Orly Instant Artist Collection

For the nail art fiends and devotees out there, I bet the news of Orly coming out with the Instant Artist Collection. Orly has been a trusted , 22 non-toxic, water-based formulation, 2 glitter formulation (24-karat and platinum), 3 specialty new tools (dotter duo tool, striper brush, and detailer brush).

The Instant Artist Starter Kit features the following colors together with the Dotter Duo: Jet Black, Fiery Red, Sunshine, True Blue, and Crisp White

The collection boosts of the following yummy colors:

Photo Credit: Orly Website

Fiery Red

Hot Pink

Hot Orange

Hot Yellow

Hot Green

Hot Blue

True Blue

Dark Purple

24K Glitter

Platinum Glitter

Solid Gold

Platinum

Crisp White

Chocolate

Jet Black

Rose

Pink Pastel

Beige

Orange Peel

Sunshine

Yellow Submarine

Leafy Green

Sky Blue

Grape

The specialty tools are a great addition to this collection as this are the ones that are really hard to find. The dotter duo tool is a two-sided dotter that makes it easy to create different sized dots for flowers or polka dots. The small side of the tool is perfect for picking up and applying accessories. The striper brush makes it easy to create stripes and controlled lines while the detailer brush is perfect for small details, filling in color or mixing two colors.

These are already available in the Orly website. What are you waiting for? Get those carts filled up! Oh and one more thing, the website has an introductory nail art video too.

Tons of Nail Stuff

Isn't this just pure eye candy? Head on over to this blog and read the details. I am out of words now...

Here are a few rules, how to enter:

1. You have to be a follower (Google friend connect), so if you are not a follower,

you are welcome to join as a follower.

2. Mention this giveavay on your blog, you can use the first photo

with all items. If you don’t have a blog, mention it somewhere on the internet.

3. Add Lyra's blog in your blogroll.

4. Send an e-mail to: nailjunkie.lyra (at) gmail.com

Write in the subject ”Giveaway” and in the text message write down:

- the name you use in Google Friend connect

- your e-mail and address, so Lyra can contact you if you win

- in the e-mail also send a link where you mentioned this giveaway

Applications are accepted until 20th of March, 8pm Central European time.

NOTD: Mistletoe Kiss

I figured I haven't posted anything nail-related lately and so lemme share to you my nails. I did this a couple of days back and this is the same green polish I used when I created my watermelon that looked like a ladybug nails.

Here are some pictures:




I used Bobbie's Mistletoe Kiss polish thus the title. It's a nice way to welcome the Christmas here in the Philippines (as you very well know Christmas starts when the -ber months roll). So I hope you liked the pics. I will try to inject a little art in the next NOTDs.

If you wanna see some wonderful nail art, click this link. Asami has the best art ever, so polished and professionally done with just the right amount of flair and artistry. Awesome is the word!

And here's a neutral look I used for work last night...

NOTD: Cosmos Dots

While Typhoon Kiko's rains caused floods in the Metro and sent roaring winds and heavy rains, I was left inside the house with nary an idea on what to do. I decided to take my nail polishes out of their little closet and an idea suddenly hit me. I have to change my polish so when I go to the Goldilocks/Nuffnang awarding ceremony tomorrow, I have newly-painted nails. I liked the idea of wearing a dark nail polish now since I had on a very girly color last time. I put hot pink rhinestones on top of the single coat of the vodka on ice polish.

I decided to paint my nails using The Face Shop black polish. I like how dark the color is and that I only needed two coats and the finish is already glossy. Props to TFS for that. I then brushed a coat of Bobbie' Vodka on Ice (glittery gray) in the middle. I figured I would not be able to do it on all my right fingernails that I'll only have the middle fingernail designed with it. I then randomly put glittery gray dots on the other nails. Here are some pictures...




What do you think of my impromptu nails?

NOTD: Tropical Flower

I ordered rhinestones from Miss Nikki's Multiply Site (Pretty Nails) yesterday and my package was already waiting for me when I got home. Talk about fast and smooth transaction. I opened the package like a little kid and drooled (not really) at the site of the hundreds of rhinestones right before my very eyes. I could not wait to use 'em. I erased my watermelon nails and thought of practicing some designs, easy first...

