Crumpet's Polishes of the Year 2013 - Orange

Hi Goddesses

Today I've got my favourite orange polishes of the year for you.  Orange is a colour I've really come to LOVE this year - it's also a big depression-fighter for me.  Orange on my nails just makes me happy :)  So, excluding my Big 4 brands, here are my Top 4 Oranges of the Year.

(To go to the post, just click the polish name).

Jade Uau



This is about as holo-tastic as you can get without turning yourself inside out.  This is a mesmeric polish.  Deeply, intensely stunning.


Chirality - Just Before Dawn



This is at the opposite end of the holo scale to Uau but no less beautiful for that.  This is a rich, burnt orange scattered holo.  Utterly gorgeous.


Essence - Gorgeous Bling Bling



Another burnt orange masterpiece, this dark ginger syrup is shot through with gold to make for the most divine flakie experience.


LACC - 1964



LACC is a brand I want to get more of in 2014.  Again, this is from the burnt orange family, and it made its first appearance on the blog as Kipper, during Book Week :) Again, just gorgeous - smooth, rich and strong.

Back In Time - Hot Hot Hot Aztec

Hi Goddesses

Oh I am very conflicted about this post!  I changed the essence of the mani ... and now, well I don't even know whether I've created something better lol.

Recap - Back In Time, where myself, Missy and Ashley go back to this time last year and recreate a mani.   I picked this mani from last year, which had a ruby-orange-yellow gradient, with some Aztec-ish stamping on top.

I remember quite loving the mani at the time, and thought it looked ripe for a makeover.  The gradient is crude - I believe I did one colour at a time - and the stamping isn't even centred ....

This time, I went with a lighter red, China Glaze Igniting Love, LACC 1964 and CG Papaya Punch.   I did a proper 3 layer gradient with a sponge, and trust me, once it was done it was so smooth, it looked like a ripening tomato.

And I think this is where the mani loses some of its charm.  That gradient is so damned subtle, you can't even tell there are 3 colours in there.   It's a little more obvious in real life, but I had to try very hard to capture the yellow on camera.

And then there's the stamping.  I'm so much better than I was a year ago, but you'd never know it from these photos! This stamp did not want to pick up for love nor money, and when it did, it wouldn't deposit it all on the nail either!   The only difference between then and now?  At least now I know it's not ME that's the problem - bloody stamping lol.

So although I do like this mani, mainly due to the tomatoey goodness of the gradient, I think I prefer the rough-edged charm of the original.

Which one is your fave?  Enjoy xx :)

Digit-al Dozen DOES Book Week - Kipper

Hi Goddesses

Today is Day 2 of the troublesome Book Week, and today’s book is /are …. Kipper!

I am not sure how well known Kipper is outside of the UK but he’s a lovely, friendly, harmless doggy and he is just beautifully illustrated by Mick Inkpen.

He was one of Beth’s favourite books growing up – there’s a LOAD of them – and he also has animated DVDs.

What I love about him most is how he cares about his best friend Arnold, how he always tries to do the right thing, and how sometimes, it all just goes wrong for him.

If you’re looking for great books for your 1 to 3 yr old, you really won’t find much better than Kipper :)

The polishes used are 1964 by LACC (really impressed by these polishes, and this dull orange is exquisite), w7 white (my new bargain) and a w7 black.

Enjoy xx :)