NOTD: New Year's Super Blingy Ombre Glitter Mosaic + Tutorial

So far, we have already received nearly a foot more snow than we normally average in an entire winter.  And all that shoveling is what I'm blaming my lack of posting in January on ... winter doesn't appear to be letting up any time soon but I guess I'm not surprised ...  that's where the name Minne"snow"ta came from =)

Anyway, here is what I had on my nails for New Year's, just before I made a big chop (which if you haven't see on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc will be coming up in my next post).  The base color is just OPI Black Onyx; the glitter ombre is done with Martha Stewart glitter from Michaels in the colors Onyx, Sterling, Florentine Gold, Fire Opal, Garnet, Tourmaline, Kunzite, Charoite, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Verdalite & Olivine:

The overall ombre was a beautiful effect, although some nails the difference was very drastic, such as on the black/silver nail - some nails the difference was nearly invisible, such as on the red/orange nail:

Here's the tutorial:

This look was inspired from a design on Pinterest, and I did it my own way before I actually read up on the blog posts by the original creator.  That's how I usually do it unless I really can't figure out how to accomplish the effect, but after the fact I learned quite a lot from reading, watching, and even a few comments back and forth with Polish All The Nails.  So the next time I do a glitter mosaic - and there will definitely be a next time - I plan on using at least 2 coats of my base color, to give the glitter a deeper layer to be pressed into.  Also, I trimmed the overhanging glitter & then added a topcoat - I think I would topcoat to help the glitter stay in place, then trim, then more top coat to smooth everything out.  This wasn't horribly rough - and actually wore much better than I expected, only losing a few glitters by the time I took it off - but I think with practice I can get it even smoother!

This was a super fun manicure to wear, I kept in on a whole week & I got a LOT of compliments ... here's a look at it in motion:

Do you have the patience to do a look like this?  Maybe just as an accent nail would be enough for many LOL.

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Happy New Year!

Today was pretty mellow - slept late. went grocery shopping, had pizza for dinner with mom.  Glad I didn't have a party because while we may have had a brown Christmas here in MN, we're having a white New Year:

 

That's out my bedroom window right now, I literally just took the pic to include with this post =)

 

If your interested in my resolutions, I'll be talking about those on my other blog later, but one I will share with you guys is to be more organized overall.  This is the disaster area that is my desktop right now:

 

 

Tea mug, marbling test papers & test polishes, NOTD polishes I haven't posted yet, cuticle oil - just to name a small portion of the clutter.  So I'm going to do some cleaning, and some posting, and drink some wine & go to bed =)  I may squeeze changing my nails in there too but it remains to be seen LOL

 

If you're in for the night, have a cozy evening - if you're out you won't be reading this until later I suppose but I hope you have a safe & happy time =)

 

Thanks for reading.

 

~Colette

NOTD: New Year's Bling Silver & Black Sponging + Tutorial

I've been wanting to revisit this design ever since I did it in blue glitter.  This time I used China Glaze Fairy Dust, Nova, & WnW Black Creme:

 

Here's the tutorial:

 

 

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Top 20 2009 NOTDs

Well, what a year as they say. Almost the entirety of it spent blogging =) So I thought I'd browse back & pick some favorites to show you guys, to start off 2010 on a good foot, with A LOT of content =)

My super-duperest top favorites are at the beginning of this list, but I could not actually rank these, it was too hard.  In fact, this started out only going to be a top 10, but I started finding so many that I loved, I decided to do 10 favorite overall manis, and then an additional top 10 favorite colors =)

I think this still holds the place as the favorite Konad I've ever done, although a few others have come close.  This swirly goodness from back in August used Claire's Magic as the base color (original post HERE):

The hands-down BEST glitter that I own, China Glaze Atlantis (original post HERE):

Pretty recent, and not anywhere near the top of my list when I initially finished it, my Holly Leaves & Berries Christmas mani really grew on me as I wore it (original post HERE):

I have had such a fun year learning how to water marble. I think my favorite - at this particular moment of posting LOL - was the one I did with several colors from the China Glaze OMG Collection (original posts HERE & HERE):

My Halloween Spiderweb mani (original post HERE):

The mani that change my mind about liking matte polish, OPI DS Extravagance matte-ified (original post HERE & without matte topcoat HERE):

A polish that I will admit was worth the dent in my wallet, Rescue Beauty Lounge Orbis Non Sufficit from the Blogger Collection (original post HERE):

I love funky frenches, and this is one that I often think of doing again, either the same or maybe with a different color scheme (original post HERE):

Black fishnets - a Konad classic =) - over Barielle Get Mauve-ing (original post HERE):

The 4th of July mani that was inspired by fireworks (original post HERE):

OK, now on to the best colors of the year ...

