[Oshi Activities] Ideas for making DIY trading cards. Handmade merch for your fave
Photo cards, which are popular as bonuses with K-POP idol merchandise and albums.
They’re items you can enjoy in various ways, like displaying your bias’s photos as interior decor or slipping them into your phone case.
Some of you may want to try making your own photos or character goods of your favorite member.
In this article, we’ve compiled a bunch of ideas for handmade photo cards.
We’ll introduce everything from easy projects themed around social media or student IDs to more elaborate creations.
Be sure to try making your own original goods using photos of your favorite idol.
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[Oshi Activities] Ideas for making DIY trading cards. Handmade oshi goods (21–30)
Business card-style trading card
Business card-style photo cards: handmade merch that makes supporting your favorite idol even more fun.
Using the image editing app PicsArt, first cut out and save an image of your fave.
Create the background design in the Phonto app and insert the cut-out image.
To finish, add text with profile details like name, birthday, and blood type.
The stylish result is perfect for trading with friends or keeping in your collection.
The appeal is that you can craft a one-of-a-kind photo card by obsessing over fonts and background designs.
It’s also fun to turn them into a series by theme or outfit, and you’ll want to keep them on hand as items packed with your fave’s charm.
Foil-stamped card
This is a popular oshi-activity item that lets you make your own trading cards with a sparkling, special feel.
Place tracing paper over the card of your favorite idol you want to foil, then trace illustrations or text with a pen.
Scan and print the tracing paper, and cut out only the necessary parts.
Layer stamping foil over it and run it through a laminator to transfer the foil.
While the laminate is still sealed, rub from the back and peel it off using a melamine sponge while dissolving it in water, revealing the foiled design.
Finally, attach it to the original card to complete it.
Although there are some fine steps involved, the finished result looks luxurious, and it’s highly recommended as a way to bring to life your desire to make your oshi shine even more.
Aurora-finish style photocard
These trading cards feature a unique shine added with aurora film that really highlights their beauty.
First, create a basic card by printing a photo or illustration and mounting it on a backing, then apply the aurora film.
If you cover the entire surface, the overall color tone will change, so it’s best to adjust how you apply the film to suit the design.
For black-and-white or low-saturation photos or illustrations, cover the whole surface; otherwise, apply the film only to parts of the image.
The steps are: layer and secure the card and film, draw cutting guides, cut, and adhere the film to the card.
Carefully determine how to position the film so the card stands out.
transparent trading card
These are transparent trading cards with a faintly visible background.
After applying laminate to the front side of the printed design, soak it in water and gently rub to remove the paper fibers.
Once the fibers are gone, let it dry, then apply laminate to the back and cut each card to size to finish.
The way you remove the paper fibers and the step of rounding the corners after laminating both contribute to the vibrancy of the design and the overall feel of the card.
Try a variety of designs and learn to identify which ones are easier to make transparent.
Checkered-pattern photocards
This is a trading card that goes all-in on showcasing cuteness with a checkered background.
Place the photo on the front, and use the checkered pattern on the back to clearly emphasize the subject’s cuteness.
It’s recommended to use the check pattern as a frame, put the person’s name in the center, and decorate with character elements.
If you decorate the front photo using the same colors as the checks and text, you’ll achieve a cohesive, official-looking design.
Try choosing the check colors to match the hair or outfit colors.
In conclusion
Trading cards are often randomly inserted, so many people find it hard to get a card of their favorite member.
We recommend creating official-style or SNS-style trading cards to make a one-of-a-kind, original piece of merch for your bias.
A great point is that you can choose your favorite photo from a large selection and design the back of the card.
Try making bias merch that showcases your creativity—using member colors, a Korean-style design, and more!