The first thing that popped into my head was that it's just fine the way it is. I have been able to look at a number of manuscript books in the special collection at the University of Iowa library. They have many remarkable books - entirely handwritten - from pre-printing press days. Some of the books are consistent throughout in the quality of the writing. However, in some books it is not unusual to see facing pages that were clearly done by scribes with wildly different skill levels. I saw pages that took my breath away right next to pages that were pretty wonky. So there is a certain charm to any page done by someone who is simply making something by hand. Of course, if you continue to refine your skills - you may look back in a few years and see a difference in your work - but a handmade gift is usually valued because of the thought and time.
Thank you for posting this. Hopefully it will inspire other people to create original gifts. I'm out of town, but when I get home, I will try to remember to post a picture of a certificate that I once made for a gift. The lettering is nothing special - and it was done without much thought or planning - but it is still one of my favorite pieces because of the situation that inspired it and how well it went over.
