Abstract Christmas Bows!

Hiya Guys!!


I know it has been a little bit, and I am sorry for that! I have had some RL stuff come up :l Sometimes RL just insists on getting in the way! :P Anyway, Today I want to show off some really adorable Christmas stamping I did with Colors by Llarowe Mj's Jacket, and this Born Pretty Store Plate.

This plate's images are perfect in size, not to small and not to large. I especially love that the images radiate outwards, so no matter your nail bed size, you can achieve the full effect of the image on your nails. This plate retail's for $2.99 and you can also use my code AFLW10 to get 10% of your purchase. Born Pretty Store also offers free international shipping. 

This like all of the Born Pretty Plates, comes wrapped in a blue protective film, that is to be removed before use. The underside of the plate, also has a paper backing to protect you from the sharp edges.  This plate stamped wonderfully as you can see, like all the the Born Pretty plates I have tried. The plate is deeply etched, so I had no trouble picking up the images, and they transferred beautifully  and cleanly onto the nail. I highly recommend this plate if you are looking for something unique and fun in your collection that can be used for all sorts of holidays and everyday looks, since abstract works with almost anything. With such a great price point of only $2.99 it is really hard to pass it up! 

To get this look, I started with a base of Colors By Llarowe Mj's Jacket, which is a gorgeous jewel toned red, packed full of glitters. It is so reflective, it actually reminded me of rubies on my nails. It was fairly opaque too for a jelly packed with glitter! It only took 2 coats to achieve opacity. It also went on super smooth, and dry time was really quick. Once that was dry, I stamped all my fingers with Born Pretty Plate BP-11 in Mundo De Unas Green 08 and Essie No Place Like Chrome (Silver) on all my fingers. I then top coated everything with KBShimmer Clearly on Top and voila! Christmas nails! I had a friend actually mention that they look like Christmas bows, and I thinks she is dead on. They totally remind me of abstract Christmas Bows!

I love that this look was not only festive, but incredibly quick and easy to achieve. I love that it steps outside of the normal Christmas box by being abstract, but it still looks incredibly festive, since the colours and glitz are perfect for this time of year! 

Alright guys and gals I think that covers it for today,. Again, I know that my posting has been sporadic lately, and I want to apologize for that. I was hoping to have things settled back to normal by now, but RL keeps getting in the way of my time! I am hoping to have a few more Christmas looks before the holidays, but with how things have been going I can't make any promises! I am so thankful that you guys are sticking with me, and I really hope you continue to do so. If all else fails, things should return to normal by the new year! I really hope you are all enjoying your December so far, and I really hope you like my take on some Abstract Christmas bows! If you you are interested in purchasing  the Born Pretty Store plate you can do so here and If you do, don't forget to use my code AFLW10 for 10% off all your purchases! Till next time Kittens! <3

**Stamping plate was sent for review, however all opinions are my own.** To see more information please see my disclosure policy.

KBShimmer Rust No One and Colors By Llarowe Orange Crush Comparison.

Heya Guys!!


I have a bit of a different post today. Recently I bought KBShimmer Rust No One, which is a gorgeous, red leaning orange holo, that is just perfect for fall. It arrived today, and upon unpacking it I noticed that it reminded me of something I already have. I searched my helmer and pulled out Colors By Llarowe Orange Crush, and sure enough the bottle shots made me wonder how close these two really were...so you get a comparison post today!

As you can see, the bottle shots make them look pretty close, but how close are they really??  Read on to find out!

My pointer and ring are KBShimmer Rust No One, and my middle and pinky are Colors By Llarowe Orange Crush. I did 2 coats of both polishes, and a top coat of KBShimmer Clearly on Top.

As you can see, NOT dupes, although  they are really close. I would definitely say sister polishes for sure! KBShimmer Rust No One leans a bit more red then Orange Crush does, and in most lighting you can tell the difference between the two, however, under dim lighting I wasn't really able tell so they are certainly close. Both polishes applied amazingly well, KBShimmer Rust No One is a tad more thick then CBL Orange Crush, but both are really easy to work with.  The holo on both is almost exactly the same in strength and look, neither washes out in the shade, and both make a bright, but not overly strong rainbow in the sun.