Best red - I chose Zoya Isla (original post HERE):

Best orange - this isn't only orange I guess, but I didn't have that many to choose from & this one did deserve to be included in the top 20 somehow =)  China Glaze Fortune Teller (original post HERE):

Best green - how could I choose anything but China Glaze Emerald Sparkle (original posts HERE & HERE):

Best blue - I really love my blues.  This one I was really close, I almost went with China Glaze Frostbite (original post HERE), but in the end I went with OPI DS Fantasy (original post HERE):

Best purple - and probably best holo if I'd included that category - Color Club Wild at Heart (original post HERE):

Best black - Icing Blackout (original post HERE):

Best silver - China Glaze Millennium (original post HERE):

Best grey - I know everyone always calls Color Club Revvvolution a black holo, but really it's dark grey (orignal post HERE):

Best brown - Misa Earthward (original post HERE):

Best duo-chrome - OK, so duo-chrome isn't a color on it's own.  Do I look like I care? =) I had to find some way to get Indigo Illusion included (original post HERE):

So, those are my favorite from 2009.  I can't wait to see what I come up with this year =)  Thanks for reading.

~Colette

New Year's Resolutions

I have a lot of them this year, from the large to the small. I've already been trying to implement some of them, but what is it about the mental milestone of January 1st that makes it seem like such a good time to change?

• Losing Weight - This is a perennial resolution. I even usually make progress, but it has been really slow. I will get seriously going for a few months & then fall off. I don't gain back what I've lost, so much as just stall in my progress. Here's to making steady progress. I got a new yoga mat to replace the one I wore out for Christmas, and I have prevented the stationary bike from turning into a coat tree, so I'm still on the right path LOL
• Budget - Well, I'm not actually putting myself on a budget, so much as I'm trying to become more aware of how much I'm spending & how often & what on. I'd like to save some money & look at buying a new - or at least newer - car this spring. I made up a budget spreadsheet, so when I go out & blow money on nail polish it's right there in my face, not buried with the rest of the receipts & entered onto my ledger with no real thought.
• Schedule - Just generally getting my ass in gear. I can honestly sit & stare into space, daydream or just zone out for long periods of time that could be put to much better use. I wouldn't have so much unfinished crap if I'd just DO it instead of procrastinating.
• Reading - I was disappointed with my total number of books for 2009. I'll be posting my last books of 2009 sometime this weekend, I didn't quite make it to 80. Some of you are probably thinking, "WTF?!?!" but my average was less than 2 books a week & for me that's kind of disappointing. My total for 2008 was 130, I doubt I can get that many read now that blogging has become such a hobby, but for 2010 I would like to hit or break 100.
• Socializing - I'm kind of anti-social. Actually, pretty phobic about it, like those commercials for social anxiety disorder? I get extremely nervous around strangers. At the same time, I get lonely, I wish I had more friends, and - while I enjoy chatting with you all - I know I'm not going to make new friends hiding at home. Tee always wants me to go out with her. So I'll resolve to try & go out with her more this year than last ... I think last time we went out - OUT out, like make plans & dress nice out - about 3 times. Damn sad I know. & a goal it shouldn't be hard to beat.
• Comments - Especially over the holidays, I've had a few times where I've fallen WAY behind with comments. I'm going to try, seriously, to stay on top of them. I've made this resolution before, so we'll see what kind of a job I do.
• Throughout Me - I've got to post more on my 2nd blog. I've got to write more, draw more, do more to put on there. There was a time when I was writing faithfully every day. I'd like to get back to that point.

So, what kind of resolutions do you have? Serious ones or even ones you may have every intention of breaking LOL. (Maybe: No chocolate this year!?) Maybe not even anything so firm as a resolution, maybe just a thought or a hope you'd like to carry through the year. Hard to resolve to be always happy, easier to try every day to fully appreciate life.

Well, lots of rambling, and no pics at all this post! Not to worry. The nails, novels, and other simple little pleasures will return shortly =) I have quite a backlog to catchup with this weekend, at least 5 posts currently in draft, and all intentions of posting them up soon. Here's to another year. Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Last New Year's

Another blast from the past for you guys, my mani from last New Year's. I believe this is Sally Hansen Sterling, Konad done with Konad Pearl Blue & Pearl Purple Princess Polish & image plate m21:


Sterling is still one of my favorite silvers, although it doesn't quite compete with Millennium. I've got a lot of other stuff for you guys, but this was one of the only things ready to throw up quickly =) Almost time to go make a toast. I've got my resolutions scheduled to post after midnight, and plans to get through the rest of the stuff that's in draft over this holiday weekend.

Thanks for reading.

~Colette