Love Letters Nail Art Tutorial

For this design you will need the following items:

Sky blue polish in the brand of your choice, I am using Ulta

Base Coat

Top Coat

A gray nail polish that will stamp

Nail polish remover and cotton pads

Stamper

Nail plate CH53 from the Cheeky Summer 2012 Collection

First paint the nails with base coat and two coats of the sky blue color. 

Then, using the grey polish and the CH53 plate, stamp the design with the swallows, hearts and envelopes on all 10 finger nails.

Add a top coat and your done.  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and thanks for stopping by.

Sample Society September 2012

Hi Everyone.  I have received my first Sample Society box from BeautyBar.com and in conjunction with Allure magazine.  I am rather happy with this box and I think I will try it for at least one more month before deciding if I will keep receiving it.  The box costs $15 a month and comes with a $15 coupon off a $50 purchase as long as one item in the cart is from a brand featured in the box.  Now on to the box.  I received the following items:

Stila Smudge Crayon in Smoke

Borghese B Gloss Lip Gloss in Fiore

Ahava Purifying Mud Mask

CellCeuticals Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser

Diptyque Tam Dao perfume sample spray

I haven't had a chance to use all of the products from this box.  What I have tried out I like.  The CellCeuticals cleanser is very mild and cleans very well at the same time.  I have worn the Stila Smudge Crayon once and got a complement on the color so it seems to be a hit.  The lip gloss is nice, however, I would like it to be just a little smoother as it does feel sticky on the lips.  I have yet to try the Ahava Mud Mask or the perfume sample from Diptyque.  Again, the box is $15 a month.  If your interested in signing up the link is www.beautybar.com and my referral code is YASM4622 (if you decide to sign up I would really appreciate it if you used my code).  Thanks for stopping by and see you next time.

My Glam September 2012

Hi everyone.  Here is another review, this time for My Glam.  This month in the box there was a card stating that My Glam was changing their name to Iipsy.  Along with this change there was a card from JustFab for $20 off on shoes.  The code is Ipsy20 so if it works your free to use it.  I have purchased some cute shoes and will post them on here when they come in.   Now onto my items from the My Glam (Ipsy) Box.

The following items were included this month:

SoHo Smudge Brush

Circus by Andrea's Choice in Tightrope
Mirabella eye shadow in #36 Semiformal
Carols Daughter Monoi Repairing Split and Sealer
Jane Sparkle Gloss -- Sparkle Pink (Not in Picture)

Also, I am not sure if your aware but every month My Glam sends with their box a makeup bag that is the perfect size for your purse.  This month the bag is black and has a little strap on one end.  I have used the brush which is really nice and doesn't leave any loose bristles.  I did hear on another blog that this brush can be found at places like Wal-Mart, so it's not going to be the best brush but it is rather nice.  I have also tried the shadow which is a nice warm brown color.  Last month I got another  nail polish from Circus, it is a thick polish that comes out matte however it has stayed on the toes rather nicely.  I am not happy with the lip gloss as it is really sticky feeling and smells like something I had when I was 13.  I have not tried the Monoi Repairing hair cream yet.  I have sampled the product on the back of my hand, it is really silky and has a really pretty smell.  If your interested in signing up for My Glam (Ipsy) the link is www.ipsy.com/ an will cost you $10 a month. 

September 2012 Birch Box

Hi everyone.  I know it has been at least a month since my last blog post, I have been busy with work and school.  Since I haven't blogged for a while I have a few sample boxes that have accumulated.  I am going to post my most recent ones as the others are a little out dated now.  There will be five posts for boxes; GlossyBox, Sample Society, My Glam (now Ipsy), The Natural Beauty Box and BirchBox.  I will start with the BirchBox for September.  I was not happy with this box and I have since canceled my membership.  I felt that the value of the products did not match the amount of money I was paying each month.  I know the monthly cost is only $10.00, however I like some of my other sample boxes so much more that I would rather use my money on those.  This month I got the following items:

