Nail Wheel 2

The second of my practise wheels - this time I tried to have less patterns, more actual 'things' on here - hopefully that describes my thinking?!

Clockwise from the top we have; Roses, purple daisies, matte drips, sprinkle drips, cherry blossom, strawberry, watermelon, pineapple, tuxedo, skull, converse, POW pop art, union jack, bunny, cupcake, crab, owl and penguin.

I like this one a lot, more fun and cute - great for accent nails I think. Still some of them need re-doing and practising, like the Converse - not nearly perfect enough! I think when I get round to it some of the full manicures I want to do will stem from here, such as a whole hand of fruit, and different floral arrangments. All to come....!

As before, please let me know if you want to know specific colours used.

China Glaze Half Moon Tribal

After my shopping spree with polish this weekend I felt I had to use as many of the new colours as possible - next on the list were the 3 new China Glaze polishes as I have heard great things about China Glaze but never owned one til now!

I decided on tribal half moons as I also bought some ring enforcing stickers for half moon manicures as recommended by other bloggers, the three China Glaze colours also suggest tribal to me when all together.

I used OPI Nail Envy as base, then for base colour (green) was China Glaze in Exotic Encounters. I topped that with Seche Vite to speed up drying time so I could contnue with the half moon process.

I did alternate nails using China Glaze Purr-fect Plum (purple) and Manhunt (blue) - great coverage and only needed one thick coat which I think works best with the half moon process. I also used a taupe colour I picked up from Tescos; their F&F range has some lovely colours - and on offer 2 for £5, but they don't name their colours :(

I then did the gold dot accents around the moon shapes using the Models Own nail art pen in gold, and topped off with Seche Vite again!

I hope you like, and be prepared to see many more tribal designs as I love them!

Nails Inc Feathers

As soon as I got this polish I wanted to do a feather inspired look with it. I need to practise my feather nail art work with the nail art pens too so this was a great opportunity!

I used OPI Nail Envy for base, then Essie Blanc for the base colour. Nails Inc Feather in Edinburgh - I used two coats on all excpt the pinky so you can see the different coverage levels. Then no top coat so you get the texture (a bit prickly so something to be aware of in terms of snagging clothes and when you are sleeping!).
For the ring finger I used Models Own in Fuzzy Peach, two coats, then did the feather design with the Models Own nail art pen in white - followed by a top coat of Seche Vite.

I like this design, hope you do too!

Uh oh! New polish haul!

I mentioned in my last post that I had got some cool new polishes yesterday - I thought I would share, as I maaay have been into town today as well and found some more amazing polishes!

The new Barry M Textured Polished in Ridley Road and Kingsland Road, then Seventeen Rock Hard Texture effect in Blue, and my new white; Essie in Blanc. 

Today I found some wonderful polish in Sallys; China Glaze reduced from £6.49 to £2.15! I got (L-R) Man Hunt, Exotic Encounters and Purr-fect Plum - so chuffed with these, I love a bargain! My first China Glaze polishes too so I can't wait to test them out!

I also swung by the Nails Inc nail bar in Debenhams and found that they now have a range of their 'feather effect' polish in 4 different shades. At £11 each I only treated myself to one (Edinburgh which is a mix of lavender and coral shards), but the shades are lovely - visit The PolishAholic's swatch review to see all the sades. I LOVE anything feathery so again, can't wait to test this one!

A happy weekend haul!

Farmyard Nail Art and Barry M's Textured Polish

I stopped by Boots today and saw the new textured polishes both Barry M and Seventeen have out now, I love the fact that both brands have chosen polar opposite shades. Barry M have pastels for Spring, and Seventeen have bolder colours such as a bright red and blue - I got the blue!

I wanted to use the textured polish straight away, but I had also planned a Farmyard themed nail art session as I went to the farm today with the family. I combined the two and the results are...

I used OPI Nail Envy for base, then on all except the thumb I used the new Barry M textured polish in Ridley Road - 3 coats and no top coat. I added nail art grass accents using Rimmel Lasting Finish in Green Grass, and the pink flower with a dotting tool; Rimmel 60 Seconds in Portobello Pink and NYC Lexington Yellow.

For the cow design on the thumb I used Models Own Jade Stone as a base colour, then my other new polish I bought; Essie in Blanc. My No 17 white polish has gone gloopy :( and I thought I can probably rely on Essie to be great, and it does seem to be a lovely white with a slight pearl.

I used two shades of brown for the spots and ears; Barry M in Cappucino and Revlon Colourstay in French Roast (coffee crazy!), the same pink for the nose and the Models Own nail art pens for detail.

