Valentine's Hearts Water Marble + Tutorial

Sometimes it is perhaps not quite so obvious how far behind I am - but yes, these are Valentine's nails, and yes that means I'm about 4 months behind LOL.

I started off this manicure with a base of Zoya Marley, then did the marbling with Marley & Ulta Femme Fatale.  I like these hearts better than the hearts I did the year before, but for something that seems like it should be simple, it's surprisingly hard to get exactly right in the water:

Some of the hearts ended up "cleaner" in the center than others ... shows that even I am not perfect & still have plenty to learn about marbling:

Here's the tutorial:

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: The Evolution of Ulta Chocolate Kiss

We've been having ridiculously nice & unseasonably warm weather here - the high today was 79!  In March - in Minnesota!  Not normal but you won't see me complaining =)  So that's just one of my excuses why I haven't gotten more done lately LOL.

Still catching up, still back in January's manicures.  This one started out with Ulta Salon Formula Chocolate Kiss:

After a day I added Finger Paints Twisted - a multi-colored flakie:

But I wasn't satisfied with that, so I topped it with China Glaze Matte Magic:

Here's a look in motion:

I should be able to get a few more posts edited tonight ... I really should stop putting off my taxes, but if I can't make myself sit down & do them I'll be posting tomorrow too =)

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Ulta Love My Blackberry + Finger Paints Flecked

Time flies - as those of you who follow my other blog know, I recently got promoted at work & while it hasn't been a huge change, it's been enough that I feel justified placing the blame for my hiatus there =)

Anyway, you'll remember I just finished procrastinating my way through 2011, this is the actual beginning of my 2012 manicures.  I started off with a base color of Ulta Love My Blackberry, a lush vampy purple:

Then I topped it with Finger Paints Flecked, from the Special Effects collection & fell in love:

Of course it was gorgeous with some Matte Magic too:

Here's a look in motion:

I'm really going to try & make time to get caught up here on the blog.  But a lot of responsible-type things still to do also, like my taxes (blech).

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Guest NOTD: Ulta Smoke Screen

Not only behind with my own NOTDs, but also Mom's.  This is perhaps the most demure of her NOTDs lately that I have pics of - Ulta Smoke Screen:

Thanks for reading =)

~Colette

NOTD: L'Oreal Amazon's Flash w/ Christmas Tree + Tutorial

Sooo ... obviously I did not meet my goal of catching up by the end of the year.  But one of my resolutions is to be better organized, so getting caught up is a good place to start with that =)

These nails are  from about a week before Christmas - I wasn't totally happy with them so they only lasted about a day (& that's also why there's not many pics), but still a fun & festive look.  Base color is L'Oreal Amazon's Flash, the tree is done with Ulta Salon Formula Envy, and the lights/ornaments are done with Nubar Fire Sparkle:

Here's the tutorial:

My next look also involves Christmas trees, but done with stencils rather than freehand =) 

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Pre-Christmas Haul

I have my Christmas Eve Haul still to post too (which includes my Finger Paints Special Effects!).  But I got some good stuff in this haul too:

Ulta Salon Formula:

Taupe on a Rope, Into Astrono-Me?, Smoke Screen, Envy, Chocolate Kiss.

Orly:

Stone Cold, Emberstone, Rock the World.

China Glaze:

Haunting, Near Dark, Trendsetter.

Revlon:

Mistletoe, Smoldering, Catty, Naughty, Dreamer.

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength:

3k or More, Glass Slipper (which you can see on my mom's nails over Big Smoke HERE).

And of course, finally:

Essie Shine of the Times.  Never expected to find it at Walgreens LOL.

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Candy Cane Water Marble + Tutorial

Finally!  I made it to my holiday nails before Christmas Day =)  Due to being so pleased with this one that I wore it a whole week, I am very close to being caught up for the first time since October LOL.

 

For my base color I used 2 coats of Ulta Professional Angel Baby, marbling done with AB & Ulta Salon Ruby Slipper:

 

The hard part for this, is keeping the stripes the same size throughout.  I managed to keep them pretty even per hand, but my hands next to each other you can see the difference.  I actually had one that came out thickly striped & looked really good, but I took it off & changed it to match with the thinner stripes.  Here are my favorite nails:

 

 

And here is the tutorial:

 

 

Another couple of Christmas tutorials coming, and going to try & get my first cooking tutorial up in the morning before work so stay tuned =)  Thanks for reading.

 

~Colette

NOTD: Ulta Into Astrono-Me?

This was my base color in the Konad FAQ I posted a couple of days ago - a really really subtle color in the bottle, on the nail it's so deep & gorgeous.  Ulta Into Astrono-Me?:

 

Almost caught up (again) =)  & almost to some Christmas nails!  Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Green Water Marble for Depression Awareness + Tutorial

I try to do at least one manicure every year for Depression Awareness Month.  I think a lot of people still don't know about it, and just getting the word out there can do so much.  This year I did another water marble, like last year.  Base color is Ulta Limelight, marbling done with Limelight & Nubar Forest:

My favorite nails are - my left ring (flawless!  seriously) left thumb, right ring & thumb:

Here's the tutorial:

All my readers who are fellow bloggers, I encourage you to help spread the word also, if you haven't already =)

Thanks for reading.

~Colette