At Shuffled Ink, we manufacture both Tarot and Oracle cards. The designs and creative interpretations of these allegorical cards stem from our client’s profound vision.
And as Halloween creeps just around the corner, “spooky” season begins to settle in. Naturally, personalized tarot and oracle cards go hand-in-hand during October.
Whether you visit a fortuneteller for a card reading or read the cards yourself, have you ever wondered the difference between Tarot and Oracle cards?
When you create a Tarot card deck, you are following a standard structure: a set of 78 cards that follow the Major and Minor Arcana. The deck consists of 22 cards following the Major Arcana and 56 cards represent the Minor Arcana.
The Major Arcana portrays picture cards, numbered 0-21. These cards depict the realm of the material world, intuitive mind and change. Some of the titles given to each picture card include ‘The Fool (0),’ ‘The Magician (1),’ ‘The High Priestess (2)’, etc.
The Minor Arcana are issued into four groups with 14 cards in each: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Unlike the Major Arcana, the Minor represents your daily-life happenings.
Oracle cards differ from Tarot cards because they do not follow a straight and narrow arrangement. Someone who customizes their own oracle deck of cards can create their own rules: how many cards go in the deck, the shape of the deck, the card’s images and meanings, the purpose of the deck. While you customize your oracle deck, you are also customizing your own theme.
Oracle decks typically come with an interpretation booklet. This allows the reader to understand the images and words that you have created. When it comes to choosing whether you want to create a Tarot or Oracle deck, it’s all about preference. If you enjoy a preset structure to meet your creative needs, then Tarot Cards are the way to go. But if you would rather start from scratch and draw on your own rules and images, then the Oracle deck is a better route to pursue.
Shuffled Ink is a multigenerational family business specializing in printing custom playing cards, tarot & flash cards, packaging, and more for businesses and individuals worldwide.To receive complimentary samples of our tarot-card products, include your delivery address and phone number on your custom quote request form.
● Official Shuffled Ink website: ShuffledInk
● Make Your Own Custom Tarot Cards at: ShuffledInk
● Make Your Own Custom Flash Cards at: ShuffledInk
We know what makes our family and friends laugh, cry and tick, especially when we’re playing endless rounds of card games. With no shortage of entertainment and gathered personality types, we’ve put together a fun list of “players” you will most likely encounter on a typical game night!
The Sore Loser/Winner: Be sure not to pinpoint this player to just toddlers…they come in adult sizes, too. Game night wouldn’t be complete without accusations of cheating and at least two meltdowns. Not to mention, this player’s “losing” episodes are just as bad as their “winning” ones. We’ll let you decide who you’d rather deal with: Someone who displays intense gloating or walks away from a game in anger. All joking aside, most of us have experienced “angry bursts” while playing a game — when you draw the “Go to Jail” card and can’t collect $200 in Monopoly; when someone makes you “Draw Four” cards in UNO — so we understand your pain, and we don’t judge.
The Dynamic Duo: Typically dealt with during team games, these two players allow their one-of-a-kind bond to be known. Their complete starter pack includes an elaborate handshake, intense staring and, of course, twin telepathy. When this duo participates in a game, their competitors often feel two emotions: envy or loathing. They either wish they had a partner in crime of their own, or they simply can’t stand the pair’s obnoxious tendencies.
The “Wannabe” Pro: This player never misses an episode of Family Feud (including the reruns), tunes into Jeopardy every night at 7 and, in their spare time, researches cheat codes on popular games. And while you’ll have to deal with their smack talk before the game and during their brief winning streak, count on no words uttered when they’re losing.
Silent but Deadly: For this player, silence is key. Most of the time, it’s easy to forget about this player because they don’t openly make their presence known. Nevertheless, they often show no remorse for the game pieces that block them from what’s “rightfully” theirs: eternal glory. And while they share similar characteristics to that of The “Wannabe” Pro, it’s their tremendous gaming skills and mysterious persona that separates them from the mere hopefuls. By the time you realize their true intentions, it’s always too late.
