Michi Photostory: October 2023

October 27, 2023

Cricut Cards

I have had my Cricut Maker for 3 years already but I haven’t availed the Cricut Access Free Trial yet because I am an occasional crafter so I feel masasayang ko lang yung subscription kung hindi rin naman ako palaging magcraft.

Instead, I just buy designs that I want and need, so I just upload and cut. It was only last year when I started browsing Cricut Design Space because I wanted to try my Cricut Card Mat.

I just searched for Free Insert Cards that I can try. If you remember my “Cricut Birthday Cards” blog post, I mentioned that I cut a lot of cards but I forgot to finish them. And it took me more than a year to check my PHD craft aka Project-Half-Done.

Then I found out that most of the designs that I cut before are now “Access Exclusive” but I didn’t want to throw my cards so I repurposed them. The advantage of having no internet connection, naghahanap ng gagawin.

It’s Your Birthday Card #M15E2B4BD - Access Exclusive

Get Well Bandage and Hearts Card #M3041DA11 - Access Exclusive

Happy Llama Birthday Insert Card #M10AD4054 - Access Exclusive

Cricut Candle Card #M15E2B428

Happy Birthday Explosion Card #M47EE4

You can check my other projects on Cricut Design Space.

October 26, 2023

6 Christmas Money Holders

We have no internet since Monday and we just found out na kami na lang ang walang internet. Our internet provider closed our ticket because the internet connection was restored in our area last Tuesday. But we still don’t have internet so we need to file a new ticket. Sa totoo lang nastress na ko, sino ba naman ang hindi need ng internet.

It was funny because out of the blue, my son asked me “kung nagbayad daw ba ako ng internet:” lol. Feeling ba niya naputulan kami ng internet? Hehehe! Anyway, nagpaload na naman ako para lang may internet, grr… If tomorrow, hindi na ko nakapagblog, it means, ayaw ko na magpaload.

I am trying my best to blog this week because starting this Saturday, semestral break na and my mom will also stay in our house next month so I don’t know if I have time to blog or craft; family time first.

Anyway, next on my Christmas Craft Projects is Christmas Money Holders. I was so busy last year that I had no time to buy gifts so these money holders saved me. So just like my other craft projects, I only have photos as souvenirs but I am planning to recreate this project because this is so easy to cut and assemble.

The Christmas Money Card Bundle has 6 designs, Santa Claus, Snowman, Elves, and Gingerbread. For the Santa and Elves, you need to change some layers to draw before cutting or you can manually draw the eyes and lips.

October 25, 2023

Christmas Gnome Gift Tags

Third day of no internet connection and hindi na nakakatuwa, mas mahal pa yung binabayad ko sa mobile data kaysa sa makukuha ko na rebate. Grrr! Eh nasa mood nga ko magblog kaya first time ko itong magload para lang magawa ko yung dapat ko gawin. Good thing that my desktop can detect my mobile data so I can blog but it is still slow.

Moving on, let me share the Christmas Gnome Gift Tags that I made last year. I love making printable gift tags because all I need to do is design and then cut. But last year, I gifted myself a die-cutting machine so I used it for my gift tags.

I purchased this Christmas Gnomes Sublimation and used one design for my gift tag. Then added the “It’s Fine, I’m Fine, Everything is Fine” phrase using Happy Hearts font. Next print the file on photo paper and die-cut using Sizzix Stitched Circle Shape. Then I die-cut other shapes using Lawn Fawn Stitched Circle Tags and my paper scraps. I assembled everything and lastly put baker’s twine.

How to Find Your Perfect Scent

Finding your perfect scent is a deeply personal and sensory journey. Your choice of fragrance is not just about smelling pleasant; it's a reflection of your personality, style, and emotions. The right perfume can boost your confidence, evoke cherished memories, and leave a lasting impression. But with countless options available, how do you go about discovering your ideal scent? This article will guide you through the process of finding the perfect fragrance.

1. Understand the Fragrance Families

Fragrances are classified into various families or categories based on their dominant notes and characteristics. Understanding these fragrance families is the first step in narrowing down your choices at shops like directfragrances.online.

2. Identify Your Preferences

It's essential to identify your fragrance preferences to find your perfect scent. Think about the scents that you naturally gravitate towards. Are you drawn to the freshness of citrus, the warmth of spices, or the elegance of florals? Understanding your preferences will help you narrow down the fragrance family that resonates with you.

3. Test and Sample

Once you have a sense of your fragrance family, it's time to explore specific scents within that category. Visit a fragrance store or counter and start testing different perfumes. Remember that the fragrance you smell initially may not be the same as the one you experience after it has settled on your skin.

Always test fragrances on your skin, preferably on your wrist, as your body chemistry can influence how a scent develops.
Avoid testing too many scents at once, as your sense of smell can become overwhelmed. Start with a few and revisit them on different days.

