Wonka Playing Cards

Wonka Playing Cards by theory11 is an enchanting deck capturing the origin story of the legendary chocolatier himself! Discover the fascinating journey of Willy Wonka – the magician, inventor, and chocolate-maker extraordinaire.

Unveil a world of bespoke illustrations of beloved characters from the film, elegantly adorned within a luxurious matte-purple box accented with shimmering gold foil.

Immerse yourself in the deck’s magical charm as you explore character court cards featuring Prodnose, Fickelgruber, Slugworth, Noodle, Oompa-Loompas, and more!

Printed by the USPCC and available now for $12.95 on Theory11.

Joker and the Thief: Reserve Edition Luxury Playing Cards

Joker and the Thief presents the Reserve Edition—a special 5-deck collection of playing cards masterfully illustrated by Pedro Oyarbide. These decks signify stories and memories, connecting individuals through shared experiences.

J&T founder, James Milaras shares his passion for collecting cards, emphasizing the allure of exclusive and signature editions in the cardistry world. The Reserve Edition aims to honor this sentiment and create decks that are both artworks and practical tools. Each deck is enriched by brilliant cold foil stamping, and seamlessly merges with Pedro’s iconic artwork, ensuring coherence and beauty.

The Ace of Spades, enhanced with cold foil elements and the signature of James Milaras, stands out as a symbol of luxury and design innovation. Additionally, the court cards from the original Joker and the Thief decks add continuity and brand identity to the Reserve Edition.

The Jokers pay tribute to the bond between James and Pedro, representing their close friendship and collaboration. Known for their luxurious tuck boxes featuring custom seals, foil applications, and embossing, Joker and the Thief aims to maintain this distinct quality with the Private Reserve Editions.

Pledge starts at $26 on Kickstarter.

The Fez (Standard Edition) Playing Cards

For the festive season, the Kings Wild Vintage Reimagined deck draws inspiration from the classic Shriner’s deck. This latest iteration showcases exquisite gold foiling meticulously applied to both the front and back of each card. The intricate details of this deck come to life, brilliantly shining with elegance and sophistication. Available on Kings Wild Project for $14.

Check Out the 2023 Christmas Edition Orbits

Ever since the first release of the seasonal Orbit deck back in 2021, the team at Orbit has made it an annual deck. For this year, Orbit comes back with another great Christmas Orbit deck… the 2023 Christmas Orbit Playing Cards.

The tuck box features a full-length illustration that wraps around the box. It is a scene where a family is taking a freshly chopped pine tree home to decorate as a family. The front shows the parents securing the tree on the pick-up truck.

The card back shows the child with the dog sitting on the snow to watch the sunset – which is also the one-way back design of the deck. Combining three decks in a T-shape will complete the illustrations on display. The box will be made in matte stock.

The cards will as always feature the iconic circle on the back. The faces feature retro Arrco 1960s design for the pips and courts. As per tradition, the courts are custom-modified to fit Orbit, the crew’s faces, and Orbit’s family.

The cards will be printed by USPCC on premium thin crushed stock with Air Cushion finish and traditionally cut. Only 3000 decks are made. The deck is now available for $15 on Orbit World.

Butterfly (Winter Edition) Playing Cards

Cool. Frosty. Blue.

The cool Butterfly (Winter Edition) Playing Cards are conceptualized by Ondrej Psenicka and beautifully designed by Swedish graphic designer and magician Stefan Eriksson. The Winter edition features a beautiful card back in frosty winter colors. The shades of blue of the design elements pop against the black-bordered backs and mirrored butterfly logo.

The face cards have standard US faces with custom colors that match the seasonal back design. The gorgeous colored Ace of Spades is custom along with two butterfly silhouette jokers.

Printed by Cartamundi on Slimline stock with B9 finish. The Butterfly Winter Edition decks are now available from Butterfly Magic Store for $18 each.

