Bags of Christmas cards handmade by Lively's Valerie Risk, who is passing them out to employees of businesses in Greater Sudbury. Risk has distributed more than 1,800 of the cards this season.

While paintings are often expensive, she notes, handmade cards are a more affordable form of art, a gift unto themselves. Tips for beginning card-makers include: AIM FOR QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY ...

For Christmas and New Year's, give handmade cards as gifts. Know some tips to make them Handmade cards feel more special than store-bought or digital ones.