My stamping journey - part 4 - and a 5 questions for you

It's time for part four (Take 16 - 20) in my journey into the fascinating world of stamping...
And I decided to rename these posts into "My stamping journey", I still will point out errors and what I learned tho ;)

And this post also brings you a mani that I felt was simply perfect!

Take 16:

Take 16: Base is Esmaltes da Kelly Orion stamped with Colour Alike B. a Scary Pumpkin, plate Bundle Monster BM-S226, stamper MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky White.

Note to myself: NOT HAPPY!! This pumpkin orange looked nice in the test, but not on the nails, this uber-gorgeous green holo deserves better. I picked the CA because it has given me pick up problems, so I was challenging myself, but nope, not good, Maria… :(

Prior to take 17: Total YAY feeling!!!! Yesterday I watched this video and something clicked inside me, I began thinking of my scraping. I have tried different scrapers and tried light and hard scraping – but what I didn’t think of was that the dense patterns require more polish than a light or small pattern.
So before removing my mani, I played with different stampers and the stamping polish pastel cremes from Colour Alike (stamping on paper), that I previously didn’t feel I could not make any stamper work well with, and – or at least not very good, especially not with my clear jumbo stamper.

First I tried the mint and the clear jumbo stamper - wow, I got an almost perfect pick up. Then I tried the pink - same story. Then I took the pastel blue that has been the worst, again a good result, not as good as the others. Then I tried the Creative Shop space stamper - almost perfect, and finally my MYL sticky stamper - wow that looked really goooood :D

Take 17:

Take 17: Base is Paws by Eddie stamped with Colour Alike B. a Lilac Sweater, plate Born Pretty Store BPL-029, stamper MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky White.

Note to myself: I’m happy, yes the middle finger could be better, but the ring finger is really good, so that counts double, doesn't it :D

Take 18:

Take 18: Base is Glam Polish Taurus (Hypnotic Polish store excl.) stamped with Barry M Foil Effects 319 and 320, plate Born Pretty Store BPL-026, stamper MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky White.

Note to myself: This looked soooo much better in my head. The pinkie and index stamped with silver were the best, but all in all the result probably would have been better with a more “dominant” color and/or a pattern with thicker lines for stamping…

Take 19:

Take 19: Base is Ms. Sparkle Show Stopper (Nail The Mail excl.) stamped with Colour Alike B. a Fairy Forest, plate Born Pretty Store BPL-029, stamper MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky White.

Note to myself: I’m happy, really, really happy, I cannot take my eyes of this mani – and I SO deserve the *rather many* plates and other cool stamping gear I ordered today :D (best excuse ever) hahahaha.

My husband said: Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful – but not nearly as wonderful as your freehand nail art.

Of course he is right, but I also really enjoy a good stamping!

 - and my right hand..

Prior to take 20/thoughts: I felt like a champion after Take 19, and the feeling was sooo good while it lasted!

But the next morning I decided to test the Colour Alike Kind of Black S, another of the untested CA cremes, so now I was totally back on earth again :D

All my new found “wisdom” prior to Take 17 was either forgotten, or I scraped too hard (I know that now)…

I tested on paper, different stampers and plates, and I eventually got it right with my MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky White, closely followed by a Creative Stamping Space stamper.

Anyhow training pick up and stamping on paper is great, I will train with my CA cremes (the only creme polishes I am having problems with) like that every day, if I have the time…

It is so easy for me to stamp with the Colour Alike duo/multicromes, shimmers and metallic – but not cremes. Fortunately, I can stamp really well with Konad cremes.

I ended up not changing my mani, so two days after take 19 I trained again. Each time I was close to a hissy fit with CA I took a Konad creme with a perfect result.
And total HAPPY DANCE: To finish my training on paper session I tried one of my Colors by Llarowe stamping holos, that I initially could not get to work – wooow now I can with my MoYou London sticky stamper – sooooo happy!

Take 20:

Take 20: Base is Ms. Sparkle Water stamped with Rica Hello Gorgeous, plate Born Pretty Store BPL-029, stamper MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky White.

Note to myself: I have now tried stamping with Rica Hello Gorgeous (an opaque metallic/shimmer polish) many times, but haven’t been able to do decent pick up – and look at this now – *doing happy dance* - I am getting there :D

What do you think?
My favorite is take 19, but I also like 20 and 17 a lot...

AND 5 questions about future stamping mani posts!
Would you, my dear readers, like me to post:
01. Twice a week with multiple stamping manicures, maybe Monday and Thirsday as I have done so far?
02. Not twice a week - but (tell me what you prefer)?
03. How many manicures would you like per post (like in how many is just right for you/how many are too many)?
04. Would you like me to continue with the "Note to myself" in each mani, where I more or less talk to myself, and point out what is OK/good/not so good?
05. Should I go on naming the manis "Take XX" so that 100 manis from now you still can keep track of the number of manicures?
And one more question: Or maybe only show the best of the manis...

