Be Strong!

Hi everyone,

Today something special that is inspired by a song  from Delta Goodrem - Be Strong

"And when you're like a single flower, Whose colors have turned to shades of grey, Well hang on, Be strong"

I have made these for the Empowering Woman contest on  Lacquer Or Leave Her. She has this contest to raise awareness about Inspire me 2 Aspire and is looking for women from all walks of life to be mentors for a chat event on International Women's Day (March 8th) Click link for more info. I wasn't planning on entering since I don't feel like I can inspire anyone and see my self as a failure when it comes to career. Plus English isn't my native language so I am always afraid that can cause problems in a chat. But then I thought I can help raising awareness by entering and writing this blogpost about it ;) (maybe some of you want to be a mentot in that chat) So I made an entry for this contest, my entry is totally different from all the amazing entries she already received. But I thought this song and the story behind it is inspirational (see the rest of my blogpost).

I find her songs/ lyrics especially this one beautiful  and inspirational when you feel down for some reason it will gives you power to be strong and hang on and don’t give up. And Delta is a beautiful empowering woman who overcome Hodgkin's Lymphoman cancer at the age of 18. Be strong is inspired by that period of her life. She was strong did not give up and now is a beautiful strong adult woman with an amazing music career. And she got strength and inspiration from her bad period in life.

"And when you're like a single flower, Whose colors have turned to shades of grey, Well hang on, Be strong"

Base a gradient of Catrice Pebbles Beach and Konad SN pastel violet with China Glaze Wireless holographic topcoat on top, stamped with Konad SN black, SN green, Color Club Wild at Heart, Color Club Revvvulotion and Konad SN white and SN yellow for the dots. Imageplate M25 for the flower stalk with leaves and XL F for the flower.

From thumb to pinkie the flower turns in to shades of grey but from pinkie to thumb the flower gets his colors back :)

I used purple colors because I’ve read that purple flowers can represent dignity, mystery, success, magic and pride. Overall, this color represents admiration and accomplishment. So I felt that fits the theme of empowerment too. You can admire other women /men /things in live /songs… and they can inspire you to accomplish your own hopes and dreams.

Some more pictures of this creation in different lighting.

You can see the grey colors slowly fade away more on each finger and that the flower gets his beautiful purple and green colors back :)

I’ve read Delta Goodrem wrote this song for a fellow cancer patient who unfortunately died a couple of years later (it means a lot to me since my mom died a bit more then a year ago at a very rare type of non Hodgkin’s Lymphoman Leukemia cancer) and I am glad to read there are people who overcome cancer... well not exactly the same type my mom had but something a bit similar. And it makes me happy she survived at her very young age of 18 and makes beautiful songs. To be completely honest listening to this song also always makes me cry a bit because then I have to think of my mom who was also very strong but did not win the cancer battle. But kept believing in a miracle until the very end. And even I sometimes have to cry when I hear it also gives me strength.

So no matter how bad things seem, never give up, be strong, keep the faith, have hope and pursue your dreams!

I know it is easier said then down, but it sure is something I want to believe in or/and try.

"And when you're like a single flower, Whose colors have turned to shades of grey, Well hang on, Be strong"

Thanks for reading.

xoxoxo

Romance and Roses ♥

Hi Everyone,

Today another V-day mani or just a love mani ;) I haven't been blogging or commenting much, some bad stuff at home is going on. But today I played with my polishes and plates again :)

Golden Rose Holographic 113 stamped with Konad SN black, SN green and SN wine red. Big roses are from Nailways Spring Time Love is in the Air A-NW0007, small roses Konad M53, leaves from XL plate F and love couples and words from Messy Mansion MM03 ♥

I really love the Messy Mansion MM03 plate :)

Some more pictures in different lighting.

And some swatches from the base color, Golden Rose Paris Holographic a beautiful reddish/pinkish subtle holo.

I still have more V-day ideas so hope to make some more soon :) Are you also making Valentine's Day mani's?

Thanks for reading :)

xoxox

New Years Eve nails from the last years

Hi Everyone,

 

I thought let's show you my New Years Eve nails of the last couple of years. Still have to think of something for this year, not yet sure about the base color.

 

Here you see them all together.

 

Let's start with my New Years Eve nails from last year 2011. I did not wanted to use the word "Happy" then since my mom just died...and happy was the last thing on my mind. I posted these nails in this blog post, where also wrote about my mom :( and showed the nails I made for the funeral.

 

 Base China Glaze Ruby pumps. Stamped some sort of fireworks with XL plate F and China Glaze 2030, Essence stampy silver and Konad SN white. The letters 2012 are from M20 and M12 of Konad big demo plate.

 

And now my New Years Eve nails from 2010 :) You can see the swatches and more pictures in this blogpost.

 

Base Sally Hansen - 16 Blue it, on top I did a coat of CND effects Crimson sparkle. I stamped the fireworks with BM20 and Konad SN pastel violet, pastel blue, pastel pink, pastel yellow, pastel orange and PSN apple green. Used the numbers from the sides of plate M20 and M11.The word Happy from M43 in different Konad SN pastel colors. For my thumb I used M46 for the word happy and the numbers from the big demo plate.

