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!
- Handmade ideas for a welcome board
- Carefully selected J-pop to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs.
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- [Sports Festival Hair Arrangements] Irresistible to Guys! A Selection of Recommended Hairstyles
- Recommended for sports festivals! Examples of funny slogans and how to come up with them
- [Friendship Song] Music to hype up sports days and athletic festivals
- Get hyped! A collection of Vocaloid songs to energize your sports day and athletic festival
- Songs that hype up the athlete entrance at school sports festivals
- A friendship song that fires up the culture festival/school festival
- A hype cheer song for school culture festivals—music that colors your memories.
- [Cheer Dance Music] A curated selection of Japanese songs that perfectly match glamorous costumes and choreography!
- From classics to fan favorites! A catalog of music and BGM to liven up your sports day
- [Sports Day] A roundup of popular Japanese songs perfect for mass performances [Athletic Festival]
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.
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
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
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
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.