Michi Photostory: diy

October 06, 2026

18th Birthday Craft Projects: Handmade Cards, Shirts & Cake Toppers for My Son

Turning 18 is such a special milestone, and I wanted to make my son’s birthday a little more personal with a few handmade projects.

I ended up making several birthday crafts for him: from a mini laptop card and a funny shirt to a timeless handmade card and three different cake toppers!

Some were planned, some were made as backup plans, and a few were simply too much fun to make only once. Here’s a look at all the projects I created for his 18th birthday.

Mini Laptop Card - Chapter Eighteen

My son’s birthday wish was a new laptop specifically, a gaming laptop. For the past few weeks, we searched online and made inquiries. My husband even visited a few stores looking for the laptop he wanted, but unfortunately, we just couldn’t find one in stock.

So I started thinking, What if we don’t find one in time?

That’s when I decided to make a mini laptop card that I could give him on his birthday, just in case we couldn’t get the real thing.

I found the project on Cricut Design Space, tweaked the design, and made my own version.

But here’s the fun part… On his birthday, we visited a different mall and decided to check if they happened to have the laptop he wanted.

And surprisingly… they did! So yes, he got his mini laptop card and his real laptop!

Talk about a backup plan turning into an extra-special birthday surprise. From a handmade mini laptop to the real thing, it couldn’t have worked out better!

“OMG! I’m an Adult Now” Shirt

Of course, turning 18 needed a shirt to celebrate the occasion!

I found this funny design on Cricut Design Space and couldn’t resist making it for him. I simply cut the SVG using iron-on vinyl and pressed it onto the shirt.

The design perfectly captures that funny feeling of turning 18: Wait… I’m an adult now?! And the face says it all!

It’s a simple project, but definitely one of my favorite little birthday crafts.

Timeless Classic Card

For his milestone birthday, I also wanted to make a card that felt a little more sophisticated.

I made this Timeless Classic Card using a design by Dreaming Tree. With its vintage gentleman wearing a suit and fedora, dramatic cityscape, and glowing moon, the layered card has such a sophisticated and timeless feel.

It seemed like the perfect card to celebrate 18 years and the start of a brand-new chapter in his life.

“May you always walk with confidence, dream without limits, and carry yourself with grace. The years may pass, but the memories you create and the person you become will always be timeless.”

Here’s to a lifetime of adventures, dreams, and unforgettable moments.

18 Officially an Adult Card

Masculine cards are always a little challenging to make, but I had so much fun turning this one into something special for my son’s 18th birthday!

I spotted this Father’s Day Gift Box project in Cricut Design Space and immediately thought, Why not turn it into a birthday card?

So that’s exactly what I did! I tweaked the original design, transformed the gift box into a card, and added the front sentiment “18 & Officially an Adult!” to make it perfect for the occasion.

With its classic suit and bow design, I think it turned out to be a pretty dapper card for a young man stepping into adulthood.

I love finding ways to take a design that was created for one occasion and give it a completely different purpose. It makes crafting even more fun, and this one worked perfectly for his milestone birthday!

“18 Officially an Adult” Cake Topper

Of course, no birthday celebration is complete without a cake topper!

For this one, I created an “18 Officially an Adult” cake topper. I really loved how the silver shimmer vinyl looked when I first made it.

Unfortunately, after a few days, I noticed that the vinyl was no longer sticking properly. Maybe the vinyl was already old, or perhaps it just wasn’t cooperating with me!

Instead of remaking the entire topper, I decided to replace just the first layer with glitter cardstock.

I still love the look of the silver shimmer, but I was actually pretty happy with how the glitter cardstock turned out too!

Sometimes crafting means improvising when things don’t go quite as planned, and I’m glad I did.

“Happy 18th Birthday!” Cake Topper

I also made this sweet Happy 18th Birthday cake topper featuring a cupcake and candle. I recreated the project from Cricut Design Space and had so much fun putting it together.

It’s a simple design, but the little cupcake and candle details make it such a cute addition to a birthday cake.

Eighteen Cake Topper

And then there was this one! I only needed one cake topper, but somehow I ended up making three.

Since we only had one cake, I used the toppers one at a time and took a photo of each one.

This one is a simple “Eighteen” cake topper, perfect for celebrating such a big milestone.

Sometimes when you enjoy making things, one project just isn’t enough!

Handmade with Love for an 18th Birthday

An 18th birthday only comes around once, and these handmade projects made the celebration feel even more personal and memorable.

Most of all, I loved being able to make these little things for my son with my own hands.

