Art Club: Black, White and Bold Giveaway Winner!

Hello ladies,

The time to select the winner for the Art Club: Black, White and Bold Giveaway is upon us.

I met Sophie in Rittenhouse Square

and determined she was right for the proceedings.

We shook on it.

The Hedgehog versus Sophie:

Who will win?

Sophie knows something is up!

Cate dangles the hedgehog filled with 631 contest entries and a few motivational treats!

Sophie stands up for the fight.

She shakes the hedgehog down.

And silences her opponent by removing the squeaky toy. What tactics!

Sophie looks to the sidelines for support.

And returns to the fight.

Sophie savors the taste of victory.

And continues to knock the stuffing out of her opponent.

The hedgehog waves a tiny white flag

With the name of the giveaway winner: Nikki Warner!

Many thanks to Sophie, our lightweight champion.

Congratulations to Nikki Warner! Check out her blog: Nail Talez & More. Nikki does some amazing freehand nail art.

Many thanks to Art Club/Forsythe Company for sponsoring this giveaway! A special thanks to Sophie and Cate for their help in the proceedings.

Happy painting, ladies and a very Happy Halloween to each of you!

Fire witch

Hello ladies,

This Halloween, a Fire Witch takes flight. If you see a sunset that flickers orange and gold, it may have been created by the whisking of her broom as she traversed the sky.

I began with Nubar Orange Crush. In black Konad special polish, I stamped the flying witch from image plate T29. I placed an orange Moon overhead. On the lower portion of my nail, I painted a thin coat of Nubar Tiara to add some sparks to the fire.

Mookaite crystal skull.

A Bengal cat.

I was taking photos in Rittenhouse Square and I felt a familiar tap at my ankle. I looked down to see this Bengal cat communing for my affection. His owner was walking him on a leash and a harness. He pulled in my direction. The kitty decided to jump up next to me for admiration, compliments and a modeling opportunity. He sat for a spell.

Orange Crush has a gorgeous pearl finish. I painted three coats for opacity. There is an appearance of brushstrokes that fades after top coat has been applied. This shade looks peachy when wet and then becomes fully orange and aglow after a layer of topcoat. This is one of my favorite orange polishes!

Tiara is a wonderful glitter topping. It's useful when trying to work around a design because the formula is on the thick side. A thin coat plus some light dabbing for touch ups will provide an even layer of sparkle that's easy to place with accuracy.

Orange Crush is from the California Dreamin' Collection. Tiara can be found with the Royal Gems Collection. These polishes were sent for review. Both shades can be purchased at bynubar.com.

Image plate T29 was provided for my consideration. To view the full line of nail art stamping plates, please stop by chez-delaney.com.

Happy painting, ladies, and happy Halloween!

To catch a new love

Hello ladies,

At Halloween time, spells are cast. I am sure that witches will be out this Sunday, eyes on suitable partners in their Halloween finery. A love spell might be just the thing to attract a man who could successfully fill out a pointy hat.

I began with Color Club Resort to Red. With Konad white pearl special polish, I stamped the spider web from image plate T13. I let the web catch pink and red hearts from Art Club Sprinkles. On each nail, there are four hearts: two large and two small.

Raw amethyst.

A rose quartz wand.

Even witches have laundry day. These witch hats are hanging in Mt. Holly, NJ.

Resort to Red has pink and violet in the base. This romantic shade has a pearl finish. There are visible brushstrokes when painting, but their appearance lessens after topcoat has been applied. I really love this color! It has more visual interest than a standard red, but still looks classic.

I hope you enjoy the Halloween love spell I cast.

Color Club Resort to Red was provided for review. This shade and others from the Untamed Luxury Collection are available for purchase at victoriasnailsupply.com. The hearts from Art Club Sprinkles were also sent for review purposes.

Image plate T13 was provided for my consideration. To view to the full line of nail art stamping plates, please stop by chez-delaney.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Holiday Jewel Basket by Nubar (tell me your picks)

Hello ladies,

On November 15, Nubar will be releasing Holiday Jewel Basket. It looks like they put together a gorgeous mix of sparkle for the Holidays. I am really excited to try Pixie Dust. I'm thrilled they are adding in Nubar 2010 to this Collection. My bottle from this summer received so much use. I definitely need a backup. Nubar makes some of my favorite glitter polishes.

The pricing of this set is notable as well: $49.95 for seven polishes plus Foundation base coat and Diamont top coat.

Let me know what you ladies are excited about seeing!

Below is the press release. Please click on the photo to enlarge:

Give the gift of beautiful nails! nubar's Holiday Jewel Basket is filled with nine nubar classics for a perfect holiday manicure. With a range from glitters to classic red crème, the Holiday Jewel Basket has something for every woman.

