Bestie Twin Nails - Blasian Color Nation!

Okay ladies long time no post again!

Today I have a special post!  Did you know that I'm very good friends with the lovely Vicky A of Boombastic Nails?  In fact I named her blog back in the days when she was just thinking about blogging.  I may have goaded her into it because she had some of the best swatches and pictures I've ever seen how could she NOT blog!!! Lol I sound insane but she's talented and she also happens to be my nail polish/nail art bestie for today's post. 

As you know I love my Instagram and there are always tons of tags running around over there one of which is the theme - bestie twin nails.  In short you and your nail art buddy pic an idea and colors and without showing the other create some nail art.  Vicky chose the theme - using tape in nail art and then I semi chose the colors - rainbow (but then we decided on full color spectrum).  So where does the "blasian" part come from? Lol - I'm African American/Black and Vicki is Chinese.  So there we are anyway without futher ado some bestie nail art...

Mani-louge (by finger):

Reds and Oranges: Orly Cherry Bomb, OPI A Good Mandarin Is Hard To Find, Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Cardinal, Essie She's Pampered, Claire's Little Dipper, Essie Tart Deco, and Sinful Colors Orange Creme

Greens: Color Club Artsy Craft, Essie Mojito Madness, Milani Neon Fresh Teal, China Glaze Starboard, Spoiled by Wet N Wild I'm so Jaded, and Orly Green With Envy

Blues: Orly Snow Cone, Orly Sweet Peacock, L'Oreal Royally Yours, Essie Mint Candy Apple, Essie Avenue Maintain, OPI Orge The Top Blue, and Essie Bikini So Teeny

Purples: Color Club Puccilicious, Essie Play Date, Essie Boxer Shorts, L'Oreal Lacey Lilac, Orly Velvet Rope, L'Oreal Royalty Re-Invented, and Essie Go Ginza

Black and White Marble: L'Oreal I Will! and Orly Liquid Vinyl

Pretty cool right?  Even though neither of us knew which exact colors we were using it turned out so similarly!  Lol I guess we are besties after all.  Vicky's came out so perfectly I feel a little embarrassed to even put my art up next to hers *waaahhh* She is so talented!  You can see more details of her art on Boombastic Nails.

Now I know you are thinking where did YOU use tape in your mani??  Well I did.  I put down one water marble (the black and white) and then taped off sections of it and water marbled on top of the taped off sections creating a double water marble!  Crazy cool right.  I used over 30 polishes to create this manicure, and at least 4-5 different colors and 3-4 brands for each "color" of the the spectrum.! My my how overly ambitious!  Anyway I hope you enjoyed this happy un-Easter edition of Lacquer Lockdown.  May candy bunnies rain from your skies and happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it! 

Tamira :)

NailArt March: Elevation Polish OOK & Gradients

Happy Saturday polished prisoners,

So I realized I need to be a little more on the ball about putting up these posts.  Seriously I have tons of great manicures to share, but I haven't put up the posts because it's a bit more time consuming than just throwing them up to my Instagram.  However, since I love my blog and all my followers I definitely need to keep doing that :)  So let me share one with you today that is a bit old, but still fabulous!  As you know I've been putting up a lot of my nail art March challenges and the 3rd one was gradients.  Around here y'all know I love me a gradient.  Never met one I didn't like and I've got about 3 techniques under my belt for creating the perfect one ;)  I really wanted to feature a One-Of-A-Kind Elevation Polish I got too a few restocks ago.  It's one of those "black & white" toppers but in the EP spirit it's blue, white, and black.  Think frosts on top of mountains and you'll get it.  Anyway I'll let the pictures do the talking!

Mani-louge

Basecoat/Top Coat: CND Stickey & Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Gradient: Orly Satin Hues - Satin Eloquence, Uniquely Satin, and Satin Finesse

Glitter Topper: Elevation Polish OOK #2

Stamping polish: Color Club Lumi-nescient

Stamping plate: Wistonia 111

 

Friggin gorgeous right?!? Okay no seriously what do you think?  The blue was a bit hard to capture due to the lightness but  I love love love this combo plus I love love love this glitter topper!  It's an OOK (I know don't groan it's really hard for me to get OOKs too!)  but here's some good news.  The brilliant Lulu of Elevation Polish was actually test running this pretty baby and released the final version on the 7th of this month.  It's called Haba Xueshan and you can get it on the 22nd of March on the EP website.  And before you ask, yes, I did get the final version because I want to do a comparison ;) I believe that's called being a helpless addict.  In any case I remember some time ago when Lulu was planning a brown/white/black combo that was supposed to be in this vein - I want that one too! 

