lame, I know, but I couldn't think of a better name for this Konad.
I'm a little embarrassed, actually. This KOTD is...well, let's call spade a spade - tacky.
Misa
Haven White for a canvas; OPI
Little Red Wagon; Orly
Witch's Blue; and random Sally Hansen silver for the design. Konad plate #M65.
I'm little unhappy about design being cut on my middle finger. Other than that, I think it's a good, festive manicure. Tacky-schmacky - we are talking about fireworks here, not the latest IRS regulations!
You guys have a happy and safe holiday. I'm off to catch up on my work and to think about KOTD that would be a good representation of IRS regulations.
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Metaphors aside, I stamped a golden konad design over China Glaze Pink-Rox-E, a wonderful color, chock-full of gold shimmer. The thing is, I really like konad plate # m57, a fishnet design in particular; but I was too chicken to use it ("fishnets are vulgar yada-yada" - mommy issues all over again). Something subtle seemed like my best bet.
Finger Paints Gift of Gold for the fishnets. Viola! (don't forget to click on the pic to enlarge it)
It's a bit Legally Blond-ysh, but I like it and plan to wear it till it chips for good:
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This is my clumsy, yet very enthusiastic "Go vote!" mani.
Breakdown:
Misa Heavenly White base with Finger Paints Easel Come, Easel Go french tips (two coats of tips):
Not that I'm biased, but this is the perfect white: completely opaque and streak-free in two coats.
Adding OPI Malaga Wine and Orly Witch's Blue (not very appropriate for the occasion, but...):
Ready... stamp - vote!
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I've just finished a manicure with Sephora OPI Metro Chic this morning, and then it occurred to me: Konad does not have to be of a contrast color! So I pulled out China Glaze Channelesque, my recent $1 find.
To be honest with you, I'm mesmerized with results. See for yourself:
This picture is pretty color-accurate.
These two - to show off the design; they are overcasted a little, sorry:
And the last one - to show how this mani looks most of the time. Subtle and elegant, I'd say:
Base color: Sephora by OPI in Metro Chic
Design color: China Glase Channelesque
Konad plate # s6
PS: I need more all-over Konad plates. A lot more.
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All Konaders and Konad-addicts, I have great news for you.
Konad special polish? Not so special any more. Once you have figured out how to work the scraper, you can achieve good results with regular aka reasonably priced polishes!
So far, I've had excellent results with Easel Come, Easel Go and Gift Of Gold (both by Finger paints).
One picture is better than thousand words, so here we go:
Easel Come, Easel Go over RBL Au Chocolate. I know, it seems like a blasphemy to konadize this polish, but what can a poor Konad-adict do?
Gift Of Gold:
Please excuse the sloppiest swatches ever, I was really excited to stamp this gold right away over anything.
To be honest, these pictures just do not do the justice - gold is so much richer in real life!
I have also tried a couple of OPI - old formula red and a new blue - to recreate Sara's wonderful 4th of July mani. Guess what? Both worked just great!
The only problem I've had so far was with Essie Marshmallow. I want to use it for Konad french tips, and polish is too thin. I left it opened for to make it thiker and cannot wait to report you the results of this experiment.
I will get Misa's white and black and try them as well.
I really hope this post would save some of you a couple of bucks!
/Konad 10 ml special polish - about $10; Finger Paints 15 ml - about $4. Goft of Gold is discontinied, but Fool's Gold from a current collection seems like a good replacement/
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One might even call it the best mani for TGIF night on the town.
I've been experimenting a lot with Konad; and finally decided to give a holo-polish a go. The only holo I have is OPI Designer Series Design.
Ingredients:
- OPI Have You Seen My Limo as a base
- OPI DS Design
- Konad plate # m20
Results:
Daylight many:
I think, it's an acceptable manicure for a casual Friday in a "relaxed" office. You can barely see the design.
But wait until the light strikes it!
Little flowers almost lighten up from within:
So, what do you guys think?
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Judging by your responses, Konad techniques might be interesting to some of my readers. OK, let's get stamping.
