Make custom stationery

Using a logo you have created or an image you like, it is possible to fashion personalized letterhead and all kinds of other stationery.

Materials
Scanner
Computer
Colour inkjet printer
Scanning software
Layout software or Microsoft Word
Logo or artwork
Paper
Envelopes
Cardstock
Business card paper
3-ring binder with cover inserts

Binder cover

A fun project for both kids and adults is to put together a page of images for a binder cover using your logo and/or other art. First, prepare the art by scanning, lasso-ing or cropping the images you want and enhancing, colouring, and sizing each one. Open your page-layout software and set up an 8-1/2 X 11" page with margins as small as you can make them. Now you can cut and paste or insert your images and start playing around with layout until you are satisfied.

Now try several different background colour options, too. When you are happy with the layout, print it. Try different papers for different results. HP's heavy glossy brochure paper made a lovely binder cover. You could also use this technique to make wrapping paper or book jackets.

If you want to do the spine insert for your binder, it is useful to use a template. Avery has free templates to use with Microsoft Word. Go to www.avery.com, click on SOFTWARE, then BLANK TEMPLATE LIBRARY, then BINDER SPINE INSERTS, and then click on the width of insert your binder takes. Download the template, type into it and insert art if you want, then print. You can buy their spine paper or just print on your paper and cut out your spine.

Business cards, book plates, all available by template.

To help you make custom business cards, HP offers a handy "wizard." You can also create your own cards using Microsoft Word. Visit www.avery.com, click on SOFTWARE, then BLANK TEMPLATE LIBRARY, and you will find blank templates for Microsoft Word documents of all kinds. These templates are the key to making labels, cards, dividers, and all sorts of other handy organizing tools. Just type in the text you want and use INSERT PICTURE FROM FILE to add a logo. For business cards, print up on business card blanks or cardstock. For bookplates, use the business card or postcard template and full page sticky-backed paper. Print and cut.