#AZnailartchallenge “M” for Music! Stamped manicure using BPL-59 and Hit the Bottle stamping polishes

AZNailArtChallenge M for Musical (Nail Collage) @iamcherrylemon

Hiya! Hope you’re well. I will have to write up tons of backlogged blog posts in reverse order, might also need to skip some too. #Procrastination is not a good friend!

Here we have the manicure created for the AZ nail art challenge, M for music. I’ve wanted to create something similar since I’ve received the plate. I was so glad when AZ announced the theme of Music! Perfect timing! If you are not familiar with AZnailartchallenge, this is a nail art challenge on Instagram where the hosts decide on the theme based on the letter of the fortnight. For example, if we are on the week where we have assigned the alphabet N (this is current month’s letter and theme!), the theme could have been Neons, Numbers etc But this month’s theme is N for Nautical! All participants can create a manicure using any technique, colours, style/design as long as the mani is created within the stated theme.

Blue mani with colourful shimmer drybrush design (Macro) @iamcherrylemon

Blue mani with colourful shimmer drybrush design @iamcherrylemon

Products used:

• Born pretty stamping plate BPL-59 #PRSample
• Hit the Bottle stamping polishes in Glint of gold, sparkling Cyan-ide, moonshine and Blu-tiful
• Painted polish black stamping polish “midnight mischief”
• iZ Beauty of London nail polish in “Baby blue”

#AZnailartchallenge “M” for Music! Stamped manicure using BPL-59 and Hit the Bottle @iamcherrylemon

I started with a solid baby blue base colour, then dry brushed the purple shimmer, gold, blue and pearl stamping polishes onto each nail. Then double stamped the images with the gold and black stamping polishes with the chosen images from the same plate.

Mini review on the Born Pretty stamping plate BPL-59

This plate has a good mixture of music related images, Many of the designs are great for various nail lengths. I love the bird, music scores and the piano. I did not have any issue picking up the images with my trusty “Born pretty Clear duo XL stamper” stamper and my Painted polish. Each image is well etched and easy to pick up. I use pure acetone for plate clean up.

You can get this plate for $2.99 from Born Pretty Online Store (not affiliated)

Thank you and have a great week!

26 Great Nail Art Ideas – Colour Explosions

Hello there, it’s that time of the week again that I show you another #26GNAI mani! This week’s prompt is “Colour Explosions”… and I have only used a few colours… oh dear.

Anyhow, I have received a couple of new CreativeShop stamping plates and I was keen to make use of them. I picked out few of my neon polishes and started dry brushing over a silver white base.

26 Great Nail Art Ideas – Colours Explosion (stamped neon mani and dry brush technique) @iamcherrylemon

Products used:

• CreativeShop stamping plate 69
• Sinful Colors – White on white
• Painted Polish – Midnight mischief
• Various neon polishes from Pipe dreams

The stamping decals were made the night before to give it enough time to dry off. I added a layer of clear polish to make it flexible again before applying over a white base. I have received a little jar of holo powder from AliExpress, I used a teeny bit of it to add a bit of silver tint to it.

Thank you for visiting 🙂

Be sure to check out other manis that are in the same collaboration 🙂

Meebox June 2017: Ibiza Mee and inspired manicures

 

Meebox June 2017 Ibiza Mee – box contents @iamcherrylemon

So, the summer is finally here together with the June Meebox. Nothing screams summer more than neon colours, and would you just look at the colours here!

I had a big smile when I first opened the box, was really happy with the neon pink and orange, the royal blurple is very lovely too.

The box looks lovely and I had a few mani ideas straight away. Don’t you just love it when you get inspired for art!?

Box contents:

• Zoya nail varnish “Mirajane” £9.95 from Nail polish direct.co.uk
• Nails Inc Neon Activator £8 from NailsInc.com
• Nails Inc “Claridges Garden” £15 from NailsInc.com
• Models Own nail polish in “Beach Hut” – £4.99 from Boots.com
• IZ Beauty of London – Multiple stripe decals – £4
• NCLA End of Summer nail wraps ($16 from ShopNCLA.com / £10.95)

Total retail value: over £50 (if bought individually)

Mini product reviews:

Zoya “Mirijane” – This is from Zoya Ultra Brites 2016 Collection, a jelly polish in royal purple (leans blue if used on top of a white polish). This has a fairly thin formula, so for full opacity, I used 3 coats of the polish. It certainly looks best with a top coat. I do not own many Zoyas to compare, but this is very streaky and very tricky to use… saying that, I do love the shade of this polish.

