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Friday, August 24, 2012

NOTD: Color Club Fashion Addict, STAMPED!

Good morning everyone! You may have noticed there's a new look to the blog this morning! I'm trying to keep it simpler, but when your blog is titled "Sparkle and Shine Nails," you have to have sparkles in it! And I'm still fiddling with the color scheme, but I'm loving this purple/blue/pink thing going on (purple is my all time favorite, if you didn't know already, hehe).

So to break in the new blog look, I'm posting a NOTD with one of my all-time favorite polishes thus far: Color Club Fashion Addict! I put it up to vote last night on Facebook, and Fashion Addict was the first choice by everyone. Which I'm glad, because it is purple, and it's my dad's 49th birthday today! Both our favorite colors are purple, and this has a nifty holographic-wrapping paper quality, hehe. But since I'd worn it already not that long ago, I decided to spruce it up with a little stamping!

Now, my stamping technique, like many of my nail art skills, is still being perfected. And I only have the Salon Express stamping kit, with the five plates it comes with. With that in mind, it was hard to try stamping whole-nail designs, because the patterns on the plate are too small for my nails. I'm going to have to get some x-large plates soon!

My next challenge: Finding the perfect color. I've used Sally Hansen Xtreme-wear Celeb City for stamping, it's probably the best one I have FOR stamping. But it didn't show up properly on Fashion Addict. I stamped Celeb City on Revvvolution without a problem, but Fashion Addict is even more shimmery holo, and it blended too  much. My Sally Hansen Black Out was coming out too thin, as was Gunmetal, and didn't want to adhere to the stamp properly. I thought I'd get crazy and try an orange, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Sun Kissed...still too thin! Stamping on this holo color was more challenging than I had thought!

So I start grabbing any dark colors I have, hoping SOMETHING would work! I tried China Glaze First Mate (almost, but still too thin and didn't love the color combo), Color Club Jewel of a Girl (WAY too thin for stamping), and finally...China Glaze Stone Cold. I was like "Matte polish on holo? It's crazy enough to work!"

Closer look at the stamp, with flash.

No flash in artificial light.

A little further away, shows the nice shimmer in Stone cold.

Hand shot!

LOOK AT THAT HOLO GOODNESS!

I was sooo right, it looks awesome! Contrasts beautifully with Fashion Addict, has a neat shimmer when given a shiny topcoat that compliments the holo, and is thick enough to get a proper stamp with! I just had to be quick, because it was trying to dry too fast for me.

So my stamping skills are improving, and I'm learning what polishes I have that will work (I really don't want to invest in Konad polishes if I don't need to). What do you guys think? How have your stamping experiences been?

-Jessica (Sparkle and Shine)

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

FINALLY posting my Liebster Award!

 So a fabulous blogger called Lightwell Nails nominated me for this award WAAAAAYYYYY too long ago. I'm ashamed that it's taken me this long to post it, but even though I've done small posts since, I haven't had the time to put real thought into this award like I wanted to. But I didn't want it forgotten about, so I'm doing it now! This is how it works:

"This little award is all about discovering new blogs and helping those with less than 200 followers to get recognised."

Here are the rules:

1. Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves.
2. They must also answer the 11 questions the 'tagger' has set for them.
3. They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag.
4. They must then choose 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers and tag them in their post.
5. These lucky bloggers must then be told.
6. There's no tag backs.


So here's the first part: 11 things about me!
1.) I want to be a guidance counselor when I "grow up." (I graduate in May from my master's program.)
2.) My grandfather (mother's father) was from Puerto Rico. I never had the chance to know that part of my family, but I am interested in the culture.
3.) LOVE LOVE the color purple!
4.) Harry Potter is the best book series EVER. Ever.
5.) I'm recently addicted to the movie Horrible Bosses. "You cannot win a marathon without putting some band-aids on your nipples!"
6.) If it involves mystical, magical, fantasy-type topics, I will most likely read/watch it.
7.) I have an amazing husband, we've been married since October 2,2010.
8.) I can drink a liter bottle of Arbor Mist in one sitting, oops!
9.) I'm a small-town girl. I work at an inner-city, and went to college in the downtown part of another one, but my heart is in the country.
10.) Owls are my favorite animal. They have been since 2000, but I love that they've gotten so popular.
11.) Nail painting is probably the only artistic thing I can do. While I've always excelled in music, art's never been my forte.

