Guest Post: Nicole from Polish Me, Please!

Hey There Polished People!

It's me, Nicole, from Polish Me, Please! Amy was so sweet to give me the opportunity to write a guest post for her while she's on her awesome vacation, and the theme was- TRAVEL NAILS!! Well, while she was packing up all her goodies including but not limited to wrapping each of her nail polishes extra-carefully for her move to NYC, I just totally had NYC on the mind, so my nails are really kind of a hybrid moving/travel nails. When I told Amy, she was like, "Oh it's ok, lots of people like to travel to New York!" So... let's go with that! Ready to see my NYC nails?

Here we go-

NYC Travel Nails


How To Get These Nails:

1. After applying base coast, paint your nails with Zoya Tomoko (from the Fall 2013 Pixie Dust Collection). This polish is a really pretty champagne/silvery matte sparkle polish, perfect for super-sparkly nails or as a semi-neutral base, which is what I used it for here. :)

2. Using Julie G Hot Cinnamon and Zoya Tomoko on a makeup sponge, make a gradient on your ring finger.

3. Allow the gradient nail to dry for a bit while you stamp your other nails. Stamp your index finger with SH Rapid Red and Cheeky plate CH54 with the I <3 NYC design, and stamp the apple from the Salon Express plate SE18 on your middle finger.

4. Use a dotting tool and white polish to fill in the apple, then use the dotting tool or a toothpick and black polish to make the little apple seeds.

5. Use the same Salon Express plate (SE18) and SH Rapid Red and SH Brisk Blue at the same time to make a semi-gradient butterfly stamp on your pinkie. This was my first try at the whole gradient-stamping thing and it didn't work out very well. If I re-did these, I would probably just keep the butterfly red. I will try to figure out how to do it better and post a tutorial on my blog sometime in the future.

6. Make sure your ring finger nail is totally dry, then use CH43 to stamp the Happy Happy Hippo over the gradient using Konad Special Black.

7. Since these are matte textured nails, you don't even have to apply topcoat! You're done!!

I hope you all enjoyed these skittley stamped nails. I chose the I <3 NYC for obvious reasons, the apple cuz of course it's "The Big Apple," the butterfly because it seems like a place lots of people go to start over and jump-start their careers, and the hippo because, well, who doesn't like a happy happy hippo?! People without souls, that's who. ;p I feel like these nails are a little boring, but sometimes the ideas just don't come to you like you'd like them to! ;)

Amy- have a great trip and I can't wait to hear about it when you get back! Thanks so much for having me here on your blog! :) Thanks to everyone for reading my post and till next time- Happy Polishing!!!

You may remember Nicole from the Gender Reveal Nails. Nicole has some of the best stamping manis around. Especially over textured polishes. I need to try that sometime! I love that she was sweet enough to take the time to create some nails for all of us! Be sure to pop by and say Hi over at Polish Me, Please! Go find her purple texture gradient! It gives me serious nail envy everytime!

Guest Post: Megan from Nail Lacquer

Hello Everybody! I am here from Nail Lacquer Blog to fill in for Amy while she is busy moving and traveling the world! I am super excited for her as she is moving to New York! I have been lucky enough to visit New York few times in the past and I am sure she will have a blast there, it is an amazing city! In addition to the move she is also visiting China and to celebrate her travels I decided to do some cute Kawaii nail art for you ladies.



I started off using my own handmade franken polishes as a base for this manicure. The polishes are called Eat My Cake (yellow), Younger Again! (mint), Don't Stay Too Late (baby blue) and Bring Me Love (pink). These polishes are from my Happy Birthday collection and they are available in my Etsy shop (sorry UK shipping only :(




For the tiny faces I used a small brush/dotting tools and L.A. Colors Black Velvet and Sinful Colors Snow Me White, it's officially the BEST cheap polish for nail art ;) I also added Rimmel Pro Matte Finish for a soft final look.



Thanks for reading and I hope that you enjoyed my Kawaii nail art, I also hope that Amy is having fun and staying safe in China :) xoxo

My gawd people! Aren't Megan's polishes beautiful? I wish the UK didn't have such strict shipping policies or I would totally buy some from her. I love this little faces, especially since it is my first intro to Kawaii. So adorable!! Thanks for popping by my corner of the internet. Be sure to go visit Nail Lacquer and say HI!

Guest Post: Frosso from Lacquer Me Silly


Hey Everyone!