4. Pay Attention to the Development

Fragrances are divided into top, middle, and base notes. The top notes are the initial scents you smell when you first apply the fragrance, the middle notes appear after a while, and the base notes are the long-lasting, final scents.

Pay attention to how the fragrance evolves over time. Sometimes, a scent may not captivate you at first sniff, but it can develop into something beautiful as the middle and base notes reveal themselves.

5. Seek Recommendations

Consult with friends, family, or fragrance experts for recommendations. They may introduce you to scents you haven't considered. Online fragrance communities and reviews can also be valuable resources for discovering new scents and learning about their characteristics.

6. Give It Time

Finding your perfect scent is not a rushed process. Allow yourself time to explore and experience various fragrances. Wear them throughout the day to see how they interact with your body chemistry and how they make you feel.

7. Be Open to Change

Your fragrance preferences can evolve over time. What you loved a few years ago may not be your favorite now. Being open to change and adapting to your evolving tastes is essential.

Conclusion

Finding your perfect scent is a personal and enjoyable journey. You can make informed choices by understanding fragrance families, identifying your preferences, testing and sampling, and considering factors like the season. Take notes, seek recommendations, give the process time, and be open to change. Trust your instincts to find the fragrance that resonates with you and enhances your personal style. Remember that fragrance is a unique and individual choice, and finding the scent that feels like a perfect match can be a rewarding and self-expressive experience.

October 24, 2023

3D Christmas Stocking Gift Card Holders

Day two of no internet connection, hay! Kung kailan naman ako sinisipag magblog, saka naman nawalan ng internet sa area namin. I hope it will be repaired soon because mobile data is slow.

Anyway, next on my Christmas Craft Project is 3D Christmas Stocking Gift Card Holders. This design is so versatile because you can use this as a gift card holder, card, shadow box, or Christmas decor. It is so easy to cut and assemble.

The funny story about this craft is I brought them to Vietnam, I precut all the papers but I assembled them in Da Nang. I indeed brought some of my unfinished projects because I knew that we would just stay in the hotel on our second day because we decided not to join the Hue City Tour.

Read: 5 Days in Da Nang Vietnam

October 23, 2023

3D Christmas Lights

I am done with my Halloween Craft Projects so let me start my Christmas Craft Projects that I made last year. I blogged about the 3D Christmas Gingerbread House Cookie Wreath but I forgot to share this 3D Christmas Lights. I also made this craft project for my son’s classroom so I only have pictures as my souvenir.

For the design, I purchased this 3D Christmas Bunting Trio - Layered Christmas SVG, there are 3 designs but I only used the Christmas Lights. For materials, I used glitter and mirror cardstock and I was able to cut a lot of lights per cardstock.

The designer of this SVG is on Cricut Design Space too so I added this to my Cricut Design Space profile.

October 19, 2023

Halloween Craft Projects

Honestly, I’m not into Spooky Season and if I remember it right, the only time that I made Halloween projects was when my son was still in his Preschool years. But last month my husband went to Vietnam so it means I can freely craft, knowing na wala ko maiistorbo na online meeting. Hehehe!

I planned to start my Christmas Craft Projects but at that time, there were Craft Fests from a few designers that I follow so I decided to join. I don’t like scary-looking projects so I just chose the designs that I like to recreate. As I mentioned in my previous posts, I made a lot of craft projects so let me share the remaining projects that I did. Just in case you missed my old blog post, you can visit the links below.

Halloween Lollipop Holders

Halloween Chip Bag Treats

Cute Monster Candy Holder

3D Ghost

This 3D Ghost SVG file is for a shadow box but I reduced the file to 5 inches since I won’t use it for a shadow box. I applied Sizzix Pearlescent Medium on the ghost to add some shimmer.

Frankenstein Monster

The Frankenstein Monster is only a 2-layers project so you can use vinyl or cardstock but I love paper craft so I used smooth and mirror cardstock.

Layered Raven

The Layered Raven Design is from Craft with Sarah, it is available in large and small sizes. Of course, I chose the small size.

Layered Witch

The Layered Witch Design is from Craft with Sarah, I reduced the file to 3.5 inches which is not a good idea especially since there are intricate layers but fortunately, I was able to finish the project.

Halloween Teddies

These Halloween Teddies are so cute so this is the first project that I made. The file is from Craft with Sarah too, and because it is cute, I purchased the Christmas and Birthday Teddies too.

Halloween Gnomes

I’m into gnomes so it is not surprising that I also made the Halloween Gnomes, the male and female gnomes are from Craft with Sarah.

Spider Card

The Spider Card is from Craft with Sarah too. The design has a print then cut layer but to save on paper, I removed that part and just cut a separate spider.

Haunted House Shaker Cake Topper

This is supposed to be a shaker cake topper where you put candies inside the haunted house but I don’t have acetate and small candies so I just made the simple cake topper. The design file is from Craftara Creates.

Halloween Corner Bookmarks

I have so many bookmarks at home that I don’t really use because I seldom read books but these bookmarks are so cute so I cut all the designs. The Halloween Corner Bookmarks SVG file is from Neli Design.

