8 Spooky Nights: ONLY Black & Orange

So tonight is my LAST Halloween challenge for this year! I have to say, I had a blast, doing both challenges, and while my nail art isn't perfect, or even all that good in some cases :), I feel like I have progressed. I'm not afraid of nail art anymore! And I'm looking forward to joining a Christmas challenge- but only one! Without further ado, here is my black & orange design.

First of all: I really wanted to cheat, and add white to this. It's a shade of black, right? But alas, I stuck to my guns, and used only blacks and oranges. And every dotting tool I own.  My bases are Sinful Colors Black on Black and Wet & Wild Sunny Side Up. The dots are the same colors, plus Sinful Colors Cloud 9 and KelBel Cosmetics' Like a G6.

I even did my right hand again! I wanted fun, festive nails at work today, so they had to match :)

Speaking of fun and festive, I did Candy Corn eyes today, too! Please excuse my brows- I usually groom them far better for makeup shots, but this photo was an afterthought. I used Hard Candy Eyeshadow Primer, Cover Girl Perfect Point Eyeliner in Black Onyx on my water line, Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Black on my upper lash line. Shadows are: Carina Dolci Whipped Cream (white), Makeup Your Face Weekend Getaway (orange) and Jackpot (yellow), both from the What Happens in Vegas stack. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like this stack is available anymore, which sucks, because it's amazing! I went for a very simple, unblended look, and I love how it turned out.

*UPDATE: While the stack in not currently listed in the Makeup Your Face Etsy shop, all individual colors appear to be available as samples- I highly recommend them!

Lastly, I had to share this photo: I had a very special visitor while I was painting my nails last night! I have two kitties, and one is just an absolutely lovable, cuddly and overall people-friendly cat. This is not that cat. This is Ash, and he only loves me because I have opposable thumbs :) But he came and hung out with me last night, and even let me take a photo, so enjoy!

Be sure to check out all the other black and orange manis in todays challenge!

Cheers,

-Liz-

Peace Love Lacquer
XO, Noelle
College Polished
PishPosh & Polish
Beauty Dish
Nail By Katie
Jenerally Speaking 
Galactic Lacquer 
Tres' Chic Nails 
charlottes-nails 
Manic Manis
The Life, Time and Lacquers of Lilmoon
Makeup and Nails, Not War
Not Too Polished
Mimi Manicures
Seriously Swatched /> 8 Spooky Nights
Jilltastic Nail Designs

This is Halloween: Recreate Your Favorite

Today is the recreation of your favorite mani! I interpreted it as: your favorite from another blogger, during this challenge. And I have to tell you, there were some AH- Mazing manicures during this challenge! I though this was going to be the hardest choice ever! Until I saw this beauty. The second I saw it, I knew my search was over. Nothing else could compare! 

Of course, Polish Rainbow's Witches of Oz mani turned out way better than mine, but how could I pass this one up! I started with Maybelline Color Show Porcelain Party, then used some striping tape and Sinful Colors Black on Black for the tights. I wish I could figure out how to get my stripes evenly spaced! I used some French Tip guides and Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby, topped with Wet N Wild Hallucination, for the "shoes". My accent finger is a base of Lacey Lou's Stockpile's Sugared Cherries, with the wand dotted on in Sinful Colors Heavy Metal.

So there you have it! My homage to my absolute favorite mani seen in this challenge! 

Be sure to check out all the other recreations below!

Cheers,

-Liz-

This Is Halloween: Trick-or-Treat

This is my third, and final, post for the night, and then I'm all caught up! 

Today's prompt was Trick or Treat, and of course, all the best houses give out chocolate! I'm not a big fan of chocolate normally, but I make an absolute exception for Hershey's kisses :) I knew I had to try to do them on my nails.

