Artist trading cards, also known as ATCs, have become increasingly popular over the last several years, and if you’ve seen these miniature works of art, you may have wondered how to make trading cards that feature your own artwork.

There are only two rules when it comes to making artist trading cards:

• Each should be an original piece of art

• The size of the finished piece should be 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, the same size as most sports trading cards.http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/making.html

As the name implies, artist trading cards are meant to be traded not sold, although artists do sell cards that meet the same criteria as artist trading cards, generally just calling them by a different name, like “artist cards.”

What your own artist trading cards will look like will depend largely on the media you work with. If you’re a quilter, you might consider making miniature 2.5” x 3.5” art quilts, while a watercolor artist might simply cut a piece of watercolor paper to size and create a mini painting.

While the front of an artist trading card is home to the art itself, the back of an artist trading card usually has information about the artist, such as their name, signature, title of the piece, creation date, and any other applicable information about the artist and the art.

This article will walk you through the simple steps of making a basic artist trading card, and will tell you how to find other artists with whom to trade.

Of course, the supplies you need will depend on what kind of artist trading card you will be making, but here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Surfaces for Artist Trading Cards

As long as it will work well with your chosen medium, you can use just about anything as an artist trading card surface, including watercolor paper, card stock, canvas, cardboard, handmade paper or vellum. Thinner papers can be used for drawings and paintings, although you may want to adhere them to a thicker substrate for sturdiness.

If you’re using fabric as your trading card surface, you may or may not need to stiffen it, depending on the thickness of the fabric, and how much stitching or embellishing you’ll be doing on the card. Thinner fabrics with little stitching can be stiffened with interfacing.

Due to the popularity of artist trading cards, several companies have begun offering pre-cut paper and card stock that are ready to be drawn or painted upon, or otherwise decorated.http://www.strathmoreartist.com/atc.php

Media for Artist Trading Cards

As long as they work well with your chosen surface, the options for creating your artist trading cards are endless.

Pens, inks, markers, acrylic paints, watercolor paints and pencils are all great choices for creating artist trading cards. Many artist choose to take a mixed-media approach to creating ATCs, by combining several different mediums, and will further embellish their cards with metallic powders, dimensional paints, and gel pens, which work very well on dark surfaces.

Artist Trading Card Embellishments

If you think you might like to add more dimension to your ATCs, they can be further embellished with small items like beads, buttons, trinkets, photos, stitching, and all sorts of ephemera. If you do plan on adding objects like this to your artist trading cards, don’t forget adhesives like glue, tape, thread and wire.

Now that you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s time to start creating. Remember, beyond size and originality, there are no rules, but listed below are a few tips and issues you may want to consider before you get started.

1. You can choose to work on a surface that has already been cut to the appropriate trading card size, or you can work on a larger surface and cut it to size later.
2. Many artists will eventually mail their trading cards, and/or store their collection of cards in sleeves or boxes. Because of this, you’ll probably want to keep your ATCs flat enough to easily send and store. Some raised embellishments are fine, but you probably don’t want to stray too far away from creating a two-dimensional work.
3. You may find it easier to create several cards at once, while all your supplies are out, and you’re in a creative mood.
4. Keep in mind that some mediums like pencils or pastels can smear. Since your trading card is likely to be handled, and possibly even mailed, you’ll need to protect any delicate mediums with the appropriate varnish or sealant.
5. While you’re making your artist trading cards, you may want to make or decorate envelopes to go with them. This isn’t a necessity, or even expected, but if you’re interested in doing so, it can add a nice touch.
6. Feeling creative? Now is a great time to experiment with new media and techniques. You may just stumble across something you’ll want to use in your larger works of art.

Now that you’ve created a few artist trading cards, you’ll probably want to start trading them. Below are a few suggestions on finding artists with whom to trade, but remember you don’t have to actually get a card in return for one you’ve created; artist trading cards can also make great gifts for even your non-artist friends and relatives.

ATC Swaps

Artist trading card swaps are basically an organized way of trading cards, and a great way to get to know other artists. The general idea is that you create the number of required trading cards by the specified deadline, and send them to the organizer of the swap; in exchange for your cards, you will receive cards from other artists.

There are loads of internet groups that run ATC swaps. In addition to being social and serving as a means to build your own collection, swaps can be a great way to promote your own art, and since they often have a theme, you might find them inspirational as well.

Artist Trading Card Meetups

If you find inspiration in the company of others, or are looking for a social outing as well as a creative outlet, you could also attend a local artist trading card meetup. A web search for “artist trading cards” plus the name of your city should turn up a list of any specific groups, but if you’re having trouble finding one, you could try checking a neighboring town, inquiring at your local craft store, or even starting your own; all you need is a couple of people, and a place to create.

Join an Artist Group

While you may not be able to find a group devoted entirely to artist trading cards, you’ll probably be able to find an artist group of some kind in your area. And since artist trading cards are something nearly any type of visual artist can create, you may find a sub-group of artists interested in trading with you. For example, if you join a collage artist group, there’s a good chance you won’t be the only one interested in trading miniature works of art.

Ask Another Artist or Collector

Artists who create trading cards generally like to collect them as well, so if you happen across an ATC artist you’d like to trade with, simply ask them if they want to trade. In addition, some ATC collectors with web sites will include a list of cards from their collection that they’re willing to trade, all you have to do is contact them to negotiate the details.