Stand Out at the Sports Festival! Ideas for Making Nameplates and Board Chains
Name boards are a familiar item at sports festivals and cultural festivals.
Among matching items with friends and handmade goods, they really stand out—and they’re perfect for photos, too, so you’ll want to make one!
But how do you make it? Where can you buy that chain you attach to the board? Many people probably feel the hurdles are high.
In this article, we’ll introduce name plate designs and how to make them!
From the classics to ideas for those who want to stand out a bit from other groups—don’t miss it!
Stand Out at the Sports Festival! Nameplate and Board Chain Making Ideas (1–10)
Made with 100-yen shop materials

If you’re making a name board and don’t want to spend much, 100-yen shop supplies are the way to go! You can get everything on the cheap—from craft tools and cardboard to frames, stickers, and sparkly garland for decoration.
Put your favorite illustration or photo into an A4 photo frame, and decorate the frame’s border with sparkly garland or similar.
Next, use glue to attach key rings to both ends of the frame.
To finish, thread a plastic chain through the key rings and you’re done! You can wear it over your shoulder, so go all out and stand out at the sports festival.
Puffy Name Board

The three-dimensional look is so cute! Here are some ideas for puffy name boards.
If you want your name board design to stand out from your classmates and other students, you’re not alone! This time, let’s make a name board with adorably puffy lettering.
Since we’ll be creating it with a computer app, you can fine-tune all the little details in your design.
Try making it while discussing colors, fonts, and illustration motifs with your close friends.
Put together, it becomes a clover.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cimizunr5ow/This is a joyful name board where each piece comes together to form a four-leaf clover.
First, let’s make a heart-shaped base.
A clover-inspired design centered on green is recommended! Print your design, cut it into a heart shape, and glue it onto thick paper.
To finish, decorate it with green sparkly pipe cleaners or stickers, and you’re done! Attach a plastic chain to make it easy to carry around! You can also go for a colorful palette instead of just green.
Make it by hand with friends and strengthen your bond.
Glowing board
https://www.instagram.com/p/Clk7KVPpA_z/Light up your name board and wow your friends! By installing dollar-store LED lights or reflectors in your name board, you can easily make it glow.
If you use deeper, richer colors for the board, it’ll really pop when illuminated! The lights might not get much use during the day, but once it gets a bit darker and you switch them on, you’ll surely surprise those around you.
If you want to stand out with something different, definitely give it a try.
monotone
https://www.tiktok.com/@printmedia_19/video/7419236902278024456While colorful name boards are the standard, going for a cool, monochrome look will definitely make you stand out! This name board is especially recommended for those who love simple color schemes like black, gray, and white.
If you want a cool vibe with a slightly sweet touch, how about adding heart motifs? Designing hearts in a light gray monogram style would be great, too.
Try choosing a font that matches the cool aesthetic for the name.
Adding black or white lace as decoration would also look lovely! Go all out and show off your style at the sports festival.
Sanrio Name Board
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9Oe_kXpjDd/Character motifs that catch the eye! Here are some ideas for Sanrio name boards.
What comes to mind when you think of Sanrio characters? Try making a name board using motifs from your favorite characters.
The post features name boards with a variety of arrangements.
Some use lace, while others are edged with party garland—customize them to match your image! Decorating the letters of the name with rhinestones is also super cute!
Dokin-chan & Kokin-chan
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7blxhIvD7W/Characters from Anpanman! Here are some ideas for Dokin-chan and Kokin-chan.
Many people in close-knit pairs or groups may want to create matching name boards with similar designs, right? These Dokin-chan & Kokin-chan name boards are perfect for that.
In the posted photos, the area around their faces is decorated with lace, and the inside is adorned with rhinestones.
It looks like a chain is used for the neck strap.
Choosing a cute font for the names also gives it a fun, pop feel.




