Some of you might have noticed that I started buying stamping plates, polishes and other cool gear and were curious about what I was dong with it LOL
At first I thought it would be nice to have (yeah, I love cool gear and gadgets), but then I took the leap and jumped right into it - and now I'm hooked - but seriously lacking the skills ;)
So welcome to the first part of Stamping trial and error posts, the naked truth nothing hidden or not shown, so be prepared for a good laugh!
Prior to Take 1: I have been trying so use the gorgeous Color
by Llarowe stamping polishes – one of the reasons I wanted to learn to stamp
along with all the wonderful full pattern and XL pattern stamping plates that are sold!
But I
couldn't even make my stampers pick up the pattern.
Major
internal hissy fit.
Primed my stampers accordingly to recommendations, of course no filing of the
clear ones, but no difference.
More
internal hissy fits!!!
OK, on
to the first real trials and errors on my nails.
Disclaimer:
No live nails were hurt during the trials and errors, some did have minor depressions tho! :D
Take 1: Base color Different Dimension Mother Goose,
MoYou Suki Coll. Plate 07, stamping polish Barry M Foil Effects 320, stamper
Creative Shop Space Collection.
One
single pickup, pressed fingers one by one to use the entire pick up on the
large surface!
Result
not super crisp, but I love how it would have looked if I were good at it…
Note to myself: Of course it's easy to do a single pick up, but it probably is better to wait until I'm more experienced.
Use pure acetone in the future for cleaning plates.
Use pure acetone in the future for cleaning plates.
I still
couldn’t pick up any of the CbL stamping polishes, tiny hissy fit.
I read
this wonderful and thorough review lacquerlockdown.com and now realize that the CbL’s dry super
fast, I asked for help and during the night here in Denmark I got a long and
thorough response, thank you so much <3
Later
same day a friend asked me: Do you press too hard, and bingo, I instantly knew
she was right!
Tomorrow
I’m changing that!
Take 2: Base color is Cupcake Polish Light of My
Life, MoYou Suki Coll. Plate 06, stamping polish Konad Black. Started with
index and middle fingers using Picture Polish Clear Jelly Stamper, and
retrospect I realized I still was pressing too hard, I can roll it in a soft
movement hahaha (like I have seen so many times on videos, I must be really,
really dumb hahaha).
For the
ring and pinkie fingers I used my Creative Shop Space Collection stamper, and
the pinkie is actually close to really OK.
I also
tried my CbL’s and WOHOO I could pick up parts of the pattern now that I didn’t
press, at least with my PP stamper.
Note to myself: Definitely use liquid latex when stamping
with black, a PITA to clean up. Save CbL’s until I get much more experienced
like in 25 years or so :D
Take 3 Hahahaha terrible one, could have been nice tho ;) Base color is Bliss
Polish Different Not Less, MoYou Suki Coll. Plate 06, stamping polish Konad
White. I decided only to use my Picture Polish Clear Jelly Stamper, and after a
few less fortunate pickups that I removed with tape, I got more confident.
Index finger, hmmm maybe I pressed too hard down on the nail, the pattern
slightly broke. The clear view confused me in middle and ring, so I touched the
nail with part of the pattern before I eventually pressed down tsk tsk. Pinkie
was however really good!
Note to myself: I could have removed the small part of the
stamping with acetone, and done it all over again – remember please LOL
Take 4 Base color is Colors by Llarowe Nail Mail,
MoYou Suki Coll. Plate 08, stamping polish Barry M Foil Effects 320, stamper
Creative Shop Space Collection with one signle large stamp/pickup, pressed
fingers one by one to use the entire pick up on the large surface, all 5
fingers! I even did my right hand. Result not super crisp, but acceptable for
the naked eye on my left hand, not at all good om my non-swatching right hand
LOL
Note to myself: It seems like that Barry M and the Creative
Shop stamper works really well in combination. I still am having problems
making it pick up a lot of other stamping colors…
I need
to work on the speed on my right hand, so from now on I will practice on both
hands…
This was
the first stamping mani, that I actually wore, it was becoming late in the day
before I had the time to do my nails…
Take 5 Base coat is Picture Polish Shocked and as my
27 new Colour Alike Stamping Polishes arrived today, I couldn’t wait to test
them. I chose the metallic B. a Twilight, the plate is Bundle Monster BMXL206
(Blogger collaboration coll.) and the stamper is my nameless new clear jumbo
stamper from Rainbow Connection, squishy and nice.
