IBD Just Gel Urban Edge Collection

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Hello Loves.  I finally have the IBD Just Gel Polish Urban Edge Collection to show you.  I was hoping to get these up earlier this week, but two of the colors were on back order.  They came in just as I was going to post without them, so I decided to wait a little longer.

The Urban Edge Collection consists of 6 creams and 2 glitters toppers.  I wasn't really expecting to like this collection based on the preview pictures, but as I was swatching them I found I actually do like a lot of the colors.  Ready to see them?

First up is Painted Pavement.  This color seems to be the hardest to find.  It is on back order through many channels, but it should be popping up soon.  Painted Pavement is a soft, pastel periwinkle that leans a little blue.  Application was smooth but I did find that I needed three coats for full coverage.

The next shade is one of my favorites of the collection.  Brazen Beat is a true orange that would have been perfect for Halloween.  It leans a little bright but I am thrilled that it doesn't lean pink or yellow like many orange polishes.  Sadly, this one was a little streaky for me even after three coats.  It may have needed a better shake.

Ah yes...the color I hate to love.  Metro Pose is a gorgeous dark teal.  It leans very green in person.  I didn't have time to fight with it, so it appears blue in these photos.  The formula is fantastic and I found it offers perfect coverage in two coats.

Since I didn't have time to fight with the color of Metro Pose, I am once again borrowing Angela's Pantone comparison for true color reference.  ;)

Street wise is a nice hazelnut brown cream.  It is a little warmer in person than it appears on my monitor.  Application was similar to Metro Pose - opaque in two and creamy as can be.

I'm sure it comes as no surprise that Luxe Street is another of my favorites from this collection.  This deep, vampy purple is yet another with a flawless formula.  Two coats for perfect coverage.

Catwalk Alley was a tricky little devil to photograph.  It wants to appear black in photos, but in person it is a deep, dark maroon.  In daylight, the maroon is much more obvious, but it is still a true vamp.

Ready to see the glitters?  Before we get to the descriptions, I have to say that I am increasingly frustrated by IBD glitter polishes.  The base is too thin to keep the glitter suspended, so they tend to be a pain to apply.  I had to do some major glitter placement with both of these.  The smaller dark glitter pieces wanted to cluster and clump together and the larger pieces wanted to stick to the brush.  It's just not worth fighting with them in my opinion.  Shame...they are pretty combinations and would be great if the formula wasn't such a pain.

Canned Couture consists of large silver hexes, dark silver micro glitters, and silver holographic shimmer.  I couldn't capture the shimmer to save my life, but I promise it is there.  This is two coats after a good shake.

You can see the holographic shimmer a little in this photo of Canned Couture layered over Street Wise.  This is one coat after leaving the bottle upside down for a bit.

Glam Ave is Canned Couture's golden sister.  This one consists of gold hex glitters, dark silver micro glitters, and golden red micro glitters.  This is two coats after a good shake.  As a side note, please excuse my stained middle nail.  I have no clue where that came from, but I suspect I touched some hair dye in the sink in the salon.  lol

This is one coat of Glam Ave after letting the bottle sit upside down for a bit.  The gold doesn't really show in this photo, but I tried.  ;)

The Urban Edge Collection can be found at your favorite distributor.  I also found 7 of the colors on Amazon here.

What do you think?  I wasn't very excited about this collection at first, but I was pleasantly surprised when I got them in my hands!

~Michelle

*This post uses Amazon Affiliate Links.  Purchases through those links generate commissions that help fund this site.

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KBShimmer Winter 2015 Select Swatches

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Hello Loves!  KBShimmer Bath and Body recently released their Winter 2015 Polish Collection.  This collection consists of 14 new shades, including the 2015 Toys for Tots Charity color.  This release also includes several winter themed water slide decals.  I have some of those to show you but I'm waiting until a little later in the season.  Be sure to check them out here.  For today, I have seven of the new polishes to show you.  Ready to see them?

The first color I have to show you is one that excites me way too much.  I have been craving a true red cream from KBShimmer for so long!  Chilly Pepper is exactly that.  The formula is perfection and the color is exactly what I dreamed it would be.  Thanks, Christy!  All of today's swatches use KBShimmer Clearly On Top topcoat as well.  Excuse the bubbles in this one.  It was the first one I swatched and I forgot to let the bubbles settle from shipping.  I was a little excited.  lol  Clearly On Top is a quick dry top coat that does not disappoint!

