My first spongicure (Wicked), a stroke of genius, and a Glam Polish giveaway!!

What more could you want?!?
First of all, Glam Polish is doing a giveaway for 6 of the Hunter Games polishes from China Glaze.  To enter, click here!

So, as you know, I've been swatching my meager little stash.  I've recently acquired two Icing colors.  I'll leave the reviews on those to the swatch post, but I was noticing how the green sparklies in Witch's Brew were similar to the sparklies in Evergreen.  I thought they may make an interesting spongicure, so I went with it.  Now, this was my first time sponging, so be kind.  HOWEVER, I had a stroke of genius...at least to me!

I have read dozens and dozens of posts about sponging.  All of them said they use make-up sponges and even cut up kitchen sponges.  Well, I didn't have any make-up sponges as I don't wear foundation very often and when I do, it's just a sheer powder.  And I really wasn't up for cutting up a kitchen sponge.  So I had to figure out another option, when it dawned on me that I have a whole package of tiny little eyeshadow applicators.  I figured they should do the trick AND be less messy due to their compact size.  As I said, I've never done this before, so I cannot attest to whether or not this method is easier.  But I can say that it seemed quite easy to me, even as a newbie, and the mess was minimal.

On to the mani!  I started with two coats of Icing's Evergreen, followed by SH Insta-Dri.  Then I sponged on Icing's Witch's Brew using the eyeshadow applicator, followed by another coat of SH Insta-Dri.  What do you think?  I'm thinking not too bad for my first time.

UPDATE:  Have gotten tons of compliments on this today!  And someone over at MUA provided me with a reference for this mani that I love...Wicked!  And this links right into my Oz kick lately!  Happy Dance!

I'm Swatchin' You - Icing Hazelnut

Here is another color from Icing.  This one is called Hazelnut.  Unlike my other Icing polish, Butta, the brush on this one was closer to "normal".  The brush is slightly thicker than the average brush.  This makes me wonder if the brush from the Butta was a fluke.  I will do a post comparing  brushes sometime in the near future so you can see what I'm talking about.  But on to Hazelnut!

The polish is a 2+ coater.  Pictured here is two coats.  One more would probably be warranted for full coverage.  As for the color, I'm not too crazy about it.  A little to close to poo for me.  LOL  However, I think this would look incredible paired with a blue or pink.  So I'll file that idea and try to come up with something in the future.  Any ideas? What do you think of this color?  And don't look too closely.  As always, I was pressed for time and didn't try to clean up much.

SH Double Duty and SH Insta-Dri for base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Icing Butta

Here is a color called Butta from Icing.  If you have been following my posts, you know that I am not a fan of fat brushes.  Holy fat brush, Batman!!!  The brush on this polish covered my whole nail, making "precision polishing", which I can't do anyway, impossible.  Quite the mess!  And as you can see, not the best color on it's own.  To me, it looks like I dipped my nails in egg yolks.  And this was two coats.  But I do still think this will make a great accent color, especially with a purple, blue, or black.  I also think it would make a great Easter color, so I'll keep it in mind for some Easter-y ideas.

SH Double Duty and SH Insta-Dri as the base and top coat.

The Emerald Ci-tea Mani

So, I told you I had an idea in mind for two of the SH colors I swatched this week.  Well, here it is!  To add to my Oz kick that I've been on lately, I imagined the Emerald City when I swatched the SH Jumpin' Jade color.  I really liked the idea of using the SH Green Tea with it somehow.  Then I pictured the Emerald City with three searchlights beaming up in front of it, which is where the inspiration came from for this mani.  I also have to throw a shout out to Erika over at Chloe's Nails for the inspiration for the beams from her rays, as well as using scotch tape.  Much easier than cutting the painter's tape I used to use!

I started with a base coat of SH Double Duty.  Then I painted my accent finger with two coats of SH Complete Salon Manicure in Green Tea.  I topped this with a coat of SV Dry Fast Top Coat.  I taped off the three "searchlight beams."  Then I painted one coat with SH Insta-Dri in Jumpin' Jade.  Next, I painted the rest of my nails with one coat of the Jumpin' Jade and topped them all with the SV.  What do you think?

