Name ______________________________________
Date ______________
Class __________________
Custom Trading Cards
E.Q.: How can we create our own custom trading cards?
Focus Questions:
- What is a trading card?
- What are the characteristics of a trading card?
- How is a trading card valued?
- What terminology does one use when discussing trading cards?
- What are some popular types of trading cards?
Lesson 1:
Blueprint for the Arts
- 1. Literacy in the Visual Arts
- 2. Art Making
- 3. Making Connections
- 4. Community and Cultural Resources
- 5. Careers and Lifelong Learning
Activity One:
What purposes do you think the trading cards below might serve? Write what you think
in the spaces provided next to the images.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Each of the cards above serves a very distinct function. You can make many arguments
as to the various possible uses, but their intended uses are likely the following. The first
card is to advertise a perfume company, the second is a playable card in a role-playing
game, the third tells part of the story from a film, the fourth and fifth both advertise
(sports and comics, as well as the individual pictured) and inform one about the person
in the picture.
Activity Two:
Your Mission: As many trading cards exist in all different formats, it’s important for
manufacturers to be certain that the resources they put into developing and selling
certain cards will be profitable. In order to ensure success, the subject matter within a
given card series must be something that reaches either a large fan base or a
particularly intense one.
Consider the topics that interest you, and what you might want to see appear as a
collectible card. Think about the purpose of the cards as well - are they merely for
collection? Do they function as part of a game? Are they used for advertisements? If
you were to create a series of trading cards, what subject would you most enjoy, and
what would be financially profitable? Jot some ideas down below.
Lesson 2:
Blueprints for the Arts
- 1. Art Making
- 3. Making Connections
- 5. Careers and Lifelong Learning
Vocabulary:
Trading Card - small cards, usually made out of paperboard or thick paper, which
usually combines an image of a certain person, place or thing (fictional or real) and a
short description of the picture, along with other texts (attacks, statistics, or trivia)
Trade Card - an early example of a business card, used for advertising for businesses,
and often inserted into cigarette boxes, eventually becoming a valuable collector’s item
Card Condition - one of the aspects of trading cards that determine their value; printing
imperfections and damage from wear are taken into account
Pristine Condition - cards in perfect condition
Card Popularity - refers to one of the aspects of trading cards that determine their value;
popularity is determined by the subject represented on the card, their real-life
accomplishments and short-term news coverage as well as the specifics of the card
Card Scarcity - refers to one of the aspects of trading cards that determine their value;
as with any collectible, cards that exist in few numbers are more valuable
9-Up Sheets - uncut sheets of nine cards, usually promo cards
Autograph Cards - printed insert cards that also bear an original cast or artist signature
Base Set - complete set of base cards for a particular series
Box - original manufacturer’s container of multiple packs, often 24 to 36 packs per box
Chase Cards - cards, or a single card, included as a bonus in factory-sealed cases, and
randomly inserted into packs. They are usually harder to find, giving “chase” to
collectors.
Base Cards / Common Cards - non-rare cards from the main set
Packs - typically two-to-eight base cards (and possibly chase cards) within sealed, often
wax or foil, wrappers
Promo Cards - cards that are distributed, typically in advance, by the manufacturer to
promote upcoming projects
Redemption Cards - insert cards found in packs that are mailed (posted) to the
manufacturer for a special card or some other gift
Sketch Cards - insert cards that feature near-one-of-a-kind artist sketches
Swatch Cards - insert cards that feature a mounted swatch of cloth, such as a piece of
an athlete’s jersey or an actor’s costume
Unreleased Cards - printed by the manufacturer, but not officially distributed for a
variety of reasons. They are often leaked to the public, sometimes improperly, and not
to be confused with promo cards.
Uncut Sheets - are sheets of uncut base, promo, insert or other cards
Wrappers - the original pack covers, often with collectible variations
Activity One:
Your Mission: Create Nine Promo Cards
1. After deciding on a series that you want to work on, begin the research. Do you need
reference photos? Are you planning to trace existing images? Are the subjects from
your own imagination?
a. If you plan to trace and transfer existing images, you will need to print them from
the computer at exactly the right size - 2 1/2 x 3 1/2. Remember, your image will
be backwards when you transfer it, so be sure to reverse the image on your
computer before you print it if this is a necessity.
2. Trace a trading card onto your drawing paper so you have the proper dimensions.
3. Sketch your cards, and show the teacher for approval.
a. If you are tracing, place a piece of tracing paper on top of your image, then copy
every detail you wish to transfer. Be sure to press hard.
b. Flip the tracing paper face down onto your trading card and retrace it. The image
will appear on the trading card, but it will be reversed and faded. You will likely
need to go over it with your pencil
4. Decide on your borders, numbers and titles.
a. Once you’ve decided on a legible font you like, print out a stencil from your
computer.
i. Type the alphabet, spacing each letter and number three spaces apart.
ii. A good size for your stencil is 24 point. Try to avoid anything over 26 or under
20.
b. Using your ruler, make a line for yourself on your tracing paper, so the letters will
line up neatly.
c. Trace the letters to spell out the word or name you want. Be sure to press hard!
d. Fold the tracing paper and trace the word you’ve written on the backside.
e. Open the tracing paper, place it onto the trading card, and retrace it again. You
will have a faint transfer of your word in the desired font.
5. Ink your drawings with your flair pen.
6. Color your drawings
7. Design a logo for the backside of your card.
a. Trace your logo with tracing paper. Press hard - you will be using this to transfer.
b. Transfer the logo onto the backside of your card.\
8. Once you’ve finished your card, place it in order into the sheet protector.
Materials:
Must Include:
Pencil
Eraser
Tracing Paper
Drawing Paper
Ruler
Flair Tip Marker
Colored Pencils
Homemade Stencil
May Include:
Reference images
Lesson 3:
Blueprints for the Arts
- 2. Literacy in the Visual Arts
- 3. Making Connections
- 5. Careers and Lifelong Learning
Assessment: Trading Game
1. The following elements should be present in your final work:
a. Did the student follow all directions?
b. Creativity within the parameters of the project.
c. The cards are united by common elements (borders, fonts, theme, etc.)
d. The drawings are clean and polished
e. All colors are completely filled in, and have stayed within the lines
f. The cards are submitted in pristine condition
g. Use and understanding of vocabulary when discussing and writing about their
work and the work of others
h. Any and all revisions have added to the overall success of the work
2. Each student is randomly distributed another’s sheet of cards and a number between
1 and 6. Each number group will have the opportunity to trade the cards they’ve been
given for their own work. The game will go until all the students have their own work,
and then the teacher will lead a discussion on the cards.