How To Use Your Stash

A few days ago, I was on facebook on a nail stamping group looking at different comments and the conversation took place about getting on a buying frenzy. Accumulating all sorts of stamping plates and nail polishes and not really putting them to good use. We started talking about different ways of how we could make sure we use our stash.

So I figured I would share on here how I accomplish that and how I keep myself interested in the stamping plates and polish I currently own.

Tips (that was not necessarily shared in the video):

1 - Keep your stuff organised:

You will be more likely to use what you have accumulated if it can be easily accessible and easy to locate. I keep my stamping plates in a small binder that have trading cards folders inside. If you do this be aware that you will need to address the issue of the plates falling out easily. You can either be very careful when handling the binder, or you can insert a non-slip material in the pocket with the plate to help keep it in place, or you could do as I am and glue a Velcro dot at the opening of each pocket. I am in the process of installing all of those dots in my binder and so far have only done the first couple of pages. I purchased mine at my local Dolorama for $1 for a set of 16. Try different solutions and see which best work for you.

2 - Know what you have:

This is true with the stamping plates but I mostly have the nail polish in mind here. Some nail crafters have a great set up with all of their polish on display on a shelf, making it easy to find and reach out for the one they want. In my situation, I am a little space challenge and keep all of my polish in a box at the moment. This makes it difficult to easily see which color I own. In order to know which polish is available for my manicure project or simply just to make sure I am not buying duplicates I use a nail wheel display that I have painted in each of my available polish. To go a step further, organize to have certain color combination together. Here I have a wheel in progress with my glitters. When I purchase a new glitter (which I have btw) I will add it on to this wheel.

3 - Keep it interesting:

Sometimes our new stuff is always more interesting and we tend to use only that. When that "New Car Smell" (or polish in this case) is gone, we get tempted to purchase something else to get it back instead of returning to our older stuff. Or also, we may unknowingly start a mani routine. Using the same colors with the same images again and again. This is where keeping it interesting helps. For one, joining a nail stamping group that holds regular challenges will be great for that. But I've also created my own challenge box. This is something I also do when scrapbooking. Before starting a new manicure pick out a random challenge. This will make you get out of your comfort zone or make you look beyond your favorite go-tos. (I will post my list of challenge at the end of this post)

4 - Change up your manicure:

When you only do your manicure once a month or so (as I was), you are a little limited as to what you will be willing to try. I didn't like having Halloween nails for over a month. But if you change it up as often as you want, weekly or maybe even more. You will be more open to various options if there is not the commitment of having them for a month straight. If you get professional nails done monthly, ask to have the kind that can have polish applied over and remove without damaging your original manicure. That way you can change it up for a day or two.

I know there are more tips out there and I would love to hear about your techniques for using up your stash. Please share in a comment below.


Melanie's Challenge List:

Using a plate that ends with 0
Using a plate that ends with 1
Using a plate that ends with 2
Using a plate that ends with 3
Using a plate that ends with 4
Using a plate that ends with 5
Using a plate that ends with 6
Using a plate that ends with 7
Using a plate that ends with 8
Using a plate that ends with 9
Large design
Use an image you have never used
Non-stamping mani
Goth
With an accent nail
Funky french
Gradient/Ombré
Canada day/July 4th
Inspired by a book
Inspired by jewelry
Inspired by song
Inspired by movie
Inspired by blog
Inspired by a holiday
Inspired by Disney
Childhood memory
Something I love
When I was a teen
When I'll be 60+
Alter ego (something totally not you)
What a boy would pick
Someone else's pick
Fall
Spring
Winter
Summer
Flower
Money-Money-Money
Galaxies
Under the sea
Sky
Neons
Pastels
Using 3 purples
Using 3 blues
Using 3 greens
Using 3 colors
Ugly polish
White base
Red base
Blue base
Yellow base
Pink base
Purple base
Green base
Orange base
Black base
Light stamp over dark base
Try a new technique
Water marble
Stamped decal
Leadlight
Double stamp/shadow stamping
Inspired by fabric/outfit
Stamping using two plates
Red & black
Black & white
Purple & orange
Red & green
Metalic only
Stamp over glitter
Holographic
My favorite stamp
With stripes
With glitter
With matte finish
With dots
Animal print

(PS: Do not include a challenge that includes a product you do not own. But as you acquire more, add challenges to include them.)

Purple Haze

Well Easter was yesterday and I ended spending the evening doing my sister's and aunt's nails. It made me want to freshen my manicure as well, so I did. Also I was sporting an Easter manicure so it needed upgrading.

I wanted to go for an ombré look but that was all the planning I had done. I kind of picked my design as I went. So first I selected the polish I wanted to use.

From left to right:
"Clearly Spotted" Color Show Polka Dots
"Black In Mirrors" Color Show Brocades (which I ended not using)
"Bowery Black" NYC
"Prince Street" NYC
"New Lilac" Pure Ice
"Ink Splatter" Crackle Overcoat
Kiss Top Gel
Kiss "French" Color Gel
Kiss Base Coat
"Black Heart" Hard As Nails (which I ended not using)
"Silver Sweep" Insta-Dri
Mash-69 stamping plate (not shown)

The more you create your manicures, the more you develop a style that is "YOU". I started with having all my nails the same plain color (that didn't last long), then I develop an accent design on the ring finger, then the thumb, to finally sometimes having each nails different but coordinating. So knowing that about me, I did the ring finger and the thumbs in a different base knowing I would want those different.

So I started with a gel base coat. I've recently added gel nails to my collection when I removed my acrylic nails and was left with thin weak nails. In fact my pinky started splitting right up into my finger. It was fragile and sore, but the gel nails are gentle on my fingers and is keeping my pinky protected.

I applied the purple polish to my thumb and ring finger and the gel white to the remaining. I created a gradient for the white nails and then sealed it with a gel top coat. I added the black and white polka dots to the tip portion of my ring finger and then did the crackle finish to my thumb. In that last step I discovered that the crackle overcoat will not work on top of the gel top coat. Lesson learn! Lastly I created a stamped decal using the plate MASH-69 zipper image. I stamped the image with the silver polish and left it to dry on the stamper. I then added the "Bowery Black" to the side and covered the whole image with a regular top coat. Allow to dry (about 20 minutes or so) and then peel off carefully. I placed the decals on my ring finger and used acetone and a small paint brush to remove the extra overlapping the nail. I then applied a final gel top coat to those fingers.

I am very pleased with the final result. It might be a little bit busy for some (like my mother) but she can use only one of the techniques I used as an accent.

I would like to invite you to duplicate the design or the techniques I have used for this manicure. Change the color, the image or keep it the same if you would like. Send me a picture before April 29th 2014 and I will add your picture to a post on this blog so that we can all see the different variation.