Being an avid crafter has made me think of the many other ways I can use my skills and supplies into other areas of my life. For example, scrapbooking is my favorite hobby. I love to create these memorable books with colorful acid-free paper and glue, which I affix photographs and other personal mementos onto. These same beautiful papers are perfect for creating handmade cards to give my family and friends. I already had a large supply of scrapbook paper and cardstock on hand and with use of my decorative edged scissors and a few rubber stamps, I am able to make one of a kind cards at a fraction of the cost of store-bought greeting cards.

Of course, cards are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to gifts that you can make using stationary and other scrapbooking and craft products. Read on and I will share with you some gift ideas that show you to be a true crafter!

Matted Photo Frames
I don't know about you, but I can always use frames, and this would be one gift that I would love to receive! Purchase a plain, inexpensive frame and with a piece of decorative or handmade paper, create a mat for it. You can give this with a photo in it or without - either way will work.

Calendars
Creating a calendar for a gift has been made easy with the advances in the computer world and with new products on the market. If you have software on your computer which allows to print up calendar pages, you can make one easily yourself! Be sure to top each month with photograph and include important dates, such as birthdays and anniversaries.

Recipe Book
This idea is perfect for a newlywed couple or for anyone who can use a collection of those great family recipes! Take treasured family recipes and a solid colored or cooking themed paper. You can either print out the recipes from your computer or handwrite them onto recipe cards and then glue onto the paper. Then take a photograph (if available) of the person's who recipe it is and glue that onto the page near the recipe. For example, you could include a picture of your great grandmother near her famous bread recipe. Be sure to enclose each page of the recipe book in a sheet protector and place in a three ring album or binder.

Scrapbook Starter Kit
This is easy gift to put together for a person on your list who enjoys taking photos, but never seems to have them organized! It can also be inexpensive, if you have a good amount of scrapbook supplies on hand. First, pick out an assortment of papers - either purchase a package of paper for them or pick out some individual pattern papers. Include some form of adhesive - many glue sticks nowadays are acid-free and an inexpensive way to go.

If you have Internet access, consider printing out some of the web pages that have beginner guides to scrapbooking. Some great sites that feature information for the beginning scrapper are:

Learn 2 Scrapbook site at http://learn2scrapbook.com
Graceful Bee: http://www.gracefulbee.com
Suite 101: http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/scrapbooking

Last, but not least, package all of these things and more in a nicely decorated box or gift bag.

Gift Certificates of your time
Using your computers word processing program or maybe you own nicest writing, make gift certificates on stationary or decorative paper that says things like:

"Good for one craft session - with my supplies!"
"Two free hours of child care"
"Homemade dinner brought to your home"
"Good for one scrapbooking lesson."

Not only is this an inexpensive gift, but it is a gift that really gives of yourself, and many times is what others truly want for those special occasions.

A Complete Scrapbook Album
If you have already learned how to create your own scrapbooks, and you have photographs of another family member or friend, why not create an album for them? Many people don't have the time or desire to organize their photographs into albums, but with a little experience, you can create an album for them with ease. This is a popular gift to give to grandparents, filled with photographs of their grandchildren.

Framed Poetry
One of my most favorite gifts to give that use stationary is a framed poem. I simply select a favorite poem and type it into my computer's word processing program. I then print it out onto a beautiful piece of paper and frame it. This is a gift I have given to everyone from a new mother to my children's teachers. Everyone always loves this gift.

©2001 Brandie Valenzuela