[Peppi]

So girls, this is just a friendly reminder to get you started on your ATCs I just realized this week that I don't have to forget doing it this year. I loved the ones I received and I will definitely trade them this year.

Here is the link to Valerie's free templates.

[AmandaFace]

dont almost forget yours like i did! i spent the night before cutting and making the hubby cut too

[Zaz]

I cut some of mine in the hotel.

[Peppi]

LOL that would be funny! Me posting everywhere not to forget ... and then forget them myself. I will make them next week. I will be on vacation without internet but thought I would take my laptop for simple pleasures like making ATCs We will see. Glad you hubby cooperated Amanda, because I really like your ATC card. Just showed it to the family over here!

[angelaNussbaum]

I kept procrastinating it, thinking i had time, but at the last minute.. i had no time..

So advice from me? Do it now!! ASAP. Because later might be too late.

I was so sad when someone gave me a card and i could not give one back. They were happy and willing, but i wanted to share too!!!

[scrappinchar]

Please...please...please give me more details. Specifics.
Anyone willing to post the one they did last year? I'm not really familiar with ATCs.

One big question...what did you print it on? Double-sided matte photo paper? Don't worry about laminating? Don't worry about being touched & all that?

Details...details...details.

[scrappinchar]

Oh...and how many do you plan to make???

[Sandy Tracy]

Hi Ladies,

Newbie question here...what are ATCs?

Thanks,
Sandy

[anemone1983]

I can't remember how many I printed...hopefully someone will remind us how many seats there are and we can add some for designers, Ro, et. al. Oh, and I printed mine on the double-sided matte paper by Epson.

I've posted the front and the back of my ATC in the gallery. HTH!

[Smiles]

Getting fronts and backs to line up can be a challenge. I think April figured out a way to make it easier.
Laminating wasn't big.
I actually cut out fronts and backs (my printer won't handle cardstock) and double-side taped them on. Very labor intensive and frustrating - not the way I wanted to spend the night before the convention!

[anemone1983]

Sandy Tracy, on Jul 17 2009, 06:19 PM, said:

Hi Ladies,

Newbie question here...what are ATCs?

Thanks,
Sandy

Hi Sandy, welcome to SG! They are Artist Trading Cards. Caroline added the link for a free template in the first post. They're a specific size, 2.5x3.5, if I recall correctly. If you're attending the convention, you can bring them to swap with other convention attendees. Don't worry if you feel like you're not an "artist" -- I'm not and I made some anyway!

There's a whole history to ATC's, not just here at SG, if you're interested google it and you'll find out a lot - like the size is the same aspect ratio of a 5x7, so artists could make miniatures of their 5x7 work without cropping or changing it. Also, there's an ATC Swap Crop here on the MB, if you're interested in participating.

HTH!

[Becca]

Anyone know of a place that will print ATCs for you? Staples? An online site?

EDITED TO ADD: I found a place! Artscow.com prints custom playing cards, and you can customize both sides, taking off the playing card suits with their "custom designer". I don't have my ATCs ready, but it might be worth checking into! Especially since they have specials and coupons quite frequently.

[scrappinchar]

Are the playing cards the "correct size" for ATCs or does it matter?

[scrappinchar]

To add...I had two sets of cards made by them for my boys for last Christmas. I like the idea of that material...that durability.

[Becca]

Char-

I thought of that. Most sites have standard size playing cards that are a 1/4" too big for ATCs. But Artscow's cards are smaller for some reason. I was reading on their forum, and a customer measured her cards and she said they are exactly 2.5" by 3.5", which is ATC size, right?

[Becca]

scrappinchar, on Jul 18 2009, 08:50 AM, said:

To add...I had two sets of cards made by them for my boys for last Christmas. I like the idea of that material...that durability.

Oh! Get out your tape measure, Charlene! See if they truly are the right size for ATCs and report back to us, please!

[Zaz]

When I did my ATCs last year, in order to make sure I didn't have to line things up perfectly, I made the background for a whole sheet of ATCS so there wouldn't be any lines. The fronts all had to line up, but then I didn't have to worry as much about the backs.

I printed mine on double-sided matte paper at home. That way I could be sure they were just the way I wanted them. I'm just like that.

[kimmybutton]

I never printed mine out ... the shame! Thanks for the reminder, Caroline! I love the ATCs I received last year in SLC. I look through them about once a month and use them as prayer reminders for each person! I'm determined to finish them this year!