I started out with a base of Sinful Colors Heavy Metal, then blocked of the top/sides of my nail with Black on Black. (In retrospect, it would have been way easier to draw the kisses on with the silver than trying to do a negative-space thing!). I topped the black off with a coat of Feenix Polish's Ashes. I swiped on the flags with Wet N Wild Sunny Side Up. I know the flags are supposed to be white, but I wanted something Halloween-y! I'm so happy with this one- I think my ring finger is the spot-on perfect Kiss shape!

What was/is YOUR absolute favorite candy to get while Trick-or-Treating?

Be sure to check out all the other Trick-or-Treat designs below!
Cheers,

-Liz-

This Is Halloween: Graveyard

And here is my SECOND graveyard nail art to show off for the day! This one was supposed to be posted yesterday, but better late than never!

I started with a base of Sinful Colors Slate (another Walgreen's sale find!), then mixed it with Black on Black to varying degrees to try my hand at shading. It feels too simple, but it actually took me quite a while, and I'm quite proud of the finished result! 

Be sure to check out all the other challengers below!
Cheers,

-Liz-

8 Spooky Nights Twofer: Spiders & Graveyards

I didn't manage to get either of my challenge manis up yesterday, so today you'll get spiders AND graveyards in one post! Plus a second post with the manis for my other challenge.

I'm not particularly proud of my spider manis. Yes, plural. I really didn't like the first one, so I did another, and I'm still not thrilled with it. But, that could just be because it's a spider. I HATE spiders. I think bats are cute, snakes are badass and I had pet rats and mice as a kid! But anything with more than 4 legs: count me out. 

So my first spider fail: I used an alternating base of Sinful Colors Heavy Metal and Last Chance (both of which I picked up last week at Walgreen's .99c sale!), then freehanded some spider webs onto them in the opposite color. I then dabbed my topcoat brush in just a touch of white. 

I'll call this one my actual submission. I used Last Chance as my base again, then freehanded the spider body/head blob onto my middle and ring fingers, and the legs onto my index and pinkie. I used a large dotting tool and Heavy Metal to draw on the eyes, Maybelline Color Show Porcelain Party for the fangs, and Free Hippie Volcano Burst for the blood drips. 

And here's my graveyard! I'm really happy with the way this one turned out, even though I cheated a bit (shh!). I started with a base of my own White Rabbit polish, then used a Sharpie to draw on my headstones and tree and such. It was so much easier to draw on tiny details than to paint them! I don't think I'll make a habit of it, but it sure was an easier time for me!

And there you have my penultimate designs! Be sure to check out all the lovely other challengers, and come back for the finale tomorrow- Only Black & Orange!

Cheers,

-Liz-

Peace Love Lacquer
XO, Noelle
College Polished
PishPosh & Polish
Beauty Dish
Nail By Katie
Jenerally Speaking 
Galactic Lacquer 
Tres' Chic Nails 
charlottes-nails 
Manic Manis
The Life, Time and Lacquers of Lilmoon
Makeup and Nails, Not War
Not Too Polished
Mimi Manicures
Seriously Swatched 8 Spooky Nights
Jilltastic Nail Designs

Good Night Unto You All: An Honest Puck by Literary Lacquers

"If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended-

That you have but slumbered here

While these visions did appear.

And this weak and idle theme, 

No more yielding but a dream,

Gentles, do not reprehend.

If you pardon, we will mend.

And, as I am an honest Puck, 

If we have unearned luck

Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,

We will make amends ere long.

Else the Puck a liar call, 

So good night, unto you all.

Today is, sadly, the last Literary Lacquer that I have to show you :( (Check out Jealous Oberon and Love in Idleness!) BUT- I saved my absolute favorite for last!

Literary Lacquers' An Honest Puck. Three coats, no undies. Topped with Seche Vite. Photos taken in natural sunlight. 

Amy from Literary Lacquers describes An Honest Puck as "bronzy-brown at its base and is loaded with gold, copper and bronze sparkle and dusted with elfin green glitters. . . The large hex glitters in this polish do have a slight curl to them, with the curl face down on the nail they are still smooth." An Honest Puck is also available WITHOUT the larger green hex glitters for those who either do not like larger glitters, or do not want to manipulate glitter.

