Archive for May 2012

another attempt at the gradient nail effect.

Ok, Ok, I know I've tried it a lot of times now...

I got a bit bored of just having plain gradient nails, so decided to spice it up a little with some tiger stripes.

FUN!

So another nail trend I've recently discovered is "grunge nails"

I found this great blog called fuckyeahnailart

which has epic nail art pictures - go on check them out

through them I found these nails

Ok- not a fan on the pointyness but the colours look cool

and the tutorial here

and these nails

Which are super pretty and look sort of like sunset.

with a tutorial here

So I decided to try "grunge nails" out for myself.

My first attempt was a little off - I think I used too many colours and layers (so it went a bit lumpy and gooey)

I used:

1) Bling Bright Blue

2) Australis Blackmail

3) Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow

4) OPI A Roll in the Hague

5) Sally Hansen Fuchsia Bling Bling

6) Revlon No Shrinking Violet

after applying all six layers I dipped a paint brush in nail polish remover and swirled it around the nail.

It was much harder than the tutorial's made it sound - it took a while before I saw any new colours and I ended up with a lot of gooey nail polish piled up around the coloured spot.

See this picture

The effect was cool - and if they had all turned out looking like this nail (most of them turned into brown gooey mess) I may have kept the polish on.

but I decided to remove all the polish and

Try Again

and this time - It worked!

well - it was much better than before

I used:

1) Sally Hansen Fuchsia Bling Bling

2) Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow

3) OPI A Roll in the Hague

I then found a more-bristly brush and followed the same steps.

admittedly afterwards I did dab a tiny bit of pink back onto the nail - as I got a bit too excited with the remover and had bits of NailSkin showing.

I like the finished look

So as seen before I have found Ombré nails.

This is take two

For this beautiful creation I used:

OPI: Nail Envy weak and peeling as base coat

Bling: Bright Blue (as my base colour)

Revlon: midnight affair (as a dark in-between blue)

Australis: Blackmail (as the dark tip colour)

Revlon: colorstay topcoat

First: I painted the base coat and base colour (all of my nail bright blue)

DRY TIME! (make sure the polish is dry to touch - or it comes off on the sponge)

Then: I painted three stripes (of my blue shades) on to a sponge.

The colours overlapped slightly

Then: I "stamped" the sponge on to each finger and gave a little wiggle - to get a really smudgy look

Finally I actually took the black polish and painted the very tips of my nails so it's really dark

then: topcoated it.

just after I topcoated I bumped my nail - so I didn't have a super smooth finish!

I was going to apply another layer of topcoat, but instead decided to apply a layer of shimmer.

This is Revlon: Colada Fizz over the top

Love these nails this time!!

the colours are perfect.

next time I think I'll try an orange and white.

I first saw Ombré Nails while cruising the Internet looking at funky nail art.

I then came across this blog which had some explanation on how to achieve this look.

I tried following their directions (and it didn't work!)

in the end up did it like this.

First: I painted my nails with my usual OPI nail envy base coat

then painted my nails with Revlon pure pearl (my base colour)

(sorry no photo here)

Then: I found an old clear file sheet (any plasticy sheet will work)and poured a few drops of Revlon electric pink on to the plastic

I used a make-up sponge to dab the nail polish (in really light layers) onto the nail.

Then: I did about a zillion layers (they were really sheer) doing more layers as I got closer to the tip of my nail.

after this my entire finger-tips were a mess.

I just used a nail-polish remover soaked cotton bud to remove the excess polish around my nails.

The nails looked pretty average and fuzzy (from the sponge)

Finally: after a generous layer of Revlon colorstay topcoat they looked amazing!

(I used a "generous" amount so I could avoid smudging the colours too much)

This is the final result.

I like.

I'm not entirely sure on the colour choice though - I think it'd be fun with a variety of different colours.

Also: after my improvised process I found this really useful directional:

Think I'll try this way out next time - and maybe a different sponge

So I've been having some more fun with my nail polishes.

I decided to go for a bright and abstract manicure!

As for the nail polish I used this time:

Left to Right

Art Deco: Black

Maybelline: Marshmallow

Art Deco: Intense Pink

Art Deco: Quirky Turquoise

Art Deco: Hi-Lite

I wanted to draw your attention to a blogger I love.

