How to Make an Artist Trading Card

Artist Trading Cards, also called ATCs, are a fun and unique way to create and trade miniature works of art. Standard Artist Trading Cards are all of a uniform shape and size. How you design your Artist Trading Cards is up to you. The finished Artist Trading Cards may be traded in person or on-line with other artists. The Artist Trading Cards may also serve as very unique business cards if you frequent galleries or arts and crafts shows.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One full or partial deck of playing cards
• Acid-free glue
• Scissors
• Watercolor paper or acrylic paper
• A drawing or painting medium of your choice
• Printable labels
• One package of trading card sheet protectors

How to Make an Artist Trading Card

1. Create an easy deck of Artist Trading Cards by re-purposing a set of regular playing cards. A regular set of playing cards are the perfect dimension for creating Artist Trading Cards. For beginners, it's easiest to start with a pre-made deck of cards. Collage artists can work directly on the card to create a new design. Other artists can cover each card with glue and a sturdy paper to create a blank canvas. Or, create your own blank Artist Trading Cards by cutting small cards from sturdy paper. The cards should measure 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

2. Draw or paint an image on one side of the Artist Trading Card. Use any painting or drawing medium that you prefer. The image on the Artist Trading Cards can be drawn in ink, painted in watercolors, or created using any collage or mixed medium method. Traditional Artist Trading Cards should remain relatively flat, especially if they will be traded in the mail.

3. Create labels for the reverse side of the Artist Trading Card. This can be done using standard labels printed from a home computer. Or, the information can be hand-written on the Artist Trading Card. At minimum, include your name and an email address. If space allows, include a mailing or business address. It is also helpful to include information about the artwork featured on the Artist Trading Card as well as the medium(s) used.

4. Slide the completed and dry Artist Trading Card into a sheet of plastic trading card protector. Cut up each card and liner. (Each card should have its own liner.) Storing the Artist Trading Cards in these plastic trading card protectors is one way to preserve the card. It is also a nice touch when trading with other artists.

5. Find a local art group that will trade Artist Trading Cards with you. Or trade Artist Trading Cards at one of the mail art exchange web sites on-line. You can also post images of your Artist Trading Cards on a blog or social network website. Be sure to label the cards as "available for trade."

Tips & Warnings

• Traditional Artist Trading Cards should remain relatively flat, especially if they will be traded in the mail.
• Artist Trading Cards provide a great way to meet other artists.
• Do not stray from the one important rule in making Artist Trading Cards: the size needs to be exact.