Matchy matchy minute makes - Ta-Dah! Tuesday - nail polish jewellery

Hello again - a whole week has gone by and I'm apologising AGAIN for being slack with the posting and commenting. I'm also STILL working out the swap but partners should be up by the end of the week so do keep an eye out. [Also please make sure that your blog has been updated in last couple of weeks if you're taking part - it's off-putting for partners if the blog looks inactive. A few people have signed up but have closed profiles -  I have no way of finding your blog if this is the case!]

Anyway, on to Ta-dah! Tuesday. Considering I put it up on a whim last week and didn't advertise it at all, I was really pleased at how many people linked up and will endeavour to make it a regular thing. If you missed it, the idea is that it will be a pretty open blog-hop - any post which showcases something you want to 'ta-dah!' will be suitable, whether it's something you've made, done, photographed, bought, upcycled or worn! I will always visit the linked up posts, and if you can also visit a few other participants it's always appreciated. Please also link back to this post so others can join in.

So, this week, I've been mostly being matchy matchy. I mean, you already know about my mission to adorn myself with as many household objects as possible, and you might just have figured out my nail varnish obsession - what could be more up my alley than nail varnish jewellery? There's all kinds of examples out there on the interwebs - basically the only limitation is your nail varnish collection. Perhaps I should make it work for me and make these to order...

Made with Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe

(possibly my favourite ever nail varnish)

                                                                

Barry M Cyan Blue and OPI Black Shatter  

                                                              

More sparkles...

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia

 

It's probably fairly self explanatory, but if you want to give it a go, you'll need:

• Plain cabochons - they come in a variety of sizes and shapes 
• Ring bases  - you could use regular ring backs, but bezel bases look more 'finished' and hold the cabochon better. Make sure you get the right size for your 'gems'.
• Nail varnish in your choice of colour
• Base coat if you're doing a shatter effect
• Top coat if you're not using a bezel base
• strong glue
• blue tac/play-doh or similar

1. Use the blue-tac to hold the cabochon steady, and paint the reverse with as many thin layers of nail varnish as you require, letting each coat dry before applying the next.
2. If you're doing two colours, remember you will have to apply 'back to front', so shatter first, base colour second. Also you'll need to apply a clear base coat first if you're using a shatter polish, it doesn't seem to work without it.
3. Apply a top coat or varnish to the back as a sealant if you're attaching to an ordinary ring base, as some protection against scratches
4. Glue the dry cabochon into the setting, or onto the ring base.
5. Give yourself matching nails...

You can also get necklace cabochon bases if you don't wear rings or want to co-ordinate everything. 

When my bezel bases arrived from China - gotta love eBay - the package had these lovely bird stamps, so I also made these magpie and kingfisher rings using cabochons, the stamps and mod-podge. They came out pretty well, although I doubt they're waterproof, so bear that in mind if you try it.

Hong Kong stamps rings

                                                                                                                      

What do you think? Got any great projects to link up which I can add to my Pinterest boards?

Lakota x

Also linking up to Nifty Thrifty Tuesday