So, now the question is, do you need both!? The polish addict in me says yes since they aren't dupes, but they are pretty close, and Orange Crush was a limited release Super Bowl polish, so it might be hard to track down. I would say if you missed out on that, Rust No One is a great substitute and a good way to squash that CBL lemming if you have been lusting after it. Both are great polishes, and honestly I am glad both are in my collection!

Alright guys and gals I think that covers it for today. I know this isn't a normal post for me, but I really hope you guys liked it. I actually had a lot of fun doing this, so perhaps if this is received well I will do some more posts like this! Till next time Kittens! <3

Colors By Llarowe: Watermarbling, Glitter, and Stamping, Oh My!

Heya Guys!

I hope everyone is having a good week, mine has been busy as I play catch up from slacking all last week. :P I recycled Wednesdays mani since I wasn't over how awesome Connie You Saucy Minx is, and this is what I came up with!

I think I like this "recycled" look better then the original. The last one had it's charms, but the far from perfect stamping, really bugged me up close, where as this one turned out exactly as I saw it in my head.

To get this look, I started with a base of Rica Whiteout on my thumb (not shown) middle and pinky fingers, and left the original mani of Colors By Llarowe Connie You Saucy Minx on my pointer and ring fingers. Once Whiteout was dry, I water marbled  using Sally Hansen Green With Envy, and China Glaze Grape Pop. Since I am still learning to water marble it was a slow process, but it actually went pretty well! I feel like every time I try this, it gets a little easier and little less fail! lol Once that was dry, I top coated with China Glaze Fairy Dust, cause seriously, who doesn't love some Fairy Dust!? and then a coat of HK Girl to speed up the drying process. I then stamped using MJ Plate VII in Mundo De Unas Violet 14. I then top coated that, and voila! water marble stamped nails! 

I was worried there would be to much going on with this, but I decided I liked the idea in my head enough to just go for it and I am so glad I did! I love the end result, since you can still see the pretty water marble underneath.

 As a side note, I mentioned  in this post about using OPI Glitter Off! as a base coat, and just realized I never updated you guys! It did last, it lasted another 2 days after that post was up, when I finally did take it off, no nails had popped off yet so I probably would have gotten more time out of it, had I not needed to change my polish for my sanity! So my verdict? I love Glitter Off! I know for a lot of people it didn't work at all, but something in my chemistry works wonders with it, so it is definitely something I will keep using, in fact I wore it on Wednesdays mani and I am still wearing it on this one. I would suggest trying it, and seeing for yourself, cause worst case scenario, it can be used around your nails as a quick clean up if it doesn't last on you, and best case, you have an awesome long lasting base coat that peels off! 

Alright guys and gals, I think that covers it for today. I hope everyone is enjoying Connie You Saucy Minx as much as I am, or at the very least isn't sick of  it! :P I promise my next post will feature a new polish! haha Till next time Kittens! <3

Colors By Llarowe Connie You Saucy Minx!

Heya Guys!!


Today I want to show off Colors By Llarowe Connie You Saucy Minx and how I wore it, Connie You Saucy Minx is a jaw dropping blurple jelly, with the most gorgeous intense shimmer, (which of course my camera refused to pick up!)

The shimmer in this is super intense, butas you can see, my lightbox dulled it a lot! I promise you though, it is there! This applied amazing, I know I say all CBL's  apply great, but honestly with this much shimmer and the fact that it is a jelly I was super impressed with how well it applied. I did 3 thin coats, although it was pretty much good at 2, I was just worried about nail line with the camera, since it is a jelly.  My photos also lean a bit more on the blue side then it is in RL. It is a lot more purple then my photos show. 

To get this look, I started with a base of Connie You Saucy Minx on my pointer and ringer fingers, and a base of piCture pOlish  Honey Dew on my thumb (not shown) middle and pinky fingers. Once that was dry, I stamped with MoYou London Princess Plate 12  in Mundo De Unas Violet. The studs are from Born Pretty Store.

I am still a bit on the fence with this look, I love the colours, and sometimes I look at this and love the look, but then others I look down at it and think..yeah not my favourite...lol!  What do you think!? 

Alright guys and gals, I think that covers it for today. I want to offer a super huge apology for being away all last week. With my favourite person being here, I simply lost track of days and before I knew it a whole week had passed and I realized I hadn't posted! :l I am really sorry about that, I know I said I wouldn't slack!! I hope you all can find it in yourselves to forgive me!? *offers up cute puppy dog eyes*  

Colors By Llarowe Blonde Ambition Goes Steam Punk!

