Is This Done Yet?

Hello!

Nail art is, in part, so fascinating to me because the innovations and techniques being used, introduced and invented seem so endless.
One technique I've yet to successfully accomplish is the needle marble. It seems easy enough, but I've yet to get it right. However, I'm not too embarrassed by my efforts to show them to you!

I used a base of Zoya Rue. I let that dry then added drops of Zoya Odette and Essie Turquoise & Caicos, and dragged a very fine dotting tool through them.

This isn't even close to what I had in mind, but hell, I don't hate it! I just keep thinking it needs one more added element to make it feel 'complete'. But the question is what?? Any suggestions??

-L

Colour Blocking and Holo Tape

Hello!

This look is a bit different for me since I very rarely use anything but actual nail polish in my manis (I don't use acrylic paints, studs, stickers, etc., not that there's anything wrong with any of those!)

I was at my local Shoppers (Drug Mart, for those of you unfamiliar with the Canadian chain), and saw a clearance bin with nail art stickers by Essence. As I said, I don't use stickers much, but I liked the holographic tape. This is a bit thicker and wider than your usual metallic striping tape (and therefore much easier to handle). It comes on a flat sheet (not a roll), so they're shorter strips. I think I got 3 or 4 nails done with each strip.

I started with 2 coats of bondi nyc Lady Liberty (seafoam). I waited a good while for that to dry, taped off the tops and added Misa Sorry Just Can't Help It (purple). Then added the tape across the border. Not only does it look great, but it hides a few of the imperfect lines!

I actually matted (Essie Matte About You) all but my ring finger after top coating (Seche Vite) . This photo is a bit out of focus, but shows off the different finishes better.

Which are you, shiny or matte?

-L

Vacation Nails with MoYou Stamping

Hello!

Ok, so I didn't go on vacation. But let's say I did, I'd definitely rock something like this for a tropical trip.

I started with a base of OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around. I then used a makeup sponge to add the 3 colours: bondi nyc Teal Magnolia, OPI I Can't Cope-acabana, and OPI Live.Love.Carnival. It was meant to be a pie-shaped gradient, but I like the looser randomness of the final result.

I then added the tropical foliage images using Konad Gold Black and MoYou Tropical 12.

I love bright and tropical themes (can you tell?), but after a day or two I got restless with it. I was too busy at the time to do another mani, so I added a glitter topper!

Yay! Elevation Polish Haba Xueshan is one of my all-time favourite glitter toppers. Not sure why the black and white combo always makes things look a bit more 90's to me. Perfect, since I'm seeing a 90's esque topical trend everywhere this summer.

Do you prefer with or without the glitter?

-L

Sneak Peek, Coming this Fall!

Hello!

I've been working crazy hours so the blog has had to take a bit of a back seat, but it doesn't mean we're not always living the lacquer life!

Here's a lil teaser of something I'm working on for Fall.

CANVAS lacquer Release - GIRL GANG TRIO

Hello!

One of the reasons I've been so busy the past week was because we were making batches of our latest collection!

The Girl Gang Trio is a capsule collection we created inspired by the strength of so many awesome women we know and admire.

Flaunt It! is a gorgeous nude/champagne lacquer with a beautiful holographic glow and golden shimmer. Perfect for both the conservative and the sassy.

Flaunt it if you got it, girl!

Blood Sisters is a vampy, blackened bloody plum crelly with the opacity of a creme but the glossiness of a jelly. An edgy shade that's right on trend.

Love this lacquer for life

G.I. Jane is a complex olive/bronze shade packed with golden micro-flake shimmer, copper glow and sparks of blue and green. 

This shade will definitely command attention.

 SO excited about this mini collectionm - hope you enjoy it too! Visit the Etsy shop here.

-L

Faux Watermarble

Hello!

Whoa - I've been a busy bee this week so I don't have a lot of art to share today.
I only have an iPhone pic of the final mani that I had to snag from my Instagram.

I started with a base of OPI I Don't Give A Rotterdam, a shimmery grey that is more complex upon closer inspection. Then I created a diagonal gradient with Essie Naughty Nautical (aqua) and Nyx Purple.
Here's a look at the gradient pre-stamp:

I added the faux watermarble type image from Vivid Lacquer plate 009 and Konad White.
I have never been able to make watermarbling work for me, so this is an easy cheat.

Any tips of making real water marbles work?

-L

New Stamping Possibilties with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri

Hello!

