Work project...powerful Words.

visionary
dependable
determined
kind/caring
thoughtful
above and beyond

just a few that I can think of that have been said about me that made me feel good.

Well lets see what would work in this office.
Does not run with scissors.
Comes in sometimes.
Lights up the room by leaving.
Works occasionally.
Learning indoor voice.
Knows where everything is, on everyone else's desk.

I could keep going but if you can't tell the moral here is pretty much in the crapper. I would not trade the people around me for gold, they keep the smile on my face. :)

when I was working in an office - we had the pictures of cliffs and mountains with the passages under them.

are you going to put the employees pictures on the wall and let people state what they think of them like you said - hard worker, cheerful, etc.? That might help others know how their co-workers see them. It might boost morale.

If I was working in an office that was struggling with moral the last thing I would want is a picture with a positive word under me.
I would want money. Recognition. Time off, paid. No potluck, but the company buying everyone the food. Gift Certificates with a letter of appreciation.
Really, I have worked for companies before where the moral was low and it was low because we were not getting recognized for our contributions. Give credit where it's due, and throw in a $40 GC to a local restaurant.

Honestly, if you're not going to do anything (time runs out) with the cards, I wouldn't do them. What boosts morale is how employees are treated, not words on the wall. It would be more meaningful if managers used the positive words directly with employees when talking about their work. I'd be careful about connecting certain employes to the words, too, because if not everyone gets associated with a positive description in the end, it will only further the morale problem.

Best of luck!

"Choose Your Attitude"
"Be a Helper"
"Inspire"
"Be Willing"
"You are GREAT"
"Thank You"
"Great Teamwork"
"Courtesy"
"Think of Others"
"Compliments"
"Exude Kindness"
"Laugh"
"Smile"
"Pride"

There is a video out there called, "Choose Your Attitude". I saw this video during an Orientation for a job. It is a great video and it does boosts your innerself where when you get up each day, you can choose your attitude and the video shows examples of these job sites that have workers who take pride in their work, they have fun with what they do, and who are courteous etc. I think this video will also help your team. Google it and see if it comes up. I know one of the job sites is a few guys working at a fish hatchery. Something to that effect. It's been a while since I've seen that video but it has stuck with me for the past 9 years. :-D

What exactly is the problem with morale? Are people having trouble making ends meet because times are tough, or because the company isn't paying them? If it's the first, then if the company can afford to "treat" everyone by providing the food/drinks, etc. and bonding, perhaps a party at a bowling alley, or mini-golf or something.

If the company is doing everything right, and it's a "tough times" situation, finding ways to recognize people, with money or "employee of the month" stuff or whatever would have more impact than games.

Also, if the employees feel out of the loop or not engaged, that can affect morale as well. Management needs to take the lead on this and find ways to connect with employees.

But if they are not being paid on time - which happened to my husband - a pot luck will not change that.

Dedicated
Strong sense of urgency (sorry -- can't net it down to one word!)
Reliable
Resilient

Team Player
Punctual
Leader
Intelligent
Resourceful

Helpful
Goal oriented
Team player
Willing
Knowledgeable
Experienced
Energetic
Accommodating
Humorous
Focused
Efficient
Creative
Problem solver
Encouraging

Does your office have teams of any kind or do you work together on projects at all? This would be a great time to recognize some of the office accomplishments. I dont know what kind of business you are in - but say If you had met a goal, or landed a big account, or saw growth in one area. You could ask the people that worked on that project to stand and be recognized - then have team leader go pull a card off the wall and see what's on the back - maybe a half day off for everyone on the team or lunch will be bought for the team next wk or gift card for each person.
Then recognize another team for whatever they were responsible for and have them pull a card. Until everyone has been aknowledged for thier actual work product. It's a good way to remind people that they make a contribution and are valued.

One thing that has pulled us out of a bad place more than once is to have a new goal with a good reward at the end. My boss likes to bet us. Our last one - he was going out of town and said if we sold 18 units, he would give us $500 and a day off. If not, we had to wash his truck. The ego part of us was not about to let us wash his truck! He would've been out there with his feet up in a lawn chair watching and making us scrub it with our toothbrushes! NOT gonna happen! Plus we wanted that $$. It energized us, brought us together in an "us against him" way and we demolished that goal. Moral through the roof.

Instead of just having sweet words of wisdom, why don't you incorporate those gestures to each person....(Ie: When Jane Doe walked around with toilet paper on her shoe all day, it was John Doe who was the one who told her....he is always willing to help other people, regardless of the consequence....). I did this for a party a couple years ago (it was an 80's theme party, so it had bathroom wall talk regarding each guest...), and people LOVED looking for their name, and reading what I said about other people. It was a big hit.

Overcome
Succeed
Share
Celebrate
Grow
Believe

These are my favourite words (verbs, really), but I also like "Follow your vision", "Trust your istinct" and "Never give up", although they may apply to a more general life context. There's also a famous story (made into a poster) about the lion and the antelope running for their lives in Africa (some of you know what I am talking about), that's also an inspiring story.

motivated, responsible, self-starter, team-player,dedicated,helpful, visionary, confident