Scales & Sparkle

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I've been playing around with my MoYou London plates for a couple of weeks now, they're so much FUN!
Here's a little look I came up with using one of the Sailor plates.

For this look I applied two coats of OPI Sparkle-iscious to my ring and pinkie & thumbnails. Next, I painted my middle and index fingernails with OPI Overexposed in South Beach and stamped a scale design from MoYou London Sailor Collection - 04 plate, in China Glaze Passion.
I topped off the mani with my trusty Seche Vite.

A whole lot of polish loot arrived on my doorstep today (courtesy of post-xmas sales), so be sure to tune in tomorrow for a sneak peek at what's on the horizon for NPA.


xxx
NPA

Christmas Wrapping Paper Manicures

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We're 3 days in to December so it's probably about time for some Christmas nail art!

I did a couple of wrapping paper manis using designs from BM-423

Konad Special Polish Green & BM423 stamped over The Polish Well Wrath

I'm brilliant at the accidentally crooked stamping, right?!

China Glaze Passion & BM423 stamped over The Polish Well Evil Witch

I'm actually pretty stoked with this mani because I managed to get all but the ring finger relatively straight!!!!!

What are you doing to get in to the Christmas spirit? Any one just getting in to the Christmas 'spirits'? :)

xxx

NPA

Emily de Molly Stamping Plate 01

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Emily de Molly has started making stamping plates! Two are already available (EDM01 & 02) and three more are coming soon. You have to take a look for yourself because these plates are the best I've ever seen - no joke.

I've used a couple of the patterns off EDM01 so far - enjoy.

The Polish Well Haru Haru stamped with Konad Special Polish White & EDM01

This is the pattern from the top right of the plate. It transfers perfectly for an intricate design (the middle finger is a mess because I'm a shit stamper).

The Polish Well Tonight stamped with A England Princess Sabra & EDM01

 This pattern is Emily de Molly's signature lace design featured on her business cards - from the bottom of the plate. It transferred perfectly too - though it may be hard to tell in the photos! 

I think I'm digging these pretty patterns because they have a delicate femininity about them (and don't seem at all childish like a lot of my stamping plates) and can all be used horizontally or vertically without screwing up the design.

01 & 02 are currently sold out but hopefully they will be back in stock when 03, 04 & 05 launch!

xxx

NPA

Orange & Gold

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*Press Sample*

Got a stamping plate review for you today for Born Pretty Store!

QA73 is an odd mix of lace, currency signs and full nail patterns. I love the fleur de lis-esque pattern! I stamped it on to OPI A Roll In The Hague with China Glaze Passion.

QA73 stamped over OPI A Roll In The Hague

The pattern transferred just fine so I'd certainly recommend this plate to others. I hope the lace patterns transfer just as well!

The plate is only US$1.49 from Born Pretty Store. Feel free to use my 10% off coupon QHL91 the next time you buy some nail art supplies!

My last exam is tomorrow hooray, better get back to the studying!

xxx

NPA

kkcenterhk review: 2mm Circle Gold Studs

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*Press Sample*

I tried out a spiral pattern using these gold studs from kkcenterhk:

I applied these using nail glue and a rhinestone picker wax pencil. I like the 2mm size, they're better suited to my little nails, but you can also get 4mm sized studs if you like the chunk or have larger nail beds.
Compared to standard rounded studs these are more yellow and much more rounded as opposed to flattened. I didn't like them with top coat, but that might have just been poor application on my part.

I'm wearing Mod Lacquer Majestic with this look. It would've been cool to add swirl stamps to my pinkie and index fingers to make the look more cohesive!

Kkcenterhk have provided my readers with a 10% off discount code NPA10, be sure to utilise it the next time you place an order:

xxx
NPA

Born Pretty Store Review: Rhinestone Chain

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*Press Sample

Ever feel like you need to mix it up? Move out of your comfort zone?

Well I always feel uncomfortable when it comes to nail art. Whenever I attempt anything more than a plain manicure, I'm really uncomfortable. I just lack that creative, original idea gene... I have the "I want to create something amazing and unique" gene, I just don't manage to pull it off often, if at all!!!!

I was feeling particularly adventurous when I asked to review this rhinestone chain, though. My thoughts had a real swagger to their step, and then it arrived and I was like,"WTF do I do now?"

Source

My nails were way too short to do anything exciting, because these gems are almost 4cm in diameter. I immediately decided to break the chain apart (which was easily done with a little bending), but I couldn't fit more than three along the length of my nails and two across. In the end I broke it up in to sets of two-three and this is what I came up with:

The chain came with turquoise, blue, fluorescent orange, fluorescent coral red, fluorescent yellow and green rhinestones. I loved the baby blue and turquoise the most - they looked so gorgeous on the gold background.

I used Barielle A Bouquet For Ava on my index and middle fingernails, Orly Luxe & My Nail Graffiti's Five Golden Rings on my ring and pinkie fingernails.

These are reusable, which is awesome! One 10cm length (approx. 24 rhinestones) will cost you US$2.99.
You can also use my 10% discount code QHL91 whenever you order from Born Pretty Store.

xxx

NPA

Born Pretty Store Lace Decals

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Press Sample

Born Pretty Store have brought in a lot of new stock lately - lots of new decals especially - and they sent me some white and gold lace nail stickers to review.

