DIGIT-AL DOZEN WEEK: Vintage Polka Dots

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Hello lovelies!

TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY! I was so chuffed after my last post that I immediately took to Google and found something else vintage-y to produce for you!

This was inspired by this polka dot pattern I found on DeviantArt. I started with a base of Rue (which took three coats to opacity, and was mysteriously sort of lumpy?), and then did dots with Crescent Heights, Where Did Suzi's Man-Go?, and Blowing Raspberries.

After that, I did two coats of top coat to protect the base, and did the 'watercolour' technique with Chelsea Physic Garden and Moody Blues. I then sealed everything in another coat of top coat. And then bumped my index and thumb badly while opening a bottle of wine. (This is, in a nutshell, everything you need to know about me.)

Polishes used:

Zoya - Rue

American Apparel - Crescent Heights

OPI - Where Did Suzi's Man-Go?

butter LONDON - Blowing Raspberries

nails inc. - Chelsea Physic Garden

piCture pOlish - Moody Blues

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

dotting tool

square brush for 'watercolouring'

I like this effect, it's like a kind of verdigris... I look forward to doing it over more complicated patterns, probably using jellies next time for optimal ageing.

AND I FINISHED! AND IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY! I'm so pleased. Thank you, Dionysus, for all that you do.

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN WERE UP TO:

An InLinkz Link-up

DIGIT-AL DOZEN "WEEK": Vintage Flapper Dress

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Hello lovelies!

I wasn't lying when I said that this would take a while. I'm still running on fumes, creatively, but I wanted to at least get this post up for you. I've had this idea kicking around in my head for the past week or so, and finally sat down to do it.

My inspiration was based loosely on the beaded trim of flappers' dresses. There was no specific dress that inspired the pattern; I just made it up. :)

I hope you click on these photos to zoom them in. Not because the detail warrants it, but because the base colour (Contraband) is very subtle and lovely. It's a blue-purple base with purple and pink sparks. It comes across as purple in person and is just a doll of a shade, both the apply and to admire on my fingertips.

The 'beading' was done with white acrylic paint and my tiny detail brush. Here is a direct light shot, to try to show you the complexity of Contraband a bit better:

Polishes used:

I Love Nail Polish - Contraband

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

white acrylic paint

tiny detail brush

I start my new job on Monday! I'm really very excited. I hope to finish off this month's "week" this weekend sometime, likely Sunday, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Then I can gear up for the next Digit-al Dozen week-- my promise to myself is to keep doing them until I get my mojo back, at which point I will ramp up and start posting in-between them, as I usually do.

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN WERE UP TO:

An InLinkz Link-up

DIGIT-AL DOZEN WEEK: Vintage Brass Banister

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Hello lovelies.

Remember me? ;) Haha. I haven't given up on Digit-al Dozen Week, though it ended last week. I've been going through some very hard times, and I haven't had the energy for much of anything since last Wednesday. But I have a job now!! I start 3 March. I'm super excited about that. Anyway, enough blather -- onto the nails!

This look was quick and easy to do. It involves only two colours, and used a liner brush and a medium detail brush. 

The base colour is Shirin, and the linework is all Educate. I used a photo of a brass banister I found on Google as my rough guide, and simplified it a bit for the nail. I could have done this with acrylic paint and gone to town on the detail, but I don't mind it like this, either.

Here is a close-up so you can see the little green flecks in Educate (very pretty):

Polishes used:

Mentality - Shirin, Educate

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

liner brush

medium detail brush

I found out about my new job on Friday, and had my heart rather broken on Friday, too. Have you ever had that happen to you-- a really good thing and a really awful thing all at once? I'm trying to choose the path of light, to be happy and whole. Everything takes so much time, doesn't it? We're a curious bunch, us humans. :)

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN HAVE DONE:

An InLinkz Link-up

DIGIT-AL DOZEN WEEK: Vintage/Shabby Chic Floral Wallpaper

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Hello lovelies!

Lookit this! An on-time post!

Debbie did a floral wallpaper-type design yesterday, and I had recently seen Katy's invention of this design over at her blog, and I was inspired to give it a shot! It is something of a "second-class" design for me because I didn't invent it myself, but I'm trying to give myself a break this week. :)

For this design, I started with three coats of Don't Bossa Nova Me Around, from the new Brazil collection. It went on pretty smooth, but needed 3 coats for opacity. I then painted the roses with Poco a Poco and the leaves with Crescent Heights (I wanted to use CG's Budding Romance but my bottle won't open and I'm an impatient human being).