 

And also my New Years Eve nails from 2009. My nails were really long then. You can see more pictures in this blogpost.

 

Base China Glaze Eyes like Sapphires. Stamped with Konad SN silver little stripes from M72. The firework flowers with SN pastel blue and white M54. The text Happy with SN pastel blue and M43. For my thumb I used M46 for the text and M38 for the glasses. The numbers I made with the numbers on the side of imageplates M20 and M10 on the big demo plate.

 

Of course I will show my New Years Eve nails that I make this year too, but I think that will be Monday.

 

Thanks for reading enjoy your weekend!

 

xoxox

 

 

Red Robins

Hello Everyone,

 

Today another older creation. I made these nails last year in November. It's a short post, just had one picture. And I already swatched this polish once.

 

Base China Glaze Spin me around. Leaves stamped with Konad SN green and imageplates XL F. Selfmade water decals of a cute Red Robin on a twig.

 

xoxox

My first try at Saran wrap nails

The challenge for this sunday was to make something based on something you've learned in the AIS group. For me that was the Saran wrap nails. I never heard of that before and saw it for the first time there :) So I was like I have to try that for the challenge :)

 

Since it was in the stamping group I had to stamp on it too, I wanted to do a full nail but then I thought you couldn't see the base that well anymore. So I decided to do a small stamp. I already had this base polish on but could remove the stamps easily so I could add a yellow coat for the Saran wrap nails. I am not sure if I like this combination but I thought the contrasting colors will show the effect good. And it was also a nice color combo for the Summer.

 

For those of you who don't know this technique...it is not that hard. Just paint your nails a color and let that dry really well, then choose another color (prefer one that isn't too sheer) and paint one coat over the base color, grap a piece of Saran wrap /plastic foil (in Dutch plastic vershoud folie) and dab/pat with it on your nails, and repeat these steps for each nail, let it dry and add a topcoat :)

 

Base Color Club Raspberry Rush and a coat of a mini yellow polish from ETOS (no name), stamped with Konad SN black and imageplate XL F, added some yellow dots in the flowers with a dotting tool and SN yellow.

 

 

Here a pic of just the base.

What do you think of this technique? I really like it (not sure about this combo though) but would love to do it again under a full nail stamp or with less contrasting colors.

 

Have a nice sunday!

 

xoxox

OPI DS Illuminate with golden nail art

Hello Everyone,

I have this polish for a few years but never used it my self before. Don't ask me why because it is really beautiful. But some how I always think no brown is more for Fall ;)

I did some golden nail art on it but pffff that was hard to capture on a photo. Too much bling bling, so the pictures aren't that great.

Base OPI DS Illuminate, stamped with China Glaze 2030 and XL B (tips) and XL F. Some golden rhinestones and a gold line with a golden glitter striper from Konad.

This is more color accurate but the stamps arent' showing that well.

And here swacthes of this pretty color.

I love the green glow it had over it (not showing on my nails on the picture but you can see it in the bottle).

Enjoy your sunday!

xoxox

Purple holo with nail art

Today an older simple creation for you all :) I made these nails in August 2011 during my blogging break. I've made them for a festival week that was in the village I live in. It's every year at the end of August when the heather is blossoming and it's called Heideweek (Heather week).

I used Teeez Outta Contral as a base and stamped some plants that looked like heather on them with XL plate F and SN violet pearl.

Ofcourse I like to make matching toes in the Summer :)

Here some swatches of this gorgeous polish.

I also wanted to mention that I got the Versatile Blogger Award from the lovely Emily from Macabre Manicures I believe I already got this award and told 7 things about myself. So I'm not going to pass it again. But I did wanted mention it because every time someone gives me an award I feel so honered ♥ Almost all the blogs I follow already got this award. Be sure to check out Emily's blog Macabre Manicures and check the blogs from the girls she gave the award to. Thanks again Emily :)

Have a nice weekend!

And if you like check my previous blog post and vote for my strawberry nails, you can still vote every day this weekend ;)

xoxox

Centerparcs 2012

Last week my boyfriend and I went to a Centerparcs park here in Holland. Although I was still very snotty we had fun. No I'm feeling even sicker but hopefully I will get better. The weather was really nice and warm for this time of year. We went swimming every day, visited the marina and some villages. Had a lovely breakfast in the restaurant every morning that was included in the price :)

Ofcourse I wanted to make theme nails again, and the printer was/is still broken but luckily I still had some water decals from last year ;)

Base Catherine Arley 801, stamped with Konad SN green and XL plate F. And a selfmade water decals of the Centerparcs logo on my ring finger.