Have a Look at the NEW Addition to the Paisley Poker Series Playing Cards

In 2021, the Dutch Card House Company (DCHC) embarked on a creative journey with the launch of their Paisley Poker playing card series, featuring the vibrant red, blue, and yellow editions adorned with their distinctive paisley pattern. These colorful cards, sans their marking system to ensure fair play in poker games, garnered immense support with almost 400 backers rallying behind their project.

A popular request has been for a borderless Paisley Playing Card deck, and the team at DCHC is excited to announce that the time has come to bring this vision to life. This new edition features white decor, carefully chosen to accentuate the vivid colors and transform this borderless design into a visual feast.

The borderless back design of the cards gracefully showcases an intricate pattern as it elegantly unfolds especially when fanning their deck of cards. 

For the first time in the Paisley series, they updated the tuck design. The look at feel still completely complement the series, but this time the design runs from the front to the back of the box and can create a display with 3 boxes. A custom seal is used to securely close the deck of cards, providing unmistakable proof that the deck is brand new and untouched when opened by a dealer at the (poker) table.

For devoted Paisley enthusiasts, an exclusive Collector’s deck featuring the Turquoise Tuck. The cards are the same as with the white deck! Limited print to just 150 units, with a numbered custom seal.

Printed by WJPC and available now on Kickstarter for $17.

Kardify Mag Issue 79 Released!

Kardify Mag Issue 79 is now available on Patreon!  Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-November to mid-December. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don’t forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contributions, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:   

+ Santa’s Sleigh Ride: A captivating deck by Penguin Magic that brings a nostalgic twist to your Christmas celebrations with an 8-but retro charm. Find out more!

+ Beetle Backs: TGW’s latest deck explores the Kafkaesque tale of an entomologist who is obsessed in his study of the rhinoceros beetle. Check it out!

+ WB 100th Anniversary: These limited edition Theory11 deck encapsulate a century’s worth of cherished WB characters and unforgettable moments!

+ Hocking Hills: One of 12 incredible releases by Kings Wild Project for their 12 Days of Chrismas event. This exquisite deck draws inspiration from the scenic beauty of Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio.

+ 2023 Mystery Decks: Art of Play’s annual Mystery Decks are back! In celebration of ten years of Art of Play, they are offering their biggest collection to date.

+ Peach Soju: Have a look at BaoBao Restaurant’s latest item on their playing cards menu, Soju, a drink famous in South Korea.

 + Fulton Street 1958 Edition: Brad Fulton’s second deck in collaboration with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), exploring the rich history of New York Subway. Have a look!

+ Eleven Madison Park: A unique fusion of culinary artistry and playing cards! Have a look at Theory11’s latest collab, marking 25 years of Eleven Madison Park’s Michelin-starred legacy in the heart of New York!

… and more! 46 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Bicycle Lilliput Playing Cards by Collectable Playing Cards

Step into the enchanting world of Lilliput with the all-new Bicycle Lilliput Playing Cards by Collectable Playing Cards. Inspired by Gulliver’s Travels, these cards encapsulate the essence of the Lilliputian world, offering an engaging experience for game nights and collectors alike.

The captivating tale of Gulliver’s travels to Lilliput in 1726, a satirical portrayal of the Kingdoms of Great Britain and France, serves as the inspiration behind these cards. They vividly depict the internal dynamics of Lilliput’s politics within the kingdoms.

This Bicycle-branded deck boasts hand-drawn artwork and custom pips, offering a unique design for a captivating experience. The exclusive 1000 Deck Club Seal signifies their limited edition status, with only 1392 decks printed.

Printed by the United States Playing Card Company with an air-cushion finish, ensuring superior handling during gameplay. Available now on Collectable Playing Cards for $14.95.

The Edge of Chaos: Harmony and Discord on Kickstarter

Less than a week on Kickstarter, The Edge of Chaos: Harmony & Discord by RelentlessVenture introduces two contrasting decks inspired by the eternal struggle symbolized by dragons. The Discord deck embodies a darker, chaotic essence with dominant red and black tones, portraying ominous dragons. In contrast, the Harmony deck exudes subtlety with white and gray hues, featuring serene dragons.

