Konad

I thought I would make a quick post about Konad since some of you are interested and asking about it.  Konad is a stamping system for nail polish.  You can check out some demos and pics here.  

If you are interested in doing this for yourself, my recommendations are to start small.  With about $25-30 you can start your own kit and have the essential tools you need to create with Konad at your home.   Start by buying the stamper and scraper (you need this to create Konad art) and just buy a few disks that have some designs you like.  If you want I have also found the image disc holder as a handy tool.  Konad does make special polishes that are formulated just for their system because they have a longer dry time (it's polish that would never dry on your nail if you painted  your whole nail with it) and they say they show up clearer than "regular" polish.  Although it does make application a bit easier, I would say that you don't have to buy the special polish.   I only have bought one special polish and have only used it once.  Most of my Konad Creations have created with my own nail polishes.  I've learned that metallics work very nice and if I make sure there is a strong contrast in my base polish and the Konad stamp color, I've liked my results.   

The trick with Konad is practice and trial and error.  I just started with this system this year and there is a bit of a learning curve.  Sometimes I have a hard time getting it to look exactly straight or to have a stamp fit on my whole nail in one application.  But the results can be really fun and look great.  I loved my "fishnets" and "houndstooth" designs because there is no way you could freehand those designs.  Plus, I get lots of compliments!

As far as where to get the system, I have only found it online.  I got some discs and the stamper/scraper and image disc holder for Christmas as a gift but I also bought some disks myself and both were purchased by a shop in California called OC Nail Art.  I thought they had reasonable prices and they were very nice and efficient in the ordering process.  If you are going to buy from someplace, I would recommend them highly!

Good luck and maybe someday I'll post tutorials of some of my polishes, but my next endeavor is to get that light box up and running!  Happy Polishing!

Follow the Leader

This picture is a bit better at capturing the pink.

This is what popped into my head when I was deciding what to polish tonight.  I really like the finished look on this one (it matched my head design).  This is a freehand design.  I was going to use tape to make more crisp lines, but I would have had to wait too long for the bottom coats to dry, so I decided to freehand the arrows.  The picture, of course, does not do the colors justice.  The contrast is clear in person--jet black and pale pink.  I need to make a light box so I can get better pictures up here, but then I also better taking better care of my cuticles--because they look awful close up.

I used Liquid Leather (black) and Something Sweet (pink) from China Glaze topped with Seche Vite for shine.  

Flare up

Unfortunately Zebra Glam was only meant for one day on my nails.  They started to chip today and chipping means me picking and that means and imperfect manicure--which these days just isn't allowed.  That meant a re-paint, which is also unfortunate because I really don't like this manicure.  This was a case of the perception and visual in my head was way better and more exciting than what actually ended up on my nails.  Boo.  But it's late and I put in effort and this blog is dedicated to the nails iPolished--good and bad, so here you go:

The base color is China Glaze Solar Power.  I used Konad Plate m63 for the flame tips.  Then painted a coat of Goldilocks Rocks, and orange sparkle from OPI over the whole nail followed by a coat of Seche Vite.

Zebra Glam

So Ginger suggested doing Zebra, ala her Target shoes.  So I took it to another level and added lots of color and sparkle.  I think they are pretty fun.

Base color is China Glaze White On White.  Zebra print is done with Konad Plate m57 and the colors are as follows.  Essie painted purple (Perky Purple) and yellow (Hello Yellow), both neons.  China Glaze is pink (Shocking Pink [Neon]), green (In The Lime Light [Neon]) and black (Liquid Leather).  The sparkle is also China Glaze in Glacier.  And they all were topped off with Seche Vite top coat.

Jersey Shore!

So my friend had a "Jersey Shore" party and I had to do nails that were fitting to the party.  I used fake nails from Fing'rs, then put on outrageous hot pink and some gems.  The length was really annoying and I am glad they only lasted the night.  But they went perfect with the outfit (that I won't show).  Again, I wish neon's photographed better, but I included one that gives you a better idea of the neon color.  As I look now, neither are very good depictions of color...

The pink polish was China Glaze Shocking Pink (Neon).  The gems I bought at Sally Beauty Supply from Winning Nails, but can't find a link to the direct decals so I'll just direct you to Sally's and the closet thing.  

