Spring Pink, Frugal Dad and the Great Camera Search

Okay...so blogger's new posting/editing layout sucks, but you probably already knew that, right? It kind of makes me want to move this blog to my other platform...but moving a blog is a ton of work, so I'll just deal with this, I suppose...

Anyways...hi. If you're still hanging around, thank you - I appreciate your continued support. :-)

I still don't have a new camera...which sucks, because there are several manicures I would have liked to show you recently. I am in the market, and I'd like a digital camera that takes decent video too, as I've had a *ton* of requests for video nail tutorials around here, and I'd like to see about doing some more of that. So, if you have a digital camera (*not* a phone) that you love, and that takes fairly decent video, please leave me a comment with the brand so I can check it out. I would love to get posting on this blog again...but a nail art blog is nothing without photos!

In other news, last month Nail Art Tuesday was listed on Frugal Dad as a Top Nail Polish Site...which is awesome! Thank you, Frugal Dad! I'm honored. :-)

And finally - these pictures suck (from my tablet...sorry - it takes good photos, but it's awkward getting *nail* photos with it), but I'm wearing pink this week...a tri-color gradient that didn't go exactly as planned, but I'm happy enough with 'em, since they sparkle nicely in the sunlight.You should be able to click on the photos for a slightly larger image.

The colors I used are China Glaze "Awakening" for the base, Nubar's "Iris Dust" for the longer top color, and Finger Paints "Hue Left a Message?" for the glitter.

That's all I have for today. I'm researching cameras this week, so hopefully I'll be back to regular posting soon.

Until next time, Happy Polishing!

Needs New Camera...

Sorry I've fallen down on the job again, nail art peeps. My camera is dying, and I really am not happy with the photos it's taking these days, so I haven't been taking many. And it's unwieldy trying to take photos of my nails with my tablet.

With any luck, a new camera will be in the budget soon, and I'll be back in the blogging game...

Peppermint Stripes

I was going to do a gift wrap design this week, but decided to go all strip-y instead. I really should clean out my nail polish drawer too, considering how long it took me to find my white striper bottle, but that's beside the point, eh?

Very simple colors for this one - China Glaze "White Out" and "Red Pearl" and then two art polishes with long, thin striper brushes. The red striper was provided to me by SparklyNails sometime *last* year, and the formula is still very nice to work with. Impressive, for a striper polish!

I decided to alternate colors, so I started with Seche Vite base coat, followed by two coats of red & white on alternating nails.

Then I striped the red nails with white...

And then the white with red (painfully simple, eh?). 

A couple coats of Seche Vite top coat, cuticle clean-up, and voila! Guaranteed to make everyone's eyes go buggy.  ;-) 

Next year, I need to make my cuticles more of a priority, I think. They're horrible, poor things, and I should take better care of them. 

Also, I'm curious, so if you have a minute to leave a comment, please help me decide where to take this blog in 2012. Would you like to see: 

- Don't change anything

- More video

- Less tutorials (I get a lot of complaints about how messy my process is - would you rather just see the finished product?)

- More color swatching

- Anything else you'd like to suggest (politely, please!)

Until next week, have a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday!

Bad Nail Blogger - No Polish?!

For anyone who's still around...I've been a horrible nail blogger. I've been working far too hard on this writing gig lately, and while I've been doing my nails, I haven't been sharing. But I have been looking at all *your* blogs in my reader, and really enjoying everyone's fun, funky, and amazing nail art. You're all so talented!

So...I'm determined to kick off the cobwebs and get this place going again. Later tonight, I'll post a few pics of designs I've done since March (has it been that long? How embarrassing!), and the polish stash I just bought.

Then next week, I'll have a new tutorial to post...maybe even video if I can get the camera focused (maybe I can use the web cam...what you those of you who do video use?).

It's occurred to me that my design is out of date too....so might do something about that this week too. Hmmm...

I've been thinking about writing some stories centered around nail polish/nail art stuff. I write romantic suspense, erotica and thrillers. So maybe in a few weeks we'll have a story contest - those of you still hanging out can help me build an idea, if you're up for it.

In any case, for those of you who haven't deleted me...thanks for sticking around. I'll do my best to make it worth your while. :-)

Dang Cold/Flu...

I was all excited to post a new manicure this week...and my husband brought home some sort of crud from the office. Needless to say, I still haven't gotten my nails done this week (and it's driving me nuts, because the polish is chipped and they need TLC).

In any case, just as soon as I can get them done, I'll post. Meanwhile, what's on your nails this week?