The Kickstarter campaign offers Standard tuck boxes and exclusive Deluxe versions with colored edges, packed in ornate, openwork boxes. Each tuck box will have a unique number and seal for authenticity.

These decks feature custom illustrations meticulously crafted from scratch, portraying characters with accompanying dragons as their spiritual guides.

Aces showcase unique dragons representing either discord or harmony through nuanced variations. Numeric cards, aligned with each deck’s essence, maintain traditional colors with innovative touches.

This limited edition, printed by Cartamundi Poland and pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.

The Cross (Admiral Angels) Playing Cards

Historical. Martyr. Crown.

The Cross Playing Cards tells the story and influences of Christianity through cards. Designed by Peter Voth in collaboration with Riffle Shuffle the Admiral Angels edition comes in a blue colorway and prominently features the giant cross in the center with a giant crown sitting on top of it.

The back design of the cards mirrors that from the tuck featuring Angels, the Lamb of God, and the Lion of Judah. The artwork will be printed with gold metallic ink on the blue background. The Court cards feature historical figures that had rested in peace for their beliefs – grouped as the Modern Martyrs, the statues seen in the Westminster Abbey Gallery of the Great West Door.

The Aces show the symbols of the four evangelists who chronicled the story of Jesus Christ in the Gospels books in the Bible, while the Jokers featured an identical illustration of the legend of St. George and the Dragon, a scene where the knight bearing the cross symbol slaying a dragon with a long spear

Printed by TWPCC on the Luxury Finish and available for $15 from Riffle Shuffle.

Smoke & Mirrors Anniversary Denim Edition Playing Cards

The fourth colorway, denim blue joins the exquisite Smoke & Mirrors Anniversary series. Produced in collaboration with Brad Fulton, this fifteen-anniversary rendition is a homage to 19th-century typography, inspired by the original Smoke & Mirrors design, delivering a sophisticated and captivating aesthetic.

The cards are adorned with intricate details, showcasing the iconic D&D monogram set in a new typeset, encompassed by a mosaic pattern on the card backs. Customized ace of spades, joker, and number cards suits further enhance the allure of this edition.

Encased within a deep blue tuck box, each meticulously letterpress-printed container is sealed with a distinctive stamp, reflecting the quality and distinction of this Smoke & Mirrors edition. The Standard Edition is available alongside the exclusive Limited Edition Twinpack, personally signed and numbered by the artists, with each pack ranging from 1 to 250.

Printed with precision by the U.S. Playing Card Co., using our trademark thin stock, the deck proudly embraces classic Arrco-style court cards, ensuring a refined and elegant touch. Available now from Fultons Playing Cards for $18.

On Kickstarter, Chocolate & Whiskey Playing Cards

Once again, Fast Food Playing Cards is all set to tantalize your taste buds with its latest deck, the Chocolate & Whiskey playing cards on Kickstarter. Designed to delight and ignite your senses, this limited edition embodies the essence of the finest ingredients, promising an extraordinary symphony of flavors and sensations.

The Chocolate deck exudes rustic elegance with cocoa-rich depth, while the Whiskey deck resonates with refinement and class, akin to a sophisticated whiskey bar. These decks are curated to evoke sophistication and elevate your cardistry, magic performances, or collection.

The card backs showcase a fusion of distinct whiskey notes or the charming allure of chocolate bars, resonating with each deck’s theme. The court cards embody the blend of chocolate and whiskey, visually enhancing your gaming experience with custom designs and captivating expressions.

The aces, inspired by chocolate and whiskey, add a flavorful twist to traditional suits, while the jokers, presented in rich color nuances, introduce an element of surprise and delight, making every card game unique and unpredictable.

The tuck box is crafted with three hot foils on premium matte finish paper, and boasts exquisite embossed details. Authenticity is sealed with a unique foiled number seal on each deck, accompanied by a VIP Membership Card.