Meebox June 2017 Ibiza Mee – Zoya “Mirajane” photo swatch @iamcherrylemon

Nails Inc “Neon Activator” – This is the white polish that you should use with Nails Inc neon colours. I used this under the Zoya and Claridges Garden on my swatch pictures and it does make a great difference in terms of brightness. Upon application, I find that this polish activator is fairly quick drying and it is not 100% opaque in 1 coat. This did affect the look of the neon polish that’s applied on top of it. I would suggest you use 2 coats to ensure a beautiful look for your neons!

 

Nails Inc “Claridges Garden” – This is an ultra-bright neon pink from a recent Nails Inc summer release. I was excited to try this polish! I love how insanely bright this neon is, it was like using a pink highlighter on your writing pad in school. This is the lovely effect of the activator, so the brightness does get affect as you apply more neon polish

Meebox June 2017 Ibiza Mee – Nails Inc neon “Claridges Garden” photo swatch @iamcherrylemon

Models own Polish for Tan “Beach Hut” – This is a wonderful creamy neon orange polish that does not require a white base coat for it to pop! Quite easily my favourite polish from this month’s Meebox. It applies well, and fully opaque in 2 coats. You can probably get away with 1 thick coat of it.

IZ Beauty of London nail decals – Fabulous range of black, white and gold straight tapes.

I have used these in one of my Ibiza inspired manis (scroll down please!) and I really like these. I like them being stickers and the fancy effect it gives to the mani too. This is very useful for future nail art and the price is great too.

NCLA nail wraps £10.95 from Nail polish direct

These are so pretty, the colours go extremely well with the polishes from this month’s box. I like it so much to the point I didn’t want to use them at all!

These nail wraps apply like thin stickers on the nail, can be easily filed off any excess. I have used NCLA nail wraps (from the “No place like home” Meebox), and find them really easy to use and beginner friendly. Meebox, you did extremely well on picking this one!

Here are my manicures inspired by this month’s Meebox

Neon Pink Ice Lolly mani

I have nothing to say about this mani, just crazy bright and my phone camera could not handle it and making everything looks a bit weird. I am glad I captured the brightness in the sun for this.

Meebox June 2017 Ibiza Mee – Neon Pink Ice Lolly mani (Nails Inc Claridges Garden and Uber Chic 9-01) @iamcherrylemon

Products used:

• UberChic Beauty plate 9-01
• Nails Inc “Claridges Garden”
• Hit The Bottle “Spun gold” stamping polish
• Colour Alike “Kind of White” stamping polish
• Nails Inc neon activator
• Glisten & Glow HK girl fast drying top coat

 

Blurple summer mani with nail wrap

The nail wraps are absolutely gorgeous, I did not want to use it at all… hoarder obession :p

Meebox June 2017 Ibiza Mee – Zoya “Mirajane” inspired nail art [Summer nails with NCLA nail wraps] @iamcherrylemon

Products used:

• Zoya “Mirijane”
• NCLA End of summer nail wrap
• Iz Beauty of London Deco IT nail decals
• Danglefoot “Don’t dangle about” top coat
• Nails Inc neon activator

 

 

Matte neon orange with stamped paisley

This mani looks summery yet very chilled out, I have a new found love for paisley patterns!

Meebox June 2017 Ibiza Mee – Models Own “Beach Hut” [Chilled out Summer nails paisley print] @iamcherrylemon

Products used:

• Models Own “Beach Hut”
• Colour Alike “Kind of White” stamping polish
• Uber Chic Beauty plate 13-01
• Zoya Matte velvet lacquer (from a previous meebox)

 

My thoughts on the box!

One of my favourite in terms of colours, but I do wish that the polish formula was a bit easier to work with. I like both of the nail art items included, and I am glad these will get used again soon. Next month’s theme is “Birds of Paradise” and the box has already landed on doorstep, cannot wait to show you what’s in the box! If you fancy checking out Meebox yourself, click here to find out more (www.meebox.co.uk).

