Kardify Magazine, Issue 88, is now on Patreon!

The latest edition of Kardify Magazine, Issue 88, is now 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-August to mid-September. 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:   

+ Bicycle Playful Dogs: Produced by RunIt Decks, A delightful and joyful tribute to our furry friends, designed to bring smiles to everyone who loves dogs.

+ Unity: A deck featuring designs created by renowned playing card designers within the community, showcasing both established and emerging talents.

+ Frontier: A truly unique deck by Kings Wild inspired by the American West of the late 1800s was created in just 10 days LIVE on YouTube. Find out more!

+ Fashion V2: Check out TCC‘s latest playing cards series, a collection of 4 decks that beautifully marries art, tradition, and modern design.

+ Top 5 Most Funded: We’ve compiled a list of the top five most funded Kickstarter playing card projects for 2024 (so far), showcasing the incredible creativity and support that these campaigns have garnered.

+ 13th Tiger: Kings Wild's fully custom, hand-illustrated artwork, featuring beautiful bold design inspired by a vintage design of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Check it out!

+ Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary: A special edition deck from Bicycle Cards capturing the beloved Sanrio character in all her joy, with a design that prominently features the color red and the iconic 50th-anniversary logo.

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

On Kickstarter, Reflections Playing Cards: Epiphany & Ponder

Now on Kickstarter, Reflections Epiphany and Reflections Ponder by EmilySleights52 features stunning foil accents and a hidden marking system. Emily aims to create premium yet affordable decks, and "Reflections" is her favorite project to date.

Originally planned as a one-time project, Emily’s journey has led her to create 20 decks so far, with #21 and #22 being the "Reflections" series. The series includes four decks—Epiphany, Ponder, Discovery, and Wonder—each named to reflect the concept of internal self-reflection, paired with the literal mirrored imagery on the cards. This Kickstarter focuses on Epiphany and Ponder, with plans to release the others later.

The decks features include foil on the back, faces, and pips, a marked back design, and standard courts recolored to include foil mirrors. Custom aces and a double backer are also included., the cards maintain their flexibility for seamless cardistry and magic.

The tuck case resembles a mirror, with the deck’s name reflected on each side. The phrase "Look Closer" prompts deeper examination, while a small reflective mirror preview hints at the deck’s theme. A quote on the back, "People in the mirror are stronger than they appear," adds a personal touch, symbolizing resilience.

Printed by KingStar, Reflections Epiphany and Reflections Ponder are a blend of beauty, functionality, and intrigue. Ideal for magicians and collectors alike, these decks offer a unique twist on traditional playing cards.  Pledge starts at $13 on Kickstarter.

RAVE: Location Unknown Playing Cards

The RAVE: Location Unknown Playing Cards is more than just a deck of cards- it's an invitation to a cosmic rave like no other. Conceptualised by Bruce Di Quinzio and designed by Edo Huang, the deck is inspired by a lifelong fascination with space and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. RAVE imagines a universe where aliens don't come to invade but to share in the most extraordinary rave our planet has ever seen. 

Inside, the deck's back design captures the essence of rave culture, with a powerful sound wave that cracks across a vinyl record, symbolizing the intensity and energy of the event. This scene is complemented by Zark's head and a flying saucer in opposite corners, both beaming with electrifying white light.

The suits and number cards maintain a standard design with a vibrant twist. Hearts and diamonds have been transformed into rich dark pink, while clubs and spades feature a sleek dark purple. This intentional simplicity ensures clarity, especially for magicians performing tricks and sleights. 

The court cards bring a fresh vibe with a modern twist, replacing the traditional black with dark purple and infusing dark pink and gold accents. This blend of innovation and tradition ensures that the cards stand out while remaining familiar to players, collectors, and magicians.

At the heart of the deck is the custom Ace of Spades, featuring Zark in full rave mode. Spinning his records with one hand raised, Zark is dressed in a wild green suit with matching headphones, and an 'R' on his chest to match his alien green skin. 

 

The tuck case showcases Zark against a futuristic club setting, bathed in dark pink to purple hues, with a sound wave bursting in a dazzling display behind him.

The Jokers are equally captivating, featuring a vinyl record in shiny lime green with Zark’s face at the center. The record player is adorned in bold pink, with "Joker" popping in deep violet hues.

Printed by Legends Playing Card Co. and pledge starts at $18 on Kickstarter.

Celestial Planes: Cygnus & Omega Playing Cards

Now funding on Kickstarter, Celestial Planes: Cygnus & Omega is the fifth installment in a series of artistic playing cards by Relentless Venture. The decks are inspired by the vastness of the cosmos and two specific nebulas.

The Cygnus deck embodies the ethereal nature of hot dust glowing against the dark canvas of space, featuring a palette of black and varying shades of blue accented with silver embellishments, evoking the shimmer of distant stars. In contrast, the Omega deck captures the vibrant hues of a small yet intense region of space, with rich oranges representing sulfur on a dark blue background, highlighted by copper details. 

Each deck is available in two distinct versions. The Standard Edition is made from high-quality paper with a soft-touch foil on both sides, featuring 3D silver or copper foil enhancements. The Deluxe Edition adds an extra touch of elegance with an openwork socket housing a unique glass cabochon, different for each deck.



The tuck boxes for these decks are uniquely numbered and sealed, ensuring their exclusivity as no reprints are planned, making them a rare collectible. The decks are presented in double boxes with magnetic openings, adorned with silver for the Standard and copper for the Deluxe editions, each richly ornamented with intricate patterns. 

The card illustrations are meticulously designed to reflect the celestial theme. The court cards, unique to each deck, showcase cosmic motifs, while the Joker cards maintain a high level of detail, depicting figures with a confident smile amidst their cosmic surroundings. The Aces cards are specially designed to highlight the suits, each adorned with a dedicated ornament in the center. Numeric cards differ not just in their suit symbols but also in the round-shaped embellishments tailored to each color.

Printed on FSC Classic Linen 295 card stock, the Deluxe versions of the Cygnus and Omega decks feature metallic-painted edges—blue for Cygnus and gold for Omega—adding a final touch of cosmic elegance to these stellar-inspired decks.

Pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.