I'm on YouTube! My First Tutorial! The Walking Dead Zombie Inspired Nail Art

Press Sample, Affiliate Link

Hey Everyone!

After much planning and sleepless nights of editing, I finally got my very first full length YouTube tutorial up!  I wanted my first tutorial to represent me and the things I love so I went with a Walking Dead theme because it's my fav show, neons, and nail stamping.  All things I love!

Walking Dead Zombie Inspired Neon Nail Art

I've been doing instagram tutorials for about a year and a half and for the past 6 months or so I've been debating starting an accompaning YouTube channel.  I knew it would be a lot of work and the idea of putting my "voice" out there kind of terrified me, but then the annoyance at only having 15 seconds to show what I filmed kind of trumped my fear lol  So I jumped in!  And so far it has been very rewarding... and A LOT of work!  This first tutorial probably took me about 20 hrs total to film and edit.  OH.  MY.  That included a lot of learning on the fly though, editing a full length tutorial and doing voiceover is a completely different beast.  I have since completed 2 other full length tutorials (I will post them sometime soon on my blog lol) and I've gotten faster each time.

Anyways!  Here is a still shot of my mani!

Also, I think I want to make the size of my pics smaller like the one above.  I've previously posted them very large but I dunno, it's been annoying me lately.  Let me know how you feel!  LOL

Here is what I used to complete this mani:

- China Glaze White on White - http://www.bit.ly/1QWphx7 ^
- Rica Polish White Out - http://www.bit.ly/21idyW8
- Orly Thrill Seeker - http://www.orlybeauty.com/thrill-seeker.html
- Orly Keylime Twist - http://www.orlybeauty.com/key-lime-twist.html
- Painted Polish Midnight Mischief - http://www.paintedpolish.com/product/midnight-mischief (Currently sold out but will be back!)
- Bliss Kiss Simply Peel Liquid Latex - http://www.bit.ly/1Qzl0oe ^
- UberChic XL Non-sticky Stamper - http://www.twinkledt.com/#_l_1d *
- UberChic Zombie Love stamping plate - http://www.twinkledt.com/#_l_1d *
- Sharpies - http://www.bit.ly/1QWq18i ^
- 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol - Drugstore
- UberChic Liner Brush - http://www.twinkledt.com/#_l_1d *
- Ulta Cosmetics Sponge - http://www.twinkledt.com/#_l_1d *
- HK Girl Top Coat - http://glistenandglow.bigcartel.com/product/hk-girl-fast-drying-super-shiny-top-coat

Thank you guys for checking out my blog!

- Angel


FTC:
Products marked with ( * ) were provided for review in exchange for my honest review.

Products marked with ( ^ ) are an affiliate link or code that earns me a commission when used to make a purchase.

Disclosure: All or some of the product(s) in this post were provided to me by the manufacturer or their PR company for consideration. Please see my Disclosure Policy Disclosure Policy for more info.

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Bundle Monster Mochi Stamping Station Valentines Day Nail Art

Press Sample, Affiliate Code

Hey Everyone!

A while back I received the Mochi Stamping Station from Bundle Monster to review, and I got to try it out before it was released.  Well, it's available now and I definitely love it!  It's changed up how I stamp, specifically reverse stamping and decals for sure!  AND I have a Bundle Monster discount code, use code TWISTAR for 10% off non-sale items at www.BundleMonster.com.

I have 2 manis to share that I made using this stamper, let's check em out!

This pink and white gradient was so super easy to stamp all nails with only 1 stamp pick up with the Mochi Stamper!  I don't know why I didn't know about the tip to use a sticky base coat over your base colors prior to stamping and this helps to pick up dry polish.  Seriously, life changing!  Ok, maybe that's a bit dramatic lol Here's what I used for this mani:

-Liquid Latex - Bundle Monster Poli-Peel
-White - China Glaze White on White
-Pink - China Glaze Bottoms Up
-Sticky base coat - American Classic Yellow Stopper
-Fuchsia stamping - China Glaze Don't Desert Me
-Stamp Plate - Bundle Monster BMS-221
-Stamper - Bundle Monster Mochi Stamping Station
-Top coat - HK Girl Top Coat Glisten & Glow






This second mani shows how I did some reverse stamping using the Mochi Stamper.  OMG!  Again with the life changing lol I seriously suck at applying decals and this is basically like a decal!  Here's what I used for this mani:

-Liquid Latex - Bundle Monster Poli-Peel
-Berry - MAC Cosmetics Past Curfew
-Pink shimmer - Julep Aphrodite
-Sticky base coat - American Classic Yellow Stopper
-White - Bundle Monster Angelic White
-Stamp Plate - Bundle Monster BMS-224 & MBS-225
-Stamper - Bundle Monster Mochi Stamping Station
-Top coat - HK Girl Top Coat Glisten & Glow

Are you going to check out the Bundle Monster Mochi Stamping Station?