Benefit So Radiant Foamingly Clean and Refined Finish (both face washes)

Dr. Jart+ BB Cream

Caudalie Firming Serum

Color Club Nail Polish in Status Update

TwistBand Hair Tie

As an Extra I got a Tili bag

I really like the BB cream and I know I will like the Benefit products as I have used them before.  The hair tie seems like a waste of material, it's not even cute and the Tili bag, though cute, is also a waste as it is basically a designed sandwich zipper bag.  Again, BirchBox is $10 if your interest and the site is www.birchbox.com.  I hope you enjoyed my review, thanks for stopping by. 

The Natural Beauty Box August 2012

This was the first month that The Natural Beauty Box was offered as a subscription.  It is a monthly subscription that is $20 but is not re-occurring, so at the beginning of each month you need to sign up for the following month's box.  There are 10-15 samples in each box and a few of them are full size samples.  All items are 95-100% natural and are free of the harmful ingredients found in commercial beauty products.  This month I got the following items:

Delizioso Skincare -- Spring Cream Blush

Delizioso Skincare -- Nourish & Shimmer Lip Gloss (Full Size)

Delizioso Skincare -- Crisp Vanilla Body Cream Mini

Ariona Skincare -- Organic Argan & CamuCamu Facial Oil

Happy Pumpkin Organic Skincare -- Hydrating Hair Balm

Beeseline -- Beeseline Original (Full Size)

Original Purity Skincare -- Wash Me Lavender Body Wash

100% Pure -- Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

M.E. Studio -- Lanai Sunset Natural Perfume

Temptations Bath N'Body -- Tumble Me Oats Cake Slice Soap

Pure Anada -- Fruit Enzyme Exfoliating Cleanser

Pure Anada -- Mineral Eye Shadow

Renu Derma -- Eye Cream

I haven't tried everything in this box but I have smelled everything and it all smells really good.  Of what I have tried I have liked it all.  The one item I am really impressed with is the Ariona Skincare Organic Argan & CamuCamu Facial Oil.  It's made with essential oils and my face just soaks it up like it was starving for nourishment.  I think I will have to look into buying the full size version, which is worth $26.  I have also used the Pure Anada Fruit Enzyme Exfoliating Cleanser which smells like orange creamsicles.  I like it well enough but I wish it lathered up a bit more when using it.

I am very happy with this box and feel that I am getting my money's worth of products for the $20.  One nice touch was on the envelope with the product information and coupon codes was a sticker with my name.  Its not a huge deal, I just found the personalization rather unexpected and I appreciated the thought.  My September box has already shipped and I have ordered next months box.  

MyGlam August 2012

This was my first month getting the MyGlam box and I was really happy with it.  I received the following items:

Eclos Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream

Eclos Cellular Activator Facial Serum

Demeter Roll on Perfume Oil in Dragon Fruit

S.A.L.T.Y. Cosmetics Glama-Zoid! Eye shadow

Circus by Andrea's Choice Ringmaster Nail Color

MyGlam Lip Gloss

The Eclos items are really nice and they make my face feel smooth and enriched.  I have looked for them in the store and they are sold just about everywhere, including Walgreens.  This month, if you want to try the products, there is $10 off code on the Eclos website.  The Demeter perfume oil has a lovely scent however it is rather light so it doesn't have long lasting power.  The eye shadow from S.A.L.T.Y. is a nice iridescent white color that works well as a highlighter but is not highly pigmented.  The nail polish from Circus is a bright neon color that is all the rage right now.  My color was Ringmaster and is a vibrant pink.  The color goes on smoothly and dries mate.  I have only had it on for a day so I am not sure how well it will last.  Lastly was a bonus product by MyGlam and is a lovely pink color that goes on smoothly and isn't sticky at all.  All of the MyGlam boxes come with their own make-up bag each month and this month was a mesh bag in neon pink and orange.

The box is $10 a month and I am looking forward to Septembers box.  If you would like to obtain a box of your own their link is MyGlam. 