Heya Guys!! Happy Friday! I have a late Friday evening post for you! Tonight I have Colors By Llarowe Blonde Ambition to show off. It is a gorgeous taupe, super holo polish, and when I say super polish I mean super polish..

First, I will mention that it is in fact a super, super holo. I attempted some pictures to show it off, but they all came out blurry :l  You will just have to take my word for it! You can tell though that the holo is very pronounced, even when it is dulled to hell from my lightbox. This is a super pretty polish, that was opaque in 2 coats.  It applied like all CBL's I have ever tried, so in short it was amazing. 

I paired this with some Messy Mansion stamping. For the base, I used OPI You're So Vain-illa, and once that was dry, I stamped over it with plate MM43, in Essie Good as Gold. The studs were from Born Pretty Store. 

I really like how this almost has an elegant feel to it, cause it is neutral, yet it still packs a punch cause of the steam punk stamping, and the super holo. 

Alright guys and gals, I think that covers it for tonight. I hope you enjoyed my steam punk nails! Till next time Kittens! <3

Colors By Llarowe: Black Gold Texas Tea Goes Tropical

Hi Guys!

Today I have for you some more  CBL holo awesome! I want to show you how I wore Colors By Llarowe Black Gold Texas Tea. Which is a stunning black holographic polish. It applied awesome in 2 coats, although it was fairly opaque at 1 coat, so I am pretty sure it could be used for stamping as well. Anyway, let get to it!

First up, in my lightbox.

And a sunlight picture, since I really wanted to show off the holo rainbow.

As you can see, even in my lightbox, the holo comes out pretty decent, but shine some sun on it, and wow! Super holo! I think my favourite thing about Black Gold Texas Tea is the fact that even indoors when the holo isn't out to play, it is still a true black colour. It isn't dulled at all by the holo particles in the polish. I paired this with some MoYou London stamping, with my new tropical plates. I used  Tropical plate 04 for the flowers and plate 10 for the green fern leaves. They were stamped in Mundo De Unas Neon Orange 28, Neon Pink 29 and Neon Green 38. ( The best stamping polishes ever) They were all stamped over a base of Cult Nails Nevermore. The studs are from born pretty store. 

When I started I was going for more tropical, and although it still has that vibe to it, I think it turned out looking a bit 80's neon-esque! I can't say that I am displeased though, since I still really love the look of it all together.

Alright guys and gals, I think that covers it for today. Did anyone else get the tropical plates from MoYou London? Are you as in love with them as I am!? I am not sure they can make plates I don't love! lol Till next time Kittens! <3

Colors By Llarowe: My Own Private Paradise is Totally Chillax.

Heya guys!

Happy Friday! Today I want to show off how I wore, Colors By Llarowe My Own Private Paradise. This is a groegous purple holo polish, that almost leans on the side of neon. I paired it with piCture pOlish Chillax, which is a green/blue mint shade.

As you can see, the holo in My Own Private Paradise is quite strong. It even shows up in my lightbox, which we all know is death to holo rainbows. I love how unique this polish is, not only is it holo and awesome, it is a blue toned purple, with a bit of a neon quality to it, that isn't dulled at all by the holo. It looks amazing both indoors and out in the sun! Chillax is a creamy green/blue mint colour, that is incredibly pretty, and almost applies by itself, I honestly think I have yet to find a piCture pOlish shade I don't love. 

To get this look I started with a base of My Own Private Paradise on my thumb (not shown) pointer, and ring fingers, and a base of Chillax on middle and pinky fingers. Both polishes are 2 easy coats. Once that was dry, I stamped using MoYou London Hipster Plate 07, and stamped in both My Own Private Paradise and Chillax, on the fingers of the opposite colours. I then top coated with KBShimmer Clearly on Top.

When I started these nails, I wasn't sure where they were going to end up. I pretty much started polishing, without a plan in place and this was the end result. I love when that works out! :P If you don't own either of these polishes, I would highly recommend adding them to your collection, not only are they gorgeous all on their own, but they both apply amazing, and can be used for stamping.

