Zoya Avery in Polka Dots...

Avery is the last polish in the Zoya Feel collection. It was the one I worried about the most thinking that it wouldn't go well with my skin tone, but I was wrong. It looks lovely. As I was painting my nails, I stumbled across a picture of this polka dot dress on pinterest and it was instant inspiration, so I just went with it.

For the manicure I started out with Zoya Avery as my base, taped it off with scotch tape and added the tips using Wet 'n Wild Black Creme. The dots were done using a dotting tool and the same Black Creme from Wet 'n Wild. I originally intended to have the dots over the whole nail, but I liked the look of it on just half...

Zoya Avery on her own is a a soft beige cream. Full coverage in two coats and application was great just like the rest of the polishes in this collection. This it two coats plus a top coat in these swatches...

Swatch Details
	Brand: Zoya Collection: Feel, Winter 2011 Color Name/Number: Avery Number of coats: 2 Top Coat: Yes Free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Camphor

I'd love to know what you think of this. Do you like nails inspired by fashion? I'm thinking it would make a fun series :)

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

Avon Wicked Malice + Sunday Stamping Challenge

I can't believe it is time for another Sunday Stamping Challenge in the facebook group Adventures in Stamping. This week the challenge was to create a Valentines Day mani. Since I have been wearing lots of pastels lately, I chose a dark, vampy base of Avon Wicked Malice. I stamped using Color Club Hot Like Lava from the Foiled collection and Red Angel stamping plate RA-114. I like that it is subtle, simple and not overly girly...

On it's own Avon Wicked Malice was a bit of a disappointment. The color in the bottle has an incredible dark red shimmer in a nearly black base. You can clearly see it in the bottle on any of the photos. The sad part is that it didn't transfer to the nail. Yes, the polish is still a beautiful dark, vampy color, but without this red shimmer, it lacked that special something for me. For the most part the polish looked dark berry to nearly black. Only in direct sunlight or under the lamp was the shimmer visible on the nail. Otherwise application was very good. Two coats for full coverage. With a top coat in these photos...

Swatch Details
	Brand: Avon Collection: Main line Color Name/Number: Wicked Malice, N409 Number of coats: 2 Top Coat: Yes Free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)

I would love to know what you think!

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

11 Questions Tag...

I was tagged for the 11 Questions tag by two lovely bloggers: Kirsten of Geeky Owl and Theodora of Red Hair and Black Nail Polish. Thanks ladies for thinking of me! :)

The rules:

- Post 11 things about yourself

- Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post

- Create 11 new questions for the people you tag!

- Choose 11 people to tag, link them on your post, and tell them about it

Since I was tagged twice and there are two sets of questions to answer, I will skip the facts section and get right to the questions...

Questions from Theodora of Red Hair and Black Nail Polish:
1. What are your other hobbies, besides nail polish and doing your nails?
I have a ton of other hobbies, but no time for them. Jewelry making, candle carving, cake decorating... oh the list goes on. Here are some samples, I've posted these before so sorry to all who have seen these :)

2. What is your favorite nail polish color?
I tend to wear dark purple/plum a lot

3. What or who started your nail polish addiction/ obsession?
It was back in 2008 when I lived in NY with my aunt for 2 months. We went to get our nails done and I asked for a deep vampy burgundy and the lady suggested a plum instead. I think it was a Zoya, but I have been on the hunt for that color ever since...

4. What nail polish trend do you love/hate?
I love the flakie trend! None that I really hate.

5. Do you also paint the nails of others, like friends/family?
I've done by mom's nails and my cousin's as well, but I don't do it often...

6. Where do you buy most of your nail polish?
I mostly buy from Ulta, Walgreens and Ross. Just depends on what I'm looking for...

7. Stamping or freehand Nail Art - what's your favorite?
I can't choose just one. I love and do both :)

8. Would you ever give up your entire collection of nail polish? :D
For a good cause I would. I don't think I have any nail polishes I couldn't live without or find a replacement for. I'm not into chasing hard to find polishes.

9. Where would you like to live? And why?
I would love to live somewhere warm by the beach, where life moves a little slower and people are not quite as stressed...

10. What's your best feature?
Um, my nails?

11. What's your biggest dream?
To live by the beach.. see number 9 above ;)


Questions from Kirsten of Geeky Owl:
1. How many nail polishes do you own?
On last count I had around 450, but don't quote me on that :)

2. If you could meet anyone alive or dead who would it be?
I would love to meet my grandma who passed away before I was born.

