Mini iPhone post: gradient nails

Hey girls!!! Just a quick post to say I'm still alive! Here's what's on my nails today:

My entry for Kayla Shevonne's indie nail art contest: Robotic Indie Love

Don't let the heart fool you - this indie machine can't really love you.

Hi readers!   This is my entry for Kayla Shevonne's nail art contest.  The real challenge here was working with glitter dense polishes while doing some awesome nail art.  I've been wanting to do robots for a while, and the indies I have really lent themselves toward them.  "The Tinman" on my thumb features Huemorista's "Unzipped", a unique cement grey that has a gold shift, and some hidden microflecks of shifting color.  I love how is little heart shifts from pink to white to green.

My pointer finger "Daisy" with her oh so ladylike lashes, was filled in using my recently acquired "April Showers" from April's Glitter Guilty box.  "April Showers" is a sheer grey base with with holographic bits scattered throughout, and holographic hexes mixed with a few pink-to-coral shifting flowers.

"Hal", the gold bot is another Huemorista, "Promise Ring" a foiled gold with microshimmer throughout.  I love my Huemoristas, but as the linked post points out, you've got to watch out for doctored swatches.

"Beepbop", the zany machine on my ring finger has one of the coolest Rainbow Honey glitters to layer over white.   It's "The Worst Possible Thing", described by the creator as "A sheer layering polish, jewel encrusted just as Rarity would endorse, shimmering with opalescent flakes in purple and blue and a multitude of holographic and iridescent glitters."  There are these really tiny chartreuse glitters that pop over white, that I never noticed before. 

Finally, on the pinky is little "Error", the silver-purple worry bot.  He was created using A England's "Princess Tears", a super unique Lilac and silver polish has the most dreamy application, and a gorgeous color shift in varied lighting.

I really loved this, and though things didn't come out "perfect", I will definately be doing this again because it's just so fun.  What's not to love?  Thank you, Kayla, for hosting this contest.  It challenged me to move beyond my safe zones and create something I love.

Spring Fever: Indie Glitters and a contest

 This manicure was originally done for Kayla Shevonne's indie nail art contest, but I've done something I love even more.  Hopefully I've made the right choice in which to submit.  I still do love this one, though! 

The Orange is Rainbow Honey's "Hoof Wrassle" with a coat of Zoya "Kate" to pull it a little more coral than pumpkin.  The tips are Zoya "Izzy" with Dollish Polish "Random Dancing" over it, and each finger is accented with a different color, just for fun!  Thumb to pinky the colors are Zoya "Zuza", Sinful Colors "Happy Ending", OPI "Manicurist of Seville", Zoya "Sharon", and Zoya "Hope". 

I think the concept of this contest is both excellent and challenging.  Since most indie polishes are pretty glitter-dense, doing nail art with them is difficult.  I'm happy with how the execution of this one came out, but I'm absolutely in LOVE with the most recent one - I can't wait to share it with you after submission!   I hope to see some of you participate too, drop me a link if you do!

Grumpy cat, grumpy baby, 100th post!

 There's something so loveable about some awfully unhappy characters in the world.  Angry Bunny, anyone?  The most recent and popular is, of course, Grumpy Cat.  This sour faced puss embodied my emotional state after I passed my due date with my fourth son.   I know, people have been pregnant long past their due dates from the beginning of time, but I've personally never gone over - so it felt like an eternity.  And what does a rural nesting mommy to be do once the freezer's stocked and the floors are cleaned?  She paints her nails, again, of course.

As it turned out, this is the manicure that worked.  Daniel joined us the next day, and his personality is actually pretty much the human realization of grumpy cat, so it was very appropriate.

(All the non-art nails have a happy, sparkly coat of Zoya's Sparkle Gloss coat)

On a side note, this is my 100th post!  

&hearts ya, readers!!!

Spring Fever: Alcohol Marble

Are the flowers blooming where you are?  Here in Oregon, we've seen a small spread of Daffodils and Crocuses (croci?  Croc....whatever.)  The colors came out to play in my first attempt at alcohol marbling.  I used the tutorial provided by Partial to Polish posted here.  There are actually several methods and marbling styles available with this recent trend, some are more spotted and others are "vein-ier" like this.  What kind of alcohol used and timing make a difference - just like water marbling, it takes a bit of practice.

(Left Hand)

(Right Hand)

If you're curious, the colors used are - Zoya "Purity" (white), Essie "Kisses and Bises" (sheer green/pink duo), Sally Hansen "Mellow Yellow" (...yellow), Zoya "Shawn" (green), and Sally Hansen "Burgundy Orchid" (purple)

UPDATE: Indie Polish monthly subscription - Goodbye, Birchbox, Hello, Glitter Guilty!

I've ditched my birchbox in favor of something more my speed - an indie, custom nail polish subscription box.  I couldn't be more excited to share my Glitter Guilty box with you!  (Up front disclaimer - I purchased this box, and was not sent it for review :D)

***UPDATE AT END OF POST***

The Glitter Guilty subscription is 15.99 a month, which covers shipping.  The box includes a monthly mini indie, a custom full size polish, and some chocolate (while it's cool enough to keep) or other treat.   The curator also sends out a "golden ticket" each month in a few boxes for an extra treat!  

I knew as soon as I fell across the box that I wanted one.   I roped in my good friend over at Mommy Does her Nails into getting one too. (Check out her review here)

The monthly mini in April's box was aptly named "April Showers" and is gorgeous.   A sheer grey base with holographic bits scattered throughout, and holographic hexes mixed with a few pink-to-coral shifting flowers, it applied like a dream, and built up rather nicely layered over two coats of Loreal "Cockatoo's Mystery" (which if you read me regularly, you know is my go-to grey).  This is two coats of each:

 I am not usually a fan of shaped glitters (flowers, hearts...), but this one is kind of a dream.  I love the unexpected color combo, the balance of flowers to polish, and even the holo bits mixed in.  The flowers require a bit of fishing, but they're worth the effort.

"Coral Kiss" was the name of my full size, customized polish.  I'd describe it as pale pink jelly with matte white hexes, smaller shiny fuschia hexes, and gold and red glass flecks throughout.  If I were naming it, I'd call it "Peppermint Patty" or something, it's very much red/pink/white.  When subscribing, you describe your likes and dislikes, and your polish is generated with these things taken into consideration.  I'll list my exact preferences listed after the photos of "Coral Kiss", so you can see how this fit in with my input.

 (3 Coats Coral Kiss)

 2 coats Zoya "Coraline" with two coats "Coral Kiss"

 (L to R:  2 coats "Coral Kiss" over Zoya "Sharon", OPI "Manicurist of Seville", Zoya "Purity", Fingerpaints "Black Expressionism")

As any anxious subscriber might, I'd been mad stalking Glitter Guilty's facebook page to see what everyone else had been getting, and haunting USPS' tracking site to see when my box would arrive.  So, I'll admit I was pretty dissapointed to find my polish seemed to be a pretty close duplicate to another box that had been posted (listed as "Coral Crush" by the receiver) - in fact at first I thought it was the exact same.   The glass fleck effect in mine may not be in that one, though, and it's a different name.  I haven't seen any other two polishes put out by Glitter Guilty be so close in formulation, and I can see how this polish fit the preferences I listed.   I personally feel it's pink, without any orange indication to call it coral, but that's kind of an "in the eye of the beholder" thing as well.   Trying to pull it more to my definition is why I tried it over "Coraline" and "Sharon" above.  


Overall, I'm still loving the experience.  Especially the bonus of a chocolate treat - if there's one thing I love as much as polish and coffee, it's chocolate.   The concept of the box is brilliant.   I am hopeful that the company can keep up and grow with it's own success - I imagine as more subscribers sign up, doing a personalized custom for each will be it's own challenge.  I'd also love to see a website and logo update - the kerning on "guilty" in their logo drives my occasional OCD into overdrive, and the site's a bit wonky.   The polish formulation I would describe as high quality, requiring occasional fishing, but worth the effort with a gorgeous application.  I'll be leaving my Birchbox cancelled to keep this in the budget for a few more months, at least. 