***
Here comes a short seance of a self-therapy:
My environment is totally Konad-unfriendly. My mom, bless her heart, still tells me that bright or, God forbid, red polish reserved for the fallen creatures only. My beloved husband used to roll his eyes ones hear the words "nail art". "Honey, how old are you, exactly? Thirteen?". Yes, he can pursue a PhD in being sarcastic with his wife. I had been drooling profusely over Sara's beautiful Konad manicures (check the links at the end of her post). Yet, somehow I was sure I would look like a retired ho' with a lot of time on her hands (literally) if I would get myself one of these sinful stamps. I have to admit, pictures on Konad official web site did not exactly prove the opposite. So, buying a Konad was somewhat of a rebellious act. I was working late and out of the blue I though: "Hell, this is my life and I just want to have some fun". Hi, my name is Masa and I'm so proud of myself for finally getting a Konad!
***
Konad is a trade name of a company that produces kits for "stamping nail art". In theory, you apply a bit of a special nail polish on the design of your choice; scrape polish excess with a miniature scraper; press a rubber stamp on the design and transfer it to your nails. With the greatest of ease. I wish!
After getting my Konad, I did one - one! - design successfully and then it just did not want to work for me anymore. Instead of transferring countless immaculate "highly detailed, sophisticated designs" to my nails, I was almost crying in frustration. Then I remembered that I have a polish fanatic colleagues and sent out a lot of emails.
Carla G was nice enough to share this link. Please, read the section "Stamp not picking up image" carefully.
Konad's nuts and bolts:
1. Before you begin, file the rubber stamp with your regular nail file - just a touch.
2. Do not try to swipe your polish over the design in different directions in attempt to cover all little nukes and crannies. Swipe with one fast, wide motion. If you work with polish for too long (we are talking seconds here, not minutes), it will dry out right on the plate and your stamp will not pick up the design. Big blop of polish is not necessary at all. Thin layer can produce very good results.
3. Clear both the plate and a scraper after each swipe, with acetone-based remover.
4. Use Konad special polish. I hate "special" products; usually it's just a marketing trick, making you to pay more money for a product equal to a regular, not-so-special stuff. Well, "special polish" does yield better and more consistent results.
5. Experiment with the stamp: try to place it on the design straight, head first; or try a gentle rolling motion.
6. Transfer the design to the nail in one rolling motion.
7. Even if you are a perfectionist, please, do not get mad at yourself. Some designs are just more difficult to work with than others. I still cannot master this one:
For some reason it's almost impossible to pick up completely. I've already wasted gallons of polish on it, and was able to pick the design for 95% just once. Oh well.
8. Buy more polish than you think you would use. You will inevitably waste some while learning ropes.
9. Make sure your top coat is fresh and thin; otherwise it will pull your design and ultimately ruin it.
Some tips and tricks:
1. Stamping over your base coat works well. Great way to refresh an old mani.
2. If you work over the base coat and have smudged the design, gently scrape it off the nail and redo. I use plastic nail tips from Sally's for scraping.
3. Some of regular polishes do work with Konad. For instance, Color Club nail art polishes. One of nail boarders also has mentioned that Misa I Will Survive (glossy black) works perfectly. Go, Misa!
Experiment and have fun!
Special thanks to NOTD blog for inspiration and advice; and to Carla G for the great link!
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After neon intoxication I wanted to paint my nails into something muted, subtle and sophisticated to the extent of being boring. So I've reached for OPI Parlez-vous OPI? It turned out to be exactly what I wanted, but I could not just stop here. When one just got a Konad stamper, creativity itch is inevitable. I used plate #63 with Konad silver. Love the results (ha - I've been wearing this mani for almost 4 days; usually I change every other day).
And another - shadow - pic to show off the design. I've got couple of smudges, but nobody's perfect, right?
Another attempt - the same design in black, over Sephora OPI Run With It.
(You can catch a glimpse of I'm With Brad on a ring finger).
I need more Konad plates.
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Misa Haven White for a canvas; OPI Little Red Wagon; Orly Witch's Blue; and random Sally Hansen silver for the design. Konad plate #M65.
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