Artist Trading Card FAQ with links

[Stifflersmom]

Welcome to the atc board! In this thread, you will find all sorts of useful information about atc's. One note about this board: It is against Craftster policy to solicit in a post for private swaps. However, on the atc board only, we now have a thread where you can post cards available for trade: https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=165834.new#new Please make sure you read and understand the rules on this thread. Also, it is always fine to pm someone about a private swap and/or put that you are open to swaps in your signature line.
rackycoo and Phizzychick
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This is quoted from cedarseed.com:


The very basics
As their name indicates, ATC are collectables, a brilliant idea born of the older sports-themed trading cards. The one rule that makes an ATC derives from their origins:
the dimensions of the ATC must be 2.5"x3.5", or 64x89mm.

To this rule are appended a couple of conventions.
First, an ATC mustn't be sold, only exchanged, as the whole essence of these tiny works of art is about artists meeting (by correspondence or online if need be) and exchanging their works, thus meeting many artists and getting exposed to many personal styles. Second, on the back of each ATC the artist writes part or all of the following information: name, contact information, title of the ATC and number (1/8, 2/8...) if it's part of an edition. By definition ATCs are made in limited numbers, often no more than one of a kind. Unique ATCs are called originals; sets of identical ATCs are called editions and are numbered; sets of ATCs that are based on one theme but that are different are called series. Don't be intimidated by the concept of small editions or originals: very few people are anal about this. What most collectors really want are cards that were made with care. Based on that, numbers are meaningless.

That's all! The above is all you need to know to start making your own ATCs. Common sense dictates that they should be sturdy enough to survive mailing, and of reasonable thickness (unless you specifically want them otherwise. Transparent card sleeves are useful to protect the cards if need be. This is particularly true if they can easily get smudged or if the medium might stick during transport.

[Stifflersmom]

Link to supplies discussion:

On-line sources:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=154321.0

Craft Stores:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=143931.0

Freebies:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=219970.0

[Stifflersmom]

Link to Display discussions:

Recycled:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=157546.0

Repurposed:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=143799.msg1415553#msg1415553

General Discussion:

https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=135148.0

[Stifflersmom]

Calls for atc's for publication
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=164160.0

Gallery of atc's submitted for publication
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=164162.0

ATCs available for trade
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=165834.0

Links to new swaps in sign up stage:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=134893.0

Links to a few ATC Swap Galleries:

"What do you look like?" atc's (See who's who on the atc board!)
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=141539.0

Ongoing #1
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=116410.0

ABC:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=88762.0

DEF:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=97648.0

1st Largest:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=131480.0

Book & ATC:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=126616.0

[Stifflersmom]

Links to ATC Tutorials:

Share a technique:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=136338.0

Stamping on atc's:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=157596.0

Favorite ATC books discussion:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=154369.0

Purchased Books:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=136770.0

To make a book:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=139335.0

A discussion about glues:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=138847.0
Helpful site:http://www.thistothat.com/

A discussion about transfer mediums and gels:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=185421.0

Finding images:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=148627.0

Available blanks for the backs of atc's:
https://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=165061.0