If you are as excited and intrigued by this subscription as I was, please sign up!   I'd love it if you used my name as your referral - just put "Frankie Caswell" in the referral box and you'll help me earn a box for free in the future ;)

Make sure to fill in your likes and dislikes to help shape your customized polish!  
Here's what I listed in mine this month:

Colors you love: Plum, Indigo, Nudes, Greys, Jewel tones, lately Corals
Colors you hate: Greens don't usually suit me, poopy yellows...also heart shaped glitter and shards.

For a peek at what other preferences resulted in, remember to check out Mommy Does her Nails' review of her box - I have to say, they got her custom spot on!  I'll post my box next month, along with my updated preferences.   Let me know if you sign up, and what you get!  I'd love to see more reviews, polishes, boxes, and I am wishing this program a lot of success!!!


***UPDATE***

I was pleased to receive this email from Glitter Guilty today - it addresses some of the concerns and questions mentioned in this post, and I have to say it is one of the best responses I've seen from an indie company regarding any issue.  Heck, it's more professional and well handled than a lot of well established companies.  Take note, businesses!

Here is the email: 

Hi ladies! 

I first want to thank you so much for your support as I've launched my website and attempted to "grow", especially with the Glitter Guilty Pleasures Box subscription.  I LOVE getting surprises in the mail, and thought this would be such a fun idea!  If you signed up in March and already received your April box, I hope you've enjoyed it. 

 

Second, I need to apologize because I used some wording on the website that may have caused a little bit of confusion on the full size bottle. While the full size bottle of polish is customized and sent according to your personal preferences, there may be a few others with the same color preferences that will recieve the same polish, especially as subscription members continue to grow.  In addition, your polish may actually be added to my collection and sold on the website.  While I would LOVE to make individual polishes for each subscriber, (and continue this each month), it takes quite a bit of time to formulate each polish, and name each one.  I hope this is understandable.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! 

 

Also, May's box will be our last "chocolate" box, and starting in June, I'll have another fun (non-melting)  product included instead, (which I am EXTREMELY excited about)!  Thank you so much again for your support!

I think we can all agree that this is both a great way to address the issues and questions, and that it is the only realistic expectation if the company continues to grow.   I'm looking forward to next month's box, and I hope you sign up if you aren't already on board!  Don't forget to mention my name in the referral box - Frankie Caswell!   Until next time...

Spring Fever: Wacky Blue dots

This one is another that was sitting in my collection of pinterest inspirations - the one that first grabbed me was done by Manicurity, and is gorgeous.  Go check it out.  HERS was inspired by Dressed up Nails, and is equally as fun and fascinating...seriously, GO LOOK!  But come back, after you eat up those blogs...

 Obviously, mine is a little less "dotty" than theirs.   I chose the Sally Hansen "Pacific Blue" for the base, while the others featured are Zoya "Kennedy" (neutral), Zoya "Arizona" (orange), Zoya "Keiko" (purple) and Color Club "Clambake Coral" (coral).  A good coat of Seche Vite smoothed the whole thing out.

And, with China Glaze "Matte Magic" 

Spring Fever: Guest Post from Liesl loves pretty Things

Hi there, Frankie's readers!!  I'm Liesl and I run Liesl Loves Pretty Things.  When Frankie asked for some guest posts for her Spring Fever series, as well as some blogging assistance once she had her new baby, I was totally down... as long as I didn't have to do any art, lol.  We cleared that up right away.  Frankie's so good at it, though, I felt like I had to step it up a little bit, so I used the opportunity to wear one of my favorites from last spring with one of the best from this spring.  Here's OPI OY- Another Polish Joke over L'Oreal Rendezvous.

Rendezvous is a bright, juicy tomato red jelly from one of their spring collections from last year (of which I can't for the life of me remember the name) that's now part of the core line.  OY- Another Polish Joke is the strikingly beautiful shimmery gold topper from OPI's spring brights collection, Euro Centrale.  I used two coats of Rendezvous and one coat of Oy.  I tell you, there is nothing this gold doesn't look amazing over.  It's so fiery and lively over bright red.

Love.  I feel like the two herald all things bright, lively, and vital, and the duo's a real pick me up while our Oregon weather's so rainy and grey.

Thank you for the honor of guest posting for you, Frankie, and CONGRATULATIONS on your new little boy. ♥♥