I used some local nail polishes I picked up from a store the other day. The brand name is Bobbie. It's really cheap, it only cost Php35 (about $0.80) per bottle. They came out with some new colors and I picked out 10.
For today, I used two of the colors from the polish haul: Flower Girl and Tropical Punch. I used base coat and top coat from The Face Shop.

Here's how Flower Girl looks like on my nail after two coats. The finish of this polish is a little frosty and the polish looked streaky (the picture didn't capture it though, my camera is very forgiving hehehe).

I then applied five dots per nail using Tropical Punch with a crochet hook as I don't have a dotting tool yet. I waited until the polish looked tacky already and then connected the dots using the pointed tip of the orange stick. I could not find a pin that's why. (Tip: You can drag the dots towards the center so that it will give you quite a 3D effect.

I then put one turquoise rhinestone in the middle of the dragged dots (Tip: Wet a portion of a toothpick or an orange stick so that the rhinestone will stick to it effortlessly and then put in your desired position). Make sure that you push it down so that the rhinestone embellishment will last longer on your nails.

This design is pretty common especially in tutorials. My personal advice to you however is to make sure you always seal the cap of the nail polish tightly so that no air bubble can get in. I am now conjuring about thoughts on how to translate art into nails real soon.

Enjoy the pictures. Please feel free to coment. Have a great day everyone!!!

NOTD: Ladybug

My nails today are supposed to be "watermelon nails". I don't know what happened along the way but after I'm done with it, I think it looks more to me like a ladybug, hence the title. Well, let's get started. I used the bright pink (guava pink) and black and mistletoe green nail polish. I used a crochet hook as a dotting tool and it gave me pretty good dots, much better than using an orange stick I should say. I have fallen in-love with the nail polish corrector pencil that I got from Tamara's giveaway. I'd be broken-hearted if I'll use it up and not get a new one. I'll surely miss the convenience of erasing nail polish smudges on the sides without having to wrap teeny bit of cotton in an orange stick and dipping it in nail polish remover.

Here's how my nail looks like with the base and a single coat of the guava pink nail polish:

And here's a picture of my left hand with the nail polish and three coats of the nail polish:

And here's my nails with the guava pink polish and mistletoe green tip:

And here's the ladybug...

I won't mind if you think it looks like watermelon. LOL! It's what I was trying to come up with anyway. Maybe next time I'll make the black dots look pointed so it really looks more like seeds and not ladybug spots. Hmmmm!!!

Nail Art: An Attempt

I have been blog walking one day and happened to pass by a very interesting blog about manicures - do it yourself at that. It is a blog maintained by Asami, a very artistic and friendly lady from Sacramento, CA. The blog talks about nail arts, tips, tricks, instructions and the like. I personally like the strawberry design but I think I am too novice to ever try it. See, I don't do my nails. I always go to a nail spa to have my nails cleaned and painted. I've tried nail art once but it was computer-generated. And so today, out of the blue, I dropped by The Face Shop and shopped for nail polishes and nail cleaning tools (I had some before but because of the move I could not find them anymore).


So, when I got home, I cooked and dinner for the girls (just so I won't be the one to wash the dishes hehehe)and then showered and started on my first ever attempt to do my nails. There's no harm in trying after all. But before all the nail stories, let me tell you as well about the other first I have tried today. I prepared chicken with milk and crushed pineapple for dinner. And according to the girls and our regular house visitor, it was yummy and yeah not bad for the first attempt.


On with the nail story...I did not soak my nails in some solution instead I mixed a few drops of my body wash with water and brushed my nails to soften the cuticles. I then pushed the cuticles with an orange stick and then cut it to my desired length. I filed the edges to make sure there wouldn't be any uneven edges and then buffed the nails to even out the texture and get rid of the ridges. It is easier to apply coats of polish when its clean and smooth. I then applied a clear base coat and here's how it looks...


I had a hard time choosing what tip I should wear this time and Joyce suggested I should use the midnight blue. After applying two coats of the dark polish I decided to do the polka dot design. I don't have any dotting tool so I used a spare orange stick. What do you know? I made uneven dots. Hahaha! I liked the result though. I think it wasn't a bad attempt after all. I will try to expand my nail art kit as soon as I know where to source the materials. For now, I'll start small and then slowly but surely progress.


And here's another look at my first nail art project...


I know I still have a long way to go but I have hope that I can only get better!

NOTE: The pictures aren't edited thus the bad lighting.