The Eyes Have it

With Blue, it is hard to imagine Brown would compliment it. But with Brown, it seems you can pull off so many other color combo's.  As with green eyes, you are limited to golds, peaches and violets, and with blue eyes you are suggested to wear browns, taupe, peaches.  But brown... Brown can be mixed and matched with just about any color.  They suggest Purples, greens, taupe, charcoal, etc and the list goes on ...

Now given the times, very few take stock in the designated color combinations for eyes anymore. The sky is the limit and the colors are as infinite as the stars themselves.  But with this girl, The Brown eyes have it and we are taking over!  

This is a great color combination that blends well, can be mixed and matched with two out of the three colors and that can easily go from day to night. 

Regatta- A soft but intense blue color 

White Satin- a white white with shimmer

Antique Silver- a grey with shimmer and shine

For more great products tips and ideas, be sure to visit us at

https://www.facebook.com/plumvalleydesigns

or you can find your own style with these great products:

https://plumvalleynotions.etsy.com 

*Please note I am not a professional make up artist. I enjoy creating color combinations with my products and sharing with you. I will always appreciate feedback in a positive and constructive manner.  Any rude comments will be deleted or not shared. Thanks ! 

The Tropics have arrived!

I want to share a color combo with you that is a great tropical look! The colors are easy to mix and match with others and can be worn for either day or night!  This is a great look for when you are on the town or even just because! I love how these colors blend so well. 
And if you can't always get away to that warm tropical get away, Tahoe is always good! Beautiful blue and teal waters just waiting for your toes!

First, I applied my Eye Primer to my entire eye lid.  Then I applied Dark Magic to the outer corner of my eye and under they eye(also referred to as below the waterline).  Next I added  Glimmer to the rest of my eye, starting in the inner corner and moved over 2/3 of my eyelid.  Finally I added  Coral Reef to the center my eye and blended into the inner and outer corners.  I always try to make sure I have the lightest color in the inner corner of my eye.  It lightens up your eye and makes the other colors pop. 
I added a small amount of mascara, but I am generally not a mascara person.  Instead of an eye liner, I used an angled tip brush to mix a drop of foiling serum and loose shadow together (in the lid of my shadow container) and created a paste. Using the angled brush, I ran it along my eye lashes on top and then just below my waterline. 

Dark Magic: A dark purple blue color with iridescent green shimmer

Coral Reef : A Teal Blue color that looks like the tropical waters of Hawaii

 Glimmer:  A light lime green color with lots of sparkle

For more great products tips and ideas, be sure to visit us at

https://www.facebook.com/plumvalleydesigns

or you can find your own style with these great products:

https://plumvalleynotions.etsy.com 

*Please note I am not a professional make up artist. I enjoy creating color combinations with my products and sharing with you. I will always appreciate feedback in a positive and constructive manner.  Any rude comments will be deleted or not shared. Thanks ! 

Shadow look of the Day

I have been so busy with the polishes here that I forgot to share some of the other amazing products in the shop! So I decided to share a Shadow look of the day.

Today I want to share a color combo with you that is a beautiful blend of brown and cream. The colors are easy to mix and match with others and can be worn for either day or night!  This is a great look for when you are on the go. Three steps and I was ready for the day!  

First, I applied my Eye Primer to my entire eye lid.  Then I applied Gypsy in the outer corner and under the eye (also referred to as the waterline).  Finally I added  Mermaids Kiss to the inner corner of my eye and blended into the center.  At this point you can add mascara, but I am generally not a mascara person. 
Now for a less dramatic look you can always add more of the lighter color to the eye lid and lighten up the eyes, and save the darker look for the night out on the town! 

Eye Primer that goes over the lid
(smooth and easy to apply, does not separate) 

Gypsy - A nice medium brown color

Mermaids Kiss- a light gold color with
 a hint of iridescent green 

For more great products tips and ideas, be sure to visit us at

https://www.facebook.com/plumvalleydesigns

or you can find your own style with these great products:

https://plumvalleynotions.etsy.com 

Give Away Time!

It's Time for a Give Away! 

We are giving away a great set of goodies for the launch of our Rafflecopter! If you have not already joined via Facebook, then you can fill out the form here! It's super easy and quick! 

The prizes will consist of a hand made bar of cocoa butter soap in rose and bergamot, a mineral eye shadow (appropriately Dr Who themed) and a glitter/textured polish!  No purchase necessary! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Good Luck!!

Long Live the Queen

With all the hustle and bustle this week and traveling I have not done a tutorial.  I feel as though I have fallen so far behind I don't know where to start to catch up. But....... I did get a few minutes today to work on some goodies.  

