xoxoJen's 3D Technique with KBShimmer: Happy Camper

PR Sample

Hi ya'll! I created a really cool 3D look with KBShimmer's Happy Camper polish last year and had totally forgot to share it! I love the effect, and it's so subtle that it would still be appropriate in formal settings. It can be done with any cream polish that can stamp!



1. Do your nails as usual with a light cream shade. (dark ones may hide the shadow effect)
2. Top coat or use a glitter tamer three to four times.
3. After completely dry, stamp with the same cream polish.
4. Top coat over that.
This technique can be done over a few days or several hours to allow the extra layers to dry well. It creates a shadow for a 3D effect and is not a double processed stamp. :)

I noticed the 3D effect in 2015 when I was doing the black lace saran wrap nail art in a challenge and just never tried to replicate it until 2021. I'm regretting not having attempted it again sooner because it is so cool and easy to do! I hope you enjoy the xoxoJen 3D technique!
What do you think?


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Tonic: I'm So Fancy Nailart

PR Sample

I reviewed the I'm So Fancy base coats yesterday, and today I'm sharing a little secret about them...

They both stamp!! And they both look great over black!!

On my index finger is two coats of I'm So Chill and it's stamped on my middle finger, both over black.
On my ring finger is I'm So Sweet stamped and two coats on my pinky, both over black.



And OMG the matte!



I have only tried these over black, but the possibilities are limitless!

The Tonic I'm So Fancy bases release May 1, 2020 at 2:00pm Central at the Tonic site.
Will you be picking these up? Tonic plans to keep all these new items in stock through the end of the summer and possibly into fall.

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kbshimmer: Essentials

PR Sample

Every nail polish aficionado needs a one coat black and a self leveling white cream in their arsenal and kbshimmer has just created some with all new formulas!
Since I'm sharing these two new polishes, I thought I'd also mention other essentials I use like their Mont Bleu Crystal file and logo vegan clean up brush. You can get them all at kbshimmer along with other beautiful polishes, hand care, and nail tools.




Total Eclipse
A new, one-coat black cream. The new polish features a new fan brush with curved edges for easy application.
Shown in one coat with Clearly on Top topcoat. I'm so happy to see this brush type at kbshimmer! It's my favorite shape because application is effortless with it!






White Here White Now
A new and improved white with better coverage and improved leveling over kbshimmer's original white cream. This new polish also has the fan brush that I love.
Shown in two coats with Clearly on Top topcoat. I have always struggled with white polish, even those that are said to be easy to use. This one is on the better end of white polishes I've tried. If you're used to white being a streaky clumpy mess and you're looking for something better, give this one a try! I think you'll be glad you did.






Both polishes stamp really well! I'm showing Total Eclipse stamped over White Here White now, topped with Free & Clear topcoat.






Cyrstal File & Clean Up Brush

The file is made of high quality Czech tempered glass, with the grit acid etched into the glass for a long-lasting file that can be washed and reused over and over again. The fine grit is powerful enough for shortening and reshaping nails, but not so harsh that it causes peeling or tearing. These crystal files are full-sized at 135 mm (5.3 inches) inches long and 2 mm thick. They are made by Mont Bleu and come in a black velvet sleeve. They are imprinted with the KBShimmer logo in brushed silver.

The brush has vegan, nylon bristles that are acetone resistant and ideal for detailed clean up. The aluminum barrel is silver-toned and features a secure cap to protect the bristles. The handle is rhinestone filled and printed with the kbshimmer logo.
To use, dip the bristles in acetone and swipe away polish from around the cuticles. Be sure to re-dip periodically to keep the brush clean, else the polish may transfer back onto the skin. I like to use a paper towel to wipe the brush between dipping in acetone.



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From the Vault: 2017 Winter Stamping

One of my resolutions for 2018 is to clear out the 'vault' better known as the backlog.

When I blog I prioritize press samples before anything else. What happens is that when I photograph a polish I've purchased and sometimes nailart, it tends to take a very long time before I can publish it. So there will definitely be older watermarks and possibly different hand poses, lighting, maybe even shot with my previous camera. The order of these types of posts is completely random and I won't set a schedule, so they'll be a surprise!

To accomplish this goal, these kinds of posts will be short and sweet without much detail. I'm happy to answer questions, just leave a comment!
I also will not be promoting these posts outside my own social media - please follow my blog or facebook page if you're interested in seeing these.