Orange and Green Geometric

I did my sisters nails over the weekend.  I used my new Zoya polish Arizona, an orange color as the base.  Then for the tip I used Zoya's color Meg.  I believe both of these colors are from the Summer collections.  Between the two colors I added a strip of Bronze Frost from Nubar's Nail Art Pen.  I then stamped the geometric design from the Mash plate number 36 that I got off of Mashnails.com.  I used the striper again from the Nubar pen and outlined the geometric design, just the diamond shape.  Then to add just a little more bling I put a green gem in the center of the stamped design.  I hope you like.

August 2012 Love with Food Box

This months Love with Food boxes theme was Travelin' Treats.  

The following items were sent in the box;

Skinny Dipping Pretzels by East Shore

Key Lime with Ginger Mustard by East Shore

Vegan Lemony Lemon Cookie by the Sun Flour Baking Company

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookie by the Sun Flour Baking Company

Dried Montmorency Cherries by Cherry Bay Orchards

Coconut Toffee Peanuts by Sconza Candies

Gin Gins Super Strength Ginger Caramel Candy by The Ginger People

Tangerine Glee Gum

It's hard to explain how food tastes but I can honestly say that the food in this box was amazing.  The pretzels are just regular skinny pretzels but what makes them amazing is the Key Lime Ginger Mustard.  At first I wasn't so sure about these combinations.  My sister, my mother and I all tried the mustard with the pretzels; it was rather tangy and the lime is really prominent yet there is a sweetness to the mustard that is a nice complement.  I found that I want to get every last drop of mustard out of the jar.  We were able to buy from the Love with Food site a few more jars of the mustard, it will be cherished. 

Next I tried the Dried Montmorency Cherries.  I love dried fruit so these were really good to me.  They were similar to big raisins in texture and had the sweet tangy flavor of good cherries.  I really wanted to buy some more but the website were sold out.  

The Coconut Toffee Peanuts were very good too.  The coconut wasn't very prominent but the toffee had a lovely flavor and it added a nice outer crunch to the peanuts.  My mother, who doesn't care for peanuts, wanted to eat the entire bag she liked them so much.  I think that is the best review I can give, if someone who isn't a fan of peanuts doesn't want to stop eating them they must be good.  Again, I went onto the website to order some more bags of the nuts and the site is sold out.  

The Tangerine Gum by Glee Gum is a sustainable gum that doesn't contain any plastics.  The pieces of gum are like little chick-lets, with a hard candy shell.  The gum was hard to chew and it was sticky, it got stuck in-between my teeth.  I know that the commercial gum is not an eco-conscious gum but I think I am going to continue and chew the commercial brands.  

Both of the vegan cookies had very good flavors and were very soft cookies.  The texture was just a tad odd but not an unpleasant odd, just not something that is thought of when you think of a cookie.  I find that store bought soft cookies will give me indigestion, these didn't affect my stomach at all.  

The last items in the box were ginger chews.  These are like traditional caramels except they have ginger added.  Ginger is a stomach aid and helps in motion sickness or if you have an upset stomach.  These chews are a nice way of getting the ginger as ginger can be spicy.  The chews did have a spicy bit to them but it wasn't unpleasant.     

This was my first box from Love with Food and I found that I really enjoyed it and I can't wait until my box shows up next month.  The cost of the box is $12 a month and every box that the site sells they donate one meal meal to a hungry child.  So not only do you get a box with amazing food, a child also will get food.  Its a win win.  If you want to sign up for this monthly box the link is Love with Food.

Enjoy! 

May Eco Emi Box 2012

The May box is the first Eco Emi Box I have received.  It was an extra box that I bought and not part of my subscription as my subscription is starting in August.  The box came in a regular USPS priority mailer and was full with items and nicely wrapped in tissue paper.