So on another note I'm intending to spam you all pretty soon with my Satin Hues collection.  It will probably have to be in multiple parts I have a lot and I keep getting tons of questions about them so I figured I could put up some posts with the deets.  Look forward to it!  Thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Rainbows and Stripes

Hiya polished prisoners,

Happy Saturday!  I'm exhausted it has been such a long week for this warden of the polish arena.  I have so much art to catch up on as well!  I'm in the throws of a deep and obsessive love with holographics right now.  It's killing me thinking of ways to wear them and ways to create cool art around them.  I looked at the last few polishes I have bought and most of them are holos! Ugh.  Wait why am I talking about this?  Today I'm not even featuring holo polish on the blog.  Okay back on track.  Today I'm putting up the second challenge of my nail art for March.  If you recall the challenges this one was for stripes.  I had a lot of fun creating around this concept because I like all kinds of stripes and though hee this could be so fun! So without further ado onto the art....

Ugh everything about Old Gold Buffy makes me want to cry - so pretty and perfect here!

Mani-louge

Basecoat & Topcoat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Stripes: L'Oreal Royalty Reinvented, Sally Hansen Insta Dri Brisk Blue, Essie Mojito Madness, Essie Peach Daiquiri, and Zoya Pippa

Top color: Essence Vampires Love Gold Old Buffy, Orly Liquid Vinyl 

In its own way this is super pretty.  I didn't try to make it neat since I knew it was going to be covered up anyway.

This is cool huh?  I tried a laser effect like this once before last summer and it turned out horribly :(  I think because I didn't press the tape down hard enough and the color choice for the top was wrong so I'm glad this one came out so well though I did have my doubts.  I can definitely say my nail art these days is slowly improving.  I want to keep working on my freehand technique as well!  Are there aspects of your nail art that you want to improve?  Thanks for reading and see you next post! Toodles...

Spring Sprung Chevrons feat L'Oreal The Palace Life & Powder Puff

Hey polished ladies!

Hope everyone had a good week.  Mine was laced with frustration of one kind or another ah but I survived so there's that!  I decided to try out the monthly nail art Instagram challenge again.  Lol February was an an unsuccessful venture as I did about 3 of the 15-20 challenges.  I still need to share them here too.  I'll post the challenges below so you can see what's coming up.  This one for the 1st is already late but who cares when it's so pretty!  Anyhoo I'm using some polish selections from L'Oreal's Limited Edition Versailles Romance Spring 2013 Collection.  I chose The Palace Life, a soft pink girly shade and Powder Puffs a very creamy yellow with a bit of pearl sheen in the base which is very difficult to discern.  I have to say this collection is quite pretty.  The colors are all very girly, light, and fluffy.  In short perfect for spring!

Mani-louge

Base/Topcoat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Top Coat

Base colors: L'Oreal The Palace Life & Powder Puffs

Chevron Colors:  Orly Luxe and Kiss Nail Art Striper in Dark Purple

So thoughts?  It's pretty straightforward and simple, but I think a good way to start off the challenge.  I freehanded this creation since I want to start doing more freehand for sure.  I love my stamping and will never give it up but sometimes its nice to get a feel for my ability to draw outside the lines as well if you know what I mean ;) and I think you do! Anyhoo this is my 100th post! Woot somehow I've been steadily plodding along in my own pace but I'd like to thank all my readers for coming along!  I'll see you next post and toodles...

Green Thing feat CrowsToes I Make The Path and Leo Dreams of Spring

Hey polished prisoners,

Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone had a good week.  It's been hectic on my end but fun! I am a very blessed lady.    I have to keep this in mind when times get tough or I feel like things are spinning out of hand.   Well living the dream and dreaming the dream are certainly two different things lol!  I would be wise to remember that.  Nevertheless I am still blessed.  Blessed in the friends I have and the gifts I have been given.  One friend in particular Lauri of CrowsToes I have been very blessed to make.  I've learned a lot from her sense of humor, and strength and dedication to working hard for herself and her family.  She's a bit of a role model on top of being an amazing soul!  In any case I told her about some types of polishes I was dreaming of and the lovely lady whipped them up for me!  Totally unexpected and totally amazing!  One of which is featured here.

The Leo Dreams of Spring...lol I named it.  It's supposed to be a polish based around my birthday month August.  It features bits of green to represent the peridot birthstone, purples for royalty, and gold cause I likes to bling bling  in a clear base ;)  When I first saw this I just stared at it and stared at it.  Shall I embarrass myself a bit and tell you a secret? I keep my CTs right on a shelf by my bed. They are my absolute favorite brand of polish and the only ones I treat this way (weirdo). Eh but you have to do what makes you happy.  I paired TLDOS with I Make The Path (this is probably undoubtedly one of my favorite CT colors of all time!) for this mani.

