A chalk drawing on a dark slate board showing a graceful cat's paw with delicate curved claws, surrounded by tiny polish-bottle silhouettes and floral swirls in soft white and pale pink chalk lines against the deep charcoal-black slate.

Swatches, stamping & nail art from Australia For a clean and modern nail design, the post Minimalist Line Art Nails With Black Stripe Decals demonstrates how to use black stripe decals for minimalist line art.

A personal nail polish blog by Kitt McFarlane For a spectacular dose of glitter-meets-rainbow holo, revisit the detailed swatches and review of the indie standout Femme Fatale Glitter and Be Gay. Review: Femme Fatale Glitter and Be Gay and Its Rainbow Holo

Welcome to The Cat's Claws

A warm and enthusiastic corner of the web dedicated to nail polish — from indie holographics and mainstream cremes to stamping plates and glitter placement. Kitt McFarlane shared her manicures, swatches, and honest reviews here from 2011 through early 2016, covering brands like OPI, Femme Fatale, China Glaze, Emily de Molly, Deborah Lippmann, and many more.

Whether you're hunting for a swatch of China Glaze Emerald Sparkle, curious about MoYou London stamping plates, or just love a good Australia Day green-and-gold mani, there's plenty to explore.

Explore the Blog

A chalk drawing on a dark slate board of three nail-polish bottles in varied shapes, one shimmering with holographic sparkle lines, rendered in soft mint green, lavender, and rose chalk on black slate.

Nail Polish Brands

Browse swatches and reviews by brand — from indie favourites like Femme Fatale and Emily de Molly to classics like OPI and China Glaze.

View Brands
A chalk drawing on a dark slate board of a nail stamper tool and a patterned stamping plate with floral motifs, drawn in white and soft gold chalk.

Stamping & Nail Art

MoYou London plates, squishy stampers, and metallic Kleancolor polishes — discover stamping designs from roses to geometric patterns.

See Stamping
A chalk drawing on a dark slate board of a calendar page with months fanned out, tiny polish-bottle icons marking dates, drawn in pale blue and white chalk.

Post Archive

All posts organised by year and month, spanning 2011 through early 2016. The busiest years were 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Browse Archive
A chalk drawing on a dark slate board of a gift box tied with a ribbon, surrounded by tiny stars and confetti dots, drawn in soft pink and gold chalk.

Giveaways & Community

Past reader giveaways including the 50-follower international giveaway in July 2012, plus Blog Fest 2013 participation.

View Giveaways

About Kitt

Kitt McFarlane started The Cat's Claws in 2011 as a creative outlet for her growing nail polish obsession. Based in Australia, she built a friendly, personal blog filled with detailed swatches, stamping experiments, and thoughtful product reviews. Her go-to top coat was Seche Vite, her stamping plates of choice came from MoYou London, and her taste ranged from indie holographics to affordable drugstore finds.

The blog ran through early 2016, with its final post — a review of the OPI New Orleans collection — appearing on 6 March 2016. Along the way, Kitt connected with readers through a Facebook page and Google+, and celebrated milestones like reaching 50 followers with an international giveaway.

There is something endlessly satisfying about the ritual of a fresh manicure — the careful prep, the first smooth coat, the quiet moment of patience while polish dries. This blog was built on that love, celebrating everything from the humble sheer pink to the most dramatic multichromatic shimmer. Over the years, the collection grew into a library of swatches and honest reflections, each bottle photographed and documented with the same care it deserved. Whether you are brand new to nail art or a seasoned collector with a stash to rival any salon, there is always room to discover another gorgeous shade worth trying.

Stamping opened up an entirely new dimension of creativity, turning plain nails into miniature canvases. With plates and patterns ranging from delicate florals to bold geometric lines, the possibilities felt genuinely endless. A single stamping plate could transform a basic creme into something striking, and layering colours added depth and character to every design. It is the kind of technique that rewards practice, and the learning curve is part of the fun. For anyone curious about getting started, the key is simply choosing a plate you love and giving yourself time to experiment freely.

Indie polish makers brought a wave of innovation that changed the landscape entirely — holographic finishes, thermals, multichromes, and glitter-packed concoctions that seemed to sparkle from every angle. These small-batch creations offered personality and originality that mainstream shelves often lacked, and hunting down a coveted limited shade became its own joyful pastime. The community that grew around this shared obsession was warm and generous, with swappers, bloggers, and forum regulars all trading tips, recommendations, and the occasional hard-to-find bottle. That sense of connection made every new discovery feel like a celebration.

Looking back, the archive of this blog is really a record of one person's evolving taste and skill, from early simple coats to elaborate stamped designs and careful glitter placement. Each post captures a moment in time — a colour worn to work, a festive look for the holidays, a lazy Sunday experiment gone beautifully right. The beauty of nail polish is that it is temporary by design, which makes the documentation all the more precious. For anyone browsing these pages, whether searching for a specific swatch or simply enjoying the journey, the hope is that something here inspires your own next manicure.