Next up is a strong, linear holographic polish with smokey, dark grey tones called Coal In One.  Application is nice and I found it to be opaque in two coats. 

Brrr-tiful Dreamer is a grape leaning grey crelly with aqua, sliver, purple and fuchsia glitters.  I found that this one needed three coats for even glitter distribution, but it was opaque in two.  I should note that my camera didn't want to capture this one accurately.  It is more muted than it appears in my photos.

Claws and Effect is tied for my favorite polish in this release.  It is a dark purple leaning navy holo polish with blue/pink shifting glass flakes.  This polish has an incredible rainbow in direct lighting and the glass flecks really show off in indirect lighting.  It has so much dimension and is opaque in two coats for me!

Fleece Navidad is a soft grey/silver holographic polish with blue glass flakes.  The holo in this one is subtle but beautiful.  I swatched three coats here for full opacity.

Kind of a Big Dill is a dark green jelly base with holographic glitters. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this polish.  It reminds me of a dark evergreen tree with those sparkly silver icicles.  I swatched three coats for full coverage.

Finally, Yule Worthy is described as a holiday glitter topper or stand alone polish.  I don't like it as a topper, but I adore it in three coats as a stand alone!  This is the perfect color to transition from fall to winter.  It has a deep brown toned plum base and is loaded with holographic micro glitter.  My photos didn't capture the holographic glitter effect, but I promise it pops in person and is incredible!

Be sure to check out the other gorgeous colors in this release!  I had a very hard time choosing 7 to show you.  They are available for purchase now on KBShimmer's website here.  They are also on Amazon, and I have linked to each there in the descriptions above the swatches.  I'll show you those winter themed water slide decals over the next few weeks.  I'm hoarding them so I can wear them for longer than a day.  lol

~Michelle

*The polishes featured in this post were provided by KBShimmer for my honest review.  This post uses Amazon Affiliate links.  Purchases through these links generate commissions that help fund this site.  All other links are courtesy links and do not benefit ManicTalons.com. 

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Two steps forward and one step back (a personal update)

Hello Loves.  Wow...I don't even know how to start this post.  I guess I'll get the update out of the way and then I'll show you some of my work from the past few weeks.

My stomach is in knots and my hands are shaking.  Which is seriously crazy because it won't be a very big deal to most of you, but it is huge to me.  I started Manic Talons just over two years ago as a hobby blog.  This is my sanctuary.  My home away from home.  This is the piece of me that I share with the world as my escape from the stresses and trials of everyday life.  You know, getting lost in the polish and the art.  Expressing my love and passion for miniature canvases and beautiful colors. Sharing that love with you - the people who understand that love and passion in a way that many of my local friends and family just don't.

Over the past two years, a lot has happened.  A lot.  I started down a new path - I went back to school, got my license, and have joined a fabulous salon with some of the most supportive people I have ever met.  I did a complete 180 in my professional life - I turned this passion into a career.  Not many people can wake up each morning and say that they are going to do what they love.  It doesn't feel like work.  Seriously.  It feels like Heaven, and I couldn't have done it without you.  But, there are some bumps in the road.  And those bumps are why I'm writing this post.

Ok, I'm rambling, so let me get to the point.  I keep posting that I'll be back on my normal schedule soon.  I fully intend to get back to it, but life keeps getting in the way.  I am very routine driven and the guilt that I feel for not keeping up with my posting schedule is intense.  I know, it's crazy.  This is my hobby and hobbies shouldn't cause stress and remorse.  But it does.  I have tried to stick to a posting schedule for so long that it has become a normal part of my routine.  Yet now I am finding that I have to choose between getting a blog post up or working on my career or spending time with my family.  The stress is taking the joy out of blogging for me, and I refuse to let that happen.  Not only is the stress killing the joy, but it is impacting my health as well.  I suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome...yes, it is as lovely as it sounds) and I have recently started experiencing muscle spasms so strong that it feels like a baby kicking.  Funny how something so beautiful and welcome when you are pregnant can be so disturbing and unwelcome when you aren't.  But I digress...

