If you want to start making artist trading cards, you don't need a huge collection of art supplies. At the most basic level, you need a 2.5" × 3.5" card or suitable art paper, your preferred drawing, painting, or collage materials, a few basic tools, and something to protect the finished artwork.

That 2.5" × 3.5" size is important. It's the standard format for artist trading cards, which means finished cards can easily be traded, collected, mailed, and stored in compatible sleeves.

From choosing the right paper to deciding whether to buy pre-cut cards or make your own, here's what you actually need to start creating ATCs.

What Are Artist Trading Cards?

Artist Trading Cards, usually shortened to ATCs, are miniature original artworks created in a standard 2.5" × 3.5" format.

Beyond the size, there aren't many rules about what an ATC has to look like. Artists draw, paint, collage, stamp, print, and combine different techniques to create them. One card might be a tiny ink drawing, while another could combine paint, paper scraps, stickers, and handwritten details.

They're also meant to be shared. ATCs can be traded with other artists, collected, gifted to friends, or slipped into the mail.

What Size Are Artist Trading Cards?

The standard Artist Trading Card size is 2.5" × 3.5" (approximately 64 × 89 mm).

If those dimensions look familiar, there's a reason: they're the same basic format used for standard trading cards. Keeping your artwork at this size makes ATCs easier to trade and collect, and allows them to fit into compatible trading-card or ATC sleeves.

You can measure and cut your own cards from larger sheets of art paper, or start with cards that are already cut to ATC size.

What Cards Should You Buy for Artist Trading Cards?

Beginners have two straightforward options: buy blank cards already cut to 2.5" × 3.5", or buy larger sheets of art paper and cut their own cards.

Neither approach is inherently better.

Precut ATC cards save you the measuring and cutting, and every card starts at a consistent size. This is particularly convenient if you want to make a lot of cards or simply want to start creating without doing any prep work.

Cutting your own cards gives you more freedom to experiment with different paper weights, surfaces, colors, and paper types. If you already have art paper you enjoy working on, you can simply cut it down to the standard dimensions.

ATC-Ready Cards

If you'd rather skip the ruler and cutting mat, Uglybites™ are already sized at exactly 2.5" × 3.5", making them ready to use as Artist Trading Cards straight from the pack.

Each pack contains 15 sheets of extra-heavy 270gsm stock with a subtle vellum texture. The heavy stock is designed to stand up to ink, markers, layers of collage, and plenty of erasing without feeling like flimsy scratch paper.

Because the cards are already ATC size, finished Uglybites can slip directly into standard ATC sleeves for swapping, collecting, or mailing to another artist.

They're also deliberately small. Instead of facing an entire blank sketchbook page, you get a tiny space for a quick sketch, color test, experiment, or miniature finished piece.

Their compact format and approachable price also make them an easy creative gift for an artist, especially if you’re putting together a drawing or ATC starter kit.

What Is the Best Paper for Artist Trading Cards?

There isn't one best paper for every artist trading card. The right paper depends on what you're planning to draw, paint, or collage with.

When you're choosing ATC paper, consider three things: weight, surface, and the medium you plan to use.

Paper weight affects how sturdy the finished card feels. Since ATCs are often handled, traded, and mailed, a heavier card can be useful, particularly when you're adding multiple layers.

Surface and texture affect how your materials behave. Smooth paper feels different under a fineliner than a paper with more tooth, while colored pencils can benefit from a surface that gives the pigment something to grip.

Finally, think about medium compatibility. Paper that works beautifully with pencils and ink won't necessarily react the same way to watercolor, acrylic, or layers of wet media.

At 270gsm, Uglybites offer a particularly sturdy surface for techniques such as drawing, ink, markers, collage, and layered work. If you plan to use a lot of water, however, choose paper specifically designed for the amount and type of wet media you're using.

What Art Supplies Do You Need for ATCs?

You only need supplies for the kind of art you actually want to make. There's no standard set of pencils, paints, markers, or collage materials that every ATC artist needs.

