My Bundle Monster Contest Entry

Bundle Monster arranged a nail contest again this year and because I totally missed it last year, I decided to join the contest this year. :)

I decided to enter with this manicure I did a while ago - Gold Glittery Zebra Print, because I really love everything about it - gold, glitter, zebra print, I even love my nubs here. :$

Public votes starts today and will end on Sunday, May 13th and 50 manicures with the most votes will enter the step 2 where the judges will decide which 25 manicures will win the prize (3rd Bundle Monster set :D ). Well if you have a few seconds and you like my manicure, please vote for me. :)

If you have a Facebook account, you can vote here:

http://apps.facebook.com/winnailplates/contests/216667/voteable_entries/49037259 

If you don't have Facebook (but all those who have FB can vote here again :P) you can vote here:

http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/216667/voteable_entries/49037259

You can vote for each entry once per day.  :)

Every vote counts so THANK YOU if you decide to vote for me. :) You can check all the other amazing entries and vote for them too. :) If you entered a contest too, please leave a link in the comments, so I can vote for you too!

I would be more than happy to get into Top 50, but after I saw all 11 pages with just amazing manicures, I just doubt. :i Anyway, good luck!

Xoxo,
Ivana :k

Step by Step: Gold Glittery Zebra Print

I'm seeing Easter nails everywhere but I must say I'm not in Easter mood at all, probably because I still can't believe it's already April. :/ Well, I ate already tons of chocolate eggs. :$ I hope I'll make an Easter mani till next week, when we're celebrating an Orthodox Easter. :) 

My nails really make me sad for months now and I can't find a reason why are they peeling so much, so of course I filed them down to nubs again. I have some peelies down to the nail bed so they need to grow out but even when they grow out, they start peeling on the same place. Annoying! :)

Oh well, when I'm having nubs, I tend to use something really neutral or when I'm in the mood, I do something crazy and fun and make them at least prettier with a design. :D So, I had this lovely combination in my minds and it turned out just perfectly.... Just like the title says: Gold Glittery Zebra Print. <3

They look so good on picture. :D It looks like I spent hours on doing them, but I was done so fast - just a fun layering and stamping and you get nails like this. :) It's very similar to the first Purple Sparkly Zebra Print I did months ago. :) I took pictures of all steps so I'm posting them here as a Step by Step "tutorial", but this is far from a tutorial, because it's really really easy. :D But in case someone who doesn't have an idea how to achieve nails like this, I posted all pictures, so more after a click. 

Blue & Purple Zebra Print

I don't know what's with all animal prints going on my nails. :D I got super exciting news yesterday about passing an exam that I was sure I failed miserably. :$ So I decided to make another manicure with animal print to make my day even more special. :P I made quite similar combination on Veri's nails and I loved it so much so I had to try it on myself.

I started with 2 coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Pacific Blue, this is probably my favorite blue ever (its dupe is H&M - Blue my Mind). Both of them are soooo hard to photography, they're always too bright. :/ Color on the last blurry picture is probably the most color accurate. :) Then I sponged Nicole by OPI - I've Bieber Fever on diagonal half on my nails and over whole nail a bit of Nubar - Petunia Sparkle. I stamped zebra pattern from BM-223 and Wet n Wild - Black Créme. :)

Here's the final result. &lt;3

Nail Tek - Foundation 2

Sally Hansen - Pacific Blue / 2 coats

Nicole by OPI - I've Bieber Fever / sponged

Nubar - Petunia Sparkle / sponged

Wet n Wild - Black Créme & BM-223 / stamping

Beauty Secrets TC Fast Finish Polish Dryer 

Steps to achieve this look are quite similar as I showed you in Zebra Print Tutorial I made a while ago, I just sponged the colors a bit differently. :) You can pick whatever color combination you want, just be creative. :) I really love how the purple glitter is peeking under the zebra pattern. &lt;3

BTW... I'm having problems with updating my Blog roll, so if you're not there, please don't think I removed you. :) Everytime I want to update and save it, it keeps saving and nothing happens. I think that must be a blogger bug, because I'm not the only one with this problem. :)

