Pick 3 Polishes Challenge

I was up for the challenge, I just couldn't pull it off.

The lovely, C, at Lacquerware For Tips and Toes, gave out a nail blogging challenge.  She suggested grabbing the first 3 bottle of polish you can get out of your stash, and make some type of art with it.  Sounds fun!  Check over at her blog to see the other bloggers that joined in on the fun. 

Here's what I grabbed...

I picked my three from three different stashes and they all ended up being China Glaze.  Weird.  The first one I grabbed was the Matte Top Coat.  Right then I knew it was going to be at least 'interesting.'  Next was 'Hey Doll' and lastly, I chose 'Hologram.'

There were two different designs following in my skull.  Here was the first one...

 First, I taped off my nails in a diagonal.  I polished with 'Hey Doll', two coats.  Then I put on the Matte Top Coat.  After drying, I took off the tape and did the other side in 'Hologram'.  Once that dried, I took a Stripe Rite pen, and in black, put a single stripe offsetting the two colors.  Then I put on a top coat, just on the stripe and over 'Hologram'.

Truly, I do not have a steady hand.  Grrr... But, you get the idea, just not a clear idea.

 Then, just for kicks, I did the other idea I had...

I only am showing these because I accepted the challenge; definitely not to show off great work.  It's not great at all.  And the colors and design are interesting, at the most.  I wanted to keep my word to Laquer For Tips and Toes.  She is, truly, a sweetheart and, I recommend you follow her blog.  That's where you'll see the cool stuff. :)

Here's who I tag...check out their blogs because they are some of the best out there...

1)  For Your Nails Only
2) Ice Queen's Nail Parlour
3) Kitschy Suburbia

Three Lip and Gloss Duos

Several months ago, I not only picked up some nail polish at the flea market, but also found these tubes of lipstick with one end a lipstick and the other a coordinating gloss.  I found these three...

All three are from the same company called 'True Lover.'  I like the cute birds as its logo. 

No names for these lippies.  But the first two does have '3D Shine & Charming' on it.  I got a clear iridescent, a pink iridescent and one that is peachy pink.

And here are the lip colors.  The first one is a medium pink tone.  I think this one is great for my skin tone.  The middle one is the one that goes with the peachy gloss and it's a frosty pink.  Last is the most interesting of the three.  It's a copper that has pink shimmer in it.  I wore it today with the coordinating gloss and it was gorgeous.

Here are the swatches.  The first one is the clear gloss with that copper/pink shimmer lip color.  Next is the pink with the pink iridescent gloss.  Finally is the frosty pink lip color and the peachy pink gloss.

I think all three work for me.  However, I don't see using the gloss by itself; they are just so sheer.  The doe-foot applicator usually is just fine, but here, the topper on the tube wipes off too much of the glitter and thus, not a lot of the glitter to put on the lips.  I will say that the gloss isn't tacky and stayed put and lasted about 3 hours on top of the lip color.  Usually the case is that these products, that come from China (I'm assuming here that this is were these came from), have a stinky smell and taste.  I'm happy to report that these do not.  No fragrance or bad taste. 

Do you think I got a good deal for only a buck each?  Do you like them?

Glitter Or Bust

I got this one at the flea market...

 Is that '40 XOAN'???  #87...sheesh.  How about 'Glitter Or Bust'?  When I saw this in the heap, I didn't even contempt getting it or not.  Total 'getting it!'

Top photo is in the sunny window.  Next is the patio, out in a perfect spot for a sunlight photo. 

I hope I'm getting wise in my older years; I put on a nude base.  If you read on a steady basis around here, you might recall when I discovered Color Club's 'Incognito' and blogged about it.  It became my new 'go-to' base for effect top coats. 

This is a gold glitter with some round blue and red dot glitter.  As hot as it looks in the bottle, the glitter didn't want to come out and play.  I have not only 2 coats on here but also, I pulled some of the red and blue glitter out and dabbed it on.

Not going to bitch about the pay out.  I like the look.  Oh, frick!  There's a divet on the top of my thumb.  And there are also burn marks on my nail bed.  Ouch!!!!!  I need to just get over it and purchase my own gel product and do my nails myself.  I think this last time they duped me and just did acrylic instead of gel.   Well, I more than 'think' they did.

Anyhoo, does 'Glitter or Bust' seem like a good name to you?  What color would you put as a base color?

Have a Smokin' Good Time

Make hay while the sun is shining...what a cliche...lol.  Made more sense before electricity.  Hee hee.  For me, it meant it was a beautiful, sunny day; start swatchin'!

This is Revlon's Top Speed One Coat in 'Smoke.'  Such a pretty smoked out blue/gray.  I could have gotten away with that one coat but I did two for good measure.  Even though it looks like a creme, there is the very faintest hint of a pink shimmer. 

 This blue manicure is to help bring awareness to Autism, as this month is Autism Awareness Month.  I saw an entire endcap at Barnes & Nobles today devoted to books about autism.  If you can, please contribute to a friend of Jasmine's, at ColourCoated blog,  that is doing a walk for autism.  Please click here, to get the info on how you can contribute.  Even $1 will make a difference.

I would consider wearing this color for any season.  It works right now because it reminds me of an Easter egg color or Easster candy.  Remember those malt ball Easter eggs?  These are the main reason I can't get through the season without candy.

Because 'Smoke' is a fast dry polish, I had to work fast as it really does dry up.  It was difficult for me to keep it from being streak free.  I'm just pokey.

Something I do know, this color really is 'smokin'!  There are so many glitter/shimmer/crackle top coats that would look cool on 'Smoke.'  But the other thing...this polish STUNK!!!  Pew-wee!  Might I suggest doing this with the windows open. >-<

Wouldn't you like to play with this polish with  different types of top coats?  What one would you use?

Wearing Blue to Raise Autistic Awareness

I have a handful of 'pet' causes and charities I like to support.  Jasmine, at ColourCoated nail blog, brought to our attention that April is Autism Awareness Month.  The color to represent this awareness if blue.  Allow me to share my blue Autism Awareness with you...

Here is OPI's 'Yoga-ta Get This Blue'.  What a deal too.  I got it at Walmart's hair salon called 'Smartstyle' for 60% off.  I picked up 3 other colors too.  At $3.40 a bottle, I HAD to get them!

'Yoga-ta Get This Blue' is that deep, inky blue color that I love.  It's quite unexpected, looks blue upon first site, and had me staring at my own nails.  Do you think other people find that odd?  Hmm, probably.

I have on 3 coats with a top coat of Vite and then Orly's 'Glosser.'  I was looking for top shine!

Upon viewing my photos, I see that I need to wrap the polish around the top of my nails.  Amazing what I find when I scrutinize my results with close-up photography.  Maybe with more practice and, learning to use a photo-fixing software, I can glamorize my nails.  That and working on moisturizing them every 10 minutes.

And talking about glamorizing, Libby is going in for a photo shoot tomorrow.  Wish us luck.  Libby doesn't get out in public very often.  We hope to get some photos that are blog-worthy.

I have a bestie that has an autistic daughter.  A friend of Jasmine's has two autistic children.  She is currently raising money for an autism awareness walk that she will be participating in later this year.

Her name is Jessica Scott, and if you would like to donate to the cause you can do so here:

http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/kansascity/morgansmile

Please consider helping Jessica help a worthy cause.

Do you have any causes or charities that are close to your heart?