A basic pencil and one favorite medium are enough to make your first card.

For Drawing

For drawing-based ATCs, you might use:

• Graphite pencils

• An eraser

• Fineliners

• Colored pencils

• Markers

• A white gel pen

You don't need all of these. If you normally sketch with pencil and finish with fineliner, start there.

For Painting

If you'd rather paint your cards, your supplies could include:

• Watercolors

• Gouache

• Acrylic paint

• Small brushes

Just make sure your chosen ATC paper is suitable for the amount of moisture your technique requires. This matters more than buying a particular type of paint specifically for ATCs.

For Collage and Mixed Media

ATCs are also a convenient format for experimenting with materials that might already be sitting around your workspace.

Try combining:

• Paper scraps

• Magazine cutouts

• Stickers

• Stamps

• Washi tape

• Archival glue

• Ink

• Paint

There isn't a "correct" ATC medium. The consistent part is the card size; what happens inside those 2.5" × 3.5" is up to you.

Other Useful Artist Trading Card Supplies

Beyond your art materials, a few practical tools can make creating, storing, and trading ATCs easier.

You may want a pencil and eraser, ruler, scissors or craft knife, cutting mat, glue, pencil sharpener, ATC sleeves, and a binder or storage box.

You won't necessarily need everything on that list.

A ruler, craft knife, and cutting mat are mainly useful if you're cutting your own ATCs from larger sheets. If you're using precut 2.5" × 3.5" cards, you can skip that part of the setup entirely.

Similarly, sleeves and storage aren't necessary while you're creating. They become useful once you start accumulating finished cards or trading them with other artists.

Do You Need ATC Sleeves?

You don't need sleeves to make artist trading cards, but they're useful for protecting finished artwork.

Once you've finished a card, a sleeve can help protect its surface from scratches, dirt, fingerprints, and general handling. That's especially helpful if you're planning to trade, mail, or collect your cards.

Look for sleeves compatible with standard 2.5" × 3.5" trading cards.

Because Uglybites are already made at that standard ATC size, you don't have to trim the finished artwork before storing it. Make the card, let your materials dry if necessary, and slip it into a compatible sleeve.

A Simple Artist Trading Card Starter Kit

If you're completely new to artist trading cards, start with 2.5" × 3.5" ATC-ready cards, a pencil and eraser, a black fineliner, your favorite coloring or painting medium, and a few standard ATC sleeves.

For example, your first kit could be:

• ATC-ready cards 

• Pencil

• Eraser

• Black fineliner

• Colored pencils or markers

• ATC sleeves

If you're making your own cards from larger sheets, add a ruler, scissors or craft knife, and a cutting mat.

That's enough.

You can always add paint, stamps, collage materials, different papers, or new drawing supplies once you discover what you actually enjoy making. Starting small also suits the whole point of ATCs: they're tiny spaces where you can experiment without committing to a large piece.

How to Make Your First Artist Trading Card

Once you have your supplies, making your first ATC can be as simple as:

1. Choose an idea or theme.

2. Sketch out your composition.

3. Prepare or choose a 2.5" × 3.5" card.

4. Draw, paint, collage, or combine different techniques.

5. Let wet media dry completely.

6. Add any final details.

7. Sign the card and add information to the back.

8. Place the finished artwork in an ATC sleeve.

9. Keep it, trade it, or send it to another artist.

Don't worry about making your first card elaborate. A five-minute sketch is still a piece of art that fits on an ATC.

What Should You Put on the Back of an Artist Trading Card?

The back of an Artist Trading Card typically includes enough information to identify the artist and the artwork, but it doesn't need to be overly formal.

You might include:

• Your name or signature

• Artwork title

• Date or year

• Edition or card number if it's part of a series

• Contact or social information if you want to share it

If you're making cards just for yourself, you can keep this as simple as your signature and the date.

If you're trading or mailing them, adding a little more information gives the next owner some context about the tiny artwork they've received.