Winstonia 2nd generation stamping plates

They're here, they're here! Feels like an eternity since the first generation plates were released. Winstonia have taken a cutesy approach to image selection for their 2nd gen collection. This new set features your usual special occasion images as well as mix of full nail and accent designs.....and there is a couple of Australian animals, the koala is too cute! Read on to see the whole set. I can't wait to start playing with mine. Set available here.

Lovin the squares, would work awesome for a pre made decal. Winstonia has also increased the size of the images which is great for those with longer nails. 

Chunky messy zigzags....yes!! 

Yay! Koalas rule! The flamingo is cool too.

Do not like this plate...why...just why?

Being a DQ I of course love this plate, the chandelier image is so swish!

Disco baby! Oh yeah, love this one. I need disco balls on my nails like yesterday!

2 unicorns...2. Thank you Winstonia.

I do wonder if there is anyone out there who would want electricity generating windmills on their nails but each to their own right.

OMG Dinosaurs! Fav plate of the set hand down. Will require some intermediate stamping skills to line these images up across multiple nails but I seriously cant wait to have pink T-Rex nails hahaha

The fangs are rad.

If you need some new inspiration there is plenty here in the 2nd gen set from Winstonia. 

Post it note decals #heartburstmani

A super simple tutorial today using a post it note and craft punch. You could use this technique with any craft punch shape and leave the space empty for lots of different designs. #heartburstmani

The polishes I used in this mani:

• OPI Don't burst my bubble
• OPI My boyfriend scales walls
• Picture Polish Hot Lips
• Picture Polish Candy
• Holographic heart decals

Use the sticky end of a post it note and a craft punch to create a sticker.

Apply it to your nail over your base colour - make sure your base colour is completely dry, topcoat it if you want to speed up the drying process or its a thick polish. Use your finger to gently flatten the sticker.

This is the striping brush that I used. 

Paint lines of polish coming out from the sticker.

Use tweezers to pull off the sticker. Fill the space with a decal or leave it empty. You could also do this to create a negative space shape just dont use a base colour, apply the sticker directly to nude nail and paint around it. Make sure its stuck down FLAT if you want to try it on nude nails. If you decide to give this try please use the hashtag #heartburstmani xx

Inspired by the Nail Boss

I follow tonnes of great nail accounts on IG but I have a few professional artists on my roll as well and I can always tell even before I read the name when I see a  The Nail Boss  mani. I am actually not 100% sure what medium he works with (I think it might be pigmented acrylics?) but I know that it's #notpolish. 

Here is a link to The Nail Boss' original mani  He is mostly well known for his geometric designs where he uses wire to cut out shapes then in-fills spaces with different colours. He then uses a drill to file down the sections to get really neat lines. His finished product is always gloriously shiny and his clients get 6 weeks between manis...he truly is The Nail Boss. If you are interested to see how he uses wire and the drill to apply the colours watch this video, I found it completely amazing, I haven't seen anything like it in my nail travels.

Polishes used in this mani:

• Kleancolors - White
• Color Madnic - Silver glitter
• Out the door - Northern Lights
• The rhinestones are from 2 different sets - Silver Mixed shapes and Silver mixed round rhinestones

This mani was pretty easy to do. It is 2 coats of the white base which I then top coated and let dry. I applied tiny amounts of top coat to my nail where I wanted to place the rhinestone. I used tweezers to pick up the rhinestones and place them together. I started with the big round rhinestone at the cuticle and worked towards the tip. Then I added 2 layers of Northern Lights over the rhinestones to seal them down and add some extra sparkle.  I wish that I was into nail art back when I got married because this is exactly what I would have done..I can't stop staring at my hands! 

The Sideswipe Mani

I was sitting in my nail room staring at my dotting tools, striping brushes and stamping plates feeling completely uninspired when I saw sitting off to the side of my desk a dress making pin. I had used it a few days earlier to do some swirl art and between sips of my cranberry vodka slushie I pondered what else the pin was capable of....and the side swipe mani was born! 

At first I thought I might try a really tiny polka dot design but it didn't take long to realise that the tapered end of the pin couldn't pick up enough paint to make any kind of dot. So in an effort to get some kind of dot on my nail I started to adjust the angle of the pin and instead of dabbing it I started to drag/flick it along or "side swipe" my nail. The swipes all came out different sizes but together they started to look like a cross between an animal print and paint splatters....I loved it instantly and knew I was onto something new and different. 

The side swipe technique is incredibly simple, if you can use a dotting tool you can side swipe. I made a flip vid on IG but really there wasn't much to show as its as basic as dipping a pin in polish, laying the pin on its side and then lightly dab/drag the polish onto your nail. For little swipes stand the pin more upright, for larger swipes lay the pin down. Adjust the amount you drag the pin, if you are getting lines you are dragging too far, its more like a quick flick then a full drag....as much as I LURVE full drag, less is more here! *wink*

The polishes used in this mani:

• OPI - My boyfriend scales walls
• China Glaze - For Audrey
• China Glaze - Liquid Leather
• Zoya - Dahlia
• Silver spikes - available here

If you decide to give the side swipe mani a go please tag your pic with #sideswipemani, I am dying to see how you guys take this idea and run with it.