Earn a chance to win 10 playing card decks when you enter your original artwork to the Winter Card Art Contest. In your submission post, tag us at @ShuffledInk on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
The winner will have their design featured on a 54-card deck of poker-sized cards with custom card backs and standard faces.
The contest ends on Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m.
Previous Contest Winners: October Card Art
Cards and magic, going hand-in-hand ever since the 1400s. From witchcraft debunking and poker trickery to magician performances, card tricks reign popular in the playing card community.
Accessibility and resonance. These are a couple of reasons why an eternal flame is lit underneath playing card magic. The old, the young and those in-between find entertainment in illusions, whether the cards are in their hands or not.
Even blockbuster films formulate storylines where magicians and their tricks take center stage.
Four talented illusionists use their captivating and mindboggling performances to steal money from those who are corrupt. The audience members are then rewarded with the contraband cash. But this doesn’t fly with the federal agents whose mission is to put these magicians’ bank heists to a halt.
Also See: Poker Represented in Films & Tarot Readings In Films
Cards and magic, have gone hand-in-hand ever since the 1400s. From witchcraft debunking and poker trickery to street and stage performances, manipulation card tricks captivate the playing card community.
But why does there seem to be an eternal flame lit underneath card magic? Well, our fascination with card illusions can be attributed to the very first magicians who inspired today’s crop of recruits.
An illusionist and magician are interchangeable. Both perform in a public capacity and perform magic tricks like sleight-of-hand and other manipulation tricks with various props like playing cards, rope, handcuffs, etc.
The card collecting process may be non-linear, but your deck display shouldn’t be.
What deems a deck worthy of collecting, let alone displaying? Well, there really isn’t a definitive answer to this question. Choosing which playing cards to display is determined on a collector-to-collector basis. But there are a ton of factors that go into the collecting process. Some collectors look for vibrant designs that stand out. For others, it is the brand that secures a spot on the self. There are even collectors who seek misprint decks because of their one-of-a-kind flaws. But really, the art of collecting is based on preference, and even that isn’t always consistent.
Here’s another commonly asked question: Are you are a card collector or a box collector?
Unlike box collectors, who see breaking deck seals as a collecting sin, card collectors don’t necessarily share that mindset, especially if they aren’t interested in selling or trading their cards. Card collectors enjoy tearing away the cello wrap and seals in order to admire the card’s design. Now, one collector isn’t superior to the other, but this distinction does impact how collections are displayed.
The card-collecting process may be non-linear, but your deck display should not be. If your decks are shoved in a junk drawer or hidden in boxes under your bed, and you’re looking for a way to better display them, then you’re in the right place. In this article, you will discover how even the most mundane household items can be repurposed to display your unique collection.
Let’s start off with one of the most common display options. This presentation can kill two birds with one stone by using one space for multiple collections. Now, of course, this doesn’t have to be a shelf filled with books or even any type of item besides your card collection. We just like to remind you that it isn’t necessary to clear an entire shelf for only cards unless you’d prefer it that way. Here are some ‘bookshelf display’ examples from a few of our clients.
(Please note that Shuffled Ink did not produce every deck in the photos).
Think back to the first deck you ever owned. Why did you get it? Was it a gift? An impulse purchase? Did you design it yourself? Has that one become a party of five…and five turned into twenty and beyond? Do you know where they are now?
If your answer to the last question is along the lines of ‘hidden away and out of sight,’ then we have a solution for you. This method repurposes wine bottles and
The Shadow Box method is one of the coolest ways to showcase both the playing card and box design. Place each card box on the far left of the case and in every space thereafter display your favorite cards from that deck.
The community of playing card collecting is a place for 1,000-deck veterans; for newbies navigating their way through the hobby; for manufacturers like us who want to better understand your fascination with specific decks.
Collectors, designers, backers — these are several types of members in the playing card community. A wonderful thing about being a part of this world is the support from the members. There are tons of social media groups that guide such a hobby.
(multiple display cases on the wall); (displayed on bookshelf with her favorite books)
For nearly every holiday and season, Shuffled Ink (@shuffledink) hosts themed art contests to promote originality, innovation and fun! https://www.instagram.com/p/CWd11pNvcgb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
In this exclusive Shuffled Ink Card Story, Delilah Miske shares how she used materials destined for the trash to capture the Major and Minor Arcana.
Delilah’s Card Story began well before she was even born.