I then took my tiniest detail brush and went in with Camelot to do all the lines. In retrospect, I should have used Revlon's Dominate (my go-to dark brown) because it would have added to the vintage feel. I'm kicking myself over it a bit.

Polishes used:

OPI - Don't Bossa Nova Me Around

Rescue Beauty Lounge - Poco a Poco (no longer in production)

American Apparel - Crescent Heights

A England - Camelot

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

medium detail brush

tiniest detail brush

Today I was called into the office of the place I'm trying to work for, to meet the other admin assistant who currently works there. It was super nice, she's a total sweetheart. I know they have yet to call my references, and I'm hoping that goes well... but I'm otherwise feeling a bit better about my prospects now. :) Yay!

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN ARE UP TO:

An InLinkz Link-up

DIGIT-AL DOZEN WEEK: Vintage Cutouts

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Hello lovelies.

Oh my goodness. Before we dive in, let me just apologize for my absence. Since I returned from San Francisco, my work situation (by which I mean lack of work situation) has been preoccupying me in the extreme. I'm anxious all of the time, and am sleeping like a sloth because of it. I have little creative energy, and therefore little of myself to apply to nail art.

But it is Digit-al Dozen week this week, and if nothing else, I'm going to try to complete the week as part of my commitment to my fellow ladies, and to you, my lovelies. So, let's do this! This week's theme is vintage.

I decided to start off simple, to avoid committing myself to something overwhelming. I was struck by inspiration while visiting Nory's look for today and saw the leftmost dress here. Cutout necklines! Super cute and vintage-ish.

I used Nail Vinyls for the moons, and actually did these twice, because the first colour I used (a bronze) didn't have enough contrast with my nail bed.

I still think I should have gone darker, for even more contrast, but there was no way I was going to do these a third time! These are also my R for my (abandoned-too-long) Follow the Devil ABC Challenge: reveals!

Polishes used:

OPI - Jade is the New Black

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

Nail Vinyls in half-moon

medium detail brush

I have zero idea what I'll be doing for the rest of the week, and I can't promise I'll get them all done on time -- I'm waiting to hear back from an employer in particular with whom I had a third interview last Thursday, and I'm on pins and needles for some resolution. All my emotional energy is going there. But! I will get the week done however I can, bit by bit. :)

And do you like the new nail shape?!

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN ARE UP TO:

An InLinkz Link-up

SIMPLE SUNDAY: Retro Fishtail

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Hello lovelies!

SURPRISE! I have a post for you! I am probably on a plane right now, but I wore this look for a dinner out on Friday and I decided I wanted to share it with you.

PINK NAILS PINK NAILS WEE OO WEE OO. Seriously I don't think I've had pink nails since I was 10. I'm calling this a retro fishtail because the colours seems very... "70s wallpaper" to me.

This started with three coats of Mt Augustus (which is paler in real life, sort of a bright pastel pink with coral leanings), followed by two coats of Pastille for the upper fishtail, and one coat of Educate for the lower fishtail. Some studs, and done!

This shot gives you the shimmer in Mt Augustus, the holo in Pastille, and the green flakes in Educate.

Polishes used:

Elevation Polish - Mt Augustus (which I think got discontinued?)

Mentality Nail Polish - Pastille, Educate

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

1.5mm studs from Born Pretty Store

Okay, now FOR REAL I'm leaving you all for a week. You can follow my adventures on Instagram, I'll try to post interesting photos about my trip there!

xo,

J.

DIGIT-AL DOZEN WEEK: Monochrome Mehndi

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Hello lovelies!

Last day of Digit-al Dozen Week! With the exception of Tuesday's madness, I think this one was a success. :) And to end off the week on a high note, here are some mehndi designs for you!

I had this idea a long time ago, but never did anything with it because I wasn't sure I'd do it justice. I still haven't really done it justice, BUT I'm nonetheless happy with the outcome.

I started with two coats of Don't Pretzel My Buttons to ask as a nude base, and then painted on the designs using Temperance. 

I then went over only some parts with Tettegouche to darken them up and make them stand out more, to give a look of henna before and after the paste falls off.

