How To Create a Monogram Using Microsoft Word
This is Part 2 in a series of 3 about Decorating Ideas Using DIY Monograms. In my post yesterday, I showed you how I took a monogram that I made on my computer into a way to decorate objects around your house or to embellish a gift. Today I am going to show you how to create a monogram in Microsoft Word.
Photoshop Elements users: Click here to go to my post on how to Make a Monogram in Photoshop Elements.
Since posting about a Monogram Wreath tutorial earlier this year, one of the most frequently asked questions I receive is: “I don’t have Photoshop, can I make a monogram in a word processing program?” The answer is yes. I didn’t know how to do it in MS Word, but played around until I created a monogram.
How to Create a Monogram In Microsoft Word
I am familiar with Microsoft Word and Photoshop Elements software programs, but I am sure there are other programs that will work. To make the monograms, you need to be able to move the type layers or text boxes, make them transparent, and overlap them.
No matter what program you are using, you first have to download the font you want to use. I have posted where you can download them for free and how to install fonts on your computer.
You can find more links to fonts on this page: Free Fonts to Download
Fonts that work the best for making monograms have letters that are vertical – not slanted.
For this post I am using the font Monogram KK.
Working With Text Boxes
If you are new to working with text boxes in Word – making them is easy, moving and sizing them takes a little practice. Every text box has a frame around it with grab/size buttons. When you click inside the text box, the frame will appear with buttons at each corner. Clicking on the buttons is how you size and move the text boxes around on the page.
To move a text box: Hover your mouse over one of the buttons and wait for the 4-sided arrow symbol to appear; once it does – click and drag.
To resize a text box: Hover your mouse over one of the buttons and wait for the 2-sided arrow symbol to appear, once it does – click and drag to desired size.
Making a Monogram To Print Using Microsoft Word:
I use Microsoft Word 2007. The version you have may look a bit different, but the steps will be similar. If you have any questions about your version – Google it – “How to fill a text box in Microsoft Word 2012” or whatever it is you are trying to find out. The answers are out there.
I tried to be as detailed as possible and have included a lot of screen shots. Don’t be afraid. If you use Word – it will be easy.
Determine what color and size you want the font and entire monogram to be. The center letter is usually larger when using script fonts. For this tutorial – my center letter is 300 pts and the left and right letters are 200 pts.
1. Open – New – Blank document.
2. On the –View Tab– check Rulers and Gridlines
3. A ruler will pop up on the top and sides of your work area. Gridlines will appear. These will help you align the letters, bullets, or any flourishes you add. The gridlines will not show up when you print.
4. Click Tab – Insert, Then Text Box – Simple Text Box. If you don’t see the drop down text box choices appear, you may see a menu appear that says – Draw text box. Click on that. A plus sign will show up on your page. Click on the plus sign and drag it to create a text box.
5. Text boxes sometimes open up with text in them. Just click inside them to remove the text. When working in text boxes you will see a tab along the top row of tools. It says Text Box Tools. When navigating throughout creating the monogram, different tabs will show up when you are adding different elements. It can be confusing at first thinking it disappeared, but it has not – you are just working in the fonts or colors and the tabs at the top change.
6. Choose your font and size. (When working on font and size – you will find these selections under the Home Tab.) I like to do this first, but sometimes Word changes it on you. If that happens type the letter you want into the text box first, then choose the font and size. The size drop-down menu only goes to 72 pts. To create a custom size. Click and clear the number in the white font size box and add the size you need. Click –Enter.
7. If you change the size of your font and part of it gets hidden in the text box – click one of the corner buttons on the text box and drag to the size needed to reveal the entire letter again.
8. To create a bullet to place on either side of the monogram. 1. Make sure you are in Text Box Tools. Left click on the text box in which you want the bullet. A pop-up will appear. 2. Choose the bullet and line symbol at the end of the pop up bar. 3. A new pop up will appear – click on Bullet – then click –Enter. The bullet may not be the size you need. To change it- highlight the bullet by clicking on it, then go to the Home Tab – Font size bar to change it, then click – Enter.
