Best way of making a paper wallet & private key

[gravitate]

I want to make 50 wallets and assosciated private keys for my bitcolins to be sat in a physical code and nothing else. I have tried to read guides on how to do this but I would like to do it the safest way and with shortened private keys. Also is there a way for me to check the balance of one of my wallets by using a small section of my wallet address?
Sorry its a pretty noob question but read a few ways on how to do it now and not sure of the best way to go.
Thanks

[hazek]

As outlined here?: http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/16fxfd/how_do_i_secure_the_living_shit_out_of_my_wallet/c7voymq