Polishes used:

OPI - Don't Pretzel My Buttons

Elevation Polish - Temperance, Tettegouche (limited editions)

medium liner brush

I hope you've enjoyed the week! On the 'good and bad news' front, I won't have any nail art for you next week, as I'll be visiting my tattoo artist and his wife over in San Francisco, exploring the city, hanging out with their pups and chickens and orchids, getting tattooed on my right hip, and generally having an awesome time! I'll report back upon my return. ;)

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN ARE UP TO:

DIGIT-AL DOZEN WEEK: Monochrome Green Damask

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Hello lovelies! Today's mani is just a half step away from yesterday's, in my mind.

For this look, I began with a base of Dragon, and then I used a medium detail brush to paint on bits of damask patterning using Def Defying.

Once you have a source photo, it isn't all that difficult or long, plus damask is a rather forgiving pattern when you deconstruct it like this.

I like how it turned out, actually -- what I'm learning from this week is that I really like tonal differences in nail art. You can do some extravagant designs and they come out sort of perfectly subdued. It's really nice! I will have to do more monochromatic designs even after the week is done...

In direct light to try to catch a bit of the holo twinkle in Dragon...

Polishes used:

A England - Dragon

China Glaze - Def Defying
Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)
Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

medium liner brush

Do come back tomorrow for the last (and my favourite) look of the week! It's something I've been meaning to do for a long time and I'm glad I finally did.... (ooh, the suspense!)

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN ARE UP TO:

DIGIT-AL DOZEN WEEK: Monochrome Teal Floral

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Hello lovelies!

Today's venture into photography land was, as you can tell, far more successful.

I had three teal polishes stacked side by side and had zero idea what to do with them. So, true to form, I did a floral. (There is no going wrong with a floral.)

I began with two thicker coats of Willow, which is stunning in every way, and then painted on random blobs of Still Waters for the petals and 1977 for the leaves. I then used Ski Teal We Drop to outline everything, deliberately going for a sketchier/messier look.

These are my second favourite look of the week! I am, of course, saving the best for last. >:)

Polishes used:

Arcane Lacquer - Willow

Liquid Sky Lacquer - Still Waters (LAST CALL! GO BUY IT NOW!)

la couleur couture - 1977

OPI - Ski Teal We Drop

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

medium detail brush

tiny detail brush

I've got something kind of similar on the docket for tomorrow, so I hope to see you then!!

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN ARE UP TO:

DIGIT-AL DOZEN WEEK: Monochrome Honeycomb Ombre

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Hello lovelies! Whew, what a mouthful today's title is. And it proved to be the hardest-to-photograph mani I've ever done, too! I had to set the white balance WAAAY off to even get the differences in the colours to show up at all.

Waugh! It's a shame, because it's a lovely mani in person. (You'll just have to take my word on it.) It's an ombré of pink/orange/coral tones. I started by painting my nails with, from pinkie to thumb, 1963, Generally Hazzardous, My Paprika is Hotter Than Yours, 724, and Jinx.

I then 'bumped' each colour over by a finger (e.g., used 1963 on top of Generally Hazzardous) in order to draw the honeycomb shapes. It turns out I'm crap at honeycomb, so I'll have to practice that more. :)

This is as close to a colour-accurate photo of the polishes as I was going to get:

Polishes used:

la couleur couture - 1963

Pretty Serious - Generally Hazzardous

OPI - My Paprika is Hotter Than Yours, Jinx

Inglot - 724

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

medium detail brush

I love love love this colour family but it's impossible for the differences to show up on camera, or at least, on my camera. Any experiences like that before, for you? So frustrating! Come back tomorrow for a look that at least didn't elude my meagre photography skills...

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN ARE UP TO:

DIGIT-AL DOZEN WEEK: Monochrome Oranges

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Hello lovelies! So begins another week of The Digit-al Dozen! This month our theme is monochrome -- varying values of the same colour (including black and white). I cheated ever so slightly for today's simple look.

How did I come about doing a summer look in the middle of winter? I asked my beau to name a colour, he chose orange, this is all I could think of. True story.

I started with two coats of White On, and then filled in the oranges starting with the peel (1964 and Y'all Come Back Ya Hear), then the pith (a mix of Streetside NYC [this is how I cheated; used yellow] and White On), then the flesh of the orange (Y'all Come Back Ya Hear with highlights of Funny Bunny and White On).