In the late 1960s, while moving into a new home, Delilah’s grandmother discovered a tarot deck in the attic. Intrigued by the neglected pack of card art, she soon learned how to read the set.
Decades later, the family matriarch kindled the same passion in her granddaughter Delilah by gifting her a tarot guidebook.
For many years, Delilah either read tarot cards quietly in her room or with close friends. And when the pandemic hit, she found a social connection through tarot influencers like @laetitia.cartomancy, @thejessicadore and @em0tional0nline333 on Instagram.
Motivated to contribute to and make her mark on the world of tarot, Delilah spent her time rummaging through thrift stores, bins and other forgotten and abandoned sites to find and piece together images best suited to bring her custom tarot project to life.
I hadn’t seen many tarot decks using collage, and I thought that I had something new to bring to the community. –Delilah Miske
The Rider-Waite-Smith Wheel of Fortune card (left) and Delilah Miske’s restored Adapt Tarot version (right).
The Rider-Waite-Smith Judgement card (left) and Delilah Miske’s restored Adapt Tarot version (right).
Adapt Tarot belongs to the beholder and the ambivalence inside us all. Delilah asks that you use these cards to tap into your intuition and let in the symbols that resonate with you.
Delilah’s handmade tarot cards, enclosed in a Brown Eco Kraft Tuck Box, are made with components of post-consumer recycled fibers.
Wondering how to incorporate environmental initiatives into your custom project? Request complimentary samples of our sustainable products to touch and feel the quality for yourself!
See also: Eco-Friendly Shipping: Partnering with EcoEnclose
If we manufactured your card project and you would like us to share your Card Story on our blog, connect with our Marketing Team here.
unCURATED is a memento to late nights on the porch, where an exchange of meaningful stories forged better conversations, deep-rooted relationships, and stronger connections.
Its founder and creator, Dr. Cherini Ghobrial, hopes that each card pulled moves you closer to a solidified emotional foundation and further away from surface-level interactions.
After graduating from pharmacy school, where she earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, Dr. Ghobrial wanted to pursue health beyond physical wellness. Her current journey tackles the small-talk crisis.
The unCURATED card game is three rounds of creative questions designed to spark meaningful conversations, cultivate connection, and tend to all things essential to our emotional wellness.
My hope for unCURATED is that by creating spaces to ask better questions, together, we can create spaces where we can be seen, where we can see others, and where we can see ourselves more deeply. Where we can realize our shared belonging to each other, and remind each other that we’re not alone. –Dr. Cherini Ghobrial
At the beginning of the creative process, Dr. Ghobrial was unsure how impactful or far-reaching unCURATED would be. But her vision became crystal clear once she realized how much humans resent small talk. Conquering unpleasant pleasantries with more thought-provoking questions, unCURATED allows a genuine interconnection to enter the chat.
There’s no better feeling than seeing a client’s card game being played and enjoyed. –Shuffled Ink Staff
By chance, hundreds of miles away from Shuffled Ink‘s Orlando manufacturing facility, one of our employees spotted Dr. Ghobrial’s unCURATED decks at Valor Coffee in Downtown Alpharetta, Georgia.
The wonderful humans at this brick-and-mortar shop think the world of unCURATED’s mission and have happily offered the game for several years now.
“I remember packing and shipping those cards,” our team member said. “So, it was really cool to see her game out in the real world.”
Since launching in 2019 and winning the Plywood Presents: Idea Competition in Atlanta, the unCURATED card game has shipped across the globe to countless individuals and businesses.
So, whether you spot the deck by coincidence or pop into one of its East Coast vendors, be sure to grab a deck, join a group, and start connecting!
If we manufactured your card project and you would like us to share your Card Story on our blog, feel free to connect with our Marketing Team here.
We do everything to help (our clients) create what they see in their minds. Charles Levin, Shuffled Ink Founder & President
(top row, left to right) Charles, Matthew, Jonathan; (bottom row, left to right) Lori, Lisa, MelissaThe purpose of Super Deck was to promote and elevate tourist hotspots and establishments in the Orlando area. The original pack consisted of a map and cards with discounts and coupons for local attractions, dinner shows, restaurants, shopping, golf, and recreation. Soon after pitching the concept to prospective vendors, Charles had secured the marketing deck in 90 percent of Orlando hotel rooms.
