Stitched Quilted Nails

Hello Lovelies!  I have never created textured quilted nails, but it has been on my nail art bucket list from the beginning. Thanks to this week's WNAC2016 prompt I can finally can check them off my list. This is what I created...

Materials I used:
Basecoat - SuperChic Lacquer "Marvel"
Polish - Gothic Gala Lacquers "Gas Pipes"
NYC Matte topcoat
Cuticle pusher
Clear caviar beads

I started with a solid base color of polish. I choose "Gas Pipes" because of the beautiful color the bits of green glitter and flakies.

I used a matte topcoat to create a fabricesque appearance. I applied a generous layer and allowed it to mostly dry. When the polish becomes tacky, I used the flat end of a cuticle pusher to indent X's into the surface. I then applied caviar beads that I had purchased from a craft store within the stitches. I reapplied matte topcoat when the polish dried too much in order to make the caviar beads.

I didn't need to perform a cleanup this time, and I used a matte topcoat so I did t apply anymore topcoat either.

I am really glad that I got to create this nail art design. It's subtle, was easy to create, and pretty.  I choose to do X's over a full lattice pattern because I was going for a stitched affect.

I really like these nails and I hope you do too. Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Your Fellow Plebe,

Happy New Year!

Hello Lovelies!  I am so sorry that I haven't posted in so long, but I decided to kick back and enjoy the holidays with my family and try not to stress too much.  Even though I love blogging it does add a wee bit of stress to my life, so I set it on the back burner for a bit.  However, I thought it would be fun to make my first post of the New Year with a look back at 2015, and then give you my expectations for 2016.  But before we get into it, here is a look at the nails I wore for NYE (if you follow my Instagram you've already seen these)...

Top 10 Most Viewed Nail Art Designs of 2015

I enjoy looking back at older nail art designs, to see what I was doing and how well I was (or wasn't doing it).  This year I decided to look back at the top 10 most viewed nail art designs on this blog, to see what you all like looking at the most.  I was surprised by the statistics and the designs that made the list.  This list includes only nail art designs and not swatch, review, or other miscellaneous posts.

#10 - Sweet Cupcake Nail Art 

First up, is a design I created in February for my daughter's birthday party...

#9 - Dream Catcher Nail Art Design 

These ones really surprised me because they were probably one of my least favorite nail art designs of 2015.  However, I do love a good gradient, so these aren't too bad, I suppose.  I created these for a weekly nail art challenge posted by the Nail Polish Queen's Google+ Community (no longer in service).  

#8 - Liquid Eyeliner Nail Art

This is another nail art design that surprised me that it made the cut.  It is one of those designs that I wished had worked better, but I'm glad that I tried.  Conceptually, I love them, but because of the medium and execution they didn't turn out the way I had hoped.

#7 - Wave Scaled Gradient

I was very happy to see this one make the list because it is one of my favorites, it's a gradient, it's blue, and it's glittery.  Three of my favorite things, all rolled into one design.

#6 - Polar Express Inspired Nails Recreated

I was pleasantly surprised to see these make the cut, because they were one of the more recently posted creations on the list.  I love the Christmas movie Polar Express, so I've created a rendition of this design the last two years in a row.  This is also one of my all time favorite gradient combinations too.

#5 - Calligraphy "Love" Nail Art

This is probably one of the simplest nail art designs to make the list, but I was very happy to see it make the cut.  This is the first, nail art design I did using a calligraphy pen, which opened up a whole new world of nail art design for me.

#4 - Reverse French Tip

I created these nails on a whim, using blue and silver one of my favorite color combinations.

#3 - Watermarble Practice

Okay, it's no surprise that a watermarble design made the list, however, the fact that it is my watermarble design is surprising.  I don't often do watermarble, I struggle with it horribly.  So, when I do have a watermarble break through like this I like to share it.

#2 - Longing for Spring

This nail art design was a big accomplish for me because it was one of the first stamping designs that I created that came out relatively okay.  Plus, it is one of the first times I attempted reverse stamping, which I hope to do much more of in 2016.

And now for the most viewed Polish Plebe post of 2015, drum roll please...

#1 - Smoosh Attack!

This was a huge surprise for me for many reasons.  This was probably one of the easiest techniques I've ever done, though it was a bit messy (nothing that newly discovered liquid latex can't help with).  The colors are not something that I usually wear, and I should have just skipped the free hand mermaid scales.  But you all seemed to really enjoy seeing this design so here it is again...

2016 New Year Nail Resolutions

Since, my nail obsession began as a New Year's Eve resolution (in 2014) it only seems right that I continue the tradition with more New Year Nail Resolutions.  In addition to the assumed, do more nail art, and buy more nail polish, I have a few specific resolutions related to my nail addiction.

