NCC~April~Pastel~Week 3

It's time share another pastel mani from the NCC group.  April is pastels and here is my 3rd mani

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote
Base Color:  Zoya Arizona
Stripes:  Pink and White from L.A. Colors
Top Coat: Seche Vite

So, you are probably thinking that this doesn't really look pastel.  When I did my base, I had no idea what I was going to do but a light orange would be fun.  After adding the pink stripes, it quickly started to look like a bright neon mani.  Adding the white gave it more dimension and even though it may not all be pastel, I really like how this one came out :)

Another quick shot in the shade.
 As always, check out the other ladies doing the challenge with me.

Happy Wednesday!

XOXO  Mandy

NCC: April~Pastel~ Week 2

It's challenge mani day!  If you remember The Nail Challenge Collaborative, then you know we just started a new series where every month is a new theme.  April is pastels and here is my week 2 pastel mani.

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Zoya Neely

Nail Art Stickers (eBay)

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

I have had these nail art stickers for quit some time now.  I received them as a "sorry you didn't receive your striping tape order, here are some stickers and a replacement is on the way" kind of thing.  They sent a lot too!  Soooooo, with it being pastel month, I thought it was a good time to try these out.  And I have to say, I am really liking them.  They make a plain mani cute and summer-y.  

I had a really hard time photgraphing this mani and didn't know if it was going to make it to the blog.  I tried all kids of light sources, angles, indoors, out doors.....nothing was looking good.  This is the best I could do.  Here is another shot

 Not the usual pose, but I was getting desperate!  

Well, there you have it, a simple, cute and fun pastel mani.  Don't forget to check out the other ladies participating in the challenge :)

XOXO  Mandy

Pretty & Polished: Bashful Bouquet (2 ways) NCC April~Pastel~Week 1

Afternoon everyone!  I am excited to be back into my challenge group again, known as The Nail Challenge Collaborative.  We have done weekly themes for the seasons all through last year.  I unfortunately, didn't finish the last 2 :(  April marks the 1 year anniversary of the group and I am excited to still be here and join the new challenge.  Things have changed a bit, and I quite like these changes.  It will make it easier for me to keep going with the challenge themes.  Instead of having a pre planned weekly schedule, we are going to have a them for each month.  We can do what ever we want each week of that month for the theme.  Make sense?  Ok, so our first ever challenge was a pastel one, wanna see mine?  Click HERE,  little nutty huh?  That was back when I first started blogging.  Any who, since our first challenge was a pastel one, the theme for April is pastel ;)  I have been saving this polish for this challenge cause I find it very appropriate.  Pretty & Polished Bashful Bouquet is a mix of pastel glitters in a clear base.  FUN!  I did my mani 2 ways, glossy top coat and matte top coat.  Which do you like best?

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Zoya Shelby (2 coats)

Glitter Topper:  Pretty & Polished Bashful Bouquet (1 coat)

Top Coat:  Seche Vite (glossy)

Top Coat:  Essie Matte About You (matte)

I prefer the matte look.  It's so soft and pretty.  I often forget about my matte top coat.  I think I am gonna leave it next to my Seche Vite so I can see it all the time :)

There are a few of us doing the NCC challenge.  Please head over and visit their blogs, great stuff!!

XOXO  Mandy

Guest Blogger Friday: Lace & Lacquers: Halloween Inspired Saran Wrap Nail Art

Sooooo, I had put Guest Blogger Friday on hold because I was doing a Halloween nail art challenge that posted every Friday, Weeelllll, you can see how well that turned out.  I am such a slacker :(
Lacey graciously agreed to guest post for me.  She went with a Halloween theme since it's October.  I thought I better share before Halloween passes us by.  ENJOY!!!

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Hey guys! It's Lacey from Lace & Lacquers! I was asked a few months ago by Mandy to do a guest post for her in October, how nice of her to think of me! I figured since it is October, a good old fashion Halloween manicure was perfect for this post :]

Here's what we'll be creating today:

One fun, Halloween looking manicure and for those who like gore - I got a manicure for you, too! After the jump I'll show you more pictures, tools I used and a short tutorial how to recreate this look.

Lazy Days of Summer: Dotting Tool Summer Fun

Trying to get back on track after a few weeks of almost non existence is kind of hard.  I have been in a funk for a little bit and hoping that posting will get me back on track.  I decided to start with a challenge mani.  I am pretty behind compared to the other girls.  A lot are just zipping through :)

I am on number 7, Dotting Tool Summer Fun.  Seeing how I was in a funk when I did this, I decided to keep it simple.  Here is my cute summer flower mani

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Zoya Sarah

Flowers:  Sinful Colors Snow Me White, Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Green w/ Envy

and China Glaze Happy Go Lucky

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

I loved wearing this design, so cute, simple and of course, red!

Zoya: Chloe

Good Morning!! I have a short post for you today.  I wanted to share Zoya Chloe.  I am in LOOOOOVE with flakies.  Yeah, I have a problem.  If I see a flakie, I have to have it.  I just found out yesterday that Icing has some flakie polishes.  So of course I will be on the look out for those.  

Any who, back to the flakie of the day.  I layered Chloe over Wet N Wild's Ebony Hates Chris.  It really brings out all the colors.  I also prefer my flakie's matte.  You can see so much color variations.

Here is my mani

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  WnW Ebony Hates Chris

Flakie:  Zoya Chloe

Top Coat:  Kleancolor Madley Matte

How do you like your flakie polishes?

Teal Tuesday: Stars

I have another Tealicure for you today.  This weeks theme is stars.  I was excited this one won, but then I realized, I had no clue what I was going to do.  There was no way I was going to freehand some stars and I wasn't in the mood to try out some stickers.  So of course, I went to my binder with all my plates and started looking. I was sure I had a ton of star images.  I don't :(  This is actually my 2nd attempt.  I liked my first attempt, which was french tips, but I have plans for the day and wanted to show off this polish.  I LOVE IT!  So I started over and did a full mani with a cute star stamp :)

Base Coat:  Seche REBUILD

Base Color:  Zoya Charla

Stamping Plate:  Bundle Monster BM21

Stamping Polish:  Konad Special White

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

Stamping Test

I have used quit a few polishes lately that were one coaters.  Naturally, I wanted to see if they would be good stamping polishes.  Since I am Going Naked this week, I thought it was a good time to do a test before I change my REBUILD.  Here are the ones I tried

Zoya Noel, Confetti Rock the Night Away, SC Midnight Blue, CC Revvvolution, CG Agro

I decided to do the same as my last Stamping Test and used the Zebra image on the Konad M57 plate.  I was very hopeful for these polishes, but was quit disappointed.  The test images are in the same order as the polish pic above, starting with the pinky.  Looking at both pictures, I guess I did this backwards, OOPS!

Thumb:  CG Agro_This one worked ok.  It looks pretty crisp, but there are some bald spots.  Could be operator error

Index Finger:  CC Revvvolution_ I am sure that I have seen this one stamped before.  I kind of feel the same way about it as I do Agro.  It might work.  Maybe with a different image?

Middle Finger:  SC Midnight Blue_This one actually stamped pretty well.  It's just not as dark as I had hoped.  

Ring Finger:  Confetti Rock the Night Away_This is such a great one coater.  I had high hopes for this one.  As you can see, it does not work at all :(

Pinky:  Zoya Noel_I remember this one being so awesome when I first used it.  High hopes for this one too.  Failed, again :(

Of these 5, I would say that Agro and Midnight Blue stamped the best.  Revvvolution might work out, but I think it will take some trial and error with that one.

Will be on the look out for more great stamping polishes :)

Don't forget to check out my current giveaway HERE

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!