Mrs. Nailed It does such fantastic different designs - and she sounds pretty obsessed with nail polish (sometimes painting her nails more than once a day!)

totally loved this cute picture of her's (which I just had to share)

You can all go and check out her blog here

Check out my lovely nails for today.

I recently bought some new nail art polish (they have a really thin brush) from the Warehouse.

This was the easiest way to test them out...

Enjoy

Left to Right

Art Deco: Quirky Turquoise

Art Deco: Mint Green

Base Colour: Mabeline Marshmallow (Silvery - (which when I bought I thought was white,) they look really nice with silver underneath - except now I have 2 silvers haha)

Art Deco: Intense Pink

Art Deco: Baby Pink

Today I was very please!

I can wear my French Connection jumper with confidence!

(I must have lost the few kg's keeping me from looking good)

I feel super cute today

My new brown hair and my cute headband look perfect together.

Some one even commented on how lovely and blue-and-white-matching I look.

Good day!

Jumper: French Connection

Jeans: Max Dark(ish) blue denim

Head Band: Equip

Earrings: Fair Trade silver and pearls

I've just been doing a bit of fun blogger reading.

and I came across this really great article here - which despite my initial "shock" reaction to the title "31 Hot sexy fat girls in skimpy swimwear" I really enjoyed reading and looking through the photos.

There is also a link to the author's great personal blog - which I now think I will be an avid follower of.

It has made me miss summer - I know, I know, usually I rave on about how much I love winter, and all the beautiful wintery fashion.

So for your viewing pleasure I have found a few swim wear items I love.

All of them can be found at ModCloth

One-Piece

Top and Bottoms

Two-Piece

Top and bottoms

Sailor

Spotty Two-Piece - also inPlus Size

Bottoms

My super cute nails of the day.

I decided to try out a design of nails I saw a while ago on instagram.

(by the way- I am on instagram, search #agirlwithsomeclothes under tags or usernames)

I was in the mood for pretty understated neutral colours so that is how I arrived at this.

Pale brown, pale pink and dark brown.

I really like the simplicity of the colours with the excitement of the design.

Having it on only two nails keeps it even more simple.

Pale Brown: Revlon Creme Brulee

Pale Pink: Revlon Peach Petal

Dark Brown: Revlon Totally Toffee

Top Coat: Revlon colorstay topcoat

Today was pretty chilly... (again)

But at least I got to wear

my super cute never-been-worn-before-even-though-I've-had-it-for-a-year hat

I was pretty excited to get to put this cute hat on.

especially with my newly dyed brunette hair.

which I think really suits me.

Enjoy my Outfit of the today.

Top: French Connection Cotton blouse

Under-Top: Glassons Long-Sleeve Merino

Jeans: Max Dark(ish) denim skinny jeans

Hat: eejay designs - Handmade in New Zealand

Belt: Max

Shoes: Briarwood

as it was super chilly I needed an over-top...

I decided on the red cardigan it was cute and feminine.

the Blazer looked a little bit too corporate,

but at least now I have an idea for an exciting outfit I can wear when I start working.

Blazer: Rachel Hunter

Cardigan: Glassons

Ring: SilverMoon heart shaped silver ring.

Today was one of those I-didn't-get-up-to-much kind of days...

My outfit looked pretty plain and dark- well actually it was nice having the different textures with my mesh top, but It was still pretty dark - so I brightened it up with my new pink scarf.

If only it had brightened up the weather too. Oh well at least I got to keep my scarf on all day.

Top: City Chic Mesh knit short-sleeve top

Under-top: Glassons Long sleeve black scoop neck

Jacket: Rachel Hunter

Jeans: Old Navy These are getting pretty old and baggy

Boots: Hannah's

Bag: Modapelli

Scarf: Freebie From New Zealand Women's expo

Today I came home to hear my mother utter those five beautiful words....

"agirlwithsomeclothes you have a package."

and boy was I excited!!!

I ripped it open...

to reveal...

