NOTD: Purple Swirl + Tutorial

I am SO stubborn. I'm aware of this. Usually it pays off in the end ... we'll hope one day that will be the case around here LOL.

I wasn't really very happy with this ... this.  Base color is Orly Charged Up, Swirled with Sally Hanson Be-Jeweled, swirled & then topped with Essie Shine of the Times ... and eventually Warpaint Mattify:

Here's the tutorial:



Thanks for reading =)

~Colette

NOTD: The Evolution of the Aubergine & Turquoise Water Marble + Tutorial

Up late again - lots & lots of pics for this one, because I kept it on for quite a while & so kept switching it up. It actually turned out better than I expect at every stage =)

I started out with a base color of Finger Paints Black Expressionism, a basic black. Then the marbling is done with NK Green Apple & NK After Dark - I was super pleased with how evenly I managed to place these chevrons on the nail:

Here's the tutorial:



After a few days I topped it with Finger Paints Motley:

And then topped that with Warpaint Beauty Mattify:

Which version is your favorite?  Leave a comment & let me know!

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: The Evolution of Zoya Holly

It's discouraging when I get behind on things.  And then that leads to procrastination.  And that (obviously) leads to falling even further behind.  I've had a few people ask if I've stopped blogging, and a few others suggest that maybe I should stop blogging.  But I'm not & I won't & I'm re-dedicating myself to getting caught up with this *ahem* nearly 6 month backlog of pics.  And I'm starting today so that July isn't a month with no posts at all.

In an effort to speed things up a bit, I'm not going to be labeling my pics with what kind of light they're taken in anymore.  I think for the most part you guys are pretty used to the 4-5 kinds anyway - the natural lamp, camera flash, shade, sun & occasionally overcast.  I may or may not start doing it again once I'm caught up - we'll see when I get there LOL.

I started with a beautiful green, Zoya Holly:

To which I then added Finger Paints Flecked for some flaky goodness:

And for my final day I topped it with Warpaint Beauty Mattify:

Here's a look at it in motion:



And that's that - if I had more to say at this point I've unfortunately forgotten LOL.  And that may be the case for a lot of these, since they are so old ... but even with nothing for me to say I think they speak for themselves =)

Thanks for sticking around - and thanks for reading.

~Colette

Guest NOTD: Color Club Gossip Column + Finger Paints Motley

I'm finding a few things I'd completely forgotten that I even took pictures of LOL, and this is one of those.  Mom saw Color Club Gossip Column somewhere, in an old post or something I think, and requested it, then added layer of Finger Paints Motley on top for some subtle shimmer:

I think this combination would have looked awesome matte too -just about anything with flakies does after all =)

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