Thursday, July 31, 2014

Weird Thursday? ~ My Summer 2014 Hair & Nails to Match!

Hello Dahlings!
 
What a slacker I've become of late!
I can only blame having both dentist & doctor appts this week
that left me too tired to do much else those days. 
Alas, this included typing up my post for yesterday.
My doctor says all is reasonably well.
My dentist? Not so good.
I had a back tooth break last week
& now it needs to get pulled.
Blerg.
Da good news is that its more achy than truly painful,
but getting a tooth pulled now
& knowing I'll have to get the one below it pulled
sooner than later...
Blerg.
 
On to happier things like my annual left over hair dye fest!
BTW...this post is pic heavy, so go potty
& get a beverage of choice before you start.
I'll wait...
 
This is what my hair looks like right now:
 
 I use both Ion Brights & Color Jam 2 brands of demi permanent
hair dye from Sally's Beauty Supply on my hair after bleaching.
I need 3oz of one color to dye all my hair.
Hair dye usually comes in 2oz & 4oz containers.
So I accumilate left overs.
Da good news is that this type of dye is stable
& can be stored in a cool dark place for a long time.
Once a year, Mr Inky & I use up most of my left overs in one go.
This year we used 7 different colors!
 
 This is da dark side of multi colored hair...it's messy to do!
We did well to get all this done in an hour & a half.
Then I left it in for about 2 hours before rinsing & sealing.
(My trick to getting my color to last longer
is to leave da sealer in over night.
It conditions da hair & I get up to 8 weeks of good color.)
 
I took 2 trips in July!
Da 1st one was with Mr Inky to Las Vegas, Nevada
& da 2nd was to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Both are hot, dry dessert places.
Not my fav environments.
I only had 3 days between trips &
know that traveling by plane & hefting luggage about
can be very hard on my nails.
So I knew I had to do a gel based mani
if I want my nails to look good da whole time!
 
1st I had to apply a nail tip to my short left pinky nail
so it would match da one on da right hand.
Egad! I haven't worn a false nail in nigh on 30 years!
But I managed to do a reasonable job of it
& just hoped it would last da 2 weeks.
I started my mani with an AcryGel base on all my nails.
I used this method to fill da gap between da back end of da tip
& my cuticle on my pinky
before adding a full layer over da whole nail.
 
Wanna see my vacation mani?
 
 I may have gone a wee bit over board, but I liked it!
 
 1st line up ~ Kiss French White soak off gel, 
Nabi Fuchsia, Purple & Blue gitd jellies
 
2nd line up ~ Ooh La Lacquers Hypnotize, Serum No5 Lights Out
& LynB Designs 2013 LE Frosty Snot Linear Holo Topper
 
 After doing da AcryGel base & added 1 coat of da French White.
I then painted overlapping stripes of da 3 Nabi's.
Da stripes needed 2-3 coats to get da intensity I wanted.
 
 I then added funky French tips using a sponge & Lights Out.
 
 Then came a coat of Hypnotize.
I followed this up with a coat of Frosty Snot
& then a coat of Seche Vite to seal it all in.
 
 Yep! They glowed.
I did matching toes (that I'm not going to show you)
& had great good fun with my built in night lights in da hotel rooms.
Lights Out also glows in da dark, but it takes longer to charge
than da Nabi's so it didn't glow in this pic.
 
It occurred to Mr Inky & I after we got home
that we'd been having so much fun we forgot to take pics!
I did get a couple...
 
 We stayed at South Point Hotel & Casino while in Las Vegas.
We were attend da TAM conference & it was in this hotel,
so for convenience sake we stayed here.
It was quite comfy & due to smoking being allowed on da casino floor
I went almost 3 days without having to go outside!
Considering it was in da low 100's & I don't do sun or high heat well,
not having to go outside was a good thing.
We did make one side trip while we were there...
 
 Mr Inky & I are big Penn & Teller Fans,
so we can't go to LV & not see da show!
This is Penn & Jonesie jamming before da show.
 
 I took this pic while in SLC.
Da wind was bringing smoke from da fires in eastern Oregon & Washington
down into da valley & making da sunset look all funky
plus da air got a lil hard to breathe on da last day we were there.
 
Did my fake nail last?
 
 Yep!
I was pulling laundry out of da hamper da day after I got home from SLC
& it popped off like da cheap fake it was.
Fortunately da damage to da nail bed is minimal.
Since this happened I've back filled da grow out on my other nails
& added da AcryGel base to this nail so it can continue to grow out.
I was rather please that after 2 weeks of travel & only one coat of SV
I only had some tip wear on da corners!
Granted I wasn't typing as much as usual,
but I was hauling luggage, pushing elevator buttons
& riding escalators.
If you're going to be traveling
& doing your nails while on da road isn't an option,
seriously consider doing an AcryGel base
or at least a standard gel base
under your regular polish nail art!
 
