How to Make Your Own Dance Cards

These retro styled dance cards, easy to make at home, are designed to be carried on the wrist, and help you to never forget a partner again! Customize them using a basic word processing program and print them yourself at home. Match the colors to the décor of the event. Add a touch of elegance to your dance party, homecoming, prom, or cotillion and create a lovely keepsake souvenir of the evening.

Dance Card Supplies
4 x 6 unlined index cards
Silver elastic cord, cut into 12" lengths
Golf pencils
Computer printer able to print 4 x 6 paper
Hole Puncher
Hot Glue Gun
Silver bead or sequin

Creating the Dance Card

Using your preferred word processing program, set the page size to 4 x 6 landscape with ½" margins and page layout to two columns. Choose a font in keeping with your event. The dance card pictured uses Bernhard Fashion in 14 point for a 20's and 30's Art Deco feel.

For the cover of the dance card, center the text on the right side of page 1. Accent the text with paired wingdings from the symbol font menu. Add color to the text to coordinate with your event decorations.

The inside of the dance card contains simply a list of the evening's dances with blanks to fill in the dance partner's name. 11 point font works well for this. For a long evening of dance, add a second card. You may also print the cover on a coordinating colored index card and the list of dances on a white index card to be inserted, or even a sheet of vellum or onionskin.

Print the cards out on the computer printer.

Assembling the Dance Card

Fold the dance card in half like a book and punch a hole through both sheets in the upper left corner. Thread the elastic cord through the hole and tie it in a knot, creating a 9 ½" loop and a 2" tail.

Knot the 2" tail around the base of the golf pencil. Secure by adding a drop of hot glue on the knot, and cover the knot and glue with a sequin or charm. Trim off the excess cord.

Using Dance Cards

Pass dance cards out to all attendees as they enter the event. As dancers choose their partners for the evening, they can complete the dance card in order to remember who they promised the waltz after the break. The attached pencil is optional, and the dance card, especially with pencil, should be removed from the wrist for safety during a brisk lindy hop.