Happy 18th birthday, my son! Welcome to adulthood. May this new chapter be filled with adventures, dreams, and wonderful memories.

September 14, 2026

DIY Scratch Pad Using We R Makers Cinch Stack Cutter

My husband gave me birthday cash last month, and I didn't spend it right away.

I actually spent quite a bit of time thinking about what to buy. I had a few crafting tools in my shopping cart, and one of the things that had been sitting there for the longest time was the We R Makers Cinch Stack Cutter.

I had been wanting one for quite a while, but I kept asking myself: Do I really need it? After all, I already have a We R Makers Guillotine.

But you know how it is when you're into crafting. Sometimes there's a tool that you don't necessarily need, but you know it would make your crafting life easier. That was exactly how I felt about the Cinch Stack Cutter.

Finally Buying the Cinch Stack Cutter

When September came, I noticed that there were vouchers available from Bee Happy Crafts and Shopee. That got my attention.

The Cinch Stack Cutter was originally listed at PHP 9,450 in the Bee Happy Crafts Shopee store. With Shopee vouchers, the price went down to PHP 7,450.

I also checked the Bee Happy Crafts website, where the price was around PHP 9,000, and it was discounted to PHP 7,499.

I was able to get mine for PHP 6,785 after using Bee Happy Crafts and Shopee vouchers. That was the final push I needed.

So I decided to use the birthday cash gift my husband gave me and finally buy the We R Makers Cinch Stack Cutter. After keeping it in my cart for so long, I finally checked out! And honestly, I'm glad I did.

I Didn't Let It Sit in the Box

When my Cinch Stack Cutter arrived, I wanted to use it right away. I actually used it within the first week.

Aside from being excited to try it, I also wanted to make sure that everything was working properly. Since it was an expensive crafting tool, I didn't want to wait too long before checking it. If there was a problem, I wanted to be able to report it immediately.

Thankfully, my Cinch Stack Cutter was working properly.

And what better first project than something I make regularly: scratch pads?

Why I Make DIY Scratch Pads

If you've been reading my blog, you probably know that I've been making scratch pads since my son started preschool. It started as a simple way to save paper. You can also read about my previous DIY scratch pad project here.

Instead of throwing away papers that are printed on only one side, I keep them in a pile. I save my son's old test papers and worksheets, my husband's office papers, and even some of my own printouts.

These include things like flight tickets, hotel confirmations, travel insurance documents, travel itineraries, and other papers that I no longer need but can still use as scratch paper. I just keep collecting them.

Then, whenever I have extra time, I turn them into DIY scratch pads or notebooks. It's a small thing, but I like knowing that I'm giving these papers another use before they eventually get recycled.

Making Scratch Pads with the Cinch Stack Cutter

For my first project with the Cinch Stack Cutter, I decided to make several scratch pads from my stash of saved papers.

I used:
· We R Makers Cinch Stack Cutter
· Binding C-Clamp Pad Press
· Padding glue
· Recycled paper that had been used on one side

I was able to make eight 1/4-size scratch pads and four 1/2-size scratch pads. And the best part? I didn't have to spend so much time cutting. That's probably the biggest difference I've noticed.

Before, I started with a regular cutter. Eventually, I got a guillotine. Now I have a stack cutter. Little by little, my scratch-pad-making tools have evolved.

What I Like About the Cinch Stack Cutter

The biggest thing I appreciate about the Cinch Stack Cutter is how much easier it makes cutting multiple sheets of paper.

Since I usually save a lot of paper before making my scratch pads, cutting them individually can take quite a bit of time. With the stack cutter, I can work with a stack instead. That means less repetitive cutting and more time actually enjoying the crafting part.

It's also nice knowing that I can use it for more than just scratch pads. I can see myself using it for future DIY notebooks, paper projects, and other crafts.

Is the Cinch Stack Cutter Worth It?

Now for the question I kept asking myself before buying it:

Was it worth it?

Honestly, it depends on what you plan to use it for.

If you're only planning to make an occasional scratch pad, I don't think you need a Cinch Stack Cutter. It is definitely more expensive than simply buying a ready-made scratch pad.

For me, though, I think it was worth buying because I already make scratch pads regularly, and I have plenty of paper waiting to be turned into something useful.

I also enjoy making my own notebooks and other paper projects, so I know I'll be using the tool beyond this first project.

It's one of those purchases that isn't necessarily a need, but it makes a hobby that I already enjoy much easier.

And let's be honest, sometimes it's okay to use our birthday money for something that simply makes us happy.