Artist Trading Card album.. but you can call it A.T.C. for short

Ever have one of those “light bulb moments”.. when you look at something and then realize you can use it for a multitude of things?  I have those ALLLLL THE TIME.

here’s a little blurb about ATCs which I thought was interesting.

Artist Trading Cards (A.T.C.) are individual art miniatures which pass hand to hand. Some sources have credited M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who began trading sessions in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1997, as popularizing ATCs in the modern era, although modern ATC’s can be traced back to portrait miniatures and to a kind of business card popular with Impressionistic era artists.

Artists have produced miniatures for trade or self-promotion in many eras and places, and the current trend is thus part of this larger context. Historically there were few standard rules or guidelines to art trading cards, and many variances in sizes can be seen in older cards. The standardization in size of baseball cards is credited with creating the standardization in size for art cards. Today the only rule for these cards is their 2.5 by 3.5 inch size (64 x 89 mm), same as baseball cards and collectible card games. There are, however, certain conventions usually observed by those who make and trade these cards, such as the expectation that they be traded, not sold, and that they be created as unique works or small limited editions of prints. Artists generally sign and date the back, and may also include a title and contact information. For many, the face-to-face trading session is considered an integral part of the concept, although others find each other via the internet and trade by mail.

Artist Trading Cards are typically made on a base of card stock. However, ATCs have been created on metal, stiffened fabric, plastic, clay, glass, balsa wood, leather, embroidery canvas, acetate, heavy watercolor paper, and many other materials. The art on the cards can be done in any media: pencils, watercolors, acrylic, oil, collage, scratch board, mixed media,assemblage, digital art, calligraphy, beadwork, rubber stamps, carved soft block stamps, pen and ink, colored pencil, airbrush, pastels, and many others – anything artists use.

Another great thing about ATC’s is that you can use them as card fronts.. they are ready to layer and put on your card!

So now we get to wonderful storage.. .OMG.. you know me and storage.. we are BFFFFF”s

I LOOOVE this book… it’s called the QUEEN’s COLLECTION and I have another style as well!

but of course I bought this one for myself cuz of the colors and the attitude *winks*

What’s really great about this system is (a) it is pretty to look at.. I take it everywhere with me! Second of all, the refills are PHENOM quality.. all sewn and the reinforcements are made of muslin fabric.. PHENOM!

Another great thing about this is that you can fit full cards in there for storage, you can put your card pieces in there (I love to color so while I am watching tv I color and then I put them in the book so when I am ready to make a card, I pull what I need out!)

You can “grow” with this book and add pages.. each insert refill comes with a post.. GREAT!  I also put my receipts in here… ya know the ones I don’t wanna show anyBUDDY? LOL

Did I mention I love this thing???? OMG.. LOOOOVE IT.

Hmph.

I’m in love with a BOOK.

An ATC BOOK.

Mwah to da sistahs who MUST HAVE/NEED this booky

Em