31 Day Challenge: AW16 Florals

A lot of people would agree that flowers in nail art are most popular in spring and summer, which sadly are over now. So I had this cunning plan to practice from now until spring and be totally awesome at painting flowers by the time the weather gets warm again! It was such a perfect plan...until I realised that florals are apparently IN this autumn/winter season. 

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31 Day Challenge: Delicate Print

Yes, you're seeing it right, today's manicure features flowers. I know, totally out of character. Although...didn't I just post a floral design yesterday? Ok, so maybe I did but don't judge me, I didn't have a choice!

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31 Day Challenge: Flowers with Pantone Colours of 2016

Today's prompt is the one I was looking forward to the least. If you read my blog regularly then you know I'm not massively into flowers and that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I can't paint them. Ok, maybe a teensy tiny bit. Fortunately, there is always a dotting tool to come to the rescue! That I can deal with. 

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Rio MeeBox: Swatches, Nail Art and Review

Let me just put it out there that I am not the biggest sports fan. I have a few favourite disciplines and games that I like watching but I don't think I'll be plastered to the TV to watch the Olympic Games this summer. Although I'm sure the TV WILL be on because that's one of the perks (or not) of having a boyfriend! However, the one thing I love about the Olympics is the opening ceremony because I love how the hosting country's culture is implemented into it. But why am I talking about sport on a nail art blog?? Because the newest MeeBox edition is all about the Olympic Games in Rio! I think the theme is very clever (no surprise there!) because even if you're not a fan of sporting events, the colours in this box are perfect for a summer mani. Right, that's enough chatter, let's have a look at what's in the box!

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ABC Challenge: A is for Advanced Stamping

For the past few days I've been layering cuticle oil and slathering as much of my entrusted OPI Nail Envy as possible to get my nails to the state they were before all the travelling, illness and just general neglect happened! I am so sick of it, it's time for some nail art! And what better way to get the creative juices flowing again than through a nail art challenge? I am a day late for the ABC Challenge  hosted by Nail Polish Society but I have a good excuse. I went shopping. All day long. I know, I know but I had to celebrate now that I am officially flu-free, right?! I treated myself to a trip to IKEA and I bought ALL SORTS (as you do). Anyway, the idea behind the challenge is to create a design corresponding with a letter of the alphabet. The first challenge starts with the letter 'A' (duh) and I decided to go for 'Advanced Stamping'.

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How To: Water Decals Stripes

This past few weeks have been literally crazy hence why it's been a bit quiet here recently. The reason? Well, for most of it, I was visiting my family. Hardly an excuse? Ok then, try getting to your boyfriend's family who lives on the other side of the country on public transport and then fly home to visit your own family. While you're there, do just about everyone's nails in the 5 mile radius while catching a lovely virus. At the airport totally lose it once you find out your boyfriend printed out boarding passes from 2015. And when you finally land, still coughing and sneezing, learn that your coach is 2 hours late due to an accident on M1. I rest my case. Rant over!

And ok, I MIGHT have exaggerated slightly on one thing (or according to my boyfriend, all of them) when I said my boyfriend's family lives on the other side of the country. But in my defence everywhere seems far when you don't drive. There, hopefully my boyfriend's Gran (who reads my blog) won't have a go at me now! 

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Nail Art | Floral Pastel Gradient

Do you know what I haven't done in a while? A gradient! Along with (an overdue) spring clean and repotting the 3 plants I own. I know, my life is just crazy exciting right now! Anyway, back to the nails. I used to find it easier to use a bath sponge to create a gradient but these days I opt for a make up sponge. I still think the bath sponge blends the colours well but OMFG the bubbles! I just can't.

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Kawaii MeeBox: Nail Art and Review

Do you remember a few days ago I said that I wasn't really feeling any cute designs? Well, forget that, my new MeeBox is here and it's a cuteness overload! We have pastel shades and a few nail goodies that will help you create the sweetest manicure in no time. 