 

Thank you for reading and hope you have a great day.

 

 

 

 

 

​26 Great Nail Art Ideas – Sunshine

Hello there! Today I’m sharing a mellow and cheery manicure, created for the #26GreatNailArtIdeas prompt “Sunshine”. 

I’ve chosen a simple gradient with stamping mani design.. It is so much quicker to create a gradient using the Lina Make your mark 3 plate. 

26 Great Nail Art Ideas – Sunshine @iamcherrylemon

Products used:

• Uber Chic beauty stamping plate 12-01
• Lina plate Make tor mark 3
• Hit the bottle – Chromeo
• Painted polish – Stamped in Starfruit
• Glisten and Glow HK girl fast drying top coat
• Colour Alike – Kinda white

26 Great Nail Art Ideas – Sunshine @iamcherrylemon

Thank you for visiting and have a gorgeous day!

Click to check out other manis for this #26GNAI edition.

Instagram Nail Art Challenge: The Inspiration Challenge July 2017 [Uber Chic plate 2-03, Born Pretty Chameleon Nail Lacquer #39975] + Product review

 

Hello there, this is another round of the Inspiration challenge hosted by the lovely Riley and Sam (see my IG post for more details).

Each round, we are given an inspiration picture, the idea is to create nail art somewhat inspired by the picture. It could be the colours, the theme, the texture, whatever and however the picture has inspired you. I am not used to this type of inspiration challenge, and it was extremely difficult for the first round (which I need to write a blog post to document the *journey*!).

 

Inspiration picture for this round 13^th July 2017:

Instagram Inspiration challenge July 2017 (Nail art Inspiration picture)

For this round, I have created a manicure based on my interpretation of the picture, countries and places! So I have chosen to use a world map image from the Uber Chic stamping plate 2-03, and also couple of quotes from the same plate for the design. It sums up my idea pretty well… “Run away with me, see the world”.

Products used:

• Uber Chic Beauty stamping plate 2-03
• Painted Polish stamping polish in Midnight Mischief
• Hit the Bottle stamping polish in Chromeo
• Born Pretty Chameleon Nail Polish Romantic Heart Fiery Love Sequins Nail Lacquer (Item number 39975, PR Sample)
• Glisten & Glow HK Girl fast drying top coat

Instagram Inspiration challenge July 2017 (Nail art collage)

 

My interpretation of the inspiration picture

Instagram Inspiration challenge July 2017 (Uber Chic 2-03, Born Pretty chameleon polish) @iamcherrylemon

 

Instagram Inspiration challenge July 2017 (Uber Chic 2-03, Born Pretty chameleon polish) @iamcherrylemon

 

Instagram Inspiration challenge July 2017 (macro) @iamcherrylemon

Instagram Inspiration challenge July 2017 (macro) @iamcherrylemon

Instagram Inspiration challenge July 2017 (macro) @iamcherrylemon

 

What do you think?

Mini Review on the Chameleon nail polishes

There are 2 polishes in this set, 1 is a normal chameleon (multichrome) and 1 flakies polish. The set is currently retails at $7.99 (or $4.99 individually) from Born Pretty nail art store.

Each polish within this duo is 9ml, and they are of the same colour family (same shifty colours).

Application: The chameleon polish applies smoothly onto the nail and levels out well. The consistency is thick but not gloopy. It dries to a very smooth finish.

In all my pictures, I have applied 2 coats over a black base colour.

The flakies polish was packed full of flakes glitter in the bottle, the very sheer black jelly suspension base carried the flakies well and I did not have to fish around for the flakies for application. I have applied 1 coat over the chameleon polish. Please expect at least 2 to 3 thick coats to reach full opacity when not applied over any base colour.

Finish: both polishes go really well together, I have used the chameleon polish on all my nails, and flakies only to the little finger. After 1 coat of fast drying polish, all nails appear smooth (actually smoother than my actual nails!). Both polishes dry in reasonable time.

Born pretty “Chameleon Nail Polish Romantic Heart Fiery Love Sequins Nail Lacquer” item #39975 @iamcherrylemon

 

Thank you for visiting, have a great week!