Alright guys and gals, I think that pretty much covers it for today. I am hoping to get some poolside time in this afternoon, but that will depend on how fast studying goes :l /sigh always something in the way of lounging by the pool! :P Anyway, till next time Kittens! <3

Colors By Llarowe: Alternate Universe Mermaid Nails!

Hey Guys!

I hope everyone had an awesome weekend, It is still kinda the weekend here, since it is civic holiday today here in Canadaland, so I am just enjoying a lazy Monday afternoon. Today I have for you a gorgeous polish from Colors By Llarowe. If you have been around here a while, you know I have a borderline obsession with all things CBL, and have this insane need to own all the CBL polishes! lol Today I am showing off Alternate Universe, a gorgeous green/blue shade with a ton of gold shimmer.

Since to me this was a gorgeous mermaid blue/green, I just had to try some mermaid nails! To get this look, I started with a base of Colors By Llarowe Alternate Universe on all my fingers, which by the way is a 1 coater, that goes on buttery smooth. Once that was dry, I pulled out Zoya Muse, and Zoya Staasi, from the recent Bubbly collection. (I still can't seem to get enough of those polishes) and painted Muse over the bottom half of my nail in a loose gradient using the polish brush, then once that was dry to the touch, I took Staasi and painted the tip to add a bit of sparkle and interest into my mermaid scales. I then covered the whole nail in China Glaze Fairy Dust. While I waited for my nails to dry enough to stamp over, I took China Glaze Nova and with a very, very soft hand, added some more glitter to my ring finger. You want to be very careful not to put to much glitter on the nail with this polish, since it is  fairly dense and can easily cover to much on the nail. Once that was dry enough that the glitters wouldn't move around I took Glam Polish Mermagic (cause seriously, how could you leave this polish out when doing mermaid nails) and with a bit of glitter placement using the brush, added that into the mix. The final step to my glitter accent nail was taking a few different size clear studs from Born Pretty Store and placing them on the nail.  I stamped all my other fingers including my thumb, using MoYou London Sailor Plate 05 in Cult Nails Nevermore.  I then top coated with HK girl and yay! super sparkly mermaid nails! 

I really think these look like mermaid nails! I even showed the boyfriend when I was finished and he said "ohh cool! Mermaid nails!" so at the very least it passes boyfriend approval! :P I really love that they were fairly easy to do, and that the bubbly collection, which I honestly can't say enough amazing things about, made the gradient look effortless. Seriously if you don't have any of these polishes, you need to add it to your list of things you NEED in your life!

Alright guys and gals, I think that covers it for today? Is anyone else having a love affair with the Bubbly collection like I am? Have you done mermaid nails recently? Let me know in the comments! Till next time Kittens! <3

#RedCoatTuesday: Got a Secret About Colors By Llarowe: The Mighty Red Baron.

Heya Guys!

Recently, I found about this really awesome link up that some people in one of my facebook groups was doing. It is called #RedCoatTuesday and it is Pretty Little Liars themed. PLL is one of my favourite guilty pleasure shows, so when I saw this, I knew I had to join in! Basically, every Tuesday (which is the night that PLL airs)  we will all be posting red mani's, red lips, or a red shadow design for #RedCoatTuesday.  I am super excited to be a part of this, and really looking forward to some experimenting with red polish, since red is a colour I don't wear often enough.

The red I chose this week, was Colors By Llarowe The Mighty Red Baron. It is a beyond words gorgeous red holo, with tons of red glass flecks that make it almost glow from within the polish. As you can see in my photos above, the  red shimmer/glitter glass fleck effect on this polish is anything but shy. In fact, it is so glowy, that getting  a good shot of this was almost impossible. I think I managed alright in the end, but wow! was this hard to photograph! I mean really, really a huge pain in the ass! lol however, the other side to that coin is that the same glass fleck that makes it impossible to photograph, is also what makes it so stunning, so unique.  I truly have nothing at all like it in my collection. It is a tad on the thicker side as I have come to expect from CBL's but nothing that is hard to work with.  I decided to add a bit of stamping to this look since PLL and secrets go hand in hand, and what says secrets better then lips!  I stamped using a Bundle Monster Plate BM-002  and stamped in a pink unnamed Color Club polish.  The lips turned out subtle, but I kind of like that they let the red polish steal the show, since it has enough sparkle and glow to really take centre stage. 

