Arsty Wednesday - Rainbow Nails

 The theme for Artsy Wednesday this week is Rainbow nails!

We had to miss last Wednesday, I was really busy after the move but I am back on track this week. 

Colours used:

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Speedy Sunburst

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Snappy Sorbet
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Lightening
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Lickety-Split Lime
Ulta3 - Blue Heaven
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Lively Lilac
Ulta3 - Lily White

I started with a base of Ulta3 - Blue Heaven, then with a thin nail art brush I painted the rainbow lines across all 4 nails starting at the base and working my way to the tip. You will need to clean the brush after each colour so they don't mix. I used pure acetone and wiped it off on paper towel. 

I sponged on Ulta3 - Lily White on my index and pinky nails for the clouds. I was surprised at how opaque Lily White is. 

I used Poshe top coat. Make sure you wait for the polish to dry, I was a little to impatient on my index finger and had to touch up the rainbow. I probably should have used a different shade of blue so it stood out more against the background. 

I had to use my stub hand because there was no way my left hand could have drawn this. I think I'll have to use my stub hand for most Artsy Wednesdays so you'll be able to see my growth progress. This picture is 1 week after I broke my nail.

Check out the other girls participating in Artsy Wednesday:

LabMuffin
Hooked!

We are looking for others to join us so if you interested please contact myself or any of the other girls. You can contact me here: prettypurplepolish@gmail.com.

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Ulta3 - Jelly Bean

Ulta3 - Jelly Bean

3 coats

Poshe Top Coat

Jelly Bean is a light frosty green with gold shimmer. I don't know any jelly beans this colour but it's still pretty and not bad for a frost. The formula was good, the lines show after drying but they aren't as visible as some of the other frosts I've tried. I don't have much else to say about this one. Frosts aren't really my thing, I will probably use this as a base coat for something.

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Sinful Colors - Fiji

Sinful Colors - Fiji

4 coats

Poshe Top Coat

Fiji is a gorgeous purple shimmer. This is one of my original nail polishes. It does take 4 coats to reach full opacity though but it's worth it. I don't know if this colour is still available because I bought it a long time ago. It takes a long time to dry but this might be because it's so old. A fast drying top coat like Poshe or Seche really helps. I wore this a few months ago and the day after I added a coat of Nubar 2010, I loved the look so much I did it again so I could show you. I only used one coat of Nubar 2010, the flakes were more opaque in real life they seemed to disappear in the photo. Some did ask me to swatch this one, sorry it took me so long to post it!

Did you notice I used my right hand for the swatch? 

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Butterfly Award

I also got the Butterfly Award from Drink Citra! Thanks again!

Rules:

Link back to the person who awarded you.

Answer the following questions.

Award 10 other bloggers.

Questions:

What's your favourite song?

Right now...Rihanna - We Found Love

What's your favourite dessert?

Trifle!

Who's your favourite pet?

My dog Hazel. AKA Puppy Head, Moo Moo, Pup

Black or White?

Black

What's your biggest fear?

Losing someone close to me.

What's you best feature?

My hair?

What's your everyday attitude?

Is it home time yet?

What is perfection?

A lot of effort!

What is your guilty pleasure?

Cadbury chocolate..melted.

Again no tagging, feel free to award yourself! :)

I hope to resume daily posts tomorrow! Thanks for bearing with me.

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One Lovely Blog Award

I got the One Lovely Blog Award from Drink Citra, thanks so much! 

Rules:

Link back to the person you got it from.

Tell 7 things about yourself.

Give the award to 10 bloggers.

1. The first DVD I ever bought was Finding Nemo.

2. My favourite time of the week is Friday afternoon.

3. No matter how full I am from dinner I will always have room for dessert.

4. I can't stop noticing people's nail now.

5. I like my toast cold so the butter doesn't melt.

6. I prefer juice to soft drink.

7. I like baking, cakes, desserts, muffins etc.

I can't be bothered tagging 10 people sorry, so feel free to give yourself this award! :)

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Lab Muffin 50 Follower Giveaway

Here's another giveaway you should check out! Michelle from Lab Muffin is hosting a 50 Follower Giveaway! Congratulations Michelle!

Here's what you can win:

Image Source - Lab Muffin

Revlon - Apple-tini Fizz

Ulta3 - Lollypop Lilac

Shiny S**t by Lab Muffin - Alpha Centauri

Australis - Spectacular

1.5g of Green-Purple duochrome pigment (Enough for 60ml of polish)

1.5g of Orange-Blue duochrome pigment

12 Pack of mini nail files.

This giveaway is open internationally and closes 15th March 2012. Good luck everyone!