Throughout the early 2000s, Shuffled Ink’s first employees were his 5 children: Melissa, Lori, Matthew, Lisa and Jonathan. The Levin family would regularly clear off the dining room table and use the space to create playing card prototypes and other related personalized products.
As sales blossomed and new opportunities arose, Charles moved the business into his three-car garage. For several years, this is where all marketing, sales, administration, and shipping took place.
For the past 9 years, Charles and his team of production facilitators, project managers and graphic designers have operated in an 8,000 square-foot office and production facility in Orlando, Florida. By Summer 2022, we are expanding into a 35,800 square-foot manufacturing and office space in Winter Garden, Florida.
Charles’ business model has changed quite a bit since Super Deck. Today, Shuffled Ink specializes in printing custom playing cards, tarot and flash cards, packaging, and more for businesses and individuals worldwide.
Three of Charles’ kids are still involved at Shuffled Ink today.
Matthew, his oldest son, moved back to Orlando from New York City in 2016 to help him run the business as Chief Executive Officer. His daughter Lisa worked at the company part-time for many years but now oversees all customer services as Vice President of Sales. And youngest son, Jonathan, assists behind-the-scenes in the manufacturing facility.
“Throughout the past 22+ years, my kids’ incredible contributions and influence have added to the existence, growth, and success of Shuffled Ink.” –Charles Levin, Shuffled Ink Founder & President
The Levin Family (left to right): Charles, Lisa, Matthew and Jonathan LevinShuffled Ink is a multigenerational family business with an unwavering, decades-old mission: to provide an unparalleled experience in customer service and product quality to ensure that all clients’ card visions meet reality.
See what our clients are saying about the services, product quality and pricing we offer: Shuffled Ink Google Reviews.
To receive complimentary samples of our card products, include your delivery address and phone number on your custom quote request form.
If we manufactured your card project and you would like us to share your Card Story on our blog, feel free to connect with our Marketing Team here.
“I was the girl who loved to talk but needed a way to start the conversation.” –Hannah Frazer, founder of Question Connection
This non-invasive, supportive style of facilitating conversation, helps promote inclusion, foster relationships and build genuine connections in the classroom.
Growing up in a diverse, bilingual community, Hannah and so many of her classmates were unsure how to expand beyond their inner circle. Deep-leveled conversations, and even facilitating a surface-based one, felt out of reach. So, Hannah decided to create a practical and fun game that would ultimately redefine the nature of connections.
In this exclusive Shuffled Ink Card Story, game designer Hannah Frazer shares how an independent study transformed into a tangible product that cultivates empathy worldwide.
Young adults like Hannah, who have spent the better half of their lives navigating the world through a digital lens often feel more comfortable communicating via a screen than face-to-face.
Hannah says that the constant presence of technology and social media only complicated her social challenges. This is one of the reasons why she decided to tackle such issues through a year-long independent study project.
Headed by her AP Psychology teacher, Hannah, a junior at the time, worked alongside and learned from other teachers, students, graphic designers and Shuffled Ink manufacturing to bring this idea to fruition. After starting a GoFundMe page for the card game, she covered the cost of production for the first two groups of cards (English and Spanish).
Soon enough, Hannah was actively introducing the conversation-starter game into classrooms, national organizations and other programs.
“I am always incredibly proud to be able to share this game with students and other young people,” Hannah said. “I love seeing the differences in kids’ body language and facial expressions before and after they connect with their peers.”
Join a group, grab a deck and start connecting! Info on classroom visits.Step 1: Developing a card game that tackles social challenges takes a lot of research, time and effort. So, be patient!
Step 2: Coming up with good ideas and gaining support is not a walk in the park. But that doesn’t mean you should fold and give up. It will all be worth it when you see the positive impact that your card game provides.
Step 3: Play it forward, relax and have fun!
Hannah says that no one should ever be excluded from starting a conversation. This is why all deck proceeds go toward supplying Question Connection to under-resourced communities.
“In today’s world, there has been a huge rise in hate crimes, antisemitism, racism,” she said. “A conversation can make a world of difference when it comes to educating oneself about people from different backgrounds.”
Question Connection strives to put an end to social divisions and you can, too! Send a message to questionconnectiongame.com if you or anyone you know is interested in getting involved!
25 Under 25 Young Entrepreneur’s Magazine (p. 20)
If we manufactured your card project and you would like us to share your Card Story on our blog, feel free to connect with our Marketing Team here.