Bear Hands

I got some new gloves/mittens from River Island a couple of weeks ago. I really wanted the matching hat as well but it didn't really fit my massive head so I settled for just the gloves. Here they are:

and these are my matching nails

Done with Barry M Cyan Blue, China Glaze White on White & Patent Leather and a really old unknown toffee coloured Barry M nail varnished mixed with the white to make cream.

I think I'll go put those gloves on now to type. It's freezing!


Faybee x

Fruit Salad

I think I'm getting better at cutting fimo canes. This is my latest effort of fimo on top of Collection 2000 Fruit Salad (the name inspired me.)

It's a kiwi fruit! Not the prettiest fruit but it was the only fruit in the house at the time.



Faybee x

Very Belated Halloween Nails



I didn't mean to abandon my blog but a few days before my last post I started a new job. I'd been out of work for a few months before then and I'm finding it very hard to adjust to the working world again. Office politics in particular :\
I've still been painting my nails although I did go on a nail art hiatus for the first couple of weeks at work until I found out if it was acceptable or not, it seems it's okay so today I've got teddy bears on my nails (I'll upload pictures soon)
These were going to be separate posts over Halloween but I never got round to it so you get them all at once!


Spider Nails

These nails were inspired by the bowl we use for our trick or treat sweeties, close-up -

The big spiders were freehand, the rest were from Bundle Monster BM13 and Konad M28. The purple is China Glaze Spontaneous. The gems (spider backs) and dazzlings (eyes) are from Viva la Nails

Monster Nails

They didn't turn out how they looked in my head so I think they look a bit pants. The green is China Glaze Kiwi Cool-Ada applied on top of white.


Halloween Ruffian

(The polish isn't 'creased' it's just the reflection from the window blinds)

Done with Eyeko Vampira Polish on top of Eyeko Sacy polish. My first ruffian!


Hope to see you soon,
Faybee x

I <3 You

Done with Diamond Cosmetics South Beach Pink, China Glaze White on White, a dotting tool and paintbrush.

Faybee x

Barry M Instant Nail Effects

I've seen crackle nail varnish before but never one from a brand I could buy in the UK so I was very excited when one of my friends posted about this on Facebook. I hummed and harred about it for a bit but when I saw it for sale in my local Superdrug I couldn't resist after all it's only £3.95.

It's only available in black and it's very easy to get some really funky looking nails out of this bottle. It's a lot thicker than normal nail varnish and you have to apply it very quickly, it says you can't go over the same bit of nail twice but I've found as long as you're quick and not applying too thick a layer it's fine. Thinner layers make it easier for the nail varnish to 'crack' and the quicker they dry the bigger the cracks become so if you want more of the base colour to show try blowing on your nails as they dry.

This is Instant Nail Effects over Models Own Sterling Silver. I think it gives a cool look, almost like graffiti.

The effect I ended up with definitely looks like the design on the lid but nothing like the pictures on the label (not seen in photo)

If you haven't already tried crackle nail varnish I'd say this is a must, I'm already thinking about buying a backup bottle.


Faybee x

Foody Nails

On Wednesday night I had a meal out with my family since my cousin is moving away. He's got a new job as a chef in a fancy castle restaurant. So these nails are in his honour because he deserves it after all the meals we've enjoyed from him :)

Left Hand:

Thumb – Chef's Hat
Index Finger – Knife
Middle Finger – Onion
Ring Finger – Whisk
Little Finger – Fork


Right Hand:

Thumb – Tomato
Index Finger – Aubergine
Middle Finger – Saucepan
Ring Finger – Little Chef's Hat
Little Finger – Knife

The background was Bundle Monster plate BM16 in Konad SP Blue on both nails.

We ate at The Blue House in Haswell. I had a huuuuge plate of battered peppers with sweet chilli sauce, chips and salad it was yummy!


Faybee x

Stripy Copycat Nails

Hello, long time no see! Since I now have a few millimetres of growth on my nails I'm back on the nail art wagon! And how better to start than by ripping off someone else design and trying out my new striper brush from Sally's (was £8.99 got for £1.19 in sale, bargain!)

