Join the Valentine’s Day Artist Trading Card Swap with Mark Montano

Artist Trading Card Swap

Artist Trading Card Swap

Looking for a little more love in your life? Then check out this love-themed artist trading card swap, run by Mark Montano of Big-Ass Craft Book fame (although I recognize him more from Make Your Mark on PBS, because I’m a nerd).

The ATC swap is sponsored by Deco Art, so you’re encouraged to use a Deco Art product on your artist trading card, but the rest is up to you, and my absolute favorite thing about artist trading cards is how accessible they are to upcycling. Ephemera of all kinds are welcome on artist trading cards, from beer labels to cut-outs from magazines to fabric scraps to corrugated cardboard. Because artist trading cards are collectible pieces of artwork, you can rest comfortably assured that the bits that you upcycle will be kept and treasured–I have an album with trading card-sized pockets that I keep all of my collected ATCs in!

If you’re looking for some ideas for embellishing your artist trading cards, here are some of my own favorite methods:

fabric-embellishedEven if you love to sew, you might forget that you can use fabric on your ATCs. It makes a lovely embellishment, whether sewn, glued, or taped.

Paint the edgesThe tute uses this technique to personalize business cards, but I think it works well as a finishing touch on ATCs, as well.

Sew on themYou CAN stitch onto cardstock and even cardboard. Use a sharp needle, and don’t forget to replace it before you sew again on fabric.

Use playing cardsYou need a sturdy base for your artist trading card. I like to cut down a playing card to the correct size, and then use decoupage and alcohol ink to embellish it.

wood block printingDid you know? You can make woodblock prints with vintage children’s alphabet blocks!

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