How to Create Professional Business Cards in Microsoft Word

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By mweise
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Create your own business cards and avoid costly printing fees

Most desk top printers today are capable of great things, including make business cards. You, too, can free yourself from the printing company's costs and deadlines by making your own business cards using Microsoft Word. Avery and other companies make printable business cards and with a template from the Microsoft web site, you can have new business cards in less then an hour.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Printer capable of printing business cards (most newer desktop printers have this capability)
Avery or similar business cards suitable for your printer
Microsoft Word (Microsoft Word 2000 was used to create the cards described in this article)
Internet access to the Microsoft web site

Step 1

Make sure the template you choose will work on the cards you will use for printing

Open Microsoft Word. In the top left hand corner of the menu bar, click on File, and then choose New. The New dialog box will pop up and you can pick your business card template. This type of template is typically found on the General tab, but may be on another tab, depending on your set up. If you do not have a template, you can install one from the Microsoft web site, or from the website of the maker of the business cards you will use in your printer. Click on template to highlight it and click on OK.
Step 2

I find that using the card in the top left corner is the easiest way to make changes

A page of business cards with graphics and pre-formated text will open in Word. Choose one card to make your changes. Make your changes on card only for now. A later step will show you how to change the rest.
Step 3

Don't rush out to buy clip art without seeing what the Clip Art Gallery already has in it

First, change the graphic on the template for one of your choice. Right click on the graphic. You can choose one from the Microsoft Clip Art Gallery, which comes with Word, or you can use your own picture from a file. To use Microsoft clip art, choose that option after right clicking on the graphic.
Step 4

If you can't find what you like in the Clip Art Gallery, check the web

The Insert Clip Art box will appear. Right click on the clip you like and choose Insert. Close the Insert Clip Art box by clicking on the red highlighted X in the upper right corner of the box. Your clip art should now show in place of the template's original graphic. Use the guide bars around the clip art to size it to your preference.
Step 5

You can further personalize your cards by choose a different font

Next change the text. Highlight the line of the card that you want to change and type in your new text. Font type, size, and color can all be changed on the Formatting tool bar. If you cannot see the Formatting tool bar, click on View, then choose Toolbars, then Formatting.
Step 6

Highlight by dragging your mouse over the entire card

Once you have made all the changes to the graphic and text, highlight the entire card and choose Copy.
Step 7

Copy and paste are two of the most useful abilities of word processsors

Highlight the next card over and choose paste. Repeat for the remaining cards. When all the cards are changed, click on File, then Save, and save the cards with the name of your choice.
Step 8

Print them and pass them out - it really is that easy!

Now you are ready to print! Insert your business cards and print according the directions included with your cards. You are now the proud owner AND creator of your own business cards! Make sure to pass them out to everyone you know!