It’s Frosso from Lacquer Me Silly here saying hello and taking over Amy’s space. I’m super happy to have the opportunity to guest post on The Fancy Side!  Since Amy will be making a big move to New York soon I decided to create a NYC themed mani for the occasion.

          
 My NYC mani is pretty literal really. Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on:

Pinkie and Index – I started with a white canvas using OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls. Then I VERY LIGHTLY sponged on OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous for some dirty sparkle because what’s NYC without a little dirty sparkle? Then I free handed a silhouette of the NYC skyline with OPI I Only Date Werewolves.

Middle – OPI MBSW was used as the base white. I then free handed I <3 NY with OPI I Only Date Werewolves and SOPI Pushing Your Luck.

Ring – I used one strip of Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Sound Check for an iconic taxicab checkered print.





I hope you enjoyed my ode to NYC mani, I had a fun time creating it which is surprising since free handing scares me a bit!  Thanks again Amy for letting me take over your corner of the Internet ;) Good luck on your move and welcome to the tri-state area!


I love Frosso! She has the cutest manis and this NYC themed one was the perfect way to welcome me to the city! I'm also lucky that she's a train ride away, so you'd better believe we are going to have some polish fueled shopping sprees in our future! Be sure to pop over to Lacquer Me Silly and say Hi! 

Guest Post: Sam from Polished Art

Hello The Fancy Side readers! I'm Sam from Polished Art. I'm very excited to be doing a guest post for the lovely Amy today! I 'met' Amy whilst doing the Untried Polish Challenge (which I never completed due to my laptop deciding to die on me...so my untried stash is still huge!) and jumped at the chance to do a guest post for her when she asked if any of us could.

Amy suggested a theme of 'travel' for the guest posts, since the reason she asked for them is because she's off exploring! &nbsp;When she first asked, I'd not long gotten back from Paris, so I'd decided to do a Paris inspired manicures. I played around with a few different ideas in my head: A Paris skyline? Pastel coloured nails with Eiffel Tower accent nails? In the end, I came t0 the conclusion that of course I can't freehand an Eiffel Tower, so...er...I ended up with something rather more unusual instead...

I'm originally from Swansea, where the bus provider is First Cymru. For some reason, after decided against a Paris manicure, the First buses popped into my head, and I decided it might make a good manicure.




Here's the manicure I ended up with!


I used Barry M Matt White, Max Factor Disco Pink, and Jessica Ruffled Bottoms. I did start off using tape for the lines, but i made such a mess that in the end I decided it'd be neater to just freehand the lines. One day I shall conquer tape... I did however use a bit of tape for the wavy thing on my ring finger (I never have been quite sure what that's supposed to be...), before adding the purple edge with a teeny dotting tool. I actually quite like the finished look! Perhaps I should look to public transport for inspiration more often!

Thank you again to Amy for letting me loose on her blog, and to all you lovely readers! I hope you enjoyed my post :)


Isn't Sam adorable!! I had no idea that she was originally from Swansea until she sent this post over. I love the nails and the inspiration they came from. Be sure to visit Sam's blog and say HI!! Thanks again love for all your help!

Guest Post: Nichole from Pretty Girl Science


Hi there, Fancy Side readers! I'm Nichole from Pretty Girl Science, and I have hijacked the blog today while Amy explores the universe...or whatever it is she's doing. I decided to vary from the norm a little bit and decided not to do nail art. Instead, I put together a very basic travel nail kit. It's got everything you absolutely need to have your nails looking fabulous while you are lounging on the beach or strolling down a boardwalk.

Before you go, make sure you give youself a good manicure. Take your time and let each layer cure fully, use quality polish, and use your favorite long-wearing topcoat. You might be able to get a week out of your original manicure this way. It's a lot easier to do your nails in the comfort of your own home with your full kit and collection at the ready. But once the first signs of chipping (or maybe you get bored. Seven days is a long time.) it'll be time to break out the supplies.

No one wants to bring their whole bag of tricks on vacation with them. My basic supply kit alone takes up a huge plastic bin. Besides the awkward size, I really dont think any of it would clear security these days. Instead, I have a very streamlined kit that will fit into a pocket or purse easily. Bonus: I *think* it should all be TSA friendly too! (dont quote me on that though. Be sure to check their website before you travel...just in case.)

