New Nails #21

And that's it; that's my joviality for the day over and done with.

It's not that I'm against Valentine's Day entirely; what girl doesn't love to receive flowers!? But I don't see the point in it, and I hate Valentine's Day cards! Usually I love buying greetings cards for people, but the 'boyfriend' cards are always sooo girly with flowers and teddy bears on, and the mush written inside them... who speaks like that!!?? I long for the year I stumble across a simple red card with the words 'Happy Valentines Day' on the front and 'I Love You' inside.

So, as you've probably gathered, there'll be no big romantic night for me and the boyf. We'll watch a movie (Looper; no mushy stuff) and order a take-away (an Indian; a slight upgrade from the KFC we used to have a few years ago!) and eat heart shaped chocolate lollies (thanks mum!).

All that being said here's my Valentine's Day nails; hehe....

I used Models Own Red Alert; Snow White; 3-in-1 Top Coat, Base Coat and Gloss; and a toothpick. 

And this tutorial for the hearts

New Nails #20

Happy New Year

I was going to post these nails yesterday, but, to be honest, I was an absolute disgrace New Year Eve; me and my friends barely made it to 12:00 (in fact one was passed out by 11:45pm!). Lecture for you; alcohol is not big and it's not at all clever. So I was in no fit state for anything yesterday; my headache was that bad it spread over the whole of my face! Ugh!

Back in work today though, so back to normality; though I've been thrown right in it, January is always our most busiest time of the year, and when you're knees are battered and bruised from falling over in a drunken stupor it's quite hard to be running around trying to get things done.

I used Models Own Champagne; Models Own Nude Beige; Models Own Black Nail Art Pen; Models Own 3-in-1 Base Coat / Top Coat / Gloss

Hope you had an amazing, less eventful and safe New Year. Here's to 2013, whatever it may bring!

New Nails #19

Merry Christmas one and all!

Although I am not feeling in the least bit Christmasy I bid you all a very Merry Christmas and leave you with (possibly) the last New Nails # of the year.

I used: Models Own Beth's Blue; Nude Beige; Pastel Pink; Red Alert; Scarlet Sparkle; Purple Grey; Snow White; Black & White Nail Art Pens

New Nails #18

With my works Christmas Party approaching I thought I'd make a start on attempting some of the Festive Nails I have 'pinned' on Pinterest; starting with this one from The Beauty Department.

Every time I'm on Pinterest searching for nail art inspiration I see this design, and every time I see it I think 'I must try that at Christmas time'. Now is that time! It was a bit more fiddly than I had imagined; that might be my fault though, I doubled up on the black cotton because I didn't think one strand looked thick enough, and getting them to stay lined up was a 'mare!!

I used: Models Own 3-in-1 Base Coat / Top Coat / Gloss; Snow White; Red Alert; Green Tea; Scarlett Sparkle Glitter; Emerald City Glitter

It's a bit rough around the edges, but I like it! It's so cute!

New Nails #17

I always wear nail varnish. There is never a time I'm not seen without it on... until last week. Coming back from Venice my last nails had chipped ridiculously beyond anything socially acceptable; we're talking the whole thumb missing and at least a quarter of every other finger gone! It was a disgrace.

So I sat in bed on Tuesday night, catching up on my TV with tin foil wrapped around the ends of my fingers.

In the past, I've rubbished this method of removing glitter nail varnish, it's never worked for me. Now though, I can't fault it! Genius!

And that's it. I didn't apply anything else in it's place (except a base coat) and it felt really strange, I'm used to seeing a flash of colour when I look down at my hands. I have to say, even though I didn't like it, my nails needed the break. We're talking years since I last took a nail varnish time out. And though I kept them clear for 5 days, I couldn't wait to paint them again.

My colour of choice: Models Own Coral Reef.

I Love

1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6

New Nails #16

I'm really into glitter nail polish at the moment; I'm never usually, just because it's so darn impossible to remove! I've tried my trusty Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover in the past, but all that happened was that the glitter shredded the sponge and didn't remove the glitter!!! I'm still getting bits of glitter stuck to me when I use it!

I've also tried the 'tried and tested' tin foil tip; and it doesn't work. But now, I have come across this tip, to use PVA glue as your base coat! Sounds genius; I will be trying this for sure; I'll let you know how I get on.

I used Models Own Beth's Blue; Utopia; Hed Kandi

New Nails #15

(belated)

I know I've only just done my nails; but these new ones go with my costume for a party I'm going to tonight!
I'm dressing up as a Zombie Little Red Riding Hood who's been mauled to death by the big bad wolf... obviously.