Mani-logue (in order of layering)

Base color:  Essie Mojito

Gradient:  Orly Satin Hues Satin Hope

Subtle sheen:  Lilacquer Selkie

Glitter:  CrowsToes I Make The Path and The Leo Dreams of Spring

Stamping polish:  Konad Special Polish in Black

Stamping plate:  Dash 3

So basically this mani is a feast of my favorites!  Y'all know I don't have anything but hype to say when it comes to my Essie's.  Mojito in particular from last spring was like crack to me.  Orly's Satin Hues will always have my undying love and I believe I have finally got them all I'm not even close to getting all of them but I'm still stalking like a mofo.    Lilacquer is a new brand on the blog, but I have adored this brand from the start because of the initial Japanese themed collection - did you know that a Selkie is a mythical sea creature in Japan? Yeah reading way to much manga.  And of course I love my Dashica plates.  The plate I'm using today is from the Dash set I won in the recent like and share FB contest.  I was thrilled and will talk more about these plates later.  And clearly I have already gushed above about CT's.    I know some ladies think that CTs are on the thicker spectrum of things, but I've never had a problem with them nor have I had to thin them down.  Personally I feel handing all polishes, particularly glitters, require a certain lightness of hand in order to not overwhelm your base color unless that's your goal.

 In any case I hope you enjoyed my little mani! You can find CrowsToes in all of their feathered glory either at Llarowe or Overall Beauty.  Lilacquer can also be found on Etsy and finally Dashica plates can be found here.  Happy polishing lacqueristas!

Sinful Colors Sugar Rush Collection Watermarble

Hey lovely ladies,

Long time no polish!  Things have been busy and tight and so I haven't had a lot of time for posting even though I have created lots of mani's between here and there in the January deadzone so I have lots to share.  If you are ever feeling like you are craving what I'm creating feel free to check me out on Instagram as I tend to post there with updates almost daily-ish.  I'm just going to hop right into it today!  The Sinful Colors Sugar Rush Collection released late last week and I snatched them up instantly.  While they are normally $1.99 These polishes are on sale this week for $1 so find your nearest Walgreens and scoop them up.  The collection of eight yummy polishes in a perfect for spring pastel range, and because I am a glutton for all things spring I decided to take them all and create some water marble magic!

Mani-logue

Base Coat/Topcoat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Base: Confetti Wedding White

Marble: Sinful Colors Cotton Candy, Unicorn, Candy Coated, Sugar Rush, Sweet Nothing, Orange Creme, Sugar N Spice, and Sweet Tooth

I put down Confetti Wedding White and the base and then created the marble over top so that the colors came out a little bit more vibrantly.  If you follow me on instagram you might have seen my post as I was starting the process. I really love how this came out!  Today I was told it looked like I had dipped my hands in Creamsicles :)  I take that as a huge compliment as I am a big fan of Creamsicles the sugar free kind in the summer!

Ultimately I think this collection is worth getting!  It's cheap, the quality of the polishes are excellent,  the colors are effortless, and while there are a few reformulations mainly Unicorn the polishes glide on with ease so its totally worth picking up the newer formulas.  The standouts here IMO are Orange Cream and Candy Coated both are really pretty colors and unique to things I've been seeing so far for the upcoming season.  Anyoo thanks for reading and I'll see you next post I promise it won't be long! Toodles...

NOT An Ugly Sweater: Zoya Ziv and Wednesday feat Nailz Craze

Hiya polished prisoners,

Happy 2013! It's my first post of the New Year and I thought I'd start off with my favorite color family - blue greens.  I coveted Zoya Wednesday for so long you would think something was wrong with me.  I kept looking but never buying and then when they did the Zoya Box promotions I took my chance to snatch it up.  Then of course its warmed my tray of wonders until today.  I also have the privilege of being friends with one of the kindest and most sincere women I know Vicky of Boombastic Nails who sent me Zoya Ziv as part of a Christmas package.  Thanks you hunny bunny!  So together Ziv and Wednesday decided to create some magic ;)

Mani-louge

Base coat/Top Coat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Base color: Zoya Wednesday

Gradient: Zoya Ziv

Stamping polish: Konad Special Polish in White & Black

Stamping Plate: Nailz Craze NC03

Seriously this manicure was effortless - well almost.  I will admit I found the formula on
Wednesday to be borderline for me. A bit too thick for my liking and yet not quite so thick that I couldn't manage.  Ziv was flawless flawless flawless.  Literally the perfect gold shimmer polish.  The Nailz Craze plate I used is the newest "Russian" plate it has little dolls and sweaters etc and is very cute.  I will say though the bottom portion of the sweater patten did not pick up as well as I would have liked even using a Konad Special polish so that was a little disappointing, but otherwise I love everything about this image and the plate as well.  One thing I will say about Nailz Craze is she always always has images that are the perfect oversize size.  Long nails or short she will have you covered!

So thoughts?  Not bad for the start of the New Year eh?  I'm looking forward to trying out my other Zoya polishes and I also happened to have seen swatches of the new spring line and bottle shots of their new Pixie Dust textured matte polishes.  They look brilliant!  Anyhoo thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...