What are ATCs?
ATCs, otherwise known as Artist Trading Cards, are 2.5" x 3.5" cards that individuals have personally designed and created that are traded with other people. ATCs are made by people of all ages, with a variety of techniques.
What are the Rules for trading ATCs?
The rules are simple: cards are traded one for one (although some people give a calling card with some of their trades as well). You make one, you trade for one. ATCs are for trade only, not for sale. Some individuals sell the artwork that they have created that is ATC size, but these are not Artist "Trading" Cards.It is up to each individual what and how they are willing to trade.
How do I make an ATC?
Most ATCs are created for a specifically themed trade. They are often created on cardstock or other stiff paper products (e.g. playing cards), using a variety of techniques using materials such as paint, pencil, glue, magazines, etc. The final product must be 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches.The back of a trading card must have the artist's name. Ideally it will also have the location of the artist (city, state, country, etc.), an e-mail address, date created, and title of the card. Cards often also have an edition number (i.e. 1 of 9, etc.) on it also. Many people write all of this information by hand. Some make up stickers and/or use mailing labels for the backs of their cards. We put tiny photos of ourselves on the back of our cards.
Trades usually have themes. Popular themes include "Anything Goes" and trades for special events and holidays.
More in depth information can be found on these excellent sites:
Cedarseed ATC site
Wikipedia article
What are some techniques?
Shaving Cream techniquePrepare your surface with a plastic tablecloth or waxed paper (you may want to wear vinyl gloves to protect your hands from staining). Squirt inexpensive shaving cream on the waxed paper. Drip food coloring on your shaving cream in the pattern that you like. Use a toothpick to make more designs. Lay your ATC paper on top of the shaving cream, making sure to touch the paper everywhere that you want to have color. Pick up, wipe off with a paper towel, lay somewhere clean and protected to dry.
Variation 1: Draw on your card with shaving cream first to give your card blank areas.
Variation 2: Purposefully marble the food coloring.
Variation 3: Drop extra food coloring on the card after completion.
Variation 4: Wipe quickly in stripes or swirls, making a design with the papertowel.
Variation 5: Blot with paper towel or stamps before the design is dry to give it more texture.
Variation 6: Use natural food colorings and other materials to make your design.
Bubble technique
Prepare your surface with a plastic tablecloth or waxed paper (you may want to wear vinyl gloves to protect
your hands from staining).
Fill a glass 1/2-3/4 full with inexpensive liquid dish detergent.
Finish filling the glass to near the top with water.
Blow air into a glass with a straw until bubbles are overflowing from the top of the glass.
Drip food coloring onto the bubbles. Immediately put your card on top of the bubbles, turn
over and let dry naturally. When dry, repeat if desired until you have the look that you want.
Variation 1: Blow the bubbles on to the card, then drip the colors directly on top of the
bubbles. This gives the card a rock or stone effect rather than a bubble look.
Variation 2: Blot with paper towel or stamps before the design is dry to give it more texture.
Stained Glass technique
Use glue, glitter glue, or fabric paint to draw a design on your paper.
Set to the side and let dry.
Fill in the empty areas with watercolors, paint or markers.
Scratched Crayon technique
Put down one layer of crayon, layer with another color on top. Scratch off areas that you want to be the bottom
color.
Variation 1: Color the card with white crayon where you want lines or designs in the color of the paper,
color on top of the crayon in marker. Either scratch the entire design at this point, or scratch off a design
and color on top again -- you can layer this technique in as many layers as you want. Popcicle sticks work
great for scratching.
Variation 2: Use tape or stickers to make designs, color on top of the tape, then peel off. Layer as you wish.
Other fun techniques include sewing, stamping, drawing with ink/markers/crayons/pencils, collage with scraps and magazines, using photographs (modified and original ones), painting, watercolors, etc.! We've used a variety of techniques on our cards. Remember, use your imagination! Your imagination is your greatest tool in the exciting world of ATCs.
Protect your work!
After completion of your artwork, be sure to protect it. If your card has anything on it
that could fall off (glitter, sand, stickers, thread, crayon that could melt, etc.), be sure to cover it in a
protective sleeve before trading (your artwork and the new owner will appreciate it!).
All artwork on this page was created by either Lisa M. Cottrell-Bentley, Zoë Bentley, or Teagan Bentley in 2006.
Last Updated 11.20.2006
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