Fall is Here with Maple Leaf Nail Art

*Some products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Barielle. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hello lovelies!! More nail art? Yes, I'm really trying to get back into doing my nails and how can you possibly paint nails without doing some pretty nail art?

I bring you maple leaf art for fall. I actually did these on the first day of fall but things have been busy so this post got pushed back.

I was given the opportunity to test and review a few Barielle products. At the time, I had this idea in my head for a fall mani so I requested Dinner at 8 (red), Hawaiian Sunset (orange), and Lemondrops (yellow). All perfectly beautiful fall shades!

I started out with 2 coats of Lemondrops and used some cheap Dollar Store bought eyeshadow applicators to lightly sponge on some Hawaiian Sunset, Dinner at 8, and some green China Glaze Holly-Day. Build lightest to darkest as you don't see the lighter colors as well over dark as you do the other way around! In some places I sponged and then used a clean side to sponge over it again - especially the green as this gives it a slightly watercolor smudged look that works perfectly on the maple leaf idea. A little clean up and you have a perfect base for this mani.

I applied top coat over this and waited for it to dry completely.

While I waited (and being extra careful not to ruin my mani) I used my Silhouette cutter and some handy sticker vinyl to cut out some maple leaf shapes in various sizes for my nails.

Once my nails were completely dry - I repeat completely dry - I applied my homemade maple leaf vinyls. I positioned them much like choosing the swirl in a watermarble ... over the best sponging. ;) Once I had them where I wanted them I painted over the entire nail with China Glaze Holly-Day. If you aren't comfortable painting over the entire nail you can simply sponge the green over the entire nail and clean up any mess. Just be sure to get in good around your maple leaves. You want nice, sharp lines. Also, if you really don't feel comfortable doing peel off vinyls you could totally leave the vinyls on and simply add top coat over them.

It was much simpler than I thought to use a pair of super sharp tweezer while the green was still slightly tacky, grab a leafy corner, and peel the vinyl right off leaving behind a perfectly fall colored maple leaf on each nail.

Add a layer of top coat and you are set. ;)

A note about wear - it was excellent! I did this mani Tuesday and loved it so much I wanted it to last until Saturday so I could wear it to the local potato festival. I honestly didn't hold much hope because polish just doesn't wear well for me anymore. Mixing polish and running Spellbound Nails opens up a ton of chances for me to get splattered with polish or chip a brand new mani. BUT! This mani lasted not just until Saturday but with only minimal tip wear (and one minor splatter on a thumb). And I reallllyyy didn't go easy on them either. I mixed polish as usual, put together a new entertainment center, did some major fall cleaning, and went about my business. Seriously, forgive the phone pic (taken this morning before heading to the festival) but just look at those tips. A little touch up and another layer of top coat and I could wear these for at least another few days if not longer! Many thanks to Barielle for letting me try their must be magic polishes.

Links to Barielle

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram (because what is life without Instagram?)

Until next time,

Ashley

*Some products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Barielle. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Break Out The Crackle

*gasp* What foul magic is this?? A nail art-ish post after so long? Yes, my lovlies, yes.

Yep, I did it. And I have no shame about it. I broke out the crackle. China Glaze Cracked Concrete released in 2011 (if I remember correctly) to be exact. Again, no shame because it's so pretty paired with this old tester blue that never made it into my shop and takes next to no work! When life is so busy next to no work is perfection. :)

Source: Undiegamer

I would also like to point out that I spent most of the night rounding out my poor square nubbins in the hopes that a new shape with less edges will stop them from breaking. Grrrr!! Nail shape is all a matter of preference, and I freely admit that round really isn't mine, but we all do what we have to do to get our nails to grow.

Any followers out there still rocking the crackle?

Until next time,
Ashley

PREORDER Give Up The Ghost - Halloween Collection

Hello lovelies! Anyone who knows me or follows me knows I LOVE Halloween. Can you hear my squeal of excitement from there?? Why am I so terribly excited? Because I have another awesome Halloween collection. Last year's collection was inspired by the most amazing Halloween movie ever, Hocus Pocus (collection still available only on spellboundnails.com). This year's collection is inspired by probably the second most awesome Halloween movie ever ... I think it ties with Nightmare Before Christmas for second favorite but that's kinda Halloween and Christmas.

But ... Casper!! I am so proud and excited to introduce you to the Give Up The Ghost Collection.

Pre-sales: 9/15-9/22

Pre-orders will ship after 9/22

Full release: 9/27

www.spellboundnails.com

Also available on:

spellboundnails.etsy.com

spellboundnails.storenvy.com

Do you see? Do you see?? Isn't it awesome??? There are 6 polishes, each one inspired by one of my favorite scenes, quotes, or things about the movie ... and 5 of them glow in the dark! It's practically a rainbow of glow!

Here is where you get to choose. You can either immediately run to spellboundnails.com and preorder these beauties (because you know you want to!) or you can continue on the road of discovery with me and see more of these polishes. I warn you now it's heavy on the image. ;)

Still here? Okay, moving on!

This is Unfinished Business. It's an earthy, hunter green polish with a gorgeous green shimmer that glows green in the dark. Can any Casper lover seriously say they didn't love the part in the movie where Kat and Casper trick the ghostly Carrigan into admitting she has no unfinished business? Nothing to tie her to Earth?

Pinky Promise is a bright bubblegum pink crelly with white and holographic black hexes and holographic black triangle glitters. This polish glows yellow in the dark.

