1. Creating a Newsletter in Microsoft Word
Freeform
Without Using a Template
Created by Bill Ernst

2. Getting Started
Select Microsoft Word. It will be located on the dock and is represented by a blue “W” icon.
A “Project Gallery” box will appear and “Word Document” will be highlighted (in blue). Select “Open” to bring up a blank document on your desktop.

3. Microsoft Word Toolbars
The key to control is using the toolbars, which are located at the top and bottom of the document. If no toolbars are present, select “View”, then “Toolbars”, then check “Standard”, “Formatting”, and “Drawing”. These three toolbars will appear at the top and side of the desktop. Additional toolbars (specialized in nature) are also available.

4. Microsoft Word Toolbars
The “Standard” toolbar lets you
Create a new blank document
Open a previous document and save your current document
Print, copy, cut, paste, undo and redo an action
Create tables, borders, and columns
Increase and decrease your document size
Pull down a floating Formatting Palette
Get help from the Toolbox or MS Word Help

5. Microsoft Word Toolbars
The “Formatting” toolbar lets you
Choose a font and style
Choose a font size
Make words (or letters) bold, italic, or underlined
Align the document (left, centered, right)
Make a bulleted or numbered list
Control indentation and adding borders
Highlight (with color) words and change text from black

6. Microsoft Word Toolbars
The floating “Formatting” toolbar lets you do everything the fixed Formatting toolbar does and
Lets you move the Formatting Palette to any convenient location
Add objects such as symbols, lines, graphics, WordArt, and AutoShapes
Control the margins of the document with numeric control (in inches)

7. Microsoft Word Toolbars
The “Drawing” toolbar (by default) is a vertical panel that
lets you draw and create shapes with straight and curved lines
add objects such as WordArt, ClipArt, AutoShapes,and pictures
create and place geometric shapes on your document
add text using a text box
control the color and thickness of your lines
Rotate any object you’ve place on your document
Fill in areas with color

8. Creating a Newsletter
Here is a sample newsletter. This step-by-step tutorial will guide you through the steps required to create this document. This document relies heavily on the creation of “Text Box” information areas. Also included is WordArt, ClipArt, and a photograph.

9. Creating a Newsletter Centering tool Open a new blank document.
Type the desired date (size 14 bold) and place it in the top right corner by highlighting the text and selecting the right-hand justify icon.
Now type in your newsletter title. (Use font size 24 and make it bold.) Center this title by using the centering tool.
Create a Text Box by selecting “Insert”, then “Text Box” from the Standard Toolbar. Expand the box to your desired size and move it to your desired location.
Centering tool
Bold Tool
Right-hand justify

10. Creating a Newsletter
The Text Box feature allows a user to create any size box. This newsletter is divided into two columns. The text boxes can be moved anywhere and can be resized. The right text box is wider and is given a border. The three text boxes on the left are customized to fit the amount of information displayed.
Text inserted into the box will automatically wrap around to give a neat appearance. Size 14 works well; use size 12 if you have a lot of information to convey. Use the bold tool for titles.
Font Size Change Tool
Right Hand Justify

11. Creating a Newsletter
Adding WordArt, in this case “Happy New Year”, is added from the WordArt folder. Select “Insert”, then “Picture”, then “WordArt”. You will get a large selection of styles from which to choose. Make your choice and select “OK”. Then type your text and select “OK”. You can resize your WordArt if you think it is too big or small. Your WordArt will appear on top of your document and can be moved to any position.
Change WordArt size here
Note: WordArt can also be added from the “Drawing” toolbar

12. Creating a Newsletter
ClipArt is added from the ClipArt folder. Select “Insert”, then “Picture”, then “ClipArt”. You will get a category list from which to choose. Highlight the category and image you want to use and select Insert. The image can be resized and moved anywhere on your document. You can even put ClipArt inside a text box.

13. Creating a Newsletter
Adding photographs can be problematic because megapixel cameras generate huge images. You may find the newsletter can’t print correctly unless you shrink the size of the photo. Here is one way to make an image smaller.
Download your image to iPhoto from your digital camera.
Put the photo on your desktop by dragging it from iPhoto.
Note the photo’s name and location on your desktop. We will use Preview to reduce the photo’s size.
Preview

14. Creating a Newsletter Using Preview, “Open” the image.
5. Find the image on your desktop (it will have letter/number name unless you renamed it) and open it.
Select the image and Open

15. Creating a Newsletter
6. The photo will appear on the Preview clipboard. Choose “Tools” and “Adjust Size”. The Image Dimensions box will appear.
7. Choose “Other”, then select “640 x 480”. This will downsize the photo to a manageable size.

16. Creating a Newsletter
You will now see a much smaller image on the Preview clipboard. Select “File”, then “Save As”, and rename the image with a memorable name. Select “OK” and the image will appear on your desktop. You can now drag the image onto your newsletter. Resize it to fit your needs.
Another way to downsize your photo is to highlight it from the iPhoto contact sheet. Then select from the bottom right of the window.

17. Creating a Newsletter A “Mail Photo” box will appear.
Change the size to “Small”. Then select “Compose”. It will take about 15 seconds for the downsized photo to appear in a new window. Drag this smaller photo onto your document. You can now resize and move the photo to your desired location.

18. Creating a Newsletter Anne Wien School
Each of the elements presented (text box size and shape, fonts, ClipArt, WordArt, photographs) can be changed from week-to-week. Common and recurring topics (such as weekly work or the date and title) can be in a fixed position and size through-out the school year.
Anne Wien School

19. Creating a Newsletter
Remember to use the “Help” tool (located on the right-hand side of the topmost Word tool bar) when you have questions.