I absolutely love the base on this polish! The multi-metallic micro glitters really combine to create an interesting base, and then the green just pops! I can't even . . . I just don't have words. This is a beautiful fall color, combining the last green of summer with the dead (but not dull) brown of winter. I think it would be an excellent spring color as well! I know everyone wants pastels and brights come springtime, but this would be a perfect transitional polish. Early March maybe. Yeah, everything is still dead (at least it is in Wisconsin!), but there is the hope of Spring, and of new green growth. It's multi-seasonal!

The Etsy description does warn that the larger glitters tend to curl (as seen with Love In Idleness- which was still quite workable), but I really didn't have any problem with curling in this polish. The glitter came out smooth and laid flat for me. If there was any curling, it was slight enough that I didn't even notice it. I had to fish a little bit for the larger bits, but that's pretty standard for larger glitters. 

I used three coats here, and the base was completely opaque. This could probably be layered over another color, but I wouldn't recommend it. My three coats gave complete saturation of micro glitters on the nail, and I think that effect would be lost by doing one coat over a similar color. 

If you haven't tried Literary Lacquers yet, I can't urge you strongly enough to do so! They can be browsed (and purchased from!) on Etsy. Tons of great swatches on Facebook, too! Plus, then you get updates in your newsfeed.

Support your indies, ladies!
Cheers,

-Liz-

*This product was provided to me for an honest review.

I Put A Spell On You: Sorceress by Wonder Beauty Products

As the Day and the Witching Hour draws ever nearer (my party is tonight!), I though the time was ripe to bring you this beauty that I've been sitting on for a while!

Meet Sorceress, another AMAZING scented polish from Wonder Beauty Products! Jen from Wonder Beauty describes Sorceress as "A yummy black licorice scented blend of enchanted Sorceress wings from the most magical spooky night of the year! . . . A sheer shimmer bronzed micro glitter base topping featuring loads of mystical shreds of bronze, blue and black with scatters of blues and bronze glitters." 

This is two coats of Sorceress over Sinful Colors Nirvana. Natural sunlight, topped with Seche Vite. 

Review portion! First of all, I am continually amazed by Jen's ability to create completely unique and incredibly complex glitter blends! Every WBC polish that I've tried has had such an interesting mix of glitters. There are probably a dozen different glitters in this polish, but it they work well together. This is not just a random jumble of glitter, but a well thought out, cohesive blend. It's absolutely stunning, and applied perfectly. Shards occasionally have a tendency to clump together and be problematic, but not in this baby!

Next up is scent: If you're the type of girl (or guy, I don't judge!) who finishes her jelly beans and throws away the 40 black ones that came in the bag, this polish may not be for you. However, if you're like me and yell at all the folks throwing away perfectly good, and indeed the best, jelly beans, let me tell you: this smells FANTASTIC. It's a light, sweet anise scent: definitely licorice, but not overpowering. The scent lasted through my entire mani (through topcoat, a shower, and more handwashings than I can count). I won't compete with your perfume, but you get a nice whiff of something sweet every now and then. 

I cannot recommend Wonder Beauty Products highly enough. I have 4 WBC polishes (this, Lollipop Explosion, Crotch Rocket and Purple Bang), and they all perform beautifully. WBC is definitely one of my top fave indie polish makers! Check out the Wonder Beauty Etsy shop (regular polishes run $10, scented polishes are $11, and she even carries frankening supplies, like suspension base!), and like her on Facebook- sales, giveaways, news and so much more! There is also a Wonder Beauty Products blog. 

Don't you just love scented polishes! I'm so happy there are finally more "grown-up" scents available!

Support your indies, ladies!

Cheers,

-Liz-

*This product was provided to me for an honest review. 

Purple with Love's Wound: Love in Idleness by Literary Lacquers

"It fell upon a little western flower, 

Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound.

And maidens call it "love-in-idleness."

Fetch me that flower. The herb I showed thee once.