3. Your guilty pleasure?
Spoonfuls of sweetened condensed milk. Yum!

4. What is your favorite film?
Heartbreakers and Dirty Dancing. I've seen both way more times than I should admit :)

5. Favorite music group as a kid?
Backstreet Boys. Brings back such fun memories...

6. Favorite animal?
Lately I've been fascinated with pandas :)

7. Coke or Pepsi?
I don't drink pop very often, probably couldn't even taste the difference, but I do love the Coke polar bears...

8. If you could have accent in the world what would it be?
I'll keep mine... slight and non-distinct. Most people have a hard time guessing that I am from Russia :)

9. Phobias?
Spiders... ugh!

10. How often do you change your nails?
Usually daily, if I'm feeling lazy then I'll have the same mani for 2 or 3 days tops.

11. Your favorite quote?
Excuses are like butts, everyone has one and they all stink.



I think most people have already been tagged with this, so I will leave it as an open invitation for anyone who wants to answer these questions. Let me know if you choose to do this so I can come read your answers :D

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

Zoya Kennedy in Lace

I have been seeing a lot of lace manicures around and have really been wanting to give it a try. Zoya Kennedy was perfect for the occasion. Since I don't have any lace stamps, I went the freehand route. Starting out with Zoya Kennedy, I added a black stripe and lace details using black acrylic paint. This definitely gave me practice with detail painting and made me realize just how much more practice I need...

On her own Zoya Kennedy is a lovely beige cream. Full coverage and great application in two coats. The formula does not disappoint. Swatches are with a top coat...

Swatch Details
	Brand: Zoya Collection: Feel, Winter 2011 Color Name/Number: Kennedy, ZP595 Number of coats: 2 Top Coat: Yes Free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Camphor

As always, I'd love to know what you think! :)

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

A very lucky day!

I honestly don't know how I got so lucky, but won another giveaway. This time from the lovely Kristin of The Manicured Monkey. She is a fellow member of the Adventures in Stamping group that I'm part of and I have been following her blog for a long time. You have probably seen her blog by now, but if not then make sure to check it out.

Her giveaway had four incredible prizes and I didn't know which one I had won until I opened my package to find the entire luxeffects line from Essie, two Sally Hansen Salon Effects, Seche Vite, and an Elf eyeshadow palette...

Thank you so much Kristin! I'm still in shock :)

My other shock of the day was to wake up this morning and find out that Wacky Laki was featured by Kayla on her blog Nails by Kayla Shevonne! I never expected it and I'm so honored that she thought I was good enough to feature. Thank you Kayla! She mentioned that someone recommended me to her, so whoever you are... thank you too! :)

Also, welcome to everyone who stopped by here thanks to Kayla and the 40 people who decided they liked this blog enough to follow it!

Thank you so much Kristin and Kayla, you ladies made my day! :)

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

Zoya Kendal with Freehand Flowers

This is Zoya Kendal and what could possibly be my favorite manicure (of mine) to date. I had an inspiration image for this, but I can't find it right now so if I stubble across it again I will update this post. I started out with Zoya Kendal for the base and added a wide white stripe along the side using Wet 'n Wild French White Creme. Then, using acrylic paint in white and two different shades of purple I added the flowers. Flower centers are using Sinful Color Nail Art in Flower Girl. It reminds me of a china pattern...

UPDATE: Tutorial for this manicure available here!

Zoya Kendal is another sweet full coverage cream. This one is a pale lavender with great application. Two coats plus a top coat for these swatches. Not much more I can say here, just lovely...

Swatch Details
	Brand: Zoya Collection: Feel, Winter 2011 Color Name/Number: Kendal, ZP594 Number of coats: 2 Top Coat: Yes Free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Camphor

I'd love to know what you think!

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

Zoya Megan Funky French

Zoya Megan is the third pastel in a lovely winter collection from Zoya. It felt very girly and dainty to me and I needed something light after the gray of yesterday. I stamped using Wet 'n Wild French White Creme and a french tip stamp from Bundle Monster plate BM-220. Since my nails are not long enough for the stamp to be used in the proper direction (plenty long for me), I flipped the image and stamped the line of the stamp along the tip. The stamping turned out very pale, but I like the subtle aspect of it in this case. I added a funky slanted white french tip along the line of the stamp using French White Creme...

Zoya Megan is a pale lavender cream. It is full coverage in two easy coats. I had no problems with applications. Loving the formula and the coverage on these creams so far. This is two coats plus a top coat...

Swatch Details
	Brand: Zoya Collection: Feel, Winter 2011 Color Name/Number: Megan, ZP593 Number of coats: 2 Top Coat: Yes Free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Camphor

What do you think of subtle stamping?
I'd love to know what you think!

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)