Grim Grinning Ghosts Duo

Hello Readers:

I have an awesome collaboration duo to show you today, and it even includes a new-to-me brand! (woot woot!) Today's duo is called Grim Grinning Ghosts which the makers based off of the Disney ride 'The Haunted Mansion'. The Lady Varnishes created one of the polishes, and Sweet Heart Polish created the other.

img src: google search

First, a little about Sweet Heart Polish. Sweet Heart Polish is a 5free, cruelty free, gluten free, vegan friendly brand. Recently, Sweet Heart Polish has also begun donating $1 from every bottle sale to charity.

Now, onto the polishes. Up first is the polish Sweet Hear Polish created, entitled "Hurry Ba-ack". "Hurry Ba-ack" is a black jelly based polish with neon green, blue and purple hex glitter, tiny iridescent glitter and a splash of holo.

 

I wish my indoor shots had turned out better, I just couldn't seem to find a good way to light the polish without all that glare on it. So I apologize for not doing this polish justice. It is very lovely, I absolutely love the bright colored glitter! I used three coats over a clear base coat, and a clear top coat. If you want to do less layers you can layer this over a dark base coat. The application was a teeny bit thick, also it chipped rather easily. Overall, a great polish and am intrigued to try out other Sweet Heart Polishes in the future.

 

Now onto The Lady Varnishes polish entitled: "Welcome, Foolish Mortals". "Welcome, Foolish Mortals" is a murky green based polish with different sized iridescent glitter, and even glows in the dark!

 

 

 

I must apologize once again. I was unable to obtain glow in the dark photos of this polish. My camera just won't do that kind of photo. Anyhoo, this polish is wonderful! I must admit that it is my favorite of the two (and not just because it glows in the dark). This polish is just so different from all of my other polishes that I lean towards this one more. I used three coats of polish over a clear base coat, and a clear top coat. I had no application issues.

 

This duo was limited edition so it is no longer available but check out the makers shops to see their other wonderful polishes: Sweet Heart Polish & The Lady Varnishes

 

Until next time.

-Andi

 





Stamping Nail Art With Bundle Monster Stamping Plate

Hello Readers:

I have some nail art to show off today (finally!). I recently heard about Bundle Monster stamping plates and when I perused their website I knew I had to get my hands on some. Today I'll be showing you a design from their 2012 collection. Specifically I've used plate BM 306, along with two polishes from Colors by Llarowe summer collection. The two CbL's I've used for this mani are: "Blue Jeans and Beauty Queens" and "Nice Melons".

 

Isn't it beautiful?!? I personally think it turned out great, minus a couple of lineup issues but definitely really good. I think the colors go well together too. I used three coat of "Blue Jeans and Beauty Queens" over a clear base coat, then stamped using "Nice Melons" and used a clear top coat.

 

What do you think of this color comination? Yea or nay?

 

Until next time folks.

-Andi

 

PS. I'll continue working on my nail art so that I can have more to share with you.

 



Review: "Rubies and Rednecks" from Colors By Llarowe

Hello Readers:

Today I have a polish from Colors By Llarowe's redneck woman collection: "Rubies and Rednecks". This polish was actually a freebie surprise I received during their summer collection release preorder, and boy was it a surprise! A FABULOUS surprise at that! To be honest I didn't even know this polish existed, but I'm glad it was given to me.

"Rubies and Rednecks" is a red jelly based polish with red, pink, burgundy, and holo glitter in various sizes.

 

Isn't it just GORGEOUS?!? I'm still stunned by it's beauty! I used three coats of polish over a clear base coat, and a clear top coat. It went on easy and smooth, no issues at all and no staining (always a plus!).

 

I don't know if this polish will ever be restocked but keep an eye on the Colors by Llarowe Facebook page and the Llarowe website for this and other wonderful polishes.

 

 

Until next time.

-Andi

 



Special Post: "Frankenstein" from My Ten Friends

Hello Readers:

Today I am going to share something a little different, a little more special, with you. As an early warning, this post will be rather long so grab a snack or some coffee and enjoy! ^_^ I have been planning this post for awhile now, but due to unexpected circumstances it couldn't be accomplished until now. Most of you know from reading my Facebook page that I recently had a vacation, and one of my destinations was important to this post.

First off, some time last year I shared My Ten Friends post about her friend's Kickstarter Project called "Banned Books for the Blind". As one of the perks for donating to the project Mei-Lynn from My Ten Friends was going to create two special polishes inspired by two of the books used in the project, one was "War of the Worlds" and the other was "Frankenstein".  As an avid reader and a huge fan of My Ten Friends, I knew I had to help out.

img src: Amazon

When I received my polish inspired by Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to wear this polish, and bring the bottle for a visit to the famed Frankenstein Castle. The castle was first built back in the 1200's and had many uses before Mary Shelley brought forth Frankenstein's Monster. It is thought that Mary Shelley heard about Frankenstein Castle during her trip down the Rhine river, and the tales of the alchemist Johann Konrad Dippel (1673-1734) who was believed to have used Frankenstein Castle to do experiments in alchemy (including creating artificial life) from the bodies he was to said to have grave robbed. It is also believed that Dippel even signed his name "Frankenstein" in reference to his residence. (Info about Dippel found thanks to this article from the University of Pennsylvania). None of this was a proven fact as there are many people who were believed to inspire Mary Shelley's novel, but I believe Dippel to be a strong contender.

Now, on to my trip and the polishes trip to Frankenstein Castle, which is mostly in ruins now but is still interesting to see. (Apologies that the bottle is a little blurry in some photos, I had trouble getting both bottle and castle in focus at the same time)

 

 

Sadly, I couldn't find any signs that said "Frankenstein" on it so no bottle photo with a sign, but the castle visit was great. I love visiting historical sites like this, and it was awesome to bring the inspired polish along for the ride. It was like history meeting up with the future (kind of corny thinking I know but still awesome in my opinion.)

 

Now, onto the fabulous polish itself. Mei-lynn based her inspiration of "Frankenstein" off of the description of the monster given in the book:

 

"His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips." ~Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'

 

"Frankenstein" is a chartreuse yellow based polish with different sized hexes in green, gold, and turquoise plus a smattering of black shreds. Below are my swatches of the polish which I think hit the nail on the head from the description in the book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lives up well to the book description don't ya think? I used three coats of polish over a clear base coat, and a clear top coat. Everything went on smoothly, no issues. I usually don't go for yellows and oranges because they look awful with my skin tone but this shade isn't too bad.

As this polish was an exclusive for the Banned Books for the Blind Project it isn't for sale, but you can check out the My Ten Friends website to get some of their other fabulous polishes.

 

Until next time.

-Andi