Item ID: #6071

http://www.bornprettystore.com/nail-sticker-12pcs-gold-edge-elegant-white-lace-style-p-6071.html

Battle #8: Animal Print Vs Tribal

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It has been so long since I've posted one of these nail art challenges, does anyone actually remember that I was taking part?!!

This week's challenge is Animal Vs Tribal prints.
Tribal print wins every time! I had a friend that always wore a cheetah print dress when she was on the pull, and I don't have the fondest memories of her, so there's my aversion to animal print!!!!

Tribal Print Mani

I'm too crap at free-handing so I stamped these. I love the colours together; they evoke images of Central America - I'm thinking the Aztec and Maya!!!
Are you proud of my stamping? Only the middle nail is patchy, oh yeah; Michaela's improving folks!!!!
I used The Polish Well Skinny Dipping as the base and stamped an image from a random large plate with China Glaze Passion 

Are you on Team Animal Print or Team Tribal Print?


xxx
NPA

Red & Gold: KKCentreHK 4mm square gold stud review

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Press Sample

Ok, what do you do when an adorable little, white, soft and clean smelling dog is sprawled out on your bed sleeping at 10:30pm? I don't want him to spend the night on my bed because he was hell to crate train and I can't play favourites while the other dog is in his crate all night! But I don't want to wake him up, put him on the cold wet grass outside for a pee and then shove him in his cold crate! 

How hard is it for parents to be consistent with their kids?!!

Ooohhh, looks like he's stretching, now's my chance!

I'm back, poor Charlie's in bed. He gave me his puppy eye look, followed by his withering stare. Boy knows how to make me feel both guilty and anxious!!!

Today I've got a review of some square studs from KKCenterHK. I did some really basic nail art (hangs head in shame) because I couldn't think of anything else to do. They look great on the sparkly, red Chyna.

KKCenterHk 4mm square gold studs Zoya Chyna

These studs are great. Only, they're too big for my nails. Why aren't my nail beds wider?????
I could probably manage a 3mm stud but 4mm is just too wide for every nail besides my thumb. The curve of my nails = sharp edges don't make contact with my nail and end up as a hazard. I was scared they'd catch on something and be pulled off my nails.

Of course, if your nails are a bit bigger than mine (and some length would help too), you'll be able to rock these. The gold is very yellow so it'll pop with darker skin tones - I might need to break these out next summer!!!
You get a decent amount for US$5.28 (approx. 50 studs).

KKCenterHK have kindly offered my readers a 10% discount coupon valid through to January 2014.

NPA10

The discount code and link is always on my left hand sidebar too.

Have you bought any nail art supplies lately? Where do you usually buy from and what goodies are you using to create kick ass manicures?


xxx
NPA

Candeo Colors Prenses Ros & Strea Cende

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Greetings readers/nail aficionados!!

Yesterday was ANZAC Day (originally the commemorative day for all the Aussie & Kiwi soldiers who perished at Gallipoli in WWI, and now a day for paying tribute to all our armed service war veterans).
I was shockingly bad this year, I didn't go to a Dawn Service (ok I haven't been to one since I was a kid and the whole family got up and went to the Central Hamilton one for my Nana, who was a WAC in WWII. She fed all the soldiers who were training at the Papakura Army Camp; go Nan!!!! She's a bloody mean baker :) ) or watch any documentaries on TV.
But my excuse is that my sister came back from Melbourne for the first time since July last year, so we cleaned and baked in the morning and spent the rest of the day with her.

Funnily enough, it doesn't feel like 9 months since I've seen her - just like when I catch up with old school friends! And the dogs are in seventh heaven. Especially Charlie - not sure Buster remembers her :)

My eldest sister also arrives back in NZ today from Saudi Arabia. I haven't seen her since July last year either (my Nana's 90th Birthday, was the last time everyone came home), so it's a busy few days for me. Thank God I'm on holiday!!!

Now on to the POLISH:
These semi-sheers from the Candeo Aruba Collection are my new 'go to' soft shades. I finally took some photos to share with you!

Candeo Colors Prenses Ros

Prenses Ros is a semi-sheer soft candy pink with silver holo hex glitter. This one starts out very sheer, but after four coats the pink really deepens and my VNL wasn't too obvious. It isn't loaded with glitter, but once you get a couple of coats down it's a glitter sandwich in one lacquer. I found the formula to be a bit streaky after one or two coats, but application is fairly nice. I just love the outcome Prenses Ros has. You don't expect the pink to pop so much and the holo glitter glows in all light!

Candeo Colors Strea Cende



Strea Cende is a semi-sheer warm nude with gold holo glitter, light copper glitter and golden shimmer. She's a beaut!!!! Maybe it pulls a tad orange on me, but who knows, that might just be my horribly stained nails' doing!!! In fact my tips could have used some whitening, they look pretty manky in these photos! The formula was again easy to apply and I didn't have any issue with streakiness. I used three coats and there is a little VNL, but it looks right with a sheer shade, you know? I did top it with some some sort of top coat which is why there are a few air bubbles, my bad.

You can find these pretties and many more on Candeo Colors' website for US$9 a piece. They offer international shipping and Llarowe stocks them too.

Do you have any Candeo lacquers? I'm still lemming Jellybean, even if I never end up wearing yellow polish. It just looks so fun! Would've been a great Easter manicure, darn it!


xxx
NPA