Naturally Nails: Butterfly wing ombre

Hey Hey

Happy Belated Valentine’s everyone! Hope you had a great one with friends, family or special other half. I had a whale of a time helping my friend chase a girl for vday! Mine was spent rather quietly at my other half’s humble abode. We prepared our own army stew pot and basically dumped all kinds of delicious goodness into the stew. HAD A SUPER HEARTY MEAL! And a great time cooking it as well. We never like celebrating Vday on the day itself because everywhere is too damn crowded. Even terrible restaurants sprout ridiculous queues. Yup, just becomes a super turn off even if we had pre booked seats. Imagine Vday when we hit 6.9milion. WOW. I don’t even wanna think about it.

Nonetheless here’s what I did on my nails to celebrate the coming of my recess week! WHOO to being able to leave my nail colour longer than 2 days! =)

Base: OPI The IT colour
Gradient: OPI the IT colour à OPI I eat mainely lobster à China glaze ruby pumps
Design: TFS black, Etude house white

BAM! I am so proud of this design, so proud that it brings tears to my eyes! Real tempted to change my thumbnail now. Can you tell that they are butterfly wings? Specifically it is modelled after the Monarch butterfly! Drew inspiration for 2 vids on YT and put my own gradient spin on it. This is by far, my most ultimate, intricate, awesome nail design ever that took FOREVER to finish. The sheer amount of work that goes into painting on the wing design really takes a toll on your concentration. Nonetheless, the effort is totally worth it. LOOK AT THE END RESULT! A show stopping design IMO. I, obviously love this design the MOST! AMORE! Can't wait to show it off! *Breaks into song* "Oh I just wanna show you off to ,y friends, making them drool down their chiny chin chins"

Fair warning, this design is not the easiest and requires a heck load of patients and a crazy amount of OCDness to achieve

The breakdown

1. Paint a yellow/light orange base colour over the nails (OPI the IT colour)
2. Create your gradient on a sponge and dab all over nails making sure to blend blend blend (Best gradient nail tutorial by nailasaurus     HERE)
3. Wait for polish to completely dry and in the mean while clean up the edges of your nails
4. Using a stripping brush, dip into black polish and draw on the butterfly wings meticulously. This step takes the longest. (Pssst: A good tip is to draw the lines away from you as this makes the brush much easier to control. Sometimes, moving your fingers while keeping the brush in the same place also works)

NOTE: Round out any sharp edges esp where the lines intersect. – This is the part where you need to be very OCD about the edges if not they won’t look real. I couldn’t do them at well as I wanted to but still OK

5. Using a dotting tool/ toothpick, randomly dot on some white dots but rmb to add some where the vertical lines and horizontal tip meet.

6. Add rhinestones as you wish. Use SMALL ones so they look more intricate
7. Wait at least half an hour or more before applying top coat. You do not want to smudge your design after you’ve gotten this far. Patience, patience, PATIENCE!

Tada you are done! And I just lost my train of thought… ok OK right got it back. Basically you want to be very patient with this design. Definitely works with other colours as well. Just model them after the colours of butterflies to make them for realistic. Bear in mind thought that dark colour will not make the black wing design stand out.

Hallelujah! I have successfully made OPI the IT colour work. Terrible colour SOLO but gradient when used with other colours. Added in rhinestones for the fun of it, afterall rhinestones never fail to glam up anything it’s put on. 
Ugh, some of my lines aren’t as crisp as I had wanted them to be and some edges aren’t as round as I wanted them to be but hey, nobody can seem them from afar right! Super proud that I could achieve the same design on my right hand, drawing with my left hand really tested my hand dexterity max. Well right brain, you have served me well!

Swatches:
OPI the IT colour 
OPI I eat mainly lobster
China glaze Ruby pumps

Here’s a narcissistic picture of my thumb on which I think the wing design looks the best on! Probably because there is a bigger surface area to work with so I can draw more lines!

Totally can’t stop looking at my nails now. Imma continue to gaze bimbotically at them through the week and marvel at my work of art! I am not an artist and drawing ain’t my biggest forte, it fact it’s probably one of my worst so being able to pull this off really amazes me. Ahhh there ain’t no better art than nail art. It’s so unbelievably therapeutic. ESP when the you reap the fruits of your labour at the end.

Anyways, CHEERS to the coming of my recess week. This week shall be spent wisely!

