I hope you find this design a-peeling!

Q: What is yellow on the inside and green on the outside? 

A: A banana dressed up as a cucumber!

Today's Sunday Stamping challenge is plates that end in the number 2.  For some reason I had this plate in my head and really wanted to do something with the banana image.  So when I went through my collection of plates and saw that Cheeky CH42 did in fact end in a two I knew it was kismet!

I used the stamp decal technique to basically create my own sticker for the bananas.   I really like how they turned out.  They are very bright and and stand out nicely on the blue background.  The polishes I used were Konad Special White, Special Black, China Glaze Sunshine Pop, Essie Butler Please, and Beyond Cozy.

I am not sure how I feel about the yummy nails, I think it was better before I stamped those nails, but that was my design concept and I stuck to it.

I really do love this design.  It is fun and whimsical.  Not to mention bright and eye catching!  I hope you all like it too!

Tootles!
Fitz

Bundle Monster Mustaches

So I want to take a moment to sing the praises of a Nail Art vendor, Bundle Monster.  I am sure most of you have heard of them, right?  Well I ordered their Holiday Stamping Plates quite a while ago.  I was going through them and noticed some missing.  I contacted them and let them know the problem and they sent me replacement plates, no questions asked.  How many companies do that?  They have earned a life long customer who will recommend them to anyone.  Now I have never been paid by them or given free things, but I will sing their praises!  I have only used their Nail Art plates, but since I was so happy with them, I thought I would try something new.  I bought some Acrylic Mustaches.  I believe I already told you I adore mustaches (and have now changed my blog background to reflect that).  I have never been a big fan of 3D Nail Art, but I figured I would give it a go.

I painted my nails with Julep Kai, which is a textured polish.  Now behold the photos.

For fun and for a special day, these are a blast to wear.  Not my normal cup of tea, but a great way to shake things up a bit, plus they are totally reusable!

Is there anything you want to try that you never have?  What are your feelings on Bundle Monster?

Tootles!
Fitz

Another One

I am unsure of what to call this post.  I just did a slew of nail art recently and decide I needed to another one (perhaps that will be my post tittle).  I did like the mustache manicure, but I just wasn't feeling all sunny and yellow.  I didn't want to stamp, although that is what I did, so I took to the internet for some inspiration.  You got to love Pintrest!  I found a design by Carlysisoka and decided that it was what I wanted to recreate.  (I am going to look more at her Instagram photos as she has got some really cute nail art ideas)

Obviously I made it my own.  I went with a darker gray and I stamped the chevron pattern, Bundle Monster BM-423, and I am pretty sure she used tape.I also don't like solid white nails.  I I know you see a solid white pinkie nail, but when I did my original design it was gray, but it didn't look right and when I continued looking at Pintrest I saw Fortheloveofnails_'s design and decided to compromise.  Hence the white pinkie.  I think is looks much more put together this way.

I know this been a lot of talking.  I guess I feeling a bit chatty, but I will get on with it.  I used Konad Special White, China Glaze Immortal, Nina Ultra Pro French White, and Sephora by OPI If You've Got It Haunt It.  I always love a good excuse to use IYGIHI!  I think it is one of my favorite polishes.  I love how it shines in the sun!  I actually saw a swatch of this, I don't remember where, and knew it had to be mine!  I thing I paid more than I have for any polish, but it was totally worth it!!

Well I guess that is all for now.  I want to do another design soon.  I am really itching to do more, but I will try to hold off for at least another day.  I also need to start posting some from the vault designs.  There is a lot to do since I have been more lax on my blogging.  I hope I am getting better at. . .

Tootles!
Fitz

P.S. Aren't hands looking better!  Go Julep Cutticle oil and Bert's Bees Hand lotion!

Pleasure to Feel Guilty Over

It is Sunday and you know what that means?  Sunday Stamping with the Facebook group Adventures In Stamping!!

