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Using A Computer to Create A Card or Banner |  |
| Project Details |
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Do you find yourself wandering aimlessly around the card store looking for just the right card? One that has a cool picture and says just the right thing? If so, you probably have been frustrated because you might like the picture from one card and the saying from another. How about the last time you planned a party for one of your friends. Did you find the banner that you were looking for? Or did you settle for one that was 'OK'? Wouldn't it be great if you could create your own cards and banners? Well, thanks to technology, you can do just that. |
| Materials Needed |
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For this activity you will need access to a computer that has a greeting card and banner program (such as Print Shop or Hallmark's Microsoft Greeting Workshop Deluxe) installed on it, a color printer, and any special paper that you might need for the card or banner you wish to create. |
| Do It |
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Using the computer program you have access to, create a greeting card or banner for a friend, family member, and/or special event. It's up to you to decide how simple or elaborate you would like to make this project. Try to make use of as many of the features of the program as possible. Before you print your creation, try to create a second version of the same card or banner changing the message and graphics used. Compare the two and decide which you like best. Print your creation. Remember as you work to keep the person you are creating the card or banner for in mind. For instance, your grandmother may not want a card with a picture of a skate boarder on it, and your best friend may not want a banner with roses on it to celebrate his birthday! |
| Review It |
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Write down a short list of the decisions that you needed to make as you went through the process of creating your project. Which decision was easiest to make? Which decision was the most difficult to make? If your card or banner was for an actual person, consider how they reacted when they saw your project. Did they seem happy? What did they like best? Did you receive any comments? Did you enjoy creating this card or banner? Why? Is this something that you enjoy more or less than other activities you have done with your computer? What would you do differently next time? |
| Pursue It |
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Create another card or banner. Try to include elements in this project that you did not include in your first. Try using different quality and weights of paper, or, if possible, a different printer to create the same card. Do either of these factors make a difference? Visit a store that sells cards. Visit with the manager about what types of cards they sell there and which cards are their best sellers. Look at old greeting cards you have received. Which are your favorites? Why are they your favorites? Are there ideas that you can borrow from these cards to make your cards better? Visit an on-line electronic card site on the World Wide Web. Check out some of the designs and ideas that they are using (consider Blue Mountain On-line Cards - http://bluemountain.com/index.html, or American Greetings - http://www.americangreetings.com/greetingcard/index.pd ). |
| Data Bank |
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Most print programs are pretty user friendly and easy to learn. Before you begin, however, you will want to review the user guide that came with the program. This will help you to be more familiar with all that this program can do before you begin. You may not be able to say everything you want to say in the card or banner you are creating. Remember that you have pretty limited space to work with. Too many words can make your creation hard to read and not as interesting. Designers make use of something called "white space" when they are creating. White space is the space that is not taken up by words or graphics. Including more white space in your card or banner may actually attract more attention to your thoughts than if you overloaded it with words or pictures. Many programs also allow you to change fonts as often as you would like. Although it may be tempting to "go crazy" with this new power, remember not to get carried away. Too many changes in font styles or sizes make things hard to read. Usually a maximum of two font changes per project is a good guideline. Some programs will let you use "scanned-in" images for your cards and banners. Consider using a picture of the person that you are honoring, if appropriate. Or you may want to use different clip art or images that are not included with the original program. Learn how to import these pictures into your creations. Other on-line sites that might be of interest to you include:
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Activity: Produce a greeting card or banner Skill level: Intermediate Project skill: Use graphics software Life skill: Making decisions |
Date completed: Helper's initials: |
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Adapted from material developed by Illinois 4-H. Used by permission. For
IFAS-related questions or information, please contact IFAS External Relations.
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