The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid

Will make a man or woman madly dote

Upon the next live creature that it sees."

Today's polish is another beauty by Literary Lacquers, Love in Idleness. Amy describes it as: "a very complex polish, with a light purple base; jam packed with fairy magic and iridescent glitters of many shapes and size, purple square glitter and some large purple hexes. . . The large hex glitters in this polish do have a slight curl to them, with the curl face down on the nail they are still smooth."

This polish is also available in a version without the large purple hex, but I didn't have any trouble getting the glitter to lay flat, and I think they definitely add to the overall appeal of this polish!

Three coats of Love in Idleness, topped with a coat of Gelous and a coat of Seche Vite. Photos taken in natural, though overcast, lighting.

I had such an incredibly difficult time photographing this polish! Between the purple (which is notorious for not photographing properly) and the punch of iridescent glitter (seriously, there is soo much iridescent glitter! Micro glitter, small hexes, tiny bars . . .), my camera just wanted to give up on me! The photos are fairly color-accurate. The base color is an almost dusty, grape jelly like color, and it shifts a bit due to the iridescence. So. Pretty.

Great shot of all the iridescence.

Aside from the pictures, I had little trouble with this polish. Yes the large hexes have a very slight curl to them, and they required a little bit of fishing (or setting the bottle upside down). If you're not interested in manipulating your glitter, this polish IS available in a version without the large purple hexes: look for "Love-In-Idleness (no hex)". But I think the manipulation is well worth the (small amount) of effort. I painted on my first two coats, brushing any large hexes that came out back into the bottle. Before I painted my third coat, I let the bottle sit upside down for a few minutes to bring the larger hexes to the top. Then I painted on the third coat, inspecting the brush for large hexes, which I placed, as advised, curved side down. Topped with Gelous and SV, the polish was glassy smooth. While I haven't tried the "without hex" version, I really do recommend this one, if you have the patience to play with your glitter a bit! 

Love in Idleness is pretty sheer, but very buildable. With three coats, I did not see any VNL, and I prefer to wear sheer polishes this way, in multiple coats, to showcase their true beauty. But this one would also make a beautiful layering polish. The iridescence would really pop over a dark color, and the purple shimmer would really bring to life any boring purple in your stash. 

My third, and favorite, Literary Lacquers review will post on Sunday. I've been so impressed with each of these polishes. Color + Glitter polishes are easily my favorite indie category, just for the sake of ease, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE polishes with a background story or some geeky inspiration. I strongly urge you to check out Literary Lacquers on Etsy and Facebook, then come back Sunday to see my absolute favorite of the bunch! 

Support your indies, ladies!

Cheers,

-Liz-

*This product was provided to me for an honest review.

8 Spooky Nights: Witches

I did indeed do two witch manis for yesterday, but I somehow forgot to get this post written up in time, so this is a day late- so sorry!

First of all: I'm slightly ashamed, and I really need to step up my game after seeing all of the amazing witch manicures from both challenges yesterday! There were tons of Wizard of Oz inspired manis (which I totally should have thought of, being a huge Oz fan!), as well as other fantastically creative ideas!

I stamped. With Sinful Colors Black on Black. Vivid Lacquer plate VL-003 (black cats) and QA plate 26 (flying witches). My base color is Sinful Colors Exotic Green, and I used a large dotting tool to create the polka dots with Sinful Colors Amethyst. One coat of Starlight Polish Unicorn over the whole thing to give it a spooky shimmer. My one saving grace today is that I actually painted my right hand as well!

Same colors, dotting tools. Excuse the tipwear, I didn't think to take pics of my right hand until after a full day at work.

So there you have it! I plan on spending some time tomorrow doing nail designs for some of the rest of the prompts, and trust me, I'll be pushing myself!

Check out all the amazing other witch manis in the links below! If you want to see the witch manis from my other challenge also, there is an inlinkz widget at the bottom of this post. 

Cheers!

