ATCs for Beginners All Are Welcome!!

This has a great description. : )

I'll be watching this for now, but quick question: I think I read somewhere that you can use a card from a deck of playing cards? If so, that's perfect- I have about 300 decks with random missing cards that I can use

It depends on the size of the deck @HeidiJean ATCs have 1 basic rule. They MUST be 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 so they fit into those baseball card sleeves. So a standard deck of playing cards? No, but I believe you can trim them and they'd fit.

My only word of advice is a playing card is pretty thin. If you do cut them to make them the correct size, consider gluing 2 of them together for sturdiness. :D

Do we have an overall theme for this swap?

No theme. Totally use your own interests or wait to see your partners. Either way, you're free to create as you will :D

There are no Walmarts, Targets, Hobby Lobbys or Michaels in my country; and we don't have sports cards either. Do I HAVE TO have a sleeve? I guess I could try and make it...

Someone told me that poker cards are measured 2.5 x 3.5 inches, so it might be worth looking and measuring next time you see some ;)

oh, and you can get sleeves and blanks on ebay quite cheaply. hope that helps!

You can indeed make your own sleeve. In fact many people do.

I was at the dollar store, and got a pack of pokemon trading cards, I believe they are the same size as baseball cards. I'll confirm they're the correct size when I get home, of course.

By the way, I wanted to say thanks for making an ATC for beginners- I've been a little iffy about joining them because I'm kind of clueless and I didn't want a more experienced ATC swapper being like "what is this crap?!"

You're more than welcome. And...just make sure that if the cards are the correct size, that they're also a bit thicker than a playing card. Think sturdy. And above all of that....have fun.

Totally agree with HeidiJean about the beginner swap :)

@ConeImateenLaizquierda - you can make little envelopes for your cards instead of the sleeves. Google envelope templates. Watch out for commercial playing cards, etc. They have a plastic coating that makes it hard for paper to stick. (I found that playing cards only stick when you are actually playing with them. LOL)You might have to sand it a bit to give it some "tooth".

Pokemon are definitely the right size - I trace around those all the time to get the right size! They also are pretty sturdy, more so than cardstock (imo).

(((VivaLaDiane)))

Before I joined swap-bot, the only ATCs I'd ever seen and traded were made with playing cards. That was the norm before the craft stores jumped on the bandwagon. They're the exact size and a deck of them is far cheaper than buying the blanks at the hobby/craft store. I wouldn't use them, however, for swap-bot swaps due to the harsh attitudes of some swappers here. Only if I knew my swap partner used or welcomed them would I use them for trades on this site. :)

With this swap summerhawk, you can do pretty much whatever you'd like. There are also times when people will instead host altered playing cards, so that right up front, you know the 'rules' are different.

When do we get our partners

Thanks so much ... I am looking forward to it

Shouldn't we get o9ut partners on September 1 since 8/31 is the last day to sign up? 9/14 is the day the ATC ships by.

Yes SpikeyLisa, you are correct :)

Okay I cannot resist any longer, I have wanted to know what it's like to make ATCs (especially seeing as I am not that great at actual 'art'), and I stumbled across some lovely pink playing card protective sleeves the other day. In short; I'M IN :D

Hey! I have a question. Is it common to add some extra gifts in the envelope? I mean like a sticker sheet or something...

Whoa. What a user name :) In any case...I will answer this and this answer applies to every swap you will EVER do on Swap-bot. It is common to send exactly what is required. For this swap, just 1 atc per partner. CAN you send extras? Absolutely. However, bear this in mind, it will not get you anything extra. You aren't guaranteed a heart because you sent something extra and most likely you won't receive anything extra.

I will use myself for example. I rarely send anything extra. The exception is when I know someone and have swapped with them a few times, or we're in a group together ...then I actually know what they'd like and what they wouldn't.

Finally, please take this as friendly advice because that's how it's intended...if I got a sheet of stickers in a swap, I'd usually throw them away. I'm really picky on what I'd use. So honestly you can check your partners profile and if they're ga ga for stickers, you can; but it's not required and more to directly answer, I don't feel it's common. I hope that makes sense.

Thanks a lot for your honest answer! It really helps me a lot as a beginner swapper :-)

Not a problem. Remember my user name or write it down, if you ever have a question; feel free to ask me. I've been on here for 4 years and though I don't know everything, I know a lot and can either help you, or get you to the right place. This goes for anyone.

In fact, I just started a mentor group... click to join

If I got something as an extra that isn't my taste or I wouldn't personally use, I'd send to someone else in a different swap as an extra if I thought they'd enjoy it. Otherwise I use it / keep it.

weren't partners supposed to be assigned today?

oh...never mind my comment above

Re: Sleeves

I looked at HobbyLobby and they had none but the whole sheets intended for binders. Same story at Office Depot.

However, I did find name badge holders at Office Depot and they are the exact right size to be an ATC sleeve. There is a bit more plastic on the open side so that it can be attached to the person's shirt with a clip or to accommodate a lanyard but I think that can be trimmed off with no damage to the sleeve. And they come in horizontal and vertical formats!

I do so hope that this will work to fill the sleeve requirement. I am getting ready to start my ATCs and I am quite excited about it.

I found my plastic sleeves at Wal-Mart, with the trading cards, like baseball cards, and Pokemon or "Magic the Gathering" trading cards. Only 98 cents a packet, at my store.

Hobby Lobby had sleeves (locally) but in a really weird place. NOT in scrapbooking, rather in the art section, by the canvases. Sometimes you have to hunt around! :)

Title of the swap? Is that the 'ATCs for Beginners' or the title of the ATC itself? Sorry if this seems like a silly question.

I did send my three atc cards please correct the "oops mark this unsent "

It can be either @alkalinekiwi but just note what the swap is for somewhere so you'll be rated for it.

Any sleeve is fine :)

I hope you're all enjoying this swap,

I see you changed the send by date. I didn't know you could do that after the sign up period was closed. What was the reason?

I'd been contacted by a few people asking if it were possible. Because I had more than 3 requests, I did it.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for extending the send by date. I was running so late but didn't ask. Now it's all good :)