Woodland Legends Playing Cards

Now seeking funds on Kickstarter, Woodland Legends is a richly illustrated playing card series by artist Nicolai Aaroe, presented in three distinct limited editions and inspired by the folklore of Reynard the Fox and classic tales such as Robin Hood.

Set in the woodland realm of Fernspire Forest beneath Cinderleaf Castle, Woodland Legends tells the story of six fox clans bound to the land’s most treasured natural resources: ashroot, fern, cinderleaf, and rowanberries. Each clan represents a different truth of the world, and while they share the forest’s abundance, they are not equal in coin or power. The narrative, written by Aaroe as A Tale of Six Clans, weaves themes of friendship, courage, and loyalty into a fully realized illustrated universe.

The project began as a purely human-driven art journey, documented from early sketches to finished designs. Every court card and pip has been hand-illustrated, resulting in a completely custom deck. Across the series, 18 unique woodland characters bring the fox clans to life.

Woodland Legends is produced in three editions: Ashroot Gold, Cinderleaf Orange, and Fernspire Green, each limited to 999 decks. All three are manufactured with special raw “herbage” tuck stocks made from grass and leafy plant fibers, reinforcing the organic theme of the series. The tuck cases feature embossed landscapes of trees and rolling hills that wrap fully around the box, accented with metallic foil detailing on all sides.

Each edition carries its own distinct back design variation tied to seasonal moments in the story, emphasizing the resources gathered and traded by the clans. The aces feature ornate, organic compositions inspired by fox tails, fern spires, roots, and branching woodland forms.

The two jokers depict the central locations of the narrative: Cinderleaf Castle and Fernspire Forest - anchoring the story’s world within the deck itself.

Printed on premium card stock with a linen finish and finished with metallic edge gilding, Pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.

Andersen’s Fairy Tales Playing Cards

Andersen’s Fairy Tales Playing Cards bring the timeless stories of Hans Christian Andersen to life through a fully customized deck created by Room One Cards. Rather than a single deck, Andersen’s Fairy Tales is presented as four distinct editions on Kickstarter, thoughtfully curated to explore different facets of Andersen’s storytelling.

Garnet and Sapphire colorways represent two complementary halves of the author’s creative spirit... one inward and introspective, the other outward and transformative. Each colorway is available in both Standard and Signature editions.

At the heart of the design is the hourglass, a symbol of storytime and fleeting moments. This motif appears prominently on the card backs as an animated flipbook sequence: when the deck is fanned, grains of sand cascade through an ornate hourglass, echoing Andersen’s recurring themes of time, change, and consequence.

The Signature Editions feature selective foil detailing that highlights crowns, wings, armor, and symbolic elements within the artwork, adding a subtle, luminous magic. 

These editions are housed in Room One Cards’ proprietary 3D Accordion Tuck Box, which unfolds into a sculptural, gallery-like presentation. Metallic foil gilded edges further elevate the tactile experience.

The Standard Editions showcase the same complete watercolor illustrations without foil, emphasizing painterly detail and narrative clarity, and are packaged in a classic storybook-style tuck box with an interactive pull-tab design.

Every card in the deck is fully customized. The number cards feature fantastical pips and a bespoke ornate font inspired by fairy-tale lanterns and gilded book edges. Rather than acting as simple symbols, the pips are integrated into miniature narrative scenes, allowing the story world to flow seamlessly through gameplay.

The court cards serve as illustrated storybook portraits. Each edition draws from a curated selection of Andersen’s tales. Garnet editions include characters such as The Snow Queen, The Sandman, The Phoenix, and The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep. Sapphire editions feature iconic figures like The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Nightingale, and The Steadfast Tin Soldier.

Rendered in soft, atmospheric watercolor, the courts feel less like traditional royalty and more like moments frozen from a fairy tale. In the Signature Editions, foil accents add depth and visual drama; in the Standard Editions, the artwork shines in its purest form.

Printed by Room One Cards and pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Midnight Camo Playing Cards

Sleek. Striking. Purple.

Midnight Camos by BeJuicy originally printed in 2021, the deck delivers the soft, broken-in handling that cardists and magicians appreciate straight out of the box. The stock offers a smooth flex and responsive snap, making fans shimmer and spreads glide with ease. The metallic ink subtly catches the light across the surfaces, adding depth without overpowering the design.

The primary tuck case is dressed in matte black, contrasted by vivid purple and violet foil that immediately commands attention. The foil detailing shifts in the light, amplifying the deck’s nocturnal, stealth-inspired identity. It’s bold without being loud- more midnight glow than neon flash.

Inside, the card backs carry a camouflage pattern reimagined in the signature purple/violet color-way. The layered camo design feels modern and slightly urban, blending tactical inspiration with a sleek, almost futuristic finish. In motion, the repeating pattern creates dynamic visuals in fans and spreads.

The courts are fully custom and lean into abstraction. Rather than traditional royalty, they appear as ghostly, shape-shifting figures- fluid silhouettes that feel like apparitions emerging from shadow. The stylization gives the deck a mysterious personality while maintaining functional clarity for gameplay.

While the deck comes in multiple variants, the cards themselves remain consistent throughout the series. The differences lie in the tuck boxes... each offering its own visual twist- along with select editions that feature gilded edges for collectors seeking something extra refined. 

Printed by the UPSCC on Bee Crushed Stock and available on BeJuicy for $15.

Issue 105 of Kardify Magazine is now on Patreon!

 

Issue 105 of Kardify Magazine 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-January to mid-February. 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:   

+ Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: From Jack Brutus Penny, a thoughtfully designed playing card deck that celebrates the shared history between tarot and playing cards. Check it out!

+ Bicycle Baroque: Drawing inspiration from the Baroque period (1600–1750), this limited edition deck by Mark Stutzman channels the grandeur, drama, and ornamental excess commissioned by Europe’s most powerful monarchies. 

+ Crazy 8's 2026 Edition: The latest release by Jackson Robinson features a whimsical chalkboard-inspired art style, playful on the surface yet layered with meaning. Find out more!

+ Avatar: This Theory11 deck invites you into the bioluminescent world of Pandora, transforming James Cameron’s epic universe into a fully illustrated deck designed to be experienced in the hand. 

+ Bicycle Bluey: A vibrant deck featuring Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chilli  designed to capture the spirit of the beloved animated TV series.

+ Kamiarizuki: Drawing from Japanese mythology, the latest deck from Bloom Playing Cards is inspired by Kami-Ari-Zuki, the sacred “Month With Gods”. Have a look!

+ Year of the Horse: TCC Fashion welcome the 2026 Lunar New Year with an elegant blend of symbolism, craftsmanship, and Eastern aesthetics. Designed as a celebration of new beginnings, this limited edition deck channels hope, momentum, and prosperity.

… and more! 52 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!