1.400+ indie polishes and 100+ indie brands: Indies & Co. 

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Stamping trial and error - part 3

Here is the third part of my stamping trials and errors, take 11 - 15, enjoy ;)

Take 11

Take 11: The base is Enchanted Polish Time Travel stamped with Colour Alike B. a Golden Queen, plate MoYou Suki 08, stamper MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky Transparent.

Note to myself: It is obviously harder to place the pattern than with a clear stamper. But in this case the clear did no pick up as well – not that this is a good pick up either.

Take 12:

Take 12: The base is Colors by Llarowe Simmer Skies stamped with Colour Alike B. a Rudolph, plate MoYou Flower Power 04, stamper MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky Transparent.

Note to myself: I actually expected I could use my clear stamper, but couldn’t, there still is a LOT of practice – strange however that I do so well with multi/duochromes… So thank you for my MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky stamper <3

Take 13:

Take 13: The base is Nvr Enuff Polish Claudia stamped with Colour Alike B. a Fairy Forest, plate Bundle Monster BM-S 306, stamper MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky White.

Note to myself: Hmmm, well no happy, but also not totally unhappy.

Take 14:

Take 14: Base is Pahlish ? (mystery Polish) stamped with Colour Alike B. a Raindrop, plate MoYou Kitty 03, stamper MoYou London XL Marshmallow Sticky White.

Note to myself: I didn’t place then pattern as well as I would have liked, and it could have been much more crisp. But it was OK in person.

Take 15:

Take 15: Base is Dance Legend Heroes 12 stamped with Barry M Foil Effects 319, plate Bundle Monster BM-S102, stamper nameless clear jumbo stamper.
Note to myself: The idea was good, but the pick up varied in quality, the placing of the patterns need improvement (it was a clear stamper Maria tsk tsk) and when stamping my ring finger I smudged the pattern a little more crisp. But it was OK in person.

So I'm getting closer to my goal, still have to learn a lot...
Thursday I'll post part 4!

1.400+ indie polishes and 100+ indie brands: Indies & Co. 

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Stamping trial and error - part 2

I decided to make two Stamping trial and errors this week, so are you ready for 5 more naked truth about my progress (or stagnation) into the world of stamping?

Take 6:

Take 6 Base coat is Glam Polish Attitude is Everything I continue to play with my 27 new Colour Alike Stamping Polishes. I used the multichrome B. a Milky Way, and 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: The new nameless clear jumbo stamper from Rainbow Connection is like made for me – and so are the new stamping polishes from Colour Alike, suddenly I actually can stamp hahahaha I wore this mani – and had stamped all 10 fingers!

Take 7 "back to earth" version– I decided to practice while swatching, so more takes:

Take 7/one: Base Glam Polish Aries stamped with Colour Alike B a Mint, plate MoyYou Suki 05, stamper nameless clear jumbo stamper from Rainbow Connection.

Take 7/two: Base Moo Moo Signatures Exotic Foliage, stamped with Colour Alike B. a Lavender, plate MoyYou Suki 06, stamper nameless clear jumbo stamper from Rainbow Connection. Index and ring fingers not good.

Note to myself: I failed to pick up the Colour Alike cremes as good as I do with the duochromes and metallics (or Konad cremes), I wonder why. (Edit: I have solved the problem by now, stay tuned for Take 17).

Take 8:

Take 8: Base is Colors by Llarowe B*#ch Stole My Look stamped with Colour Alike B. a Mars, plate Bundle Monster BMS306, stamper nameless clear jumbo stamper from Rainbow Connection.

Note to myself: This duochrome worked amazingly well, even really fine patterns transferred to the stamper. I also stamped my right hand, and it looked really well.
And ta-da my right hand :D

Take 9:

Take 9: Base is Glam Polish I don’t do Fashion, I am Fashion stamped with Konad White, plate MoYou Flower Power 04, stamper nameless clear jumbo stamper from Rainbow Connection.

Note to myself: Maybe not perfect, but also not bad. I love blue/white combos so much, but maybe the dense patterns are too much in white, hmmm.
And the right hand:

Take 10:

Take 10: The base is Glam Polish Starlet or Streetwalker stamped with Liquid Sky Lacquer Bird of Paradise (duochrome), plate MoYou Suki 05, stamper nameless clear jumbo stamper from Rainbow Connection.

Note to myself: I wanted to try to do two stamps without cleaning the plate in between, it looked OK on the stamper, but my middle finger was partially without pattern – otherwise good.

I loved the duochrome effect on this magenta pink beauty – in some angles it was almost not visible, but then wow…
And my right hand:

So that was my #5 to 10 trials, see #1 to 5 HERE...

1.400+ indie polishes and 100+ indie brands: Indies & Co. 

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Stamping trial and error - part 1

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.

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.

Well that was my first 5 trials and errors - more to come...

1.400+ indie polishes and 100+ indie brands: Indies & Co. 

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