Happy Nails!

I wore this look during the holidays. Just catching up on posting today. I call it "happy nails" because the color representation of "happy" is orange in my book!!

Unfortunately, the stamping didn't go on perfectly however... The white didn't show up crisp enough and also got little smudged when I put on top coat... Oh well, I still enjoyed wearing this look for a few days!

For this look, I first painted my nails with Essie Roarrrange (orange) and Essie Jiggle Hi, Jiggle Low (gold). I stamped a chevron design from BM-423 with Konad white stamping polish. 

I have been using Essie Jiggle Hi, Jiggle Low almost constantly since I got it. It is such great color for both stamping and wearing alone. 

What color is your happy color? 

Love,

Little Dot  

Sweater Weather!

We are having this deep-freeze weather this week! It is so cold out like ridiculous! Better to stay in if you can or if you must go out, make sure you have a cozy warm sweater like this!

I must go out with the matching mani appropriate for the sweater weather!

For this look, I first painted my nails with OPI My Vampire Is Buff (off white) and Essie Cashmire Bathrobe (dark grey). I stamped a snowflake sweater pattern design from Nailz Craze plate NC 03 with Konad Black pearl stamping polish. 

I like the simple black and white design like this. And the sweater pattern matches my very warm lamb's wool sweater perfectly!! I love the look even to the point that I don't mind venturing out in snow and ice to show them off!!!

Are you having cold weather? What is your favorite winter nail designs?

Stay safe and warm, everyone! 

Love,

Little Dot

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year! Welcome 2015!! The holiday season deserves festive nails. I went all in for stamping all of my nails!!

For this look, I first painted my nails with OPI Kiss Me - Or Elf! (Jewel-toned red violet). I then stamped various designs from MoYou London Explorer collection 03, using Essie Jiggle Hi, Jiggle Low (gold) as stamping polish. I was aiming for the henna look!

Kiss Me - Or Elf! is from OPI Gwen Stefani collection and it is very pretty color! I have Mini Holiday Stars and I really like all the colors in this set. 

I usually buy regular size plates from MoYou London because my nails are fairly small but the Explorer collection 03 (XL) is the only exception. I like using the parts of designs from this plate rather than the whole images. I wanted to get this plate for a long time but everytime I tried to order, this one was out of stock! I finally managed to get it! 

Because I use parts of designs, the variation is endless!

As I was taking pictures of my nails, one of my kitties keep getting in my way... So I just had to do this!

Miniature cat!!!

What design do you have on New Year's Day? 

Love,

Little Dot

Christmas Nails 3

Merry Christmas everyone! This is the look I submitted to the contest that was recently held by Marta at ChitChat Nails. Though I didn't win, I still enjoyed participating in the holiday cheer! And to my surprise, my design was picked as one of the short listed here! I love Marta's blog, ChitChat Nails and have been following for a while, so I am very happy!!

You might feel a little déjà vu... I wore similar look in my previous post here. When I was wearing this previous look, I thought it looked very much like Christmas season. The red plaid reminded me of shiny Christmas wrapping paper! So, when I learned about this contest, I thought I might submit something like this. 

For this look, I first painted my nails with Essie Dress To Kilt (red) and OPI Love. Angel. Music. Baby (gold). I stamped two plaid designs from MoYou London Hipster collection 06, using Essie Style Cartel (dark Blue) and Nails Inc. Chelsea Bridge Road (gold) as stamping polish. I also stamped a little gift box design from Bundle Monster plate BM-316 on my thumbs. 

I really like this Christmas plaid look. No wonder I took the opportunity to wear the look again!

I wish you all the Merry Merry Christmas!

Love,

Little Dot

Christmas Nails 2

As I promised in my previous post, here is the second Christmas nails!

For this look, I first painted my nails with OPI My Dogsled Is A Hybrid (sea green) and Essie Jiggle Hi, Jiggle Low (light gold). I stamped snow flake designs from Bundle Monster plates BM-319 and BM-H01, using Nails Inc. Chelsea Bridge Road (gold) and Sally Hansen Silver Sweep (silver) as stamping polish. 

Again, this is not the one I entered for the contest held by Marta at ChitChat Nails. I thought there will be so many snow flake design entries... Just not quite special enough. I also wished the sea green polish would look a little more blue toned... 

The gold and silver snow flakes are pretty but it is somewhat difficult to capture in the pictures... Maybe too shiny?? I had a little issue with the forcus as well...

Do you celebrate Christmas? What do you wish for Christmas?

Love,

Little Dot

Christmas Nails 1

'Tis the season and I will be posting a few Christmas nails for the next few posts!

I entered a contest hosted by Marta at ChitChat Nails recently. You are allowed only one entry per person. I tried a few different looks and decided on one. Therefore, I have a few designs to show you in the coming weeks, so stay tuned! 

For this look, I first painted my nails with OPI I Carol About You (purple). I then stamped a full nail design from MoYou London Pro Collection 04, using Essie Jiggle Hi, Jiggle Low (light gold glitter) as stamping polish. I was aiming for somewhat baroque feel. It reminds me of a very rich textured dress that might be worn at Christmas party... I also wanted to stamp a Christmas ornament design from Pueen 28... However, no matter how many times I tried, the thin ribbon at the top of ornament didn't transfer. I ended up making a decal of it with a hand drawn bow at the top and applied it to my thumb. If you like to learn how to make a decal, check my previous post here. 

This look is not the one I entered for the contest. But I still enjoyed wearing this look for a few days. 

I purchased a few nail polish sets recently and I should review them sometime soon. OPI I Carol About You is from Gwen Stefani Mini Holiday Stars and this set comes with very rich color palette suitable for holidays! Essie Jiggle Hi, Jiggle Low is from Essie Winter 2014 collection and this is an amazing glitter, bordering between gold and silver. Added plus is it is not hard to remove for a glitter polish!

What are your Christmas nails look like? 

Love,

Little Dot

Trip Around The World - Britain - Keep Calm and Carry On!

I bought MoYou London Rebel collection 05 and waited for a long time for it to arrive here. Somehow, it took 3 weeks! (I usually get them really fast like 5 days or something...)

This plate has tons of "Keep Calm and ..." images and I really wanted it! While waiting my goodies (yes... plurals... I ordered a couple of other plates as well ;) ) to arrive, I bought Essie Fall 2014 mini set, which includes red polish called Dress To Kilt.  What a perfect name of polish to use for my British inspired look!

For this look, I first painted my nails with Essie Dress To Kilt. I stamped "Keep Calm And Carry On" image from MoYou London Rebel collection 05 with Konad white stamping polish. I also used MoYou London Hipster collection 06 to double stamp a couple of plaid designs. I stamped a skinny lined plaid design with Essie Style Cartel ( dark blue polish also from Essie Fall 2014 collection) and stamped over a thicker plaid design with Nails Inc. Chelsea Bridge Road (gold). 

I wanted to use red polish for the traditional "Keep Calm" look. In the picture, the red looks brighter but it is actually darker and richer in real life. I am amazed how well the double stamping plaid designs worked. Any image involves straight lines are tricky to stamp. It is hard to align and to stamp straight... I used a squishy stamper and pressed my nails straight down instead of rolling because rolling could be a hit or miss with lines! I also chose the two plaid designs carefully so that not all lines go in the same area. 

I really like this look a lot! I would probably try to recreate this look with different colors and different slogans. 

I can see myself using "Keep Calm and Meow" and "Keep Calm and Paint Your Nails"! My beloved daughter might like "Keep Calm and Squirrel!" because she likes squirrels. 

Did you get this plate? What do you think of the double stamped plaid designs?

Love,

Little Dot