Always free of formaldehyde, phthalate and toluene, the nail lacquers in Holiday Jewel Basket offer four fine glitters, two glitter top coats, a classic red crème, Foundation Base Coat, and Diamont Top Coat.

Grass Green Glitter: a fine green glitter.

Silver Glitter: a fine silver glitter.

Gold Glitter: a fine gold glitter.

Pixie Dust: a delicate dusting of shimmer.

Ruby Red Glitz: a fine red glitter.

Nubar 2010: a flaky glitter in a color changing base.

Competition Red: a classic red creme.

Foundation Base Coat

Diamont Top Coat

Nubar nail lacquers feature an ergonomically designed cap and a 299 bristle brush built for comfort and performance.

Happy painting, ladies!

Neutrogena Ageless Intensives: Tone Correcting Daily Moisturizer SPF 30

Hello ladies,

I want to share information about a treatment facial sunscreen from Neutrogena. Part of the Ageless Intensives line, Tone Correcting Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 helps brighten the complexion, improve skin tone and lighten age spots. The Vitamin C and Retinol SA complex renews and exfoliates the skin, while broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen protects against future damage.

Neutrogena Ageless Intensives: Tone Correcting Daily Moisturizer SPF 30

I started using Tone Correcting Daily Moisturizer this past August. I began applying this product as part of my morning routine, every other day. The packaging notes: You may experience mild redness, a warm tingling sensation or flaking (skin exfoliation). These are normal, temporary indications that the formula is working.

I didn't detect any redness or flaking, but it did feel like my skin was humming for a few minutes after application. Even with sensitive skin, I wouldn't describe the feeling as painful. I was certainly aware of the Retinol SA at work for the first two weeks. The sensation experienced on the initial application will greatly lessen. My skin soon became accustomed to the formula and the tingling dissipated.

I really appreciate that I can easily wear Tone Correcting Daily Moisturizer under makeup. Before applying eye shadow, I smooth the moisturizer over my face and neck. In the time it takes to apply eye makeup, the formula has absorbed and I can add primer, concealer, and bronzer/blush.

Tone Correcting Daily Moisturizer improves the appearance of the skin. I have a couple of small age spots and minor freckling. The formula didn't erase these imperfections completely, but I did notice a subtle lightening.

Let's take a look at the components:

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 4%, Octisalate 5%, Octicrylene 5%, Oxybenzone 5%.

Inactive Ingredients: Water, PPG-15, Stearyl Ether, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Silica, Isohexadecane, Polyamide-5, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, PEG-8, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethytaurate/VP Copolymer, Potassium Ceytl Phosphate, PEG-75 Stearate, Trisiloxane, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Bisabolol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Hinokitiol, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Fragrance.

Neutrogena's patented Helioplex formula sunscreen is one of my favorites available. I have been using different lines from Neutrogena for years to protect my face and neck from sun damage. Their broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen is proven to shield six layers of skin for a strong degree of protection.

Vitamin C is included in the formula to help diminish spots and even the complexion. Retinol SA also works to reduce age spots along with the appearance of wrinkles. The Retinol SA formula penetrates the skin better than Pro-Retinol or Retinyl Palmitate. For those ladies who rely on the exfoliating effects of Vitamin A, this product is a drug store treasure.

I can recommend Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 30 for sun protection and as an effective skin treatment. I am currently using my second bottle and I will be purchasing more in the future.

The Neutrogena Ageless Defensives line can be purchased from neutrogena.com. I bought my bottle of Tone Correcting Moisture from my local CVS drugstore. The retail price is 18.99.

Happy painting, ladies!

Moonlight Masquerade

Hello ladies,

My sister and I worked at the Moonlight Masquerade this weekend. Inside the historic and haunted Mt. Holly Library, there was a costume party, a spooky feast and perhaps wandering spirits and goblins afoot.

Allow me to offer you a tour.

In the foyer, you will be greeted by The Raven.

A mantle of expressive pumpkins.

Fiery eyes!

A haunting scream!

You are being watched.

The Magician Tarot card, a crystal ball and The Fine Art Tarot.

On the second floor, a spell is cast.

A grimoire, a candle and a corked bottle of shrunken pumpkins.

Too much hemlock.

Cauldrons and skeletons.

A mysterious skull.

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken.

Confusion in the stairwell.

An owl guards the attic.

Someone has been here for quite awhile.

My sister and I used the Ouija board in the attic. We survived to tell the tale.

The flash offered more illumination for our virtual tour. In the haunted library, we existed by candle flame and a few glowing strands of light.

Happy painting, ladies, and happy haunting!