I love WAH nails. Their blog is one of my favourite places to go for inspiration. This is the design I copied.

This is my interpretation:

That's Essie Plaza sweet with China Glaze White on White and Barry M Black.
I think I need a bit more practise to get up to WAH level.


Also have you heard WAH and Models Own are collaborating to make their own nail art pens? I am very excited!


Faybee xx


P.S. I promised I'll come up with something myself next time

Leopard Nails

I found these pictures in my photobucket. They were actually taken before I began blogging and I never got round to putting them up.

This is one of my favourite bangles, I've had it a while now so I've no idea where I got it from.

I did nails to match

It's basically a white base coat, blobs of different colours from polishes which I can't remember - using the brush from the bottle - no special application, then Konad SP Black with plate M57 on top.

In other news, I broke a nail.

: (

Right down to the smile line. I don't like nail art on really, really short nails so you might not be seeing a lot of me in the next few days, not until it they grow back enough to look normal again. I have really small hands and short fingers so short (reeeeeeeeally short) nails do not suit me at all, my hands look really childlike and I don't like it. I haven't had nails this short since I was a nail biter 10 years ago.

I have recently taken delivery of some nail art display wheels so I'm sorting out my entire collection of nail polish. I got 10 nail wheels and each have 18 'nails' on them and they're not enough so that means that I have many more bottles of nail varnish than I first thought. I'm now waiting for more to come through the post. I'm also trying to get some decent photos of the ones I've done so I can put some comparisons and swatches up but I'm having difficulty getting my camera to pick up colours accurately, I'm a bit of a perfectionist so this is doing my head in. I might have to ask my dad to see if I can borrow his posh camera.


Faybee x


P.S. I'm now on twitter and have no idea how to use it! You can find me at http://twitter.com/Bee_Nails

Nubar Peacock Feathers with Added Peacock

Nubar Peacock Feathers is amazing. I've seen so many pictures of it and each one is so different, it really is a nail varnish that has to be experienced in real life to get the full effect.
It felt a little wrong to start stamping on such a gorgeous nail varnish but I could resist adding some peacocks from Bundle Monster plate BM15. I kept it somewhat simple and only added them to my thumbs and ring fingers.

The stamping was done with China Glaze 2030. At first I really didn't think it was going to work since I've had some trouble stamping intricate designs with 2030 but it actually worked really well. The peacock on my index finger isn't actually headless it's just the angle of the camera and shadow.

Faybee x

Ladybird Nails

I've been wanting to do ladybird nails since I saw this tutorial by Michelle from The Lacquer Files.

You can see the full and very easy to follow instructions on the Lacquer Files, for mine I used OPI Off With Her Red! China Glaze Liquid Leather and China Glaze White on White.

Ladybird, Ladybird,

Fly Away Home,

Your House is on Fire

And your children all gone.

Faybee x

Bloggers First Fimo

I still haven't managed to get the knack of cutting fimo canes as thin as they need to be. As a result this design is rather... erm crap.

I definitely need a better blade for cutting them. The one I have now is sharp enough but it's really skinny so I have trouble gripping it.
This design didn't even last 24 hours, the fimo butterflies and flowers were so chunky and sticky out-y I ended picking them all off my nails pretty much as soon as they had dried. I couldn't stop myself.

The colour underneath is George quick dry nail varnish in sunset orange. This is actually my first George varnish because my local Asda doesn't stock it. I bought it when it was offer for only £1. For that price I wasn't expecting a lot but I was pleasantly surprised. It achieved full coverage in only two coats and lived up to it's quick drying name. I was expecting something more peachy from the colour of the bottle but when applied on the nails it's more vivid and orangey, I can see why they named it sunset orange.
So I'll be going back to the cutting board now (Cutting board? Geddit? Haha)

Ta ta for now

Faybee x

London Nails

I spent all day Sunday in London meeting up with some friends. I had a brilliant time and they all admired my London themed nails :)


Left Hand:

Ring Finger: Barry M Cobalt Blue, China Glaze White on White and a Red Sharpie

Thumb: OPI What's With the Cattitude?, China Glaze White on White, Barry M Black, Barry M Grey and the brown colour is one I blended using a few browns in my collection. It's supposed to be Big Ben (in case you couldn't tell.)

