Polymer Clay Ideas - Artist Trading Cards

Artist trading cards, or ATCs, are a great way for artists to meet and communicate with each other; in fact, that's their main purpose. And even though they started with artists working in other mediums, like paint and collage, they're easy to make with polymer clay - and may offer even more opportunities for self-expression.

The basics of ATCs
There are only two rules that all artist trading cards must adhere to. The first one is size - they must be 2.5 by 3.5 inches (or 64 x 89 mm). The second is that they must never be sold. They can be collected, of course. But they're meant to be exchanged.

The front of the card can be pretty much whatever the artist wants. The back contains the artist's name, contact information, and information about the card - for example, a title (if it has one) and number, if it's part of an edition or series.

Here's the correct terminology for ATCs:
- An original is a one-of-a-kind work.
- An edition refers to multiple copies of the same design (usually in a limited number).
- A series consists of related but not identical designs - for example, the same image in different colors.

General tips for making ATCs
ATCs are small, but they need to be sturdy to survive the exchanges (remember, they may be traded more than once). So if you decide to design one that's somewhat fragile, find a way to protect it in transit - maybe with extra padding or bubble wrap.

You'll probably find yourself making more ATCs than you'd originally planned, first of all because many people will want them, and second because they're so much fun. To save yourself the trouble of measuring from scratch every time you do a new one, make yourself a small template, then just cut around it.

Don't start with something large and then try to scale it down; your intended image could end up so small that it won't be recognizable. Instead, start with the size of the card and create your design based on that. This might not sound like it would apply to polymer clay artists, but there are some situations where it might - for example, if you're using canes.

The image on the card can be anything you want - a recognizable picture, an abstract, a repeating design, a geometric. It can be horizontal or vertical. And it can reflect what you're currently doing as an artist or be radically different; it's all up to you.

Specific ideas for polymer clay ATCs
There are so many techniques you could use here that it would impossible to list them all. But here are a few you can consider:
- canes
- textures
- mokume gane
- Skinner blends
- transfers
- liquid clay glazes
- surface designs
- pieces of other projects
- translucent clay over regular clay or other materials (for example, a dried flower)
- embellishments (buttons, beads, bits of fabric, feathers, wire, or anything that's relatively flat)

If you need ideas, there are many photos available online of ATC "swaps." And if you'd like to participate in a swap, join a polymer clay mailing list or check out Polymer Clay Central. Polymer Cafe magazine has also done two swaps, and hopes to have photos available on their website soon.

A couple of other suggestions: Don't think you have to be an established artist to make artist trading cards. Anyone can do them - all it takes is some clay and a little imagination. And even if you don't know any artists, you'll probably find plenty of people who'd love to have one of your cards. Just start handing them out; before you know it you'll probably be inundated with requests for more. Which brings me to a final point: Remember, these cards are meant to be traded. If you really like what you've done, make yourself one just like it!

Artist trading cards can open up a new world of self-expression for anyone who works in polymer clay. Make yourself a few, give them away - and let the world see how creative you are.