~END~
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Naturally Nails: Ocean reminiscence

Heyhey,

It's FEBRUARY already. OMG people, how time flies - before we know it it'll be CNY, Good friday, April fools, labour day, Mother's day, Vesak day, my birthday, Father's day, Hari raya puasa, National day, children's day, teacher's day, Hari raya haji, Halloween, Deepavali, Thanks giving, christmas eve and christmas DAY OMG! That was a mouth full.

I was feeling particularly inspired this week esp because I've been wanting to try out blue ombre nails for the LONGEST, LONGEST TIME. Put on this design the moment I recieved my newest addition to my polish collection in the mail. 
CHECK MY NAILS OUT!

In descening order of darkness: Canmake No.50, Essie coat Azure, OPI what's with the cattitude, OPI liquid sand Get my number. 

I swear, the pictures don't do this justice at all, this design is one of my best designs EVER. G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S not just IMO but in my friends' and family as well, got quite a few compliments ^^ The way the blues transition into one another and the way that the liquid sand sparkle in the sunlight just give me the image of the ocean. Not talking about the green waters here in Singapore but the crystal clear blue waters of other coasts. Heck, this doesn't even need the afternoon sun to do it justice, it twinkles so beautifully indoors as well. It's got this whole inner glow thing going on. All in all i really LOVE this one. Beautiful MAX.

Rmb how I was saying in my last gradient post (click here) that I would try out the whole paint a base layer on nails first and then create the gradient on the sponge including the base layer itself to create a more natural blended effect. WELL I did it here and boy were the results awesome. Achieved the most natural ombre EVER you could barely see where the colours end.

Here's how I did it

The breakdown:1. Using the darkest blue of your gradient (Canmake No.50), apply a base layer to the nails
2. Using a sponge, paint the colours in descening order of darkness on the sponge and quickly transfer to the nails. Use a dabbing motion and make sure to move the sponge up and down the nails to blend the colours better. Do not over do the dabbing (don't want muddy looking coloours) and be sure to work quickly as dry polish will stick to the sponge as you dab and remove itse;f from your nails
3, Apply glitter coat of your choice to make the transition look that much more seamless. (make sure that your glitter coat is sheer enough for the colours below to peek through, for obvious reaons. Don't want to waste that gorgeous ombre you just created on your nails of course)
SEE 3 simple steps and your done. It doesn't take long at all to do but looks like you spent hours and hours on it. 

Tip: if you feel that you lost some of the colours through the blending process, just add the corresponding colour to the sponge and dab in the deficient areas. I call this "spot dabbing". For those of you who are perfectionistic like me. xD

Can I just say again how I think this combination is awesome. THIS.IS.AWESOME! 
Thank goodness I can keep this combination on my nails for longer than usual =) More time to show it off to the world! Ok joking I don't really flaunt my nails but it still feels good when people notice it. C'mon they are blue for crying out loud, how not to see!
Warning: This is however, not very CNY appropriate so please do not rock this look if your family is extremely traditional.

Here's a picture of under the light of the evening sun.


Here's how they look under the sun. The camera cannot capture the shine of them but I don't blame the camera cos I think even the best of cameras may not be able to capture it. You can't focus on the glitter yet capture the "refraction" of light from the glitter piece. Just doesn't work that way.
Yes yes went a little overboard with the photo spam but can you blame me?

Anyways, if you ever try this out, totally link me in the comment below. would love to see them!

Ok got a test coming up this Monday so... I gotta hit the books before I sink into an abyss of no return. One of my friends posted a very wise post: One has to suffer 2 types of pain in life - the pain of discipline, or the pain of regret. Very true, VERY TRUE. I am a very free spirited person and consequently have no discipline so.... I probably always go through the latter. Sigh....
On a brighter note. I'm done with my CNY outfits. Got my 2nd outfit online. How convenient it that! xD

~END~
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Naturally Nails: Punk-y Purple gradient nails

Heyhey

1 week of school has just come and gone like that. I'm currently high from severe lack of sleep but no matter, will crash and burn later. Planning to go watch Les Miserables tmr so hopefully I'm able to wake on time!

Since the precious the weekend is here, although somewhat semi destroyed by a saturday tutorial at 8am....... what better way to get into the party mode than with a polish post! 

Base: Etude house black
Purple: OPI planks a lot (pirates of the caribbean)
Tips: Nubar Vaso
Ring finger glitter: Essie set in stones

Basically used the sponging technique to create the gradient. Love the effect of my ring finger the best!! I'm like half half with this design. Really love the colour gradient and all but the blending could have been a little more natural! Totally being perfectionist but YEAH! 

