Sending e-cards is a fun, easy way to connect with friends and family for special occasions. With PowerPoint 2010, you can create custom animated e-cards from scratch to make your greetings even more personal. This article will walk you through the steps to make your own groovy e-card using PowerPoint.
Choose an E-Card Template
Start by downloading an e-card template for PowerPoint 2010. You can find free templates online or use a blank presentation as your template. The template will provide the base slide layouts and design elements like shapes, text boxes, and placeholders for photos.
Some things to look for in an e-card template:
- Animated slide transitions
- Text placeholders for greetings and messages
- Photo boxes to insert images
- Design elements like borders, shapes, and illustrations
Add Photos and Text
Personalize your e-card by adding photos and custom text. Insert photos of you, the recipient, special memories together, or related images to the photo boxes.
Write greetings like “Happy Birthday!” or “Thinking of You”. Add a heartfelt message for the recipient in one of the text boxes.
Use classic groovy fonts like psychedelic, retro, or bubble fonts to make the text stand out. Add some fun flair with WordArt styles like gradient, outline, or shadow.
Insert Animations
Animations bring your e-card to life! Go to the Animations tab in PowerPoint to browse animation effects like fades, wipes, spins, and more.
Select a text or object placeholder, then click an animation effect you like. For example, add a “Fly In” to make images zoom onto the slide. Use a “Spin” to make shapes twirl.
You can add multiple animations to one object. Experiment with combinations like fade in + float up for a cool, layered effect.
Set Animation Timing
Get full control over your animations in the Animation Pane. Click each animation to open Effect Options and set:
- Start: Choose “With Previous” to have animations automatically sequence. “On Click” plays when you click the slide.
- Duration: Quicker speeds up the animation, longer slows it down.
- Delay: Adds delay time before an effect starts.
The pane lets you preview and reorder animations too. Move effects earlier or later in the sequence.
Add Background Music
Background music amplifies the fun, festive vibe of your e-card! Insert an audio file like an upbeat instrumental song.
Adjust the audio volume in Effect Options so music doesn’t overpower animations and text. Enable “Loop until stopped” so the song repeats as the recipient views the full e-card.
Preview and Share Your E-Card
You’re ready to preview your creation! Click the “From Beginning” button to play the full animated e-card with all effects and audio.
When you’re happy with it, save your PowerPoint file. Attach the PPTX in an email to friends and family to share your one-of-a-kind e-card masterpiece!
Customize E-Cards for Any Occasion
The fun doesn’t stop there! You can fully customize e-cards for any special event or holiday.
Birthdays
Insert silly photos of you and the birthday boy/girl. Go crazy with fun fonts and colors. Add animations like confetti explosions. Top it off with an upbeat “Happy Birthday” song.
Weddings
Make a sweet e-card for a newly married couple. Use pretty fonts and animations with hearts or flowers. Share romantic photos from the wedding day and include an audio of their first dance song.
Holidays
Get festive with holiday images, colors, and songs. Animate holiday shapes like ornaments, snowflakes or fireworks. Add photos of your past celebrations together for a personal touch.
Conclusion
Let your creativity run wild to make dazzling, personalized e-cards in PowerPoint 2010. With photos, text, animations, music and more, you have endless options for creating groovy greetings.
Now you have the PowerPoint skills to impress anyone with custom e-cards for their birthday, wedding, holiday or any special day!