I also wanted some matching toes again :)

Here some swacthes of Catherine Arley 801 (a lime yelllow holo):

Have a nice day.....the sun is still shining here :)

xoxox

I removed my previous blog: In loving memory of my mom ♥

I saw a lot of traffic on my blog from a certain foreign forum and what I could read/figure out is that is was about my blog and the personal info I wrote and posted about my mom. That is was shocking to do and not normal or something like that to post such things public. I hate certain gossip so I decided to remove that blog and also edited that blog where I wrote about the last days of her life..,That Christmas would never be the same.

Writing about everything what happend with my mom was kind of a way to handle things...to write it down, to deal with it and also sort of a memory that won't get lost when my computer crashes...but will always be here on my little space online. But I guess it was weird of me to think and do that?! I know certain people did appreciate it, for example people who would have wanted to be there but couldn't, but I guess looking at the traffic other people find it weird to post personal stuff online. Anyway now it is all gone!

Below you can see part of my previous blog:

First I want to thank all of you for the sweet comments, emails, facebook messages etc. I did not had time to answer them all, but they really mean a lot to me ♥

Monday (2 January 2012) was my moms cremation and I made these nails for her.

Base is Catherine Arley 805 and on my ring finger Golden Rose Paris Holographic 104. I stamped with China Glaze 2030 sort of Greek "Meandros" key from Konad plate S6. And on my ring finger a self made photo decal of my mom (with a greek border around it) Sorry did not take a great photo but you could see my mom really good (somehow decals and holo are not the greatest combination when it comes to taking photos ;))

I also made a new creation for New Years Eve, did want to make something but not with the word Happy on it like I normally do. Because it wasn't a Happy New Years Eve :( I really missed my mom...she should have been there with her glass in her hand cheering and being scared of the fireworks ;) My boyfriend, my best friend and my sister and I did had some fireworks and our last big rocket was especially for my mom ♥

Base China Glaze Ruby Pumps (I have it for many years but it was still one of my untrieds on my own nails (my friends did used it)) Stamped some sort of fireworks with XL plate F and China Glaze 2030, Essence stampy silver and Konad SN white. 2012 is stamped with the numbers of the Konad plates M20 and M12 from the big demo plates.

I REMOVED THE REST ABOUT THE CREMATION AND OTHER PERSONAL STUFF.

P2 Into Lace 010 Sensuality with flower nail art

Today I'll show a really nice color from the P2 Into Lace LE. This collection had 5 colors but I only have 2 of them. 010 Sensualtity is a nice greenish color, it reminds me a little bit of OPI Mermaid Tears, but this one has more blue in it. It also has a nice subtle shimmer in it. I did some summer flower nail art on it.

First the nail art photos.

Base P2 Into Lace LE 010 Sensuality. I stamped flowers with Konad SN psyche pink, leafs with SN green both from XL plate F and some SN yellow dots made with a dotting tool.

Just another photo of my hand.

Here are the swatches.

With flash.

With flash under artificial light.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

xoxox

Flowers, pink, sailing and holo (Nfu Oh) all things I love ♥

Last week I mentioned I had Nfu Oh 63 on my nails and I wanted to post that friday but blogger was down. And in the weekends I normally am not online. So I will show you this today. Not last weekend but the weekend before that we hired a small moterboat in Giethoorn, and my best friend, his girlfriend, my boyfriend and I had so much fun that day. Ofcourse I took some photos of my nails there, the last time I was there I took the photo that is my blog logo now with the big water lily. I wanted take a new one with a lily but unfortunately it was to early in the season and the lilies were not in bloom yet. I did take some other nature photos. So I have a lot of photo spam for you :)

Base Nfu Oh 63, self made water decals of this cute pink flower (Frangipani). Stamped with XL plate B and OPI Rosy Mistletoe-sies.

Photo made from to boat in the background some sort of a small windmill.

It was such a beautiful sunny hot day ♥

Debora ♥ Dennis aren't they cute. (she is the one who always gets me those nice Brazilian nail polishes).

They call Giethoorn also the Dutch Venice because of all the water and bridges.

Just a pretty photo :)

Me and my boyfriend captain Dave ;) He's was at the rudder most of the time.

Some cows.

 Isn't he sweet?

Me at the rudder :)

Now here are the regular photos ;) I also took a few because with decals and holo it sometimes is difficult to take a good photo.

Photo with flash under artificial light.

 Photo with flash.

 Without flash or any direct (sun) light. So you can see the decals a bit better.

Without flash under artificial light.

Ofcourse I also took some swatch photos:

With flash.

 With flash a bit of different angle.

 With flash different angle...look at the rainbow ♥

 With flash under artificial light.

Without flash under artificial light.

I sooo totally love Nfu Oh holo's and also loved this creation I had it on my nails for more then a week.

I also painted my toe nails. I wasn't really matching but it did matched a lillte bit because I used this Nfu Oh for stamping. For those of you who don't like the see foot photos..... DON'T look ;)

 Base Teeez Outta Control a beautiful bright dark purple holo nail polish.

I stamped some flowers from XL plate F with Nfu Oh 63 and Nfu Oh 65.

xoxox