Next: My 11 questions from Lightwell Nails!
1. What would you say your getting-started-with-blogging experience has been like?
I've loved every second of it. I've met some fabulous people, I've learned about new polishes and techniques, and almost have the chance to REALLY be myself.
2. How do you store your stash? (Share pics! :D)
Honestly...my stash is in a big tote! My stash isn't that big, but it IS starting to outgrow it!

3. Do you collect anything?
Honestly, not really, other than polish :-)
4. What’s your favorite part of every day?
Coming home to my husband, or having him come home to me. It sounds cheesy, but hey, I like that we're still in love :-)
5. What other communities do you participate in on your blog topic? (i.e. Reddit, Tumblr, Facebook, MUA, etc.)
I'm not sure I entirely understand this question, but the only social networks I currently use are Facebook and Blogger for polish.
6. What nail technique, design, color combo etc. have you wanted to try but haven’t yet?
I'm new to stamping, and have yet to try the whole-nail design stamps that I have. I'm still perfecting the small pictures.
7. Star Wars or Star Trek?
I'm honestly not familiar with either...but I did watch some Star Trek  with my dad as a kid.
8. What was the most memorable trip you ever took?
Hmmm...probably New York city with my sisters three years ago to see Equus on Broadway (yes, we went to see Daniel Radcliffe, hehe)
9. What’s your favorite breed of dog?
I've always had a thing for Rottweilers. My grandmother had the sweetest ones, and I've always been attached.
10. What do you never leave the house without?
NEVER leave without my cell phone. I'm on the road a lot, so I make sure I have my charger with my and my car charger in my car at all times.
11. What’s your favorite piece of “life advice”?
You will never make EVERYONE happy. Make sure YOU are the one happiest with any decision you make before you start looking for the approval of everyone around you.

And ...my 11 questions for those that I tag!
1.) Where were you born? (You don't have to be exact for privacy sake)
2.) What is your absolute favorite polish of all times?
3.) Gandalf...or Dumbledore?
4.) If you were magical, what would your trademark be? (Flying, black magic, animals, flowers, ect).
5.) Favorite movie?
6.) Cats...or dogs? (You may substitute these for another beloved pet)
7.) You go to a party on Saturday night. Where would we find you?
8.) Drink of choice (Alcoholic or not!)
9.) What got you into polish blogging?
10.) BJ's, Sam's Club, or Cotsco?
11.) Favorite place to buy beauty supplies?

Now, here are the lovely ladies I'm nominating!
1.) Little Miss Nail Polish
2.) Enchanted Nails and Fluffy Dog Tails
3.) Fox Claws
4.) The Holo Queen
5.) Tough as Nails Nacquer
6.) Nail Noise
7.) Beauty and the Polish
8.) Frugal Polish
9.) Mega Nailatude
10.) Polished Prisms
11.) ManPolish (Because he needs it, too!)

So I hope all the nominees enjoy their award, I apologize again for posting this late, but thanks again!

-Jessica (Sparkle and Shine)

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

China Glaze Swatch Fest Part 1!

So it was voted on Facebook last night that I do a China Glaze swatch fest, as part of an effort to swatch every color that I own. However, I got about a third of the way through them and realized it was going to take me a while! So, I'm presenting the colors in order of their release dates based on a little research I did, because I feel it's good to know a little about when a certain color came out, or what colors it was meant to go with. This is the first third of the batch of China Glaze's I own. As a note, each color starts with a picture with flash, then a picture without flash in artificial light.

Reggae to Riches (Year Unknown), Caribbean Temptation collection: Gorgeous fuschia with blue-purple duochrome shimmer. Opaque in two coats, fantastic formula and shine, no topcoat.

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply as part of regular collection.


      
Fairy Dust (2004), Fashion Fairies collection: Holographic sparkly topper, full of small holographic glitter with a silvery tint. The glitter is a little thick but covers nicely. One coat over Sally Hansen White On, no topcoat.

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply as part of regular collection.
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Exceptionally Gifted (2006, re-release 2011), Exceptionally Gifted wedding collection, Susan G. Komen  color of 2011: Semi-sheer pink frost. Formula is okay, requires three coats for full opacity and has the streaky finish of a frost polish. No topcoat. 

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply when released for Susan G. Komen foundation.


 Lubu Heels (2007), Louboutin Manicure inspired polish: Dark black jelly with small red glitter throughout. Creates a very vampy, high fashion dark look that’s beautiful. Formula was pretty good, opaque with two thicker coats of polish and not too runny or thin. No topcoat.

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply as part of regular collection.


