It’s no surprise that Artist Trading Cards for Kids (ATCs) are one of our signature projects at the studio and in Play Make Create. They are incredibly easy, simple to set up, and super satisfying to make.
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The Artist Trading Card movement was started by Swiss artist M. Vanci Stirnenmann in 1997. These unique mini works of art can be traded or swapped with friends, given as a little gift of love, or collected. The only rule is they have to be 2.5″ x 3.5″ (6.5 x 9cm), and after that, the possibilities are endless!
Artist Trading Cards for Kids are meant to be traded, gifted and swapped, they offer a wonderful way to connect during quarantine: amazing for pen pal snail mail!
Cut a stack of cards out of watercolor paper or cardstock, and start creating. You can use any of your favorite art making materials — we love Sharpies, watercolor paints, washi tape, stickers and oil pastels. Check out our Amazon Shop to easily see and get all of our favorite materials that we use in the studio.
A great variation on Artist Trading Cards is to make it a collaborative project. We use a big cork board and just pin them up in the studio. Kids can create an ATC, and swap theirs with an existing card on the board. It’s the best! Maybe you can set up a smaller version at home.
You can set this up tomorrow morning; it’s so super simple and is a great time to get off screens. This no pressure invitation is great for the whole family, all ages welcome.