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The Nail Polish Tag

I got this Tag a while ago from Michelle from Lab Muffin and am finally getting around to posting it! Sorry it's taken me so long.

 

Rules:

Answer the questions

Tag 5 other bloggers

Let the bloggers know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their page.

1. How many nail polishes do you have?
206...I just counted.

2. What is your favourite brand of nail polish?
Ulta3

3. Do you like crackle polish or do you hate it?

I like it. I was late to the nail polish party so it's still a novelty for me. I also like to use it over colours that don't suit my skin tone when I'd still like to wear them.

4. What was your first nail polish brand?
I threw out my original nail polishes ;'( I had this one that was a rose scented top coat, no idea of the brand though. I kept two Ulta3's though so I'd say Ulta3 was probably my first brand.

5. If you are going to have a nail polish line, what are you going to name it?

Dare to Wear

6. What nail polish colours do not compliment you?
Bright oranges and yellows

7.What nail polish colours do compliment you?

Vampy colours

8. Name two of your best nail art friends?

I've made so many friends through blogging I couldn't just name two.

9. What was the best nail polish gift you ever received?

I love ALL nail polish gifts.

10. Make a speech thanking the blogger who gave you this tag
Testing...testing...1...2...3...

I'd like to thank Michelle for giving me this tag. Michelle knows a lot of sciencey stuff and is kind enough to share her knowledge with us. I love reading her posts about how holographic nail polishes work, the science of face washing or hair facts. She is a genuinely nice person and a pleasure to work with (Have you checked out Artsy Wednesdays yet?). It's great to have Aussies to talk to about nail stuff that actually available in our country! :D

11.What is your second favourite nail polish company?
China Glaze. I wish they were cheaper/easier to come by here.

12. Glitter or no glitter?

GLITTER!

13. OPI, China Glaze or Essie?

China Glaze

14. When do you change your nail polish?

Every 1-2 days.

15. What's your favourite colour on your nails?

Purple

16. Darks or brights?

Darks

17. What are you wearing on your nails right this moment?

China Glaze - Heli-Yum

18. Matte nails -in or out?

In, as I said above I was late to the nail polish party.

19. French manicure?

I used to wear them al the time but that was before I starting buying crazy colours and I haven't worn one since!

20. Favourite winter colour?

I don't really wear seasonal colours, I just wear what ever I pick out of my stash.

Who I tag:

Hooked!

Nail Polish Wars

My Little Vanities
Drink Citra
So Marvellous

I tried to check if you've already been tagged, sorry if you have!

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Glam Polish 500 Follower Giveaway!

Since I'm short of nail polish posts at the moment I thought I should post something, and what better to post than an awesome giveaway!? (This is not my giveaway)

Glam Polish is giving away the China Glaze - Colors From The Capitol Collection you can enter here, may the odds be ever in your favour!

I loved the books and have just bought tickets to the movie! I can't wait for the movie and the collection. My picks are:

Smoke And Ashes

Dress Me Up

Fast Track

I wish the nail polishes came out before the movie then I could wear smoke and ashes when I go and see it.

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China Glaze - Gussied Up Green

I've been a bit AWOL this weekend. I moved on Saturday and I've been busy non stop ever since! I took this photo before I moved. Since then I've broken at least two nails really far down. My DIY light box broke so I'll have to make another one. Not sure when I'll find the time to swatch either. I hope you'll all forgive me I may be short of posts over the next few days. Oh and if you were wondering, all my babies made it to my new house safe and sound, none of them broke.

China Glaze - Gussied Up Green

2 coats

Poshe Top Coat

Gussied Up Green is from the China Glaze - Rodeo Diva Collection - Fall 2008

It's a dark green shimmer with a blackened green base, one of those lit from within shades. It's gorgeous! I've been wearing it for three days now and don't really mind, although, I'm looking forward to changing my nail polish tonight but not sure if I will find the time for it. *sigh*

I just looked at some swatches of the Rodeo Diva collection. I might have to add Midnight's Ride to my wish list too!

I got this from Trans Design for $2.99 (USD)

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China Glaze - Secret Peri-Wink-Le

Sorry that this colour is so similar to yesterday's post. I'm loving this muted periwinkle shade of blue at the moment.

