Homemade thank you cards are a nice touch

If after the holidays you have someone you'd like to thank in a special way, here are three card-making ideas.

Staight from the pages of "Martha Stewart Holiday" and "Family Fun" magazines, they don't take an inordinate amount of time to make, are inexpensive and will surely relay the message that your thanks are heartfelt.

A simple thank you is best, so your recipient doesn't feel pressured to thank you back, creating a "cycle of gift giving," according to Corinne Gill, associate editor for holiday and crafts for "Martha Stewart Living." What matters, she says, "are the sentiments of the words, not the showmanship of the card."

Gill recommends enclosing holiday photographs with a thank-you note, especially if the recipient didn't spend the holidays with you. Two of the crafts below include photos.

Another idea is using children's artwork.

"I love receiving them," says Maggie Neff, a 94-year-old grandmother in Kansas City, Mo. "It's like getting a wonderful gift you can hold."

3-D snowball card

Supplies:

5½-by-4¼-inch blank card in festive color (sold, with envelopes, at crafts stores)

Photo of your family posing with arms cocked (as if to throw a snowball)

Glue stick

Crafting glue

Small white pom-poms

Assembly:

1. Cut the photo to fit the card, leaving a border of at least ¼ inch around the photo.

2. Use a glue stick to glue the photo to the card.

3. Use crafting glue to adhere a white pom-pom over each throwing hand.

— Adapted from "Family Fun" magazine

Snowman button card

Supplies:

3 different-size white buttons; the smallest must have 4 holes

Embroidery floss in red

Embroidery floss in green (optional)

Blank folded note card in festive color

Slightly larger blank white card (or white card stock)