In the scrapbooking industry, Artist Trading Cards (or ATC) are becoming more popular as trendsetters like 7 Gypsies roll out more ATC supplies and holders. These miniature works of art, or in the case of scrapbooks, mini page layouts, are just as much fun to swap and collect as they are to create. There are few rules and limits on artist trading cards, and they are quick to make and adapt to scrapbook materials.
The only strict requirement for artist business cards is their size. The standard is 2.5 “x 3.5”. This is based on the size of sports trading cards and trading card games like Pokémon and Magic. The orientation of your layout can be portrait or landscape. You can use any medium you like, paint, paper, pencil, watercolor, pen, and ink. Digital media and collage are very common. Any material used on a scrapbook page can be used on an artist trading card. Modern interest in these cards started around 1997 in Zurich, Switzerland. M. Vanci Stirnemann, a Swiss artist, has the merit of popularizing ATCs by initiating negotiation sessions. However, we can trace miniature art back to Impressionist-era artists who used business cards showing a sample of their work.
One expectation of artist business cards is that they should not be sold, but rather traded or shared. They are usually original works or made in limited editions. This may be one of the reasons that they have gained such popularity among scrapbookers today. They are a perfect item for scrapbook exchanges. Online message boards have special sections just for exchanges. A scrapbook editor usually organizes the exchanges and then opens it up for others to participate. Each member of the exchange creates an ATC and then earns enough for each member of the group. They sign their name, contact information, ATC title and the card number if it is part of an issue. At the end of the exchange, everyone has a collection of different artist cards.
Exchanges and limited editions are often built around themes. Some popular artist trading card themes are animals, seasons, quotes, and holidays. In some cases, the topic may be defined by the medium used. For example, you can have a digital media theme or a collage theme. In fact, almost any subject used for scrapbook circular journals could also be used for an ATC change. Creating an artist business card follows the same design principles as a scrapbook page, only on a smaller scale. You will need a focal point, a background, and an ornament or two. Organize your card first and then stick it to the card. Remember to sign the back.
Once you have a collection of artist trading cards, you will want to store or display them. You can easily store them in the plastic sleeves intended for sports business cards. A small decorative box also makes a good container, especially if it is file-safe. You may want to purchase an ATC holder to display your cards. These specially designed holders look like a rolodex. They are available from some manufacturers and can be found in portrait or landscape format.
Artist Trading Cards are only limited by your imagination. They are a perfect opportunity to try a new small-scale scrapbooking technique. Get together some scrapbooking friends and start an artist card exchange today.