Create a Gold Seal in Microsoft Word

Design a seal for a certificate or other document

A paper scroll with red ribbon and golden seal.

fpm / Getty Images

The newest versions of Microsoft Word support robust shaping tools. When you want to add a faux gold seal or seal-of-approval ribbon to your documents, select the appropriate shapes and create a seal with a ribbon that matches your document.

Instructions in this article apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Word for Mac.

How to Add a Gold Seal and Ribbons in Microsoft Word

Use the Word Shapes tool to create and modify different types of shapes. Select the shapes that match the look of your document.

  1. Select Insert.

    Word with the Insert heading highlighted
  2. In the Illustrations group, select the Shapes drop-down arrow.

    Shapes Menu in Word
  3. In the Stars and Banners section, choose a star (for example, a 16-pointed star) and draw it on the Word canvas. The shape appears with the default formatting, and the Shape Format menu opens when the star is selected.

    Insert Shapes menu in Word with the Stars and Banners section highlighted
  4. Select the shape, go to the Shape Format tab and, in the Shape Styles group, choose Shape Fill. Then, choose Gold as the fill color.

    Shape Fill option in Word
  5. Go to the Shape Format tab, select Shape Outline, then choose No Outline.

    No Outline option under Shape Outline in Word
  6. If desired, select Shape Effects and choose an option in the Presets group to give the shape a three-dimensional appearance.

    Shape Effects option in Word
  7. Go to the Insert tab and select the Shapes drop-down arrow.

    Shapes Menu in Word
  8. Go to the Block Arrows section, then choose Arrow: Chevron.

    Word with the Chevron shape highlighted
  9. Drag a long, narrow chevron onto the page. Change the size of the shape until it resembles one side of a ribbon.

    Making a ribbon shape in Word
  10. Select the shape, go to the Shape Format tab and, in the Shape Styles group, choose Shape Fill. Then, choose Gold as the fill color.

    To add contrast to your seal, use a different fill color for the ribbons such as red or blue.

    Word with the Shape Format and Shape Fill commands highlighted
  11. Go to the Shape Format tab, select Shape Outline, then choose No Outline.

    Word with the Shape Outline and No Outline options highlighted
  12. If desired, select Shape Effects and choose an option in the Presets group to give the shape a three-dimensional appearance.

    For best results, apply the same effect that you used for the seal to the ribbon.

    Word with the Shape Effects option highlighted
  13. Press and hold the Ctrl key, then select and drag the chevron to make a duplicate.

    Making a copy of a shape in Word
  14. Drag each chevron to the gold seal to create the appearance of ribbons behind the seal. Drag the Rotate Handle to turn the ribbons in the desired direction. Resize the ribbons, if necessary.

    A shape in Word with the Rotate handle highlighted
  15. Select the ribbon shapes, go to the Shape Format tab, then choose Send Backward > Send to Back.

    Word with the Send Backward menu highlighted
  16. Press and hold the Ctrl key and select each of the three shapes. Then, go to the Shape Format tab and select Group > Group to create a single object from the three shapes.

    Word with the Group menu highlighted
  17. Double-click the star and type any desired text you want to insert as an overlay.

    A gold star with ribbons in Word
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