I did have a hard time opening the box as the sticky from the box was stuck to my pink tissue paper.  The only result was torn tissue paper which was thrown away anyway.  The concept of the box is eco friendly beauty, home and food items.  Even the lip gloss was wrapped in tissue paper which I thought was a nice touch.

Here is what i received in my first Eco Emi box.

Mangosteen and Pineapple Candle Tin by Beeluxe

Mint Infused Vegan Lip Gloss in the color Peppermint Icing by All Natural Face

Tangerine Vegan Lip Exfolient by All Natural Face

Spearmint Gum by Glee Gum

Wildly Natural Seaweed Argan Shampoos and Conditioner by The Seaweed Bath Company

Ellbees Original Garlic Seasoning and Rub

Pinto Beans and Flax Chips by Beanitos 

Omega Swirl Vegan Oil in Blackberry by Barleans

Fish Oil in Mango Peach by Barleans

Chocolat Lip Balm by Beeluxe

I have tried almost all of what was in this box with some mixed reviews.  First off, the candle smells wonderful but I have not burned it yet so I am unsure if the smell will continue with the burn.  I believe this is a full sized item and the information card states it retails for $10.00.  I have tried the Beanitos Pinto Bean and Flax Chips and have to say I was not thrilled with them.  The flavor was a little odd, it had a very nutty flavor reminiscent of sunflower seeds.  I had a few people I know try them out as well.  My mother and one of my co-workers felt the same way I did, that is to say not a huge fan.  My other co-worker didn't mind them, however, I don't see her running out to the local health food store to buy them.  This was also a full sized sample that retails for $3.  I have also tried the Chocolat Lip Balm and found that the smoothness of the balm is rather nice.  The chocolate smell was very prominent when first applying but quickly dissipates so I am not always craving a candy bar.  I am happy to say this was again a full sized sample that sells for $3.  The Peppermint Icing lip gloss, another full sized sample, is rather nice as well.  It is really smooth without any stickiness that some gloss have and the peppermint is not just in the smell but also makes your lips tingle.  The tube of gloss retails for $5.  From the same company is the Tangerine Vegan Lip Exfolient is a little odd looking, the color is not appealing as it is a dark brown.  The exfoliation works well but if you get some in your mouth the flavor is very tangy (it is not harmful to get it in your mouth).  After using the exfolient I did see improvement in the condition of my lips.  The shampoo and conditioner samples from The Seaweed Bath Company were foil packs good for 1-2 uses.  It was just enough to know that I was not happy with the products.  I have come to expect that the natural shampoos do not lather like the commercial brands, however this one also left my hair feeling striped of all natural oils and almost a squeaky feel to the hair.  I could not add the conditioner to my hair quick enough.  My hair seemed to style like normal but I felt that if got greasy quicker throughout the day.  The product also did not have an appealing smell, it didn't really have a scent at all.  I like to have a nice sent left in my hair after washing and conditioning it.  I would not recommend these hair products.  Lastly I tried the Fish Oil in Mango Peach and my mother tried the Vegan Oil in Blackberry.  These were both a one serving sample foil pack that was to deliver the essential fatty omega 3 acids in a pleasing way instead of the fishy omega 3 gel capsules.  The texture of these on the tongue was odd, they were smooth like the package proclaims and the initial flavor was good.  However, it soon felt like I had a mouth full of oil and the sweet smoothie flavor the company relies on turned sour and odd.  It was a flavor I cant explain because I have never had it in my mouth before.  My mother felt the same way with the vegan sample.  We were both excited to try this and even looked at the cost before we tried it. After trying the foil packets both my mother and I said that we will not buy the product.  Out of the box I have yet to try the seasoning rub or the gum.  I have high hopes that I will like both products.  

Over all I think that the Eco Emi subscription box is a good deal and a fun way to learn about new items that I wouldn't necessarily try on my own.  If your interested in trying the subscription, the link is Eco Emi.  The subscription is $15.00 a month and will start the following month after you sign up. 

Happy Sampling.

Fing'rs Edge Nail Stripes Review

I recently purchased these nail stripes from Family Dollar and thought I would try them out.

