The Digit-al Dozen does ... FESTIVENESS - Abstract Christmas Wreath

Hi Goddesses

Wow, I'm a little bit overwhelmed with yesterday's manis - there was so much awesome out there from everyone in the group. Make sure you take the time to click on the links at the bottom of the post - there is some RIDICULOUS talent in this group!

Today's mani started life as a tutorial for a Splodgerama, albeit in Christmas colours.  Accidentally, I stamped over it, and I much preferred that version, so that's what you're getting today, and we'll do the tutorial at some point in the next couple of weeks.

I'm not going to go into too much detail as that would ruin the tutorial, but a Splodgerama basically involves randomly sponging colours on your nail.  As to which colours I used -

base - OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons, which is a mannequin shade on me

greens - Bettina Green, Revlon Toad and CG Glittering Garland

reds - CG Ruby Pumps and CG Mommy Kissing Santa (I themed the polishes !!!  lol)

Here's a shot of how the Splodgerama looked once it was done.

I then stamped using my Barry M gold foil, and various stamping plates.  The fabulous Christmas word puzzle you see on the thumb and middle finger is from MJ 7 which you can buy from My Online Shop.

The other words come from Dashica plate Dash11 which has  all sorts of useful slogans on it.

So, quite accidentally, I ended up with something really kinda wonderful.  More than any of the other manis I've done, this one really speaks Christmas to me.

Enjoy - and don't forget to check out my more talented friends !!!

Marilyn Monroe Tribute

Hi Goddesses

It's 50 years ago this weekend since the Ultimate Goddess, Marilyn herself, accidentally passed away.  Poignantly, the days are aligned the way they were in 1962, and it was on Saturday evening that she passed away.

Like a lot of people, I have always been fascinated with Marilyn Monroe - partly for her beauty, her comedic timing, but I have to admit, partly for the mystery of what happened that fateful evening.  Convention states she died in the early hours of August 5th, but it's more likely she passed away in the late evening of the 4th.

For many years I gobbled up all the conspiracy theories and read AVIDLY on the subject, but now, with age, and with a few more discerning biographers, I've come to a more "adult" conclusion - she died by accident, fatefully underestimating her capacity for prescribed drugs.

The best book for me - and the most balanced - is The Final Years of Marilyn Monroe by Keith Badman.  Devoid of sensationalism, it is also extremely convincing,and poignantly ends with a Marilyn full of hope and ambition in that final summer.

For nails, I decided to pick out some iconic images - 

* thumb - the red dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1 layer of CG Ruby Pumps and 2 layers of a red franken I made last year (you can see it here)

* index - the OTHER iconic dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - 2 layers of Cult Nails Untamed.  The bow is a mix of the same polish, with 1 drop of a darker magenta, Jesse's Girl Fashion Friday

* middle nail - the iconic white dress of Seven Year Itch.  Base of 2 coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls.  The pleats are a mix of MBSW and OPI DS Coronation

* ring finger - the famous pleated gold dress, one of THE most iconic Marilyn images.  Originally created for GPB, but the scene got cut.  This was done using Barry M Gold Foil

* little finger - famous for her pout, this pays tribute to Marilyn's kisses - a base of OPI DS Coronation and a Konad Red kiss from OB28, available from My Online Shop.

I heartily recommend the Keith Badman book if you are a fan.   There's little in life that pains me more than a wasteful death, and there's no denying Marilyn falls into that category.  More staggering perhaps is that her legacy lives so strongly on, and that 50 years on, she has the ability to inspire, move and haunt us.

Remember, and enjoy xx :)

Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby ah-haaa-aaah-ahhhh

CHINA GLAZE – Ruby Pumps

Hi Goddesses

When I first got back into nail polish, all I heard everywhere was Ruby Pumps, Ruby Pumps.  Legendary lemming.  Red of all Time. So I had to have it.