I'm Swatchin' You - Sally Hansen Hypnotic Pink

Here is the last SH polish I have as of now.  It is from the Hard as Nails line and the color is Hypnotic Pink.  Very pretty color.  If memory serves (which it does not always do), I think I bought this color for my daughter originally considering I am not typically a "pink kinda girl."  Anyway, I was happy to find that this line of polish had a more "traditional" thin brush, although this one was a little too thin.  I know, I know...I'm so hard to please!  Color went on well and it works.  What type of brush do you prefer?

And again, SH Double Duty as the base and SH Insta-Dri as the top coat.  I have been using these a lot for two reasons.  1) My Insta-Dri is thickening up and I want to use it up.  2) I have two bottles of the Double Duty for some reason, so I am doing some stash busting.  Plus, I must say I really do like the Double Duty as a base.  It seems to really "grab" the polish well and it dries quickly, so it seems to work well for me.  I don't really care for it as a top coat.  It just doesn't have the high shine that I like.  So there you have it.  :o)

I'm Swatchin' You - Sally Hansen Jumpin' Jade

Here is another SH color.  This time it is from the Insta-Dri line and the color is Jumpin' Jade.  I really love this color!  I have some ideas in store for this one, too!  Again, fat brush, bad cuticles, forgot to moisturize, blah, blah, blah.  Very pretty color that my crappy PhD camera doesn't do justice.

SH Double Duty for the base coat and SH Insta-Dri for the top coat.

I'm Swatchin' You - Sally Hansen Green Tea

This is SH's Complete Salon Manicure in Green Tea.  I normally would not pick a color like this, which is exactly why I bought it!  I thought I would stretch myself.  Plus, I thought it would be a great accent color and have something planned for it down the road, so stay tuned!
Again, I do not care for the fat brush on the SH Complete Salon Manicure polishes, but this color is pretty cool.  Excuse the messy paint job - part awkward brush, part impatience on my part.  And do NOT look too closely at the cuticles!  Mine are quite the mess right now and I forgot to moisturize prior to shooting!

Base coat was SH Double Duty and top coat was SH Insta-Dri.

I'm Swatchin' You - Sally Hansen Bewitched

Here is SH's Complete Salon Manicure in Bewitched.  It is a deep, dark purple...my favorite!  And of course, my PhD camera is just not getting the job done.  The color is so much more beautiful than what you see.  Side note:  hoping to get a new camera someday.  But in the meantime, I may have to try to make a light box.  But I'll do my best until then!

I really like the colors in this line so far, but I am not in love with the brush.  It is a flat, wide, thick brush and I find it difficult to control the amount and placement of polish.  Couple that with my complete lack of depth perception and you get, well, a mess.  But the color rocks!  Discuss.  :o)

Again, I used SH's Double Duty as the base and SH's Insta-Dri top coat.

HELLO!

It dawned on me that I should probably publish a brief intro on this new blog o' mine.  My name is Gina Marie.  I have another blog called The Bronx Bombshell that can be found here.  That blog has a little of everything, from rants to crafts.  I hope to be able to add more as time goes on.  Time has just been a bit tight.  Which apparently made me think, "What a great time to start up another blog!"

I am a full time student, wife, and mother.  It is mostly the full time student part that eats up a lot of my spare time, but I'm on the downward slope as I'll be done by the summer!  I posted my first "crafty" mani on my other blog, which led me to find tons of blogs about nail polish.  So, I thought I would jump into the mix since I was really enjoying the ideas that flooded my overworked brain about possible future manis.

I am fairly new to the world of polish.  When I was in high school (which was longer ago than I care to admit), I used to paint my nails all of the time.  Back then, there really was no such thing as nail art.  The newest trend was getting acrylic nails and having a hole drilled in them to attach a gold charm or stud.  My nails were natural and I had fun painting my nails with designs.  I guess it was some of the first painted nail art!  My "go-to" mani was painting my nails to look like dice.  Of course, there were no dotting tools back then since not many people painted designs back then.  So I would play with the brush of the polish to get it as close as possible to forming a circle and carefully placed it on my nail.  I would also use toothpicks.  Ah, those were the days!  LOL  Anyway, sometime after high school, I just stopped painting my nails.  It became something I did for a special night out.  And now, I am just beginning to find the fun and passion I had for this in high school.  Probably a little more background that you bargained for, but there you have it!