So. If you didn't know... I like stamping. With my recent plate purchases I've been also dying to get my hands on more stamping polish. Konad polishes are a bit pricey (relatively), but are supposed to be the hallmark of stamping polish. My Gold Black is amazing, but the Silver I bought is way weaker than my nOPI Positive Energy, so my experience is hit/miss.
I started hearing RAVE reviews of Mundo de Unas stamping polish so I tried to hop on that train, but alas! I kept trying to check out and getting an error, then I read that they stopped shipping internationally recently. *cry*
With a little research (ie, going past page 1 in google results), I surmised the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line was full of great stamping options. I raced over to the local drug store and voila! A sale!!!
So I picked up 8 shades. Here's 4.

I started with a base of In The Groove, a cross between a lime and avocado green. These polishes are so creamy and opaque! I find the brushes kinda fat and ragged looking, but it works for most of my fingers because the cuticle line is curved. My thumb is more straight across, and getting a nice straight line with those brushes is a bitch!. I then sponged on Mint Sprint (which I don't find minty, but closer to turquoise), and Brisk Blue. With Pueen plate 52 I added these geometric images using Sand Storm.

Can't wait to keep playing with these shades and finally be able to do more stamping over dark, and more double stamping!

Do you have any favourite non-Konad stamping polishes?

-L

This one almost got away...

Hello!

Sometimes life just starts racing around you and you almost forget to post a mani!

This is a little quickie I did using holographics and playing with the Pueen Encore plates.

I started with Darling Diva Killer Queen on my thumb, middle and ring finger. Index and pinky are Darling Diva We Will Rock You. They're both really pretty shifty holos.
I got curious and wanted to see how the holo flame would play if I added more holo to the tips. Hands down, the strongest linear holos in my collection are the Layla's. On the thumb, middle and ring I added Ultra Violet to the tips, and Emerald Divine to my index and pinky. The effect is subtle but I like it.

I stamped with images from Pueen plate 02A and nOPI Positive Energy. This was also another chance for me to play with my new squishy stamper, and I gotta say I don't know if I'm head over heels. I love how much the images wrap around the nail and get into my cuticles and cover my tips, but I'm still struggling to get image pick ups as clean and crisp and whole as my harder Konad stamper. Do I need even more priming? I'm afraid to go too far!

-L

We've Been Busy!

Hello!

We've had some custom orders in the last couple weeks that have been a lot of fun for us. Making bespoke polish is so satisfying for us!

First off, a set of minis for a blushing bride, Brttany. She had the brilliant idea of calling if Breakfast at Brittany's, since the shade is very reminiscent of that famous Tiffany blue. She's including one each into a goodie bag for her bridal party. Awesome idea right?!?

Next, we had 2 requests from a customer. One for a cranberry base with silver and grey flecks, and a cat inspired polish. The second was a bit challenging, but that's what makes custom lacquer so amazing! There's been so much positive feedback - get your own by contacting us!

canvas custom lacquers

If you've got a dream polish you're dying to create, hit us up!

-L

A Rip in Time & Space

Hello!

Sorry it's been awhile. A few different things have been keeping me busy the last couple weeks, but it's all been good!

A couple weeks ago I did this mani, and for the first time tagged myself into a trending theme. This thread was started by The Nail Art Guild, a small group of nail bloggers I follow on Instagram. I'm happy to say this mani has gotten more likes than I've ever received before! For a newbie like myself, hitting just over 100 likes (about 105 last count), is very thrilling!

This theme was Time & Space, so I decided to interpret a wormhole, a rip in the space-time-continuum.

nebula, before the rip

I actually freakin' love this nebula look before I added extra streaks and sparks - but it didn't represent the theme well enough for me so I had to take it to that next level. However, next straight-up galaxy mani I do HAS to have a nebula like this!

I started with a black base of Essie Licorice. Then with a makeup sponge I did a bit of a circle gradient plus random spots with Sally Hansen White On, bondi nyc Blue Skies, Misa Blue Over a Boy, China Glaze Orange Knockout, Misa A Sunny Smile Makes Me Go Wild and bondi nyc Fuschia-istic. Using a few of those colours I also took a detail brush and drew light outward streaks from a centre point - the tiny dot is actually Dance Legend New Prisms Optical Illusion.

wormhole mani!

I continued to add the coloured streaks, added a few light black streaks on top of the colour for dimension, and a few white spots. To soften the look I added little splotches of white and grey in the form of Nfu-Oh Jelly Syrup 01 & 04. Topped with KBShimmer I Only Have Ice For you and a coat of Cult Nails Wax That (after Seche Vite, of course).

I'm so proud of these results that I plan on tagging myself into more themes in the future!

-L