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Spring Florals for Nail Spec

As we all know by now, I am no expert in painting flowers. The thing is though, I like the odd floral design every now and then but the whole idea of shading really puts me off. And by puts me off I mean I can't do it. Is there any way to avoid it? Yes there is, daisies!

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Review | OPI New Orleans and Treatment Set

Today's post is a rather special one! I want to show you a birthday gift I got from my boyfriend. True, my birthday is not until the 29th of this month but there was this great offer on QVC so he went for it! I don't know how you feel about shopping channels but I was definitely sceptical at first. Long story short, I am now ordering my favourite skincare brand through it and the best thing about is that if you don't like what you've ordered you can send it back. I can tell you now that this set is definitely not going anywhere!

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Flower Nail Art with Essie Flowerista

I know what you're thinking, whose nubbins are these?! Bear with me, there's an explanation! Basically, I came across a nail art contest that required recreating a wall flower design. The nail art was done by The Illustrated Nail and it was gorgeous! Like, to the point were I 'recreated' a pretty much identical design...so you'd be surprised to know that I didn't win! WHAT?! I know right, what a joke.

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BPS | Qgirl-057 Stamping Plate

Today I want to share with you my thoughts on the Qgirl-057 stamping plate* I have recently received from Bornprettystore.com. There are four designs on the plate, two delicate florals and two slightly more crowded damask patterns. I don't actually own any plates with subtle patterns so I was really excited to try this one out. Although the round plates are usually quite small, all four stamps were big enough to cover my long nails. 

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Love Letters for Valentine's Day

I know it's been a bit mad here with the Valentine's Day designs, but I'm almost done, I promise! I just couldn't let this MoYou London Contest pass me by. If you don't know what I'm talking about, every month MoYou London hosts a nail art competition that usually involves using their stamping plates to create a specific design. This month the theme was Love Letters and I had just the plates to make it happen! Today's Weekly Nail Art Challenge theme is also Love Letters so I'm combining both. 

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Uber Easy Floral Design Featuring Über Chic Detail Brush

Do you remember when I said that one day I'd crack the whole floral mani thing? Well, *drumroll* today is not that day. Yeah...It's fairly close though! One of the reasons I don't paint flowers very often is because, well, it makes me furious;) I just physically CAN'T do it! However I recently bought a gorgeous Über Chic detail brush and let me tell you, there's hope for me yet.

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Blooming Flowers

Me and the flower design are on speaking terms at the moment but let's face it, it won't last! I decided to take advantage of it and created another floral manicure. My last flower mani had a spring-summer vibe and I thought it's only fitting I should do an autumn-winter one. This one is also a lot simpler and there is a step by step tutorial too.

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Mani Swap

Ah the dreaded flowers! I can't tell you how many times I failed at this design. If you don't believe me, have a look at any of my feeds. You will find exactly ONE decent floral design. It won't surprise you then, that when the awesome @Nailmachine asked me to do a mani swap with her, I chose to recreate one of her floral manicures. I think I just love making life harder for myself!

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Major Trippin'

I'm having some major holiday blues. Someone take me back to New Zealand! I've been looking through the hundreds of pics I took and completely forgot I took a (very rushed) shot of the design I was rocking on my holidays! Well, the 'rocking' part didn't last much past the take off but I'll get to that in a minute!

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31 Day Challenge: Flowers

I don't know what possessed me but after my last less then ideal floral manicure, I'm at it again! I could have done stamping or water decals, but no, I had to make life harder for myself and attempted free hand yet again. This was inspired by the awesome Lacquer Style and of course it looks nothing like her design. But I was watching her tutorial very carefully and kind of managed to create a floral manicure that I actually like! Woohooo!

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31 Day Challenge: Gradient

Today I'd like, I mean, I'm forced to show you my very own, home brewed, good old #nailfail. Are you excited?! Thought so.

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Wilted Dreams

I don't think I've ever done a flower nail art. I love it on someone else but it's not really my thing, you know? For whatever reason I thought it was about time to give it a go and OMG I wish I hadn't! This is so beyond nail fail haha!

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