Note to myself: I should have tested the stamping polish
over the base color, it is too dark at least with a dense pattern like this.
Tried to remove it with acetone on the index when I realized, but the silver
was left behind, actually a pretty cool effect.
1.400+ indie polishes and 100+ indie brands: Indies & Co.
I love to see you stamp, good for you!!!
SvarSletMaybe these tips help a little as well?
If you paint a coat of Seche Vite over your base, you can try to "erase" a failed stamping attempt with a brush and some acetone. That way if you made a really intricate base (with sponging and gradients and what-not) you don't have to do it again. Just remember to add a coat of Seche Vite afterwards, before you try to stamp again. It always works for me when I used a creme polish to stamp with, if there's shimmer in it or if it's holo, the results depend on how many thingies are in the polish ;)
The Color Club Halo Hues are excellent for stamping, as are the China Glaze Hologlam polishes. And usually magnetic polishes are pretty good too. Oh, and metallics too but those tend to dry faster :)
Thank you so much Joyce, I do add SV before stamping, and as you can see in take 3 and 5 it was in my mind...
SletI haven't tried the Halo Hues yet, but it's in my (many) plans ;)
The metallics and duo/multichromes work well for me - the rest not so good...
Oh, totally forgot to mention my very first "stamping polishes", the a-england holos! St George and Dragon and Rose Bower are among the best ones I have tried so far.
SletYay, welcome to the stamping world Maria! :D You don't give up, practice makes perfect! In no time you'll be stamping like a pro! :) Kisses,
SvarSletCristina Santos
Awww, thank you so much Cristina, and yes, it fun and frustrating to practice, but I will not give up ;)
SletI am having a similar experience with stamping, so I understand you very good, Maria :)
SvarSletPhewww, I am so glad to know I'm not alone Irina!!
SletGreat to see that you have joined the stamping club! Welcome :) It takes a lot of practice and trying with different combinations before you get really good at this and I have no problem admitting that I still fail big time sometimes.
SvarSletThank you so much Helena - LOL it's good to hear, and I definitely believe you!
SletYay for you! :) It will soon get better. By the way, I still press to hard and have fits when the stamper doesn't pick my black stamping polish up. :P I hate that rolling movement, I want to press. LOL
SvarSletThe best stamping holos for me are the Color Club Halo Hues so far, but I haven't try the CbL stamping polishes. The onecoaters by CbL are also good. :)
Love, Lotte
LOL yes, press good to get the best result, it seems kind of logical - except it doesn't work hahahaha
SletYes, I need to try those CC's ;)
That is seriously not bad for some first attempts, I think you did really well! I'm glad to see you in the club as well :)
SvarSletAww, thank you so much, what a sweet thing to say!
Slet*_* Awwww....Seriously! I am so happy to see you stamping! I know you will stamp beautifully in nearest future and as you have variety of polishes, it will be eye soothing experience to see all your new fresh manis! Just can't wait to see! <3 ^_^
SvarSletOh dear, you have way to much confidence in my skills LOL - but thank you so much, I will try my best!
SletVery fun post dear. My first experience with stamped nail art was even more worth. I tried for days to apply different patterns on my nails, with no succeeds. I pressed hard, than light the stamping head to the plate...nothing happened. I gave up than, because it became stressful and than I've got some nice pigmented stamping polishes and suddenly everything worked very well. I am not an expert on stamping and I am constantly learning :) Your manicures came out fantastic!
SvarSletThank you so much for sharing your experiences, I'm certain I have a long and fun learning experience ahead of me!
SletWhat stamping polishes did you get, when it started working?
Wanted to comment yesterday by phone but failed miserably! I think it's great you started stamping! And you've done a great job, especially the last nail art I love!
SvarSletI'm am so happy to hear that, thank you so much!