This week the challenge is Guilty Pleasures.  I really wanted to do something, but I couldn't think of anything.  I like many things and I figure if someone else doesn't like it, then more for me!  So I started looking through my plate collection and found a few mustache designs.  I don't feel guilty about liking them, but I do get quite a bit of teasing over it.  What can I say, I like old-timy mustaches.  I have a few things, mostly at work with the motif.  Even my scissors are covered in a mustache pattern.  So this is what I came up with.

Cute right?  I really like the main color I used, Julep Bea.  It is such a creamy yellow.  Then I stamped with Konad Special White and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Lively Lilac.  The accent nail is China Glaze United.  The stamping is Bundle Monster BM-423 and BM-402.

Unfortunately it has been threatening to rain so I had no sunshine to really capture the colors and sparkle.  The next morning was all sunshine so I re-took the pictures.  (I am looking into buying a photo box and lights on e-bay, I just need to wait for my paycheck)

I can't forget my thumb!  Isn't he cute!

I really do like the design although I am not overly guilty about my love of mustaches.  I mean honestly, how can you not like them.  Maybe I should change my blog background to mustaches. . .

Tootles!
Fitz

Conversations Matter

I have wanted to do a manicure like this for a very long time, I think since I started doing nail art.  When I got Bundle Monster's most recent stamping plates I knew this would be the year.

I used a lot of polishes, so are you ready?  In no particular order, China Glaze Def Defying, Kinetic Candy, Finger Paints Cicus Peanuts, Spun Sugar, Julep Bea, Konad Special Red, and Special White.  That is a . . . finger full!  You see what I did there?  For the stamping I used Bundle Monster BM-421 and BM-425.  It makes me laugh that DD changed SW yellow, but it's okay.  I still like it.

My thumb up close.  Circus Peanuts is one of my favorite polishes and I was happy to find an excuse to use it.

This manicure isn't perfect, but I am still really happy with it.  It reminds me how small my nails really are.  The stamps barely fit on my nail and forget about my pinkie nail!  It also shows me I need some more practice when it come to being exact about stamp placement.  I did get a lot of complements on it and amazement at the writing.  This was definitely a good mani to end the Holiday on.

Tootles!
Fitz

Valetine Stripes

I bought a couple new colors at Sally's Beauty Supply the other day and this design immediately popped into my head.  And I love it!!

First of all I must apologize for the shape of my hands.  A dry winter will do that to them.  I am using a new product that seems to be helping, although I started it after these photos were taken.  The new colors I bought are Finger Paints Minimalistic Mauve and Sculpted Carnation.  Then I accented designs with Nina Ultra Pro French White and the accent finger is Julep Love over FW.

I feel like I got back to my roots doing this all free hand. I am really proud of those stripes.  They are a bit shaky, especially when you look at them super up close, but they look really cute.  My right hand was pretty good too, although I didn't snap a picture of them.

Soft and feminine with a touch of quirk.  I really love this design!

Tootles!
Fitz

Inspiration From a Sweater

One of my co-workers showed up in a really cute sweater a couple of weeks ago and I loved the color combination.  So I decided I needed to do a manicure inspired by it.

In person the sweater was more turquoise than the picture leads you to believe, so I picked Essie Where's My Chauffer and then stamped with Konad Special Red.  I also used some small loose red heart glitter to give some sparkle and a a different texture on one nail.

For my stamps I used Betina B-10 and Winstonia W102.

A view of my thumb.

I really like how the color look together.  I think it is a bit quirky an a step out of your traditional valentine look.  I am really happy with how this came out.  It is not exactly like the sweater, but you can definitely see the inspiration.

My right hand turned out really good too.  I kind of like how the stamp placed on ring finger better.  You can see the heart design more clearly and not as abstract.

Tootles!
Fitz

From the Vault: Valetine's Day Nail Art

This is from the vault.  Last year I did this for Sunday Stamping and didn't have time to post it. . . So I thought I would bring it out now.

