Ever wonder about those little Artist Trading Cards...

There are only a few rules, trading cards are a standard size 2 1/2 x 3 1/2”, always traded – not sold.

So a theme is set, your creative juices start to flow and you create a little piece of art.

If you are a scrapbooker, think of it as a miniature scrapbook; for card makers – tiny card fronts. You can step outside your normal art forms and try paints, wax (encaustics), digital art. You can stamp, collage, paint, anything. Sometimes I like to just make ATCs for the fun of it. You are only limited by your imagination.

On the back of the cards, put your name, the theme and number of the individual card as seen in the set, the total number in the scurrent theme and the date. There are a variety of stamps available for the information used on the back of the cards.

Themes that I have enjoyed encompass holidays and seasons, a color,  a letter of the alphabet, anything! The variety of ways a theme is seen is so much fun and the diversity of art forms will expand your creativity.

The ones below were from the themes: Tea, Baskets, Cup of Tea,  and Coffee. You can keep them in an album and visit them at any time for inspiration.

To start, find some friends who share your love of art in any possible form. Set a theme and a deadline, get started!