After adding a top coat they looked rather nice from a distance.

The problem with these stripes is that they did not go on smoothly, around the sides of the nails there were little wrinkles that I could feel even after the top coat dried.  They also did not achieve the glass like appearance after the top coat as the clear polish seemed to have disappeared into the stripe.  Instead of these being an actual nail polish stripe as the Sally Hansen and the OPI ones are, these stripes were a vinyl sticker that to remove I just had to peel it off.  It even left a slight sticky layer on the nail that had to be rubbed off.  For the price these would be OK for a quick fix if your in a hurry.  For lasting effect I suggest spending the extra money and getting either OPI or Sally Hansen's version.

Teal Peacock

Hi!!  Today I am doing a teal peacock tutorial that I did on my sisters short nails.  First off I prepped the nails by shaping them and putting a layer of UV gel over them for strength.  I used IBD gel that is available at Sally Beauty Supply.  The polishes I used are as follows: my new favorite base coat Nail Life Gripper, China Glaze --Turned Up Turquoise (neon), China Glaze -- Fairy Dust and Seche Vite top coat.  All polish was purchased at Sally Beauty Supply. 

Here is the finished product on Danielle's nails.

The polishes and supplies I used to create the manicure.

I used the top middle image from Bundle Monster plate number 212.

First I painted the nails with two coats of the turquoise color and then one coat of Fairy Dust.

For the long nail below I stamped the full image at the bottom of the nail and then lined up the stamp so that the bottom was just overlapping the top of the last stamped image.  I think it made a fairly seamless double stamp. 

Here is the final image on long nails.  I hope you liked this tutorial.  Please leave a comment below.

Thank you!

Moon & Stars

Here is my first tutorial.  Please have patience with me as I am learning how to take good pictures that are still close enough to see clearly.  I may have to invest in a better camera.  Here we go :)

I have been struggling to keep my polish on my naturals and found a new base coat.  It is Nail Life Gripper and I bought it from Sally Beauty Supply.  I used Westside Warrior by China Glaze as my base nail color.  Stamping was done with Sally Hansen Insta-Dry in Lightening.  The glitter I used was also from China Glaze, it is Blonde Bombshell.  Lastly I applied my favorite top coat, Seche Vite.  My stamp is L from Cheeky.  I bought the stamp from Amazon.com.

I used the stars and the moon from the L Cheeky Plate

Here is a close up of the colors used for this tutorial.

I applied two coats of the base color and let them dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Add the stamping polish to the image, scrap and stamp.

I placed the stars at a diagonal across the bottom portion of the nail.

Next I stamped the moon on the upper part of the nail next to the cuticle. 

I used a dry technique to add the glitter without over powering the stamped image.  I achieved this by dabbing the brush against a paper towel until the glitter was left on the brush but not much polish was left.

I then finished the nail off with a thick layer of Seche Vite.  This polish does not streak the stamped design like other top coats tend to.  Also, the durability and shine is better with this brand of top coat.  

I have come to the end of my first tutorial.  Please feel free to leave a comment or ask me any questions.  Thank you for viewing! 

Hello!! My First Post!!

If you have stumbled onto this Blog you are as passionate about nail art and nail stamping as I am.  I recently discovered nail stamping and have been completely consumed by it.  I have decided to create a blog that is dedicated to nail art and nail stamping.  I am a licensed nail technician but because of how the chemicals affect me I do not work in the field.  I first decided to go to beauty school because of my love for nail art.  The field has come a very long way in the last 15 years and I have been doing my best to catch up.  I also had to do a lot of growing to realize how much I love nail art.  I stopped doing my nails for many years but have recently rediscovered my passion for it.  I will start posting both pictures and tutorials in the days, weeks and months ahead.  Please be patient with me as this is my first blog and these will be my first tutorials.  I look forward to this new avenue and hope that everyone looking for nail art and nail stamping will come and join me on my new adventure.