[Bobbi Jo]

I'm having a hard time "getting it" too -- the ATCs in the gallery are beautiful, but I don't see all the info that's on the templates shown in Valerie's templates. So are those beautiful gallery LOs the backs of the cards? And the fronts are the facts?

I'd love to know about those ArtsCow cards too, Charlene -- that sounds like a very appealing way to get them printed (double-sided tape after designing, printing and cutting out? that's amazing, and I know myself too well; I would never get it done )

Sorry for all the questions! Thanks for answering them!

[TallCool69]

I was going to post mine from last year in the gallery - but I can't find it on any of my hard drives!!!
And do you think I kept one for myself...
NO!

[scrappinchar]

Sorry gals! I don't know where they are! lol The boys played with them a lot and since I brought them up in this thread, it made me realize that I haven't seen them around for a couple of months. And of course the boys don't know where they are. If I come across them soon, I'll measure them.

I checked the Artscow site...it says they measure 2.5x3.5. Here is the page for the completely customizeable (sp?) version.

I might scout around for other places that print cards/ATCs.

Guess I gotta start designing one, huh?

[tiza126]

Thanks for the reminder!! I'll have to start thinking about mine.

[Bobbi Jo]

scrappinchar, on Jul 18 2009, 11:15 AM, said:

Sorry gals! I don't know where they are! lol The boys played with them a lot and since I brought them up in this thread, it made me realize that I haven't seen them around for a couple of months. And of course the boys don't know where they are. If I come across them soon, I'll measure them.

I checked the Artscow site...it says they measure 2.5x3.5. Here is the page for the completely customizeable (sp?) version.

I might scout around for other places that print cards/ATCs.

Guess I gotta start designing one, huh?

Thanks for the link, Charlene. 2.5x3.5 is the same size as Valerie's template, and in checking out the Artscow site I saw that another scrapper was using them as her ATCs too. Good enough for me.

[naninca]

So what actually goes on the cards? Basic info, yes. But what else? Pretty layouts? Family photos? Photo of ME? (like I have many of those, ha!)
I have the template, but haven't come anywhere near starting....

Nancy

[scrappinchar]

Nancy, I wonder the same thing. lol
Like, should the decorative side have something to do with me? Or just anything in the world that I want? lol

[Sandy Tracy]

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for the info. This is my first year at the convention and I am fairly new to SG. I love the idea of the ATCs. A little overwhelmed, especially after seeing all the other pretty ones, but I am sure I will come up with something. Thanks Charlene for posting that website. It is going to make it so much easier to print.

One question, besides ATCs and the obvious laptop, is there anything else I need to bring to the convention?

Thanks!
Sandy

[Peppi]

The front side of the ATC is decorative. I think when I look at those I got last year, that most of them had a photo on them. It is nice when I look at them to have a face with the name LOL then just some embellis, stitching, .... what you like most in your favorite colors. A little about me LO KWIM

[Peppi]

Sandy Tracy, on Jul 18 2009, 10:04 PM, said:

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for the info. This is my first year at the convention and I am fairly new to SG. I love the idea of the ATCs. A little overwhelmed, especially after seeing all the other pretty ones, but I am sure I will come up with something. Thanks Charlene for posting that website. It is going to make it so much easier to print.

One question, besides ATCs and the obvious laptop, is there anything else I need to bring to the convention?

Thanks!
Sandy

Yeah, a laptop with some photos and scrap supplies is what is most important. As we scrap beside having fun and classes LOL I don't think that there is anything else you MUST have, perhaps a camera I think there will be a definitive schedule coming out before the conventio with some important info and suggestions.

[scrappinchar]

Peppi, on Jul 18 2009, 04:40 PM, said:

The front side of the ATC is decorative. I think when I look at those I got last year, that most of them had a photo on them. It is nice when I look at them to have a face with the name LOL then just some embellis, stitching, .... what you like most in your favorite colors. A little about me LO KWIM

"a photo on them"...a photo of the person? or a photo of something else? Just checking.
Don't want to appear self-centered if I'm the only one with me on my card. lol

[anemone1983]

scrappinchar, on Jul 18 2009, 04:57 PM, said:

"a photo on them"...a photo of the person? or a photo of something else? Just checking.
Don't want to appear self-centered if I'm the only one with me on my card. lol

It varies - some had photos of SGs and their family, just the SG, or something they like (Shelbi's had the Caribou Coffee sign). Mine didn't have a pic, and I don't know if I'll include one or not this time LOL. You are the "artist" anything you can imagine and produce, you can put on your ATC!