Catchin' Up

Apologies for disappearing in December - the holidays sort of got away from me. So today I have a couple finished manicures from Christmas and the first week in January to show you, and then next week I'll have a new tutorial to post.

For Christmas this year, I used these cute decals from Born Pretty. Speaking of which, Born Pretty has offered Nail Art Tuesday shoppers 10% off your order when you use code: SQUOVAL15 at checkout.

The fun part about the Christmas mani (aside from those lovely water decals) was that my silver polish was way too thick. It was hard to work with, but it also made a 3-D, almost "fuzzy" line at the tips.

Last week I got some fun new Finger Paints polishes that I can't recall the names of just now (don't worry, you'll see them again). I decided to do a gradient with China Glaze "Tinsel" between the white and purple. I love how it turned out, very "winter whimsical", I think.

So that's what I've been up to polish-wise - next week, China Glaze "Dorthy Who?" and full nail stickers.

Until then - happy polishing!

Post Thieves

So this weekend, Diana of Painted Lady Fingers kindly emailed to inform me that someone's been stealing our blog posts, along with Liza's graphics from Nail Art World, and posting them at http://nailart-world.blogspot.com/. Diana and I are working on filling out the necessary forms to have the site shut down. It's very labor intensive fighting something like this, and apparently we have to provide links to each stolen post in our report to even start the investigation. It would be far easier and less painful for all of us if whoever started this sight would voluntarily take it down. If whoever put the blog up is reading, please, delete that blog.

Here's the thing. If this person had simply asked if he/she could link back to the posts on my site, I would have given permission. I have no issue with someone linking back to my posts because I still get the proper credit. Just to take someone's hard work though, stripping off the proper credit and claiming it as your own? Not cool - and we can't let whoever it is get away with it. The site *will* be taken down, one way or another - I won't let this go, and I know Diana won't either.

I will have a new post up tomorrow night just like always...I just wanted to make you all aware that this is going on. It's disappointing to me that anyone would think this is okay.

To all my regular readers - thank you for your support.

Notable Nails 7/2/10

Here are some notable nail art designs I found in the blogosphere this week - enjoy, and happy Independence Day to all the US bloggers!

Happy 4th of July! from Getcha Nails Did

4th of July This Year from Nail Art World

Happy 4th! from The Hungry Asian


Poolside Water Marble from The Kronicles of a Konad-er


Calm & Wild from Fab Ur Nails

Videographer I Am Not...

So, I tried videoing my strawberry manicure last week. It didn't go well. Apparently, I need practice.

I did however get some video of my basic clean-up ritual with the strawberry mani. I still need to edit it though, so stop by on Friday, and I'll post it and see how we did.

Next week, photos of this week's mani...and I'll try a video tutorial again after that. :-)

Happy Polishing!

Notable Nails 6/11/10

Here are some notable nail art posts from this week - enjoy! :-)

Gold foils from Fab Ur Nails

Hot Pink/Blue Waves from Stiletto

Color Club Gossip Column Konad from Colette

Nail Art Thursday?

Sorry gang...with the holiday weekend here in the US, time just got away from me this week. I'll post this week's manicure on Thursday instead.

The good news is, I finally found the tripod for the camera! This means video tutorials...coming soon to a nail blog near you. ;-)


Hope you're having a great week...

Migi Nail Art - Warning

I hate to do this, but I feel pretty strongly that companies should be held accountable for both their actions and their customer service. I've recently been informed that Migi Nail Art has a grade of "F" with the Better Business Bureau - click here to see the report.

Because I have no first-hand experience with placing an actual *order* with this company, I need to say that I personally have not had any bad experience with them. The products I received from them were free, and work as promised. The person I dealt with was very professional and prompt. But with this kind of report from the Better Business Bureau, I can't continue to support or promote the company until they get these problems resolved.

Missed It!

Sorry folks - between the holiday on Monday and an unorganized week, I haven't been able to get my nail post up this week. I'll have it up next Tuesday though - a very cute hot pink and hearts affair, if I do say so myself. :-)

Haitus

Sorry all - this week has gotten away from me. Our big Halloween party is tomorrow night, and I've been scrambling all week to get everything just right. I'll be back next week with more Halloween nail art though...Happy Polishing!

Goodbye Summer Nail Art Contest - Winners!

First, thank you to everyone who entered this month's nail art contest. Lots of fabulous entries here, and it was hard choosing a winner! Without further ado, here are your contest winners!

