Nails Inc Leather Effect - Shoreditch Lane

Hi Goddesses

If I'm honest, I was not once interested or tempted by the Nails Inc black leather polish, partly because black polish looks so bad on me, and partly because the the set it was part of.  But release it in a burgundy??  Ah, go on then!

So, technicals first.  As I've alluded to in other posts, this is less gritty than the Concretes, so if you like the effect, but want to be more subtle, this is for you.   It feels almost soft in comparison to its Concrete siblings.

It's similar but possibly a fraction less textured than Barry M's new texture polishes - this really is gentle grittiness :)

However, the biggest thing I want point out is how dull the finish is on this polish in comparison to all the other textured polishes.  Personally, I didn't like it.   This polish just doesn't capture or reflect the light, instead holding it and killing it like a stagnant swamp.  HOWEVER, that is totally appropriate to the non-shiny material they are trying to imitate.

In these photos, this polish looks awesome - like dried blood.  The following day, at work, under indoor lighting, it kinda just *died* on my nails, as the lighting was so very flat.

If you love matte polishes or texture, this one's a keeper. If you don't, maybe not so.  I did try to put top coat on it, but didn't really like the effect - the TC just sort of sat there, without really adding anything.

This is a keeper for me, but mainly for art reasons, I don't think I'll wear this plain again, but it is an interesting addition to my stash.

You can check out my Nails Inc Concrete post HERE and my Barry M Texture post HERE.

Enjoy xx :)

NEW31DC - Final Day! Recreate Someone Else's Mani

Hi Goddesses

Sob .... sob ..... sniff .... sob.  It's the last day!!  I'm gutted!  I've enjoyed this challenge sooooooo much that I'm really sorry to see it end.    I'll do a round-up post over the weekend, but for now, I leave you with my mani inspired by Jin from Superficially Colourful.

I love simple nail art, and there's nothing much simpler than a dotting tool.  I also love ruffle manis, and I've done several of them, but it blew my mind when I saw Jin post THIS orange one.  An orange ruffle - wow!

It hadn't even occurred to me that I might own enough oranges to do a ruffle justice, but I did!  (surprise)  There were also different shades, tones and textures - I really think polishes with different finishes are the key to a great ruffle.

So what polishes do we have in the mix then ?  Well the base is The Arches by Elevation Polish, a stunning brick terracotta.  2 KIKOs, 368 and 236, Icing Funky Femme, a super bright glitter, Essie Chubby Cheeks, w7 Burnt Amber and the sensational holo-tasticness of Enkelini Lainey Lou. 

The win of this mani is totally in the textures, and in something quite accidental.  Usually, my holo stripe has been in the middle, to break things up, but quite accidentally it was the last layer I added this time, and wow oh wow does it make it pop.

I can't believe how much drama and light there is in some of these photos - just - wow, I'm gobsmacked and super happy.

So that's it.  It's over.  Thank YOU for reading.  Thank you Ashley for designing the poster.  Thanks to all the amazing ladies who took part and .... if you thought it looked fun, why not join in ?   It starts all over again TOMORROW when the slow version heads out of town.  Same challenges, but at a pace of 2 manis per week.  If you want to take part, just come and join the Crumpet's Nail Tarts, or click the logo in the top left.

Lots of love - see you for a round up at the weekend xxx

NEW31DC Day 30 - Your Favourite Nail Art Technique

Hi Goddesses

Oh I'm so sad that tomorrow's our last day!  I've really enjoyed this challenge and had so much fun with it, as well as being blown away by the manis the other ladies have posted.

I realised recently that splatter is probably my favourite art technique, as well as one of the ones I am best at.  It ALWAYS makes me smile and feel happy, and I also love the element of surprise it provides - you're never *quite* sure how it will turn out :)

This mani was born when I was prepping for Digit-al Dozen Art Week, and I was thinking of just using primary colours.  I'm not quite sure how that became a splatter, but this is undoubtedly one the most dramatic splatters I've ever created.

