How to put a box around text that's already in a document ?

I have a long document that I am now formatting for publication.

In many places in the document, I want to put boxes around existing text. I want all the boxes to be the same size and shape, regardless of how much text is inside them. I want them to look like index cards, with notes on them. I don't want the boxes to be the full width of the page. I don't want text to flow around the boxes.

How do I put a box of a fixed size and shape around text that's already in the document?

I tried highlighting the text and then clicking INSERT>TEXT BOX but that puts an empty box beside the highlighted text, not around it.

I tried using INSPECTOR>TEXT>MORE>BORDERS, and that puts a border around the highlighted text, but the border extends the full width of the page and it won't allow me to adjust the size and shape of the border to look like an index card.

Is there a way to create a box with fixed dimensions (that looks like an index card) then plop it down over highlighted text?

I'd rather not have to copy and paste all the pieces of text into empty boxes, but if necessary I will. But how and where do I make and save the box with fixed dimensions, and then how do I bring it into the document and put it where I need it?

I'm using Pages 09 (4.3) with OS10.9.1

(I don't want to use the more recent Pages.)

I've downloaded the Pages 09 User Guide but can't find the solution in there

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Any help would be greatly appreciated!