Polishes used:

Sally Hansen - White On

OPI - Y'all Come Back Ya Hear, Funny Bunny

la couleur couture - 1964

Elevation Polish - Streetside NYC (discontinued)

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

thin liner brush

medium detail brush

Don't forget to check out the giveaway we've got going on right now! I'll be back tomorrow with more monochromatic madness. ;) I've got a couple really nice looks for you this week, so I hope you'll stick around!

xo,

J.

CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER TALENTED LADIES OF THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN ARE UP TO:

THE DIGIT-AL DOZEN LOVES YOU!

 Press Sample

Hello lovelies!

Before I begin the first Digit-al Dozen week of the new year, I wanted to take the opportunity to present you with what (I hope) is your first tantalizing giveaway of the new year:

YYYEEEAAAAHHH!!

"So what do I gotta do?" you are undoubtedly asking. Simple, my friend: fill in the Rafflecopter below, and you're on your way to winning one of a fabulous number of prizes, including perhaps one of the grand prizes of a $100 gift certificate to a polish e-tailer of your choice. This runs for just over two weeks and, yes, is open internationally, go get on it, my lovelies!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xo,

J.

SNAPSHOT: Pot Skittle

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Hello lovelies!

Just a quick photo today; nothing special, but I wanted to share. :)

I call it my 'pot skittle' because the brown colour is called Legislate, from Mentality's 420 Holos line. (Not that the holo shows in the lightbox.)

Polishes used:

Mentality - Legislate, Taffy

Elevation Polish - Xixabangma (discontinued)

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

1.5mm studs from Born Pretty Store

rectangular studs from The Nail Room

liner brush

dotting tool

This mani is kiiiiind of leaning towards the sorts of looks I'll be creating for Digit-al Dozen week starting next Monday. Any guesses as to what the theme is? ;)

xo,

J.

Nostalgia

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Hello lovelies!

I've been largely without inspiration for the past few days. Which is an issue, with Digit-al Dozen week coming up (that was a FAST month)! I did produce a simple floral look, which I posted to Instagram and Facebook. But today I do have something for you!

Yes, more lace moons. But on a multichrome polish called Nostalgia, how could I do otherwise?!

The hair on my nail in this photo and the next drives me bananas. BANANAS.

This look began with three easy coats of Nostalgia, which I did without using black undies. (You don't need them for I Love Nail Polish multichromes, though using them would let you get away with one to two coats of the polish instead of three.) Multichrome polishes can often be underwhelming, taking all kinds of weird hand poses to show a colour shift. NOT THIS ONE. Look at these photos! Swoon!

The design was done using white acrylic paint, which I should have thinned with water but did not, and a combination of a liner brush, a script brush, and a tiny detail brush. It was inspired by this image, which I found on Google. I didn't want to do a more complicated lace pattern, lest I cover up more of the beautiful base polish. Seriously, this one takes my breath away.

Polishes used:

I Love Nail Polish - Nostalgia

Duri - Rejuvacote (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

white acrylic paint

liner brush

script brush

tiny detail brush

Today we finally got a break in the frigid cold we were having; yesterday it was down to -39˚C with the wind chill (-38˚F). Are you in the part of North America currently being walloped by the huge winter storm? If so, I hope you're keeping as warm as possible! Protect those fingers and toes and noses and ears!

xo,

J.

Subway Map

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HELLO LOVELIES!!

Have you missed me? I missed you, too. I've had a quiet holiday season, which is a good thing in my books. I hope yours was everything you wanted it to be.

I'm, in fact, about to go play some drunken Super Smash Bros. Brawl, because we have a Wii and it's the right thing to do, but first-- I have nail art for you!

I don't even know. Really, not even a clue. I think it was vaguely inspired by subway maps?

My base for this was one coat of Silver Sweep, followed by two coats of Atomic. The thicker lines are done in Camelot, using my striping brush. The wee thin lines are cheater lines; I did those with a .005 Copic liner pen.

Sorry about the cat hair above. Didn't realize I had to sticky-roller my lightbox. If someone would stop sleeping in my lightbox, this would probably not be an issue. Alas, it IS a box, therefore it is to be slept in, apparently.

Polishes used:

Sally Hansen - Silver Sweep

piCture pOlish - Atomic

A England - Camelot

butter LONDON - Nail Foundation (base coat)

Glisten & Glow - HK Girl (top coat)

.005 Copic liner pen

liner brush

What are you hoping for in 2014? I'm hoping for a job, mostly. That'd be a killer start to my year! :)

xo,

J.