There's something about this mani that just POPS.  It's so bold and cheerful and brazen :)  wow it makes me happy just to look at it.

The base is my usual - OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls - and then I think I used Barry M red, blue and yellow for the primary colours.

Hope you like - tomorrow we go out in a blaze of - ooops! mustn't spoil the surprise!  xxx

NEW31DC Day 29 - Inspired By Another Blogger

Hi Goddesses

Today's Challenge is to be inspired by another blogger, and today's mani is an homage to the lovely Laurie at Dressed Up Digits.   For those of you who don't know her, Laurie is a stamping goddess, drawn to duochromes and stamping patterns with chains or zips on them lol.

So when I saw this pattern on MJ8, I immediately thought of Laurie :)   It's a stamp she's either got or got different versions of, and I'm sure if you check her blog you'll see numerous versions of this pattern!

I stamped over the glorious Night Before Christmas from Duri, giving it a blood red and passionate twist :)

Only 2 days left !!!

Nails Inc Concrete Polishes - Monument, Marble Arch and Stonehenge

Hi Goddesses

Everything is texture texture texture at the moment, and for a lot of this week, it's Texture In Crumpetland too.  I've swatched my Liquid Sand, Barry's Textures, and today it's the turn of the Nails Inc Concretes.  Tomorrow I'll show you the Nails Inc Leather, and then later in the week I have some Concrete nail art to show you.  Oh, and hopefully my PixieDusts will show up soon too!!

Those of you who are in Facebook groups with me will have seen some of these shots before - it seems we're all fascinated with these polishes.  They are ... interesting .... but again, I have to ask, who on earth wants a yellow? Lol.

Let's discuss some common features first.  These apply quite easily and were opaque at 2 coats.  In the UK we have a pudding called Angel Delight, which is powder that you add to milk and then whisk.  Whilst it's being whisked, it has little lumps in it, and that's exactly how the Concretes look as you apply them - creamy, with lumps.   As they dry, the lumps harden and shrink, and after 2 coats, they have uniform coverage.

Dry time is really good, and they wear well too.   You *can* top coat them, but because they are glitter free, you don't get the same effect you do from Liquid Sand.   Finally - and for me this is their real bonus - because they have the most extreme texture of any of the polishes out there, you can paint over them AND keep the Concrete look.

Ok, so let's start with the fugly yellow - Monument.  I mean ... UGH.  It's not even a bright, cheerful yellow.  It's hideous lol.   It's quite mustard-y, with a faint green undertone.

I think of 2 things when I see the textures of these polishes - flocking manicures, and fake astro-turf lol.   I also imagine little pinpoint sized creatures living amid the gravelly concrete lol.  Yeh, I should get out more.

Next we have the red - Marble Arch.  This is gorgeous.  Super bright, there's almost a neon quality to this red.  It's not deep enough to be ruby, so this perches on the edge of red.  Very summery.

One of the things I like about the Concrete is how much light they capture and hold, which never makes them feel dull and gritty.

I love this red, really love it.

Then we have the blue, which keeps trying to lean blurple but never quite gets there.  This is called Stonehenge, and I don't get it, especially when there's also a stone coloured Concrete.  Go figure.

Stonehenge is basically Concrete Baker Street.  It has the exact same cobalt intensity, drama and wow factor.

So, should you buy them?   I think texture is this year's Crackle / Magnetics, so I'd advise caution.  If you love the colours, and can stand the texture, go for it, otherwise maybe hold out.

Which ones should you buy?  Well, I'll be doing proper comparisons soon, but the Concretes are hardcore.  The Nails Inc Leather and the Barry M Textures are half as hardcore, and very similar in feel.  The Liquid Sands are just different, mainly because of the glitter element.

Also, bear in mind the price.  Nails Inc is more than twice as expensive as Barry, so if you're thinking of dabbling, start with Mr M first, and the worst you'll lose is £3.99.

See you tomorrow with Nails Inc Leather.  Enjoy xx :)