I used Seche Vite to dry it quickly, but then the Essie Matte about you mattifying topcoat, which I haven't used much but its certainly growing on me!

And here's the fun I had at the Farm with my little newphew!

Nail Wheel 1

I purchased 10 blank nail wheels from Amazon a little while ago - probably just before Christmas, and have so far spent a few pleasant evenings doing them for fun and practice (much to the baffled amusement of my friends!), and this is the first one I want to share with you....

From the top clockwise we have black and white spots - done using a dotting tool, rainbow spots, stripes using nail art pens, metallic stripes, basketcase design - I have the WAH Nails book and thought this looked really tricky, but it isn't! A sort of tartan pattern next, then abstract tuxedo, chevrons, neon aztec, pastel aztec, metallic aztec (I like aztec....), leopard print, neon leopard print, purple zebra print, black and pink zebra print, metallic crackle, neon and purple crackle with glitter aaaaand back to neon spots!

I plan to do many, many more!!! If you want to know any specific polishes let me know and I can tell you - just would have been of epic length to detail them all, but I may one day!

Tribal nails

I only saw this design online recently - I found this fantastic tutorial here by Kayla Shevonne, and it really is so easy to do. Don't you just love nail art that looks impressive but is actually simple as! Such fun!

I used OPI Nail Envy for base, then alternated with Essie Butler Please and Models Own Fuzzy Peach for the base colour coats. Over the top I used No 17 Lasting Fix in Mini Skirt for the white blobs, NYC Lexington Avenue for the yellow blobs then the Models Own nail art pen in balck for the black outlines. All topped off with Seche Vite.

I like this one so much I might try and leave it on for more than a day!!!

Penguin love!

Another day, another friend being pinned down to be painted!

This time for penguins, and aren't they cuuuuute! <3 When aren't penguins cute eh...

I used Essie basecoat, Wet n Wild On a trip for the purple penguin skin (?!), No 17 Lasting Fix in Mini Skirt for the white chest, Models Own nail art pens for the eyes in both black and white - and the super cute bow tie, and Miss Sporty Yellow for the beaks and feet.

We loved this design, I have improvements in mind though for next time - like making the pointer a girl penguin with eyelashes and maybe a pink bow on the head, and then changing the middle finger to a design in the same colours but with a love heart on it - penguin love! <3

Hope you like too!

PS, Anyone else watching Penguins: Spy in the Huddle on BBC recently - the worlds cutest penguin programme!!!

Models Own Gradient nails

I LOVE orange nail polish.

I have quite a selection so far, but I have to say the brights are my favourite - followed by more coral-y shades.
I bought two Models Own orange polishes a little while ago and thought it might be cool to see what they are like as a gradient....

I used OPI Nail Envy as base, then Models Own Fuzzy Peach for the base coat colour, then the brighter shade of Models Own HedKandi Beach Party over the top for the gradient. I used a sponge and I am not sure its exactly what I would consider perfect, but practise will help so I will have to do many variations!

To jazz it up further I used the Models own black and silver nail art pens to do a cute little bow on the ring finger - on my other hand I did a simple heart.

Seche Vite top coat.

I hope you like!

Skyfall

Tonight we are watching Skyfall on Bluray as it was released in the UK yesterday - so excited! I did see it at the cinema, but that feels like aaaages ago - too long!

Here are my themed nails for this evening's viewing - as inspired by my husband who suggested it:

I used OPI Nail Envy basecoat, then No 17 Lasting Fix in Mini Skirt for the white thumb and ring finger, Models Own Black Magic for the pointer and middle finger, then Nails Inc The Thames for the pinky.

Thumb: 007 logo painted on with Models Own black nail pen, and gold and silver striping tape detail.

Pointer: 'M' using silver and gold striping tape.

Middle: Union Jack using No 17 Lasting Fix in Mini Skirt and then the silver striping tape - this was tricky, took almost 20 minutes!!! Not sure if that's worth it...!

Ring: Stag head from Skyfall estate using Models Own black nail art pen.

Pinky: Gun barrel using Models Own nail art pens in white and black.

All topped off with Seche Vite.

I hope you like! I am off to watch the film now....!

JimJam

I love painting nails, so my friends often have mini maicures when they pop over - i'll be honest, pretty much held to ransom til they agree! My friend JimJam is always up for this so I thought I would share the nails I have been practising on her as a willing victim!