 

Note: The Born Pretty nail polish set was sent to me for honest opinion and review

​Purple gradient nails with double stamping

Double stamping over purple gradient nails (Born pretty BP-L078) @iamcherrylemon

#PRSample

Hello

This manicure is created for a “Get Well” nail art collaboration for our ig friend Tammy. Tammy has gone under several surgeries, and is currently home recovering.

We wish Tammy a speedy recovery, you can find all the individual manis in this Collab by check out the hash tag #RecoveryWishesForTammy on Instagram.

The collab prompt was to create a manicure in the colour purple. So I picked the 3 polishes (see product list) and created a gradient mani, then double stamped using holo silver and black.

This BP-L078 plate has It has 14 cute images with each measuring 14mm by 25mm, suitable for most nail lengths. These images can also be easily adaptable for shorter nails too. As always, I had no problem picking up the images from this plate. I was using a sticky galaxy stamper (reviewed here as item #2). I can see more manicures will be created using this plate 😍

This is the first time I have used the Ejiubas clear stamper to create mani. A more in-depth review will be posted in the future. As I am putting it to the serial stamper test!! (so far, I am loving the results and the gorgeous little crystals!)

Ejiubas stamper @iamcherrylemon

Ejiubas stamper @iamcherrylemon

 

Products used:

• Barry M Gelly nail paints in Coconut and Plum
• Illamasqua nail varnish in Jo’mina
• Emily de Molly Holo silver
• Painted polish Midnight mischief
• Born pretty stamping plate BP-L078
• Ejiubas clear stamper

I would prefer the gradient to look smoother but the polishes didn’t play well with me that night, it was pretty hot!
Thank you for visiting x

Note: This plate was sent to me for honest review and opinion.

​#26GNAI Great Nail Art Ideas “Beach/Animal Silhouette”

Hello! Happy Saturday! How is your July going 🙂

Today, I’m sharing this manicure I did for #26GNAI. I’ve chosen to use one of my very old stamping plate by Moyou London.

This is the Tropical plate 05, this is probably my 4th mani created with this plate. It still hasn’t failed me as Moyou London plate are etched perfectly and great for beginners.

Products used:

• Pretty Serious Pastel neons Cutie Patootie, Peachie poo and Fluffykins
• Moyou London Tropical plate 05
• Wikkid polish in Star dust
• Painted polish Midnight mischief
• Emily de Molly Holo silver stamping polish
• Glisten & Glow HK girl fast drying top coat
• Annika polish by Edge Nails in White Swan
• Makeup sponge for gradient

I started this mani with the neon pastel gradient base. To be honest, I liked it so much I didn’t really want to stamp over it. The colours are working so well together, and holo glitter top coat is just perfect for it too.

For the stamping, I’ve used the holo stamping polish for all the images then stamped the silhouette of flamingos in black. Of course, I used my favourite black stamping polish for this. 
I am quite happy for this manicure and I’ll wear this for few more days if I can.

Thank you for reading and wishing you a lovely weekend.

Ps. Please check out all other lovely manis for this round’s #26GNAI 🙂

#ForKnittyNails IG nail art collaboration and belated birthday nails (Cute cat sparkly nails)

On IG, the nail art community feels like a close knit circle or made up of many circles… You can get along really well with like minded people. You chit chat day in day out, some kind of relationship or friendship develops. 
Debbie, aka KnittyNails is one of those sweet and kind people you will come across and would like instantly. I find Debbie to be very supportive and n encouraging. She was one of the first IG accounts that I’ve follow.

It has been a tough few months for her and we wanted to show her that we care. So a group of us have come together to show some support for Debbie, by cooperating in a nail art collaboration. 

This is my creation, a blue based floral layered stamping. It is because Debbie is the Queen of layered stamping. She makes it looks so easy, but it really isn’t!

Products used: 

• Mavala nail lacquer in Cobalt Blue
• Painted polish Stamped in Mint, Stamped in Guava and Stamped in Taro
• Uber Chic beauty stamping plate 17-03
• Glisten and Glow HK girl fast drying top coat

I think this manicure could look a bit better, but I’m so glad Debbie told me that she loves it alot. I really need to take a lesson or 2 on layered stamping!

I have also included her birthday collab manicure which I’ve done back in March. I somehow, not posted it here. 