Unplugged (Spring 2008), Ecollection: Brown metallic with undertones of red tint and gold shimmer. Beautiful formula that went on smoothly and opaque in two coats, no topcoat.

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply as part of regular collection.

     
 Secret Peri-wink-le (Fall 2008), Operation Colour collection: Pale blue/purple cream, pretty much the color periwinkle to perfection (refer to Periwinkle from Blue’s Clues, it’s her in a bottle!). Pretty nice formula, slight running toward the cuticles and streaks with one coat, but perfectly opaque and smooth in two coats. No topcoat.

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply as part of regular collection.


Atlantis (2009), Specialty collection: Teal jelly base with medium holographic glitter throughout. While this color is absolutely amazing, my particular bottle’s formula is awful! It’s very thick and goopy the more you use it during the manicure, and if the first coat doesn’t dry entirely, the second coat drags. I don’t know if my bottle is older, has too much glitter, or a bad batch, because this isn’t a problem I’ve seen before. So if you are able to get your hands on this color brand new, you might be better off. One thick coat of Color Club topcoat.

Bought in a blog sale, but can be found on  e-tailers such as Amazon and eBay.


Dorothy Who? (2001, 2009 re-release), Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection: Blue jelly base with small silver glitter throughout. Can I just say I am one that is not only glad they came out with the re-release of these polishes, but that this color is now part of the regular collection? It’s such a vibrant blue, and the sparkle gives it a magical touch associated with The Wizard of Ox movies. Formula wise, this polish was decent, but it required three coats for full opacity and could use a topcoat one dry to smooth out the slight texture from the glitter. One coat Color Club topcoat.

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply as part of regular collection.


Ruby Pumps (2001, 2009 re-release), Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection: Red jelly base with small red glitter throughout. I feel like I put the ruby slippers on my fingers when I put this polish on, and the sparkle is mesmerizing. The formula is just as beautiful, two coats to full opacity but could use a topcoat as there is a slight texture one dry. One coat Color Club topcoat.

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply as part of regular collection.
Four Leaf Clover (Spring 2010), Up and Away collection: Somewhere between a kelly and mint green crème. The actual color of this polish is poorly represented by my camera. It is not nearly as blue as it looks without flash, and not nearly as mint as the picture with the flash. But the formula of this polish was fabulous, opaque in two coats, smooth, not too thick or thin. No topcoat.

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply as part of regular collection.


Flip Flop Fantasy (Summer 2010), Poolside collection: Bright pink-coral neon. This pink is SCREAMING at you even from the bottle, it is a perfect summer color for toes and fingers. The formula wasn’t the greatest, though, it was rather streaky and barely smoothed out with three coats (topcoat helped, though). It also has that neon tendency to dry with a matte finish. One coat China Glaze Fast Forward Topcoat.

Bought at Sally Beauty Supply as part of regular collection.
 Lightning Bolt and Cracked Concrete (Spring 2011), Crackle collection: Lightning Bolt is a white crackle finish, Cracked Concrete a cement-gray crackle finish. The cracks on these are generally thin, sometimes a little stringy-looking for my taste. However, they always crack on fully dry nails, even though they are starting to get slightly goopy with age. They do dry matte and leave some texture without extra coats of topcoat. One coat Color Club topcoat.

Lightning Bolt bought at Ulta on clearance.
Cracked Concrete bought at Sally Beauty Supply’s website on clearance.


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Polly Polish Polish Olympics!

So I'm trying something new today. As it is 3:00 p.m. here in New York State, I am posting for Polly Polish's Polish Olympics! Now, you all know my hand in nail art, and how it's improving. Well, the theme for this event was the Olympics, and the idea in my head didn't translate exactly the way I imagined it would to my nail.

BUT, like any other Olympian, I am going in strong and confident! So here is my entry into the event!




Here's the concept: I am highly representing USA, as you can tell with the stars and stripes. The light blue is the waves from the aquatic center, because swimming is my sport, and I am SOOOOO excited to see Missy Franklin rocking the Olympics at 17! And the medal represent her gold!

Polishes used:
Dark blue: China Glaze First Mate
Silver sparkle stars: L.A. Colors Art Deco in silver glitter
White stripes: Sally Hansen White On
Red Stripes: Finger Paints red striping polish
Waves: Zoya Zuza
Gold Medal: L.A. Colors Art Deco in magenta and Zoya Goldie

The entire design was done by hand (you can probably tell!), and in all honesty, doing this challenge has almost gotten me more into the Olympics this year!

Here you will find links to other participants in the Polish Olympics!: