The NeverEnding Pile Challenge - Glitter

Hi Goddesses

Well, it's a new week, and sort of a new start as I try to get The Crumpet back on track.  I've got lots of goodness lined up for this week, and just hope that my energy starts to pick up too.

Today is a very special day as it sees the launch of my good friend Missy's new challenge - The NeverEnding Pile Challenge.  The idea is simple - let's power through our untrieds!   Well you know that sounds like a good excuse to me lol.  I won't be participating on every prompt, but I am excited to finally "need" to use some of my babies.  And also, I can't remember the last time I did a challenge that wasn't mine!  So let's crack on!

I thought I should start each day by explaining a little about the polishes you're seeing, so today we have 4 Smitten Polishes, all from the same collection and therefore all identical apart from colour - 
Amas Veritas - the pink one
Eleka Nahmen - the green one
Klaatu Barada Nikto - the blurple/navy one
Imperio - the purple one

I bought them at the end of September 2013 and knew they would be great for underneath stamping.  So why haven't I worn them?  Well because I thought they would be a PITA to apply AND remove, and do you know what, they're neither!  Ha ha!  Also, I think the names scared me a little too.

I hate micro glitters with a passion - how they get everywhere, how they're not opaque - and I just couldn't be bothered to see if these passed the test.  Not only do they pass the test, they are EPICLY twinkly and amazing and sparkly - major win, although I think the pink and the green (being lighter), work better.

And then I stamped over them with MoYou Sailor Plate 05.  It works and doesn't, all at the same time.  I love it on the lighter nails, but it doesn't really work over the darker ones.  That said, I'm really happy to see you can stamp over them as magically as I hoped.

So I guess each post must end with the final assessment - are they keepers?   Prob-ab-leeeeeeee.   The pink and the green, yes, the other 2, maybe :)  (I'm just not sure they are as versatile).

My next day on this challenge is Wednesday, when I'll be back with an untried pastel xx

An InLinkz Link-up

#33DC Day 25 - A New Technique For You - Distressed Nails

Hi Goddesses

How are we all?  I am sorry I have been absent a lot over the last week.  Real life has intervened in a really rude and scary way and I am ferociously job hunting.   Truth though, I've missed blogging, and the yogic calm I get from painting my nails, but I've felt guilty whenever my mind has veered in that direction.  Must Get A Job FIRST.

Anyhow, today is one of my very favourite manis that I've done for this #33DC.  It's called the Distressed Mani and I originally saw it on Chalkboard Nails HERE.   I liked it, but then really fell in love with it when Brit Nails did a slightly different version HERE.

The key to this mani is to apply your polish as sparingly as if it is stardust - that's like half a micro-granule of a droplet on your brush.  THIS is what gives the smeared and streaky effect.   More streaky = goooood.   Too much droplets = saaaaad (and hard for a "slop it on" girl like me).

I like how they both remind me a little of crackle, and also of acid wash manis, and let's face it, they're splodges aren't they?  No wonder they make me happy!

For my mani I used - 
* w7 Black
* Essie - Orange It's Obvious
* OPI - The It Colour
* OPI Flashbulb Fuchsia (shimmer)
* Smitten Polish Imperio (glitter)

I've said this before, but AGAIN the introduction of a shimmer and a glitter added extra magic to my mani, the glitter in particular working its dazzle through the colours.  Overall, this reminds me a LOT of an exotic parrot.

Me likey :)