I have created the last in the Holographic series of polishes, The Dark Queen.  It is an intense steel grey color with a hint of blue and holographic shine! 
It is amazing and has the most prismatic rainbow effect in the sunlihgt.  I just can't wait to do a tutorial with this color! 

Long Live the Queen!

For more great products tips and ideas, be sure to visit us at

https://www.facebook.com/plumvalleydesigns

or you can find your own style with these great products:

https://plumvalleynotions.etsy.com 

Nail of the Day

I have been on a mission.
I have been searching through all the blogs and images Google can find for me to work on new styles and designs for short nails and small fingers.  I love the intricate designs and looks that some of these gals can do but I cannot do that.  I can make my nails look like Elmo painted them, but not much more than that! 

I found a Blog called thenailpolishproject.com and there are some fun looks that she has done!  I have done my best with my short nails to recreate a fun look she had into a sophisticated look I want.  So I will get  myself in gear and present the Nail of the Day. 

 I used The Queens Crown and You Betcha Black from Plum Valley Notions

For more great products tips and ideas, be sure to visit us at

https://www.facebook.com/plumvalleydesigns

or you can find your own style with these great products:

https://plumvalleynotions.etsy.com 

Just another Fun Friday Treat! 

A quick and easy way to add a fabulous burst of fun to your manicure! 

For more great products tips and ideas, be sure to visit us at

https://www.facebook.com/plumvalleydesigns

or you can find your own style with these great products:

https://plumvalleynotions.etsy.com 

Fighting the Cuticle War

It's a war out there, be sure to arm yourself with the right tools! 

With all that we do to our nails and our hands; the constant dishwashing, gardening, preparing dinners, or even those of us on farms, damage occurs.  It all adds up.  There is no escaping the fact that some days our nails and hands just don't get the attention they deserve! I always feel I have been fighting a cuticle war. 

I have recently created a great product for just that reason.  I have both cuticle oil and cuticle salve.  They are great products made with amazing products that will revive and even promote healing and regeneration of the skin around your nail beds.  There is Kukui Nut oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Peach Kernel Oil and more!  All 100% natural products that will help promote healing, lock in moisture and restore rough, dry and damaged skin.  

This is what my nails looked like after just a few days of gardening, WITH gloves.  I am out in my garden every day, so this is how they look ..... a lot! 

So after cleaning up and washing my hands really well, they looked dry and very unloved.  I put the cuticle oil on one hand ......

And I put the cuticle salve on the other hand....
The nail beds look rough but at least they do not look harsh.

And after a little rest, a lot of love (and a home manicure....) and some amazing ingredients in these products, they looked healthy and refreshed the next day! 

For more information on great products, tips and tutorials, follow me on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/plumvalleydesigns

You can find the products shown today here:

https://plumvalleynotions.etsy.com 

Another fun treat for your nails

Today I went through several different colors of polish.  I am beginning to think I have an obsession!  I have about 5 colors coming in the mail and I also make them.  Can you say overload???
So with all these colors I never know where to start but I knew immediately what I wanted to do. It was difficult to pick out the right colors to use, but I had a good idea of which ones I wanted. The Peacock so grand in color, design, and elegant.  So regal but yet open to interpretation.  It is time consuming and takes patience so I suggest that you only paint one nail this way and the others a solid color.  I have not created this look but developed my own twist on it.  There are many different versions out there of this design. But if you have the patience and the time, then by all means be sure to drop in and share your photos on my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/plumvalleydesigns

But without furter Ado, here is this weeks challenge, and another fun treat for your nails!!

 I actually suggest a fine tip brush for the gold nail polish.  It was difficult to control the polish and apply it directly over the white stripes.  Next time I do this I will be sure to have a different tool for the gold glitter polish.  And as always after painting your nails I suggest you use a cuticle oil or salve to rehydrate your nail beds and cuticles.  

If you need to increase the size, please right click and save to your computer.  There you will be able to enlarge the instructions. 

If you choose to share this tutorial, re-type in your own words or use this and link it back to this post.

As for my nails, I could not part with my new polish, Uaine- The Mystical Green Dragon Polish from My DragonFlies collection in the shop, Plum Valley Notions.  It is an amazing color with such sparkle and shine. Two coats of this and I am in love! One clear top coat and it gives it life! 

Ladybug Ladybug Fly away home....

You know, I love ladybugs.  I have ladybug hair pins, I love the colors red and black. My youngest daughter was my moms "Lucky Ladybug".

So in my mind, it stands to reason that I would find something crazy to do with ladybugs!