SletI am so glad to see you giving this great technique a go. I love your last mani - I don't think it was too dark (But then again, I wouldn't, now, would I?) :D
SvarSletI only have been thinking of it 4 years now, but then I started my freehand nail art, then a period with "only" nail polish, so now the stamping phase ;)
SletI admit in the photos it looks nice enough, in person the pink has a hard time peeping through ;)
Amusing post!! You are leaps and bounds ahead of where I was when I first tried stamping. But now is a great time to start - there are so many new and improved products and LOTS of ladies to learn from these days. Glad you enjoyed it (aside from the hissy fits - which I'm sorry to tell you, will still happen from time to time even when you have more under your belt...but having multiple stampers and polishes at the ready is a big part of avoiding those). Look forward to seeing more! :)
SvarSletYes, so many new stamping polishes come from so many brands now, gorgeous plates and more and more of them - so yes, I think you are right!
SletLOL I will prepare myself for many more hissy fits to come, thanks for the warning :D
I would LOVE to hear what your favorite brands in stamping polishes are?
I have 10+ different stampers already, figure that I need to try them all to find out what my favorite/s is/are...
It is almost overwhelming the choices in stamping polishes. I haven't bought as many as I have wanted too - so many look worth trying. The very first polishes I stamped with were a drug-store brand, Sally Hansen (not sure if they're available where you are). They were from their quick-dry line and were very opaque (for that price-line type of polish, usually one-coaters for most). That was before I knew about polishes specifically for stamping. Then, a couple years ago, I invested in a decent size haul from Mundo de Unas. Their polishes aren't really polish, more like paint (they now describe them on the website) and they have the longest dry time which as a new stamper was very beneficial to me. I still very much love them - they are opaque and thick - great for images with large sections especially. Other than that, I have mostly used metallics and duochrome polishes (non-stamping), as well as Konad (black & white) and a few indie ones. I hope to purchase more stamping polishes this year, I have quite the list built up. :) Sorry, I'm not a lot of help for that question.
SletAnd, yup I have probably a dozen or so stampers too - but that's a necessity since not all stampers play well with all plates and/or polish combinations - sometimes that's all it takes is trying different ones. And - like you've talked about - technique. I am a heavy presser by default and have to really work at having a lighter touch and at the whole rolling technique.
Thank you so much for all your thoughts and advice and for telling me about the polishes you use.
SletI have heard a lot of good thing about the MDU - but also that they smell really badly. But I think I'll probably will try them...
For now my MoYou Sticky stamper is my favorite <3
And yes, it's ridicilous - when I pain freehand it has to be a light touch, and I also am getting there in scraping and stamping ;)
"No nails were hurt during the trials and errors..." LOL! :-)
SvarSletWhen I started stamping I felt horrible and it seemed that I will never get nice crispy lines on my nails... Of course, like everything else, also stamping needs practicing... And it can develope big addiction, I got hooked as soon as I started stamping a little bit better! :-)
When it comes to stampers, you need to try some of them and find the one that works the best for you, it is a very personal thing! I prefer stamping with harder stampers, but lately you can see a lot of soft, jelly stampers; all of them work, but you have to experiment and see what works the best for you!
When it comes to stamping polishes, there are many normal polishes that you can use for stamping and generally metallic effect polishes stamp very nicely and also those polishes that are opaque in one layer. I tried a small set of Konad stamping polishes (white, red, blue) and it was a positive experience! I also tried Mundo de Unas stamping polishes that stamp perfectly but have a horrible smell that made me feel sick, so I gave up on them. I am very happy with Born Pretty Store stamping polishes, I use Ya Qin An and BP stamping polishes and I don't have the intention to change them, they work perfectly for me!
And, about stamping plates: there are soooo many beautiful stamping plates and various brands of stamping plates that your wallet already started crying..! I tell you that it is some kind of addiction! I use Born Pretty Stamping plates and I'm sattisfied, they work really nicely!
Good luck and just keep going, you will have fun!! :-)
LOL - yes, it is a learning curve :)
SletI love the soft and sticky stampers, but yes, it all depends on the person and the stamper.
Yes, I heard that about the strong smell in the MDU's...
I just got 5 BP plates and I really love them - might have to try their stamping polish too!
Thank you so much <3
my first attempts were *way* worse :D IDK if it's your case but I need to prime my stamper the first time I use it (just put alcohol on a cotton pad and "clean" my stamper) and that's all ^^ yeah, you definitely don't need to press to hard but you don't have to be too soft either :)
SvarSletI did prime the different ones according to recommendations ;)
SletI simply pressed and scraped too hard - I know that by now ;)