How to Make an ATC (Artist Trading Card) Out of a Playing Card

Making an Artist Trading Card (ATC) out of existing playing cards is the easiest and least expensive way to start making Artist Trading Card (ATC). Playing cards make great ATCs because they are a common item that you may already have. If you don't have a deck of playing cards for making ATCs, they are inexpensive enough to buy and can be found in your local drugstore, grocery store, dollar store or discount store.

Type of Playing Cards Used as ATCs

Take any deck of playing cards. It can be an old deck of cards you have in the house, and it does not even have to be a full deck. In fact, making ATCs out of stray cards is a great to recylce the cards and make art at the same time.

For a different type of ATC, instead of playing cards, you could make ATCs out of any type of playing card that measures 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches. Before you go digging for a ruler, standard playing cards and trading cards are usually that size.

You can make ATCs out of cards from a kids' deck of playing cards, including Old Maid, Uno, Go Fish, or any others. Vintage playing cards, sports or character trading cards are other options that you can use to make ATCs. Try not to scrounge around for your kids' Yu-Gi-Oh cards to make ATCs, though, they may not appreciate that.

Supplies Needed For Making ATCs

a deck of playing cards
any stray trading or playing cards
a pair of scissors
glue
acrylic paint, markers, pens, pencils, oil paint, poster paints (optional)
cancelled stamps, decorative papers (optional)
magazine images (option)

Experiment with ATCs

There are an infinite number of ways to make an ATC out of playing cards. The key is to use your imagination, and just start assembling or creating a new card out of one or more old cards.

For example, take a couple of trading cards or playing cards and start to cut them up. You can cut the symbols, the numbers, the face cards, or even the images on the back. Take one card to use as the ATC base. Re-assemble the cut out images onto the new ATC base card. If you like the assemblage you've created, use the glue and commit to your ATC design. Add other items or paint or draw on the ATC as you see fit.

You may also glue images you've cut out from magazines, greeting cards, or use cancelled stamps.

The best part about making ATCs is that it is such an inexpensive art form, that you will feel free to experiment and won't worry too much about it "coming out right." You will know when you're done making an ATC. If you don't like it, you can always make another ATC.

Who knows? You may use the ATC you did not like again in the future, as the base for another ATC.

The key to making ATCs is using what you have in the house, combined with a healthy dose of imagination and experimentation.