And the idea behind the nails is that I've clawed my way out of my grave; and you don't do that and still keep your perfect manicure!!

I was going to do all of the nails, but then the logistics of it all, it just seemed too much of a hassle! I'd probably keep catching myself with the rough / sharp points; and every time I washed my hands all the blood would all wash off leaving it looking, well, crap basically! So I settled for a statement finger...

1. You will need: -
   * False Nails (I got mine from the 99p shop; just because I don't wear them otherwise, so didn't have any spare / loose ones lying around)
  * Nail Glue
  * Nail Varnish (colour of your choice / to match the rest of your nails)
  * Nail Scissors / Clippers
  * Fake Blood

2. Paint your fake nail with the colour of your choice and leave to dry.

3. Once dry, cut up the fake nail depending on the 'look' you're going for...
A few ideas for you: -

4. Glue the fake nail / pieces on top of your own clean / nail varnish free nail.

5. 'Decorate' with blood.

I wasn't overly happy with how it turned out; it didn't quite look how I imagined it would in my head - it never does though does it!? In my head I'm an artistic genius!!

New Nails #14

(nearly)

I used Models Own Beach Party; Green Tea; Snow White; Red Alert; Black Magic; Black & White Nail Art Pens

New Nails #13

I made the mistake, with my previous nails, of adding a topcoat. I now know nail stickers and topcoat don't work! Within a couple of hours the topcoat had seeped under the stickers causing them to bubble up and start to peel away... oops!

So, I was going to just re-do them with the stickers; partly because I just love the Beth's Blue colour I had as my base coat; and partly because it was so simple; but then I was flicking through my Wah Nails book and spotted this little cutie of a design...

Colours Used: Models Own Purple Poppy & Raspberry Crush

I really need to start referring to my Wah Nails book more often; I seem to have forgotten about it and it's many simple-to-achieve looking designs.

New Nails #12

I've not been very well this weekend; boo! So to cheer myself up I spent the day in bed drinking tea, eating home-made cheesecake, watching films and painting my nails; in other words, the perfect Sunday!

I purchased these stickers off eBay a few weeks ago; I must say, they were difficult to get off the backing; I did rip a few before they'd even reached my nails! But they are cute for a simple yet effective manicure.



Colour is Models Own Beth's Blue

Swatch Out

I accidentally placed an order for 8 more Models Own nail varnishes like 11:30pm on the last night of the Models Own 50% off Sale; don't you just hate it when that happens!? I must have been sleep-walking or something!

Hehe!

Anyway, they arrived yesterday morning (sorry Models Own, but that was shoddy delivery, considering I ordered them on the 2nd!); and here they are...

Pictures © Models Own

Top Row l-r: In The Navy; Juicy Jules; Fuzzy Peach; Beth's Blue

Bottom Row l-r: Sterling Silver; Orange Sorbet; Scarlett Sparkle; Purple Grey

So last night, I spent my evening swatching all the colours I own. I mainly did this for my own benefit, to help me decide more quickly which colour I want to use (instead of rummaging through all the boxes, splodging quick blobs of polish on my nails to see how it looks) but I thought I'd share...

Be warned; there's a few!!

1. Purple Imperial; 2. Vintage Pink; 3. Coral Reef; 4. Top Turquoise; 5. Pink Punch; 6. Pearly Queen; 7. Purple Poppy; 8. Balearic Cool; 9. Dusty Mauve; 10. Golden Peach; 11. Utopia; 12. Blooming Pink; 13. True Blue; 14. Pastel Pink; 15. Lemon Meringue; 16. Zest A Peal; 17. Blooboo; 18. Jade Stone

1. Soda Pop Pink; 2. Betty Blue; 3. Lilac Dream; 4. Beacon Party; 5. Raspberry Crush; 6. Blue Lagoon; 7. Sun Kissed; 8. Peacock Green; 9. Peaches and Cream; 10. Dream Stream; 11. Aqua Violet Beetlejuice; 12. Peach Sherbet; 13. Hedonist; 14. Feeling Blue; 15. Nude Beige; 16. Snow White; 17. Red Alert; 18. Green Tea

1. Juicy Jules; 2. Scarlett Sparkle; 3. Ibiza Mix; 4. Disco Mix; 5. Pink Fizz; 6. Bluebelle; 7. Emerald City; 8. Silver Smash Up; 9. Orange Sorbet; 10. Purple Grey; 11. Beth's Blue; 12. Sterling Silver; 13. Fuzzy Peach; 14. In The Navy

Maybe I have a slight addiction...