Wishing for Spring

I've been lacking inspiration and need to add some colors to my collection.  But Kari sent me this link to a design and this was the best I could do to mimic.  It was HARD.  But the exciting part of this manicure is the GEMS!!!  I haven't used them in a while so I was happy to add some bling to the fingers.

Right Hand:

Left Hand:

For the base coat color, I used Essie's Chinchilli.  I then made the flowers with various China Glaze colors: Evening Seduction (brown/burgundy), Salsa (red), Bahamian Escape (blue), Entourage (green) and It's So Easy Stripe-Rite in white.  I coated Seche Vite on top.

Neon Zipper

I had a realization today that I have officially moved past the days of single polished nails.  If I have a site, how could I ever paint just one color with no flair?  I am sure I will at some point paint my nails one color again, but nail art is my new mission.  Today's nails are bright.  I wish neon colors did a better job of showing off their true selves in photos, but I've done the best I can to capture.

I used China Glaze for both colors, yellow is Celtic Sun and blue is Frostbite.  I did apply a base stripe in white with my It's So Easy Stripe-Rite polish, then striped the matching colors over it.  I, of course, topped the look off with Seche Vite clear polish.

Fishnets!!!

I had a birthday party to dress up for and so the nails were inspired by the fishnets that went with my red and grey dress.  I loved the look, I had to take a few pictures of them--and a few "action" shots!!!

Fishnet inspired:

Mmmm Margarita:

Close up:

I used two shades for the base red tone. I used China Glaze Lubu Heels as the base and Ruby Pumps applied gradient style on top (for real this time--you can pick it up better in the close up photo). Then I used Konad Plate M57 with China Glaze Millennium. Seche Vite topped off the look.

Four Squared

I swear this picture makes these nails look like they were inspired by the new tile in my bathroom, but that coincident was discovered during the photo session.  And really the color of the nails is not very true to life and I couldn't capture that very well.  The blue is "Jasper" blue (or a cobalt blue) and the green is a teal color.  But no matter how the picture does the manicure justice, the picture is still shown as followed:

Colors used are all China Glaze Frostbite and Turned Up Turquoise.  I then highlighted the squares with a vertical stripe in Atlantis and a horizontal stripe in Dorothy Who?.  I applied one coat of Seche Vite for a top coat.

Sweet Sorbet

I had the idea for this manicure in my mind but it wasn't until it was on my hand and in the flesh that it totally reminded me of sorbet or something sweet you would eat.   I love the look, I think it's yummy.

With Flash:

Without Flash:

I used three colors from the Up And Away collection from China Glaze--on a side note, I love these colors.  The application is great and they are true to the color in the bottle and it doesn't take a lot of coats to get the full color.  I'm a three coat girl and these look pretty good in two.  In the mani, purple is Light As Air, green is Re-Fresh Mint, and the peach color is Peachy Keen.  I then striped the manicure with So Easy Stripe Rite in an orange sparkle and a lavender color (I wish I could be more specific as to the color, but the bottles do not have a number on them, or a name to help me identify them, so guessing is the best I can do.)  I used Seche Vite for a top coat.

Super Bowl

Since we are hosting a party here tomorrow for the football game, I have gotten into the spirit.  Here are SuperNails!

Left Hand:

Right Hand:

I painted the base green "turf" with China Glaze Outta Bounds (appropriate), and the yard lines with So Easy Stripe Rite in White and the football is China Glaze In Awe Of Amber.

Stardust

This mani was inspired by this blog post.  I was going for more whimsical since I only had one glitter choice.  I really think this one is  

I went to the original blog post where the idea came from and watched a video with English subtitles, but I was still unclear quite how to do the look, so I interpreted the technique on my own.  My base polish was China Glaze Sky High-Top.   I, then, took a clear stripe of polish to the base of my nails, put a light dusting of regular glitter on top, then applied a clear coat of polish to adhere and drag the glitter.  Then I did a second layer of glitter by adding a larger, hexagonal glitter on top (with the same application technique).  I also topped of the look with Seche Vite for added shine.