-Liz-

Peace Love Lacquer
XO, Noelle
College Polished
PishPosh & Polish
Beauty Dish
Nail By Katie
Jenerally Speaking 
Galactic Lacquer 
Tres' Chic Nails 
charlottes-nails 
Manic Manis
The Life, Time and Lacquers of Lilmoon
Makeup and Nails, Not War
Not Too Polished
Mimi Manicures
Seriously Swatched 8 Spooky Nights
Jilltastic Nail Designs

This Is Halloween: Witches

I have two prompts today (this one and the 8 Spooky Nights Challenge) and they're both Witches! I wanted to make sure they were completely different, so for this one, I went with some of the most iconic witchy potion ingredients I could think of. 

I started with a base of Sinful Colors Amethyst, which is the perfect neutral purple creme (not too red, not too blue- regardless of what the photo is trying to tell you!). I used three different sizes of dotting tools, along with Sinful Colors Exotic Green, Snow Me White and Black on Black, to create the Eyes of Newt on my index finger. Snow White's apple was stamped on with Sally Hansen Ton of Bricks and a plate that came with my Salon Express stamper. The random herb/weed was stamped on with another Salon Express plate and China Glaze Agro. The spider is Black on Black and QA plate 26. 

I almost (okay, totally) forgot to use an indie in this mani! So for topcoat, I used Wonder Beauty Products' Slippery When Wet clear topcoat. Cheating? Maybe, but I DID use an indie :)

Check out all of today's other witchy manis! 

Cheers, 

-Liz-

8 Spooky Nights: Ghosts

October 8th was a ghost prompt in the This Is Halloween Nail Art Challenge, so I wanted to do something completely different for this time around. I wasn't feeling too inspired on the first go around, but after seeing all the lovely ghost manis in that challenge, I racked my brains to come up with something fun and unique this time around!

This is what I came up with: ghostly (but happy!) faces peeking through the eerie mist. I started with a base of Elemental Styles' E=MC2, a greyish base filled with black and gunmetal grey glitters. I haven't reviewed this one (and might not, since Whitney is no longer selling her polishes!), but it was a great performer. I stamped on my faces (Keroppi, ?, and Hello Kitty) with a grey franken I made and QA plate 31. Then I painted over the top with two coats of Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Polar Bare. So what do you think? Ghostly enough? 

Be sure to check out the rest of the challengers for more ghost manis!

Cheers,

-Liz-

Peace Love Lacquer
XO, Noelle
College Polished
PishPosh & Polish
Beauty Dish
Nail By Katie
Jenerally Speaking 
Galactic Lacquer 
Tres' Chic Nails 
charlottes-nails 
Manic Manis
The Life, Time and Lacquers of Lilmoon
Makeup and Nails, Not War
Not Too Polished
Mimi Manicures
Seriously Swatched 8 Spooky Nights
Jilltastic Nail Designs

8 Spooky Nights: Candy

Yesterday's Vampire prompt is probably my favorite nail art I've ever done!

Contrast that with today's prompt, Candy, which is probably my least favorite. I couldn't really get inspired, and while I think my mani definitely fits the theme, I don't think my colors go well together. 

I have so many layers on Candy going on here, it's not even funny! I started off with a base of Wonder Beauty Products' Lollipop Explosion, white based glitter that is SCENTED like hard candy. Then I wanted to dot some M&Ms on top of that, but I couldn't find polishes that I liked for all the M&M colors, plus I was daunted by the prospect of drawing on all those M's! So I decided to just do Reese's Pieces. I used the largest dotting tool in my set, along with NYC Midtown Mink, Wet & Wild Sunny Side Up and NYC Lexington Yellow. I think this would have looked better if I went with the primary colors of M&M's, even if I didn't use every color in the bag!

Check out all the other lovely, creative ladies participating in this challenge below!

