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Last month, I bought a Silhouette machine and learned how to make stickers. I researched a long time before deciding on the Silhouette Portrait 3. At first, I was thinking about getting the Cricut Explore, but the more I researched what the user experiences were, I saw that the Portrait 3 was the better choice for my needs. The main deciding factor was the software. Both companies offer the software for use without purchase. I found that the Cricut Design Space was limited in function and it required internet connection. Silhouette Studio lets you try a Basic version of the program and allows you to upgrade it for additional features. The program is very inclusive of a lot of functions you normally see in a graphic design program, like Illustrator. I did end up upgrading to Business Edition after getting the machine.

I ordered my machine off Amazon in the US, and had it sent to my forwarding address. I was originally going to buy it from Silhouette Canada, but they were sold out, and I did not want to wait. I find that the American pricing comes out cheaper, even after fees and taxes. So it can be worth the extra trouble. However, buying things stateside, can pose issues if you decide to return it, you will have already paid the fees and taxes.

When I first got the machine and set it up, I found that it was not cutting properly at all. It was only scratching the page. I found out that the Auto-blade was defective, as the blade was not adjusting correctly. But I found a way to use the blade manually and it worked fine. But I decided to buy the 1 mm Manual Blade and adjust it manually. I found that this relieved the problem and gave me better control over the outcome. I did not like leaving it to chance with the Auto-blade. I don’t know if it was just mine that was defective, as I did not have another to compare. I did not want to buy one to try. One thing I was suspicious of, was that the blade in the machine was not sealed in a tamper-proof package, so what if the blade was switched out from the box? I read the reviews of the Amazon seller, there were many complaints about the blades not working. I did contact the seller to ask if they would be willing to replace the blade for me. They responded that they would and asked my address. But they never sent it.

The next problem I had was with the Print and Cut feature. I had issues with the machine not registering the marks. I kept making sure it was aligned with the marks on the mat. But it was really not working. I saw that other users online were saying to make sure the prints were aligned properly, by measuring how far from the page it was. This did not help either. But it did lead me to an idea for a solution. I made a template of the exact placement of the measurements and made a cut out of it to mark the mat. After doing this, I realized that the marks on the mat for where I should place the page was off. I had calibrated the machine and it was not related to this matter. It was a matter of where the machine was scanning the mark in relation to the mat. Since I also bought the pen holder, I used a Sharpie pen to make a new mat with a piece of clear Shrink Plastic. I mapped out a rectangle on the page for where the registration marks are supposed to be. I used Zig 2-way glue to sticky the mat. This method worked perfectly. The only thing is that the matts do wear out faster, as this plastic gets dented from the rollers after a certain number of times. But shrink sheets are much cheaper than Silhouette mats to replace. You can mark the sheet on both ends and make use of the other side when one side gets too worn out.

After I figured out this method, I have not had problems with registration. The only time it fails, is when the mats I made get too worn out, or if the light in the room is really too low.

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Another thing with using the original Silhouette mat, was if I managed to get the marks to register, things could still go wrong, such as the cutting being totally off. My speculation is that the scanner might be reading the marks on the original mat and getting confused. I did not have this problem at all after using the mats I made.

Overall, I’m very happy with he purchase of this machine. The troubleshooting and learning curve was worth it. I’ve been able to use it for projects, such as signage for my garden, stickers and labels for product packaging, and decorative decals. It has definitely expanded my toolkit as an artist.

About 13 years ago, I was living in the UK, working in a little shop in the town of Brighton. There, I was immersed in the world of natural body care products. I was the shop manager, dealing in lotions and creams made from the most luscious of ingredients. My working holiday ended and I came home with a wealth of knowledge about natural skin care.

I began creating my own concoctions. Inspired from all the product catalogs I had read. I set out to create a product line of my own. I sold my products at health fairs. This was before the internet really took off.

Rents for fair booths grew expensive over time, and my interest in selling products faded. But I continued to make and use my own products. I still had friends who bought from me occasionally.

©2022 by Andrea Mai. All rights reserved.

This year, I’ve decided to relaunch my product line. This time, curating it carefully with a minimalist mindset. I used to be a sort of beauty product junkie when I worked in the industry. I accumulated a lot of products, and I really just wanted to pair it all down to the most essential of products. If I were going to a desert island and could only take 3 items, these things would be on my list; Lavender Balm, Arnica Balm, and Lavender essential oil.

I also reformulated my product line, having gained more experience through trial and error. The issue with balms in designing a product’s consistency to remain stable in hotter climates. My predicts have been sent to Hawaii, and they remain good on arrival. I’ve only used ingredients that have a long-shelf life, so that they will last a long time.

One thing that had been a setback for the relaunch, has been its packaging design. I did not want to relaunch until I was totally happy with the label design. It had to be true to my vibe. I had multiple attempts at designing it earlier, but I wasn’t satisfied with it. You can find out more about my design process in this blog post about eco-packaging.

Lavender Balm, available here ©2022 by Andrea Mai. All rights reserved.

The Lavender Balm is something that I use everyday. I use it for my face and body, even lips. It absorbs easily and smells of Lavender, which is my favourite scent. It was designed to treat skin irritation, because of Lavender’s soothing properties. It is infused with Calendula, which is also skin soothing and anti-inflammatory.

The Arnica Balm is handy to have for life’s little accidents. It can be used to treat bruises, sprain, and muscle soreness. Also great after workout to prevent muscle aches the next day after vigorous exercise. Sometimes when I wake up having slept with bad posture, my neck is sore. I use this to help me get back to normal. It contains extracts of Arnica and Calendula flowers, both anti-inflammatory and boosts natural healing.
The Lavender roll-on essential oil is another product I use often. It is especially useful in the summer when I get bitten by insects in the garden. I also use it for skin blemishes, as it helps to soothe and heal faster. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that does not need to be diluted to be safe on the skin. I packaged it in a convenient roller bottle so that it can be used easily on the go.

©2022 by Andrea Mai. All rights reserved.