I hope you're having a wonderful and relaxing weekend and thanks for reading! :rainbow

Xoxo,
Ivana :k

23 & Holiday Guest Post #7: Pink Polish Addict &

It's my B-day today! :party I turned 23 today, I feel old - not old old but growing up and I want to be a kid like forever. :$ I had a lovely day with a friend, we went to see firework in my town and had a lovely dinner. :e

 Cupcakes for everyone! :e :party

My nails are still naked, well with a coat of base coat, but Marketta made so lovely manicures just for my B-day. I wish we were closer, so she could do same manis on me. :) She runs a blog at Pink Polish Addict and yap, you guessed, I found a pink soulmate. :P

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IVANA! Ok now that I've said that I will introduce myself lol. My name is Marketta from Pink Polish Addict. I offered to do Ivana's birthday post for her today while her beauties are on hiatus, and she's recovering. I love me some Ivana, you know why? She's my pink enabler, and the sweetest person like EVER! I have been reining in the pink on my blog (I have TONS of pink) but she told me let loose, I sure don't hold back! So I'm going to start letting the pink out full force. This post is a day late because I had a bit of a dramatic day and I'm visiting my family for the holidays and they are a bit far out, so I have been a bit technology deprived. First up is NOPI All Kendall-ed Up which is a dark hot pink creme. I used 2 coats of AKU, special white polish, Bundle Monster ip's bm205-bm14-bm03, Seche Vite, and INM Northern Lights. I keep forgetting that I have nubbins now and I don't have as much room for multi-stamping fun so there's a bit much going on. This represents what I want Ivana to get tons of today: Presents, Love, and Cake! I just love the light holo that NL gives, it adds the perfect pop.

I know that Ivana loves some glitter, so of course I couldn't forget about the glitta! Below is 3 coats of Sally Hansen Gem Crush: Lady Luck. Lady Luck has a clear base packed with dark pink glitter, and bigger holo glitter. IRL this polish is gorgeous and I couldn't capture its true beauty.

Thanks for letting me share 2 mani's Ivana and I hope you had the most amazing birthday ever!

Kisses

Marketta

Aren't these totally my colors???? <3 I just knew I will like them. <3 Thank you so much for your lovely words Marketta, you're so sweet and of course for doing my b-day manis. <3 I thought I don't need this Sally Hansen Gem Crush but now... I will have to think about it again. :i

Be sure you'll check Marketta's blog Pink Polish Addict, but don't worry if you don't like pink like we do, her favorite color is also blue but she can work any color on this planet with her lovely nails. :L

Let me know what do you think about these 2 lovely pink manicure and thanks for reading! I had a lovely day behind me and I got an amaaazing package today and I can't wait to show you all the goodies I got. :i Polish is the best gift for sure. <3

XOXO,

Ivana :k

Holiday Guest Post #3: Mai Senza Smalto!

Today's guest post is from Alice from Mai Senza Smalto!. <3 I love Italian bloggers, probably because we're neighbours, and she's probably one of my favorites. :e Let's see what has she prepared for us. :)

 

Hi! 

I'm Alice (or Aly), the Italian blogger writing and swatching on Mai Senza Smalto (English translation: "never without polish"). When Ivana asked me to do a guest post for her blog (she recently had hand surgery and it will take her a couple of weeks to recover and be back showing us her nicely painted tips) my first thought was “I'm not able to do that”: in her blog you always find great swatches and pretty, tidy nail art pictures, wheras my “decorative” skills are really basic.

Anyway Ivana is such a sweetie (you know that!) so I decided to face my fears :P and started flipping through my plates' album to choose a design. I was thinking about a pink mani, as she's fond of this color, but as she mentioned she'd love to see some Christmas pattern I decided to try a Xmas classic: holly (on BM plate 014).

After some experiments I decided to stamp design on a white base ([b] Basic polish), but to avoid it to be too vivid, I added a coat of Dior 405 Pure Diamonds, that gave it a greyish yet sparkling look.

