Collection: Avon and Deals

This first set of nail polish is by Malibu Beach. I picked up the set at Ross Dress for Less. My friend works there and got them for me on the store's double discount day, I paid her back at half of the original price! Not that they were expensive to begin with but, it's always good to find a deal.

They are again nameless like all of the nail polish I have from Ross. They do take a very, very long time to dry and even with my fast drying topcoat, they smudge. Oh well, I'll still use them. They also smell really weird....


Here is my first textured polish! I went shopping with my friends and they really wanted to go to Forever 21. I gravitated to these tables full of buckets of polish. I restrained myself and only got one. It doesn't have a specific name, the bottle just says purple/silver. I love this purple color. I am not too impressed with the texture though. For some reason, it seems to disappear after a few days. Maybe they all do that? Don't know.

These next two came from Avon! My mom let me pick out a few things and I chose these two. The pink is called, "Mambo Melon" and the blue is,  "Galaxy". "Galaxy" has holographic like qualities that make it very pretty. I am wearing it on my toes right now. 

Remember how I said I wouldn't buy Seche Vite again? Well.... I did. I went back to Sally's when my topcoat ran out and they had this great bargain: buy one topcoat and get the basecoat free. It was worth it. I figured out how to not make it shrink so bad. I also have thinner to add when it gets thick and I can stand the smell. Maybe I'll try something else next time. There better not be any deals.....

And finally, another Avon. I got this one at the Kansas State Fair. I always get a polish from the Avon lady that sells there. They are at a small discount and I don't have to wait for them to come in the mail. This one is called "Red Velvet". It is matte and looks orange in some lights and red in others. In another post I will show how else I wore it aside from just matte. 

Collection: New Nail Things!

I just got back from Chicago! I went with my school's orchestra for five days to tour, explore, and play music! It was super fun. While there we got to stop at a mall and I couldn't resist going into the Sephora. I have never purchased anything there because I think it is really expensive but this time I found some great deals in the clearance basket.

First up is this crackle polish called "Blasted Opalescent". It looks very nice on dark colors. I tried it out while I was there (yup, I brought some nail polish). That manicure is in my next post for today.

I also got these cool nail art stickers. They are cute little holographic butterflies! I feel spring nail art coming up... 

In my city a Ross Dress for Less store just opened and I went today to check out their clothes and also because I heard they have nail polish. They sure did! I got one set of a brand called Princessa. I also found a nice dress and a hanging jewelry holder. I love Ross now!! It is like Tj Maxx but I like Ross just a little bit more. I will add swatches of this nail polish to another post because this one is so long. 

Today I also stopped in at Sally's Beauty Supply, it is right next to the Ross store and I needed to get some more nail art wheels but I also found more treasures. 

In the clearance I found Christmas nail art decals, and Trendy Nail Wraps in Christmas snowflakes.

I also needed some new nail hardener. I found this Nail Life Nail Revitalizer. The lady gave me some tips on using it so hopefully it will help  stop my nails from peeling. I had to cut them down recently from  breaks caused by the peeling. 

Nail Care + How to Make Cuticle Oil

I stumbled across a video today that was all about how to make your own cuticle oil. When it got to the ingredients I was very happy that I had everything. The only thing I did not have was a bottle. I looked every where to find something that may work, then it hit me... I have a nearly empty bottle of base coat that I can clean and use!!
I emptied out what was left into the new bottle my new bottle of Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails base coat and started the cleaning. I put 100% pure acetone into it, shook it up, dumped it out, and rinsed it. I then took cotton balls and q-tips to clean the cap and the rim. I dipped the brush in acetone and rubbed it till there was no polish left. I rinsed it with soapy water, went back and got anything that still smelled like nail polish again, rinsed and soaked again, till I knew it was clean.
Now onto the oil inspired by YummyNails!

Ingredients:
EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Essential Scented Oil of your choice (I have lavender oil)
Lemon Juice

Step 1. Fill most of your container with the EVOO. (I didn't have olive oil much left, that's why my finished product isn't all the way full)
Step 2. Add your essential oil, about 10 drops, till you reach your desired scent.
Step 3. Add about 10 drops of lemon juice. This helps stimulate nail growth!
Step 4. Shake it all up.

That's all! Simple, quick, and it works great!
I added butterflies to the bottle as decoration. I have this book of sample wallpaper so I cut out some tiny butterflies. I have also made a little vase using this idea. This technique is inspired by KlairedeLysdotcom.
If you would like other recipes that target different things, I found this great website called Natural Nail Care Recipes.

Next up, what I use for nail and hand care.

Cuticle oils. From the left: Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil, my homemade oil, and Sally Hansen Dry Kwik. The Dry Kwik is put on after you paint your nails, it helps the dry time and is made with mineral oil that you can rub into your cuticles after the polish dries.

My go to base coat, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails. I also use the Palladio Green Tea Nail Fortifier to fill in ridges and strengthen my nails. I put it on under my base coat.

I haven't used this in a while, it smells kinda weird. When I do use it for a week, it works!

