Cardistry: What is CARDESTROY?

2016 has been a BIG year for Shivraj Morzaria. He was voted Breakout Cardist of the Year at the Cardistry-Con in Berlin, and the Cardistry genre he created, 'Cardestroy' has gained attention of mainstream media. From the social pages of Tech Insider, the HOOK to news channels like EBC Taiwan and Teletrece Chile. You will have probably seen it on your social news feed.

So what is Cardestroy? According to Shivraj,

The idea behind it was to find a use for the 'poop decks' (old decks) which I felt like throwing away. So I decided to do something weird with them. I bent the cards in such a way that they would follow some unique motions/mechanics or chain reactions. Now this was something that unlocked a new door for creativity. It was like "Dude! I'm not dealing with just rectangles anymore." 

The basic idea is based on an arrangement done on a flat surface, hands or anywhere possible and put in motion. Shivraj continued,

It was named "Cardestroy" because here cards were destroyed (folded/cut/rolled/etc.) to create. When I started with cardestroy, surprisingly the feedback graph started rising at an insane rate and the fun also increased proportionally. So I decided to promote the art. Although one should not confuse it with "Origami". The flexible definition I formed for it is: It is the art of destroying the cards in various way like Folding, Cutting, Rolling, etc. and bringing them to motion. But not using any sort of glue or tape or any other adhesives.

Check out this mesmerizing video of Cardestroy:



For EVERYTHING Cardestroy, head to Cardestroy.com.

Top 12: Playing Cards of 2016

What an incredible year for playing cards! From big magic companies to independent designers, 2016 has been filled with amazing new talents and incredible innovations. To celebrate we've compiled 12 of our favorite decks right here. Compiling the list has been especially challenging with all the amazing decks released this year. If you think we missed your favorite deck out, let us know in the comment section below. :)

Note that the selection expressed in this top 12 are solely those of the author and the list is in no particular order.

Silver Arrows

The Silver Arrows Playing Cards are a sleek and polished playing cards meticulously designed by Jackson Robinson. The deck features an industry first full bleed foil back design and showcases signature Kings Wild court cards as well as two custom jokers and custom Ace of Spades. Printed by the Expert Playing Card Co.

Le Chat Rouge

No.17 "Le Chat Rouge" is a custom-designed deck of playing cards by Stockholm17. It is the third and final version of the elegant "No.17" series. The card backs feature black cats with accents of red foil creating a striking effect on the rich black backs. The card faces are white with a unique thick black border, adding a modern touch to a classic playing deck. The playing cards are beautifully housed in a die-cut tuck case that has been intricately cut out, and sealed with a limited edition number.

Chancellor

Chancellor Playing Cards are inspired by a small detail on a century-old Bicycle card back and grew into an incredibly detailed artwork! Designed by Encarded and printed by Expert Playing Card Co, Chancellor showcases FOUR metallic inks that intertwine into a detailed, "shadow bordered" back with subtle edge details and dimension. The faces are fully custom, with a dramatic court featuring beautiful detail and unique colorations. The stunning tuck features thick matte black paper, two foils and incredibly detailed blind embossing. The deck is sealed with a beautiful metallic foil seal, individually numbered and carefully designed to integrate with the tuck design.

Dynasty

Inspired by culture and heritage, Brendan Hong brings his unique style to this gorgeous deck of playing cards. Various Chinese elements are reimagined in Brendan’s own delightful style. The decks feature fully custom cards with unique Jokers, Courts and Ace of Spaces and Matte stock tuck featuring foil and interior printing. Printed by the Expert Playing Card Co. on their Classic Finish card stock.

ICON SACRED

The ICONS SACRED Edition playing cards is a limited edition deck design by Lotrek of Halfmoon Productions. Crafted with love, devotion and... risk, ICONS SACRED is a developmental deck, used to fine-tune Lotrek's new printer and various production aspects from cutting methods and metallic inks’ behavior to playing card finish. The end result as you can see is nothing short of stunning! ICON SACRED features gold metallic ink on the faces, gold and silver metallic on the back and an intricate tuck case that was amazingly stamped on 2-sided color "metallic" stock.