Affiliate code: Use TWISTAR for 10% off non-sale items from www.BundleMonster.com

Thanks for stopping by,
-Angel

Disclosure: All or some of the product(s) in this post were provided to me by the manufacturer or their PR company for consideration. Please see my Disclosure Policy Disclosure Policy for more info.

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Bundle Monster Around The World stamping plate set review

Press Sample

Hey Everybody!

Today I have a new stamping plate set from Bundle Monster to review, this is the 5 pc XL Around The World stamp plate set. This was my first time trying Bundle Monster’s newer XL plate designs and I’m pretty impressed. They came with a blue plastic backing which helps with handling and makes them sturdier and they are etched very well. All the images I have tried on plate BM-XL151 picked up and transferred well. I will be posting looks with each plate over the next couple of weeks. But the plate that spoke to me first lol was the Shanghair Summer plate, BM-XL151. I was also sent Bundle Monster’s new stamp plate scrapers in 2 thicknesses, 0.5mm Ultra Thin Nail Stamping Scraper and 1mm Thin Nail Stamping Scraper Card Set. I tried the .5mm scraper for this mani and it’s FABULOUS!! It seems like people don’t talk much about scrapers but I think they’re just as important as the stamper! They can make a crappy plate stamp so much better. The thinner and more flexible the better, and this one is perfect. I think it’s my new fav scraper!

Here’s a better description of the plate set taken from the product page.

DESCRIPTION

Take a trip Around the World with these internationally inspired steel nail stamping plates! Around the World features designs from: China, Egypt, France, India and Japan. Have a macaroon in Paris while visiting the Great Wall of China, you can travel the world through your manicures! Choose from (5) unique plates: (BM-XL151) Shanghai Summer, (BM-XL152) Pharaoh-est of All, (BM-XL153) Parisian Perfection, (BM-XL154) Paisley Delhite and (BM-XL155) Kyoto in Spring. The scraper and stamper are NOT included. *APPLICATION*: Apply any color nail polish to your chosen image on the stainless steel plate. Using a scraper, remove any excess nail polish. Using a stamper, stamp the image in a rolling motion. Stamp the design directly to the nail. Not only are our nail stamping plates easy to use, but your design can be changed as easily as a coat of nail polish!

HIGHLIGHTS

- Take a trip Around The World with this internationally stylish stamping plate set!
- This plate set is inspired by China, Egypt, Paris, India and Japan.
- Plate Size: 4.75 in x 2.4 in.
- Plate number: BM-XL151 through BM-XL155
Source: 5 pc XL Around The World stamp plate set



Here is the stock photo from the website, 5 pc XL Around The World stamp plate set.



Andddddd here are the actual plates! I never know how to photograph stamping plates lol And the white card is the back of the scrapers, on the front they have images of the designs from some of the stamping plates, a nice little touch.



Finally after all of that! Here is the first mani I did using the plates. The Shanghai Summer plate BM-XL151 has a lot of nice designs. Perfect for layering and telling a little story if you want, or there are plenty of standalone images.

Something Blue wedding mani featuring James Allen Ring nail charms

This post contains affiliate links and Press Samples

Hey Everyone!

Today I have my next mani featuring the James Allen Rings nail charms that I received as part of the Preen.Me Preen Me VIP program! Since I’m a weirdo along with my manis I wrote a little fanfiction story of me and a-hem, Damon Salvatore from Vampire Diaries. What? I couldn’t resist! Want to read the first 2 chapters of my story and see the first mani? Check it out Rose Water Decals Wedding Mani Featuring James Allen Rings Nail Charms. Ok let’s get on with the pics.



For the “wedding mani” of my 3 part series, I wanted to go non-traditional because well, I’m a non-traditional kind of girl hehehe. I went with a nude and “something blue” look and actually that’s the name of the blue polish! It’s ‘Something Blue’ from Julep.



Keep reading to find out all the products I used for this mani!

China Glaze Meet Me In The Mirage Tribal Stamping Nail Art

Hey Everyone!