These are my two favorite hand/body lotions right now. They absorb quickly and smell so good! The tall one is In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon. I have the body wash and perfume that go with it. I got them in a silent auction basket! The second one is Bath and Body Works White Tea and Ginger. I also have the matching body wash and fragrance. 

Collection: Caviar Beads

This is awesome!!!! My mom gave these to me for Valentine's Day, I am super excited! All colors of the rainbow, caviar beads! They come in a little box that is just perfect and the lid can be used to catch them when I use them. The first idea that popped into my head to use these for is St. Patrick's Day! Wouldn't that look neat?

New Storage!

 I got new storage! I found this GREAT drawer cart from Walmart. It was on New Year sale and it was just what I was looking for. It has all the perfect size drawers and even has wheels! I can put stuff on top of it so my sink area is no longer crowded and other boxes fit nicely beside it.


Here it is!!

On top on the drawers is my art box, chapstick box, water marble water + cup, and some makeup boxes. I still haven't gotten into wearing makeup everyday, I just use it for makeup experiments and such. :P 

I need to do an update post on my new chapstick. Coming soon!

This top drawer has all my contact things and other random face items. I need to wear my contacts more often..... I am still transitioning out of my glasses. It has been hard getting used to contacts for some reason.

 The second drawer has my nail polish removers, thinners, brushes, glitter, glue, and flocking powder. Pretty much anything too big to fit in my little nail art drawer box.

I loaded a bunch of my polish in to the next deep drawer so I could free up a box and make room for more. I plan on using the empty box to put polish in when I go somewhere. This way I do not have to dump it all out and make a mess. There is still a good amount of room in this drawer. 

The bottom drawer has all of my cotton stuffs. Rounds, q-tips, and balls. I also put my make up sponge pack in here. 

NOTD: Fan Brush Stripes

Hey guess what!? I created a Facebook page as an extension to my blog!! I am going to use it as a place to put extra stuff I didn't really think would fit as a blog post. I will also be putting up my nail art there as well. This does not mean I am stopping my blog, I just wanted a new way to reach people and bring them to my blog. :D Here is the link, please like it for me! facebook.com/KarenLovesNailPolish

Today I have experimented with two things: acrylic paint and a fan brush. This is my first time using both. I first painted the base coat a light minty blue. I then took my fan brush and dipped just the tips in the pink and swiped it on. Next, I layered on the light blue and finally the dark blue. I added some more pink on top to make it stand out some more. Is is super, super easy and fun to do, I am already thinking of more colors to use!

Nail Polish/Paint Used:

Americana  "Royal Fuchsia" and "Calypso Blue"

Folk Art "Brilliant Blue"

Wet n Wild "I Need a Refresh-Mint"

New fan brush!!

Inspired by: SimpleNailArtDesigns 

Collection: Christmas Haul

Here is everything I got for Christmas related to nail art!! This is going to be a leangthy post but it is full of fun and color! 2012 has been a wonderful year and as we say goodbye to it, lets remember all the good times and the sad and create plans to make 2013 even better! Now, on to the super amazing new everything post. I will try and get some swatches done for the nail polish but I have to clean off my nail wheels first. :P

I got this nail polish set and nail art rhinestone stickers from my friend Gavin. Thanks Gavin! 

        Avon Party Polish Mini Set

Starry Night, Mystic, Blushing Star, Golden Vision

I did not get these for Christmas, I actually got these a week or so before so I could make nail polish holiday rings. The Pure Ice colors are from a Pure Ice holiday display. It was only up for a few days at my Walmart and I am not sure why they took it down, I wanted to get more, but now I can't!

Playtime, Sleigh Ride, Twinkle, Razzle and Dazzle, and SinfulColors Pinky Glitter

 These next few things came from my mom, thank you very much mom!!

A totally awesome mini rhinestone rainbow set. They are just the perfect size for my nails and I have already used them! I love all the colors and the little case it is in. It is just perfect.

A bunch of random fimo slices!! I have never tried them before and am looking forward to having a lot of fun with them. I love all of the different flowers and butterflies!

Flocking powder!!!!! This stuff is so cool! It makes your nails look fuzzy and like they have felt on them. You can make little designs and patterns along with just covering your nail in it. I am excited to try this out also! My mom got me a set that had the whole rainbow in it.

This came as a bonus with the flocking powder. Some fine purple glitter, pink eye lash glitter, white glitter, and Christmas themed confetti. 

I got this after Christmas at Micheal's Craft Store. Some mini rhinestones, half pearls in black and white, and red and silver rhinestone hearts, just perfect for Valentine's Day!!

I was looking for some new topcoat because I am getting mad at mine (it is taking a super long time to dry and still gets messed up) and picked this up. It is not exactly top coat but it is a mineral dry quick oil. You put it on your nails and cuticles and once it dries the polish, you can rub it into your fingers! I really like it so far. 

Well, that is what I got for Christmas as well as before and after! I didn't put it in this post but I also got some chisel paint brushes and I even found a big bag of paint brushes in my basement. I also got some new acrylic paint because I am now going to try one stroke flowers and other nail art with acrylics. Get excited!! I am still in the practicing stage but it is coming along.