Now that the holidays are over I can start revealing some of the handmade gifts I gave!
Every year for Christmas, I make my mom a set of handmade cards for her to use throughout the year. I usually try to pick the obvious themes for cards (birthdays, babies, thanks yous, sympathy) and mix in a few uncategorized cards for her own purpose. Back in August when Hurricane Irene came barreling through, I spent the weekend crafting in which I was able to craft her Christmas present a few months early!
Handmade cards are not only a great handmade gift to give but making them is also a great way of using up your scraps! I have this big bin of paper scraps that I’ve sorted by color. I keep it under one of the table legs of my Ikea table and it’s always at an arm’s reach to be able to grab and go when crafting.
![bin-of-paper-scraps-web bin of extra paper scraps](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/bin-of-paper-scraps-web.jpg?resize=500%2C667&ssl=1)
I was able to use many of the techniques I played with in earlier weeks on some of these cards. Using strips of patterned papers with edge punches (supplies: Punches – EK Success, patterned papers – Martha Stewart Crafts, stickers – Jolees):
![cards-punched4-web handmade cards using strips of paper with punched edges](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/cards-punched4-web.jpg?resize=500%2C285&ssl=1)
Using a negative space – like the card at the right in the below photo (supplies: Patterned paper – K&Company, Stamps – Hero Arts & Inkadinkado, Punches – EK Success and Stamping Up):
![cards2-web handmade cards](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/cards2-web.jpg?resize=500%2C237&ssl=1)
Using up die cuts (supplies: Diecuts – K&Company Amy Butler, Stamps: EK Success Image Tree):
![cards3-die-cuts-web handmade cards using K&Company Amy Butler diecuts](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/cards3-die-cuts-web.jpg?resize=500%2C275&ssl=1)
And I also played around with a fun stamp set to create these uncategorized cards for her own use. The flowers and leaves are all stamped shapes that I cut out and arranged! (supplies: Patterned paper – K&Company, Stamps: Inkadinkado):
![cards1-stamped-web stamped hand made christmas cards](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/cards1-stamped-web.jpg?resize=500%2C253&ssl=1)
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