Halloween Artist Trading Cards Guide

Artist Trading Cards, also called ATC's, are little works of art, fun for collecting and trading with other artists and friends. There small size is perfect for experimenting with different techniques that might be intimidating on a larger scale. ATC's can be made using any medium you like, they can be painted, stamped, collaged, they can be on paper, metal, fabric, chipboard, mat board, they can be vertical or horizontal with any theme or design but they *must* measure 3 1/2" x 2 1/2", that's the only "rule". Look for on-line groups that trade cards, it's a great way to get new ideas and share your art with others. ATC's can be framed, leaned on a shelf or easel or for larger collections they can be store in clear plastic baseball card storage sheets that fit into a 3 ring binder.

What you need

-Black and Orange Cardstock
-Silver Paper
-Vintage Book Page
-Sewing Machine with White Thread
-Small Rhinestones
-Small Star Punch
-Glue Stick
– Rubber Stamps (small star, vintage label, words)
-Bats Pattern Paper (or sticker)
-Vintage Images of Children (images used are from Tim Holtz)

Instructions

-From black cardstock cut two 3 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ pieces.

-From orange cardstock  cut two 3 1/4″ x 2 1/4″ pieces.

-Using the glue stick adhere the orange paper on top of the black so it won’t slip during sewing.

-Using the sewing machine and white thread with a zig zag stitch sew over the orange paper, close to the edge. Sew slowly, stop at the corners, lift the sewing foot and pivot the paper to sew down the next edge. When you come to the end do not back stitch, pull any loose threads to the back of the paper and knot them or tape them down so they won’t unravel. Note: Be sure to use a different needles for sewing paper then you do for sewing your fabric. Keep them stored separately so you don’t mix them up. Sewing paper can dull needles quickly.

-Tear a page with text from a vintage book and cut two 2 3/4″ x 1 3/4″ pieces, use the glue stick to adhere it on top of the orange paper.

-Using the black ink pad stamp small stars all over the book paper.

-Using scraps of the book paper where there is no text stamp two vintage style labels, stamp words (like spellbound, spooky, witchy, scary, etc) on the labels, cut them out and adhere them to the top of each card.

-Cut out vintage images of children (use preprinted collage sheets, photo copies, etc).

-From black cardstock cut out a tall pointed wizard hat, a witches hat and a thin black strip, for the witches wand.

-From the bat pattern paper cut out a pair of wings, or use a bat sticker.

-Punch two small stars from the silver paper.

-On one card glue down the girl, adding the witches hat to her head and add the strip of black cardstock with a star to her hand for her wand.

-On the other card glue down the bat wings and then the boy, adding the wizard hat and a star to his head.

-Adhere a tiny rhinestone to each child’s clothes.