China Glaze - Secret Peri-Wink-Le

2 Coats

Ulta3 - Non Chip Top Coat

Secret Peri-Wink-Le is from China Glaze - Operation Color Collection Fall 2008. It is a periwinkle blue cream. It is similar to China Glaze - Electric Beat and I have a comparison photo below. The formula was really watery, this must have  come out not long after they went 3-free. I've read that they had formula problems as they were still perfecting the new 3-free formula. Sorry about the bumps on my pinky, I think it's the top coat bubbling.

I used Ulta3 Non Chip Top Coat again. It hasn't chipped yet but it starting to look really beat up. It's got sheet marks, dents and scratches. I don't have the patience for this top coat so I will put it away and use it as the top coat for my nail wheels.

Here's the comparison of Secret Peri-Wink-Le and Electric Beat:

Secret Peri-Wink-Le is darker and more purple toned than Electric Beat but they are still very similar.

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China Glaze - Electric Beat

China Glaze - Electric Beat

2 coats

Ulta3 - Non Chip Top Coat

Electric Beat is from the China Glaze Electropop - Spring 2012 Collection. It is a muted sky blue creme. This was the only once I really liked from the collection. I've been into this shade of blue lately, not sure why. 

I've been so used to the super fast drying Sech and Poshe top coats so when I used the Ulta3 - Non Chip Top Coat I had no patience to wait for it to dry. I think I'll keep it for my nail wheels or when I have a lot of time to wait for my nails to dry.

Not long before I move now. I have to pack my nail polishes, so scared they will all break! I don't have enough bubble wrap for all of them so I'm thinking about wrapping them in towels...How  have you moved your nail polishes?

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Artsy Wednesday - Pink Nails

The theme for Artsy Wednesday this week is Pink Nails!

Today is Artsy Wednesday! Michelle from LabMuffin, Holly from Hooked! and myself are going to do nail art each Wednesday! I've been wanting to do more nail art but haven't been inspired apart from holidays such as Australia Day and Valentines Day. I like having a theme for nail art, I find it easier to create something that way.

 

I decided to do a design with my dotting tools. I have dotting tools of various sizes. I started with the largest size at the base of the nail and then worked my way to the smallest size at the tip. I had to redo my ring finger three times because I kept bumping it. I dinged my middle finger but

I didn't want to have to redo another nail so I just left it. To help keep the dot sizes the same for each tool I dipped it in the polish again for each dot. If you don't the dots will get slightly smaller as less polish will be left on the tool each time.

I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to next Artsy Wednesday!

Check out the other girls participating in Artsy Wednesday:
LabMuffin
Hooked!

We are looking for others to join us so if you interested please contact myself or any of the other girls. You can contact me here: prettypurplepolish@gmail.com.

Also, I need to pick an electricity company in NSW, Australia, and the only three I can think of is Energy Australia, Integral Energy and AGL. There's got to be more than that, if you know of more please suggest them. I live in Australia so Australian companies only please!

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Valentines Day Mani #3

Ok, last Valentines Mani for this year. I hope you all have a lovely Valentine day what ever you may be doing.

Base coat: 

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Whirlwind White - 2 coats

Color Club - Femme Fatale - 2 coats

Stamping Polish:

Ulta3 - Strawberry Sundae

Ulta3 - Pink Colada

Stamping Plate:

BM02 (first set)

BM03 (first set)

Top coat:

Seche Vite

I first applied two coats of Whirlwind white and two coats of Femme Fatale as the base. I applied a coat of Sech Vite to speed up the dry time.
On my index, middle and pinky finger I stamped with the hearts from Bundle Monster plate BM03 in Strawberry Sundae and Pink Colada.

On my ring finger I used the I heart you stamp from Bundle Monster plate BM02 in Easy Paris Cosmetics - Black. I also used more hearts. 

Strawberry Sundae and Pink Colada didn't stamp very opaque so I used a dotting tool and more nail polish to fill them in.

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Valentines Mani #2

Wow I'm tired. I just go back from the Central Coast. As soon as I finish this post I'm off to bed!

So I suck at water marbling. I'm no good at getting the swirly wave patterns. As soon as I dip my nail in the polish moves around an ruins the design, *sigh*, but I'm not going to give up because that's not like me. I'll be giving this another go but trying the dry water marbling version.