Here's what I came up with. I must say I struggle a little with this. Couldn't get the perfect way to blend the black into the purple without it looking crazy messy. Right after I slapped my polish on though I came up with the method - paint a layer of black polish over and let completely dry. Created black and purple gradient on sponge and dab instead of directly dabbing purple directly. It should theoretically produce better results. Will test it some when, some time.

Ugh! The unblended edges really irk me. Guess this is what happens when you don't blend your makeup properly either. Fatal move. I will perfect this gradient technique!

Tips from my experience: 
1. Use a glitter top coat to even out the gradients better
2. Works very well with lighter colour gradients (i.e Medium pink to pink etc)
3. Glitter/ shimmer polish blend much better

Here are some of my other gradient posts:
1. Kpop inspired (my favourite)
2. Pink gradient 

Ahh! Shall enjoy the rest of the weekend while it still lasts. Nothing beats lazying on the couching and flipping through channels looking for a good movie. That's the life. MONDAY PLEASE GO AWAY

~END~
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Naturally Nails: OPI Skyfall collection - Live and Let Die + Where to find Deborah Lippmann and Butter London in Singapore

Hellow,

HEY EVERYONE! Hope everything's been fine. Big shoutout to all those in UNI with fast approaching exams. All the best to you! Speaking of school, I've just found a gem in NUS. Don't ask me why I'm so lag in knowing this but DID YOU KNOW that over at YIH (Yusof Ishak House) on the level of the kopital and toastbox, there lies a humble little carriage and within carries a seletion of all you can imagine polishes! Ok not that exaggerated but it sure does carry alot and pretty updated too. For all those looking for the OPI 18k carat gold flake top coat from the Skyfall collection, I'm proud to say that you may find it there. Fair warning, it is VERY EXPENSIVE. Even the owner himself admitted LOL $34. O.M.G. For those dying to get your hands on the top coat but are really put off by the price, you can check out this vid I stumbled across on YT - How to DIY 24k Gold foil polish (I forget the title LOL but it's something like that)
Anyway, other than the normal OPI, China etc etc, he also carries, believe or it. DEBORA LIPPMANN AND BUTTER LONDON POLISHES. Hallelujah! Ok, then comes the price deterrace. $32 and $22 respectively. Quality really aptly put comes with a price. $$$$$$. Boo =( Why in the world am I giving free advertisement to this guy? Don't know. Was too excited about my find that I just had to share it with you guys. I asked the dude how long he'd be at NUS for, he said, to the end of the year. He's trying to get the spot for next year as well but he is already an ex student and that spot is sadly given priority to students. So cross our fingers and hope that he'll still be there. If not, he'll disappear somewhere and it'll be another hide and seek.  

Ok that was a little too much rambling. Reminds me of Blaire (Juicystar 07). Her intros are always really long but I can undestand why. If I were to have a YT account, I would too be rambling HAHAHAH Like how I am now again!

Onward to the nail look. Here's what I had on for the week. 

OPI Live and Let Die (Skyfall 2012 collection)

As you keen eyed people have probably noticed, the polish has worn off the tips of my nails. This is because it's about hmms 4 days old and I do a lot of typing, excessive perhaps and I was studding my shorts so..... YUP. Wear and tear damage. Please forgive and ignore. 

Live and Let die is a blacked green with mainly gold shimmer plus random bits of green and ?red shimmer as well. It's a gorgeous colour. You could seroiusly get away with 1 coat of this baby but again I went with 2 and top coat just because. It's OPAQUE MAX in 1 coat. Check out how it looks with one coat. (vampy Varnish's post). Application was smooth as butter with zero streaks. L.O.V.E.L.Y

Here's a close up of the sparkles. PRETTY. Really pretty up close. 
I know I know, it looks BLACK. I won't deny that because it really does. Especially when there's poor lighting and ESP so if you are a guy. Just imagine that it's a little green? LOL pardon the generalisation but there was this joke on 9gag going aroiund about guys being irrtated that there are so many names for different shades of colours when all they see is one colour. Unfortunately I can't find that post. Anyways, my beloved boyfriend also couldn't really catch the green under poor lighting. It's really more of a subtle thing, like it's almost black but NOT. I love that. 