Odd Bods

The Odd Bods Playing Cards is a brilliant deck illustrated by Jonathan Burton. Produced by Art of Play, the Odd Bods Playing Cards feature amusing characters, quirky illustrations, and playful imagery. The deck has been hand illustrated in a beautifully nostalgic style and designed to have the look of ‘aged’ Victorian lithographs. Every image proves its own quirk and oddity, but is never ostentatious-- Odd Bods are the epitome of refined indulgence. Packaged in a gorgeous gold-foil embossed tuck box.

Magna Carta

Magna Carta by Seasons Playing Cards is a stunning set of limited edition playing cards that commemorates the foundation of liberty. Symbolism and story are thoughtfully located throughout this luxurious black and white deck set. The deck features luxurious foiled etchings on each suit, intricate linework on custom courts, and subtle embossing on the tuck, creating beautiful pleated patterns across the face of the premium linen stock. The tuck interior reveals an interior replica of the actual 1215 Magna Carta itself. Together, the side of the decks display a beautifully illustrated mural!

Black Diamond

The third edition is the hugely popular Tally-Ho series by Jackson Robinson of Kings Wild Projects. The Black Diamond Playing Cards incorporate USPCC's new MetalLuxe Foiling process on the card backs, making the Black Diamonds not only the first fully custom deck to utilize the process, but also the very first all black deck by Kings Wild. Only 1000 produced and features a premium soft-touch black tuck with Black foil accents.

Anubis and Osiris

Inspired by the luxurious reverence of Egyptian Gods and Kings of the past, The Anubis and Osiris Playing cards is an original set of American playing cards designed by Steve Minty. Elements from classical Egyptian era and the Egyptian Revival along with modern design are incorporated into this stunning custom deck!

Gold Gator

David Blaine released the new colorway of the popular Gatorbacks playing cards as a part of his Black Friday line-up this year. The Gold Foil Gatorbacks feature a stunning Gold-on-White custom tuck and like it's predecessor, beautifully embossed and finely detailed, on both the inside and the outside. The deck features the USPCC's eye-catching Metaluxe back.

MINT Limited Edition

Designed for the workers by 52Kards, the stunning Mint Limited Edition playing cards features elegant borderless back with beautiful tri-color design, gold line accents and masks an incredibly intuitive marking system for the clever magician to take advantage of. The deck showcases gorgeous semi-custom courts, custom pips and indices, custom Ace of Spades and a minimalistic custom tuck box with embossed gold foil and interior printing. Printed by the United States Playing Card Company and coated with the legendary Air Cushion Finish.

Wicked Kingdom

Hand-painted by fantasy illustrator Wylie Beckert, Wicked Kingdom is an art-rich deck of playing cards set in a dark fantasy world and populated by a cast of strange and complex characters.This gorgeous deck features insanely detailed, hand-drawn artwork with a dark fantasy flair. Custom-designed subtle one-way card backs, hand-drawn pips, elegantly watermarked number cards, and dual-identity face cards make for an art-rich playing card deck for cardists, collectors, and fans of the fantasy genre.

Honorable mention: ALLOY by Gambler's Warehouse, NPH by Theory11, OMNIA by Thirdway Industries, Royal Bee, Flying Machine by Bicycle Playing Cards, GRILLE by JP Games, Private Reserve 2 by Dan & Dave, Inception by Jody Eklund, White Gold by Joker & the Thief, VIRIDIAN by Trikard and Skull & Bones Phantom Edition by EPCC.



The selection expressed in this top12 are solely those of the author. Images for Silver Arrows, Le Chat Rouge, Chancellor, Dynasty, Magna Carta, Black Diamond, Anubis & Osiris, Gold Gator and Wicked Kingdom are taken by Anthony Ingrassia. Odd Bods and Mint Limited Edition by Ivan Choe. ICON SACRED from Maxplayingcards.com.

