Artist Trading Cards (ACEOs) in Progress

Spiral

Dottin' Around #5

I'm working on some new artist trading cards (also known as ACEOs) and I thought I would share some in-progress photos with you.

An artist trading card (or ATC) is a small work of art the size of a baseball trading card or playing card (2.5" x 3.5"). These works of art are either originals or limited edition numbered series. They were originally created by artists for trading only; however, artists later realized that they would also be a great, inexpensive way for others to begin their own art collection. So the idea of ACEOs was born. ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals. ACEOs are now being made and sold by artists all over the world.

The in-progress cards shown below (as well as the finished ones above) began as a large (~12" x 12") background of various hand-dyed cotton and over-dyed upholstery fabrics fused to a piece of Peltex^TM to give the card thickness and support. I then used decorative machine stitches to stitch the fabrics down and start to give the background some texture. I often add couched yarns to the background as well. I then added more background texture through the addition of hand-dyed cheesecloth fused down with painted fusible webbing. Sometimes netting (or tulle) is used over part or all of the background surface.

Once the background is complete, I start working with my focal images. The cards in progress are from my "Deco Dots" series. I added various sizes and colors of fabric circles, partial circles and rings to achieve the look I wanted. I also sometimes add other decorative fabric pieces (such as the wavy cut strips shown) or various decorative trims.

The next step will be embellishing the cards.  More on that to come . . .

©Polkadot Possum (Cindy Harwood)