I am relatively positive about the nail colors I used which were China Glaze Kinetic Candy, Millennium, and Traffic Jam.  The only one I am not one hundred percent positve one is TJ.  For the stamping I used Bundle Monster BM-323 and GALS GA12.

I like the that you can see the barbed wire behind the heart.  Sometimes you need something a bit more anti Valentines to counter balance all the sugary sweet goodness.

Looking at these picture reminds me how much I really should invest in a light tent.  Time to do some shopping on E-bay!

Tootles!
Fitz

February Julep Maven

I have for you this months Julep Maven box.  I got the Modern Beauty Box again.  I really wanted the gel eyeliner because of a tip I found on Youtube.  I have issues with my right eyelashes curling, they don't.  My left curls amazingly well where as my right eye is a dud.  Go figure!  There were other things I wanted, so I figured this was the best way to do it.

The basic box is Eye Sheen Liquid Eyeshadow, I chose Dusty Taupe, and Ink Gel Eyeliner along with the Angled Liner Brush. 

I am going to start with ESLE (for short) in Dust Taupe.  I use Bare Minerals, primarily, for my makeup and have not been overly interested in trying other brands.  I am rather a loyal customer to them, so I wasn't overly interested in this product and picked a rather neutral color.  That being said I was pleasantly surprised.  The application is rather easy as is the build ability.  I liked it and figure it is a great product for trips when you are trying to reduce your make-up bag or you have little time in the morning and need to do something quick.  Will I buy the other colors?  Probably not, unless they go on sale for a really good price.

So that trick with the Gel eyeliner is awesome!  It totally works!  My only issue is over the course of the day I do end up with makeup residue at the bottom of my eye.  I am not sure how to fix that, it is the product or my eye. . . Till then I am going to continue doing it, the way I am.  As far as how the product is intended to be used?  I like it.  I have never used gel eyeliner before and it seems to go on smoothly and is easy to get the look you are after with.  I also really like the brush.  I love a good angled liner brush and this one is small and controllable.

 

I added two nail colors and then one was included when with your Maven order.  So I added Kristen and  Roc Solid with Love included as a Valentine gift.


First off I want to apologize for my hands.  The winter weather has not been kind to them and I am a bit embarrassed to be posting these swatches.  I am trying a new product since these pictures were taken and I am seeing improvement and it has only been one day.

Love is a really interesting glitter and is not like anything I currently have.  It is a baby pink/gold micro glitter with tiny fuchsia glitters.  It is lovely and the pictures really don't do it justice.  This is two coats, and you can see a a bit of visible NL, but I really don't mind it.  This was also one of the easiest glitters to remove.  It came right off!

Kristen is a bit deceiving in the bottle.  The pictures on Julep's site make it look teal and I am always on the look out for a pretty/new teal.  When I opened my box I thought, "That looks nothing like the website."  So I took pictures and then applied it to my nails and thought, "That looks nothing like the bottle."  It is kind of like a deep dark teal with tiny hints of silver glitter, but even that is quite right. . . Whatever you want to
say, it is a gorgeous color!  This is one coat on my nails, but be warned it does stain a bit.

When I fist applied Roc Solid I thought it was a jelly, then I thought it was sheer.  Now I am not sure which one is right. I don't think I could do a jelly sandwich with this, but it is extremely shiny.  It is kind of in the middle of the two categories.  This is three coats.  The other problem I had with this polish is the color.  Here it looks like a gray blue/green and when outside this is what it looked like, but inside it looks dark khaki green.  I am not sure I am in love with the color and kind of regret buying it.  I want to see if a jelly sandwich works with and maybe eventually I will grow to love it.

The last thing in my box I didn't take a picture of so I will use their photo.

This is the Party's Over Glitter Nail Polish Remover.  This came to me seperatly and I have yet to try it.  I am wearing glitter today, so I am hoping to take it out for a test spin and will let you know how it goes with an update.

Tootles!
Fitz