Cardistry: Frostbite Playing Cards Launching On Kickstarter December 25

[Update] Frostbite Playing Cards is now LIVE on Kickstarter!

The Cardistry Hipster is launching Frostbite Playing Cards on Kickstarter. The eye-catching deck pairs a chill geometric abstract back design with custom minimalist faces.

What started out two years ago as a one-way back design has transformed into a striking two-way design perfect for Cardistry and magic. Frostbite features custom striped pips, geometric courts, and a cool blue & white backs with triangular shapes and a simplified compass rose design.

We managed to catch-up with Sam Wheeler, founder of the Cardistry Hipster to chat about the inspiration behind Frostbite Playing Cards, the design evolution of the deck, and his collaboration with Hanson Chien.

Tell us a little about yourself and the Cardistry Hipster?
My name is Sam Wheeler I am a 20-year-old Cardist from Philadelphia, PA in the USA. I have been practicing the art of Cardistry for about 2 years or so. I initially started “The Cardistry Hipster” when the card community began to take a nasty turn into less assisting and supporting others, and more degrading beginners and their creativity. I wanted to create a platform where I could post my content while influencing others to create and further the art aspect of Cardistry. The Cardistry Hipster is now a cardistry-lifestyle branded website where I post free and premium tutorials, along with blog posts that provide tips when filming, editing, and creating Cardistry videos.

What motivated you to create your own deck of cards?
I tried creating a deck of cards before but ran into trouble when my designer decided to use a logo from a company. After that awesome experience, I decided to crack down and create a design that was unique and would actually further accentuate flourishes. The initial design was a one-way design, but after receiving various complaints I decided to reach out to Matthew Noel (@PlayingCardPictures) to help me create a two-way design from my initial draft. The minimalist card faces originating from my Simplicity deck, except they are now blue and the royals feature the same abstract geometric pattern within their bodies. The abstract back design contrasts perfectly with the simplistic faces, resulting in an elegant frosty view while handling the cards!

What is your inspiration behind the Frostbite Playing Cards? How did you come up with the idea?
I came up with the initial prototype during the winter of 2014, so, of course, the color scheme would be fitting towards the season. I believe I was inspired to create the geometric poly-shards from trying to find myself a new screensaver on my iPhone. I came across a more basic, geometric design and thought it would be sweet on a deck of cards if it were more abstract and had an element to further elevate flourishes.

How did you end up collaborating with Hanson Chien and Matthew Noel for the deck?
Matthew showed interest in the initial one-way design and reached out to me, offering to take pictures of the deck if I ever needed it! After seeing his terrific graphic work I decided he would be the best for the job!

Hanson and I ended up collaborating thanks to Sergio Rocca. Sergio has been my card-friend for some time now and we both agreed a while back to assist one another with each of our own decks. Odyssey Playing Cards were just in the developing stages at the time, I actually told him he should have custom faces with the cards as he was planning on going with standard faces! In the end, Sergio hustled more than me and was able to successfully get his deck funded and I contacted him with how I can get in contact with Hanson. Sergio replied, telling me to message and add Hanson on Facebook, and the rest is history.

Talk to us a bit about going from concept to the final version. How did you get to this finished product? How did you get feedback?
The initial concept was received fairly well on Instagram. Most individuals liked the overall design and feel of the deck, they just wanted a two-way version. After publishing the final back design online, almost everyone that came across the deck loved it and I am happy for listening to the criticism as we wouldn’t be where we are today.

With so many playing card projects competing for funding, why should potential backers choose your deck?
Honestly, I’m not here to demand anyone to back our cards over anyone else’s’. It really comes down to individual tastes and desires. This deck will be limited and will most-likely never be re-printed again. So many decks today profit off of a simple color change, we won’t just be using the paint bucket tool in the future if we decide to print another deck. At the end of the day, Frostbite Playing Cards are unique as they feature an elegant abstract back design with simple minimalist faces. They are 100% custom, and 100% designed for Cardistry but look wonderful for card magic as well. They will handle great, looking great while doing so. We thank anyone and everyone for their support and interest!

