Tag Archives: Nicole by OPI

Nail Art: Magician Nails

Magician Nails Swatches & Pictures This is a manicure I did about 3 weeks ago but never posted it because I wasn’t pleased with how it turned out.

See all the bubbling on my index and ring fingers? I don’t like bubbling…except in cauldrons. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble!

I’m posting these Magician Nails now because sometimes you need to show the good, the bad, and the ugly. And besides, when I look at it now, the bubbling kind of looks like glitter and ‘goes’ with the rest. Right? 😛 Maybe I’m reaching a bit here…

For this look, I used silver star sequins, China Glaze Liquid Leather (black) and Nicole by OPI Nicole’s Nickel (silver glitter).

What do you think about alternating colours on your nails? Yay or nay?

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Nail Art Tutorial: Loch Ness Monster Nails

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Loch Ness Monster Nails Nail Art Tutorial & Swatches Doing Cookie Monster nail art made me think about what other kind of monsters I liked and that would be easy to translate onto my small nail canvas.

I looked under my bed. (Just the typical monsters there.)

I checked my closet. (Nope, just a bunch of skeletons. They’ll come in handy for Hallowe’en.)

Then I decided to take inspiration from the water, since I love swimming and am also a Pisces. A few cover stories of the National Enquirer that I’ve glanced at while in the checkout aisle may have also influenced me.

Today I bring you Loch Ness Monster Nails! Now you can say that you’ve seen it swimming in the water on a sunny day!

Since I’m a Canadian, taking French class in school is mandatory up until grade 9.

In the 8th grade, I remember loving the class because we got to read all sorts of absurd books. None were serious. Literally every story we read was surrounding Sasquatch, the Loch Ness Monster, or aliens. Yeah! And now imagine reading all those stories in a foreign language. How could it not be fun? Haha!

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Nail Art: Red & Silver Swoop Nails & Tutorial

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Image of Red & Silver Swoop Nails ** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

OK. I don’t even know what a swoop looks like. But I’m calling this design that because that’s the first word that came into my head. So… let’s go with it. 😛 I think my head was thinking of the Nike swoosh, but it’s not exactly that, so it came up with swoop. If you can think of a better adjective for the pointy arrow thinga-ma-jig in the middle of the nail, please let me know. LOL

I got elf Red Velvet recently and wanted to test it out, but I was in no mood for an all-red mani. So I decided to throw silver into the mix because I love this awesome neutral color that has some bling to it. Then I thought: “What the heck? Let’s throw some oddly shaped tape on the nail, too, before painting.” Hence, the Red & Silver Swoop Nails. Is it stunning? No. Lol. But it’s a simple look that’s good as a fast and easy mani that’s not boring. Continue reading →

Nicole by OPI You’re S-Teal the One Swatches & Review

Nicole by OPI Iceberg Lotus Swatches & Review

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Nicole by OPI Something About Spring Collection Iceberg Lotus Swatches Nicole by OPI Iceberg Lotus from the Something About Spring Collection is a blue-green intense shimmer that makes me think of a magical fish laced with fairy dust.

How else can I describe it? A leprechaun going to Mardi Gras. An emerald covered by a thin layer of winter’s frost. A pond in the forest enchanted by a witch’s spell.

There’s something magical about this color because I put it on and then obsessed over it….kept staring at my nails because it catches the light even in dim light!

Does it win you over, too? Continue reading →

Nail Art Tutorial: Cupcake Nails

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Cupcake Nail Polish Nail Art Tutorial Hope you all enjoyed your Easter and your yummy chocolate bunnies!

Here’s the Cupcake Nail Art I wore over the holiday. Warning: it’ll probably give you cavities. Hands down the girliest manicure I’ve ever done.

When I saw missglamorazzi’s nail tutorial on YouTube last month, I wanted to try it. But it was only when a Swatch And Learn reader, Alaeis, posted pretty swatches on her blog that really made me want to try my hand at it.

I decided to put my own spin on cupcake nails by using hearts instead of the ‘cherry’. Also, I wanted my frosting to look like it was drippy and gooey.

This was my first time creating this look and my first time using a dotting tool or nail sequins. I had so much fun!

Keep reading – I’ll show you how to recreate the look – it’s easier than you think. I’ve included step-by-step written instructions and photo aids to help you follow along. (I’ve also included a link to missglamorazzi’s video and Alaeis’ swatches at the bottom of the post.) Continue reading →

Nicole by OPI Daffy Dill Swatches & Review (Plus Comparison of OPI Who the Shrek Are You?)

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Nicole by OPI Daffy Dill Swatches When I heard about the Nicole by OPI Something About Spring Collection, there were a few colors that I was eager to try. Nicole by OPI Daffy Dill was one.

I’m always drawn to green nail polish, but this light pea green is different from most of the greens in my collection that either lean on the blue side, have shimmer or glitter, or are more of a forest green.

The only color I have that’s similar to Nicole by OPI Daffy Dill is OPI Who the Shrek Are You?, which I previously reviewed and lamented the terrible formula that was all bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble!

I was hoping that Daffy Dill would have a better formula and roughly the same color as Who the Shrek Are You?. And did it?

Let me show you some comparison swatches and tell you what I think. Continue reading →