More than 4 years ago we started doing trading cards as a way of sharing and caring for and about each other during Covid – a little 2.5 x 3.5″ card of caring, a recognition that a piece of original art was one way of exercising our creativw brains and then showing we care by giving it away in exchange for another piece of art. We never know what we are going to get, only what we choose to give that month.
My box of cards is getting quite full now and I often look at them, studying details or just enjoying the feeling of sharing and caring that radiates off the art. Most months I make 9 cards and I keep one. Sometimes I pick a hand or topic or style of art that I want to work on and these become a practice exercise. I will do 16 and pick the nicest, enjoying seeing how my art improved with the process.
I love seeing the selection in my bowl as I toss them all together and do the random drawing of the mailed in magic!
Twice a year we meet in person to trade and eat and enjoy each other’s company. Most Wednesday nights we gather on Zoom for chatting. Join us anytime. Contact me for the Zoom link. We enjoy artists who enjoy creating and supporting others with bite-sized pieces of art…..
So this is the process that we use….. Eleven months of the year we trade cards by mail and this is how we do it: Work on a card 2.5″ x 3.5″ that is no heavier than card stock or 140# watercolor paper. Put your name and then a message or the date on the back. Put them into the post with a SASE envelope. Do this by the 11th of the month. I then do a trade here around 10 days later and put your cards into your SASE and they are posted back to you. Make sure to have at least 2 stamps on the SASE envelope. And make your cards on card and not anything thick like foam core. Contact me for my postal address.
Once I receive the cards, I then sort them trying to make sure you get a swop from another artist. If you send 6 cards, I send you back 6 cards from other artists. I pop them into your stamped (2 stamps are good for 8 or 9 cards and 1 stamp for few cards) and self-addressed envelope that you sent me with your art cards and ta-da! you get art happiness in the mail!
The variety is endless – calligraphy, watercolor, fabric, eco prints, markers, collage, and more!
It is fun to see the mixed media, paper arts, calligraphy, sewist art and watercolors all in one place – if it fits on a card and can be mailed flat and thin, it all works! Thick card or gator board is not welcome. I post some of the images on Facebook so we can all enjoy the art!
The joy of in-person trading is the opportunity to pick and share and get what really tickles you fancy! We do this twice a year but the posted cards are all included as well.
We are having fun creating small works of art and seeing what others did too. We are going to continue with this project and hope others will join in too. You can make as few cards as you like – some people make 4 every month and others make 8 or 9 – and a few people send more when the theme gets them in the groove. The good news is that you can pick your level of involvement and keep making art of all sorts and kinds each month. Last year (2023) we traded over 880 cards! That is amazing!
Trading cards are a great way to keep your pens and brushes wet every month. I set aside one evening a month to do my cards and some months, sad to say, that is the only art that I do for others and so this gives me great joy! Join us!
| Upcoming Suggested Themes: August: Your choice September: ABC-123 – Use Your Letters October: Work in the colours of Autumn November: Fantastic Creatures December: No cards are exchanged January 2025: Warm it up February 2025: Your choice of theme or art March 2025: Words, words, words – like Eliza Doolittle April 2025: Your choice of theme or artwork May 2025: It’s May – like Camelot June 2025: Your choice of theme or artwork July 2025: Everything is coming up roses – like Bette Midler in Gypsey August 2025: your choice of theme or artwork September 2025: Falling leaves October 2025: Your choice of theme or artwork November 2025: It’s a parade – Like Hello Dolly December 2025: no cards are exchange |
Trading Card Fun
Join us to trade cards every month. Cards are 2.5 x 3.5" in size - that is pretty much the only rule. Send them to me, I will do the trade and send them back to you in the self-address postage paid envelope. You get mail happiness! Twice a year we get together to trade in person.
July 2022 Fun
Mixed media, calligraphy, watercolor, fireworks and fun for the 4th! Our theme was freedom
All the calligraphy and watermedia
A happy collection of watercolor, calligraphy, collage, and fabric art
Dreaming in art! Trading cards give you endless opportunities to be creative
Can you feel the spring in this March collection going to a trader?
Creativity abounds!
The styles, colours, and techniques vary by person, by month, by theme. It is lovely to be this creative!
Where there is art, there is hope!
Atists of all kinds are loved!
Love and colour!
Calligraphy, watercolor, gouache, and even corrugated cardboard cutouts!
Love is in the air!
Colours and pen fun
Hoo Hoo wants to do trading cards?
Spooky Halloween!
Fun paint marks and shading of shapes
A sheet of lettering before I cut them up for trading cards. All original art work!
Such diversity!
Eggs and spring
Bunny buts and egss and collage and fabric art and watercolor and oh so much more!
Watercolor and book making
Butterflies and blooms
May flowers!
Blooming love for art along with pop out book and fabric media arts
Some of the November 2024 Watercolor Trading Cards - we had collage, calligraphy and coloured pencils this month
Some of the watercolor pieces
One thought on “Trading Cards Delight”
Comments are closed.