How to Make Your Own Trading Cards

Co-authored by Amy Guerrero

Last Updated: December 10, 2023 Approved

Trading cards have grown in popularity all over the world. There are a few different types of trading cards, including trading card games like Pokemon, baseball trading cards, and personalized trading cards. Although there are tons of preexisting trading cards, it can be fun to take a swing at making original trading cards of your own. Making your own trading cards will allow you to get creative and personal while creating something that you can enjoy with your friends and family.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing What Trading Cards to Make

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1
Make cards for your own Trading Card Game. Trading card games like Magic the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! are popular, but it can be even more fun to create your own game. You can invent your own characters, give them powers, and write your own rules. Making your own Trading Card Game is a phenomenal way to use your creativity and will give you and your friends a fun new game to play.
- Trading cards typically have unique character names, and includes details such as the character's powers, skills, strengths, any any other information you'd like to include.
2
Create your own baseball cards. Trading baseball cards has been a fun pastime for many years, but what if you don't have access to baseball trading cards? Whether you can't afford baseball cards, or can't find them in your town, making your own baseball cards is a fun alternative and fairly easy to do. Get a few of your friends involved to have fun with your baseball trading cards.
- Baseball cards typically include the player's name, their statistics, team history (where they played in college and high school), and a few fun facts.
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3
Use photos of family and friends to make personalized trading cards. Making personalized trading cards with friends or family is a fun way to connect with the people you love and can make great gifts for the holidays. Print out your favorite photos of family members (you can even include pets if you'd like) or use yearbook photos with a group of school friends.
- You can add whatever information you'd like to on these cards, but you should usually include the person's name, occupation or major, maybe their favorite food and color, and a couple fun facts. This is the most personal of all trading cards, so have fun with it!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Trading Cards by Hand

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Gather your materials. To make your own trading cards, you're going to need paper, a pencil, markers, and scissors. Other materials, such as stickers or photos, can be used if you want to use those as your artwork.
- Choose a paper with a thick consistency. Index cards, construction paper, or thick card stock paper are all good options. You want your playing cards to be sturdy so that they last longer and appear to be more professional.
- Choose bright colored markers to give your trading cards a vibrant look.
2
Cut out your cards. Typical trading cards are 2.5 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall, but you don't have to make your cards that size. Whichever size you want your trading cards to be, cut your paper so that all of the cards are as even as possible. If they are not even, then you will have trouble writing in small cards and filling in space with the big cards. ^{[1]
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- Use a ruler to draw guide lines on your paper. This will make cutting your cards much easier.
- Trace a trading card you already have (Pokemon, baseball card, etc.) multiple times until you've filled up your paper with outlines, and carefully cut each card out. This will help your cards be uniform in size.
- Using small index cards as your trading cards is a great option that requires no cutting. Although index cards are slightly larger than typical trading cards, choosing this option will require less work and give you completely even cards to play with.
3
Add your artwork. Your artwork will depend on whether you're making a trading card game, baseball cards, or personalized trading cards.
- Create a unique character on each trading card if your making a Trading Card Game. Draw each character in pencil first so that you're able to fix any mistakes you may make. Once you're satisfied with your drawing, trace and color in your character with marker to give it a polished, colorful look. If you are uncomfortable with drawing, use stickers as the images for your characters. Find stickers that you like and simply stick them in the center of your trading cards where the artwork would typically go.
- If you're making baseball cards, it's best to print out photos of the players you're putting on the cards. Then, tape or glue them to the card. Remember to use a small quantity of glue so it dries faster.
- If you're making personalized trading cards, print out pictures of your friends and family to tape or glue to your cards. You can also use wallet sized class photos if you're making the cards for a group of friends at school.
- Be sure to leave room on the top and bottom of your card to write in details about your person or character.
4
Add details to your trading cards. Each person / character should have a name as well as details about them. The information you choose to include is entirely up to you.
- Write your character / person's name at the top of each card using legible handwriting. Make the name bold with a marker so that it stands out.
- List the details about the character / person under the image. This is where you'd add the character's powers, skill level, etc., the baseball players stats, team history, etc., of the person's favorite food and color. Use a thin marker or very dark pen so that these details are easy to read.
This step is optional, but if you'd like to preserve your cards and make them last longer, consider laminating them. You can do this by getting a laminating machine, or taking your cards into a specialty shop to get them laminated.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Computer

