NPQ Challenge - Yin Yang (Dominant) - Showcase

Last week on NPQ we had to show off our ambidextrous skills by showing off our dominant hand on the theme Yin Yang. Many would have thought we would all have ended up with the same design but that was without counting on the fact that our members are very creative. Here is a few manis to show that creativity:

+Katolin O had black and white kitties Yin Yang

+Sophie Tate went for graphic and geometric Yin Yang.

+Keely Gallagher added some colors with an amazing gradient under her Yin Yang symbol

+Elie Corzo did galaxy Yin Yang

+milena pencheva did french tip Ying Yang

+mara page did the original Yin Yang design but added some stamping

+Tamika B. went with bright colors contrast for her Yin Yang mani

+Fabiana N had a glamorous and sparkle Yin Yang

+Sarah Short did a bright and light gradient and Yin Yang

+Magali Neuville-Bisceglia went for gold and Yin Yang eyes.

This week we are celebrating (again, when aren't we partying in NPQ?! ;)) Mardi Gras.
Join the celebration with your nails and share your creation with us HERE

NPQ Challenge - Newspaper - Showcase

We made the news last week in NPQ as we were all trying the Newspaper nails technique. It worked wonder for some, failed from other, it's one of those techniques... We still got some stunning manis and here are a selected few:

+Jessica Guilbe and her Antique Newspaper look

+Chantal Marie did Newspaper & Dots

+Elie Corzo and her Parchment paper & Quills

+Tamika B. did Newspaper with a bright contrasting color.

We took some notes with +Keely Gallagher Edited Highlights nails

Romance was in the air with +StyleThose Nails mani

+Karen Sulkowski  "Ink's Still Wet!!"

+Fabiana N doodled 

+Magali Neuville-Bisceglia was just Another Brick in the Wall

This week's challenge is Yin-Yang (dominant): time to show off your ambidextrous skills! Join us HERE for the fun! 

NPQ Tips - Stamping Guide

The Kit & Tools

Stamping kits consist of plates, a stamper and a scraper.
The most famous brand and the first one to make those is KONAD. There is now, however, a multitude of other brands of different quality:
Bundle Monsters
Cheeky
GALS
Pueen

Winstonia
Moyou
Mash
...etc

SCRAPER: it's a flat little plastic piece to scrap the excess polish off the plate. It has a metallic bar at the end usually. Some scrapers are better than others, you want one that is hard and not too soft or scraping is going to be tricky. A plastic scraper also exist, preventing you to scratch the plate after several uses. (the plastic scraper doesn't have that metallic bar) You can also use an old credit card.

STAMPER: It's a tool that has a soft rubber end made to pick up the image. They exist in different shape and size. They even make a XL stamper for the ladies with long nails or wide nail beds.

PLATES: When you get your plates they are protected with a usually blue plastic wrap, take it off before using. Make sure your plate is clean of any residue before applying your polish on it.
Plates are metallic and contain several designs each. They make usually small round plates but you can also find big rectangle plates.

Polishes

Special polishes exist to stamp. Those polishes can not be used to paint your nails, they would never dry. Again the most famous brand is KONAD but other brands are launching their own stamping polishes as well.
While owning those kind of polishes isn't necessary to stamp, some colors will look better while stamped if they are from a special stamping polish. Mostly black and white.
Any other polish can be used, but the one that will work best (meaning have better color depth) are the 1 coaters, or thick polishes. 

The technique

Stamping is a matter of speed. Apply polish on the plate, scrap it instantly holding your scraper at an angle (not straight), pick up the image with your stamper and apply the stamper on your nail. (you can use a rolling motion or not whatever works better for you)

Like everything in nail art, stamping requires practice but it's easy to pick up and once you are mastering this technique your nails will look amazing on both hands. No more fear of failing your dominant hand!


Here is a 30 min long video but very informative and will teach you everything you want to know about stamping:

All About Stamping / Konad FAQ / How To

EXTRA TIPS

- Clean your plate and stamper after each use with a non oily polish remover.

- How to align a design using the XL stamper

- XL plates (like Moyou) tips
- How to shrink a design using the XL stamper
- How to enlarge a design using the XL stamper

NPQ Challenge - Anti-Valentine - Showcase

Tomorrow may be Valentine's Day but last week on NPQ we were anti-celebrating this cheesy holiday and boy was it fun.
The talented Queens in our community went along, whether they are happily in love or not, it's just our nails and for fun. Here is a sample of the pretty manis you could see on NPQ:

Kill that stupid Cupid by +Sophie Tate 

Hidden Hearts by +Deinitisa Amarawi 

Kiss my Broken Heart by +Mary Daniel 

Cupid Lost It by +Margriet Sijperda 

Filled with Regret by +Feather Stolzenbach 

You Don't Buy Me Flowers by +Lindsay Fitzpatrick 

Heartbreaker by +Tamika B. 

Bloody Valentine by +Kelly S. 

Black Valentine by +Sarah Short 

Cupid Rhymes With Stupid by +Magali Neuville-Bisceglia 

This week we are making the headlines on NPQ, it's our Newspaper challenge and if you want an interview come join us HERE

NPQ Challenge - Chinese New Year - Showcase

Any occasion is a good excuse to party with our nails. The Chinese New Year was no exception.

Lots and lots of pretty manis were seen on our community and here are a selected few:

+Jenni N 

+Lindsay Fitzpatrick 

+Keely Gallagher 

+Sophie Tate 

+Elie Corzo 

+Lauretta A 

+Mary Daniel 

+Sarah Short 

+Magali Neuville-Bisceglia 

This week we are celebrating Valentine's Day, well almost, our challenge is Anti-Valentine. So if you love to hate Valentine's Day or just simply don't fancy that day or even just wanna have a good laugh, come join our weekly challenge on NPQ. 

NPQ Showcase - Karen Sulkowski

+Karen Sulkowski is the Queen showcased today on our blog, and she's sharing her stash and her relation to nail polish with us.

How many nail polishes do you own? 

I have 280 not including stripers or top/base coats.

What is your favorite color to wear on your nails? 

I don't really have just one favorite, but I love bright colors!

How long have you been doing nail art? 

I've actually only been doing it for a couple of years. I used to paint my nails once & a while, but not like I do now! :)

What is your favorite nail art technique & why? 

I love doing water marbling or sponge gradients. Reason being, they take minimal time to do, but they look like they took forever.

What is your favorite brand of nail polish & why? 

I love Sally Hansen & Wet n Wild for water marbling. I love Sinful Colors nail polish for regular nail art.

Who is your favorite nail artist on YouTube? 

I love ProfessionalDQ for nail art & I love SimpleLittlePleasures (she's the water marble queen)!

Why do you like belonging to NPQ? 

I love the friendships that I've made with all these amazing ladies & gents. I also love learning from all the awesome artists! ;)