Get Organized

This for me is a never ending project that I start and fail to finish again and again.  I recently destashed and gave away many polishes that I just don't use, in an attempt to make them fit on the shelving that I have.  Sad to say, I still have many polishes that are just hanging out because I didn't get rid of enough.  So my plans for getting organized are as follows...

• Get more shelving
• Start using swatch sticks (something I once started doing but stopped for some reason) with printed labels (I tried just writing the names on them and they smudged off, now I don't know whats, what)
• Take inventory of polishes using either an excel spreadsheet or app
• Find a better way to organize/store vinyls and stamping plates
• Destash topcoats, basecoats, and nail treatments I don't like or use (for some reason I have a lot of these)

Accumulate More Stamping Supplies

One of my big accomplishments in 2015 was finally being able to properly stamp.  This was due largely to acquiring a stamper and polishes that worked very well.  This year I would like to purchase more plates, stamping polishes, and maybe even a clear jelly stamper for layered stamping.  I really enjoy stamping and love the elaborate designs you can create with reverse stamping and layer stamping.  I just don't own many image plates so I'm currently limited with what I can create.

Improve Video Skills

At the very end of the past year, I decided to try and make a few Instagram videos, which I discovered are extremely hard to make.  However, I feel that video tutorials are far more helpful than picture tutorials so I would really like to improve my video taking and editing skills.  I'm hoping that by the end of 2016 I'll be able to bring you full You Tube video tutorials so that you can better understand the nail art that I am creating.

With any luck I'll be able to accomplish these nail related goals and many others in the New Year.

Expectations for Polish Plebe's Blog in 2016

As many of you know from following this blog, I have been having a hard time keeping up with regular posts.  This has been due to the holiday season as well as the expected arrival of baby #2 in the beginning of April.  My pregnancy has made it difficult for me to create nail art on a regular basis, and creating blog posts on top of that has just been cumbersome.  However, I really like creating and sharing nail art with all of you, so I'm not ready to give it all up, yet.

My goal for 2016, is to provide one blog post a week which may be a tutorial, a swatch/review, or other nail related post.  I am hoping to keep the regularly scheduled post on Friday, so that you have some entertainment for the weekend.  Extra posts (on the occasions I'm feeling rambunctious) will occur earlier in the week.  I will be participating in the Instagram Weekly Nail Art Challenge as much as possible to help guarantee a weekly post.  Here is this month's challenge listing, my NYE mani pictured at the beginning of the post was to fulfill the first prompt...

Though I won't be posting on this blog as frequently I plan on using my Instagram and Facebook accounts to keep you up to date, and to post random nail art designs as well as an occasional video tutorial.  For those of you who don't care for Instagram or Facebook, you can also follow me on Pinterest or Nailpolis, though I don't post to these accounts as frequently. 

The big question is what will happen during the end of March through April when the new baby arrives and my life will be temporarily upside down.  I am hoping to get some help from fellow bloggers to help me out, and have some guest posts during that time, as it will be extremely difficult for me to do nail art and postings.  So, if you are a blogger, would like to try your hand at blogging, or know of a blogger who might be interested in doing a guest post please have them contact me via email: createdbycbond@gmail.com, so that we can discuss the details.

I am so proud of the progress I made this past year and I'm really looking forward to what 2016 will bring both personally and within the nail art realm.  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, wish you nothing but the best in 2016.

Your Fellow Plebe,

Secret Santa Sack Indie Collab Swatches and Review

Hello Lovelies!  Today, I have swatches of four lovely polishes for you.  Back in the beginning of November I found an advertisement via Instagram for a Indie Secret Santa Sack, for an extremely reasonable price.  I love these kind of indie surprise collaboration sets, because it gives me an opportunity to try new polishes without any expectations.  The hard part is not knowing what you're getting and waiting to receive them.  This set came all wrapped up, ready for Christmas, and along with the polishes came a few extra goodies.  In fact, I felt kind of guilty opening these before Christmas but it's polish so I had to give in.

All the swatches you are about to see are applied over a DIY Elmer's glue peal off base, I use to make swatching go quicker, and are topped with Glisten & Glow HK Girl who were not contributors of this indie collaboration.  All photographs are taken indoors under daylight lamps.

 

This collaboration set was a pre-order and is no longer available for order as a collaborative set.  However, each polish is available through the independent indie polish makers.  I will list details for purchasing as well as links to each makers site along with the swatches, so that you too can enjoy these lovely lacquers too.