 
>^. .^<
 
Next time you has to take me wif you!
I no likey when you leave me home.
(Ciri is da only cat who immediately came out to greet us
when we got home from Vegas.
I'm not sure if da other 3 even noticed we were gone. LOL)
 
Today is da LAST DAY to enter da
So get your tushy in gear before it's too late!
 
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Inky
 

Monday, July 28, 2014

A polish of my very own ~ Paint Shop Polish Disco Paws!!!

Hello Dahlings!
 
Today I have a special treat for y'all...
My very own custom CAT glitter polish
 
Out tale begins with Candi posting
a new LE cat glitter polishcalled Catfish on Facebook.
I asked if she had other colors available
& after bouncing a few ideas around we went with this:
 
Meet Disco Paws!
It has lavender metallic & matte black kitty heads,
black shredies & asst silver holo bits!!!
*swoon*
 
 This is how I'm wearing it as of today.
Today makes day 4!
Yeah, I like this polish...I like it a lot!!!
 
 Da line up ~ Ruby Kisses Blue Satin Sheets,
Polish Me To Go Voiletta &
Paint Shop Polish Disco Paws.
(normally I would link PMTG as well,
but due to a family emergency, their shop is closed)
 
 2 frosty coats of Blue Satin Sheets
 
 1 coat of Violetta smoothed out most of da streaks
 
 Violetta also does this!
 
 TA DA! I dabbed on 2 coats of Disco Paws
(like you do with chunky glitters)
then sealed in da goodness with a coat of Seche Vite.
 
Want some kitty glitter for your own paws?
You can't get Disco Paws,
(It's MINE all MINE...Mua-ha-ha-ha!!!)
but you can order any & all of da 5
Candi has available
or contact her to concoct your own custom polish.
 
>^. .^<
 
Ooo...ooo...ooo...I want kitties on MY claws!
 
You still have a couple of days to enter da
You know you'll be kicking yourself
if you pass on da chance to win a $40US shopping spree.
 
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Inky
 

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Freakin Weekly Holo Challenge Combo ~ Orange & Purple

Hello Dahlings!
 
Today's mani is da last of da
Fingers Freakin Holo Freaks Weekly Combo Challenge!
 
Da group just didn't get into this one,
so we'll be starting a new challenge soon.
It's all good!
 
So for our last 2 color combo
may I present my picks for orange & purple holos...
 
 I did this mani at da same time I did last week's black & red mani
& since I knew I'd be going out in public
I opted to do da same nail art so at a distance,
in poor lighting, my hands would almost look like they match.
 
 Da Line Up ~ Jade Sunset & I Love Nail Polish Purple Plasma
Purple Plasma is from da 2014 Summer Collection.
 
>^. .^<
 
CATNIP!!!
 
 Chomp!
 
 Suck & kick!
 
Lick!
 
Not sharing!
 
You have FOUR days left to enter da
You could win a $40US shopping spree at a favorite vendor!
This GIVEAWAY is INTERNATIONAL!!!
What are you waiting for?
GO ENTER NOW!!!
 
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Inky
 

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Last of da Simples Catch Up posts ~ Saran Wrap

Hello Dahlings!
 
My bad! My mom is visiting & I got distracted.
So my Friday post didn't get done. Blerg.
 
 
So here is my last Simples catch up post...
 
Week 4 we learned how to do a Saran Wrap mani.
In theory it's simple enuf.
Use a piece of wadded up plastic wrap to move polish around
& create a mottled stone effect.
In practice there's a wee bit more to it.
Debbie Crumpet made a great tutorial with video!
 
Here's how my 1st attempt turned out...
 
 Hmmm...da polishes are gorgeous,
but my technique needs practice.
I went with da bubble wrap to do mine.
 
 
 Da Line Up ~ Anonymous Lacquer Moon Walking,
Ruby Baby We Miss You & Purple Rain-bow
All 3 performed brilliantly!
I just didn't let RBWMY & PRB dry enuf between splogings
so they blended together a bit too much.
 
This is 2 eye blinding coats of Moon Walking!
Mildred is a doll & just getting started,
but her polishes are FANTABULOUS!
(I just got her LE Summer Duo & can't wait to wear them!
I also just spotted You Had Me At Hello Kitty...
why oh why don't I have this yet?!?)
 
So go show Anonymous Lacquer some love!
 
>^. .^<
 
You gots new pretties?
Can I plays wif dem this time?
 
You still have a few days left to enter da
 
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Inky
 


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Freakin Weekly Challenge ~ Black & Red

Hello Dahlings!
 
I'm starting to feel like I'm firing on all cylinders again!
 
