How to Make Printable Cards for Special Occasions

Use Microsoft Works or Print Workshop to make printable Christmas cards.

Making printable cards for special occasions is economically affordable and allows you to explore your crafty side. Microsoft Works comes with a variety of card templates, which are especially handy when making a quarter-fold card for your friend's upcoming birthday party. If you enjoy drawing or taking your own pictures, use Print Workshop to design a half-fold card for Christmas. Family and friends will appreciate the effort and time you invest in making personalized cards with your own computer.

Things You'll Need

• Card stock

Instructions

Make a Quarter-Fold Birthday Card

1. Open the Microsoft Task Launcher by double-clicking on the icon located on your desktop. Click on "Templates" on the Cards & Crafts tab on the left side of the page.

2. Click on "Cards: Birthdays" to bring up the birthday card templates. Select the birthday card template you would like use, which will open up a new Microsoft Works word processing document with the image for your card in the bottom-right corner of the page.

3. Scroll to the top-left corner of the page and write a message, such as "Happy Birthday, Jimmy." Make the font bold so the message is readable when the recipient opens the card.

4. Click "File," "Print Preview" to see what the final card will look like before printing. Click on "File" and select "Print" if you are happy with the appearance of the card.

5. Fold the card stock printout in half and then into a quarter to make the quarter-fold card. Make sure the image is on the front of your card when you are finished folding.

6. Open the card to see the message typed on the inside. Under the message, write the inscription "From (Your Name)" to give the card more of a personalized touch.

Make a Half-Fold Christmas Card

1. Open the Print Workshop program. Go to "File" and click on "New Project Wizard."

2. Select the Vertical Half-Fold Card template and click "Next." Select "Finish" to open the template.

3. Click on the photo icon and click "From Disc" to find Christmas-themed pictures you have saved on your computer.

4. Click "Open" to place the image on the card and drag it to the desired location.

5. Click the text icon and select "Text Box" to compose a message for the front of your card. Click "OK" after you have typed your message in the box. Click and drag the text to the desired location on the front of the card.

6. Click "File" and select "Print Preview" to see what the final card will look like before printing. Click on "File" and select "Print" if you are happy with the appearance of the card.

7. Print out the card and fold the card stock in half. Open the card and write a personalized Christmas message, such as "Merry Christmas from the Hugh Family."

Tips & Warnings

• If you enjoy photography, you may want to consider using a few of your own for designing a Christmas card.

• If photography is not your thing, you can draw and scan your own pictures for the half-fold card.

• Never use copyrighted images when making your own printable cards.

References

• Microsoft: Microsoft Works 9
• Microsoft: Microsoft Works Templates
• CNET: Print Workshop--Holiday Greeting Cards