Finally, what are your favorite playing cards?
My favorite playing cards are old Stud Playing Cards. They handle amazingly and look great while doing so!

Thanks Sam and all the best!

[Update] Frostbite Playing Cards is now LIVE on Kickstarter!

Frostbite Playing Cards will be printed by Hanson Chien Production Co and will launch on Kickstarter December 25. Pledge starts from $15 and there will be EARLY BIRD reward tiers available. For all things Frostbite, head on to thecardistryhipster.com and subscribe to the mailing list!

Deck View: Joker and the Thief (White Gold Edition) Playing Cards

Intricate. Elegant. Gold.

The Joker and the Thief (White Gold Edition) Playing Cards is a stunning follow-up to the orignal Joker and the Thief deck released back in 2015. The White Gold is effortlessly elegant adds to the mythology of the original deck.

The design is intricately beautiful with themes and connotation from back design continue throughout. The Ace of Spades is unique, bold and iconic of this design. The court cards are all fully custom. The tuck is peppered with lavish touches, and adorned with eye-catching gold foil, on a matte finished paper. It is embossed on all sides and has a foil stamped interior.

The deck was specifically designed with handling in mind. The inverted white gold back design makes for a significant reduction in ink saturation. Printed by Expert Playing Card Co on the popular Classic Finish.

Don't forget to check out the Joker and the Thief website! Also, for more cool playing cards, check out JP Games.

News: Season's Greetings 2016

It's been yet another amazing year for Playing Cards. Stunning inovations, gorgeous new designs, incredible talents and some distinctive crowdfunding projects.

With that, we at Kardify (Anthony Ingrassia and Ivan Choe) would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the friendship and support you have given us. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :)

Looking forward to an awesome 2017!

Card Gear: Revelation

Card Gear is our monthly feature dedicated to discovering new inventory, setup and accessories used every day by card designers, cardists, magicians and collectors. The concept originated from the popular social media site, Instagram: #passthepockets. Whenever one of these hashtags come up on the social news feed, there's always something new to discover, no matter who that person is.

For the final card gear of 2016, we have the EDC of Blake Brenneman, founder of Kairos Playing Cards and producer of the Revelation playing cards, a deck that was born of Blake’s love for theology. Ordained as a pastor, awarded an honorary doctorate in Divinity, and an atheist by the time he was 22, Blake has distilled his love of religion and medieval architecture into that deck of cards.

When he isn’t producing playing cards, Blake is studying Marketing and Behavioral Economics at George Mason University, right outside of Washington, DC. He has a special interest in proposition betting and gambling sleights, as can be seen in his gear spread: lucky dice from the Civil War, a half dollar, and an Erdnase pocket bible, among other essentials. He is always looking both backwards and forwards for inspiration.

Feel free to check him out on Facebook or Kairos Playing Cards. If you like the art of the Revelation deck, check out the very talented artist on Instagram (@mfmessar).
+ Lucky Civil War Dice (1863)
+ Kennedy Half Dollar
+ Skagen G.E.E.F Special Edition
+ Retro 52 Pen Joker Special Edition
+ Lanxivi Jinhao Century Celluloid Pen in Smoke
+ ZTE Prestige
+ Sacchi Leather Card Case
+ Orange Expert at the Card Table Pocket Bible
+ Brown Leather Journal from C.R. Gibson


What’s yours? If you would like your card gears to be featured on Kardify, contact us.

Kickstarter: Patrick Kun Talks About VISA Playing Cards

After a long hiatus, House of Playing Cards is back with a new deck of playing cards on Kickstarter. VISA Playing Cards is a collaboration between founder Alex Pandrea and magician Patrick Kun. The concept of the deck is based on travel, discovery, and exploration.

