Tent cards, created by folding a piece of card stock in half, can be a useful way to display table numbers or seating assignments at group events. You can also use them to define gift basket contents at an auction, label food at a buffet, or provide quick computer set up instructions in computer labs. From small name signs to full-page table signs, you can design and make tent cards from scratch.
Design Your Card
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Step 1
Adapt these instructions, if you are creating tent cards of another size; But, for this tutorial, we will create a full-page tent card in Microsoft Word 2013.
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Step 2
Find free clipart, vectors and other graphics online at sites such as All-Free-Download, Public Domain Photos and BigStock Photo (links in Resources).
Step 3
Layout the graphics and text on your card. Use paper and pen to sketch out some ideas or create a few options on your computer.
Build Your Tent Cards
Step 1
Open a blank document in Microsoft Word 2013.
Step 2
Set the orientation to Portrait on the Page Layout tab and your margins to 0.5-inches all the way around your page.
Step 3
Insert two text boxes by clicking the "Text box" button on the Insert tab and choose a text box option. Position and format the text boxes, removing any borders, if necessary. Set their heights to 3.75 inches -- that's 8.5 inches for the total height of the page, minus the two half-inch margins at the top and bottom of the page, divided by two boxes. Other size tent cards will require different sized text boxes, so that there are sets of two cells that each represent one side of the fold.
Step 4
Enter the text for the front of your tent card in the bottom text box. Place images, as desired near, around or in the text box. If necessary, drag the edges of the text box to fit within graphic frames. If the graphic is placed inside the text box, experiment with wrapping the text.
Step 5
Type the text for the back of the card in the top text box. Click the text box to select it and a rotation icon should appear above it. Then drag the rotation icon above the text box to turn the text upside down, or you can access the Drawing Tools Format tab and select "Flip Vertical" from the "Rotate" button drop-down. If your text box flipped, but your text didn't, you'll need to adjust the text box settings. Right-click the text box and choose "Format Shape." Click the "Layout & Properties" button and deselect "Do not rotate text."
Step 6
Insert the graphics for the back of the card near, around or in the top text box. Reverse the graphics directions, as well, by clicking an image to select it. On the Format tab in the Arrange group, click the "Rotate" button and select "Flip Vertical."
Step 7
Save and print your tent card, as desired.