All other nails: Barry M Cobalt Blue


Right Hand:

I don't recommend trying to cut corners and using a red sharpie instead of red nail varnish. It worked but even though I left it to try for about 15 minutes before I applied top coat it still smudged a bit.


Faybee x

Spotty Blue Manicure

This was inspired from a photo I spotted on fuckyeahprettynails. I can't seem to find it again so I can't show you it or give proper credit.

This was so difficult to photograph, my camera really hates neons.

I started with a base colour of China Glaze Towel Boy Toy (love it!) and sponged on China Glaze White on White onto the tips. Using a dotting tool I added dots of Towel Boy Toy down the white tips until they blended with the base colour.

In other news in the post today I received my first ever fimo canes that I bought off Ebay. Any hints or tips on how to use them best? I've been practising cutting them as thin as possible and ended up cutting off a chuck of my nail, oops! Luckily it was mostly my nail varnish and only a little bit of nail that suffered.



Faybee x

Attention Facebookers and Models Own Fans!

In case you weren't already aware Models Own are going to give all their Facebook fans a 50% discount! That is if they can reach 10,000 fans by the 31^st August.

So I suggest you get down to their Facebook page pronto and click the like button because I've already started my shopping list ;)
 


Faybee x

Nautical Nails Take 2

After taking off the smudgy, dented mess from my nails from yesterday I needed another nautical manicure since I was still enjoying myself at the Tall Ships and I needed it quick! So I went with a fairly basic design of a plain navy base colour (Nails Inc Tudor Walk) and used China Glaze Millennium plus Bundle Monster plate BM08 for the anchors.

You can also see my captain's hat which I bought for a souvenir.


Faybee x

Ahoy There!

This last week has been really busy, fun but busy.

I spent a few days at the Tall Ship Races (http://www.sailtraininginternational.org/) which mainly involved wandering round looking at huge boats, buying souvenirs and going on lots of fairground rides.

Now I couldn't go to a boat event without themed nails could I?


Left hand:

Base Colour - China Glaze White on White

Stripes - Nails Inc Tudor Walk
Anchor – Konad SP Red – Bundle Monster plate BM08


 
Right hand:

White & stripes - Same colours as left hand
Thumb & ring finger - H&M Red Nail
Anchor - Konad Princess Polish White -Bundle Monster plate BM08


Not my neatest of manicures since it was done almost immediately before I had to leave the house for a friend's birthday party. Wine + Rushing + Nail varnish = Dents and smudges, whoops!



Faybee x

Tea and Cake Anyone?

This is my spotty teapot which inspired this design:

And what goes best with tea? Why cake of course!

That's my right hand and this is my left:

That's a cup of tea on my right finger in case you can't make it out. I was trying to angle my thumb so the teapot was pouring into the cup, lol.

I am calling this my shabby chic manicure.


Faybee x

OMG! Stars!

I think holographic nail varnishes are amazing I really wish I had more in my collection so far I've just the one China Glaze OMG.

It's such a shame it's not sunny today, shade does not show this polish off to its full advantage at all.

You can see a little bit more of the holo in this photo but to see it at it's best this is one you really have to experience in real life.

The big stars are from Bundle Monster plate BM05 and the little stars are from plate BM14 both are done in Konad Special Polish Black. It got a little smudged on my little finger whoops!


Faybee x

Essie Lapis of Luxury

I love this colour in the bottle. I love this colour on other blogger's nails. I do not love this colour on me.

I wanted to love it so much. It's a nice colour, I don't dislike it I just don't love it. I was expecting a gorgeous denim blue but it looks more purple on me. I think I built up my expectations too much with this one.

