How to Make Certificates for Children

Printing certificates for children on special paper makes them more impressive.

When your child accomplishes a specific goal, what better way to show your pride than by presenting her with a special certificate to display? Certificates are perfect for showing off to friends and family and displaying as a reminder of their accomplishments. Using your computer printer and specialty paper or a graphics program, you can make certificates for children that will inspire them to accomplish goals with a true sense of pride.

Things You'll Need

• Computer graphics program Printer and ink Specialty paper White paper Picture or certificate frame

Instructions

1. Purchase pre-printed certificate paper from an office supply or stationary store. You can also use patterned paper or paper with pictures printed on it that pertain to the purpose of the children's certificate you intend to make. Plain paper is another option. The paper should be standard 8.5-inch by 11-inch size or any other size you prefer that fits in your computer printer.

2. Open your computer graphics software program such as Photoshop or Paintshop Pro and start a new file. Make the dimensions of the project the same size as the paper you choose to use for the certificate. Take a moment to write down on a piece of paper the general words, phrases and design you are planning to use. For example, will you have your child's name and her accomplishment at the top, or will you use a heading such as "Excellent?"

3. Choose the text tool in your graphics program and position the cursor where you want the headline of the child's certificate to be. Choose a fancy font and a large font size and type in the heading. This should be centered near the top edge of the graphic file. Make the font smaller for the declaration of accomplishment, such as "This certifies that [Name of Child] has completed learning her math facts." You may include a blank line for a signature or print in the date and your name at the bottom.

4. Decorate the spaces around the words with graphics that pertain to the purpose of the certificate you make for your child. For example, if it is for memorizing math facts, put numbers and plus and equals signs. If it is for a sports accomplishment, put balls or other sports equipment. If you are printing the certificate on patterned paper, take into account the positioning of the pictures and graphics on the paper you plan to use.

5. Select a border or picture frame design from your graphics program's menu options. Unless you are using pre-printed certificate paper, choose a frame design that has the look of a real certificate. Scrolls and scallops, or official-looking multi-level rectangle borders are good choices. In many graphics programs, you can find borders that are made from small images that may match the theme of the certificate--miniature balls and bats for a sport's award, for example.

6. Print the completed certificate that you made for your child using colored ink. Be sure to position the printed paper you use the correct way up in your printer before creating the finished project. Take the purchased picture or certificate frame apart and put the printed paper into it. Present this framed certificate to your child as a symbol of his accomplishment and your pride in him.