 

Surprise surprise, another China Glaze Desert Escape collection look lol  I loved the way ‘Meet Me In The Mirage’ and ‘Rain Dance The Night Away’ looked in the mani I did last week, see it here.  So I just copied myself and put them together again!  I think it kind of looks like a copper penny when it gets tarnished, you know, like when they’ve been sitting in the cup holder of your car for too long and one too many Dairy Queen blizzards have sweat all over them…… No?  Just me?  Ok, let’s just get on with it.

 

This lovely rose gold is ‘Meet Me In The Mirage,’ I originally reviewed it here.  I’m still in love with it.  It’s not unique but I dunno, it just speaks to my polish soul.  Really nice and easy formula to work with, this is 2 coats.

China Glaze Don't Desert Me black lace stamping nail art

Some of these items were provided to me

Hey Everyone!

I’m just getting back into the rhythm of posting as I was on vacation last week and part of this week. I went to Atlanta to visit my best friend (my best friend Kristie was the co-author of this blog for 5 years before I switched it over to a nail blog) that was moving back home, we sadly had to make her move early and suddenly as she received terrible news that her nephew who has been ill was having more complications. 6 year old Ethan lost his battle and went to Heaven this week. I will be posting more about his story and a mani inspired by this beautiful soul most likely on Monday after I have attended his Memorial Service. Ethan smiled through all of his health issues and lived his life as if he was not sick so in his honor his family along with myself are determined to never take life for granted and live every day to its fullest potential. So, I will continue doing the things I love and that includes creating beautiful art that makes me happy because he was happy! Fly high Ethan!

China Glaze Don't Mesa With My Heart - Pink gradient flourish stamping tutorial

Hey People!

When I'm feeling uninspired I just copy myself, so this mani is just a copy of a previous mani but I changed the colors and stamping plate.  Also when I'm feeling uninspired I don't even bother writing an intro apparently haha!  SO hey!  How is everyone?  Better late than never I guess lol  Since I can't seem to string together decent sentences let's just go to pics ;)

I'm always a fan of pink!  I thought it would be fun to pair a crème, Don't Mesa With My Heart, with a shimmer, Don't Desert Me, as a gradient and I'm pretty pleased with the results.  I think the two finishes play nicely together.

China Glaze The Heat is On floral stamping

Hey Everyone!

Yesterday I shared my swatches of the China Glaze Desert Escape Collection, and for the next week (maybe less if I get bored and start posting them faster lol) I'll be sharing nail art for each color from the collection. The first color up is The Heat is On, let's check it out!



Now, when I first swatched this color I was kinda meh on it. Don't get me wrong I love red polish but red isn't exactly the color I like for visible nail line, and The Heat is On is still a little sheer at 3 coats. BUT the longer I wore it the more I liked it and now I'm sold on the color and I think it looks fab with black stamping!

OPI Can't Afjord Not To and Jinx stamping nail art

These polishes were purchased by me.

Hey Everyone!

I was super lazy last night but somehow SOMEHOW I dragged myself into the nail dungeon and managed to pull this mani out of thin air. And of course I loved it because I didn’t spend hours analyzing every little detail and overthinking it lol I can’t be the only one right? I’m still in love with texture polish and I’m still upset that OPI is no longer making liquid sand polishes. WHhhyyyyyy OPI whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! So, I’ve been collecting the ones I don’t own and decided to get the rest of the Bond Girls Liquid Sands. Now when I say the rest of them I meant I only had one and bought the other 5 haha! When I opened Jinx I might have drooled a little, so here she is!

See more by clicking below.

Cinco de Mayo mani featuring Wet N Wild Sun Settle Down and Bundle Monster BMH-24

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Margaritas for everyone! How else am I supposed to celebrate? Lol I’m in the middle of swatching the Wet N Wild California Dreaming collection and one of the colors ‘Sun Settle Down’ seemed like the perfect base for some Cinco de Mayo themed nails! I also attempted another mini Instagram tutorial for this mani and I kind of just messed up the whole thing haha I didn’t realize my camera would be in the way of stamping, whoops. Shortly after I purchased a new tripod so that I have more room, it’s never ending what I feel like I NEED in order to complete my manis lol Ok, onto my mani!


You can see how I mis-stamped the nail with what is supposed to say Cinco de Mayo but instead it says “inco de nayo” hahaha! I half-ass painted on a C but didn’t have any room to fix the M so nayo it is!

Want to see more? Click below!

Bundle Monster - First Holo Polish Collection review plus swatch-fest

Press Sample

Hey Peeps!

 

Today I have something super fun to share!  Bundle Monster sent me their first Holographic Collection EVER!  How exciting, glad to see this brand getting into the holo polish game.  I love their inexpensive polishes and these are a great option.  Along with my swatches, I did a little stamping over each color using the Bundle Monster Secret Garden plates – check out my review of this set here: Secret Garden Bundle Monster Stamp Plate Review.   Ok, onto swatches!

