First of all, what are PTCs, I hear some of you say. Originally, there were ATCs - Artist Trading Cards. They were used a bit like business cards for artists and crafters, tiny pieces of art to be given as a sample of your talent. These days, they are usually used as swaps, generally on a theme. Then, Artist Trading Coins, round pieces of art, came into the picture. The only real absolute rule is the size of these pieces. The cards must not be bigger than 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches (64mmx89m), while the coins must not exceed 2.5 inches. The main reason for this is to ensure they will fit into the plastic wallets designed to display them.
PTCs, both cards and coins, have to stay within that size. This is a PTC (Parchment Trading Card) that I put together for a recent crop. Despite the apparent intricacy of the design, the whole thing is still only 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches. So it fits properly into the wallets.
To make sure you get the right sizes, this is how I work.
1. Cut your final backing card to the correct size out of white card and put the ATC backstamp on it (Clarity ATC Stamp).
2. Cut your parchment to the same size before starting your work. You will almost certainly have some kind of a border to be cut, which will reduce the size of the parchment slightly.
3. At some stage, either at the start or at the end of your work, you will also need a piece of backing paper or card to go between the white card and your parchment. Ideally, that should be slightly smaller than the white card and slightly bigger than your finished piece of parchment.
By lining up all three in this way, you are showing off your work to its best. Measure the backing card carefully and keep everything else within those limits.
1 comment:
Very useful information Margaret. Thanks
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