My friend Kelly recently turned thirty and when I was invited to her birthday dinner I knew that I wanted to bring a handmade gift. But giving a handmade gift to a person who makes things for a living is a somewhat intimidating proposition. I needed to think about what I could make for her that she couldn’t make for herself. I mulled on it for a while, and then I decided that it had to be a custom stamp. Or as it turned out, two custom stamps.
A Handmade Card
A faux wood cut portrait and then the “It’s Me KP” stamp (her online username). You can see the card I made using the stamps and then the hand carved stamps on the table in front of the card.
I used white embossing powder to get the text to pop on top of her shoulder on the card.
And of course the inside of the card had to be lovely too.
The banner is hanging just from the ends, so it has some nice movement when you open the card! Each of the banners and letters was stamped, using this set I carved:
(If you want to learn how to carve stamps, check out my online class: Stamp Carving 101.)
And here’s how I wrapped up the card:
And the gift:
Glassine is just so awesome, isn’t it?
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed putting together this gift — the card, the wrapping, the whole thing! I was a little bit nervous that she wouldn’t like it (or think it looked like her), but she did! And that made me feel very happy indeed. The best gifts are the ones that put a smile on the recipient’s face, don’t you think?
Personally, I think that handmade gifts are special because they carry time, attention, and intention in a way store-bought things simply can’t. When someone makes something by hand, they’re making choices—materials, colors, textures—with a specific person in mind, and that care is embedded in the object itself. A handmade gift isn’t about perfection or polish; it’s about presence. It says, “I thought about you. I spent time on you.” And isn’t that the whole point of a gift?!
Thanks for stopping by!
As someone who received a hand carved stamp as a present last year I can imagine the joy this gift bought. My friend hand carved my avatar that I have drawn myself. I couldn’t believe it. It’s an amazing gift – I bet your friend was as gobsmacked as I was with my friend.
What an awesome gift! I knew who it was before I read the post. Well done!
wonderful and thoughtful gift
Great stamp and fun card…glad that she was pleased.
Would you consider doing one for me? I’d pay you. I love everything about it.
Oh my gosh! Julie! This is a wonderful gift! I think Kelly is a very lucky girl indeed!
What a fantastic gift!
Thanks for the reminder that the home made gifts are the show-stoppers, the remembered forevers,the best gift ever!
What a wonderful gift. What a thoughtful friend.
Oh my gosh, Julie…that was a remarkable gift. LOVED it!
Will you be my personal friend?
You are an inspiration.
Gwen: You can make one yourself! Carving a stamp from a photo is the final lesson in my Stamp Carving 101 class! 🙂
What a fun gift! I hesitantly made a stamp for my sister-in-law for her birthday (not a photo, but a heart with the title of her soon to be released book of poetry). She loved it! Hand made gifts are the best! <3
Very cool personal gift.
julie, what a treasure! i’m sure she was thrilled. 🙂
What a totally awesome and thoughtful gift! You did a great job with the stamp!!! Beautiful wrapping too!
Wow that’s an amazing stamp! I bet she loved it!
This is a beautiful gift. Who doesn’t like seeing a portrait of themselves looking this hip? I love this idea. How did you transfer the image onto the stamp surface. Did you use a photo or (gasp) did you freehand it? I want to make one!
Watching someone open your gift is always the best part as the giver. And getting something made especially for you is always a great part as the receiver! You did a great job!
Im afraid I cant share as its part of a lesson in my online class Stamp Carving 101. 🙂
what an awesome gift from a truly gifted artist! how could she not love that….
Ditto to everyone else’s comments – such a cool pressie. I’d be overwhelmed if I received something like this. I think the best gifts are the ones that are made with love and most of all, with pure thoughfulness, like this one. You never forget those ones. (And how fun it is to be the maker, hey? That is also ‘the best bit’)
I think your friend Kelly is a lucky girl indeed. What an awesome gift! Well done, Julie.
What an amazingly personal gift! There could be no doubt that she would LOVE it!
awesome. in every sense of the word!
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