This

Sticks and Stones by cover brands lacquers

This is a nail polish that is based (heavily based) on the lovely "connect the dots" by Lynnderella.

(she does heaps of cool nail polish!)

after reading many reviews here on both, I decided that sticks and stones is probably more me anyway

(it is also much cheaper on eBay (not originally priced) this is due to the now high demand for connect the dots)

(by the sounds of it connect the dots has more of a sheen as the main polish, while sticks and stones is a clear polish)

sticks and stones is a clear nail polish with bits of black and white glitter.

The glitter is in a variety of shapes and sizes: hexagons, circles and lines.

So my sticks and stones journey began...

First I applied my base colours.

(random and colourful - I wanted to see what it looked like on different colours)

Left: Revlon Electric Pink (3 coats)

Middle: Australis rub-a-dub-dub (2 coats)

Right: Revlon Plum Seduction (3 coats)

then, after waiting an excruciating long time for them to dry,

I applied my sticks and stones...

and I am in love!

I think this nail polish looks amazing.

I love it over the pink's however on yellow the white glitter didn't show up as much (so probably won't do it over this colour again)

This is with one coat - using the dabbing effect not brushing (instead of brushing the nail polish on like usual you push the brush onto the nail and dab the glitter in the places you want it.)

and Revlon colourstay top coat

Enjoy some close ups

Such a super cold day!

(again)

But do I hate it?

No!

winter is the best excuse to pull out that cute chunky knit scarf and use to to spice up a rather plain outfit.

This scarf was made for me by a friend (about 4 years ago)

super long and super warm!

Top (Purpley V-Neck): Jay Jays

Merino (Grey V-neck): Glassons

Long Singlet (Red): Glassons

Jeans: Jay Jays

Boots: Hannah's

I decided to go for a classic pear stud earrings

and red "Valentine" Revlon nail polish to match my scarf.

LOVE being warm!

Brighten up any mood...

or any cold weather!!!

I felt super colourful while sitting at my computer

(I spent all day doing assignments)

Pink Scarf

Purple Gloves

and

Red Nails

lovely.

Scarf: Postie

Gloves: The Warehouse

Nail Polish: Valentine by Revlon

Today the weather was quite miserable.

I decided to dress up (relatively) warm

And opted to have a splash of colour,

Red

I even went to the extreme of choosing my "red" perfume to match.

Blouse: Glassons

Cardigan: Glassons

Skirt: Max

Tights: Max

Top Bracelet: Top Shop

Bottom Bracelet: Rebecca James Design

Perfume: Britney Spears - Hidden Fantasy

today I wore my hair in a simple easy to do pony-tail.

But to make it even cuter I wrapped a piece of hair over the hair-tie.

I love this look!

Today I tried more marble nails.

I've had a few people asking me how to do marble nails.

This is how.

First you need to get your supplies ready:

you will need:

a small bowl, filled with luke warm water

(if it's too cold the nail polish will set, if it's too hot the nail polish will spread too far)

White Nail polish (as a base coat)

toothpick for swirling (not pictured here)

cotton buds, cotton pads and nail polish remover.

and a selection of colours to use to marble

(I probably used too many here and that's why it wasn't as effective)

Left to right:

Revlon Plum Seduction

Revlon Mint Fizz

L.A. Colours Quirky Turquoise

Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow

OPI A Roll in the Hague

Revlon Revlon Red

Begin by painting your nails white

allow this to dry!

Next you want to put one drop of colour into the water

Followed by another colour directly in the centre of the first drop

(so I don't have photos here- I'll try and take some if I try this again soon)

Use a toothpick to swirl the colours together, you will need to move quite quickly or the polish will begin to set.

Then if you have enough space dip your fingers nail down into the nail polish and pull them over to the side and pull your fingers out nail up (if the nail is still down the excess nail polish will drip onto the front of the nail ruining the pattern)

If you have a smaller bowl (like me) dip your fingers into a non-nailpolishy section of water, and pull them nail up under the nail polish pattern (this will then dry in the pattern you saw on the top of the water)

They will then look like this.

Messy!

Use your nail polish remover and cotton pads and cotton buds to remove excess nail polish.

Paint your nails with a shiny top coat.

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