Overall I am really  pleased with how my first #RedCoatTuesday mani turned out, even if trying to capture this on camera almost made me cry ! :P I think they are perfect for the season premiere of Pretty Little Liars tonight! Is anyone else a huge PLL fan? Are you as excited for the new season as I am?? Let me know! Till next time Kittens! <3

Don't forget to check out all the other lovely Red Coat Tuesday looks too!! 

Colors By Llarowe It's Shocking! That A Girly Bits Stripper Has Been Sleeping in my Bed!

Afternoon Guys!


I hope everyone is having a good week!  My week so far has been pretty amazing. Like I mentioned last Friday, my favourite person in the whole wide world is here right now, so it has made for a pretty awesome sauce week!

I couldn't stand to let a whole week pass with no post, so I managed to throw this together! Since, I am pretty short on time though, I will make this quick, so let's get right to it today!

This pretty lovely is Colors By Llarowe It's Shocking. I believe it came out this past December. It is classified as a scattered holographic polish, but honestly, it is so tightly packed, It looks linear. It is on the softer side of holo, especially with how intense CBL holo's normally are, but where it lacks intense holo, it seriously makes up for it, in gorgeous eye searing, hot pink. It was like most CBL polishes in being a 1 coater, however in my pictures I did 2 out of habit. I am pretty sure you could stamp well with this polish, something I will have to try soon.  It is a tad on the thick side, but I have come to expect that from CBL polishes, and it is nothing that makes it hard to work with at all. 

I paired this with the stunning sparkly, awesome, Girly Bits A Stripper Has Been Sleeping in My Bed. This polish, just, wow...I SO wish it had photographed in all it's sparkly glory, I tried everything, even trekking around in my yard, and snapping sunshine pictures, and nothing, not a single image even came close to showing off just how sparkly this polish is.  You will just have to take my word for it. It is sparkly. Seriously, insanely, out of this world, sparkly!  

The chevrons, as always, were done with Nail Vinyls, which I am not even sure I still need to mention, since I do chevrons so often! :P It is all topped off with HK Girl,  Oh! and one thing to mention here, to smooth out the glitter polish, I used a coat of Poshe Fast Drying Base Coat, over the polish before I top coated. I know some people use Gelous, but honestly, I don't much care for the thickness that polish gives, I read somewhere on the interwebs, about Poshe working just as well, without the thickness, so I recently picked up a bottle and tried it out. I am very happy to say, it did work just as well, and without the thickness. If you are in the same boat I was, I highly recommend, trying out Poshe. 

Alright guys and gals, I have stayed longer then I should! The curse of someone who rambles as much as I do! :P Till next time Kittens! <3

The Stunning Colors By Llarowe Deanna It's Blue!

Hey Guys!


I managed to squeeze in another post this week, and I am pretty happy about that, since I wasn't sure I was going to be able too, but of course I couldn't stay away! :P Tonight I have the gorgeous Colors By Llarowe Deanna It's Blue to show you all.  This polish is so deep and rich, and mysterious. It is a deep midnight blue holo, and let me tell you up front, it is a serious stunner.

Have I mentioned before, how much I love Colors By Llarowe polishes?!!! I am almost certain I have, but just to make sure...I love CBL! I am seriously addicted to all things CBL, and I have this need to own all the CBL polishes.

To get this look, I applied 2 coats of Colors By Llarowe Deanna It's Blue on my pointer, thumb, and pinky and 2 coats of Totes by piCture pOlish on my middle and ring fingers.  Deanna It's Blue is certainly opaque enough to only need 1 coat, I simply did 2 out of habit. Once that was dry, I stamped using a MoYou London  plate, I want to say it was from the princess collection, but I fail, and honestly can't remember!! Sorry!! I stamped using Deanna's It Blue. Then I top coated using my faithful HK Girl top coat, and I was done!

Now, Let's talk a bit about the polish. Deanna It's Blue, is stunning, almost mesmerizing in it's beauty. Honestly, I don't go much for blue holo's but this, is just..uhh..there are no words. It is a tad on the thick side, but nothing that made it  hard to work with, and if thicker polishes aren't your cup of tea, you can always add a few drops of thinner.  I can't comment on wear time, since I just did these today, but I will be wearing this  most of the weekend, so I will likely come back and edit this later. If you don't have this polish, you should certainly get your hands on this. It was recently retired, but there is some still available at Harlow and Co. and they ship worldwide too! 

