Sunday's pic ~ as in I just took it moments ago.....)

so, the quality of the picture isn't great, but you can see that there is little to no tip wear after 6 days. I have not touched/retouched/painted/tipped them since Monday evening.

I am still using Seche as my top coat, although I am going to be trying out some new brands.

~Be Pawlished!

Tiffani

Fall comes before winter.

Or at least it used to....we have gone from 70 degree days to snow...not that I mind.

I decided to use the one day of beautiful fall here in WV for what else???? ~ Do a mani!

Inside, with flash.

Outside, no flash, shade.

Outside, evening sun.

Color Club "Nothing But Truffle", stamped with China Glaze 2030 using BM plate...and randomly placed orange, clear, green and gold rhinestones.....of course, there was Seche on top.

I wore this for about 3 days. Then it was sunny again. Now it is snowing..

Be Polished!

~Tiffani

Scary, ain't it!!!

The fact that I am actually posting! My Hallowe'en nails were super fun!

My thumb was painted with Essence "Sun Downer" from "Return to Paradise"...officially my favorite non-neon orange - THANK YOU LYRA!!!

Stamped with Special Polish Black using the Coraline plate bat and kitty.

Black fingers are painted with wet n wild Crystalic in "Heavy Metal" (I really wish they wouldn't have discontinued this line of polish! I have them all....they are great.)

I sponged my pinky with China Glaze snow and made a "moon" with a large dotting tool and Color Club "Worth the Risque".

Here is the picture of everything I used for this kondicure:

Be Polished!

~Tiffani

It's Been A LONG, LONG time!

Hey lovelies! I got home from vacation and have been busier than I have been all year. Baseball for the Roo is in "full swing" (pun intended) here, I am still very busy with the photo studio and all around just worn out! HOWEVER, I have today a "Daily Dose of Dupe". I think I am going to do these on a more regular basis, because I have a load of dupe-y pics I have been taking and just need to post.

Take a look at DDD #1: Icing "Mellow" VS. Color Club "Wham! POW!" (which happens to be my favorite neon EVER - try it on your toes sometime, it's the best)

OK, I know this is a little backwards, but I wanted to show you the mani without the bottles first.

Then, with the bottles.....so you could decide which one is which. (before I tell you, of course)

Both of these bottle pics were taken with both colors, alternating, on my nails...(see below)

So, I have to tell you that I did all the comps very scien"tiff"ically - (scientifically). I put them in alphabetical order by brand name, so Color Club was on my 1st and ring, Icing was on my middle and pinky (even in the 1st mani and separate bottle pics)...get it? Yeah, lame-o, but I knew if I didn't keep it consistent, I'd never remember which was which.

Verdict?

Be Polished!

~Tiffani

KOTDs, and some gentle history.

This is my Lichtenstein/Warhol inspired konadi.....I love the dots. This pink is so very bright, I almost didn't put anything over it, I just kept staring and "petting" it, literally.... I loved the application and the color saturation was POW....

1. DC Super Base.

2. 2 coats Color Club Warhol.

3. 1 coat DC Super dry before stamping.

4. Plate m60 stamped with Color Club Worth the Risque.

5. Little yellow daisy/sun from C01.

6. Seche Vite.

This konadi was from yesterday. A little history of Philippi, WV (where I live) ....This place floods. OK, history lesson over. LOL - So with all this snow melting and now with rain being forecasted for the next several days, we are in for some soggy messes....So much that they had an early dismissal for our schools yesterday. When I got the "robo-call" from the county, I immediately got an idea to do a water/blue nail thing.....funny thing, though, just as I stamped that subtle water thingy, the glorious sun (I MEAN BEEEEERIGHT) sun came through the sky light in my bathroom and was nearly blinding. That's when I decided to add those little sun-like flowers....

1. DC Super Base.

2. 2 Coats Suzi Says Feng Shui (OMGsh, this blue is awesome)

3. OPI Absolutely Alice for skinny French tips.

4. DC Super dry before stamping.

5. fauxnad plate GCOCL D02 stamped with Konad Blue Pearl and Yellow/White mixed.

6. Seche Vite.

I have also been using Orly Flash Dry lately. I only have it because it came free with something I ordered, somewhere....I have so much stuff, I can't remember.....

P.S. - I love the tags I have gotten lately, I promise, I am going to do the "things I love"....lists - I swear! My time has been a little short - senior picture ordering and editing season is really here. My business is booming, and my orders are taking up my time....I'll get around to it...Ladies, I appreciate EVERY ONE of them and love getting tagged.

Be Polished!

~Tiffani

KOTD a day late....

I did this konadicure on Thursday, but didn't get a chance to post it...it is Diamond Cosmetics "Don't Teal My Heart Away" and my first Color Club, "Worth the Risque" - I used plate M4. I then added a large crystal to the ring finger, mainly because I smudged the stamp - GRRRRR.....I really love this color from DC, and as others have said, this formula is very smooth and opaque in 2 coats. Plus, for the price $2.50~ish a bottle, they are fast becoming my new favorites.

I had read a review (thanks to Fashioned in Finland here) about the Color Club holo, and I am so glad I bought it on that recommendation...it is very hard to really pick up the holo on this stamp, but I was surprised at how well it shows up as a stamp! So good to find other polishes that work with the konad system.....I can't wait to use this as a base color - it's really fab.

I took both of these pics in full-sun, well, as full as our sun was that day. The color is very true to life....vibrant, with a hint of dust....it's beautiful.

The konad reminded me of part fishnet, part tribal, part henna art - I couldn't put my finger on it (no pun intended, yeah right!)....what do you think?