The colours I used for this disaster were:

Color Club - Yum Gum

China Glaze - Poinsettia

Sally Hansen - Whirlwind White

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Valentines Day Mani #1

This is the first Valentines Day mani I've done and I've got two more coming. The base is China Glaze - Ruby Pumps stamped with a full nail design from Bundle Monster plate number BM11 (first set). I used Easy Paris Cosmetics  - Black for the stamp. This design is very basic. The next two posts will be little more fiddly. I had so many failed manis before I gave up and decided to just show three.

Bloglovin is telling me I have 53 unread blog posts! I'm going on a long drive up to the Central Coast of NSW and back tomorrow so I should have time to read through them all. I might also finish Mockingjay.

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Essie - Over The Top

Sorry just a quick post today, I've been busy packing up my stuff getting ready to move next weekend.

Essie - Over The Top

3 coats

Seche Vite Top Coat

Over The Top is a dark grey metallic colour. In the light it's like I can almost see specks of other colours, purple, green and blue but I'm not sure if it's just my eyes trying to make sense of the metallic shimmer. You can see a few of the specks in the sunlight photo above.

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February Haul #2

Just a haul post today sorry. I'm so tired I'm barely staying awake to finish this post.

China Glaze - Dorothy Who?

China Glaze - Electric Beat

China Glaze - Fault Line

China Glaze - Pull Me Close

China Glaze - Instant Chemistry

China Glaze - Attraction

Color Club - Holiday Splendor

Color Club - Jingle Jangle

I got all of these from Trans Design.

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50 Follower Giveaway Winner!

First of all I want to thank everyone who entered and a big welcome my new followers! You have all left really nice comments and always makes my day when I read them.

Ok, now for what you are reading this post for....

The winner of my 50 Follower Giveaway is 

Luiza4

from http://maybeiwillwin.blogspot.com.au/ 

for posting my giveaway on her sidebar!

Congratulations Luiza4, I've sent you an email you have 48 hours to respond, after that time I will have to choose another winner. Here's another look at the prizes you've won!

Thanks again to everyone for entering!

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China Glaze - Meteor Shower

I hope you aren't sick of glitter yet! I got this one recently and couldn't wait to try it. It's been on my wish list for a while now.

China Glaze - Meteor Shower

2 Coats

Seche Vite Top Coat

Meteor Shower is from the China Glaze 50 Glitters Collection - 2009. It's a mixture of small square glitter in blue, light green and orange and small hex glitter in light green and orange. All of the glitter is in a dark blue base. The formula was good, nice and opaque. I think this looks better in the bottle than it does on the nail but it's still pretty. I needed two coats of Seche Vite and it still felt a little bumpy.

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Elixir Lacquers - Kind Of Connery

Elixir Lacquers - Kind Of Connery

3 coats

Seche Vite Top Coat

Kind Of Connery is from Elixir Lacquers Preciate Collection - 2012. It is large silver, blue and white hex glitter, smaller silver hex glitters and small rectangular green glitter in a blue base.  When I was applying it I thought the blue hex glitters were gems, turns out some blue and silver hex glitters were stuck together. It would be cool to have gems in a nail polish though! This one was a little thick too but easier to work with. I used the felt to take it off, glitter is so much easier to take off with felt.

This is my favourite of the two that I purchased. Each Elixir Lacquers collection will be 7 nail polishes with an 8th secret shade that you can only receive if you purchase the entire collection. The 8th shade is also free! Check out Nail Polish Wars for swatches of the other shades.

You can get Elixir Lacquers nail polish from http://www.elixirlacquers.com/ for $10 each.

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Good News and Bad News about piCture pOlish shades

Ok I'll give you the bad news first.

I've I just read a post on the piCture pOlish facebook page saying they they are making two of their flakie covers limited editions, Splendour and Hypnotic. Once they sell out they won't be making more! So if you've had your eye on either of them you better buy them quick! You can buy them from the piCture Polish website.

Here's my swatches of each shade:

piCture pOlish - Splendour

piCture pOlish - Hypnotic

The good news is there are new piCture pOlish shades coming soon. As soon as I know the info I'll let you know!

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11 Questions Tag

So I've been tagged for this three times now and thought I better hurry up and post it! I was tagged by Lydia from Miss Lydia's Blog, Nicole from Nail Polish Wars and Nicole from Epitome of Superficiality. Thanks girls!

Rules:

Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer. You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post. Be sure to let them know you've linked them! No tag backs!