Incredibly, I’ve not worn it til now, and I really don’t know why, for she is most gorgeous.  Ruby Pumps is a syrupy thick ruby red jelly crammed with red micro glitter.  Unlike a couple of the other sparkly reds I am showing you, this one is pure red on red action.

At times this polish is also lit from within, probably due to her jellyish nature.  In the bright lights she goes absolutely crazy and turns into a full blown disco diva. More than anything, she reminds me of Marilyn’s famous red dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (We’re Just 2 Little Girls From Little Rock).

I do really love this polish, and I’m also really sorry that I didn’t take the photos BEFORE I made the carbonara – sorry for the nicks!  

There’s something very glass like, and therefore ruby-like, about this polish.

She’s a little bit darker than some of the other reds, as she should be given her name.  So, totally Christmassy, totally glam, totally sexy, totally sinful, totally cheeky.

Love.

Enjoy J  xx

J

Top Tip – if you’re ever unsure what a nail colour looks like, go to Google images, which will give you plenty of contrasts and compares.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Which is the Christamssiest Red of All ?

Comparison Post – Christmas Reds

Hi Goddesses

I love my reds, and I love my sparkly reds in particular, and I own quite a lot of them.  But that never fails to stop me going ooooooh and aaaaah when I see someone else swatch a sparkly red J

So I thought it would be fun to see how 5 of them compare.  This post features –

Thumb = Sephora by OPI What’s Your Poison

Index = NOPI Sensational Scarlet

Middle = CG Ruby Pumps

Ring = Milani Red Sparkle

Pinkie = SH Downtown Rubies

Sensational Scarlet already has her own post here, and Downtown Rubies will be loaded up in the next couple of days, as will OPI Smitten With Mittens and CG Ring In The Red.  This post does not include 2 other great reds – Wet N Wild Rockin Rubies, which you can read here, and Studio M Slammin Red, which you can read here.

Wow!  That’s a lot of sparkly reds!  I love the whole hand shot actually and the *range* it shows.  “Sparkly red” would seem to be quite a narrow category, but we’ve got so much variety here from bluey reds to semi jellies, to pure glitter that won’t spread to 1 coat wonders.  Let’s zoom in.  First of all, let me show you the 1 coat shot, which really highlights their differences -

Thumb = Sephora by OPI What’s Your Poison

Much as we all hate the NOPI bottle, I LOVE the SOPI bottle.  There’s something just so chunky about the wand, it’s delish.  What’s Your Poison was released this year, and is the odd one out due to how much silver it has in it.  It’s a fairly sheer base, with loads of silver glitter and some red, so that as it layers on you get a real depth of colour, and multi tonal red glitteriness. 

I used 2 coats here, and it went on fairly easy.  I think this is probably a great one to use on tips if you want a contrast – other than that it’s a bit bright and white to be a true Christmas red.

Index = NOPI Sensational Scarlet

I do love this one.  It’s very very special, despite the bottle shape!  This sits in an amazing ruby red syrup.  There’s glitter, there’s holo – there’s all kinds of Christmas wonder in here – and there’s also some flashes of blue from the holo.

This does dry quite gritty.  Usually I top this off with some Gelous to smoothe it out.  As you can see tho, tonally this is very much the odd one out due to how much blue is happening.

Middle = CG Ruby Pumps

Ah, she’s so pretty.  Where do you start with this one ?  well you can’t really go wrong, can you?  Aw I LOVE this one! 

Ruby Pumps is gorge gorge gorge!  It’s halfway between a jelly and a cream (not quite so sheer as a jelly) and has all this micro pieces of dazzle in it.  Amazing!  This one really vibrates on the nail, and for me is the most Christmassy of the 5.  I love the shade of red it’s built on, in fact, I love everything about it!!  (AND it’s smooth to the touch).

Ring = Milani Red Sparkle

This one is described as a 1 coater, but I put 2 on anyway. Texturally it’s very similar to Barry M’s Red Glitter – a matt polish packed with pure micro glitter – there is literally no way to see the polish this is embedded in, it’s PURE glitter!

