Introduction
Are you short on time and need to create an ecard quickly? This video demonstrates how to use existing illustrations to create a well-designed ecard in less than 5 minutes. Let's get started.
Create a PowerPoint file
Open a Blank Presentation in PowerPoint
Change the default slide layout to a blank slide
Save the presentation using a descriptive name
I will use holiday-ecard
Add stock illustrations
From the Insert tab, choose Pictures and Stock Images...
A quick tip for Mac OS, drag the image panel to the slide to create a floating panel
Choose the Illustrations tab
Search by the word holiday
Select the illustrations you want
I am going to choose the hanging ornaments
Click the Insert button
You can also add illustrations from other image sites like Pixabay, RawPixel, or Freepix.
Just make sure they are .svg or scalable vector graphics
Move the ornaments to one side of the slide
Keep the strings at top edge of the slide
If you want to change the orientation
Select Rotate in the Graphics Format tab
Then choose Flip Horizontally
Change object colors
To change the predominate yellow
Select the illustration and in the Graphics Format tab, click the Fill drop down
Choose from the existing palette or select more color to select a different color
To change other colors,
First ungroup the illustration
With the object selected, click the Convert to Shape button in the Format Graphics tab
Then click the Selection Pane button in the Shape Format tab
Click an object name in the pane to identify what object it is
If it helps to keep track, double click the object name and type in a more descriptive name.
Press Return or Enter to save the new name
For quick identification of each object group, click the eye to hide it
Use the drop-down arrow to collapse the group of objects you don't want to edit
In the Selection Pane, select all of the objects you want to recolor
Highlight the first object
Press your Shift key
and then select the last object
Choose a color from the Shape Fill drop down color palette
Change the background color
Next change the background color if you want
Right click over the background...
Choose Format Background from the popup menu
In the Format Pane, choose a new color
Add the holiday greeting
Now Add your holiday greeting
Click the insert Text Box option
Click the slide
Type or paste the greeting
I like to keep the words separate so I can arrange them more easily
Select the text box or boxes
Change the font style and size
Rearrange the text boxes if needed.
Save Card as Image File
Lastly, save your card as an image file
In the File menu, choose Export
Choose either jpg or png from the File Format option
If needed, change the file dimensions
Click the Export button
The image is now ready to be posted to social media, sent via email, or embedded on a web page.
In the comments below, share what strategies you've used to create ecards.
List of Festive Google Fonts
Plaster - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Plaster
Pinyon Script - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Pinyon+Script
Bebas Neue - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Bebas+Neue
Fredoka One - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Fredoka+One
Codystar - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Codystar
Berkshire Swash - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Berkshire+Swash
Julius Sans One - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Julius+Sans+One
Pacifico - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Pacifico
Meddon - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Meddon
Asset - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Asset
Festive - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Festive
Mountains of Christmas - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Mountains+of+Christmas