Image found on Google

Searching through the internet on new and exciting ways to paint my nails with the new polish that will be in my Etsy shop soon, I came across this tutorial on how to make ladybug fingernails....  I just had to try it!  And with an idea in my mind and the supplies to create the colors I needed, I was off!  

  

 I first started with two basic colors, a clear top coat and a dot tool.  The colors used are You Betcha Black and Hello Dorothy by Plum Valley Notions (yes... me).  I have an OPI top coat because I love OPI.  And last but not least, I have a dot tool.  Super easy to use and has two sides for small dots and for larger dots.

I made sure my hands were clean and dry then I applied two coats of the Hello Dorothy Nail Polish and allowed it to dry. 

Next, I did this part in two phases.  I went over the top of my nail as if I were giving myself a french manicure in You Betcha Black.  I allowed that to dry.  If you are not as steady to to this freehand you can always use the french manicure guides. 

I then went back over with a fine tip brush and drew a line from the bottom up and curved to the right slightly.  I repeated the step and then curve to the left.  I fill in the small "V" if needed with the You Betcha Black Nail polish.

Then came the fun part!  I added dots with the large end of the dot tool.  I added three dots to each side because my nails are so small!  (don't look at t hose cuticles!  they are in desperate need of love this weekend) I repeat this step by just dabbing the dot tool on the brush then onto the nail.

 Finally I finish with a top coat to seal all my hard work! And now I have 10 little ladybugs to keep me company!  And the best part is I find myself singing the rhyme... "Ladybug, ladybug fly away home"

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!  I am not a professional nail artist but I do want to share what I can do with the new nail polish line that will be coming to my Etsy shop soon!  With bold new colors and great products, you will be able to primp and pamper all in one spot! 

Please note all the photo's are my own. IF they are not mine I have labeled where they were found.  Please do not use these photo's without permission from me.

OH Sugar!

So by now I am sure you have heard all the benefits of what a sugar scrub can do for you... wait you haven't? Well let me fill you in!


Sugar scrubs are a great way to pamper yourself.  It has a soothing feeling and the sugar is good for even sensitive skin.  Now considering that you have sensitive skin then you will need to consider what other ingredients are in your scrub.   But rest assured that every product that goes into my store will always be tested before its posted!


Now back to the sugar scrub.  With the sugar, Turbinado Sugar, it is a great small grain exfoliator. It is small, will gently dissolve and will not cause problems with drains, septic systems or campers' systems.  It is natural and has its own great properties.  Turbinado Sugar retains the mineral and vitamins present in sugarcane juice, and also includes phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron.Turbinado sugar is also known as cane sugar or raw sugar. How is Turbinado sugar made?  It comes from the first pressing of the sugar cane.  



 As with any scrub there must be an oil.  Many water soluble oils are suitable for scrubs.  Most use an oil that will disperse into the skin and feel soft and smooth.  The best oils are those that absorb into the skin, such as oils like Apricot Kernel oil or Grapeseed Oil. The only set back is that can cause your shower to become slippery. Take care when stepping out of the shower or tub after use of a scrub.  

Papaya Milk Sugar Scrub

There are many other additives you can use in your sugar scrub.  With the sugar it acts as a polish.  It will leave the skin smooth and soft.  But if you add coffee, for example, it has been known that coffee firms up the cellulite in the skin.  So all this time I have been drinking it, when I  should have been showering with it! who knew??

Vanilla Mac Nut Coffee & Sugar Scrub

Also there is the cucumber scrub. As cucumber and the skin share the same level of hydrogen, it becomes easier for cucumber to mask all the problem areas. It helps in soothing and softening your skin which can get you relaxed in no time. It has become part of daily beauty product into face packs, facials, juice and many other things which can affect your skin.

It also has a nice cooling effect on the skin.  You can find a great Cucumber and Green Tea sugar scrub here.

As with other fragrances, Lemon is uplifting and refreshing, mint helps with circulation, and fruit .... well fruit just smells delicious!  So just be sure you are not hungry when choosing the scrub for you!  I also offer an amazing sugar scrub for your lips.  Gentle exfoliation of the lips with an amazing moisturizer mixed in.  Just apply like a lip balm and lick off the sugar.  Who wouldn't want that? 

You can find great sugar scrubs in my shop, along with other great items to pamper your self with at Plum Valley Notions.

Cranberry  and Shea Butter Sugar Scrub

*Avoid use on any cuts or delicate areas. Do not exfoliate if skin is sunburned or irritated for any reason. Be careful not to fall on wet or slippery areas caused by using the scrub. Avoid using all body polishes on the face.