Q&A for How to Make Artist Trading Cards

Usually this would include: Your name, a website/ blog or email address, A name for the collection or piece of art if it is just one card and a number (say if you have a set of five, you can put 1 of 5, 2 of 5, etc.).

If you can't find a place in your community or nearby there's always The International Card Deck Swap. Look it up - they're always welcoming new people.

ATCs can be made with square or rounded corners. It's really up to you and your personal preferences.

Usually, the person with whom you are trading will choose the card they want, and then you would choose a card from their selection.

You could, but use only a few designs. For business cards, you usually stick to one design for recognition.

If you have access to a paper cutter, you can make many of your own cards with any kind of stiff paper. They just have to measure 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". (I would recommend cardstock, but construction paper could work too.)

Pastel may not be the best, but if that is all you have then try to go really lightly so that you don't smudge anything, and laminate or use clear contact paper to go over it so that you can't smudge your work after. The best media would probably be marker or colored pencils, which can be easily found in any dollar store.

Laminating is a matter of personal preference, but keep in mind that lamination may affect how the art medium and the paper interact. For example, if a Sharpie pen is used on paper and then laminated, may eventually "bleed" along the edges. (It may take a few years, but it is a most disappointing thing to happen!)