New Nails #11

There's not much goin on in the world of Pip at the moment. I'm suffering from spending all my pennies on such beautiful treats, and, hopefully, me and the boyf are going away for my birthday in November, so I'm storing away any spare pennies for that.

My Models Own order arrived on Friday though, so I did my nails.

I used two of my new colours, TopTurquoise and Coral Reef, then my trusty white Models Own nail art pen.

Models Own-er

I may or may not have just kind of accidentally on purpose purchased 8 new Models Own nail polishes.

Oops!

But with a 50% discount, how could I not!!?! It's like buy 4, get 4 free!!

Here's my purchase....

Pictures © Models Own 

Top Row l-r: Snow White; Ibiza Mix; Green Tea; Top Turquoise

Bottom Row l-r: Red Alert; Soda Pop Pink; Peaches and Cream; Coral Reef 

All to be added to my ever expanding collection; I will be doing swatches of my whole Models Own collection, mainly for my own benefit, to make it quicker for me to decide on colours, but I'll share :)

New Nails #10

My inspiration for these nails came from this tutorial Pin on Pinterest - it really is amazing what you can do, nail art-wise with just random bits and bobs found around the home; and in this case, the office in work.

I have used hole-punch reinforcer's as a part of my nail art once before and found them really easy to use, they're not too sticky, so are easy to pull off without pulling up the varnish underneath.

What I used:

Models Own 3-in-1 Top Coat / Gloss/Base Coat

Models Own Raspberry Crush

Models Own Pink Punch

Models Own Pastel Pink

Hole punch reinforcer's I pinched from work!

Probably not the greatest combination colour-wise; I just didn't have a 'middle' pink.

Again, whilst I'm mentioning Models Own, if you're a fan, don't forget to 'Like' their Facebook page - prizes from 80,000 'Likes' and a 50% sale at 100,000 'Likes'! Do it!!!

Not New Nails #9

I did my nails again. When it came to browsing through my Pinterest boards for inspiration for my next design, I just couldn't resist this little beauty again....

Old Design

I really do love this design, and when I first had it last month I had so many compliments, and so many people thinking they were Nail Wraps - what a compliment!!!!

New Design

I was considering mixing it up a bit, and having an individual colour per finger for the leopard print, but I blobbed the purple on my thumb, then did my next finger completely forgetting my plan!! Next time, because there will be a next time for sure, this is now my 'go-to' design for when I can't think of / find another I like.

I used the same as last time, my trusty Models Own - whilst I'm mentioning Models Own, if you're a fan, don't forget to 'Like' their Facebook page - prizes from 80,000 'Likes' and a 50% sale at 100,000 'Likes'! Do it!!!

New Nails #8

I went to the Zoo at the weekend. I love the Zoo. We go every year and I always take hundreds of pictures. It's absolutely my favourite thing to do though, I wish I could go every weekend!!!



Yeah there's Dinosaurs at the Zoo - and what!?

My new nails are in no way related to the Zoo though....

I was going to do a tutorial on how I did the heart, but I forgot to take pictures during it! But basically, I followed this tutorial.

I used my trusty Models Own 3-in-1 Top Coat/ Base Coat / Gloss; Models Own Nude Beige; Models Own Pink Fizz; Models Own White Nail Art Pen.

New Nails #7

As much as I loved my previous multi-coloured leopard print nails, they were starting to chip, and it's not an easy design to 'just top-up'. I was seriously considering just re-doing them, but after having a flick through my copy of the WAH! Nails book I decided on a roses design.

What I used: 

Models Own Purple Poppy

Models Own True Blue

Models Own Raspberry Crush

Models Own Nail Art Pen - Black

Rio Professional Nail Art Pen - Green

Models Own 3-in-1 Base Coat / Top Coat / Gloss

  
I'm not overly happy with the design (although the picture looks a lot better than in real life). I think I used too dark a colour on the roses and leaves, and the black outline came out thicker than I wanted so I lost out on a lot of detail.

I will give it another try in the future though, find some lighter colours (maybe it's just the blue I need to change?) I've also ordered Topshops Nail Art Pen in black, I already have it in blue and find the nib to be a lot thinner and more precise than squeezing out the varnish out of the Models Own Nail Art Pen.