9. Text boxes are filled with color when you create them. They need to be transparent so you can make the letters overlap.
10. To change the text boxes to transparent. Make sure the Text Tool Tab is open. Click on Format – Shape Fill. A drop-down will appear. Choose – No Fill.
Repeat the steps for all the text boxes.
The gridlines will show up behind the letter after you choose “No Fill”
11. Now you need to remove the outlines of the textboxes. Go to – Textbox Tools – Format – Shape Outline. A pop-up will appear – choose – No Outline. Repeat for all the text boxes.
When you click on the letter after you removed the outline of the text box around it, you will see a faded outline of the text box appear. This will allow you to still move them around. To move – click on the button and drag.
Note I still have one bullet with the outline around it. I have to remove it or it will show up when I print.
12. To align and overlap the letters – Highlight the letter to show the faded outline of the text box. Hover over the top button on the text box and click and drag to move it where you want. (When I first learned how to move text boxes – this was the hardest thing for me to master. You have to hover just right over the button to get the 4-sided arrow to show up. When it does – drag the box where needed.)
You can print it out now or if you want an outline around the letters – keep following this tutorial.
To Create a Circle Around the Letters
13. Click on the Insert tab – Shapes. A drop-down will appear. Click on the- Oval
14. My screen moved to Drawing Tools when I drew this circle. Move your cursor to the top right-hand corner of your page and then drag it to create a circle over the letters. To resize the circle – hover over any of the buttons that surround it and drag to the size needed. You can stretch the shape into a perfect circle by doing this.
15. You want to remove the white background – go to Format – Shape Fill. A drop-down will appear – choose – No Fill.
16. To change the thickness of the outline around the circle. Go to – Format – Shape Outline – Weight. A pop-up will appear – choose the size line you want – click – Enter.
Repeat the steps if you want a double line around your monogram.
Once you click on No Fill – you will have a double outline or border around the monogram.
You are done -Print it.
To Change the Font and Background Colors
1. In the Home Tab – click on the square with the “A” on it to change the color of the letters. Highlight each letter one at a time to change the color.
2. To change the outline color of the circle. Make sure you have the Text Tools Tab opened. Highlight the textbox the circle outline is in. Go to – Shape Outline – and click on the color you want – click on- Enter. There is an option for more line types. Click on it if you want to change the thickness of the outline while changing the color.
Color changed.
You are done; just send the file to your printer to print.
To change the background color. First make sure the color of the letters will show up against the background color you choose. I changed mine to white.
Don’t forget to change the outline color as well.
You have to create a new circle to fill with color. Go to Drawing Tools – Format – Choose Shape – Oval. Move cursor to page. Click and drag to create the circle.
Fill the circle with color. Choose – Shape Fill – choose a color – Enter.
To get the letters to show up again. In Drawing Tools. Click on the circle text box on your page. Go to – Send To Back. Click on it – Enter. The circle will move behind the letters.
To add a border around a filled circle – add another circle outline on top of the letters with “No Fill”. Choose – Shape – Oval . Click and drag over the page to create it. Change the line color to white.
A monogram with a color filled background.
Print it.
Tips:
- I print out the monograms on everyday computer paper and use an ink jet printer. I select Best or Presentation mode in my printer preferences.
- Practice moving the text boxes to get the hang of moving and resizing them. Once you understand how to do it, the rest it easy.
- Another way to make a bullet symbol: Using a symbol font such as Wingdings. Pressing L will give you a bullet, though it might be a larger size than your other text. Simply select the bullet, and adjust the size as needed.
- Every printer is different, but you may have the option to Custom size before printing. Experiment to find out.
Click on the links below to see all the ways you can use the monograms you make:
How to Paint a Monogram on Furniture
Monogrammed Gifts and small stool decal
How to Paint a Monogram on a Plaque
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