I don't think asking for someone to take a photo with something that you spent hours and hours on is too much. I'm with a lot of the others our society is slowly becoming a manner less society. Whenever anyone sends me a gift I always take time to send them a thank you card, its the way I was raised. If it's something I know is home made no matter how simple it is I take a picture of it in my house and send it with a note.
But sometimes we just need to take a deep breathe and vent in frustration and let it go.