ATC Trading Community

ATC Trading with HeartSwapz

Artist Trading Cards are meant to be swapped, not just sold. That is the whole point of the format. You make a small piece of art (2.5 x 3.5 inches), trade it with someone else, and both of you walk away with something new. No money changes hands. Just art.

HeartSwapz started because Rosa wanted to make that kind of creative exchange more accessible. Not everyone has a local art group or knows where to find trading partners. So we are building a place where that can happen.

How ATC Trading Works

The basics are simple. You make a card. Someone else makes a card. You trade. There are no rules about medium, style, or experience level. Some people paint. Some people collage. Some people stamp, print, or draw. The only requirement is the size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

Most trades happen through the mail. You send your card in a small envelope or toploader, and your trading partner does the same. Some groups do round-robins where everyone sends to the next person on the list. Others do one-on-one swaps based on themes.

If you are new to this, the ATC and ACEO guide covers everything from what ATCs are to how to get started.

What HeartSwapz Offers for Traders

We sell supplies specifically sized and designed for ATC art and trading:

• Blank watercolor ATC cards on 140lb cold-press paper, pre-cut to size
• Paint-your-own ATC kits with swap-ready backs already printed
• DIY ATC kits with themed materials for people who prefer collage over painting
• Ephemera, stickers, and paper packs that work at miniature scale

Everything is sized right, printed on materials that can handle actual art-making, and designed by someone who actually trades cards.

What is Coming

We are working on a dedicated platform at app.heartswapz.com where traders can find swap partners, organize group trades, share their work, and connect with other people who make miniature art. The shop is where you get your supplies. The community is where you use them.

If you want to know when the trading community launches, grab the free ATC backgrounds and you will be on the list.

Start Making

You do not need permission or a portfolio to start trading ATCs. You need a piece of paper, something to make marks with, and someone to swap with. Start with the guide, grab some cards, and make something small.