Not exactly sloppy seconds

This was my second official full manicure with my stamping. I used another swirl design because swirls are a bit more forgiving as I haven't got it down to perfection just yet. I also had to use the small end of my Konad stamper because if you've read my posts, my large end was defective and I haven't recieved my other one yet. I think it turned out decent.
I have to say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this base coat. It's called Avante Green and it's from Maybelline Color Show's Fall 2012 limited edition line. It's very hard to find and was so happy when I lucked upon it. The whole line is sold out almost everywhere. The pic doesn't do it justice. It's a duochrome and looks like a grass green upon first glance but then has flashes of yellow, gold, chartreuse, and teal. Awesome. It almost heart my heart to stamp over it and even considered leaving it alone...but...my stamping plates were calling to be used.
I let my boyfriend pick out the base color (he chose the colors last time too, I just forgot to mention it). He said green, although that's what he said last time. And I suspect it could be what he says every time since that's his favorite color. Ha. But I had just got this polish and was itching to use it anyway :)

What I used: CND Sticky Base Coat, 2 coats of Maybelline Color Show in Avante Green, stamp color was China Glaze in Wagon Trail, and Seche Vite Topcoat
Plate: Bundle Monster 2011, BM-201

Grrr. More stamping failure

Apparently I am the only one that this is happening to because I've done a search and can't find much info. But what was happening is that my polish would not transfer from the stamp to my nail. It transfers from the plate to the stamp beautifully, no problems there, which was where I found alot of people were having some problems. I read what more advanced stampers recommended (filing stamp with nail file). So I tried this, made no difference. So I tried some of my polishes that dry VERY slow. Still no difference. Mind you, I know you have to work fast here...which I am doing. I watched tutorial after tutorial and I am working quicker than most of them are and even tried using the EXACT polishes they were. Still wasn't getting it to work. So I just kept practicing and I went back to my solution from the other day. Maybe it was too cold? (but the house was warm this time - 72 degrees). So what I'm now doing is rubbing the stamp on my palm or with my fingers right before I swipe. Also using a top coat on my base seems to help. I don't know why or what the difference is.
BUT my pattern is still not transferring completely off the stamper. Like a first layer comes off on the nail and a ghost image is left on the stamper, so it makes my pattern on my nail much sheerer than it should be. Does this make sense? I'm starting to think I may have a defected stamper, lol. So if anyone actually reads this and may have some suggestions or input, I'd really appreciate it!

EDIT: seems I really did get a defective stamper!! After playing around, the green side on the double sided Konad stamper works awesome. No problems picking up or transferring....smooth like buttah! So I ordered another stamper, I would return this one but I threw away everything. Oh well. Here's to waiting again. The green side works for all my nails except for my thumbs so I still get to practice anyway :)

Brrr. Not cool for stamping

Lesson learned this morning. The temperature dropped quite a bit during the night last night. Got up this morning to a cold (for me) house, it was about 68 degrees. Well, was going to do a quick orange and blue stamp in support of The Chicago Bears (my boyfriend is from IL). My point being: my stamper would not work! Nothing on my nails, would just stay on the stamper. I had to warm up the stamper and my nail polish by rolling it around in my hands and I also turned on the heat because it was too dang cold for me, period! This was just something I'd thought I'd share and now I know.
BTW: since I was in a hurry, my base coat did not completely dry and my stamping was blurred on some nails. Plus, I'm still trying to get the hang of getting the pattern to go the same way. I just went with it today, but it was really too awful to post a pic. It was definitely frustrating today, but I will get the hang of it!

(Like a) Virgin...Stamper

So this was my very first stamping try with all the bells and whistles. Yep, that's right, my very first. I got my stamper and templates in the mail Monday and played around with it a few times after work since then (this now being Thursday night). I was a bit nervous after putting on a base coat, two coats of nail polish, and then waiting for it to dry only to mess everything up and have to restart? I'm sooo impatient with drying time. But I had to suck it up and do it. Didn't turn out as bad as I thought but there is definitely some trial and error here when doing a full set of hands. Practice makes perfect though! Can't wait to practice some more. Even tempted to take this off right now and try again...but...I won't...just yet.

What I used: CND Sticky Base Coat, 2 coats of Sinful Colors in Mint Apple, stamp color was Wet n Wild in Saved By The Blue, topped with Pure Ice in Oh Baby, and Seche Vite Topcoat
Plate: Bundle Monster 2012, BM-312