I have come to the realization that I have to let something go in my schedule for life.  I can't give up on my career, and I certainly can't ignore my family.  So my blog here has to be the piece that is no longer scheduled.  Don't worry - Manic Talons is not going away.  It simply has to become my sanctuary again.  My hobby.  The thing I do in my spare time because I love doing it - not because it is on my calendar for the week.  So I'm dropping the idea of scheduled posts and will be posting as a hobby again.  I might go a week without posting or I might post 5 times in one week.  It will be a surprise for you and me!  lol

With that said, please be sure to follow me on Facebook, Bloglovin or by Email if you aren't already.  The links are in the sidebar to the right.  That way you won't miss posts since I won't be on a regular schedule.

Before I leave you to work on swatches for the KBShimmer Winter Collection, how about a few pictures from the past few weeks?  These are just a few of my favorites.

Let's start with Jennifer.  She is a life long nail biter and wanted pretty nails for a party she was attending.  I forgot to get a before picture and the cell phone shot that I grabbed of the after is a little blown out, but I had the picture she sent me from before so I'm including it.  lol  I used Cuccio T3 Controlled Leveling hard gel over tips to extend her nails.  The main color is Cuccio 2am in Hollywood with Pueen Stamping and Cuccio Vegas Vixen as an accent.  I love how these turned out!

Next is Jordan.  She is one of the stylists at the salon (and yes, her hands are stained from hair color).  This is not my design - she found a picture on pinterest.  I used Madam Glam Perfect Black and Electric Blue and Pink Gellac Luxury Gold for the base.  The accent nail is freehand with Wildflowers Nail Art Paints.

Speaking of Wildflower Nail Art Paints, I used them with my Wildflowers Art Brushes for this single nail between clients.  Stacked pumpkins!  I freaking LOVE these paints!  And the brushes.  :)

Sabrina came in for some Halloween nail art and saw the nail I was playing with above.  So I gave her a cute little pumpkin accent nail.  The base is Madam Glam Shimmer White.  I can't remember the purple, but it was also a Madam Glam.  Purple Sky maybe?  The shimmer didn't pick up well in the photo.  I'm still struggling with client pictures.  :(

Nicki also came back to see me.  This time, I she was missing a nail and needed a fill, so I rebuilt her pinkie with Cuccio T3 and a tip.  The fill was also with T3.  The colors are Madam Glam Electric Blue and Dream Diamond.  The color is off in this picture :(

Taking a break from the nails for a minute, Jordan and Jamie gave me some new color.  I freaking LOVE it!  A red base with caramel and red highlights and plum low lights.  It is a bit more natural than my previous vivids, but the variations of color are gorgeous.

Here's a sunlight shot.  :)

Since I'm posting my "ugly mug" in the hair shots, how about a Halloween pic?  My boys were super heroes (Batman and Iron Man), so I went as the comic book damsel in distress.  They rescued me from the evil villains.  lol  Ok, fine.  It was a last minute costume idea but I think it turned out kind of cute.  This was the second go at it.  McKenna did my makeup at the salon and I ruined it before time for trick or treat.  I was so mad!  I had to redo it myself and it didn't turn out near as fun as when she did it.  I also slapped on some pop art nails at the last minute.  Not my best work, but they turned out ok and the boys loved it.  That's all that matters, right?

Back to the nails for one more pic.  I also did some fun Nightmare Before Christmas nail art on Sabrina's daughter.  I can't remember the colors I used in this one.  I know...blogging fail.  But I'm pretty pleased with the final result and she loved it!

Ok, that's enough for today.  I have swatching to do.  :)  Oh, and I have the new IBD collection on the way.  I know I'm a little late with that one, but one of the colors was very hard to find when it first released so I decided to wait until I could get them all.  Those swatches will be coming soon.

Stay tuned for those KBShimmer and IBD swatches.  I don't know when, but soon.  lol  And thank you all for sticking with me while I'm trying to sort things out.  I will eventually go back to a regular schedule once I get settled at the salon and can put the majority of the startup marketing behind me.

~Michelle

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Bundle Monster Occasions Collection - Halloween and Thanksgiving

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Hello Loves!  So, turns out my salon job is whooping my tail!  I'm so exhausted by the time I get home, I just don't want to do anything.  Yeah, I wish I could tell you that I'm just so busy that it is killing me, but it's more like boredom.  lol  Things are off to a slow start, but I have faith they'll pick up soon.

