1. It is homemade.
2. Your version will look crappier than the version posted on the blog.
3. It involves an activity most people do not engage in: writing.
4. It seems more complicated than the non-homemade alternative (buying actual stationary).
It is important to note that there is a population of individuals who believe that upon graduation from fourth grade, an individual should not be distributing homemade products in lieu of purchasing their equivalent. I, too, largely subscribe to this view: it is not proper give, for instance, home-knitted socks or mittens for important life events like birthdays or graduation. These types of homemade products should be given freely and with no connection to actual holidays or life events.
Homemade stationary is outside of the realm of this viewpoint, though, as no one actually anticipates you sending them a letter or thank you note. The mere act of mailing properly-addressed paper positions you above the rest of society (the craft projects of this blog will focus on making you better than everyone else). While it always nice to open a beautiful card, the attractiveness of the envelope interior is moot.
Subsequently, I have designed my own personal thank you cards, which I have shared below. This design is particularly stylish as it uses clip-art borders and graphics reminiscent of Kandinsky, who has apparently become popular again. The design is also consistent with a new trend in stationary that does not require you to write anything beyond the basic gift information: the date, the giver's name, the gift, the event, and your name.
A sample of this stationary has been posted below; unfortunately, the printer's color ink is low and the border and graphic did not print properly. Nonetheless, the concept is clear and there should be little expectation that this stationary be perfect (for the reasons stated above). Please note, too, that the gift referenced, a scarf, was presumably purchased at a store. A homemade scarf does not warrant a thank-you card.