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Use a computer that has a word processor or editing software. Microsoft Word, Pages, Photoshop, or any other program that will allow you to create shapes, insert images, and make text boxes will work. Word processors like Microsoft Word and Pages are user friendly and very simple to use, whereas Photoshop is a bit more advanced. Use whatever program you are most comfortable with.
- Your computer should also have access to a printer. If you don't have access to a printer, you can pay to have your trading cards printed at any store with printing services, such as FedEx Office.
2
Create the artwork for your cards. The type of artwork you use will depend on the type of trading cards you're making. Create a folder on your computer to store your images in. Using this folder, save your artwork or photos to set them to the side while you create your card template.
- Drawing your own artwork is a great option if you want to create a unique trading card game. You should draw your characters in pencil, and color them in with marker to give them a finished look. Once you've drawn your characters, you'll either scan your images into your computer using a scanner printer, or take a photo of each character and upload the photos to your computer. (If you choose to take photos, make sure you have bright lighting with no shadows).
- Using photos of your friends, family, or even pets for your characters is a great way to make a personalized trading card game. Simply upload pictures of each person you want to be a character to your computer.
- Download photos of your favorite baseball players to you computer to make your own baseball cards.
- Crop your photos / artwork into square shaped images. This will make adding them to your templates much easier.
3
Design the template for your cards. Open up your chosen computer software and create a new document / project. We will pretend we are using Pages since it is a simple software. Using Microsoft Word will be extremely similar, but the buttons / commands may be named slightly differently.
- Click "Insert Shape" to insert a rectangle into your document. Drag the dimensions of your rectangle so that it is the size of your desired trading card. As you drag your rectangle, the size measurements will appear. Typical trading cards are roughly 2.5 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall.
- For size reference, you can hold a trading card or playing card up to your computer screen, and drag your rectangle's dimensions so that it is the same size as that card. Be sure your document is zoomed in to 150% for accuracy if you use this method.
- Give your rectangle shape a thick border for you to cut around.
- Once you've created the shape of your card, it is time to insert text boxes for your character / person's name and details. Add a thin text box along the top of your card, and type in your character / person's name. Next, add a slightly larger text box along the bottom of your card. This will be where you list your character / person's details.
- Use a legible font so that the name and details are easy to read.
- You should now have an open square area in the middle of your card, this is where the image / artwork of your character will go.
Remember the artwork or photos that you set aside from earlier? Now it's time to add them to your template. Open the folder where your images are saved, and drag your first character / person onto your template. You can drag the dimensions of the image so that it fits into the square space that you've left open. Now, your card should have a name, an image, and a description.
5
Create a full sheet of templates and make each one an individual person / character. Copy and paste your template so that you can make multiple cards out of one sheet of paper. If you've done a standard card size, your card template should fit on one sheet 9 times. If you've done a larger card size, put 4-6 card templates on one sheet.
- To copy and paste your entire template (the rectangle shape and the text boxes together), click "Edit" in the upper left hand corner, then click "Select All," and finally do your copy and paste.
- Add the names and details for each of your characters into your templates so that each card is for a different character / person. Drag the image for each character / person into the templates, and resize accordingly.
- Once you've done this for each card template, you should have a sheet full of individual trading cards ready to print.
6
Print your new trading cards. Use thicker paper to give your cards the proper consistency. This type of paper can be bought at any office supply store.
- If you're unable to print at home, save your documents to a flash drive / thumb drive and bring them into your local printing store. Be sure to select a thicker paper for your print job.
Once your cards have been printed, cut them out! Cut slowly and carefully along the edges of your borders. If you choose to get your cards laminated, you can buy a laminating machine or take your cards into specialty shop to be laminated. ^{[2]
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Does it need to be made perfectly, so the picture is recognizable?

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You don't have to make it perfect. It should be unique.

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If you would want to make rare and ultra rare cards, what would you suggest using?

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Using a different template can be one way, or you could place a rating system, i.e. C = common, UC = Uncommon, R = rare, or UR = Ultra Rare.

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How many cards should be in one pack?

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For most trading cards, there are about 5, but you can go as much as about 12.

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Tips

Name your game. Think of a fun, creative name for your trading card game. Turn all of your cards over, and write the name of the game on their back side.

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Create a rulebook for your game. This will help you teach it to your friends and family.

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Order a custom stamp for the backs of the cards. It's much easier to do that than draw out the logo every single time, although it could cost lots of money. (Mine cost $23).

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Take time on your cards. If you rush to get them done, they won't look as good and they will hold less sentimental value.
If you plan to make cards for a long time, try making different series like how Pokémon did Sun & Moon.
If you run out of ink from your printer, you can always go to a specialty store to get them printed!

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How to Make Your Own Trading Cards

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Making Trading Cards by Hand

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