How to Make Labels for School

Help your child keep track of folders, books, lunch supplies and other school materials by creating personalized labels on your home computer. You don’t need to spend money on custom-printed labels from on-line retailers or stationers; you can make your own in just a few minutes using Microsoft Word, part of your Microsoft Office Suite installation. A variety of options are available to tailor labels to the preferences of both your child and school.

Open Microsoft Word and click “Tools” in the toolbar at the top of the screen. Select “Letters and Mailings,” then “Envelopes and Labels.”

Click the “Labels” tab, then click the image of the label in the bottom right corner of the window. A scroll menu of various label sizes appears; choose the label size, such as address, then click “OK.” Click “New Document,” which brings up the workspace, divided into the number of labels per page.

Click on the top left label and type your child’s name, address, phone number, email or any other required information. Highlight the words, then choose a font, size and color from the text toolbar at the top of the page. For child-style handwriting, try Bradley Hand, Kirsten or Papyrus.

(Optional.) Click your cursor to the left of the text you just typed, then click the “Image” menu at the top of the screen. Select “Picture,” then choose “From File.” Browse to where you have an image such as the school logo or your child’s photo. Double-click the image, and it appears on your label. Click once on the image and grab one of the sizing boxes to adjust to your preferred size.

(Optional.) Click your cursor to the left of the text you just typed, then click the “Image” menu at the top of the screen. Select “Picture,” then “Clip Art.” Pull down the “Search in” menu and make sure all boxes are checked. Pull down the “Results should be” menu and check just the “Clip Art” box. Type a word or phrase into the “Search for” box, such as cheerleading, basketball, school or cat. Click “Go.” Scroll to a picture you want on the label, then double-click. It appears on the label. Click it to resize as preferred.

Use your mouse to block and copy the entire label; drag your cursor over all the text you typed, plus the image, so they are highlighted. Simultaneously press the “Ctrl” and “C” keys--the shortcut command to copy. Click into the next label in the row and simultaneously press “Ctrl” and “V”--the shortcut command to paste. Repeat to fill all the labels on the page.