Make Personalized Cards and Invitations Without Card-Making Software
You don't need a costly card-making program (or one of those cheap card-making program that just doesn't really work right) in order to make your own, personalized greeting cards and party invitations. All you need is a word-processing program (like Microsoft Word®), a printer, and printer paper.
This article provides links to free templates for a card (or invitation), mailing labels, and return address labels you'll need to create a card with a matching envelope. The links are at the bottom of this article.
For an example of the type of card this article will help you make, along with its matching envelope, please go to:
http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/babyshowercardsample.htm
The sample shows a free baby shower invitation that uses free printable clipart provided by Mom's Break (http://www.momsbreak.com).
Making the Card or Invitation
1. Download the card template, see link below.
2. You'll see on the template that each "side" of the card is identified. Once you complete the card, you will fold it accordion-style (as shown in the example baby shower invitation).
3. When you first open the template, you'll note that the cursor (usually a short, blinking line) is positioned at the very top of the "Outside" of the card.
4. Before you being to make the card, be sure to do "Save As" and save this version of the card template for the card that you are making. For example, if you are making a birthday party invitation, then save as Birthday-Party-Jacob (or whatever you want, so that you'll be able to find it again). This will allow you to keep the blank template so that you can reuse it.
Insert a Picture or Clipart on the Outside of the Card
1. Position the cursor directly in front of the word "Outside" and while holding down the mouse button, drag the mouse so that "Outside Front of Card" is highlighted.
2. Hit the Delete key to erase this text. You might notice that when you do this, the text from the middle and back of the card "move up" on the card. Don't worry about this. Once you insert a picture or other text on the front of the card, the rest of the card will re-align.
3. Insert whatever graphic (picture) or piece of clipart that you want to have on the outside of the card. If you need help with inserting a picture or clipart (into a Word document) or with anything else then you can get a free tutorial, with illustrated instructions, by visiting Jan's Reading Room, and clicking on the “Tutorials” category.
4. Add whatever text you might want under the graphic.
Insert Text or Another Picture in the Middle of the Card
1. Delete the text in the middle of the card using the same instructions as above.
2. Insert another picture or clipart, or type in whatever text you want to appear in the middle of the card.
Insert Text or Another Picture in the Back of the Card
1. Delete the text.
2. Add your own text, verse, or party invitation details (usually date, time, place, RSVP, and other party information). And of course, you can also insert another picture or clipart.
Creating this style of accordion-style greeting card or party invitation is easy and it can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. Don't be afraid to experiment! You can always go back to the blank card template if you really mess it up!
Make the Matching Envelope
As you see in the example, this accordion style card uses a standard #10 envelope (a business envelope). You can use plain white envelopes or you can purchase decorative envelopes at stores like Office Depot or Staples. Other stores, like Hallmark or Michaels often have seasonal stationery, too.
Make the Mailing Labels
1. Using the template for the big labels (size 2"x4" shipping labels, Avery template 8163), open the template (the link to the template is shown below). You'll see that the first row of the mailing labels has text boxes in the two label sections.
2. The cursor is in the left-hand label section. Insert whatever picture or clipart you want to use for the mailing label. If you need some help, be sure to visit the tutorials that are available in Jan's Reading Room. Follow the link to the tutorial that provides easy-to-follow instructions, along with illustrations, for making gift tags. The process for inserting a picture into a mailing label is exactly the same.
3. You may need to re-size the picture to fit the space. The instructions provided in the tutorial mentioned in Step #2 will help you with that.
4. Insert this same graphic into the right-hand label section.
5. Now, block copy that first row, and then paste that row into the next four rows. The process is the same as what is explained in the tutorial mentioned in Step #2. If you are going to need more than 10 mailing labels, be sure to save this before you start to add names and addresses. Save as Birthday-Party-Mailing (or whatever you want so that you'll be able to find it again).
6. Now, you can go back to the top row, left side, and begin to type in names and addresses---just type over Name, Address, City, STATE, Zip. Fill out all the labels, and then print. If you need more than 10, then after you print the first page of labels, you can go back and type over the names and addresses you've already filled in. Or you can save that page, and then re-open the blank mailing label template and make another page.
Make the Return Address Labels
1. Use the same process as given for the mailing labels to make your return address labels.
2. These are 1"x2-5/8" address labels, Avery template #8160 (or #8460). There are 30 labels on one sheet (the link is shown below for the template).
3. Make as many labels as you need, using the instructions given above. You only need to fill in the top row, adding your name/address to the text boxes, and then copy that whole row and paste 9 more times to complete the whole page. (You don't need to type your name and address 30 times! Just do it for the top row, and then copy that first row and paste it into the next 9 rows.)
Now you have created a card or invitation, and made matching envelopes! Once you learn the process of inserting pictures or clipart into Word documents (or even other card-making software programs), you can really get creative!
Here are the templates you'll need:
http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/card_template.doc
http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/littlelabels.doc
http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/biglabels.doc
Jan K., The Proofer is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. Visit Jan’s Portal (http://www.jansportal.com) for more information about Jan's free crafts, recipes, tutorials, other resource sites, and free content articles, as well as Jan’s business services. Be sure to visit Mom's Break (http://www.momsbreak.com/) for free printable crafts and projects. © Copyright 2005 to present. All rights reserved.