11 things about me:

1. I have really long hair.
2. My favourite book series are Harry Potter, The Tomorrow Series and the Hunger Games.
3. I don't pay for music.
4. I'm not scared of spiders and bugs except for grasshoppers and crickets *shudders*.
5. I drive auto.
6. I have more email accounts than I can remember.
7. My favourite time of year is Christmas.
8. I use a physical diary rather than an electronic one.
9. I work in I.T. and if Google doesn't know the solution to your problem then I cant help you.
10. I'm a 90's kid.
11. I'm moving out of home for the first time on the 18th February! 

Lydia's questions:

1. If you were given 1 million dollars and had to choose one thing/activity, what would you spend it on? Nail Polish :D
2. Describe your fashion style? Casual
3. Indoors or Outdoors person? Both :)
4. Lolly or chocolate that you want to try that it not sold in Australia? Twinkies 
5. If you were to write a cookbook, what would be your signature dishes? It would be a dessert cook book and they would be Rhubarb Crumble and Apple Pie.
6. If you had a special ability what would it be? To talk to animals, then I could ask my puppy to stop eating the door mats!
7. Favourite nail polish brand? Ulta3
8. Coffee or Tea? Blergh! Coffee! Definitely tea!
9. Farm or Zoo? Zoo
10. If you were an element (fire, water, air, earth), which one would you pick and why? Air, because I live in an area right next the royal national park with lots of trees. The  air is very fresh, I love it. Then I have to go to work in the city which has almost no trees, pollution and cigarette smoke everywhere. Yuck! I'd be air, and I'd be fresh air.
11. Favourite music genre? R&B, hip hop

Nicole (Nail Polish Wars)'s Questions:

1. How often do you change your pedi? Like once or twice a month.
2. Item in your wardrobe that you can't live without? Black cardi.
3. Favourite type of nail polish? Glitter
4. Favourite piece of artwork? None...I'm not that into artwork.
5. Which side of the bed do you sleep on? Left
6. Dog or cat person? DOG! :D
7. Sunrise or sunset? Sunset
8. What made you decide to start your site? I needed a place to show all my beautiful nail polishes.
9. Fave indie polish brand? Elixir Lacquers
10. Your number one guilty pleasure movie? Free Willy
11. Any addictions other than nail polish? Nothing that could compete with my nail polish addiction.

Nicole (Epitome of Superficiality)'s Questions:

1. What makeup/beauty item can you NOT live without. Besides nail polish, Lucas' Papaw Ointment
2. What is you number 1 nail polish lemming? China Glaze - OMG
3. What will you give just to satisfy said lemming? Lots of money but I can't bring myself to spend that much on just 1 polish.
4. If you had a polish company what will you name it? Dare to Wear
5. If you had a polish created after you, or created one yourself with said company, what will it look like. Lots of different purple glitter shades in a purple base.
6. How long have you been blogging for? 208 days. 
7. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live. NT, Australia for the weather or somewhere in the US where I could buy nail polish brands that are so hard to come by here.
8. Based on where you live now, what are your favourite local polish brands? Ulta3,  piCture pOlish and Ozotic.
9. What do people honestly think of your constantly burgeoning polish collection? (I just have to know lol people think I'm nuts and I assume that's a common sentiment) I don't tell people apart from family or close friends. They wouldn't understand if I told them how many nail polishes I own. I assume my family and close friends do think I'm nuts but they don't tell me that.
10. Who do you think has the most amazing polish collection ever? Scrangie
11. How many polishes do you think is too many? Will you ever set a limit for your collection. 999,999 and no limit for me!

My 11 questions:

1. What is your favourite season?
2. Favourite childhood TV show?
3. Books or Movies?
4. Sweet or Savoury?
5. City or Country?
6. Favourite nail polish colour to wear?
7. Favourite nail polish brand?
8. Nail polish brand you wish was available in your Country?
9. What's at the top of your nail polish wish list?
10. What started your nail polish addiction/obsession/hobby?
11. Show me your first swatch, go on! This was mine: http://tiny.cc/e8ug0

11 Tags:

1. Hooked!
2. Lab Muffin
3. Polish Peripherals
4. Drink Citra
5. Shatter Me Claire
6. So Marvellous
7. aviD liaN
8. Polish Obsession
9. Nail Loopy
10. Fingers Polish Mania
11. Polishaholics Anonymous

Sorry if you've already been tagged with this!

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