Lisa from Nail Art World was my #1 pick for the first Grand Prize, with her "Sunset Heat" manicure. I think this really represented the "sunset" of summer, and the execution was very well done. Congratulations, Lisa!
Anna S. won the People's Choice vote and the second Grand Prize, as you can see by the poll to the right. She entered this stunning leaf manicure...and it was one of my personal "runners up" as well. Wonderful job - Congratulations, Anna!
Finally, I decided to award Thriszha of FAB UR NAILS an Honorable Mention, for her lovely "Highlighters" manicure that was a very clear second in the People's Choice vote (and another of my personal runners up). Thriszha, you'll get a set of Halloween Decals as your prize. Congratulations! Wonderful job, ladies, and great job to all who entered! I loved seeing all of your lovely artwork. Winners, please email me your mailing address, and I'll get your prizes sent out right away.

What do you say - anyone want to do this again?

Goodbye Summer: People's Choice Awards - Vote!

I've made my choice - now it's time for you to vote for the nail art design you like best! Each design is numbered, so you can vote for the design of your choice using the poll to the right. Voting closes at midnight on Tuesday, September 29th, and the winners will be announced on Wednesday. One vote per person, please.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Voting is open now! Good luck, ladies!

Prize Photos

The rest of the prizes for the contest came today - hooray! Here's what the two lucky winners will receive:
Each package contains:

1 ea gold, silver & copper nuggeting (foils)
1 sheet laser lace
1 pack striping tapes
1 packet baby pearls
1 packet assorted rhinestones
1 packet square gems
1 tube Silver bouillon beads
1 packet Gold petals
1 packet shells
2 packets glitter
1 sheet Halloween decals
1 carousel to store nail art items in

I'm narrowing down my winners tonight - don't forget to vote in the People's Choice contest starting tomorrow!

Goodbye Summer Nail Art Contest - Now Closed!

Thanks to everyone who entered this month's nail art contest! We have 13 entrants, and it's going to be tough deciding which design I like best...that's tomorrow's job. I want to pick my grand prize winner before I post the photos on Sunday for everyone to vote on.

Interestingly, all of this month's entries were done on natural nails. Which means the 2nd "Grand Prize" package I ordered items for (and they did ship this time, thank goodness) that was to go to the winner of the artificial nails category is no longer needed. That just seems...wasteful.

Here's what I'm going to do. Instead of awarding just a set of Halloween decals to the People's Choice winning design, I'm going to award that person with the second Grand Prize package!

So thanks again for entering, and stop back on Sunday to vote for the design *you* think should win!

Contest News

I've got a tutorial to post today that I think at least some of you will like, but first, a quick update on the contest. I've gotten one entry - thank you! So there's still lots of room for people to get their photos in to me.

As for the prizes - I placed an order for lots of cool stuff, and spent the last few days trying to figure out what happened to it. Apparently, it just didn't go through the yahoo shopping cart system that the company uses or something (I never did actually find out what happened, but at least no money came out of my account either).

So that's my saga - I'm re-ordering today, and with any luck, should have all the goodies to show you by Friday (I have the decals/shells/glitters, just need the other various do-dads). Sometimes online ordering just doesn't work the way we want it to, unfortunately. But I'll get it figured out.

The contest deadline is this Friday at 5:00pm - happy polishing! :-)

Awesome Award

I didn't have time to get the photos I wanted to, but Lacquer Lanie was kind enough to send this award my way, and I wanted to pass it along. Thanks so much!

The rules are, I tell you 10 things about myself, and then pass this award along to 10 more deserving blogs.

Ten Things About Me

1. I love to read, and write. Words are my passion.
2. I hate to shop.
3. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and hubby and I go all out with a party.
4. Fall & spring are my favorite seasons.
5. I taste and review tea like some people do with wine.
6. I don't have or want a cell phone.
7. I have two dogs, Gabriel (Doberman/Lab) and Lucy (German Shepherd/Lab).
8. I also have a leopard gecko, 4 fire-belly toads and 2 goldfish.
9. All of my makeup/lotions/hair care products are as natural as I can get them, nail polish is a guilty pleasure.
10. I have three stuffed skunks on my desk at work, and a tattoo of Pepe Le Peux on the inside of my right ankle.

Ten Blogs I Pass this Award to:

You know, I can't pick. I love all the blogs in my blogroll, and some that aren't there too. So I'll just ask that everyone surfing by checks out at least one of those blogs, and if you're so inclined, tell me one thing about *yourself* in the comments.

Anyone without a blog who would like to participate (I know Lucy's been tagged several times) feel free to forward your own "ten things" to me via email, and I'll post them here for you for others to link to if you'd like.

Thanks again, Laine!