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hello everyone i really new at this card making and i feel like this is a dumb question but what are artist trading cards for? :confused: thanks
gladys
Here is a link to some basic info about Artist Trading Cards, or ATC's. They are just small cards, 2-1/2" x 3-1/2", embellished, stamped, or colored any way you like. People make and collect them kind of like other kinds of trading cards, sports cards, etc.
Some people just collect them and keep them in books or albums, others collect them and use them as the focal point for cards.
There are lots of swaps for ATC's. I think one of the rules for ATC's is that they must be given or traded, not sold, lol.
I made some a couple of years ago and participated in some swaps. I found that working on such a small piece of cardstock was too tedious for me and haven't made any more.
I'm also not into "collecting" very much. I'm at the stage of my life where I'm trying to simplify my life and get rid of things that are not really useful and not accumulate stuff I don't actually have a purpose for. But lots of people really enjoy making and trading ATC's.
The only time I've made ATC is for the annual retreat we attend. We swap ATCs. The only interest for me is to see what other stampers are doing, the styles, the quality, etc. I find them a chore to make because you need about 50-75 but the challenge is good to come up with a great design in a small space.
I only make them for the contests at the Heirloom conventions (I won last year!!!). Since they're for a contest, though, I knock myself out--I can't imagine doing 50 of them! And I think I only won because the topic was so weird that there were very few entries.
Karen
I love doing ATCs! I find the size is small enough that it doesn't intimidate me, and I think participating in swaps is enormously fun; I love seeing how differently people can interpret a theme even in such a small format. I usually participate in swaps where you do no more than 10 copies; I'm not sure I could manage 50-75 of the same thing (although I do more than 150 of the same Christmas card every year . . . )
__________________ Carol
*Olim velis me peraudire.*
Rock is dead. Long live paper and scissors!
I love ATC's and swap a lot. I also use them to develop new ideas and designs and to try new techniques. If you are not a collector (I keep all my swaps so I can get ideas) you can also use them for images on your own cards (which is sometimes the main purpose of some of the swaps I have been in). Just acknowledge the ATC maker on the back of your own card. Try making one. You can get used to the size really quick.
I love ATC's. I've participated in a bunch of swaps with other artists. Mostly colored pencil stuff and some graphite. You get to see other people's techniques up close. 50 sounds like a lot of work!!
You can sell them, I have but then they are called ACEO's. Stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals.
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I enjoy making ATC's and will eventually trade. However I'm not good at making a bunch of anything, 6 is stretching it for me, so I would never be in a swap that required 50! ATC's started out by mainstream artists who made them in all kinds of media and trade them, often at a swap meet. They were not intended to be sale items, but as someone said, a new category has arisen because of course many people love them who do not actually do artistic things themselves.
I like to take a theme of some kind and then just make a bunch of different ones. For example, I did a series using all different techniques on chipboard. I chose the letter 'd' (random choice) and each card has a different style of letter from my many chipboard alphabets.
There are quite a few threads on Splitcoast that focus on ATC s.
When I do the big swap of 50-75 I don't make them all the same. I usually have 4-5 different designs. Almost everybody does it that way so it's not so tedious to make it wayyyyy to many times.
The retreat is the first weekend in May and I'll start working on them in March. I set a goal of at least 10 a week - It's really not so bad this way.
I also like trading ATC's as a form of 'business cards' so to speak. When I go to conventions, sometimes they host ATC swaps and it's great to swap and take home a little memento from the people you meet, as it has their name (and email address sometimes) on the back.
Going in swaps can be a good challenge too! It's great to use up smaller supplies, try out new techniques etc.
There's some cool ATC swap galleries on You Tube too...
Thanks Neeky11 for the great links. I just love seeing how other artists create and sometimes you get that 'duh moment' when you say...how come I didn't think of that ..it's soooo simple! LOL
artist trading cards