Pastel Aztec Print:

I used Essie basecoat, Models Own black, silver and white nail art pens, Models Own Blooboo for the pale blue and Models Own Lilac Dream for the purple. Always - Seche Vite for the topcoat.

Owls:

I used Essie basecoat, Barry M Yellow and Models own Lemon Meringue for the yellow owl and eyes, Models Own black nail art pen for the pupils. Miss Sporty Orange for the beaks, Wet n' Wild On a trip and Models Own Lilac Dream for the purple owl. Barry M Spring Green and Models Own Jade Stone for the green owl, Natural Collection Hibiscus and a polish that comes in a bottle shaped like a skull (apparently glow in the dark but isn't) that I got from America - not sure of the brand, for the pink owl, and finally Rimmel Lasting Finish in Azure and Models Own Blooboo for the blue owl. Of course, Seche Vite for the top.

Anyone seen this brand before and know what it is?!

Tuxedos, with holo ring finger (for New Years Eve):

I used Essie basecoat, No 17 Lasting Fix in Mini Skirt for the white base colour and No 17 Holo in Silver for the ring finger, Models Own black nail art pen and Seche Vite topcoat.

Cupcakes:

I used Essie base coat, Models Own Blooboo for the pale blue background, Models Own Lilac Dream and Wet n Wild On a trip for the purple cake cases, the pink skull polish and Natural Collection Hibiscus for the pink cases, No 17 Lasting Fix in Mini Skirt for the white frosting, Natural Collection again for the cherry and assorted blue, orange and yellow for the sprinkles. Seche Vite topcoat.

I am sure you will see more of JimJams hands to come!

Nail Wheel 3

Third wheel and this time a completely different theme; texture.

I love this wheel, there are so many I want to do full manicures of, or at least mis-matched sets.

The feather one is by far my favourite and I have been looking at other blogs to see if any recommend where to buy coloured feathers from to do more of this. The feather I used was actually found outside by my 6 year old neice for her nature project....I promise I asked before I stole it!

If you want a tutorial on how to do the feather effect I will do one at some point, but until then check out Sammy from The Nailasaurus's tutorial - hers look amazing!

Clockwise from the top; metallic stripes using nail art pens on top of Nails Inc Leather Effect polish, skull on top of leather effect leather effect with diamantes, gloss black with diamantes, matte black with fimo hearts, matte black with nail art tribal design, Nails Inc Basil Street with fimo hearts, Barry M Cappucino (possibly one of my top 3 polish colours) with black and white acrylic box, Ciate Caviar Pearls in Hologram, Gloss black with caviar, Nails Inc Baker Street with caviar heart, Barry M Cappucino with black matte studs, Nails Inc Baker Street with feather (my fave!), Half Moon with Baker Street, gloss black and diamantes, metallic tartan, metallic criscross over Nails Inc Concrete Effect in London Wall, basketcase over Leather Effect and finally half and half of the two texture effect polishes.

As before, please let me know if you need any more details, I will happily provide.

It's fun to stay at the YMCA...!

So yesterday my friend Sarah and I went to volunteer at the Reading YMCA - my kind of volunteering; doing nails!

They are trying to give the residents, all aged between 16-24 years some different activites to do, and nail painting was up their street!
This was our first session, we will aim to go once a month, and it was a quiet, gentle easing into it with 6 clients - 2 staff and 4 young women from the centre.

We did simple colours, glitter gradient tips, adidas 3-stripe nail art, love hearts and mis-matched skull nails - so a whole range!

Only one photo this time, but will take one of each client next time...

And note to self, they will want what you have on your own nails so have simple ones on!!!



Welcome to New Day, New Nails!

The best kind of mess...

Hello!

My name is Jo and I am a 27 year old Berkshire based fan of nail polish and nail art. I am relatively new to this hobby, though always a fan of arty stuff – I suppose nail art is one way to use the foundation year I did at art college! I only started really loving nail polish a couple of years ago, before then I was rather careless with my nails – so it goes to show, once this hobby gets you, you are sucked in!

I started with a small box of nail polishes, and I have now expanded and am outgrowing my toolbox/trunk which is a ‘problem’. I shall have to buy enough to fill another now....

I mostly enjoy nail art designs, rather than swatches – but do love discovering new colours and glitters from bloggers swatching.

My favourite nail bloggers are:

The Nailasaurus

Chalkboard Nails

The Daily Nail

10 Blank Canvases

Finger Painted

I hope you will stick around to see my posts, please let me know if you have any new blogger advice or would like to see more of anything in particular. Mostly I hope to be doing this for the enjoyment, and of course - having another excuse to do more nail art!