The deck features custom elegant back design printed with metallic silver printed with USPCC crush paper stock. According to Patrick,

We wanted to make the deck elegant and for everyday use. This is just the beginning, It features a Japanese artwork which represents Asia. Maybe the next line could be based on South Africa, Europe, so on...

The face cards include simplified standard court cards with metallic ink accents along with custom Ace of Spades and Jokers. All neatly housed in a high-quality custom tuck box.

VISA is not just a deck of cards but an experience! Patrick explained,

Each deck will come with a pass that allows people to register that pass based on their location. They then have to pass it to a stranger who will do the same. It is based on a play forward thing. The website will then track the card travelling around the world!

Three editions of VISA will be printed: Blue/Silver, Red/Gold Edition, and Private Reserve. The limited Red/Gold Visa deck available exclusively ONLY with the Asia Tour 2.0 DVD package. As for the Private Reserve, only 500 will be printed and given free when you pledge for 12 decks of Blue.

Check it out on Kickstarter HERE!

Deck View: Black Lions Playing Cards

Magic. Detailed. Lion.

From magician David Blaine, the Black Lions features artwork from the brilliant Mark Stutzman who always has a beautiful way of presenting subtle ideas in an eye-catching way.

Fully custom, the back design feature the repeating "db" symbol which is both intricate and classic in its appearance. The cool Ace of Spades is an image of a woman disguising the face of a lion framed in the shape of a Spades... genius! Also included are two intriguing Jokers featuring a Lion Faced woman handling what appears to be a crow, one of which does incorporate a reveal.

There are two additional cards in the deck. One, a metamorphosis card that turns David Blaine into a Lion and vice-versa. The second is some sort of "puzzle" card. The rest of the pack, as in most of David Blaine's decks feature friends and family making up the faces of the court cards as well as David holding his usual position as the King of Spades.

The Black Lions soft-touch box features a two-tone black finish and silver foil stamping on top of a fully detailed embossing. Printed on the highest-quality stock the United States Playing Card Company offers. Available now from JP Games.

Cardistry: Top 5 Videos on YouTube for 2016

The year almost over, which means it’s time to start looking back at what made 2016 special for cardistry. We’re starting things off with a look back at the Top 5 cardistry videos people have watched on YouTube this year.

5. Waterwheel (variation) tutorial (180k+ views)

Seems like there are a lot of interest in this beautiful card flourish made popular by Darren Yeow. Tutorial by W.A.V Cards.

4. Gothenburg Shuffle by Noel Heath (190k+ views)

Compilation of Noel Heath's incredible cardistry skills.

3. Pastel Paper by Zach Mueller (450k+ views)

Pre-launch video from Fontaine cards promoting the Pink Fontaines.

2. Epic Cardistry Compilation Video #1 (664k+ views)

Like the title says... Epic compilation of cardistry videos by Epic Viral Vids, mostly from the CCC 2015.

1. Liquid Paper by Virtuoso (971k+ views)

Another year, another awesome vid from Virtuoso in conjunction with the launch of the SS16 deck.

News: 7 Questions with DMC on the Elite Rouge's

Now available at sovereignplayingcards.com, the latest in the DMC Elites Series, Rouge. Beautifully crafted with a familiar look and feel and the fourth generation of the Optical Marking system, the deck is sure to appeal to a wide range of card aficionado's. 

We were honored when Drummond Money-Coutts (DMC) took some time out of his schedule to talk with us about the deck, work and passion behind it.

Your decks are very easily identified, how involved are you in the creative process?

On each deck that Phill and I have produced together (the ELITES ROUGE now being our fifth) it’s been very much a collaborative process between us both.  The genius marking system (The ‘Optical Marking System’) is very much Phill’s brainchild - but on all other aspects of design we will collaborate on ideas, and Phill will bring it to life on screen.

Do you feel your decks are a reflection of yourself in terms of style and presence? 

Very much so.  It’s been a roundabout journey to reach our current design style, but today the ELITES feel very much an authentic representation of my approach, style and philosophy with magic.

