Creating Artist Trading Cards - ATCs

Posted by ChrissyTina (Christina):

A lot of people ask what the point of an ATC is.  An artist trading card is kind of like your “calling card” only without the contact information.  Other artists actually trade and collect them and it’s not hard to find swaps going on involving ATCs.


This is my first time making ATCs, and I’ll be honest with you.  For me, it was a challenge to work on such a small “canvas”.  I’m accustomed to 12x12 or larger altered items. However, these are great to try out new techniques, experiment, and just go wild! 


I chose to do six of these mighty miniatures to try out different styles and techniques that I wouldn’t normally use on a regular scrapbooking page.

My first ATC has a mix of techniques and details.  I sewed, added trim, used gel medium, and stamped.  The flower is fussy cut from paper from the Basic Grey's Indie Bloom 6x6 paper pad.  The victorian image is from my stash.  


I turned it into an acrylic embellishment by using Diamond Glaze or Glossy Accents and gluing a Tim Holtz acrylic "Fragment" on top of it.  My blingage and gold beads are from the orange and gold multi-media kit by Art-C Studios.  The background paper is by Prima from their "Alla Prima" 6x6 pad.

My next several cards are a bit more straight forward and simplistic.  I used a flowers and 7 Gypsies overlay from my stash.  The patterned paper is by Prima as well.  


The bling is from the red and purple mixed media kit by Art-C Studios.  To add visual interest and a bit of subtle color, I colored the overlay using Copic markers.  I finished of the card by trimming the edges with Kaiser Craft's Natural Lace pack.

For the next card, I cut the papers into fine strips and adhered them to the ATC using Mod Podge.  Collaging is an amazing way to add unique visual interst and depth.  The purple bead trim and overlay are from my stash.

The banner used on this card is from my stash, as are the beads.  The patterned paper is from Indie Bloom by Basic Grey.

This next card is more whimsical and fun.  I wanted to play with paints and twine.  I wanted to keep the illusion of a canvas so I didn't add any trim around the edges and I roughed up the acrylic pant using a sanding block.  Twine was used to add accenting and highlighting.

The final ATC I made uses more layering and some framing.  The frame, gray flower, and circus tent die cut are from my stash.  The flower is from Basic Grey.  The beads, mah jong die cut, and elephant are from my Art-C Studios kits.  


I cut the frame out from another ATC and mounted to my foundational piece.  I used a foam pad and dabbed Glimmer Mist  onto the background and hand painted some yellow scroll work, which got covered up.  I accented the flowers on the corner of the frame using regular acrylic paint.  My circus tent is painted and sanded.  I added some green swirls and a bead to keep it interesting.

I find that ATCs are a great tool to explore different art stylings and techniques.  Thank you for taking a look and I hope you picked up some inspiration and an idea or two!


Products used:

How To Make Artist Trading Cards - ATC's with Art-C

Submitted by JulesInParadise:

Artist Trading Cards (ATCs), which have grown immensely in popularity since the credited date of 1969, are a fun way to play with paints, inks, stamps, papers, embellishments, pen and ink, markers and even cloth.  These small works of art give the artist open ended opportunities to experiment and create.

The only "rule" is that each must be 2.5 x 3.5 or about the size of a baseball trading card.  As a matter of fact, artists who swap their creations with others and also those who create these only for themselves often use a baseball trading card album in which to display the ATCs. .  Other than this one "rule", the sky is the limit.

Until recently, those who create ATCs have had to cut their own mats and search for tiny elements to incorporate into each piece.  Art-C has brought new and exciting products to the artists who make, keep or swap ATCs.

Art-C has three different mats for use:  canvas, kraft and white.  These come in tiny, easily stored pads and the mats tear off evenly.  This ATC was created with the canvas mat.  I painted Glimmer Mist onto the canvas and blotted it with a patterned paper towel to add texture and interest.  I had found a darling garter and created a "hose" out of black lace.    I added the pretty butterfly to increase the feminine look of the ATC .

This next ATC was created using the kraft mat.  I stamped a back ground and added the lady inside the bottle.  Art-C also has color coordinated beads, floss, ribbons and fibers and I added the beads to the top of the bottle for additional depth.

Art-C also has coordinated paper collections and flowers that are the perfect backgrounds and embellishments for the ATCs as can be seen in this example.

This ATC is stamped on the kraft mat and the stamped pens were stamped on.another mat, cut out and overlaid on the numbers.

I recently joined an ATC swap group.  Each month, in rotation, a member chooses a theme and we each create cards to exchange.  This month's theme is TIME.  Swap groups vary on how they are run.  Some ask that the members create all the same cards and other groups only ask that cards be created to fit the theme so all can be different.  When the same card is to be created numerous times, the artist numbers the cards on the back in the order they are created.  For example, the card pictures here is 3/6.  In other words, this was the 3rd. card I created exactly alike with three more to go.  In almost all swaps I have knowledge of, it is customary to sign one's name on the back along with the date and series numbers if all are identical.  I use a specimen stamp and fill in the information on the lines provided.  I love the way Art-C has supplied a whole tiny pad of borders such as this one and images that are perfectly proportioned for the cards.

Because there are few restrictions on the designs of ATCs, I had a lot of fun with this next collage.

ATCs can also be used as an embellishment on a layout or provide an interesting cover on a card.  I find creating ATCs inspires me to try different techniques and designs.  Hope that you will give an ATC a shot as I'd love to see your "miniature works of art".

----------------------------------------------------------

Jules is a retired English teacher who resides in Florida with the love of her life, Gene, and two furry friends.  She enjoys traveling with her friends and family, kayaking, biking and scrapbooking.