As much as I adore this gorgeous shade, TBH (to be honest) I'm a little disappointed. This had the potential to be SO MUCH MORE but it isn't. Really sad that the sparkle only shows up ever so slightly on the nails. You really have to look for it, it doesn't even really glitter in the sunlight like Edward Cullen does (yet another movie that I refused to chase but have heard too much about). It glissens so much more in the bottle. Am I being anal? Perhaps but this is supposed to be quality nail polish after all, every detail counts. Maybe I didn't shake the bottle enough. OMG maybe I didn't, ok I will try a coat now. Ok that got my hopes up too high, it's still the same intensity of shimmer. Oh well. =(

Here's another picture of the shimmer back when I had just finished painting my nails. LOOK no chip marks! 
See what I mean about the sparkle, kinda too little going on. Alll in all I'm really having a schizo time with this polish. As much as I love it, I dont because it's gorgeous but disaapointing. Does that make sense? Like it could have been better! You know the whole it's good but not great thing that gets on overy ALMOST dean's listers nerve MUAHAHAH. I envisioned it so much prettier as I've repeated quite a few times like a broken recorder. Will I still wear it though? YES I WILL. See what I mean. Schizo. 

******************
We are mid way through November now. It's ALMOST XMAS! I love xmas despite the lack of snow in our tropical country. It's the whole festive thing that really excites me. Actually no wait, my family and I will be away for xmas, in the land of Seoul! That I really can't wait! Shopping (not for clothes) and EATING. Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE Korean cuisine. Spicy is right up my alley. Not to mention all the bbq meat and seafood. My salivary glands are really working now. 
Anyways, we're in monsson season now. It's been raining CATS AND DOGS HERE. Everyday the heavy raindroplets pour down relentlessly on every rooftop I'm under. Not to mention, my friend and I got HORRENDOUSLY DRENCHED in the crazy rain EVEN WITH AN UMBRELLA. It was the crazy wind, I was soaked from neck down, but I'm thankful my head wias dry and my hair didn't messed up. Also I thank god for jelly flats (from little things she needs), my shoes were immune to the wet water and little acidic rain WHOOO! My friend on the other hand had to unfortunately get a cheap pair of slippers because it would have been a real disaster if her marc jacobs horse hair shoes was soaked. Now we wouldn't want that would we. Just when I thought the whole rain saga was over and that I escaped kinda unscathed, I had to find something horrific when I looked at myself in the mirror. Now I didn't get struck by lightning but my white top got stained by my bag handle.... UGHHHHHHHH. Unfortunately, my damp white top (which was fortunately thick enough to prevent an awkward situation) kinda caused the colour to run =((( Now I have weird bag strap stains on my top =( Well, the plus side is that the weather's really cool and AWESOME FOR SNOOZING although bad if you have to drag yourself to work. UGHH. I guess this is our version of winter. 

Once again I am guilty of rambling. This is a disease I tell you but thanks for making it all the way down here =) LOVE YOU!

END~ 
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Nail Polish In Stocks

Hi ladies, below are the current in stock available. =)
~updated 9th July 2011

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Seche Clear Base Coat

OPI Top Coat
OPI Not Like the Movies
OPI Jade is the New Black
OPI Last Friday Night
OPI Over the Taupe
OPI I Vant To Be A Lone Star
OPI You Don’t Know Jacques!
OPI I'm Not Really The Waitress
OPI Black Shatter 
OPI Silver Shatter
OPI Pirate of the caribbean stranger tides collection (skulls and glossbones, stranger tides, mermaids tears, steady as she rose, sparrow me the drama, planks alot)

LaRosa Deep Black Crackle

China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle
China Glaze Broken Hearted Crackle
China Glaze Cracked Concrete Crackle
China Glaze Sea Spray

OPI / China Glaze / Essie / ORLY / Creative / Color Club Nail / Nubar Polish Spree #3

Head2Toe Nail Care Spree #2

Thanks all for the support for spree #2, we managed to accumulate  71 paid orders! So here's the next one! =)

Just FYI: We have decided to change a supplier. We are ordering the polishes from Wowshop (http://www.wowshop.co/). Please go to the website to choose the colors. We are accepting all orders for nail polishes, nail treatment and base/top coat 

NOTE: The spree is accepting all products from OPI, China Glaze, Essie, ORLY, Creative, Color Club, Nubar. If the item is not listed in the website, please feel free to contact me to arrange for it.

* For out of stock items, please order only if you are willing to wait as it will be placed as an pre-order.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: 

We are pleased to inform you that is an alternative avenue of getting OPI's black shatter. That is to order the OPI Katy Perry Collection. The set comes with all the Katy Perry Collection colours as well as one black shatter or to get the Serena Williams Duo set. We will be ordering the products from wowshop (http://www.wowshop.co)


The prices are as follows:
Katy Perry Collection: SGD $55/NETT
Serena Williams DUO: SGD $22/NETT

We will make the order once orders cumulate to a total of $120 so that you will be able to get hold the polishes from these coveted collections before they go out of stock.

