Help with outline please

[mickeyfn]

Hi - can someone give me some tips - pointers - instruction - anything on how to make an outline for the full name please? I want the outline to look like a cloud behind the words (like the white color in the picture) and not outline each character. I have tried the shadow feature but it is not working. Thank you!!!

il_170x135_275605503.jpg (13.48 KiB) Viewed 1782 times

[gj1]

I did the best I could. Hope it will work...just say if you need someone else to try...I am not too go at this.
As far as instructions...I used the shadow too, and the pen tool to move a few nodes.