Cheers,

-Liz

Peace Love Lacquer
XO, Noelle
College Polished
PishPosh & Polish
Beauty Dish
Nail By Katie
Jenerally Speaking 
Galactic Lacquer 
Tres' Chic Nails 
charlottes-nails 
Manic Manis
The Life, Time and Lacquers of Lilmoon
Makeup and Nails, Not War
Not Too Polished
Mimi Manicures
Seriously Swatched 8 Spooky Nights
Jilltastic Nail Designs

8 Spooky Nights: Vampires

This is probably the prompt in this challenge that I was most excited about, and I knew immediately what I was going to do!

This is my inspiration photo, and it's the cover of the mini notebook that I keep in my purse! I got it on clearance after the Back to School season last year. I believe it was at ShopKo. It even says "Vampire" on that pink ribbon in the upper right corner!

And here is my inspired mani :) I started with a base of Sinful Colors Black on Black (I'm going to need a new bottle after this month!), and a pinkie accent of Sally Hansen Insta Dri Presto Pink. 

On my index, I stamped on the fangs (cause you gotta have the direct vamp reference somewhere, right?) using QA plate 26, then drew on my blood with a dotting tool. 

Middle: freehanded the moon with a dotting tool, then stamped on the bats in a grey franken that I made for my birthday mani using the same QA plate. 

Ring: stamped on the heart using a plate that came with my Salon Express stamper, and freehanded the line with a flat nail art brush. (That's a lie. My "nail art" brushes are actually regular artist's detail brushes, but they were far more readily available to me than the 30 minute drive to Sally. They work for me!)

Finally, the pinky is a double stamp from, again, QA 26, using the grey franken and Black on Black. 

I got the QA plates with some Copious credits, and the seller didn't include a brand name or anything in the listing. Does anyone know the actual brand name of plates with a QA number series! Because I've used the 26 plate soo many times this month, it has tons of great Halloween images! I'd love to get more plates from the same company, if they offer more holiday themed plates!

Be sure to check out the amazing other ladies participating in this challenge!

Cheers,

-Liz-

Peace Love Lacquer
XO, Noelle
College Polished
PishPosh & Polish
Beauty Dish
Nail By Katie
Jenerally Speaking 
Galactic Lacquer 
Tres' Chic Nails 
charlottes-nails 
Manic Manis
The Life, Time and Lacquers of Lilmoon
Makeup and Nails, Not War
Not Too Polished
Mimi Manicures
Seriously Swatched 8 Spooky Nights
Jilltastic Nail Designs

I Have Forsworn His Bed and Company: Jealous Oberon by Literary Lacquer

Oberon: Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania. 

Titania: What, jealous Oberon? Fairies, skip hence; I have forsworn his bed and company.

Oberon: Tarry, rash wanton! Am I not thy lord?

A Midsummer Night's Dream is my absolute favorite Shakespear show. I love the fairies, and the forest in moonlight, and the witty bickering that goes on between Titania and Oberon, Queen and King of the Fae. 

Enter Literary Lacquers, with a 7 polish line based off of a Midsummer Night's Dream! I have three of those to show you over the next week or so (scattered between the many Nail Art Challenges I have lined up!), and the first is Jealous Oberon. 

I love that there is a full ingredient label! Amy from Literary Lacquers describes Jealous Oberon as "champagne gold with holographic gold squares throughout." But honestly, this polish is far more complex than that. The base is a gold shimmer, there are micro gold glitters that are not quite holographic, but almost sparkle like they are, plus larger holographic squares which, apart from flashing rainbow colors when the light hits, appear to be either gold or silver depending on how the light doesn't hit it. (Does that make sense? Sometimes they seem gold, sometimes they seem silver, sometimes the holo out.)

This is three coats of Jealous Oberon alone, topped with a coat of Gelous and a coat of Seche Vite. Photos taken in natural sunlight. 

You all know by now that I love a good story while polish shopping, and Jealous Oberon doesn't disappoint!  There is a "twin" to this polish, Proud Titania, that is silver with holo diamonds. She (Amy) had intended to call the silver "Ill Met By Moonlight" but Jealous Oberon kept getting into her head and insisting that he have his own polish! Thus this gold beauty was born. But then Proud Titania demanded a polish of her own, so Ill Met By Moonlight was renamed, and you have the royal gold and silver metallic duo named for the Fae Court Royalty: Jealous Oberon and Proud Titania!