Then I stamped pattern with Arcobaleno 453, a really pigmented green/silver polish I found at a local Lidl (yep, polishes at Lidl, I find polishes everywhere lately) and added berries with China Glaze Ruby Pumps, finally using my dotting tool!

Despite my “performance anxiety” I really enjoyed doing this mani and I'm quite satisfied with the overall result, even if I realized just before going to sleep, after all pics were taken - I was actually brushing my teeth - that on all nails (except middle one) holly leaves didn't come out fully. Duh!

Anyway I hope you and Ivana like this simple stamping and I wish you all a joyful and serene Xmas!

Alice, you did a perfect manicure for this lovely Holiday time. <3 Your skills are amazing so don't be afraid to show us more manicures like this! :) I love the background of the pictures, so festive! :L
Please take a look at her blog Mai Senza Smalto and show some love. :) Now I know what to ask for when I'll be visiting Italy - only smalto. xD Thank you so much for your lovely guest post Alice! :k

What do you think about this lovely manicure? :)

Thank you for reading dear readers and followers. :rainbow

Xoxo,

Ivana :k

Holiday Guest Post #2: ChitChat Nails

Another day, another guest post. :)

I'm having Marta from ChitChat Nails here today. I found her on twitter and since then I'm addicted to her blog, her nails and her lovely kids. She always share their moments on twitter and I always love to see how beautiful her family is. <3 Let's see what she has prepared for us, I'm so happy to have her here. :i

 

When sweet Ivana asked me to do a guest post for her I was really excited and immediately thought: "what pink could I play with?!!!" :D

Ivana has been very kind to me and my blog ever since I started to dabble in this whole blogging thing ;) She always sent a positive word of encouragement my way whenever I doubted my skill; for that I will be forever grateful to her. In return, I have had a chance to admire her lovely manicures, and drool over all the yummy European treats she Tweets about front time to time.....mmmmmh, Milka ;)

But now back to the post. I knew PINK had to be a part of this manicure, but Ivana also suggested something for the Holidays... so I tried to combine the two.

I used one coat of OPI Pink-ing of You, I then painted 3/4 of the nail with Revlon Starry Pink and 1/3 of the nail with Color Club Candy Cane. I used BM plate #15 to stamp on the holly (first in white and then in Konad green). A few red gems were the finishing touch.

I hope you liked this little gradient seasonal design. It was a real pleasure to do this post for Ivana. She has such a fun and bubbly spirit! I am thankful that, through blogging, I got a chance to get to know her :D

Happy Holidays!!!

I don't have any of these. :c Marta, this is just amazing and something I'd definitely wear right now. You know I love your pics, they're so beautiful. <3 You earned Milka Oreo and Lufleé chocolates with this lovely manicure! :P

If you don't know who Marta is, please check her blog ChitChat Nails. You must see her movie inspired christmas manicure she published recently - a piece of art. :)

Thanks for reading dear readers and followers. Let me know what do you think about her manicure? Isn't just perfect for Christmas time? And it's pink too. <3

Xoxo,

Ivana :k

Step by Step: Sparkly Purple Zebra Print

I don't have time for doing my nails so often as before but I still want my nails to be pretty. I usually pick a color I like and wear it for a week without a chip, but because my nails are so short, I decided to make something else. :)

I shorten my nails 2 days ago, because I had some major breaks lately and if you read my blog for a while, you know I hate when my nails aren't all square or same lenght. So, it was time for a fresh start. I have a birthday next month so I decided to slowly grow them out till then. :)

Here's what I came up with. :) All pictures in this post were taken under daylight bulb with black background. 

If you want to see step by step pictures (a.k.a tiny picture spam), click read more. :)

Swap with Adeline from Pretty Lil Things

I got new babies in my mail the other day when I broke a tooth. After long sleep I woke up and found these. <3 I got them from Adeline from Pretty Lil Things - she blog about nail polish, beauty, fashion,... :)

Grape...Set...Match & Servin' Up Sparkle

Yap, Serena Glam Slam England duo set... I wanted Grape...Set...Match as soon as I saw it in person - slightly duochrome shimmery purple stole my heart. <3 Even Servin' Up Sparkle looks amazing in person, it has holographic hexagonal and tiny glitter inside. :L I'll probably use it for sponging french tips because it's more at the sheer side. Aren't these 2 amazing? :L

She even included 2 of new BM plates and her business card. :) I can't wait to try them. Adeline, thank you so much for all these pretties. :k

That's all for today, I might paint my nails tonight. :$

Nighty night,

Ivana :k

Valentine's Day ♥

It's a Valentine's Day today! Hope you're spending a nice time with those you love!