The good news is I had time the other day between clients to play with the Bundle Monster Occasions Collection Halloween and Thanksgiving stamping plates.  This collection consists of 5 Halloween themed plates and 5 Fall/Thanksgiving plates.  The images range from playful and spooky to scrumptious and inviting.

Ok, so I have another confession to make.  I'm struggling big time with stamping lately.  I think I mentioned a while back that the Two Foot Terrorist (aka my 2 year old) ran off with my favorite stamper and hid it only God knows where.  I have a few stampers that I am trying to adjust to using, but my stamping isn't as crisp as it should be.  With that said, I took pictures and a few swatches from each of the plates.  You will notice there are tons of skips in my swatches.  This is a stamper issue, not a plate issue.  I was able to get full pick up on all of the plates at one point or another, but I honestly gave up for these pictures.

Ready to see some pictures?  Let's start with a simple Halloween manicure.  For this one, I used three Bundle Monster Speed Gels as the base: You're So Tragic, Cocktail Dress and Rouge Lipstick.  I then stamped with Bundle Monster Stamping Polish in Noir Black and Iced Silver.  The spider is from BM-S202 and the web is from BM-S205.  It is a very simple design, but I'm finding that I like simple right now.  Crazy, right?

So let's take a peek at the plates.  I'll show them in order followed by the sample stamps.  Again, the gaps in the images are me and not the plates.  :(

BM-S201 is a Halloween themed plate with lots of spooky words and images to choose from.  You can isolate the images or use them as a mashup.  My favorite part of this plate is the owl.  So freaking cute!

BM-S202 is also a Halloween plate.  This one is made up of cutsie images.  The spider in the top left is the one I used for the Halloween manicure above.

No Halloween Collection would be complete with a witch and a haunted house, right?  BM-S203 has that and more.

Ugh...the skips...so sorry about those.  Yeah, so y'all tell me your favorite stampers in the comments!  I have the Bundle Monster Mega Stamper and I love it, but it's a bit too firm for super long nails and swatch sticks.

I adore the little jack-o-lantern faces on BM-S204.  They range from traditional to unique and fit nicely on the average size nail.

Spiders and bats and creepy crawlers...BM-S205 has you covered.  Oh, and ghosts!

Moving on to the fall and Thanksgiving themed plates, BM-S206 is a mashup of trees, birds, leaves, and the cutest little mushrooms ever!  Oh, and a squirrel.  lol

BM-S207 is another word plate, but this time with tons of fall themed words and phrases. 

BM-S208 is a harvest themed plate with a great basket weave pattern, sunflowers and veggies.  I admit, I couldn't resist double stamping my sample with this one.  Oops.  ;)

BM-S209 is a fall food plate, I think?  I see apples, donuts, acorns, honey, and I have no clue what those other two are.  Flowers and walnuts, maybe? 

I hereby dub BM-S210 as the Vegetable Soup plate.  I mean, other than the wheat and the turkey, this plate is stocked with the ingredients for a superb veggie soup.  :)

So there you have them - the Bundle Monster Occasions Collection - Halloween and Fall stamping plates.  My apologies to Bundle Monster for the crazy skipping images.  If you do a Google Image Search for Bundle Monster Occasions, you'll see better samples of stamping with these plates, but I wanted to show you the images since they're all so fun and adorable!

Oh, I have one more mani to show you.  For this one, I used Revel Nail Harvest and Festival as the base.  I then double stamped with Bundle Monster Stamping Polish in Liquid Gold and Crimson Red and the sunflower image from BM-S208.  I love how the nails turned out with the Red stamp over the gold.  I tried the reverse on the pinkie and ring finger and it didn't turn out quite as nice.  Oh well...can't love them all.

If you like the looks of these plates, you can pick up the set on Bundle Monster's website here or on Amazon here.

~Michelle

*The Bundle Monster Stamping Plates and Stamping Polishes featured in this post were provided by Bundle Monster for my honest review.  This post uses Amazon Affiliate links.  Purchases through these links generate commissions that help fund this site.  All other links are courtesy links and do not benefit ManicTalons.com.

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