Great Lakes Lacquer Blue Skies from Pain stamped with Jolie One Helluva Holo and aliexpress stamping plates.

Star Wars Nail Art

When I saw this plate at AliExpress several months ago, I knew I had to have it just for this one image...and I finally got to put it to use!

This is Lou It Yourself's "Bye, Felucia" that I previously reviewed, stamped with MDU white.




Are you ready for launch? Of the polish duos and the movie? I know I am!!

Vivid Lacquer: VL014 Dragonflies

Press Sample and Bought

Wishing it was still spring or summer, I whisked myself away with this nailart instead. Gradient stamped butterflies from Vivid Lacquer plate VL014. I blended a couple of MDU polishes for the effect and stamped over Grace-full Sunlight and Starlight that was reviewed previously.




Did you enjoy this? What is your favorite stamping design?

Grace-full: Mount Fang - stamped!

Press Sample

I was perusing through my stamping plates and spotted this cool hex design on Vivid Lacquer plate 02. So I stamped it using MDU silver over a perfectly charcoal Mount Fang from Grace-full.





It looks like placed glitter on the nail, doesn't it? I have an affinity for geometric designs, they're edgy and fun!
What do you think of geometric designs? Are they your favorites to stamp?

Stamped Stars mani

I hope everyone who celebrates it, had a wonderful holiday this July 4th!
Jas and I went to the city's fireworks display, which was excellent, on the night of the 3rd. But even more magical than that was the view from the place Jason goes to run. We had a nearly unobstructed 360 degree view of all the fireworks in the area, and we were the only ones there. We stood outside the car for nearly an hour and it was absolutely breathtaking.

Anywho - below is what I wore for the holiday. Albeit a little late, I thought I would share anyways. I used plate JQ4, MdU 1, and a GPS stamper to stamp the stars. The gradient was made with a base of Polish My Life Stripped and Essie Style Cartel. Which matched the gradient of my shirt perfectly! (linked shirt image is from cj banks catalog, not taken by me)




If you don't celebrate, I still hope your day was fantastic! Thanks for stopping by!

Elevation: Sample GVY #22

One of my long time favorite polish companies is Elevation. Over the years that I have purchased from them, they have been very consistent with customer service, formula, and their launch dates are the same each month. This is a company that I stalk for every launch, and sit online waiting for the new shades, samples and sbps to be available.

The polish I'm sharing today is a sample, which means it was only available once and in a very small quantity of one to three bottles. Luck was on my side at the time it was listed. It's a beautifully done brown holo with golden shimmer. The formula was perfect and opaque in one coat.





After I wore it a few days, I double stamped over it with a Vivid Lacquer plate design that was custom made for me - and is available to everyone on plate number 14. I used my GPS jumbo stamper and MDU stamping polishes in #33 and #43. I love how it turned out, and wore it for the remainder of the week last week.




I hope you've enjoyed the photos - what is your favorite Elevation polish color?

Octopus Party Nail Lacquer: Teenage Bedroom

Press Sample

Teenage Bedroom is a sun kissed violet based polish with a vibrant linear holographic rainbow! Dave from Ocotopus Party Nail Lacquer told me about the inspiration for the polish, and I must say it is quite well thought out and well, I got a bit nostalgic while reading his description.

I wanted to create a collection that was loud and vibrant, so things like tropical paradises, heat waves, guns, Barbie dolls, and gemstones all made it into the mix. Teenage bedroom is sort of an ode to youth. Teenagers spend a lot of formative hours in their rooms dreaming of the future, mulling over the past, obsessing over music, crushes, movies, food, friends, and nail polish. Their room acts sort of as both a catalyst and a sanctuary at that time in life. The color is a warmer toned purple to lend itself both to the summer season and the safety and urgency of such a sacred place in our lives.

I wore two coats and topcoat for the photos below. The formula was perfectly smooth and easy to apply, very little cleanup needed.





Afterward, I did some Octopus inspired stamping over it with XL plate U and MDU #14 stamping polish. I used a super squishy marshmallow stamper from Chelle Lee.




I hope you've enjoyed seeing this pretty purple polish! The entire summer collection consists of eight different polishes. Other bloggers will be posting those from now until launch, so keep a look out for them!

You can get this polish and other beauties on May 30th at noon central on the OPNL shop!

b.i.t.c.h. by jaclyn: De-Flowered with stamping nail art

Press Sample

I've been enjoying stamping with my new stamper from Chelle Lee and well, this polish was begging to be stamped!