Boo is a glitter topper but glitter topper just doesn't do this polish justice. Awesome topper? Still doesn't come close! It has holographic orange, holographic green, fuchsia, black, and a sprinkling of white glitter in hexes, squares, dots, and skulls! Inspired by that moment the human Casper turns back into a ghost, gives an awkward laugh, and questioningly says Boo? and everyone at the party goes running. I thought this moment was a perfect way to wrap up this year's Halloween collection. :) Boo is shown here over Unfinished Business.

Can I Keep You? is a lovely warm purple with banana yellow stars and hexes and orange shreds. This polish also glows purple in the dark. What person doesn't know the inspiration for this one? Most people who grew up during the movie's release or had a child of viewing age knows this question! Casper whispers it to Kat as she falls asleep and then again as the human Casper dances with Kat.

Get An Afterlife is a beautiful baby blue with holographic blue and black hexes, holographic silver squares, and fuchsia dots. This polish glows bright baby blue in the dark. The inspiration is more the slogan for the movie but I still think it fits perfectly ... and it makes an amazingly beautiful polish. :)

Instant Primordial Soup Mix is a red/orange jelly with holo orange glitter that glows orange in the dark. That long (fun looking) ride to the Lazarus machine and our first glimpse of the formula that brings back the dead - and Casper's words that it's basically an instant primordial soup mix - is just brilliant! And is what inspired this polish.

Anddd that's all folks! What do you think? Have a favorite of this collection? If so, let me know in the comments. ;)

Until next time,

Ashley

NEW Spellbound Nails Charity Triplet

Hello lovelies!! Good morning, good evening, or good night ... wherever you might be. :) I have some new polishes that released yesterday on spellboundnails.com.

As you can see these are charity polishes! $2 of every bottle sold will be donated to the Chicago English Bulldog Rescue. Buy a bottle and $2 will be donated, buy a duo and $4 will be donated, buy the full trio and $6 will be donated!!

I was contacted about donating some polishes to their upcoming silent auction happening during this year's Bully Bash ... animal lover that I am, I took it 10 steps further and donated a few of my best selling polishes and custom created these beauties.

Since they are the Chicago English Bulldog Rescue it was mentioned that a Chicago Bears inspired polish might be a good fit. So I created the Bear Down Duo. You can buy these polishes individually as well, and each charity polish will come with a custom created vinyl bulldog in place of my usual holographic heart stickers (while supplies last). ;)

This is #1 Fan. It's a navy blue creme with a gorgeous blue shimmer.

This is the other half of the Bear Down Duo. Da Bears is a matte orange and white glitter topper.

And last but not least is Bully For You. This is such a fun color! When asked about creating a bulldog inspired polish Jody immediately said neon green because it's wild and wacky like the bulldogs. I took that idea and ran with it! Bully For You is a lime green jelly with a red/fuchsia shimmer and chunky iridescent flakies. Wild, wacky, and fun. It looks great alone or can be layered for even more fun. I especially love how it looks layered over black.

To see these polishes in action and read the review, head on over to Over the Top Coat.

Info on the Chicago English Bulldog Rescue and the upcoming Bully Bash:

The Chicago English Bulldog Rescue (CEBR for short) has been helping bulldogs and their families for almost 8 years. They are 75 volunteers strong and have rehomed over 600 amazing bullies. And because of the downturn in the economy over the last few years, an unprecedented number of bullies are being surrendered. Thankfully, due to their large number of volunteers they have risen up and become a hopeful beacon for many dogs in need! But they can't do it alone. On average, it takes about $900 to get just one bulldog ready for adoption so any amount, whether small or large, means everything to these dogs. It helps feed them, find them homes, give them life saving surgery. It's a cause very near and dear to my heart.

The Bully Bash happens Saturday October 4th at 11:00am - 6:00 pm so mark your calendars! If you're not in the area, CEBR said no problem this year! You don't have to attend the Bully Bash to bid on silent auction items. You'll be able to see a full catalog of items available in advance and bid against attendees during the Bash online. https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?vhost=cebr

Until next time,

♥ Ashley

Autographed Make-up by ONE DIRECTION Giveaway

*This post was sponsored by Brandbacker.

I am so, so excited to be posting today because I have something amazing to share with you. The wait is over! As of 8/11, you can get One Direction’s Markwins International makeup kits in Macy's stores in the US ... and through this giveaway!! Yes, I said giveaway. Excited yet? Did I mention the giveaway is for a Looks Collection set autographed by the band??

About the Collection:
“The Looks Collection” comprises three keepsake tins inspired by One Direction’s globe-conquering albums, “Up All Night, “Take Me Home” and the latest chart topper, ‘Midnight Memories.” Each tin comes complete with everything you need to show off your personality. Are you a rock n’ roll girl, a fun party girl or the girl next door? We have just the right collection for you and illustrations to help show you just how to get your perfect look. All your beauty essentials are housed in a LIMITED EDITION collectable keepsake tin with removable sleeve, complete with ONE DIRECTION doodle stencils to decorate your keepsake tin and make it uniquely your own!

Take Me Home

Up All Night

Midnight Memories

Find out more on the Makeup by One Direction Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/MakeupbyOneDirection

Tags To Use For Social Media

#makeupby1D

#thelookscollection

#markwins

This giveaway is for US & Canada only 

*This post was sponsored by Brandbacker.