This week's Freakin' color combo is black & red...
 
 I went with skinny funky French tips & Jade Holograficos.
 
 Da line up ~ Jade Magia & Vermehlo Surreal
Being Jades there were no issues in application
& da rainbows are WOW.
 
>^. .^<
 
Why you no share your Coldstone, Paw?
You no luvs me anymore?
I gives you da evil eye!
 
Ciri will be giving YOU da evil eye if you don't enter da
 
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Inky

Monday, July 21, 2014

More Simples Catch up ~ Ombre

Hello Dahlings!
 
1st ~ Sorry about not posting yesterday!
I've been traveling da last 2 weeks & got home yesterday
from Salt Lake City & da Stampin' Up! annual convention. 
I was too pooped to even contemplate doing my nails.
I will have this week's Freaking Color Combo up for you on Wednesday. 
(I've worn da SAME mani for da last 2 WEEKS!
Fatigue is da only thing that can squash my craving
for something else on mah nails!!!)
 
2nd ~ Here I was thinking I was pretty much on top of scheduling manis...
then I realized that I hadn't done today's post ahead of time
so I wouldn't have to think today.
Oh well, at least I had all da prep work done for today's post. LOL
 
 
 Week 3 ~ Ombre
There was some debate as to what an ombre is:
a light to dark of da same color over 5 nails
OR
light to dark of da same color on one nail
 
Da consensus was that it's a light to dark of 1 color over 5 nails.
To do it on 1 nail is a gradient.
 
 Da final line up ~ Orly Harmonious Mess (pinky),
L'Oreal Royalty Reinvented (ring),
Wet N' Wild On A Trip (middle),
Sation Super Nail-tural Powers (index),
China Glaze Queen B (thumb)
plus L.A. Colors Blue Paradise as a topper.
All of this was finished with a coat of Seche Vite.
 
Originally I used L.A. Colors Illusion on my ring finger,
but it was a dup for On A Trip.
They didn't look all that close in da bottle!
 
>^. .^<
 
You left me home? Really?

Egad! I forgot to add da link to da
Nail Polish Bloggers Connection GIVEAWAY!
Where was my brain?
Oh yeah, still sleeping off all da traveling.
My Bad!
 
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Inky

Friday, July 18, 2014

Simples FB Group Catch Up!

Hello Dahlings!
 
Back in May, Debbie Crumpet
started a new nail art group on Facebook called:
 
 
 
Anyone can join & learn
how to create nifty kewl nail art on their own nails!
Debbie does a weekly blog post to teach us that week's lesson
& if needed, she also makes a video tutorial.
 
She 'splains it all in this post:
 
At da time this challenge started
I was waist deep in da Neverending Pile
doing 3 posts a week for that plus
Sundays were for posting da Weekly Freakin' Challenge.
Where da heck was I going to squeeze da Simples in
without adding another posting day or double posting?
I did finally manage to combine da Freaks with da Simples
when da Freaks challenge changed to doing 2 colors each week.
This took care of da four weeks of Simples dotting exercises.
What about da 4 Simples manis in da vault
that only got posted in da Simples group at da time?
 
I have 2 of them for you today!
 
Week 1 ~ Plain Accent Nail
 
I was pinched for time on this one
& was glad it was indeed a simple mani!
Da base color is 2 coats of Serum No5 Lights Out
with a coat of Seche Vite to seal in da goodness.
At da time, Aurora Austrailis was in da prototype phase
& Tami had sent me a mini to test drive for her.
This seemed like a good time to try it!
Lights out is a gitd polish,
but I didn't get a gitd pic at da time.
I sorry!
 
Here are da instructions & tips from Debbie:
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Week 2 ~ Plain Skittle
 
I had a major wet my knickers squeee fest
when Sally Hansen released their new Color Foil line
about da same time as this lesson was due!
 
 From da left ~ thumb: Sterling Silver, index: Leaden Lilac,
middle: Cobalt Chrome, ring: Minted Metal & pinky: Liquid Gold
 
 Here's a better view of my thumb.
Da new version of SH's classic Chromes
are still a bit persnickety to apply
& prone to streaks & patching if over stroked,
but they do smooth out to a shinier finish than da originals.
 
You can find da Sally Hansen Color Foils
in various drugstores around da US.
I found 8 of da 10 colors available at Target
& another of da 2 I still needed at Fred Meyer.
(I WILL find da last one before they get retired!
I will! I will! I will!)
 
If you like to check out da Classic Chromes,
carries many of the 75 or so colors that were available...
many at LESS than they sold for in stores!
 
I'll post da other 2 Simples manis I have on Monday!
 
>^. .^<
 
I no want you to paint my claws!
 
Okay...maybe one paw with those shiny foils?
 
Do your stash a favor & go enter da
 
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Inky