Gifts for the ACEO Artist

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Every ACEO starts on a blank card. If they are cutting their own, a pack of Strathmore precut blanks is the easiest gift on this list: already 2.5"x3.5", ready for the first line.

The showpiece

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   The Sardine Box

   A pocket ACEO painting kit in a case about 4.5"x3": 30 sheets of 300gsm watercolor paper, round and flat brushes, a mini eternal pencil, washi tape, a mister, and a drying cloth. Handmade by bluestarcraftsmx on Etsy, and the one gift on this list they would never buy themselves.

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At the drawing desk

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   Ohuhu water-based markers

   The markers behind every Stacks Of ACEO. Dual brush and fine tips, no bleed and no peeling on card stock. A big set means they never run short of a color.

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   Krylon workable fixatif

   Workable fixative stops pencil, charcoal, and pastel from smudging once a card goes into a sleeve. The artist can still draw over it.

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   Guillotine paper trimmer

   Cuts a sheet of Bristol down to 2.5"x3.5" with clean, square edges, several sheets at a time. Crooked hand-cut edges are the first thing a collector notices.

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When the card sells

Most ACEO artists sell online, and a sale is only as good as the card that arrives.

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   BCW 35pt semi-rigid holders

   Semi-rigid holders keep a sold card flat and protected on its way to the buyer. Buyers expect them.

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   Rigid card mailers

   Rigid mailers that cannot fold in the post. Card in a sleeve, sleeve in a holder, holder in one of these, and it arrives the way it left.

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For the portfolio

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   Ultra Pro 9-pocket PRO-Binder

   A binder of their own originals to bring to markets, meetups, and commission calls. Nine cards a page, and every page reads like a gallery wall.

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Handmade on Etsy

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Not sure which markers they like? Artists are particular about color, but everyone needs clean edges and safe mail. Start with the trimmer or the mailers.

The full kit behind every Stacks Of card is on the supplies page.