How to Make Bulletin Board Letters in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Welcome back, teacher friend! As the back-to-school season rolls in, you’re probably knee-deep in classroom setup, label-making, and figuring out how to turn cinderblock walls into Pinterest-worthy magic. One of the easiest ways to make your classroom pop? 🎉 Custom bulletin board letters!

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to create bold, eye-catching bulletin board letters using Microsoft PowerPoint. Yup, you read that right. No fancy design software required! Whether you want solid, colorful letters or black outlines to print on Astrobrights paper, this tutorial has got you covered.

✏️ Why Make Your Own Bulletin Board Letters?

I know what you’re thinking: Crystal, you can just buy bulletin board letters. And yes, you are right about that. And I used to, but somehow I was always a letter or two short. The fonts never matched the rest of my bulletin board decor. Making your own bulletin board letters allows you to:

• Customize your bulletin board fonts and colors
• Match your classroom theme
• Save money by printing at home
• Print exactly what you need, no more, no less

Let’s dive into the simple steps!

🖥 Step 1: Open PowerPoint and Adjust the Slide Size

1. Open a new blank presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint.
2. Click on the Design tab in the top toolbar.
3. Select Slide Size > Custom Slide Size.
4. Change the dimensions to 8.5 x 11 inches (standard printer paper).
5. Click OK and select “Ensure Fit” when prompted.

This step ensures that each letter prints perfectly on a single sheet of paper.

🔠 Step 2: Add a Text Box and Choose Your Font

1. Go to Insert > Text Box and click anywhere on the slide.
2. Type one letter per slide (you’ll create a new slide for each letter).
3. Choose a bold, easy-to-read font. I like fonts like KG Red Hands, Janda Manatee, or Luckiest Guy.

📝 PRO TIP: Avoid thin or script fonts. Most of your students can’t read those fancy fonts, anyway! Bold is better for bulletin boards and visibility from across the classroom.

📏 Step 3: Resize the Letter to Fill the Page

• Select the letter size and make it big… like, really big! Try size 650 to start.
• Center the letter on the slide to ensure proper printing.

You want the letter to fill most of the slide, leaving just a little margin space around the edges for cutting.

🎨 Step 4: Choose Solid or Outlined Letters

✨ Option A: Full-Color Letters

• Highlight the letter and use the Shape Fill option under Format to choose your color.
• You can also add gradients, patterns, or even insert pictures inside the text using “Text Fill > Picture.”

⚠️ CAUTION ⚠️ Keep in mind that printing full-color letters will use a lot of ink!

🖍 Option B: Ink-Saving Outlined Letters

Want to save your ink? Try this:

1. Click on the letter and go to Shape Format > Text Outline.
2. Set the outline color to black.
3. Increase the weight/thickness of the outline to 8–15 pt for bold visibility.
4. Leave the text fill blank.

✨ Now, print onto bright colored cardstock or Astrobrights paper for a super fun look without draining your printer!

🖨 Step 5: Print Your Letters

When you’re happy with your design:

• Go to File > Export > Create PDF. I do this if I’m creating on my home PC, but printing at school where the fonts I used aren’t installed. (You could also just hit Print directly.)
• Print one letter per page on cardstock or colored paper.
• Cut them out and get ready to decorate!

📌 Step 6: Arrange & Decorate Your Bulletin Board

Now the fun begins!

• Arrange your letters to spell out your bulletin board title.
• Layer with borders, themed cutouts, or student names.
• Use a glue stick, staples, or push pins to attach letters securely.

A bold, beautiful bulletin board can be the spark that welcomes students into a warm, engaging classroom. PRO TIP: Want straight letters? Use push pins to hang before stapling into place. You can also use a straightedge, line your letters there, and use a strip of painters’ tape to transfer to your bulletin board.

💡 Bonus Teacher Tips

• If you’re short on time, prep your board in advance with “Welcome to ## Grade,” “Math Goals,” “Student Work” or other common titles.
• Store your printed letters in a file folder or ziplock labeled by theme or phrase for easy reuse year to year!

Creating your own bulletin board letters in PowerPoint is simple, budget-friendly, and totally customizable. Whether you’re going for bright and playful or clean and minimal, these DIY letters help your classroom shine from day one! ACTIONABLE STEPS: Go grab that iced coffee (or Starbucks Refresher 😉), pop on your favorite playlist, and let’s make bulletin boards fun again!