What are ATCs? A Guide to Artist Trading Cards

Jan 19

Artist Trading Cards or ATCs as they are know for short, may be small, but they pack a creative punch! Whatever your style or interests, stamping, mixed media, collage. ATCs are a fun, low-pressure way to experiment with fun techniques, connect with other crafters, and use up those scraps you’ve been hoarding.

What are ATCs

ATCs are small pieces of original artwork created for swapping, sharing, and collecting.

There are a few rules, but these are more like guidelines. ATCs are all about having fun and experimenting.

A standard ATC should be 2.5” x 3.5” (6.3 x 8.9 cm), and each card should be an original piece of art. They can be portrait or landscape, but most crafters create them in portrait. It’s great to sign and date them on the back, but if you choose not to, that's also fine. These cards are created to trade, not to sell.

What do you need to make ATCs?

ATC’s are amazing, you can make them with a few basic supplies or go all out, and the best part is you probably have everything you need in your stash to get started.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Cardstock or decorative papers.
Stamps, Inks, and Dies.
Paper scraps.
Stencils and texture pastes.
Pens, paints, and Coloring pencils.
Decoration embellishments, like buttons, gems, and threads.

How to Make an ATC

There is no right or wrong way to make ATCs; it’s all about having fun, and it’s a great way to try out new products and techniques without committing to a large project. This is an easy process that keeps things simple.

Cut your cardstock base to ATC size.
Create your background (using paints, papers, inks, and texture).
Build on those layers (think stencils and pastes).
Add your focal point (think stamped or drawn images).
Finish with extra details (think extra stamping, splatters, doodles.
Sign and date your art on the back.

Still not sure where to start!

Here are some tips and ideas to get you started.

Make several ATCs at once, creating a series is a fun idea to do.
Pick one or two colors and stick to that color palette.
Don’t get caught up worrying about the size.
Work to a theme (think winter, holidays, nature).
Try making an ATC with one or two supplies.
Pick a word or quote and build your ATC around that.
Challenge yourself to work through your scrap pile. (You know we all have one!)

There are three types of ATC!

A one-off- this is an individual one-off card
A series- this is a few cards, each individual card is unique, but they have a similar theme and are often numbered to represent that they are part of a series.
An Edition- These are two or more cards that look the same.

Details you can add or find on the back of an ATC
You often find certain details on the back of an ATC; most crafters like a reminder of where they got the card and who created it. Some organized swaps also require certain information to be on the back of the cards.
Here’s a list of what could be added to the back of your cards:

The name of the artist.
The date the ATC was created.
The title of the artwork (just like a bigger piece of artwork).
Contact details (where can people see more of your artwork).
Series details (is it part of a series, a one-off, or part of an edition).
Notes (The name of the swap, event, or even something fun about how you made the card)

There are so many ways to add this information to the back. If can be handwritten, printed, or stamped.

Now you know the ‘Rules’, how can you break them?

Although most ATCs are rectangular, lots of artists play around with adding arches, flaps, and pockets; you can even create Artist Trading Coins. The general rule is that they must fit into a clear plastic card protector, but some ATC creators and collectors skip the plastic protectors, completely opting for folders, books, or even boxes.

Storing them this way keeps them in great condition and makes them easy to transport if you want to take them to swaps and retreats.

ATC Ideas and Inspiration: