Dot nails! I was inspired to do this look after thumbing through TheLittleCanvas’s blog. This look is so super easy. You just need a dotter tool, or even just a toothpick or the head of a bobby pin.  I used “Cho” by Zoya (nude) and my new Julep polish called “Niecy” (pink).  ”Niecy” has a coat of “Chloe” by Zoya on top of it, such a pretty flaky glitter that look different over everything you put it over.

To make the dots, I just placed a dot of whatever base color I used on top of a larger dot of “Black Rage” by Pure Ice. Super simple!

Julep recently had a coupon code to get an introductory Maven box for just $0.01.  If you’re not familiar with Julep Maven boxes, it’s a monthly subscription program (similar to Birchbox) where you will receive a box of nail goodies, valued over $40, for $19.99.  You can choose to skip a month or cancel your subscription at any time. Also, once you’re a Maven you get 20% off all products in the “Maven boutique” and free shipping.  If you want some more info click HERE to check out their website.

I decided to take advantage of their one penny introductory box deal.  With shipping it came out to just $4.00 (you can choose free shipping but I chose a speedier option).  This deal happens periodically so if you missed it, don’t worry. It’ll come around again. It’s a great no risk way to try a Maven box or just get a great deal on some nail goodies.  

When you sign up, you take a style quiz and a box is selected for you based on your personal style.  My style was “classic with a twist.”

Here’s what I got:

A pedi cream, and two polishes as well as some little toe separators. 

The pedi lotion is 2 fl oz. Directions say to apply it at night and to expect noticeable results in 1 to 2 uses. I’ll have to try this out and see how it works.  It is supposed to exfoliate with AHAs, hydrate with coconut oil, and nourish with essential oils and vitamin E.

The first polish I got is “Susie.” It’s described as a “delicious mint green creme.” It’s a very very light mint color. I tried it out on one nail and the opacity is good, two coats and it’s fully opaque.

The second polish is “Niecy”, a “bright pink creme for sunny days.”  This one went on very opaque with just one coat, you almost don’t even need a second coat of it.  

I like these polishes. I’ll definitely use these colors. Drying time is average. The only thing I don’t like about them is their size.  They’re only .27 fl oz.  Most polishes are .5 fl oz. I don’t think I would ever buy a bottle of Julep polish on its own considering the price is $14 and you’re only getting about half as much as most other bottles of polish.  I’ve never tried Julep polishes before, maybe the quality is outstanding and worth the price. I guess I”ll have to try them and see.

As for the toe separators, they’re cute but they’re very flimsy. They’ll get the job done but they just feel sort of cheap. I think the box could do without them.

I’m going to wait and see what the box is for next month, I may skip it if I don’t like it or just cancel my subscription.  BUT I definitely recommend taking advantage of the intro box for $0.01 deal when it comes around again (I’ll post to remind you). I think $4.00 total for what I got is a steal.

Stamped nails! I used my Konad stamper for the first time in a long while.  I used plate m65 for this, a geometric retro kind of pattern. I was out of my white Konad special polish so I just ended up using my Pure Ice white “Super Star” and that worked just fine. I thought these would be some good summer time colors!

Colors I used:

Pink - “24/7” by Sinful Colors

Blue - “Factory Girl” by Color Club

Yellow - “Pull Over” by Sinful Colors mixed with a bit of white to make it more pastel

Watermelon nails! I painted my sister’s nails like this the other day and decided to do my own. I started with Purce Ice’s “Watermelon Ice” and added a green tip (“Four Leaf Clover” by China Glaze) with some lighter green squiggly lines (“Mermaid Tears” by OPI). I used a toothpick and “Black Rage” by Pure Ice to make the seeds, I found it was easier to use than my dotter tool for dragging the dot into a seed shape. 

Hope you like these! If you try this out, let me know!

My Kickstarter project reached its goal!! I’m so grateful to everyone that has supported me through these past few weeks. It’s super humbling to have people pledge money for you to do what you love. I will now be spending my summer making jewelry and building my business and I’m SO excited. Thanks so much you guys <3

There are still about 7 hours left if you would like to take advantage of any of the rewards! http://kck.st/IhGrb7

<3

Mandy

Ok, this will be one of the last posts I do about my Kickstarter because it only has 30 hours left! I’m super close to my goal, 79% funded. It just needs a little extra push. Click the link below and check it out if you have a sec! Every $1, tweet, facebook like, and reblog are all helpful and are all very much appreciated. Don’t forget to check out the rewards!  I’m passionate about this and I’d love to see this idea come to life. Thanks so much for everyone’s support so far <3 

Click to check out my project

Glitter nails! I used my tinsel glitter that I got at Michael’s for just a dollar (for a set of four colors, such a deal!).  All I did for this was paint my nails black (“Black Rage” by Pure Ice) and sprinkle the glitter over the polish while it was still wet.  Finished it with a top coat and, ta da! Super simple nail look.

P.S. I’ve got a Kickstarter with just about 2 days left to help support my jewelry that I make with nail polish. Check it out if you have a sec! It needs a little extra push to get to the goal! <3 My Kickstarter

My Kickstarter project to help get funding for supplies to grow my nail polish jewelry art has just over 5 days left. I’m currently 53% funded.  I’m so grateful for all the pledges so far.  I’m passionate about this and I’d love to see my goal met, I just need a little help to get there. If you have a sec, check out my project and pledge to support it if you think it’s awesome.  Every $1, reblog, tweet, or facebook like helps.

<3 Mandy

Click to check out my project

Don’t forget the rewards! a $25 pledge gets you a piece of jewelry of your choice, I can even custom make something for you!

Microbead mani! I used some of the microbeads that I bought this weekend. I’ve never used them before so I decided to just do my ring finger. I used my new Color Club polish called “Factory Girl” along with my Sally Hansen Xtreme wear “Lacey Lilac.”  The bead color I used is called “Heather” by Recollections (from Michael’s).

To put on my beads, I painted my nail with “Lacey Lilac” and used the sprinkle top on the bead container to shake them on while my nail was still wet.  I sprinkled them over a plate with some paper on it to avoid a mess and make it easy to get the extra beads back in the container. After making sure the whole nail was covered in beads, I let it dry and added a hefty layer of top coat to seal it all in.

I’m slightly skeptical about how long the beads will stay on but I paint my nails every few days anyway so I guess it doesn’t matter much ;)

Hope you guys like this! <3

New nail goodies!! I did some shopping this weekend and picked up some fun nail things.

First up: microbeads.  I found this set at Michael’s for around $6.99.  It’s got six different colors that I thought would be good for spring/summer.  Excited to do my nails with these sometime this week!

Next: glitter glitter glitter.  I found these near the checkout at Michael’s in the $1 section.  They were only $1 each so I grabbed three. Two sets are tinsel glitter and one is just regular extra fine glitter.  

Last but not least:  new polish! I found both of these at Rite Aid.  I finally came across a nice sky blue color that I’ve been looking for for ages. Cream finish, no shimmer.  The color is called “Factory Girl” by Color Club.  I also found a pretty gold called “Golden-I” by Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear.  The Color Club polish was $4.99 and the Sally Hansen was just $1.99.  I’ve never owned a Color Club polish before, but I’ve heard good things about it so I’m sure I’ll like it.

Look forward to some new nail looks with this stuff in the near future!