SuperChic Lacquer - Notions of Ariel

 

I was first introduced to SuperChic Lacquer over this past summer when I was lucky enough to win a significant giveaway through Instagram.  So, I was pretty excited to see this little lovely arrive in my set.

Notions of Ariel is a beautiful medium/dark teal jelly that is packed full silver glitter, violet iridescent pieces, tons of holographic shimmer, oh and did I mention 1/2 carat weight of genuine crushed diamond crystals.  That's right actual diamond crystals! 

This polish is so lovely, and has so many interesting facets that its hard not to just stare at it all day long.  In addition to the polish being absolutely gorgeous, it also has a very interesting texture because of all the little lovelies bits and sparkles.

I swatched this in two coats but because it is a jelly polish you can adjust the desired opacity by using more or less coats.

Notions of Ariel is available to purchase at www.superchiclacquer.com both for individual sale or as part of the Once Upon a Diamond Collection.  Individual full size 15ml bottles are $12 or you can purchase the full 7 piece Once Upon a Diamond Collection for $84 (prices do not include shipping and handling or applicable taxes). 

Sweet Heart Polish - All That Glitters

 

Next up is another brand that I have past experience with through other indie collaboration sets.  Sweet Heart Polish has not disappointed me yet, and I was just wowed by this stunner when I opened the wrapping. 

All That Glitters is a stunning pinkish beige shimmer polish full of tiny silver flakies.  Under some lighting I caught a glimpse of a slight coppery shine too, which gave it a sort of rose gold appearance.

This polish is perfectly elegant, and because it leans towards neutral tones it is perfect for any environment or occasion.  Even though this polish is soft it is still very sultry.

Swatched here with three very thin coats, though you can probably get away with two coats if you prefer slightly thicker layer applications.  The application was wonderfully smooth too.

All That Glitters is available for purchase through Sweet Heart Polish's Etsy store, and is part of the Black Friday Trio.  As far as I can tell this is not available for individual sale.  The three piece set are full size 15ml bottles and can be purchased for $28 (prices do not include shipping and handling or applicable taxes). 

Colores de Carol - Vintage Lights

 

This next indie brand is one that I have been oogling for a while now but have never had the pleasure of experiencing first hand, that is before now.

Vintage Lights is a clear base micro glitter polish.  The smaller pieces appear to be primarily silver and gold but is a holographic rainbow, sprinkled with slightly bigger hex glitter pieces in a variety of colors.

This polish is perfectly named, and looks exactly like Christmas lights.  The holographic shimmer makes this such an eye-catcher perfect for both accent nails and full manicures.

This swatch is one brushed on coat, topped with one sponged coat.  When working with clear base glitter polishes it's best to apply with a sponge so that you can maximize the glitter opacity without make the finish application too thick.

Vintage Lights can be purchased through Colores de Carol's bigcartel shop.  This is available for purchase as an individual full size bottle for $10 or as part of the 8 piece Winter/Holiday Collection which can be purchased for $72 (prices do not include shipping and handling or applicable taxes). 

Sea Lore Polish - Divinity Isle

I am sad to say that before the arrival this collab set I had never even heard of this indie brand, but I am so happy to be introduced to it.  I am amazed that I haven't been introduced to this polish brand sooner.

Divinity Isle is a phenomenal white crelly polish full of iridescent shimmer and a variety of glitter gold pieces.

I have been swooning over this polish since I've first laid eyes on it.  I consider this a perfectly balanced polish, the creamy white base is just the right opacity and the quantity and quality of the glitter are perfect.  I really can't express how perfect this polish is, I have tried other crellies in the past that were too chunky or too goopy and this one just blew my mind.

I swatched this in three thin coats to achieve this opacity.  The application was so incredibly smooth, that if I was blind I would not believe that it contains glitter pieces.  The glitter pieces are perfectly suspended in the base as well.  I have had this polish for about a week, and I have not had to shake it, mix it, or set it upside down.  I also love the shape of the bottle, its unique but not so different that it won't fit my polish shelving.  I honestly, can't say enough good things about this polish.

Divinity Isle is available for purchase (along with their other pretty polishes) at Sea Lore Polish's bigcartel shop.  This is sold in full size 15ml bottles for $10 or in 7.5ml bottles for $5.50 (prices do not include shipping and handling or applicable taxes). 

 

I am so incredibly happy that I purchased this indie collaboration set.  It was a great way to try some new polishes and to discover some new brands.  I was not disappointed with a single polish and know I will be using them all again in the future.  I hope you enjoyed these lovely swatches and found the review insightful.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

 

 

 

Your Fellow Plebe,