 

 

 

Want to see more!  Click below!

 

More Color Club Poptastic Pastel Neon swatches! This time with nail art!

(These polishes were purchased by me)

Hey Everyone!

Guess what?  I got even more swatches of the Color Club Poptastic Pastel Neons!  As if I didn't post enough lol, you can see my first set of "plain" swatches without nail art and read my review here Color Club Poptastic Pastel Neon Collection Swatch Review - Spring 2015.  For these swatches I wanted to focus on stamping since I just got a shit-load of new stamping plates from HeHe and Qgirl.  Keep in mind, for all of these swatches I used 1 coat of white (Rica Polish Whiteout) and 2 layers of color topped with HK Girl Top Coat from Glisten & Glow.  Ok onto swatches!

Don't you just love a good collage!  These colors in this collection just make my eyeballs so happy!  Loving the whole collection, I can't pick a fav.

I'll start with my fav stamping I did for this collection!  This is 'Diggin' The Dancing Queen.'  When I posted this on instagram so many people thought it was really watermarble!  Haha!  I haven't even tried to watermarble yet so this stamping plate, HeHe 040, is a good substitute.  I used Rica Polish Blackout and a couple of 2mm black studs to finish it off.

Want to see more?  Click below!

OPI Infinite Shine Set in Stone and Maintaining my Sand-ity Gel Effects Lacquer System Review

Hey Everyone!

Today I will be reviewing my first OPI Infinite Shine Gel Effects Lacquer System!  I was sent for review, a box of the Infinite Shine colors and the base and top coat from Preen.me as part of their VIP program.  This will really be my first time trying one these new pseudo-gel lacquer type systems.  Shall we just get past all the formalities and onto the polish?!  Let’s go!

To use these polishes you will need to buy into the 1-2-3 Gel Effects Lacquer System with the primer base and gloss top coat (that cures in natural light).  The primer base applied fine and dried pretty quick!  Always nice.  For my base color I chose Set in Stone.  A dark taupe that has hints of purple to it, it reminds me a lot of OPI I Sao Paulo Over There.  I held them next to each other and Set in Stone may be just a little darker but very close.  This was a very pigmented polish, almost covered completely in 1 coat.  It wasn’t thin or thick, just kind of that perfect consistency that makes it very easy to coat the nail and not flood the cuticles.  I would say the formula is slightly thicker than regular OPI polish and it has a stronger smell.  Nothing I couldn’t handle just wanted to note it.  I used 2 coats here, it dried pretty shiny and pretty fast!  Defintely faster than regular OPI polish.  I left my base to dry without top coat so that I could add some stamping.

Want to see more?  Click below!

BUNDLE MONSTER Easter Nails Stamping Tutorial and Giveaway!

Hey Everyone!

Are you ready for Easter?  How about we get in the mood for bunnies and chocolate with some stamping!  Today I am sharing a tutorial that I created for Bundle Monster using a couple of their Easter and Spring stamping plates BUT the best part is that Bundle Monster provided me doubles of all products used that I am giving away to all my followers!  Yaaaaaayyyyy!  The giveaway is at the end of this post, you will be able to enter here many different ways and you can also enter over on Instagram, check out my page: @twi_star and @bundlemonster for details.

http://www.bundlemonster.com

Connect with Bundle Monster! | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | Google+ | Instagram | YouTube

For this mani I used a technique called reverse stamping.  Reverse stamping is when you leave the image stamped on your stamper and paint it in before applying to your nail.  Sounds complicated right?  Well guess what?!  If you have stamping experience, it’s not!  And I’ve laid out all the steps so you can recreate this mani with links to all the Bundle Monster polishes, stampers, and plates used.  Shall we get started?

Here are all the products you will need to complete the look, if you enter the giveaway at the end of this post you can win them all!  All products used (except for base and top coat, and dotting tool or toothpick) are from Bundle Monster.

• 1 - Bundle Monster Stamping plate BM-302
• 2 - Bundle Monster Stamping plate BM-H10
• 3 - Bundle Monster Stamper and scraper set
• 4 - Bundle Monster Noir Black Stamping Lacquer (Bonus item included in giveaway but not used in tutorial) 
• 5 - Bundle Monster Angelic White Nail Stamping Lacquer
• 6 - Bundle Monster Lucky Green Nail Stamping Lacquer  
• 7 - Bundle Monster Sky Blue Nail Stamping Lacquer
• 8 - Bundle Monster Electric Pink Nail Stamping Lacquer
• 9 - Bundle Monster Sunshine Yellow Nail Stamping Lacquer

Miscellaneous Items

• Scrap paper or wax paper
• Dotting tool or toothpick
• Base coat
• Top Coat

Want to see the tutorial?  Click below!

