I recently turned 33, and because my favorite person to spoil is myself, I got myself a Sizzix Big Shot as birthday gift!

I am pleased as punch with this gift, I am not even going to talk about how many hours I spent obsessing over whether I should get this or the Cricut Cuttlebug or the super pretty pink-colored limited edition Sizzix Big Shot Plus.

I spent a long time looking for blog reviews about the Sizzix Big Shot but couldn't find any locally, so if there's anyone from the Philippines who is looking for a Sizzix Sister, here ya go. :) 

As the box says, the Sizzix Big Shot is a manual shape-cutting and embossing machine. Yay! Another hobby to dip my hands into! Well, I've actually liked scrapbooking and cardmaking, but this takes these to another level. Perfect shapes and cut-outs, y'all!

To be honest though I tried to prolong using this as much as I could because, I don't know, what if I end up not liking it and it'll be another waste of money and time and effort? I was better off doing all these fancy craft projects in my head, but the metal cutting dies I ordered were calling to me.

Eventually I just gave in and opened the box. Thank heavens for Holy Week break.


Assembling was pretty straightforward. I just had to install the handle and I was good to go.


The package includes two cutting pads, one thin die adapter, and one standard platform---pretty much everything you need to start die-cutting and embossing right off the bat if you have dies and embossing folders. These are sold separately but the seller was nice enough to include two free metal cutting dies as freebies. I have also ordered a bunch of these and paper beforehand.

I have had this idea of changing the cards for Krissyfied Makes for a while now and this mason jar die looks perfect.


TA-DA! You're looking at the new Krissyfied Makes card backings! I used watercolor paper for this project and I can't wait to tell people why.


I am debuting them at the April Feels Day 2019 event happening next Saturday, April 27, at the LOFT Ortigas. If you love romance, happy endings, and feeling fuzzy all over, you should definitely drop by! Click here for the details.


One night and my cutting pads are already looking worse for wear. This is perfectly normal though according to the hundreds of Youtube tutorials I have watched, although I am already saving up for new back up cutting pads. See? That's how I know my Sizzix Big Shot will be with me for a long time. I already have a long line up of crafting projects for us and I am so very excited.

What a perfect birthday gift! Thanks, self. ♡ 

One of my boyfriend J's birthday gifts to me this year is the opportunity to go crazy with colors my own Innisfree My Palette that I filled with pans of my choice. It was so difficult to choose because the colors are all so pretty!! During our trip to the Lion City we went to four different Innisfree stores in Singapore (Bugis Junction, Plaza Singapura, Vivo City, Jurong Point) and ultimately came up with these:

Medium Innisfree My Palette in gold suede | Two My Eyeshadows (Matte) in 1 and 34 | Two My Eyeshadows (Glitter) in 16 and 33 | One My Highlighter (Cream) in 1 | One My Lip and Cheek (Airy) in 2

Innisfree released a total of 100 My Eyeshadow (40 matte, 20 glitter, and 40 shimmer), 22 My Blusher (17 powder and five cream), three My Highlighter (one cream and two powder), four My Contour, five My Eyebrow, three My Concealer, three My Corrector, and a My Eyeshadow eye primer, while the palettes to put the components in come in three sizes and different designs. They even come up with limited edition cases. Holy freaking endless possible combinations! Now can you see how tempting it is to keep on building new palettes?


I thought long and hard for a possible theme for my first My Palette. Do I go with deviant and outrageous colors? Pink and plum, prim, and proper? Bold and smokey? In the end I chose to go with peach and coral shades; neutral enough for everyday wear but ante can be upped for dressier lewks. I also find the colors flattering for me, and of course since it's a gift from the boyf I'd want it to be something I can use a lot.

My Palette of choice is the Medium My Palette in gold suede. Classy. It has two compartments that can fit eight small pans OR four big pans OR four small pans and two small pans. It also came with two mini brushes.


Those black squares are thin magnetic sheets that hold the pans in place.

I was worried about destroying the pans when I transfer them but I didn't need to worry because it was so easy! Here are photos I took when I transferred the cream My Highlighter.





I used my nail to pop it out and it easily slid off the original container, no brute force needed! They're also very secured in My Palette and I don't think they will slide off easily thanks to the magnetic sheets.

Here is my customized My Palette:


AHHHHHHH SO PRETTY!!!!! *abundance of heart eyes emojis*

To be honest I wasn't counting too much on the quality of these because I have had not-so-good experience with Korean eyeshadows in the past. But as evidenced by the Althea Eye Palette, their makeup products have improved so much. These colors are all buttery, easy to blend, and very pigmented. Pretty affordable, too! The medium case costs SGD 13, the eyeshadows cost SGD 8 each, the highlighting cream SGD 11, and lip and cheek SGD 12. (J paid for the case and four eyeshadows.)

I swatched the colors for you.

My Eyeshadows (Matte) in 1 and 34 | My Eyeshadows (Glitter) in 16 and 33

With flash: My Eyeshadows (Matte) in 1 and 34 | My Eyeshadows (Glitter) in 16 and 33

Full disclosure: I was supposed to get the My Primer pan instead of M1 but somehow I ended up with this. I should have double checked before bringing my picks to the counter but it was a long day and I was too excited to watch Shazam! LOL. I am still hoping to get My Primer (probably from their Philippine stores as I am back in Manila). No complaints about the other colors because they're all so pretty, pigmented, and easy to work with.

My Highlighter (Cream) in 1 | My Lip and Cheek (Airy) in 2

With flash: My Highlighter (Cream) in 1 | My Lip and Cheek (Airy) in 2

I have an expansive makeup collection but I don't have these colors yet. I think it'll also be my first time to use a highlighter in this cream form. The colors are pigmented on first swipe so these have to be applied with a gentle hand.

My only gripe is how I now have six plastic containers that these shades originally came with. I wish there is a way to purchase new colors without the individual plastic cases, but I understand they're needed for hygienic purposes. I guess I'll just have to find a way to repurpose them.

All in all I am very pleased with my customized Innisfree My Palette! As I said, it can get pretty addicting because of how easy it is. Special mention to my boyfriend J for being extra patient for all those Innisfree visits to swatch and test and purchase, hihi. I will make sure to hit the pan on these shades first before I make a new one.


I am so excited!

Another year older.

I spent my 33rd in Singapore. It was a pretty low-key celebration, actually. My boyfriend J and friend Ed and I went to a dimsum buffet, hung out at CHIJMES, ate yakitori at Bugis, then had the yummiest lemon cheesecake and Pink Moscato at home. Simple as compared to my celebrations from the past, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.