I used one coat of De-Flowered for the base color and stamped it with Konad black, VL plate 35, and my new stamper head from Chelle. This stamper is the closest one I've found to the original Marshmallow head that I got from Ninja Polish many many years ago. I've bought and tried at least 30 different ones searching for a replacement, and I think I've found it in Chelle's stamper head. It is made from a slightly different material and feels more durable but it is just as squishy and sticky as the original. If you're interested in this stamper, you can fill the form here to order.



The pixelated skull and crossbones is super cute, yet edgy and goes perfectly with this polish, don't ya think?

b.i.t.c.h. by jaclyn: Garden Hoe with stamping nail art

Press Sample

I'm doing this a little bit backward, posting nail art before the collection review; but I just had to share this right away! I'm quite pleased with how it turned out and let's just call this a sneak peek of me wearing Garden Hoe, shall we?



I used hehe stamping plate 4 and MDU stamping polish 24 for the butterfly, SH Extreme Wear White On for the vines, stamped with a brand new stamper from Chelle Lee which is available to order online, and then I placed a few glitters from the May Flowers glitter topper to finish the look.



What do you think? I think I'm in love!

Happy Earth Day!

Black Dahlia with stamping nail art

Press Sample

I recently received some new stamping plates and wanted to try them out. I found some time to stamp over a polish I recently reviewed and one that's going to be in a future review of mine.
I am still working at technique so the stamps sometimes don't transfer perfectly from the plate to the stamper. I think that I am improving though, I'm quite pleased with how these transferred!
All supplies were purchased by me except for the Black Dahlia polishes, those were sent to me for review.

Base is Black Dahlia Teal Hydrangea stamped with plate VL030 and MDU #4 stamping polish.





Base is Black Dahlia Magical Moss stamped with plate AP18 and Konad black stamping polish.



See what I did there? Matchy matchy with the logo! When I saw that plate I knew I had to have it for this very purpose. :)



So, what do you think?

HPB Presents: Valentine's Day Mani Link Up!

Press Sample

The Hobby Polish Blogger's group that I am a member of is at it again with another link up! This time, Valentine's Day manis. I hope your Valentine's day is special!

First is a mani of roses and lace stamped with Mundo de Unos stamping polish and Vivid Lacquer plates on top of Black Dahlia Capital Rose Garden.



Next is hearts and fishnets stamped with Mundo de Unos stamping polish, Vivid Lacquer and Bundle Monster plates on top of Blue-Eyed Girl Cuts In My Heart which also has Sweet Heart Polish Josh layered over it, beneath the stamped design.



Third is all flowers! I started with Literary Lacquers Laughs in Flowers and stamped it with a flower design from Bundle Monster plates in a layered pattern with Konad Black, Blue-Eyed Girl Cuts In My Heart, and Pop-arazzi Glam Factor.



Lastly is a black lace design stamped with Konad Black and Vivid Lacquer plate designs over a technique called watercolor that I learned in the Simples group on facebook.




Please feel free to visit our other group members blog posts in the link up below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Bear Pawlish: Pretty Hate Machine and Vivid Lacquer stamping

I recently ordered a few Bear Pawlishes after having tried one in the Sweet Addictions October Box and loving it. The one I'm sharing today is called Pretty Hate Machine which is a shout to Nine Inch Nails. I'm a fan and I love dark polishes, especially holos. So I had to have it!

The formula was perfect in two coats, but the brush in this bottle had much shorter and stiffer bristles than the other four Bear Polishes that I have and it was challenging for me to keep a clean line with it around the cuticle area. I've sent a message to Bear Pawlish to ask about this. (see edit!) This polish stained my nails a dark black/grey color after removal, so be sure to double or triple your base coat.

Other than that, it's perfection. Dark, vampy, blue based and the holo rainbow is quite prominent for how dark the polish is.






I also did some stamping over it with my new Creative Shop stamper! I used Vivid Lacquer plate VL001 skulls design and stamped it with b.i.t.c.h. by Jaclyn's Trendsetting polish from her signature collection (Trendsetting was provided for review previously).




I hope you've enjoyed my quick review of these! What is your favorite Bear Pawlish?

EDIT: Bear Pawlish responded 12/9 and said she would send a replacement brush if I'd like. Also, after removing the polish I noticed that it's a stainer - so do double up on base coat for this one. (I use Yellow Stopper as my base coat)
Today is March 11, 2015 and I have not received a brush replacement, nor any word of when it might be sent to me.