With new features and designs, are there certain things that you feel all of your decks need to have, a foundation, if you will?

Yes, with ELITES we struck upon a design theme that moving forwards I’d certainly like to continue to orbit.  Our intentions were to create an innocuous, harmless looking deck that wouldn’t arouse suspicion or special interest when used for an audience, but that which also beneath the bonnet holds a powerful strength.  Today the ELITES are the only cards I use and with the flexibility and possibilities that the marking system allows in so many elements of card magic  – it’s unlikely I’ll move away from this any time soon.

Over time some of your decks have become very sought after, do you see your decks as collectibles or more so "working" decks?

The honest truth is we never set out to create decks to sell to magicians; the first few decks we created were literally for my own private work and to be given as gifts to my clients.  When Phill created the ‘Optical Marking System’ that we first used for the GREAT WHITES in 2014, we only ran 500 marked decks (now incredibly sought after).  Even then, the quality of stock held us back a little and it wasn’t until we really launched the ELITES in 2015 (printed by Legends PCC) that magicians and dealers suddenly took a keen interest in buying the decks.  Those initial ELITES sold out within weeks of release – and since then we’ve been in discussions with Cartamundi to create the ultimate version using their incredible new advances in card production.  I’m proud to say that after months of development with Cartamundi we now have the ultimate design version of the ELITES printed onto what I think is one of the most beautiful card stocks available in the world today.

How challenging was the development of the Optical Marking system?

This you’ll have to ask Phill.  From my side – he sent me an email saying that he’d had an idea, and asked if we might try it out on the next deck.  The instant I saw it I knew we had something special – and we haven’t looked back since.

Cartamundi is producing your new deck, how involved was the process of finding the right stock and finish for the new Rouge edition?

This was a crucial element for us – and something that we know held back previous decks in the past.  I’ve now printed with four different card producers around the world, and for this deck wanted to make sure we had one of the best card stocks, finishes and cuts in the world.  I’ve now been to the Cartamundi factory in Belgium twice to advise and consult on the stock and finish for these new ELITES, and they really are a thing of beauty.  I am confident that we will see Cartamundi entering into the magic and cardistry industries in a major way within the next few years.

What one thing excites you the most about the new DMC Elites: Rouge playing cards?

I’m excited that, holding this deck in my hands right now I know we have the ultimate marked deck available for magicians today.  The refined marking design is flawless, the style of the deck and the box is beautifully timeless, the gold foiling against the red looks better than I could have imagined, and the cards handle as well as any of the greatest stocks available today.  It’s been an organic process to reach this moment, and like I said we never set out to sell these to the magic industry – but almost five years on I sincerely believe this deck is set to become a hallmark deck in the armoury of magicians around the world.

We want to thank Drummond for his time and graciousness in helping us bring our readers a bit of insight into his craft and the latest entry into the Elite Series, Rouge is available now!

Three Little Pigs Playing Cards by PIP

Pure Imaginations Projects have recently launched their new deck of playing cards, Three Little Pigs on Kickstarter. Founder Derek McKee has long been inspired by classic stories. The idea for a Three Little Pigs themed deck came to mind as a continuation of PIP’s vision of transforming classic stories into playing cards.

Derek said,

From Les Méliès to Sleepy Hollows, the Three Little Pigs deck is the next installment of the Pure Imagination Projects story series. I always thought that some of the most beautiful artwork was found in vintage woodblock prints, and that inspiration definitely shines through our ornate, floral back design.

Beautifully illustrated by London-based illustrator Joe White, the story of the Three Little Pigs is brilliantly translated into cards, with each pig representing an ace and the wolf as the spade.

Staying true to the classic portrait style of face cards, The Three Little Pigs shed new light on a common image, integrating the theme seamlessly into the court cards.

The Jokers depict the bubbling cauldron the wolf falls into at the end of the story so ironically, but intentionally so, the “most important” and “least important” parts of the deck are occupied by the wolf.