Closeup to show the individual micro glitters.

Blurred to show holo and sparkle.

This is actually my least favorite of the three Literary Lacquers that I have to show, and I still love it! I don't wear gold at all, jewelry wise, because I don't feel that it flatters my skin tone, but Jealous Oberon is a nice pale and not-too-yellow gold that would make it complimentary for all complexions. Application was a dream: it spread nicely, and the squares flowed freely, and lay completely flat (squares have a higher than average tendency to curling- these did not, at all). This is sheer enough to wear over another color, if you so desire, but was completely opaque in three coats. Any VNL you think you see in those photos is a result of the sun shining directly on the free edge of my nails: it was not at all visible in person! 

Finally: I have to say that Jealous Oberon is almost obscenely blingy! Between the color, the holo and the sparkle, this is NOT a neutral polish by any means. I definitely see holiday manis featuring this color!

Check out Literary Lacquers on Etsy. Full sized bottles run $10. There is the full Midsummer collection, as well as a few Dracula polishes! Be sure to stop by and Like Literary Lacquers on Facebook too, and quick! There is a coupon code valid through 10/31!

Support your indies, ladies!
Cheers,

-Liz-

*This product was provided to me for an honest review.

TIHNAC: Gradient

I'm baack! And I have another basic tecnique which I have never tried: gradient. At least, I've never done them properly, with a sponge and everything. I have done some fail-gradients by just sponging on with a Qtip, but this was was quicker and easier!

Excuse my horrible cleanup- this red was stubborn as hell!

I started with a base coat of Sally Hansen Ton of Bricks, then using a cosmetic sponge, dabbed on (top to bottom) Ton of Bricks, Sinful Colors Inkwell and Sinful Colors Black on Black. This isn't super strictly Halloweenish, but if I were ever a devil for Halloween, I would definitely come back to this look!

Then, in keeping with my indies, I added a coat of Darling Diva Polish's Diabla over the whole thing. This had the double benefit of an extra layer of devilishness, plus it made my color lines blend together a bit better! I'm overall pretty happy with the way this turned out, and I'm getting scarily into this whole nail art thing! 

Be sure to check out all the lovely other participants!

Cheers,

-Liz-

.

8 Spooky Nights Nail Art Challenge: Skulls

Today is the first day of my SECOND Halloween Nail Art Challenge this month. And I'm throwing a big party next Saturday. My costume isn't done, decorating isn't done, food isn't planned, and I have 7 nail art looks to complete by then! Needless to say, I'm a busy girl :) But I took a good chunk out of my day today to play around with nail art, so that I don't fall behind! 

For this challenge, as with the other challenge I'm participating in, I challenge myself to use at least one indie polish in each design, to keep in line with my blog mission statement. 

So here is my look for 8SN Day 1: Skulls. I had a super cute layered stamping thing in my head, but my stamper (or more probably, my polish) was NOT cooperating with me this morning! 

I started with three coats of Literary Lacquers' Jealous Oberon (check back tomorrow to see a full review on that polish!), then stamped on the skulls using Sally Hansen Insta Dry in Presto Pink, and Vivid Lacquer plate VL-001 (full nail skulls) and QA 5 for the single skulls. 

Be sure to check out all the other ladies participating in this challenge, and their amazing creations!

-Liz-

Peace Love Lacquer
XO, Noelle
College Polished
PishPosh & Polish
Beauty Dish
Nail By Katie
Jenerally Speaking 
Galactic Lacquer 
Tres' Chic Nails 
charlottes-nails 
Manic Manis
The Life, Time and Lacquers of Lilmoon
Makeup and Nails, Not War
Not Too Polished
Mimi Manicures
Seriously Swatched 8 Spooky Nights
Jilltastic Nail Designs