Pls read the terms & conditions carefully. (listed below)

EXPRESS SERVICES!

Spree will close when accumulated a minimum of 20 PAID orders!!

Products from OPI:

OPI Nail colors - SGD$11.00/bottle NETT

OPI Designer Series - SGD$16.00/bottle NETT

OPI Nail treatments (0.5 oz) – SGD$11.50/bottle NETT

• Top coat High-gloss protection
• Natural base coat
• Natural Nail strengthener
• Ridge Filler
• Arcylic base coat

OPI Nail Treatments (0.5 oz) - $16.00/bottle NETT

• Start To Finish Regular/ Formaldehyde-Free
• RapiDry Top Coat
• Chip Skip

OPI Nail Envy Series (0.5oz) - SGD$18.00/bottle NETT

• Original Nail
• Maintainance
• Matte Nail
• Dry & Brittle Nail
• Sensitive & Peeling Nail
• Soft & Thin Nail

OPI Drip Dry 0.3oz - SGD$16.00/bottle NETT
1oz - SGD$30.00/bottle NETT

OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil (0.5oz)- SGD$16.00OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil to go (0.25oz)- SGD$11.00

OPI Avoplex High Intensity Hand & Nail Cream 4oz 120ml - SGD$24.00

PEDICURE by OPI:

• Soak SGD$20.00 (4.2oz)
• Mask SGD$24.00 (4.2oz)
• Smooth SGD$24.00 (4.2oz)
• Refresh SGD$20.00 (4.2oz)

Products from Essie:
Essie Nail Polish - SGD$10.00/bottle NETT

Products from China Glaze:

China Glaze Nail Polish - SGD$8.50/bottle NETT (Priced at USD$2.99on website)

China Glaze Nail Polish - SGD$9.50/bottle NETT (Priced at USD$3.49 on website)

Products from ORLY:

ORLY nail polish - SGD$9.50/bottle NETT

Products from Color Club:

Color Club nail polish – SGD$8.00/bottle NETT

Seche Products:

Seche Ridge Filling Base Coat 0.5oz – SGD$10/bottle NETT

Seche Crystal Clear Base 0.5oz – SGD$11/bottle NETT

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat 0.5oz – SGD$11/bottle NETT

Seche Plus Fortified Nail Strengthener 0.5oz – SGD$12/bottle NETT

Seche Restore Thinner 2oz – SGD$16/bottle NETT

POSHE Produts:

POSHE Fast Drying Base Coat 0.5oz – SGD$11/bottle NETT

POSHE Fast Drying Top Coat 0.5oz – SGD$11/bottle NETT

Artpen Products:

Art Club - SGD$7.00/bottle NETT

**price includes shipping fee from US to Singapore EXCLUDE local postage fee

** For OPI, please choose from opi website http://www.opi.com

If you would like to order other items from the website but not listed above, pls feel free to contact me to arrange.

** Check out our in stocks available @ http://x3asweetaffair.blogspot.com/2011/02/nail-polish-in-stocks.html

Terms & Conditions

1. Order will be taken only if the payment is done before the spree closes

2. No payment = No order

3. Refunds will be done if items are out of stock or you can opt for credit for next spree

4. Nail polish will be bubbled wrapped and taped for extra security

5. For normal/registered postage collection, I will ensure the items are in good conditions before sending them out.

6. I will not be responsible for (i) damage of items due to poor handling by Singpost

(ii) or if parcel went missing for normal postage

7. Please email to x3ASweetAffair@gmail.com for any inquiries! =)

Method of collection:

Normal/Registered/Meetup

Meet up: Eunos MRT every Sunday 10am (no minimum order required), other location will be advised when the shipment has been received
Normal postage rate (bubble wrapped + Styrofoam) for nail polish:1 bottle: $1.50
2-3 bottles: $2.50
4-7 bottles: $3.50
More than 7 bottles: addition of $0.50 per extra bottle. (ie 8 bottles = $4.00)

For registered, please top up extra $2.24 ~Recommended~

Please post in this format

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Mode of Collection: Normal Post/Registered Post/ Meetup
Contact number:
Mailing Address:

Name of product:
Code:
Quantity:
Total Price:

**After you have placed an order, please wait for the confirmation reply on your order list and total payment before proceeding to make payment.

**After payment, please inform me via email with the following format so that I can place an order for you. =)

Internet Banking account:POSB SAVINGS 188-05836-1
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Transfer via: ATM /IB (nick)
Amount:
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Pls email your orders and enquiries to x3ASweetAffair@gmail.com Many thanks!

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Spree Status: Accepting Orders Now!