Michi Photostory

 
For the honeycomb background, I blended Brilliance Archival Ink through a stencil to create a fun, layered design. I also added a second background using Lindy’s Gang Magical Summer Break, which added a beautiful touch of shimmer.
 
This was my first time using both the Lindy’s Gang Magical Summer Break set and the Brilliance Archival Ink Pad, so I really enjoyed experimenting with them. I’m so happy with how these products came together to bring this cheerful bee-themed birthday card to life!
 
Birthday Cake Card
 
I had so much fun creating this sweet birthday cake card! SVG file is from Bearly Art. 
 
For the cake icing, I used Aleene’s True Snow combined with Lunar Paste to create a fun, dimensional texture that almost looks good enough to eat!

I paired the cake with a shimmery embossed background made using Lindy’s Gang Magical Powder. The combination of texture and sparkle added a festive touch to the design.
 
Simple Birthday Card
 
For this card, I kept things simple with a Distress Oxide background and stamps featuring cute animal designs.

Sometimes a simple design is all you need, and I really enjoyed coloring the stamped images and seeing the card come together.
 
Happy Birthday Cake Topper
 
To finish off my birthday projects, I made my own Happy Birthday cake topper using an SVG file from Craft with Sarah.

It was a fun and easy project, and I love how a handmade cake topper can add a personal touch to a birthday celebration!
 
Final Thoughts
 
I really enjoyed making these birthday projects and experimenting with different crafting products and techniques. Each project gave me the opportunity to try something different, and I’m looking forward to using these techniques and supplies again in future projects!

Turning 30 is a milestone worth celebrating in style. The Hello Thirty Cake Topper was made using a beautiful combination of gold, black, silver, and holographic cardstock. This mix gives the topper a bold, elegant look that stands out on any birthday cake and photographs beautifully. I used Festive Font. 

This Happy Birthday Cake Topper was crafted with holographic and black cardstock, creating a sleek contrast that works for any age or theme. It’s a versatile topper that adds just the right amount of sparkle to any birthday celebration. I used Birthday Verygood Font. 

I bought Black Velvet Cake from Cafe Mary Grace, and to welcome the new year, I also created a 2026 Cake Topper. Made with gold, black, and holographic cardstock, this topper is perfect for New Year celebrations, milestone birthdays, and events happening throughout 2026. It’s a simple yet stylish way to mark the year. 

Although these cake toppers were made last December, I’m excited to feature them as I begin blogging in 2026. Here’s to a year filled with beautiful celebrations and more handmade designs.

Yes, I made my own birthday cake topper, and I’m proud of it! It was the perfect way to personalize my cake and add a touch of handmade charm to the day. 

Unfortunately, I forgot to buy my own cake – but luckily, the complimentary cake from Café Hyatt Regency Manila saved the day. 

I went with a clean, fun design that simply read "Happy Birthday to Me" – because why not celebrate yourself? I used the Thinker Font, which you can find here: 

For a special 17th birthday celebration, I crafted a topper that read “Ethan Ranked Up to 17” using the Somekind Font. 

Fun fact: I actually made two versions of this topper because I didn’t like the color combination of the first one – perfectionist problems, right? 

A milestone birthday deserves something extra special. For this one, I created a topper in silver and black cardstock, giving it a classy and elegant vibe. I used the Chirp Font for a clean and modern look. 

Pro tip: Layering metallic cardstock adds instant sophistication! 

What’s a birthday without a card? This one’s for the beer lovers out there! 

I designed a birthday easel card featuring the punny phrase: “Happy Beer-day!” It has a layered design with 3D beer mugs, frothy foam, and bubbles – all made from cardstock. 

The easel style means it stands on its own, making it perfect for display. 

The 3D beer SVG file is from Craft with Sarah 

The easel card template is from Cricut Design Space 

Crafting these birthday projects reminded me of the meaning and value of handmade creations. Whether it's a simple cake topper or an elaborate card, adding your personal touch makes any celebration extra special. 

Until the next craft project – happy crafting!

Since I was celebrating my birthday on a budget, I wanted to make the day special without going overboard on expenses. So, I started looking for good dining deals and promotions, and I found a few options that I want to try. 

Some of the promos I found required a minimum of 4 guests, but we’re just a family of three, so I was glad to discover that The Café at Hyatt Regency only required a minimum of 2 guests. Their discount was 30% off, which may not be the biggest, but it worked for us. A week before my birthday, my husband called the hotel to reserve a table. 

Breakfast (6:30 AM to 11:00 AM) – PHP 1,400 

Lunch (12:00 NN to 3:00 PM) – PHP 1,950 

Dinner (5:30 PM to 11:00 PM) – PHP 3,150 

How time flies! After ten years, we finally revisited City of Dreams. The last time we were here was also for my birthday. We visited DreamPlay back then, parang anak ko yung may birthday! Hehehe!

We arrived at The Café just five minutes before 12NN, and there was already a long line. But they let guests in right on time. 

All seats were already pre-reserved, so even if you arrive early, you can’t change tables. The Café can accommodate 315 guests, and during our visit, the place was almost full. Because of that, I only managed to take a few photos of the buffet spread. 

The Cafe has different stations such as Italian Kitchen, Carving Station, Flame and Skewer, Mexican Fiesta, Maki Bar, Fresh Catch on Ice, Asian Noodle Bar, Taste of India, Crispy & Crunchy, and Sweet Endings. They also have live cooking stations, which make the experience more interactive. 

I explored the different stations, and I was a little bit disappointed because they don’t have steak and ebi tempura. Ito kasi yung favorite ko sa mga buffet and hindi avaialable. 

After our food trip, I looked up more information and found this on the City of Dreams website: “Chef’s Carving Station - a daily highlight from our rotating selection of one premium meat or one fresh seafood”. Waah! 

Meat: Roasted Pork Loin, Roasted Whole Chicken, Lechon Belly Roll, Slow-Roasted Brisket. 

Seafood: Shrimp, Fish 

One meat or one seafood lang so I can’t help but compare it to Cucina by Marco Polo na marami choices sa Carving Station. But I’m happy with the Lechon Belly Roll, masarap ito. 

Among the stations, I focused on Carving Stations, Flame & Skewer, and Fresh Catch on Ice. These had the most satisfying selections for me. 

To top it all off, the staff surprised all birthday celebrants with a birthday cake, complete with a candle and a birthday song. Now I understand, bakit hindi pwedeng magpalipat ng table. hehehe! Kasi per section yung kanta nila so nung turn ko, 3 kaming sabay-sabay na binigyan ng cake and kinantahan.

When the staff brought us the bill, she mentioned that we could stay until 3:00 PM, but since we were already full, we left before 2:00 PM.

As always, I kept my birthday simple and intimate; just me and my little family of three. I didn’t need a crowd or a big party to celebrate, just great food, a cozy setting, and each other. 

This birthday reminded me that luxury is not always about how much you spend, it’s about how you feel. And on that day, I felt happy, content, and loved. Here’s to more joyful celebrations, smart spending, and memories that last way beyond the bill! 

Ground Floor, Hyatt Regency Manila, City of Dreams 

Aseana Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard, 

Entertainment City Parañaque, Manila 1701 

Tel:+63 2 8691 1234 ext. 1163 

Email: HyattTheCafe@cod-manila.com