St. Patrick's Day Nail Stamping - Bundle Monster Plates BM-H04 and BM-H05

Happy St. Patty’s Day Everyone!

Of course I had to do a gold and green mani lol I knew this bright Spring green I got in my Love Angeline grab bag would be perfect paired with Different Dimension Sexy and I Snow It!  Check out my stamping green mani!

For the stamping I used Bundle Monster plates BM-H04 and BM-H05 and their green stamping polish Lucky Green.  How perfect was the name?  It stamped nicely.

Want to see more?  Click below!

Creative Shop Stamper review! and Azature Lapis Diamond

Hey Everyone!

Last week I received my Creative Shop Stamper that I ordered from Bsquared Lacquer so I needed to give it a try as it gets such rave reviews.  Spoiler alert!  I really really like it, and I thought it would be a good time to use 2 of my un-trieds Azature Lapis Diamond and FlossGloss Moon Baby and do some sponge gradients.  Check out my mani using the stamper.

First let’s talk about Azature Lapis Diamond.  I was super excited about this one since lighter blue cremes are my thing, in the bottle it’s a deeper almost periwinkle.  It applied very nicely but even after the first coat I knew something was weird about because it started to changed colors, and not like an all over solid change but streaking in places and turning darker.  And then once I added top coat it darkened even more, but at least it ended up being a little more even but as you can see it looks nothing like the bottle.  Maybe a different top coat would help.  You can see it the most on the thumb.  I’ve had other similar colors react like this so I think it is something with the pigments used, I’m looking at you Julep Taylor!

Want to see more?  Click below!

Tweed nail art - Bundle Monster stamp plate BM-706

Hey People!

Today I have a double layer stamping mani to share, whoah I know.  I’m getting all crazy lol  Not really, I just stamped on each nail twice.  I used another Secret Garden Bundle Monster plate, BM-706 see my full review HERE!  The pattern I used from the plate is a sort of cross-hatch pattern, it reminded me of tweed lol  Check out my mani!

Isn’t this stamp pattern so cool?  The plate BM-706 stamped perfect and crisp.  The blue is Annie from Julep, and the white base is also Julep, Brigitte and it covers nicely in 2 coats.

Want more?  Click below!

Secret Garden Plate BM-705 - OPI Steady As She Rose and Loreal Masked Affair

Hey Everyone!

Today I have a 2nd mani using the Secret Garden stamping plates that Bundle Monster sent to me for review (see my full review HERE).  Plate BM-705 has all garden themed words and is probably the plate that jumped out at me first that I wanted to use, I love all the fonts they used!  It screamed for purple so I grabbed one of my all time fav grayed lavender polishes, OPI Steady as She Rose.  Check it out!

Want to see more?  Click below!

Peacock Mani using Secret Garden Plate BM-708 and Painted Polish Enchantress

Hey Everyone!

Today I have my first mani using a nail stamping plate from the Secret Garden set from Bundle Monster, see my full review of the plates HERE.  I chose plate BM-708 and went with a peacock theme.  Check it out!

Want to see more?  Click below?

Secret Garden Bundle Monster Stamp Plate Review

Hi Everyone!

Today I have something really fun to share, Bundle Monster sent me their entire 25 pc Secret Gardenstamping plate collection $20.50 to review!  Do I want a Secret Garden on muh nails?  Hells Yeah.  I saw a few pics of the plates they posted on Instagram but once I knew they were sending me the set I wanted to be surprised so I stopped looking at them lol  And let me say, they nailed the Secret Garden theme!  The plates are full of trees, vines, scroll-y leaves, little forest creatures, and just things you think you’d find by a gnomes home lol  I’m picturing the Travelocity Gnome.

WARNING!  This post is pic heavy and I left the blue protective coating on for photographing because you get a little less glare that way, well at least I do lol  Onto the plates.

Like my other Bundle Monster plates they come in a little plastic ziplock pouch.  The plastic is heavy duty and will survive many openings.  If you’re like me and don’t have many plates and you can just keep them stored in their pouches.  I’m sure eventually I’m going to need some sort of binder storage haha
 

This is me trying to artfully arrange the plates, but they just ended up looking like a sorry excuse for a snake lol

Want to see more pics?  Click below!