I’m really not happy with the condition of my nails at the moment. The splits I mentioned before are getting worse. I’d already had to patch my left thumb nail and now I’ve got to do the same with my right index finger and there’s some little splits on my right hand fingers which are just glued.


I don’t like painting over patches or glue, it makes me sad.

I’m going to try and grow the splits out to above the nail line and then I’m cutting them short and then I’m NEVER EVER using cuticle remover again grr


 
Faybee x

Essie Mint Candy Apple and Some Sparkle

Next up in my line of Essie polishes is Mint Candy Apple. I'm sure you've seen this one before, I know I have and I've wanted it for so long! I tried to talk myself out of it because I thought it looked very similar to Barry M Mint Green but it's actually quite a lot lighter, I'll compare them one day.

The flowers and twirly bits (thumb only) are from Konad plate M51 in Konad Princess Polish White. I added a couple of green rhinestones from Art Deco Nails to the middle of the flowers on the thumb and ring fingers. I was going to leave the flowers alone but then I was going to a wedding party and decided to add a bit of sparkle.

It's such a gorgeous colour I'm so glad I didn't manage to talk myself out of it :)


Faybee x

Essie Plaza Sweet

This is the first ever time I have used an Essie nail varnish and I am impressed!

I've never had a chance to try any Essie varnishes before because they're not widely available around here (I believe they're an American brand?) and whenever I've seen them online they've been a bit pricey so I've not wanted to risk forking out for a bottle and not liking it but when I saw some were on sale at Nails by Mail I couldn't resist a small order. This gorgeous coral only cost me £3.50 and it applies brilliantly.

This is what I think corals should look like, I've seen certain colours called coral when to me I think they're far too orangey to be coral.

I was applying it late at night and rushing but even with a not-very-good application it still dried smooth.

The design on my thumb is from Konad Plate M65 in Special Polish white, although it's not done very well because my bottle of white polish is very low and starting to dry out. I also had the same design on my ring finger but it turned out so badly I left them off the photo. I do have a new bottle of Princess Polish White so I think it's time to crack that open.


Faybee x

OPI Catch Me in Your Net

Catch Me in Your Net is a sheer colour and I'm not a fan of Visible Nail Line so I started with a base colour of Diamond Cosmetics Metallic Blue because I think it coordinates with Catch Me and it has great coverage, this is just one coat:

I then used three coats of Catch Me in Your Net because I didn't want the base colour showing through too much and affecting the final colour. A water decal from Viva La Nails finished off this manicure. I love these water decal butterflies, I'm definitely going to get some more when I use them all up.

Topsy liked this colour too.

Faybee x

Hello Kitty Revisited

I love Hello Kitty. I saw a huge plushie reduced to half price in Tesco the other day and I was so close to buying it. Unfortunately I have no money or room to put it. So here are the nails I did to compensate:

Close-up:

The black is China Glade Liquid Leather with Konad Princess Polish in White on top. The French Tip is done with China Glaze Pool Party but doesn't look as pink as it should on my camera. The bow is OPI Cancan Fiesta and pink rhinestones I bought off eBay.


Faybee x

My Poor Cuticles Continued

That's not the best picture to show it off but the skin next to my cuticles is raw and peeling :(

I've also found three splits in my nails; I'm still blaming this on the cuticle remover as there was no sign of these before. I've so far managed to fix them with nail glue so my nails haven't had to be cut that short.

I'm not going to name and shame the cuticle remover make because this was the first time I'd ever used it so it quite easily could have been my mistake instead. Although I did follow the instructions to the best of my ability.

That's China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy, it's not bright orange as it appears in my photo but a neon coral. The tip is China Glaze Yellow Polka Dot Bikini and that really is that neon yellow.

Flower-to-Flower and My Poor Cuticles

I didn't think my cuticles looked that bad in this photo. Not perfect but not bad. I wanted them to look perfect so I decided to try some cuticle remover on them.

It looked fab at first, took all the dry skin off and made them look that little bit better ( how naive I was.)
So I tried out OPI's Flower to Flower. It looks nice, reminds me of China Glaze Strawberry Fields but rather a lot lighter.