It is important for anyone coming here to look, be entertained (hopefully), and be inspired (hopefully) that I am NOT a professional, well, anything right now.  Especially NOT a nail technician.  I can barely get the polish on my nails in a fairly decent manner.  But if you're looking for someone who is skilled at getting polish all over everything else, well then, I'm you"re gal!  That is why this blog is not called "Smooth Journey Through Mani-land" or "Perfectly Polished in Mani-land"...this will most definitely be an adventure - sometimes smooth and sometimes not so much.  So, I hope you will just come along and enjoy the ride, bumps and all.

Finally, just about everything you read here will be my opinion.  It may be misinformed or misguided, but it's mine, all mine.  I'll tell you what I think, good or bad but always honest.  I am just hoping to stumble across some cool ideas that I can share with you.  And I hope you will share right back.  I am looking to learn as much as I can, as well.  I welcome your comments, suggestions, and feedback always!

Well, I think I have covered everything, so without further ado...let the advencha begin!

3...2...1...

Tomorrow's the big day!  I am seriously hoping that I can manage to keep up with daily posts, and I will do my very best!  Thanks for the few people who have come by and decided to give me a chance.  I really appreciate the support and hope you will help spread the word.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate you!  So thank you and I'll see you tomorrow!!!

P.S.  Check out the logo I've been working on.  Thoughts?

Counting Down!

For anybody who may be stumbling across my blog, I first want to say hello and welcome!!!  I hope you will start following these adventures and spread the word!  I appreciate any help any of you can provide and welcome feedback and comments.

You will start to see regular posts here starting Monday!  I am hoping to be able to give you something new each day, Monday through Friday.  I am planning to swatch my tiny little collection of polishes to start off.  One reason for this is because I always forget what I have and how it actually looks compared to the bottle, so I would like to have a record.  Another reason is to introduce you to the colors as well.  Maybe you will see something you have not seen before that you would like to add to your own collection.  I will also try to provide a little feedback on my thoughts and experience with the polish.  Remember, I'm no expert.  I'm just giving my opinion.  I'd love to hear your thoughts, as well.

I also have a ton of ideas that I would like to try out as future manis.  Hopefully, they will work as I see them in my head, but I can't promise anything.  I am sure I will end up with complete disasters, as I am quite new at this.  In those cases, I'm hoping you will have some ideas on how to overcome those disasters and such.  Like I said, I'm looking to learn as much as I am sharing.  I am fairly new to this little world o' polish and I hope to get better and more proficient with time and a little help from my friends!

Thanks for coming by and I hope you will come back again and again and bring your friends!

I'm Swatchin' You - Chanel Blue Satin

This is Chanel's Le Vernis Nail Colour in Blue Satin:

I used SH Double Duty as the base coat and SH Insta-Dri as the top coat.

Oz-olutely Fabulous

This was originally posted on my other blog here.  And now, it is the first post on my new blog.  I will be working on getting this blog up and running, so if you stumbled across me and wonder why it is so sparse, there you have it.  Check back soon for more - what else?  ADVENTURES IN MANI-LAND!

So, I have been seeing a lot of Wizard of Oz products lately (bookmarks, shoes, etc).  Since I really love the striped stockings with the ruby slippers, I thought it would be fun to try to do a mani with the same look.  Now, this was my first attempt at striping.  Manis are rare for me.  I'm so rough on my hands that they don't usually last very long so it is usually a one color slap-on mani.  But I had a lot of fun, and I WILL master and refine this in time!  Anyway, here you have it.

I started with two coats of OPI's Alpine Snow.  The stripes were done with China Glaze's (ChG) Liquid Leather.  And the tips are OPI's Speak for Your Elf.  Top coat was Seche Vite (SV).  The pics aren't great, but then, neither is my PhD camera.  And the pics do NOT do the Speak for Your Elf justice...it's gorgeous!!!