ATCs

So I know it stands for Artist Trading Cards, and I have seen some beautiful results, but....what is done with them? Do you use them on LOs, cards? Please excuse my ignorance

I have always wondered if they actually serve some purpose, too, but stayed away from them because I was under the impression they are just for collecting, like some people do with facebook friends, lol!

I hope someone with more knowledge can shed some light on it for us!

Some people collect them. Others have been known to use them in LO. Myself, I have been to large crops, where we made them, and traded them, so they were special to me, I saved them. I put them in the plastic holders like you can buy for baseball cards. As they are the same size.

Some people make the same, but others make different ones. But they should be signed on the back, and dated. And numbered. Like if you make ones with a Christmas theme, it would be 1/of how many you have made in that series.

i collect all my atc's i get in a 3 ring binder all in baseball card holders. i think they are fun to look at and great inspiration for the next time I make atcs

Just curious.. what are ATC's? Does anyone have a picture I'd love to see?

• Briannasmom Said:

This is exactly what I do!

{A - Artist Trading Cards} By KellyCali

I've also used them on both cards & LO's.

HTH!

I'm glad somebody asked this question!

I also put them in page protectors in a binder like other people mentioned. I love trading them with other people, its a fun way to get some inspiration and see what other people make, a way to bond, etc.

I also just bought one of the 7 gypsies frames below, so I can put some ATCs in and use it as a decorating in my craft area!

here are a couple I have made, I also have an ATC album in my gallery with others.

spread your wing atc By Tina Scraps

cooking and cleaning ATC revised By Tina Scraps

Thanks for the responses. If I understand correctly, these are items created with the end result of being given to a scrapbook or papercraft friend, in lieu of a business card? Now I understand Thank you again.

wow. i never knew such a thing existed. are they like business cards? i know nothing about them so i would love to have a bit more info. does anyone have some they would share. i only saw a couple posted here. thanks in advance.

ATCs can be used to trade, on cards, or layouts.
They are fun to make and a great way to use scraps.

Here is an article, http://stamphenge.wordpress.com/1/atc-101/ I wrote about them with an FAQ, cutting sheet, the difference between an ATC and an ACEO, and other vital info.

A few of http://pennylane.terapad.com/index.cfm?fa=contentNews.newsDetails&newsID=62243&from=archive.

Hope that helps.

Jean

• sassysharyn Said:

They're not really like a business card (which is so people have your contact info), they are more like just "art for art's sake." A smaller canvas of art for paper artists. The only rules are the size (trading card sized) & that they can never be bought or sold, only traded w/ others.

It's not "just" for scrapbookers, there are mixed media artists out there that are so established they can say "I'll trade 5 of yours for 1 of mine"! Me, I just like trading w/ people in my local scrapbook or here on sb.com.

Here is an informative general overview on ATCs: http://www.cedarseed.com/air/atc.html

And here's a link to my ATC album here on sb.com: http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=gallerie...

They are very fun to make because they inspire you to create in a different way than when you're working w/ photos. The size is a challenge at first but then it's very cool because due to the small size, you can create pretty quickly!

Try joining a swap, you will like 'em!

Oh & like previous posters, I also put mine in a trading card album, only 1 per slot in the sleeves so you can see the back & read the artist info. I imagine you can put them on greeting cards & LOs but I never have.