| If you have not heard of ATCs before, the letters | | | | second 2 of 5 and so on. |
| stand for 'Artist Trading Cards' and refer to a form of | | | | Who knows? Your card series could one day |
| paper crafting that involves making a miniature work | | | | become a much sought after collectible if your art |
| of art. There are only a couple of rules that need to be | | | | work becomes famous! Numbering the series lets |
| followed when you are making ATCs: | | | | people know if they have found the entire set or |
| All ATCs need to be the size of a baseball trading | | | | allows people to see how rare a card they may have |
| card, or 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" (64 X 89 mm) in size. Other | | | | in their possession. |
| than the size requirement, the technique you use to | | | | The size of these little cards makes posting them |
| express your artistic side on an ATC can be | | | | around the world much more affordable and do-able. |
| completely open. | | | | Thus your art may be more portable and far-reaching |
| You must never sell your ATCs. The idea is to make | | | | as ATCs are much more convenient to pop in the |
| them for trading or swap purposes with other artists | | | | post than many other paper craft forms. The |
| only. | | | | swapping of ATCs can become a truly international |
| Another handy thing to do, though it is not a rule, is to | | | | past time! |
| place your name and perhaps contact details on the | | | | How else Do ATCs Make Your Art Portable and |
| back of your ATCs. This strategy can work to your | | | | More Convenient? |
| advantage. If you provide your craft blog address, for | | | | Which would you rather pack to take on a plane to a |
| example, then the person receiving the card has a | | | | convention? A 12' x 12' pizza box full of scrapbook |
| practical way to find more of your art work. The ATC | | | | layouts or a small, zip lock bag full of ATCs? Which |
| becomes a portable flyer for you! | | | | would fit in your handbag more easily? I know which |
| See how ATCs make it very convenient to carry your | | | | one would fit in mine more easily, and weigh less to |
| art around with you? If you have ever been out and | | | | boot! The size of ATCs as opposed to scrapbook |
| happily met up with another paper crafter, what a | | | | page layouts is obvious. |
| lovely thing to be able to do - to give them a piece of | | | | ATCs can be fit into a standard letter sized envelope |
| your own art work in exchange for some of theirs, on | | | | more easily than, say, a 3-d paper craft item like a |
| the spot! With ATCs you can always have a little | | | | small gift box. They are therefore more conveniently |
| stash of cards ready to trade on hand, just for such | | | | sent as gifts. |
| occasions. They are much more personal and | | | | ATCs can be used as card fronts or scrapbook page |
| memorable than most standard business cards, too. | | | | elements so easily! They are portable embellishments |
| How Are ATC Swaps Run? | | | | you can carry in your craft bag to crops to speed up |
| There are lots of paper crafters who enjoy making | | | | and lighten the load of your crafting, with a little planning. |
| ATCs so much, they have regular swaps and | | | | It can take much less time to make a set of ATCs |
| challenges. The challenges often throw out a theme | | | | than it does to make cards or scrapbook layouts or |
| for the crafter to think about while making their cards. | | | | even hand-made embellishments. |
| The suggestion may centre around a particular | | | | The fact that they are smaller means it is more |
| emotion - such as love, sorrow, joy - or about a | | | | affordable to make a set of them than it is to scrap |
| particular topic or subject. Themes as diverse as | | | | full-sized pages or even than making standard sized |
| music or childhood or Paris or recipes and so on may | | | | greeting cards. This can be very convenient in |
| be suggested for an ATC swap round. | | | | uncertain economic times. |
| Most participants make a set number of cards based | | | | If you have never tried making ATCs, I hope I have |
| around the swap theme. This is called a 'series' of | | | | outlined some of the advantages of making them. |
| cards. Each card is then numbered to show they are | | | | Why not make some today and prove to yourself |
| part of a set. If you made 5 cards, you would number | | | | how portable and convenient they can be? They can |
| them to show this by calling the first one 1 of 5, the | | | | become very addictive though, I must warn you! |