In collaboration with Clove St. Press, the tuck case is sure to impress. With four metallic foils and multilevel embossing and debossing on a premium paper stock, The Three Little Pigs’ tuck case is reminiscent of Victorian-era book covers. Stunning!

The deck will be printed by the USPCC on Bee stock using their Q1 Casino-Grade Standards. At the time of writing, the project is only 8% funded with 29 days to go. If want to support the Three Little Pigs Playing Cards, you can find it NOW on Kickstarter! Pledge starts from $12.

Card Radar: Bicycle Flying Machines Playing Cards

Produced by The United States Playing Card Co, the Bicycle Flying Machines playing cards celebrates the spark of imagination and creativity that lives in all of us through fanciful illustrations of flight.

This whimsical deck features elaborate and creative artwork hand-illustrated by acclaimed artist Mark Stutzman.

Bicycle Flying Machines includes a variety of unique illustrations from the colorful tuck case to the gorgeous aces and the beautiful card backs.

Also, the two fun jokers are custom illustrated and the vibrant courts are standard, maintaining a familiar look. The suits are uniquely designed with mechanical gears and cranks. Giving the deck depth and personality.

Brilliantly printed by USPCC on premium Bicycle® brand cardstock with a classic Air-Cushion Finish. Available now on Collectableplayingcards.com. Use"Kardify" as your coupon code for a special discount.

News: Ellusionist Releases the Black Legacy Boxed Set

Ellusionist released plenty of good playing cards, such as KNIGHTS and AURELIAN. The Black Legacy boxed set is yet another impressive released by the wizards this year, a celebration of the incredible talent, creativity and accomplishments the company has done in the custom playing cards arena.

The Legacy edition features redesigned versions of Ellusionists’ most celebrated decks, the Bicycle Black Tiger, Black Ghost and Shadow Masters.

The Black Tiger Legacy deck features all-new tuck box design and prominently showcases the iconic tiger on the front. Surrounded by black foil, this deck has been redesigned from the ground up and sealed with a custom seal.

The Black Ghost Legacy deck includes not only a gorgeous embossed tuck in black foil but a modernized but familiar rider-back design with updated pips and courts.



The Shadow Master Legacy Edition has been refreshed with an all-new tuck box and the familiar classic Bicycle back-design fades into complete darkness. Giving the rejuvenated deck a bold but elegant design.

The Legacy Box Set are available now from Ellusonist for $49.95. The higher price point may not be for everyone but this exquisite set will definitely appeal to collectors and fans of Ellusionist who wants to complete their collection.

Deck View: LUXX Elliptica (Blue Edition) Playing Cards

Luxury. Elegant. Elliptical.

From JP Playing Cards, Elliptica is the third design in the LUXX series of premium poker decks. Beautifully designed by Randy Butterfield, the Elliptical design runs through the deck and makes for an elegant back and tuck box.

Born out of love for the classic borderless decks, Elliptica is JP Playing Card's take on that style with an added touch of luxury. The aim was to create a beautiful deck of playing cards and at the same time, preserving some traditional elements.

The eye-catching tuck box is accented with gold foiled elliptical patterns, making this tuck truly mesmerizing. The backs feature the same elliptical design. Printed by Legends Playing Card Company on the Classic Finish.

The stunning gilt-edge edition of Elliptica is also available. These are produced in collaboration with a highly-skilled English craftsman. Elliptica Playing Cards are available now from JP Games.

Cardistry: This is Incredible and Mesmerising to Watch! Eliot Slevin in Motion

Eliot Slevin, creator of the viral hit "Run Rabbit", winner of the inaugural International Cardistry Open (ICO) and Season 3 ICO judge, show his mastery in this INCREDIBLE video for his interview with Shivraj Morzaria's Cardestroy blog.

His flexible fingers, and his mastery of cardistry turns a regular deck of cards into a beautifully choreographed motion that seems to tweak gravity. Enjoy!