The Happy-Go-Lucky Butterfly: This player would rather receive a sportsmanship award than a first-place trophy. Generally focused on life’s simplest pleasures — enjoying the company of friends and family — they often socialize more than playing the game, which can be frustrating for the players who must nudge them when it’s their turn. Regardless, inviting them to game night has more positives than negatives. This player’s happy-go-lucky attitude outshines their nonexistent competitive drive.
The Ferris Bueller: (For those of you who haven’t seen “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” it’s a movie about a teenager who plays hooky instead of going to school). Now, we all have that one friend who is constantly blowing up the group chat with messages to hang out, but when a plan is finally set, they never actually show up. And while you may not physically encounter this “player” on game night, their absence is still relevant, as their flaky actions can disrupt the flow of the game and result in unbalanced teams.
The Glue: Like The Ferris Bueller, this person technically isn’t a player, but they do play an active role in the game as mediator. Ensuring everything runs smoothly, they typically appoint themselves with the position, as they would rather observe than partake in the game. Even so, your game night wouldn’t be the same without this key “player,” for their calming energy in a room full of various gaming personalities is much needed.
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Ever tired of playing the same games over and over again? Consider building your own custom card or board game with Shuffled Ink! The same personality types may continue to show up, but at least you’ll have something new to play, and it’ll be your own unique product!
Now, whether you find yourself fitting in all, one or none of the categories listed, Shuffled Ink hopes you have an unforgettable night of fun with these “players” …so much fun that you’ll end up doing it all over again!
Texas Hold ‘em, 5 Card Draw, 7 Card Stud, Oxford Stud – these are just a few of the different variants of poker you might encounter today. And, when it comes to playing cards, poker is just one of many card games people enjoy. Tracing back the origins of playing cards, it’s safe to say that no one could have predicted how much these games would have evolved and changed. Now, the different variants of poker alone accounts for more games than existed when cards were first conceived.
Of course, the introduction of new games is just one of the changes that have occurred over the years. In fact, playing cards themselves have evolved quite a bit since their inception. Today, let’s take a look at how things have developed.
THE ORIGINS OF THE PLAYING CARD
Some trace the origins of playing cards back to ancient China, where citizens would take slips of paper and draw domino markings on them. Having these on paper made them more affordable than traditional stone tiles and allowed more people to enjoy the game. In the grand scheme of card design, these might be considered the grandparents of playing cards.
It wasn’t until considerably later, about the 14th century to be precise, that playing cards reached Europe. And, this is where all modern card games made their start. Originally hand-painted and often gilded, each deck was uniquely designed and featured elaborate drawings. In the grand scheme, it was still a long way from modern designs. Fast forward to the Renaissance, and the suit system really started to take hold – but there was still a long way to go.
NORMALIZING PLAYING CARDS
In the 1800s, the modern playing card really began to flourish. From Hunt’s first redrawing in 1820, to Charles Goodall in 1860, the card went through variation redrawings and modernizations that closely resembled today’s modern deck designs. With standardized suits and recognizable artwork, these playing cards now had a consistent design that anyone could recognize.
THE RISE OF MODERN GAMBLING
During the early 1900s, playing cards grew in popularity. After World War II came to a close, the trend of playing cards started to grow significantly in popularity here in the United States. And, with the rise of Las Vegas and the introduction of casinos, these games continued to enjoy more widespread acceptance each decade.
Today, the standard 52 card deck has become familiar to all and the four suits are easily recognized. So much so in fact, that now things have gone another direction, with many brands designing their own unique playing cards to stand out. Whether it’s a popular TV show having a deck based on their characters or a company building a custom deck to stand out, the once standard artwork of playing cards has become more colorful once again.
UNIQUE PLAYING CARD DESIGNS
Everyone today has their own idea of what makes for the most effective marketing campaign. In reality, the most effective networking strategy is the one that really makes you stand out from the crowd. Having your own playing card designs is an affordable and effective way to make an impression on your prospects and really cement your brand in the minds of your prospects.
