Take a look at:
http://office.microsoft.com/search/results.aspx?Scope=TC&Query=coupon&CTT=6&Origin=EC010331121033
If I had a need for coupons, gift certificates, and awards, I'd
visit a computer store such as CompUSA or BestBuy and buy
a general line art package. Some of the packages come
with 200K, 500K, even 1000K images on CD. They'd meet
your needs for years. You can import/paste them in Word.
I would not want to design art with Word even though it's
done thousands of time a day. I have the luxury of owning
Photoshop. Killer graphics are relatively easy with Photoshop.
Use a patterned background and/or slanted text so that
clever people can't use their scanner to replicate your
gift certificate and turn out coupons for themselves and
friends. I'd print on heavy stock paper, or on high quality
photo paper that when flipped over, reveals "Kodak" or
"Epson." Stay with that paper so that your employees
will grow used to the look 'n feel of your certificates. Use
parchment ink jet paper for your awards. Looks terrific.
If people see a boring generic coupon, they will take full
advantage of you by scanning it in, and changing it to get
more "freebies." Complicate the design. Use an unusual
font such as handwriting-type script. It might be that the
rip-off artist wouldn't have the font you used, or couldn't
place the text properly. That would tip you off to a bogus
certificate faster than anything else.
Good luck.
