Flip Flop Challenge: Wings/Outline

I will be catching up I promise lol... Taking some time to get my motivation back after so long... But this evening I felt inspired and am planning to get them all in by the end of the week! I'll be glad in a way because there are so many other ideas stacking up that I want to try!! I think I was biting off a little more than I could chew doing another challenge immediately after my first but nevertheless I shall finish the list :) Today I chose the wings, it's not a look I've tried before and was worried it wouldn't be as easy as it looked but it was! I really enjoyed doing them and I am sooo pleased with the result!! Better than I expected :) I started with three coats of the orange - this cocktail polish was ideal for this mani! Next I painted the sweeping arc on the left side of the tips using the brush in the black polish. I then used a striper brush to add two thin arcs towards the cuticles and the joining lines; finished off with white dots using the very smallest dotting tool. All dried very quickly and I'll say again - I love them!

For this look I used:

• Rimmel - Shirley Temple
• Avon Nailwear Pro - Licorice
• Boots Natural Collection -  Nail Tip Whitener
• Small Dotting Tool & Striper Brush

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Galaxy/Rhinestones

Oh boy! Here I am... Wayyy behind again... I'll say it again, it's the taking part that counts lol! Had a trapped nerve/muscle spasm in my back all week, I've been feeling very sorry for myself and largely stayed in one place... bed! I'm now relieved of that, hopefully that's my fill of sickness/incapacitation this season, I've had enough! So on to the nails... Which I actually did on time but never managed to post! Ohhh the irony! ;) I'm not much of a fan of this look, and though my attempt was fair, I wasn't too pleased with my result, my other half quite liked them though so that's something :) I started with a base of black, then used the tweezers and bit of sponge to dab on the white, followed by yellow and pink... I overdid it a little :( live and learn... Then used the white and my smallest dotting tool to dot on the stars; adding larger cross style stars here and there at the end. Unfortunately, my polish was a bit too tacky by this point and they came out a bit naieve. Ah well... Finished off with a coat of sparkle - doesn't show much in this pic but did with the naked eye! Now to get on to the others!

For this look I used:

• Avon Nailwear Pro - Licorice
• Barry M - Yellow
• Barry M - Strawberry Icecream
• Boots Natural Collection - Nail Tip Whitener
• NYC - Gramercy Glitz
• Makeup Sponge (torn up), Tweezers & Small Dotting Tool

 

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Delicate Print/Newspaper

I LOVE newspaper nails! I haven't done some since I started my blog in November so was really pleased to have another go! I used a base of pale blue, two thick coats as this one is really sheer. Once that had dried completely... Ages later... I tore some pieces of newspaper and dipped in a shallow dish of alcohol; I then pressed these pieces on to each nail rather hard - rolling my finger across to ensure I didn't smudge. Next I topcoated with a sparce sparkly polish, I really liked this - really delicate so it sort of fulfills both briefs! :) And that's it for tonight... I am caught up! Yippee, Go Me! I will sleep well tonight!

For this look I used:

• Barry M - Blue Moon
• Rimmel - Discoball
• Newpaper & Alcohol

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Animal Print/Stripes

Ooooh I'm a sucker for an animal print - Today: Tiger! I had an unused bronze polish in mind and decided gold stripes would be perfect! Just one coat of the bronze and then used a stamp for the tiger print with a gold foil polish. That's it. I almost topcoated but really loved the satin finish these two polishes had and kept it at that. Wow, that was a short post... Not much else to say really, loved it!

For this look I used:

• Models Own - Bronze Rage
• Barry M - Gold Foil Effect
• Cheeky Nail Art Plate CH2 from the Vibrant Collection

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Stamping/Jelly Sandwich

I'm not a huge fan of a jelly sandwich - on my nails or on my plate! Stamping it is then... Debated on doing more hearts but settled on stars :) I did two coats of the deep blue glittery polish - a little like a jelly sandwich in itself lol - I then used a silver foil polish to stamp the stars and finished off with a topcoat. Quick mani compared to most, that's the beauty of stamping - results in no time :)

For this look I used:

• Barry M - 3 in 1 Clear Hardener, Basecoat & Topcoat
• Barry M - Silver Foil Effect
• Barielle - Jillians Jammin'
• Cheeky Nail Art Plate CH5 from the VibrantCollection

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Valentines Day/French Tips

Oooh Valentines - I had a lovely day, me and my other half don't bother with cards etc as we always surprise each other with gifts/cards just because <3 We count ourselves very lucky to be so happy and always express our love so Valentines and Hallmark can do one - but I do love a lovey dovey mani :) For this I used one of my new Orly polishes which is just STUNNING, I am so pleased :) I need more in my life. Just did two coats and then finised off with topcoat, adding on two metallic heart studs whilst still tacky. Simple and lovely...