I made this manicure yesterday for this special day. It's not just a Valentine's day for me, every 14th in the month reminds me that I'm one month longer with my BF. Today we're 2 years and 10 months together... Love you honey!

Let's start with my manicure... I couldn't decide what color should I wear.. I didn't want ending with red, so I picked all these color and made pink-a-lilac creme skittles.

Essence - No More Drama

Essie - Lilacism

Orly - Lollipop

China Glaze - Something Sweet

China Glaze - Rich & Famous

I added 2 coat of each and 1 coat of Essie G2G. I didn't have any problems with applications. Here's one picture, but I forgot to include my thumb.

Sorry for the bad picture, it was so grey outside!

Then I started thinking what should I do now.... I searched for inspiration at many blogs and then decided to do this... Mix and match...

I was just holding Pure Ice for taking pictures, I didn't use it for this manicure. It's the only bottle I have at BF's.

Daylight, cloudy day

From L to R:
Essence - No More Drama stamped with Essence - Stamp me! White & Confetti - Vava Voom + BM02
Essie - Lilacism stamped with Essence Stamp me! White + m73
Orly - Lollipop sponged with Wet n Wild - Glitz
China Glaze - Something Sweet stamped with Essence Stamp me! White & Confetti - Vava Voom + BM02
China Glaze - Rich & Famous stamped with Essence Stamp me! White + m79

I tried sponging for the first time and I really like it how it turned out. What do you think? It's not classic red&white manicure, but it's so me. I spent an hour for this and then half hour just for my pinkie. I was perfectly done with both hands and then I ruined my pinkie... I decided to start at the beggining and ruined it again... And again... And again... And finally made it.

I won't be posting this week, because I'm having an exam on Thurdsay and I have to study. I also forgot all my polishes at home.

Happy Valentine's day girls!

Xoxo,

Ivana

Christmas Manicure

I'm so lazy these days... Being lazy is the thing I'm really doing best.So one short post for today.

I did this mani on a Christmas Eve but I didn't like it. I stole the holy idea from Emerald Sparkled but she did better combination than me. Red was darker and my nail line wasn't visible like it's showed on picture below.

1 coat Essence Show Your Feet - Hot Red
2 coats Essence Stamp me! White on ring finger
BM14
Yes Love 287
Pink rhinestones Viva La Nails

I also won a 20$ cuopon code for BornPretty at Emerald Sparkled, I already purschase some things, can't wait to try them. This is my first giveaway I've ever won, yay. Keep them coming!

Hope you had a great Christmas!
Ivana

Catrice LE Expect the Unexpected - Purposely Purple

Here is one quick post for today. I still have to write down my last 5 of 10 top polishes but I'm watching Desperate Housewives and I can't wait to see new part so it'll have to wait. I think I'm at the end of 2nd season, 5 more to go. Yay! Do you watch Desperate Housewives?

I got this beauty in my swap with Martje and I'm so happy I got it. Thank you! Purposely Purple is from Catrice Expect the Unexcepted limited edition. A nice dark bluish creme purple. I love it! But this blurple's not fotogenic at all. It always came out blue on my pictures. This is the best I could take! I think I add 2 coats and 1 coat Good To Go.

Outside, daylight

Under light

Later I add one tiny detail, because I was going to BF. I used BM02 and Essence Stamp me! White nail polish for stamping.

With flash

What do you think? I think this purple could be quite similar to purple one from Manhhatan and its Spice Up Your Nails limited edition. I was watching it in my store for quite a long time but when I decided to buy it, they removed quite a full shelve, but now I got this beauty and we're all happy!

Happy Sunday!

Xoxo,
Ivana