Standing out from the crowd can be tough, but distinguishing yourself with a unique playing card deck may be just what you need. To make your playing cards give us a call at 407-298-3579. When it comes to creating custom orders, we never fold.
In this day and age, tarot cards are used for two types of readings: question readings and open readings. Variations of tarot cards have been used for centuries for everything from entertainment to knowledge of the paranormal and divination to many, many other things.
There is absolutely no reason to restrict yourself to any one way to use tarot cards! In fact, you can use them for everything from playing games to attempting to see into the murky waters of the future. There are an unlimited number of inventive ways to use tarot cards.
Below are a few ways tarot cards can be used for personal and communal entertainment, showmanship, and to promote creativity.
WHAT ARE TAROT CARDS?
To the layperson, tarot cards are bound up in mysticism and magic. The name tarot probably brings to mind visions of fortune tellers divining the past, present, and future. This is one inventive way to use tarot cards, but there are many more.
The intricate artwork found on these cards often goes unmentioned. The design of the cards is meant to represent aspects of the real and spiritual world. In this way, the cards tell a story with each and every spread.
The user shuffles the cards and picks one at random to tell a story about their life. Who knows, you might even be able to see an important event in your future!
GAMBLING
Users can come up with various gambling games to play with tarot cards. Now this doesn’t mean you should use the cards to take your friends money, but rather it’s just one more unique and inventive way to use tarot cards.
After shuffling the deck, players can guess what card will be pulled. Other players can bet against certain cards being pulled from the deck. Still other players can bet on a set of cards being pulled from the deck at lower odds but with a higher gain.
However you use tarot cards for gambling, it’s sure to be a fun time. Remember, though, it’s better to bet pennies than dollars!
MAGIC
Magicians have long used tarot deck in their acts. In fact, many magic tricks rely on the use of these cards. Plain playing cards can get the job done, but a tarot deck adds a touch of elegance and mysticism all magicians, and their spectators, will notice.
WRITING
Another inventive way to use tarot cards is as an aid against writer’s block. This might sound silly, but don’t knock it until you try! A writer can shuffle the deck, pick several cards at random, and use the spread of the cards to write a story. This is a great way to build new narrative elements into an otherwise stale story.
ART
Artists, such as painters and sculptors, can look to the artwork on tarot cards for inspiration. The colorful mystical quality of the card design can get the artist’s mind to start turning in new, imaginative ways. The result? Unique works of art.
Now that you know the almost unlimited number of inventive ways to use tarot cards, it’s time to get your custom set! Choose your own images, designs, card size, number of cards, instructions, booklets, and even include custom accessories and packaging! Click below to get started today.
After much brainstorming, you’ve found a unique card game idea that you just know will fly off the shelves. But how do you get from concept to (real or virtual) shopping cart? Shuffled Ink has got you covered with five effective steps toward creating a successful custom card game.
STEP 1: NARROW DOWN YOUR THEME
Whether your custom card game idea involves a fun twist on learning historic wars, a hilarious game of comparisons, or something else altogether, your game needs to break your topic down to the absolute basics. This will allow you to properly streamline the concept and then transform your game idea into reality, preventing anyone from becoming confused or uninterested in participating.A big part of narrowing your theme is researching rules or additional elements you can add into your card game idea to provide clarity for your users. Inspiration often comes from pre-existing games, including tabletop games, video games and other forms of interactive entertainment, so be sure to think about why those rules or elements attract you to the game and see how you can incorporate similar ideas into your own game (without flat-out stealing the idea).One of the most important things to be mindful of with your theme is that you’ll want to make sure the design and rule ideas always match up. For example, if your card game involves a lot of rules of one card trumping another card (such as the card game Coup), you’ll want to ensure you have established the rules right away and possibly create a cheat sheet of sorts to help users remember them.If you find yourself stuck, try adding or removing certain parts of your game idea and see if that makes it more clear. How does it change? What is essential? What was a good idea until it threw off the main goal of the game? How did that element interrupt the game flow? Answering these questions will get your brain thinking about the mechanics of your game design and ultimately how well your users interact with it.