Printed by the Taiwan Playing Card Company with luxury finish. Limited Edition of 1000 for Each Edition. Available NOW on Kickstarter for $13.

Santa' Sleigh Ride Deck by Penguin Magic

The holiday season just got an 8-bit upgrade! Dive into a world of retro vibes and festive cheer with the Penguin Magic‘s Santa’s Sleigh Ride Deck, a captivating deck of cards that brings a nostalgic twist to your Christmas celebrations.

Designed by Felipe Garcia Cardenas, this deck encapsulates the charm of vintage 8-bit video games, presenting Santa’s Sleigh Ride as the main attraction. The mission is to deliver gifts worldwide before the clock strikes midnight!

This fully custom deck features authentic pixel art style from the tuck box to the card backs, faces, and Jokers, ensuring there’s something delightful to discover at every turn. The deck comprises Kings personifying Santa Claus, Queens portraying Mrs. Claus, and Jacks embodying the playful Elves. Two unique Reindeer Jokers add a touch of whimsy and storytelling potential for card effects.

Also, prepare to be enchanted by the animated flip book feature on the backs of the cards! As you riffle through the deck, watch Santa wave, the Reindeer prance, and the snow gracefully descend upon the houses below. It’s a mesmerizing sight that captures the magic of the season.

Crafted with Penguin Magic’s exclusive UltraLux Finish and AquaFlow Coating and limited to 5,000 decks. Available now on Penguin Magic for $14.95.

Hocking Hills State Park Playing Cards

One of 12 incredible releases by Kings Wild Project for their 12 Days of Chrismas event. The Hocking Hills State Park playing cards are crafted in collaboration with Isaac LeFever’s stunning paintings. This exquisite deck draws inspiration from the scenic beauty of Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio.

Encased in a dark green embossed tuck box adorned with gold and orange foiling, this deck is a testament to elegance.

Showcasing the allure of Hocking Hills, the court cards display picturesque paintings capturing the park’s mesmerizing vistas across different seasons. Each court card depicts the serene beauty of various spots within Hocking Hills State Park, offering a unique glimpse into its natural splendor.

The remarkable design of the Hocking Hills logo and badge was meticulously crafted by Nick Johnson, adding a touch of authenticity and finesse to this stunning deck.

Printed by Kings Wild Playing Cards Co and available now on Kings Wild Project for $14.

Eames Starburst Playing Cards

Geometric. Visual. Design.

Eames Starburst Edition playing cards are a collab between Eames Office and Art of Play. The fully custom deck features an array of visual nods to the legendary design duo, Charles & Ray Eames. From their Starburst Logo on the back of each to the geometric shapes that replace face cards.

The numbering system provides a visual homage to Charles and Ray’s classic film, Powers of Ten. The court cards honor the natural majesty they found in elemental geometric shapes. Mathematics, form and the critical role of constraints in design are threads woven throughout the Eameses’ life and work.

Eames Playing Cards come in a letterpress-printed tuck case that references the famous home built by Charles and Ray, a creative base where they lived for many years. Available NOW from artofplay.com for $18.

Yellowstone Playing Cards by Theory11

Step into the Dutton Ranch and relive the thrilling narratives of Yellowstone with the beautifully crafted Yellowstone Playing Cards by theory11. These cards are more than just a deck; they’re a tribute to the iconic, beloved TV series, meticulously designed to honor the show’s gripping moments and rich characters.

Exquisitely crafted with antique letterpress printing, the packaging of these playing cards is a testament to the show’s allure and narrative depth. Carefully designed, each detail pays homage to Yellowstone, capturing the essence of the sprawling Dutton Ranch and the enthralling tales that unfold within its heart.

A must-have for fans and enthusiasts of the series, the fully custom cards bring to life the favorite characters directly from the series. Characters like Beth, Kayce, and Rip are meticulously portrayed in stunning detail on each card, ensuring an authentic and immersive experience that echoes the essence of the show.

Available NOW from theory11 for $12.95.