• Why buy a greeting card when you can make one?greeting card image by Attila Toro from Fotolia.com
  
  Stitching cards can be used for all occasions. A stitched card is all the more special because you put effort and work into the product. You buy or create a pattern, poke holes into a card and stitch away with selected thread. Most of the thread will be on the outside of the card with little showing on the inside. The result is more unique than your average store-bought card and more customized. Stitching cards is also an activity children can engage in.
  
  

Christmas

• If you're really quick and crafty, you can make a stitched card for every family member. If your child likes Rudolph, find or create a Rudolph pattern and poke the holes into the card. Use metallic red thread for Rudolph's nose to give it that nice shine. If someone likes angels, you can use fluffy white thread for the wings and silver metallic thread for the halo. The silver metallic thread is also good for snowflake patterns.
  
  

Birthdays

• You can customize a stitched birthday card even more, especially if it's for a child. If a child is having a cartoon-character themed themed birthday party, this is an excellent chance to give her a unique card. A detailed character card might take more work, so start early. For adults, create a card that corresponds to something they are interested in. If you have a sports fan, put his favorite team's mascot on the card and stitch away. If she adores butterflies, you're in luck. Butterflies are easy to do and you can get really creative with the color of the thread and you can even put beads on it.
  
  

Births

• Stitched baby cards could be the easiest of the projects. You could get a pattern that says "It's a girl" or "It's a boy." You can stitch a rattle, a ball or simply "BABY." Since most baby gifts center around blue or pink colors, the choices of thread will be rather easy. A blue or pink card with white thread or a white card with blue or pink thread. Again, beads can be placed on the thread to make it stand out more.
  
  

Bookmarks

• Not a stitched card, but something different to consider is a stitched bookmark. Make one for yourself or for your book-loving friend. Make sure you find an oblong pattern to stitch onto the bookmark. Those oblong patterns can also be used on cards for different occasions.