You’ll either love or loathe the matt effect.  I’m not a matt fan, but I like the odd nail to be different, and I can also see how this would be a great contrast polish, on the tips.   MASSES  of sparkle in this one.

Pinkie = SH Downtown Rubies

This one will be having its own post in a day or so.  It’s a really good red glitter – probably somewhere between the Milani and Ruby Pumps – but it spreads like snot!   The application is the hardest part.  This really goes on like tar, and takes at least 3 coats to get good even coverage.

But she do look pretty J

So there we go, the sparkly reds.  Ruby Pumps is definitely my winner, but I am ITCHING to try Smitten with Mittens – I have a feeling that she may come out as the overall winner.

Enjoy xx J 

J

Top Tip – if you’re ever unsure what a nail colour looks like, go to Google images, which will give you plenty of contrasts and compares.

Nails I Love - RED GLITTERS

Nails I Love

Nails I Love is written to celebrate some of the most beautiful nail varnishes on earth and to help you choose which colours and styles will suit you. 

Each posting will feature details about the colour as well as photos.  I guarantee every photo will show the varnish as it looks on your fingers, otherwise, what’s the point ? 

Top Tip – if you’re ever unsure what a nail colour looks like, go to Google images, which will give you plenty of contrasts and compares.

Red Glitters

In my heart of hearts, nothing beats a good red.  The colour of love, hearts, blood, loss and life, red makes me smile like nothing else.  Poppy, cherry, crimson, ruby, I don’t really care, and I decided it was about time to explore the world of red glitters.

Ladies and gentlemen (?? What are the odds I am speaking to gentleman, maybe I should just leave it at ladies lol) I bring you Nubar Fire Sparkle, the legendary Ruby Pumps by China Glaze, and Lubu Heels by CG.

blurgh - look how matte it is!

So, Nubar first.  I have to admit, I am not a Nubar fan and have always been disappointed with them, especially as the varnish never looks anything like the splendid promotional photo they use!  In the bottle, FIRE SPARKLE is a ruby crush of smithereened red glitter – Christmas in a bottle!  On the nail – ugh.  Matte as ugh, rough as ugh, pretty as ugh … Really, it’s horrible.  I know a lot of you like matte finishes, but I don’t (surely the whole point is to be glossy and sparkly) and I was so bummed I couldn’t even be bothered to see if some swishy top coat would prettify it.  On the plus side, this has a high amount of glitter (and oh god it’s hideously rough on the nail) but more than anything this reminds me of the cheap nasty glitter swirls you get on Christmas baubles.

Thankfully, I had RUBY PUMPS to pump me back up J  I’ve see so many amazing pictures of this and pretty much new before I bought it that it would be perfect.  In reality, it isn’t perfection, but I do likey likey a lot.  This is also ruby in the bottle with even finer glitter particles than the Fubar from Nubar.  On the nail, it goes on LIGHTER, which is rare, and which is my only disappointment.  Bags of sparkle, no roughness, requisite glossiness – this I like and can see myself using loads, though next time I’ll probably try it layered over a burgundy red to get a bit more depth.

And finally, LUBU HEELS which sells itself on the name alone, and again with it’s casual name-nod at Ruby Pumps.  From photos I’d seen, I thought they’d be quite similar, but they are as different as night and red J  Lubu is your perfect vamp colour – a sheerish black base with LOADS of micro-fine red glitter.  This is like putting Deborah Lippmann’s Ruby Red Slippers through the blender, as they both have such a similar base – the only difference between them is the shape of the glitter.  Again, next time I’ll be trying this over a burgundy red as I’d like to try and lift this a little, or I might blend it with Pumps.

Lubu looks fab in the bottle, doesn’t she – just the essence of dark magic J  I wish it looked closer to this on the nail, and maybe it will once it’s been used a few more times. 

There’s no place like home, and there’s no nail like a glittery red nail J

Have fun my lovelies.