For this look I used:

• Barry M - 3 in 1 Clear Hardener, Basecoat & Topcoat
• Orly - MissConduct
• Cheeky Nail Art Studs

 MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Watercolour/Sponging

I am finally all caught up! Spent all evening painting my nails and thoroughly enjoyed it :) so here come a load of posts up to Day 17... Other fab news!... My nail is back - I can now return to right handed painting - WOOHOO! My left is much improved now though! :D
First is Day 13, I chose to do sponging; I tried Watercolour in the 31 Day Challenge (see here) and didn't much like it lol... Sponging on the other hand, I love and don't do much of... I started by painting my nails orange, when that was completely dry I sponged on the bright pink, three coats. Next I sponged on the purple, just two coats. Once those layers had dried I finished off with a lovely flakie polish which gave a lush hi-shine finish, I loved this, reminded me of a posh, sparkly cocktail hahaha :p

For this look I used:

• Barry M - Shocking Pink
• Barry M - Bright Purple
• NYC - Spring Street
• Models Own - Snowflakes
• Makeup Sponge

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Drips/Matte

I'm a huge fan of matte finish but drips was yet another design I hadn't tried so I took the plunge. I again felt nervous of getting it right, but it was so easy! I didn't even use any tools or extra brushes, just the polishes themselves - a two minute job really... Started with two coats of white for my base and then picked out five pastel polishes for the drips... Drips is about right when describing how I did it; I took the brush out of the bottle and left it fairly loaded with polish, let the polish drip on to the nail and dragged down, pulling across at the bottom and repeated. Then it was just a matter of waiting for them to dry, they had a lovely, smooth 3D feel to them :)

For this look I used:

• Boots Natural Collection - Nail Tip Whitener
• Barry M - Bluberry Icecream
• Barry M - Strawberry Icecream
• Barry M - Berry Icecream
• Models Own - Lemon Meringue
• Models Own - Jade Stone

 MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Splatter/Cocktail Nails

Well I've done two splatter designs recently in the 31 Day Challenge so thought I'd go for cocktail nails - basically something fancy on the three fingers you hold your cocktail with - or you can go wild with a literal take on it! I had recently purchased the three Rimmel Cocktail polishes found in Boots and had been dying to try them because they are so lush looking - the two came together :) Just a simple black on the pinky and ring fingers - to match my LBD - and then the three remaining nails in each of the three colours. Used two coats for the purple and three for the red and orange - they look good enough to drink! They have a lovely subtle sparkly, iridescent lustre to them... Anyone else have them?

For this look I used:

• Barry M - Black (pinky & ring)
• Rimmel - Baby Bellini (middle)
• Rimmel - Hawaian Punch (index)
• Rimmel - Shirly Temple (thumb)

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Fish Tail Braid/Half Moons

Right, so my plan is to be up to date by Sunday... I must be able to catch up now the weekend is here and it's a quiet one :) For this Day 10 theme I chose the fish tail braid design, it's one I hadn't tried and love the look of... I was sooo nervous about starting it in case I got it so wrong! And I did have to re-do my thumb nail, but in the end it turned out fairly good for a first attempt I think!? Check out this video turorial: How To Fish Tail Braid to see how you achieve the pattern. It's easier than it looks, the trick is getting the first couple of stripes the at the right angle and thickness; the rest follows!

For this look I used:

• Barry M - Glod Foil Effect
• Barry M - Bright Purple
• Barry M - Strawberry Icecream

 

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Abstract/Plastic Wrap

As much as I would like to have been adventurous today and do the abstract, I've been looking after my other half with his man flu... Oh my you'd think he was dying, but somehow he still manages to make a mess?! Lol! So I was pushed for time and I had wanted to fit another mani in tonight - in a bid to get to catching up - not sure how realistic that is now??!! I did a plastic wrap/saran wrap/clingfilm mani in the 31 Day Challenge and it was a bit of a flop (see here)... I think this one came out a little, actually make that a lot better :) Just did two coats of the bright pink, then one of topcoat and once totally dry, one coat of the purple gelly. I did the purple and then removed some polish with the saran wrap nail by nail and using a fresh piece of wrap each time. Next time I try this I might go for three layers of colour? Anyone tried that??

For this look I used:

• Barry M - 3 in 1 Clear Hardener, Basecoat & Topcoat
• Barry M Gelly - Plum
• W7 - Neon Pink
• Plastic Wrap

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Colour Blocking/Black & White

I started this post last night... and promptly fell asleep lol! Been a busy bee today so only just got a chance to sit down with the laptop... Not doing so well at keeping up here now am I?! Ah well, it's the taking part that counts eh?! I did a black and white mani in the 31 day challenge in January (see here) and have never tried colour blocking so decided to go for it! Started with a white base, then decided on a pale & mid blue with a deep teal for my blocks. I used nail art striping tape to mask off my sections randomly and then painted carefully between them with the brush in the bottle. Once it was all dry I whipped the tape off and voila! I always imagined this to be much harder than it actually was, will be trying a few more of these designs in the future.

