The Sky Is The Limit
Anyone who has fallen in love with a unique piece of art and has been fortunate enough to be able to bring it home with them understands how special an original work can be.
I am often surprised to learn how many people aren't familiar with Art Cards. They are inexpensive, collectable and most importantly, very fun to make!
The mediums that are used for making Art Cards are vast and unrestricted. The only rule for creating an Art Card is that it should be able to fit inside a standard trading card sleeve (2.5 x 3.5 inches) however this rule is occasionally broken when people start using strange and inventive, lumpy bumpy mediums.
There are two different types of art cards, ATCs and ACEOs. ACEOs are actually an offshoot of ATCs. The acronym ACEO stands for Art Card Editions (prints) and Originals. ATC stands for Art Trading Cards. The difference between the two is that ACEOs are meant for selling as well as trading where as ATCs are expressly created with the intention to trade.
Create Your Own
Regardless of whether you can draw or paint there are many different ways to make Art Cards. Some people use rubber stamps and stickers to create an attractive arrangement of colour and texture. Some people even make designs using polymer clay and beads!Your template is a 2.5 x 3.5 bit of paper or card and the only limitations that you face are the restrictions of your own imagination.
Like the image on the right? Here is a lens to help you create a painting similar to it!
Paint Tree Silhouettes
Collecting Art Cards
Besides being particularly awesome, amusing and all together wonderful, Art Cards are also highly collectable.Collect by artist, subject matter, medium or even by colour. Just be sure to read what you are purchasing very carefully to ensure that you are clear on what it is you'll be receiving.
Original artwork sells for far more than limited edition prints. If you think that you're getting one hell of a bargain you very well may be, however be sure that you read the fine print!
Protect Your Art Cards
When you're collecting it is important to protect your work whether it is purchased or made by your own hand. Standard card collecting sleeves and pages are ideal for storing art cards.
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Give The Gift Of Miniature Art
There are two different ways to go about doing this, making to gift or buying to gift.The primary reason why I like to give Art cards away as gifts is because they're very personal and unique. (I am an absolute sucker for unique gifts.) Art Cards are also extremely inexpensive to make and frame. In my experience, most people appreciate and treasure the thought that is put into creating a handmade gift regardless of the level of talent behind its creation.
For people who prefer to buy to gifts rather than to create them (or in addition to creating) the benefits are similar. When you purchase a piece of art, whatever the size, you are buying hours of someone's life when all of their creative energy was entirely dedicated to the work. There is a magic in that which you will never gain from anything manufactured and sharing that magic with someone else is a gift in its self.
Gifting Occasions
- Birthday
- Christmas
- Wedding
- New baby
- Anniversary
- New home
- Just Because
- Valentines day
- Engagement
- Graduation
Hunt For A Bargain on eBay
I sell my ACEOs primarily through eBay however, I don't have any auctions up at the moment so I will use this space to show off other peoples work for the time being.
There are tons of extremely talented artists selling their work for very reasonable prices on eBay. Have a browse to see what is available!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand bySelling Art Cards
I'm not an expert on selling Art Cards. Mostly, I just dabble however; here are a few tips for selling Art Cards on eBay that I'm confident in passing on.1. Research what other people are selling and how they are selling.
2. Use keywords in your item title.
3. Always package your work very carefully. I usually put mine inside a note card.
4. Create a small certificate of authenticity to accompany every card that you post.
5. Don't sell yourself short! Find a price range that you're comfortable with taking into account the time you spent on the piece and the cost of materials.
6. Be sure that you are marketing WORLD WIDE rather than just on your own regional eBay to increase your odds of finding buyers.
Art Trading Card Books
Finding Inspiration
Artist Trading Card Workshop: Create, Collect, Swap
Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 02/09/2010) 
1,000 Artist Trading Cards: Innovative and Inspired Mixed Media ATCs (1000 Series)
Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 02/09/2010)
Artist Trading Cards (Twenty to Make)
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 02/09/2010)
Commission An Art Card
Casually browsing the internet (particularly eBay and Etsy) will reveal millions of Art Cards available for purchase and most of the artists you will come across are willing to take on commissioned work for a wide variety of price ranges.Commissioning art for either yourself or with someone else in mind is taking the personal aspect of the purchase one step further. Commissioning work gives you the power to specify what the finished piece will be composed of (subject matter or colour schemes) combined with the artists' unique style to make something entirely independent.
Artists will normally charge a bit more for a commissioned work but if you are interested, contact them for a price quote and don't be shy! It's a compliment, honestly.
In fact, here is my chance for even more shameless self promotion - please contact me if you are interested in commissioning a special, one of a kind art card. My fees range between £5 and £15 depending on the subject of the painting.
Display Art Cards
Can you really frame something so small? Of course you can! Choose a photo matt and a frame carefully to compliment the art card then display your work or your collection with pride.
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What do you think about art cards?
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Reply
- BevsPaper BevsPaper Jul 24, 2009 @ 6:58 pm
- Wonderful lens!
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- Sylvestermouse Sylvestermouse Jul 22, 2009 @ 9:09 am
- Another inspiring lens! Of course I want the mice. These are wonderful!
Lensmaster Stuwaha has been a member since June 22 2007, has rated 64 lenses, favorited 7, and has created 5 lenses from scratch. Sarah Bonczek-Simpson donates their royalties to Food for Everyone Foundation. This member's top-ranked page is "Create Tree Silhouette Paintings". See all my lenses