Supplies:
Individually wrapped polish removing wipes
Sally Hansen Nail Polish sticker kits x2 (in case you change your mind)
Rosebud Salve
plastic sandwich bag




This is the bare necessities, I think. The individual wipes claim to be enough for 20 nails each. I wouldn't count on them to remove glitter or red polish, but they should do the job well enough without having to worry about a leaky bottle in your luggage. As for the actual polish: there are a thousand different ways you can go here. Sally Hansen makes tons of different patterns in the strips, and they are the easiest I've tried. Plus, the kit comes with a decent mini nail file and orange stick. You can also try polish pens or mini sized bottles of polish, but I can't recommend those. The pens I've tried either leak like crazy or dry out faster than you can even begin to get use out of them. And minis...well, there are quite a few hazards involved with bringing tiny glass bottles full of smelly/messy liquids along on a trip. Strips are by far the tidiest and least hassle.  Lastly, the Rosebud Salve is the best stuff ever. You can use it for minor burns and scrapes, diaper rash, lip balm, and cuticle balm. It's pretty affordable too at just $6.00. (FYI, if you do take this in your purse: bag it! In hot weather it will melt!)




Once you have everything assembled, just toss it into whatever little bag you have lying around. I like plastic sandwich bags, because then you have something that doubles as a trash bag...you know, just in case you're changing up your manicure far from civilization.



And there ya have it. Everything you'd need to have great nails while away from home and still travel light and comfortable! There are few things sadder than being 3,000 miles from your kit and having jagged free edge or a chippy manicure...except having to live with it for weeks.

Thanks for reading along, and I hope Amy is having a good time whereever she may be. (And has a killer manicure!)

-Nichole

Isn't Nichole fantastic? What a great take on the idea of travel themed nails. She went in a great direction and you'd better believe that I took her advice and packed a little travel kit just this for China. It's the perfect solution, and I don't have to worry about bottles breaking on my flight. LOVE IT!

Thanks again for stopping by Nichole! 

100th Post & a GIVEAWAY!!

OMG y'all! It's my 100th post. Can you believe that? I'm so happy that you all have decided to join me for this crazy ride. Today, for my 100th post, I've taken my first stab at a tutorial. Lets see how it goes!



This is the final look we are going for. To achieve this, I've used 3 China Glaze polishes, and white Konad Stamping Polish, plus a Mash stamping plate. 


 The 3 polishes are (L to R) Kinetic Candy, Gothic Lolita, and Aquadelic. Let's see the tutorial. (I'm nervous)


  1. Paint the nail with Gothic Lolita and let dry.
  2. Use saran wrap to dab on Aquadelic. 
  3. Use saran wrap to dab on Kinetic Candy. 
  4. Use Konad Stamping polish and plate to stamp on chevron pattern
  5. Admire slightly crooked stamping job
  6. Use acetone and brush to clean up cuticle & edges
That's it kids!! Super easy hopefully. Oh whats that? You don't have the tools to recreate this look? Well, in honor of my 100th post, I'm hosting my FIRST GIVEAWAY, and giving away everything you need to recreate this, plus to bonus prizes!!! YAAAAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lets look at the prizes!




Happy polishing!! And good luck in the giveaway! I'll pick winners when I return from China!! Also, while I'm in China I have 10 beautiful ladies checking in with fun posts for you all!!

Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee

*all products featured in this post were purchased by me

A little surprise...

Hey All,

I know things have been CAH-RAY-ZEE around the blog lately. But with the big move, then leaving for China tomorrow, I'm sure you can imagine what my life has been like lately. The good news is we're all settled in our new place. (NO POLISH CASUALTIES) To bad we leave for close to 3 weeks tomorrow. :-)

Anyways, I've got a few manis I want to show you before I leave. Today, I have a mani created with 3 OPI polishes.



For this mani I started with OPI Koala Bear-y a gorgeous purple toned bright pink. It is so pretty. On my ring finger, I started with OPI DS Radience. and added OPI Which is Witch? on the top for even more sparkle. 

Speaking of ring fingers and sparkles...this happened when we moved to NYC. 


 Naturally I cried all over the place. Plus the ring is so stunning. I can't stop looking at my hand, and this time it has nothing to do with my finger nails. ;-) It's a yellow sapphire surrounded by diamonds, which is exactly what I wanted!!


I've got one more post to get up before I leave, so expect one tomorrow as well. Can't wait for you all to see what I have cooked up over there!!!

Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee

*all polishes featured in this post were purchased by me

Sparkling Garbage over First Timer

I feel like I should apologize for the spazticness (its a real word, I promise!) of my blogging as of late. Between trying to sell my house, car, furniture, packing, and saying goodbye to loved ones it has been absolutely insane around here. We leave bright and early Tuesday morning for NYC. Crazy right?

Anyways, today I have a polish combo that I absolutely love to show you. Again, I'm sorry for the super nubs! But one advantage to the super nubs, is polish has staying power. I'm on day 5 of this mani, and it's seen fishing, 4-wheeling, packing, horses nibbling at my fingers for more treats, and a whole lot more. (Also the pictures were taken on day 5, tell me you aren't impressed!) I'm hoping it'll last till NYC, and then I'll have time to change it.





This is Orly Sparkling Garbage (best name ever?) over Essie First Timer. Sparkling Garbage is a teal jelly base filled with holographic glitters. It works well as a layering polish, over a similar color, but I've heard you can build it up to opacity in 3 coats. I'm going to try that. 

Sparkling Garbage is AH-MAY-ZING!! I can't stop staring at my fingers. Seriously! If you haven't picked this polish up yet, go get it. 

Essie First Timer is a beautiful vibrant minty green. I adore it, it applies wonderfully. I owe you all a swatch. It'll happen. I promise!! 

What is the longest wear time you've gotten out of a mani?

Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee

*all polishes featured in this post were purchased by me


Graphic Lines over Bit Faker

I'm back with another Shorty McShort Shorts design to show you all today! I know you are really excited to see my nubs, but as I'm all about honesty in blogging, and I can't grow them out over night, here they are. Also please excuse my photos. I sent my light booth off with the movers, and I'm having difficulty catching true colors in the photos without it. I'm lame, I know.





This look started off with a base of Butter London's Bit Faker. I owe you a swatch photo of this color on its own, as it is stunning. Bit Faker is a clear base packed with brown, gold, and bronze glitters, that is opaque in two coats. This shade threw me off being in a summer collection, but I'm calling this as a must have shade of the year. 

I then freehanded triangles and lines in OPI Koala Bear-y (berry shade), Zoya Thandie (orange), and Essie First Timer (light teal). I really enjoy the way these three colors work together and how they look over Bit Faker. 

What is your must have shade of the year? 

Don't forget to go like my Facebook page, here

Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee

*all products featured in this post were purchased by me

Purple Graffiti Look using Maybelline Color Show Clearly Spotted

Well, I've been putting off on posting these, just because my nails are so super tiny! I honestly can't remember my nails ever being so short. Packing up took a toll on my hands causing some breaks, so I had to cut them short. Like super short. I call them Shorty McShort Shorts. 




Look how freaking tiny they are!!! The tips of my fingers are all "where are our hats?" I'll stop complaining about how short they are now. 

I created this look using China Glaze's That's Shore Bright, a neon purple from their summer line. I topped it with Maybelline Color Show's Clearly Spotted. This topper is awesome. Great coverage and it gives a fun graffiti look to any manicure. 

I'd thought about buying some of the other colors from the Polka Dots line, but they are all basically jelly sandwiches in a bottle, and I have jelly polishes in those colors already, so I can recreate them on my own. 

What do you think of my Shorty McShort Shorts nails? 

Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee

*all products featured in this post were purchased by me

Incoco Nail Strips in Freshly Picked

So I managed to get my greedy little hands on some Incoco Polish strips. I've seen these all over the blogosphere lately. A friend gets those monthly beauty boxes and her latest one included the strips, which she gladly handed off to me.

The set I was given are called "Freshly Picked." Incoco describes them as "For a pretty array of simple pink flowers on a peach base, this lively shade brings new life to your nails."




These were easy enough to apply, wore very well (they made it through all the packing I did recently minus the major breaks), and are very understated. My only beef with these is how sheer they are. I had very visible nail line in these, which I hate. Some people don't mind it, but I'm not a fan of VNL. 

Also, I managed to get both hands done with one set of the strips, so I'll get another wear out of these. Don't worry I resealed them very well, so they won't dry out. 

I would like to try these out in some other colors, maybe I'll get the chance to in the future. 

Come back tomorrow to see my Super Nubs after packing. They are so short, like soooo short. 

Enjoy & until tomorrow, Amy Lee

*products featured in this post were purchased by me

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