Happy Ghost Side Edge Card

Just like the spider card, this Happy Ghost Side Edge Card is easy to cut and assemble. I was in a hurry in making this card but if I would remake this, I would emboss some elements to add dimension because it looks plain to me. The design is from The Bearded Housewife.

Halloween Candy Bars

This is supposed to be a candy wrap project but I want to save my sticker paper so I decided to just put sticker on the front side of the chocolate. I printed 3 designs in one sticker sheet instead of three. The Halloween Alphabet Letters are from Extraordinary Chaos.

Sugar Skull

My last Halloween Project was Sugar Skull. This was my entry for Cricut Philippines' “Dia de Muertos” Contest. Like I’ve said before, I’m not into scary projects pero para sa prize, nagtry kahit hindi nanalo. Hehehe!

I first learned about "Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos" when I watched the movie "Coco". Day of the Dead is a festive holiday in Mexico where family and friends gather to pay respect to their loved ones. This day is not about mourning but a joyful celebration so "Let's Skull-abrate".

I'm not fond of flowers so ito na yata pinakamarami ko na nacut na flowers. The Sugar Skull SVG is from Cricut Design Space which I edited using contour, I also used Nuvo Drops and Pearlescent Medium to make the skull look colorful.

October 18, 2023

Cute Monster Candy Holder

I’ve blogged about Halloween Lollipop Holders and Halloween Chip Bag Treats and now let me share two candy holders that I’ve done. I made these not because I need them for a project, it is just that I find them too cute. How I wish my son was still in his toddler years, I’m pretty sure he will enjoy these candy holders.

Monster Face Treat Box

I seldom make boxes but when I saw these Monsters Face Treat Box, I wanted to try it. Even though, I don’t have candies or chocolates that I can put in the box. You can find the design file on Craft with Sarah's website.

Monster Candy or Money Holder

I bought packs of candies and chocolates for my son’s Entrepreneur Class and I am aware that we still have leftover chocolates because hindi naman niya dinala lahat. So I also made these Monster Candy Holders but after making the project, I found out na wala na pala yung iniisip ko na chocolate. Kinain na pala ng anak ko, maswerte pa ko na may naiwan na isa. Hehehe! Anyway, I can also use this as a money holder.

October 17, 2023

Halloween Chip Bag Treats

Halloween is near so before I forget I will start sharing my Halloween Craft Projects that I’ve been doing since September. If you remember my “Halloween Lollipop Holder” post, I mentioned that my son needs packaging for their project in Entrepreneurship Class. So aside from the lollipop holders, we also made this Halloween Chip Bag Treats.

Our initial plan is to buy a “stand-up zip lock pouch” and we will just add stickers but the problem is “shipping”, baka hindi madeliver agad yung pouch so I suggested Chip Bag treats. I’ve been meaning to try this project but I don’t have a thin photo paper but we still pushed the project kahit sticker lang ginamit namin.

My son knew how to use Photoshop so I purchased a Chip Bag Template so it would be easy for us to do the project, we would just drag and drop the graphic elements using the PSD file. Also, if the teacher asked how he made the packaging, madali magpresent. For designs, we used some designs from these bundles; Retro Halloween Sublimation Bundle and Coffee Halloween Sublimation Bundle.

After printing, I taught him how to assemble the chip bag and pack his candies. These are the samples but he needs to finish everything in school. Just like his lollipop holders, sold out din ito. I’m planning to do this project in the future so I already bought photo paper. :)

October 16, 2023

Family Get-Together

It’s been four years already since we had a family reunion. The last time that my mom’s siblings were complete was when my grandmother passed away and we had an overnight trip at the Palm Beach Resort.

And finally this year, my mom and aunts were back in the Philippines so we had a family get-together. But instead of going far, they just rented a private resort in Valenzuela para mas malapit sa lahat except for my family and my cousin’s family since we live in CALABARZON area.

Last year, my aunt rented a private resort too but it was not available on the day of our trip so my cousin-in-law suggested “Pooltrip Private Resort” which is located in Ugong, Valenzuela. We only had a day trip which is from from 9AM to 6PM but we were done by 3PM.

What you see on their Facebook page is what you get, there is a kitchen, comfort room, swimming pool, and room. There is only one room available, hindi nakaopen yung isang room (I don't know why). There are only 2 parking slots inside the resort but they have paid parking in front of the resort, if I remember right PHP100 ang bayad. I have no idea about the rate of the resort since hindi naman ako nagbayad. Hehehe!

My mom asked my sister-in-law to order food, this is the photo of our food from Angel's Wings and Heartwarming Meals. Wala kasi kami maayos na picture nung nadeliver na. Hungry na kasi lahat. Hehehe!

My mom also asked me to make a banner, I was contemplating if I would cut letters or print. Of course, I chose the easy route. So I used this Summer Doodle Alphabet Clipart to make the banner and print.