For this look I used:

• Barry M - Blueberry Icecream
• Barry M - Cyan Blue
• Barry M - Teal
• Boots Natural Collection - Nail Tip Whitener

 

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Sugar Spun/Pattern

I chose the sugar spun design as I love it! I did it for the first time in the 31 Day Challenge in January See Here, in fact I think that one/those two were a bit better than this attempt... But then I am using my left hand instead of the right and it is only my second try at it ;) On the subject of STILL using my left hand, the broken nail is still nubby, I cut all the others down when I hurt that one and they have come on a treat but the middle finger is still going at a snails pace - typical! Back to this mani, I decided to try Valentine's colours - red and pink... I did three coats of the pink shimmer for the base and then used a deep red for the sugar spinning part <3 I love this pink, it's only Boots own brand but it's sooo dainty! Only a couple more mani's to go before I'm caught up now :)

For this look I used:

• Boots Natural Collection - Shimmer Pink
• Avon Nailwear Pro - Red Reveal
• Small Dotting Tool

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Fan Brush/Glitterbomb

Well I was feeling so good today that I ended up going into town to do a spot of shopping, having lunch out, visiting friends and coming home and cooking a late dinner before finally getting to do my next nails! First time adventuring out in days lol! So I went for glitterbomb as I am clearly now even more pushed for time to catch up!! Grrr... I also happen to LOVE glitter polishes, I have loads and so many of my first posts were glitter mani's. I simply did one coat of the black and one of the glitter. Wham bam! I love this glitter, it really picks up whatever colour you have underneath it and has the ability to look sooo different. I've never tried it over black or seen it look so blue. Must try on other colours :) please excuse my dodgy cuticle area on my thumb...

For this look I used:

• Avon Nailwear Pro - Licorice
• Models Own: Jack Frost

 

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: 3D/Decals

Apologies for another large gap in posting - hadn't quite shifted the virus I'd picked up in January and felt so weird all week :( my motivation to paint my nails was at zero... But today I feel energised and enthusiastic once more :) Hooray!
So it's time to catch up!... For this manicure I went for 3D - I've recently received a lot of decorations from Cheeky which I love and had sooo many ideas but decided to keep it simple in order to catch up, I hate being behind in a challenge! For this I used two coats of the lilac; once completely dry I put a nice thick topcoat on and placed a bright purple rhinestone at the top of each nail. The thick topcoat really helps when you want to perfect the position of the decoration, you can slide it around without damaging the polish underneath and the topcoat levels itself out again.

For this look I used:

• Barry M - 3 in 1 Clear Hardener, Basecoat & Topcoat
• Barry M - Berry Icecream
• Cheeky Nail Art Rhinestones

 

MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: One Stroke/Ombre

I soooo wanted to do a one stroke... But my acrylic paints were dried out :( boohoo! Something to add to the shopping list! A slightly smaller square paint brush wouldn't go a miss either... So, ombre it is today. I decided to do five shades of blue, one on each nail, light to dark, as I had spent quite some time on my water marble. Was such a shame to take that off so soon! Decided to add a small gold star to each nail whilst the topcoat was tacky as it needed a lil something extra and I love gold and blue together. It's simple but I really quite like it, it's a really wearable design... And goes with my eyes lol :p

For this look I used:

• Barry M - 3 in 1 Hardener, Basecoat & Topcoat
• Barry M - Blue Moon
• Barry M - Blueberry Icecream
• Barry M - Cyan Blue
• Rimmel - Blue Eyed Girl
• NYC - Ink Stain
• Cheeky Nail Art Studs

 

 MissLanage x

Flip Flop Challenge: Water Marble/Dry Marble

Sorry for the late post... Somehow I managed to leave my house without my house keys yesterday! I got to the checkout at tesco when they asked for my clubcard... On my keys... No keys... Oh s**t! LOL! I then spent several hours sitting in my car waiting on a spare set... DOH! I must admit, the first thing that ran through my mind was "I don't have time for this, I have a water marble mani to do!" Hahaha... I gots it bad! So here is my water marble a day late... This is actually my first time! I have attempted it twice before and after failing on the first nail, I put it all away and started something else. Today I persevered and was pleased with the results, not perfect but pretty good; and by the time I got to my pinky nail I was well in the swing of things and started to enjoy the process. My process compiled of a getting a small plastic dish of cold water - lukewarm didn't work with this polish, it wouldn't spread on the surface - then dropping in the polish: orange, yellow, pink, orange and then yellow again. I then gently dragged an orange stick from the outside of the rings to the centre repeatedly to create a pattern and gently placed my finger into the water, nail down, holding there whilst removing the rest of the paint on the surface with the same stick. Finally I took my finger out and cleaned up. I should just say my nails were already painted white from yesterday in preparation for the marble... I didn't bother with lip salve or tape around my fingers to help with clean up, I find it much quicker to just used a cotton bud and remover after the fact :)

For this look I used:

• W7 - Pearlescent Neon Pink
• W7 - Peralescent Neon Orange
• W7 - Pearlescent Neon Yellow
• Bowl Of Cold Water & Orange Stick

MissLanage x