Alright guys and gals, I think I will leave off here, Wish me luck tomorrow, as I am doing the bridal party nails for a friend's wedding, and I can freely admit, since this is so many people, and such an important event I am a tad nervous! Has anyone else done any nails for friend's for big events?? Do you own this polish?? Do you love it?? Let me know!  I hope everyone has a great weekend!

It is Finally Colors By Llarowe Tank Tops and Flip Flops Weather!

Hey Guys!


Happy Friday! Oh, and of course Happy May! Today I have for you, a holo gradient, with some MoYou London Stamping. I used 2 Colors By Llarowe polishes, and a Cirque Colors polish for this look. I really wish I had remembered to snap a picture of this gradient, before I stamped over it, but alas, I forgot (sorry).

Low Lighting,  still so gorgeous!

As always, I want to start off by saying, my light box didn't do the holo on this justice! It is much stronger in person.  I was hoping to nab some outdoor shots, but it has been nothing but rainy and overcast the past few days, so such is life. I also wanna say sorry for the picture spam, I just love this so much, that I ended up with way too many pictures, and this was as much as I could narrow it down!

 For this look, I started off with a base of Cult Nails Tempest.  I then sponged on, in a diagonal line from left to right. Colors By Llarowe Tank Tops and Flip Flops, Cirque Colors Sky Woman, and Colors By Llarowe Lucy I'm Home. Lucy I'm Home came out a lot more pink, then coral, when sponged on this way, but I can't say that I mind at all really, since it looks really pretty in this gradient. I waited for my nails to fully dry,  I did not use top coat here, since I didn't want to use to much, and dull the holo effect,  once it was dry, I stamped over the gradient with MoYou London Pro Plate 10, in Cult Nails Nevermore on my middle and ring finger. I used Nail Vinyls on my pointer, pinky, and thumb and did the tips in Nevermore as well.  Then I top coated, and voila gorgeous mani!

This came out even better, then I thought it would, and I couldn't be more pleased with the end result. I really love that the blue glitters in Sky Woman really show up in this mani, and that the colours blended so well, that it almost has the look of a duo-chrome, since depending on the light, and the angle of my hand, the colours seem to almost shift.

I think this is the perfect mani, to bring in May. Holographic, flowers, and bright! I honestly, can't believe it is  here already,  not that I am not ready for the warmer temperatures, it is just that it feels like it was just March, and now  bam! May is here, however, being sick with a nasty sinus infection for most of April, may have added to my shock of it! :P  Has anyone else got the holo bug that I seem to have lately? I think it was the long winter, and the promise of summer on the horizon that has me wanting all the holos!

I think that mostly covers it for today guys and gals. I hope everyone has a great weekend, and of course great weekend mani's! Till next time Kittens! <3

Colors By Llarowe: Bea Stings! for Easter!

Heya guys!


I really wanted to show you all what I threw together for Easter, this past weekend. I recycled  last week's mani  into a  cute, if unconventional, Easter mani. The reason I say unconventional, is because the colours, aren't your typical colours since they are a far cry from a pastel nail colours.

 

To get this look, I simply used Nail Vinyls, at the half moon section, and painted my nails in Bea Stings! by CBL. I honestly can't say enough good things about Bea Stings!, the colour is super rich, the holo is so intense, it almost looks like a rainbow flame on your nails. It is jaw dropping. It was a tad thick, but still super easy to work with. I honestly, have yet to meet a CBL polish that I don't love. It has very quickly become a favourite brand, and I can't seem to get my hands on enough of them. Once that was mostly dry, I took out the water decals, from Born Pretty Store, and placed them on the nail, then top coated with a quick dry top coat, and I was done!

Although this is not your typical colour scheme for an Easter mani, like I said before, I really love it. I think the different twist makes it stand out, and makes it a bit unique in a sea of Easter mani's. It was my way of celebrating since this year our household didn't do much for the holiday, flu's, a sinus infection (me), and a bout of pneumonia (my mother), kept everyone wanting to just relax and take it easy. I can say that finally we are both starting to feel like ourselves again and things should be back to normal in a few days, which I can honestly say we are both so ready for.

Alright guys and gals, I think that covers it for today. I really hope everyone had a great holiday, or if you don't celebrate, then a great Sunday. Till next time Kittens! <3