It is a cute kitten manicure with lilac and glitter polishes.

Products used:

• Grey cat water decals from She sells sea shells
• ILNP Rosewater
• China glaze Pearl Jammin
• CreativeShop stamping plate 04
• Colour Alike stamping polish in Berry Smoothie

Two very different manis that are inspired by the same cat loving, kind and supportive lady.

Hope you like these, thank you for reading

#26GNAI 26 Great Nail Art Ideas – Going on Holiday

Happy Friday! It is #26GNAI time again! This week’s prompt is “Going on holiday”. Who doesn’t want to be on holiday, especially the weather is nice and sunny, perfect timing 🙂

Here is my “Going on Holiday” nail design! Isn’t it bright and cheerful?

#26GNAI Great nail art ideas – “Going on holiday” (Born Pretty stamping plates BPL-022 BP-L017) @iamcherrylemon

 

I layered stamped all the images and made 1 special stamping decal with the sunglasses image. I am actually quite happy with how it turns out, the multicolour stamped planes are so adorable!

Products used:

• Barry M Gelly nail paint in Guava
• Painted polish in Midnight mischief, Stamped in Mint, Stamped in Taro, Stamped in Starfruit, Stamped in Guava
• Colour Alike white stamping polish
• Born pretty stamping plates BPL-022 and BP-L017

 Mini review on the stamping plates

The BPL-022 (#20787) is also known as the Geek pattern plate. It has 14 cute images with each measuring 14mm by 25mm, suitable for most nail lengths and the images won’t overwhelm shorter nails as well. Like all my Born Pretty plates, the images transferred well and appear very clear.

ThisI have wanted to use the sunglasses image for so long!

The BP-L017 (#19372) is known as the Summer Beach Sea stamping plate. It has 21 images and most of these are measured at 14mm by 19mm. These images are all very summery and easy to use. I received this as part of my first UK Indie box last year, I have used this plate before and I am still happy with it 🙂

Here are my previous nail designs using the same plate.

Luna Loves Lacquer in Summer Droplets (Life’s a Beach, UK Indie Polish Box Summer 2016) Photo Swatch @iamcherrylemon

Freckles ‘Sea you at the Shore’ – [Life’s a Beach UK indie polish box] (Photo swatch) @iamcherrylemon

Danglefoot ‘I’m Beach Ready’ photo swatch @iamcherrylemon

Danglefoot Nail Polish “I’m Beach Ready” @iamcherrylemon

I hope you like my nail designs! 🙂

Don’t forget to use my discount code! 😉

Born Pretty Store 10% discount code

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!

 

Disclaimer: All items have been purchased by me, contains my honest opinion and I am not being reimbursed for this post. This post does NOT contain affiliate links.

​maniswap with Instagram nail artist @nellemiemani (Pastel neon gradient nails with geometric designs) @iamcherrylemon

Hello there! Hope it is a nice and sunny day where you’re​ at! It is hitting high 20s in the UK today. The Sun is actually burning my skin right now.

Today’s post is on my mani swap with the lovely Gaia (IG @nellemiemani). Gaia has the most delicate and cut nail shapes! Her nail art designs are fabulous and a good variation of techniques.

To be honest, I panicked a bit when it was my turn to choose one of her designs for the mani swap.  I suddenly realised most of Gaia’s designs are extremely suited to her small but cute nails.

Anyhow, I’ve picked to recreate one of her recent nail designs. It has a bright pastel background with gorgeous stamping. Gaia has chosen to recreate my pastel gradient mother’s day mani! I love her version alot and I love the fact the two manicures are so similar but different. 

IG @nellemiemani check out Gaia’s profile on Instagram 🙂 it’s pretty awesome!
Products used to create my recreation:

• Pueen – Visual wonderland Stamping plate
• Painted polish in Midnight mischief
• Pretty Serious neon pastels in Fluffykins,  Bunny foofoo, Peachie poo, Doodle bug, Cutie Patootie and also a bright yellow called “Honey puff”
• Wikkid polish in Star Dust
• Glisten and Glow HK girl fast drying top coat
• Makeup sponge
• Rainbow connection liquid latex cuticle protector

What do you think? 🙂

Thank you for reading and have a lovely day.