STEP 2: WRITE IT DOWN
After step one, your game idea is rushing around in your head. The best way not to forget anything is to write it all down—even if you end up trashing it later on. Everything from rules and setting specifics, to the card design and other aesthetics should be written down or drawn out.With these elements at hand, you can begin to tweak, eliminate, add in variations, simplify or embellish your game. By solidifying how your game is played, you’ll be narrowing down the concept so that it’s actually playable. Here are some questions to ask yourself when narrowing down the logistics of your game:
What do you want players to do?
How can they win the game?
What are the rules?
Are there exceptions to the rules?
How many people can play at once?
What is the minimum and maximum amount of players?
Is it meant for teams or individual play?
Can there be a tie?
Is the game timed?
How does the game progress (turn-based or rounds)?
How will the players interact?
STEP 3: DEVELOP A PROTOTYPE AND TEST IT
With a solidified idea of your game written down, you’ll then want to continue on to the next step (and arguably the most important step)─producing a prototype and testing it out. No one wants to make the investment of mass producing a custom game only to have it backfire with flaws in the rules, missing cohesiveness in the story or other problems in functionality. And although it’s easy to have family and friends test it out, it’s also very important to get non-biased parties to test it as well, preferably those of various ages and experience levels. This will help you set your game up for the best possible chance of success.So to recap this step: you’ll need to first create a fully functional, fully designed prototype that includes every piece of the game. Then, you’ll need to test it out on real people.Not sure where to find them? Try posting your game in a playtester section of some popular gaming forums. In your post on the forums, tell how you will deliver the game to them, as well as how and when you need it back, as well as how to send feedback. Here are some great playtester discovery resources:
One thing to note: Be open to all feedback, criticism and compliments, and keep notes of what goes right, what goes wrong and what people react positively/negatively to. Find answers through user feedback to questions like: Are there rules that are confusing? Does the general goal make sense to your test group? What does the group have the most trouble grasping? Do they have any suggestions? What was their favorite component of the game?
STEP 4: PERFECT YOUR DESIGN
After obtaining all the helpful feedback you can get, you’ll then want to transform your prototype into Prototype 2.0 (or 3.0 or 4.0, depending on how many rounds of changes are needed). Design each card by hand or digitally. You’ll want to create a logo for your game title to brand your game via the instructions and packaging. Branding is very important in keeping everything unified across the entire packaging and play pieces of your game! Decide on fonts, a color palette, design style, characters, etc. and create a branding guidelines packet for yourself to refer to later (for possible expansion packs or other related elements).If you don’t want to tackle designing the game yourself, there’s no shame in having someone do it for you! Just ensure they keep a central focus on your goals and vision.
STEP 5: PRINT AND PUBLISH
Now, you’re finally ready to make your custom card game dreams come true. Once your designs are finalized, it’s time to print and publish your game. With experienced and professional custom playing card and board game manufacturers like Shuffled Ink, this is the easy part. You’ll be able to simply and easily upload your designs online, choose the materials you want your game to be made with, select your favorite custom packaging, enjoy our ultra-fast turnaround—all at a highly competitive rate.
Interested in turning your custom card game idea into a reality? Request a free quote today and see how Shuffled Ink can help make it happen.
To receive complimentary samples of our card products, include your delivery address and phone number on your custom quote request form.
At Shuffled Ink, we manufacture both Tarot and Oracle cards. The designs and creative interpretations of these allegorical cards stem from our client’s profound vision.
And as Halloween creeps just around the corner, “spooky” season begins to settle in. Naturally, personalized tarot and oracle cards go hand-in-hand during October.
Whether you visit a fortuneteller for a card reading or read the cards yourself, have you ever wondered the difference between Tarot and Oracle cards?
Major Arcana Images by The Dark Exact
The Magician
Art & Divination
Divine Oracle Peele Card
Personalized: Magickal Tools, Candles, Chakras
